Tech loses bragging rights, chance for something special
Look a little different than the end of last year's Tech-Georgia game? The Jackets lost to the Bulldogs, 30-24, and they won't soon forget this. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@AJC)
Signs of change were everywhere.
Bobby Dodd’s stands weren’t half-red. Thus, the game didn’t have the usual neutral-site feel to it. Bowl officials didn’t jam the press box. What for? Georgia Tech’s future was fairly simple, and Georgia’s was fairly depressing. The Jackets could be headed to the Orange Bowl, a game with history. The Bulldogs could be headed to the PapaJohns.com Bowl, a game with anchovies. The Dogs even had a temp-Uga on the sideline.
But if the Jackets feel like they just got knocked back in time, there’s a reason.
A year ago, they stunned Georgia at home and tore branches off the sacred hedges. On Saturday, with an eight-game winning streak and a fantasy season unfolding, they fell behind early to the Bulldogs 17-3 and fell short in a comeback. They lost 30-24.
The 12 months of bragging just kicked off from the other direction.
It doesn’t mean Tech can’t win the ACC title. It doesn’t mean the Jackets can’t play in Miami and finish 12-2. But this one will sting for a year because this is one most expected they would win. They were playing a mediocre Georgia team coming off a loss to Kentucky, and it doesn’t get much worse than that.
Tech coach Paul Johnson downplayed the significance of this game earlier in the week. He believes everybody should focus on the big picture, and that picture includes conference championships and competing for BCS bowls, not just bragging rights over big brother from Athens. “I don’t want to leave the wrong impression because I do realize that the game is important and I know for a lot of our fans that this is the game they want to win,” Johnson said. “[But] we want to get to the point where our program is bigger than one game. We want to win the game, but we want to do some other things that just beating Georgia won’t do for you.”
And Johnson’s right. Tech’s season is about more than beating Georgia. But beating Georgia ranks pretty high.
Bottom line: This was the Jackets’ chance to take charge, and they failed.
Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt left the game in the first quarter with a sprained ankle but returned later. (AP photo)
This won’t do much to boost morale in the ACC’s offices, either. The conference’s two championship game entries, Tech and Clemson (to South Carolina), both closed the regular season with losses to SEC rivals.
Tech trailed 17-3 at halftime. It clawed back to within 30-24 in the fourth quarter after a touchdown run by Josh Nesbitt, who keyed the comeback when he returned from an ankle injury. When Georgia’s Blair Walsh missed a 55-yard field goal attempt with three minutes remaining, it gave them one last chance. But a dropped pass by Demaryius Thomas at the Dogs’ 35 ended the final threat.
There was a general consensus that this would be a high-scoring game, with the game’s two defensive coordinators, Georgia’s Willie Martinez and Tech’s Dave Wommack, taking turns absorbing blows like those old inflatable clowns that keep bouncing back up after being punched. (In Martinez’s case, there’s no guarantee he’ll be bouncing back up after the season.)
What nobody figured: At halftime, Tech would be trailing 17-3 and its run-dominated offense — one of the top units in the nation — would be outrushed by Georgia 204-80. (On second thought, maybe it’s Wommack who won’t be bouncing back up.) That kept the Jackets’ offense off the field.
Not only was Tech limited to four possessions, it lost Nesbitt, who might as well be this team’s transmission. When he suffered a sprained ankle with 1:03 left in the first quarter, every projection about this game changed. He tested the injury on the sideline, eventually went into the locker room, presumably for a wonder cure, and returned during the second. But backup Jaybo Shaw ran the next possession and threw an interception, which the Bulldogs turned into a touchdown and the 17-3 halftime lead.
But Nesbitt played Tech’s final possession of the half, not looking full-speed, and then returned strong in the third quarter. He led the Jackets to touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half (including a 77-yard scoring pass to Thomas). But the Dogs’ responded with touchdown and field-goal drives and held a 27-17 lead. If nothing else, it had turned into the game most expected.
But the end wasn’t what Tech players or fans expected. Last year was about getting attention. This year has been proving their worth. It can still be a great season. But not nearly as great it could have been.
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1,802 comments Add your comment
Mike T.
November 29th, 2009
12:34 am
georgia tech breakin necks
that ok Georgia fan your still going to the sorry GAYLORD BOWL SUCKERS. In the words of the bad news bear just wait till next year where soon to be ACC CHAMPS and ORANGE BOWL WINNERS YOU GAYLORD FOCKERS
Hey ,Georgia Tech breakin necks,
Sylvan is ready when you are buddy.
Saint UGAVII
November 29th, 2009
12:34 am
ACC Champ = SEC East #4!
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:34 am
Tech Buzz, Just think, as bad as our defense is, we stopped that powerful offense of Tech’s. Our DC is going to get fired and Tech is in a WEAK Conference not worthy of being in a BCS game. Just admit it.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:35 am
Dawg 1 — I think you need to look up the word “apologist.”
surfdawg
November 29th, 2009
12:35 am
Oh, there goes Caleb King again
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
12:36 am
TO ALL GT FANS, hahahahahaha FOREVER
theTruth
November 29th, 2009
12:36 am
SHULTZIE, you seem a little bitter. I believe most are ‘giving’ it back to you because all of your articles have been pro GT and neg UGA. I understand you just write to get the most hits on your blog either pro or neg.
You seem to be testy in your answers tonight. Get yourself one of those beers and just sit back and relax. This is just payback for all those idiots on EVERY blog that someone wrote about UGA. You are just in the crosshairs. BTW, what was the score you predicted?
With that said, it was a score most predicted. I don’t believe CPJ will say next year that UGA is just ‘another game’, do you?
What the Huck!
November 29th, 2009
12:36 am
Order is restored to the universe. Paul Johnson said they have “bigger fish to fry.” Yeah, right. Like playing in the ACC Championship game in front of 22,000 fans….Nos. 1 and 2 in ACC lost to nos. 9 and 10 in SEC. Sound about right. ACC tickets $10 SEC tickets $350–$750 bigger fish my a$$. Maybe some of the Tech nerds could chip in some of the money they will save by NOT supporting their team in Tampa and buy Paul Johnson a bra for Christmas.
bigdawg88
November 29th, 2009
12:36 am
I hear the BCS wants to call an emergency meeting and revoke the acc’s automatic bid. Maybe TCU and Boise State will join the acc and give them some legitimacy.
SEC RULES!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:37 am
Mike T. Remember these: Emerald Nut, Humanitarian (3 times) Silicon Valley Classic, Seattle Bowl? LOL
Remember these: 3 Sugar Bowls, Capital One, Outback. LOL
Enjoy the Chick fil a again, because that is where you will be landing as the unranked Clemson Tigers beat the #18 ranked Ga. TEch. LOLOLOLOL
Confused
November 29th, 2009
12:37 am
If Tech is a “high school team”, is “owned” by UGA, “second best in the state”, and the “ACC is second rate”, etc., why are UGA fans making such a big deal over this win? It doesn’t make sense.
Ratings Game
November 29th, 2009
12:37 am
Last time I checked Georgia was ranked preseason ahead of Tech. Last time I checked Georgia wasnt ranked and will not be ranked again for a few years. I guess the Tech game was so big for Georgia this year, they didnt worry about the other unranked teams they lost too. I guess their focus has switched back to the in state game. Hmmm, interesting idea, personally I would rather win 12 games than 7, but thats just me.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:37 am
Jojatek — It was a little surprising but the flip side is Georgia’s secondary isn’t very good and has given up big plays all year and there was only 2 mins left. Can you run the ball much? Passes on all three plays? Yeah, that’s surprising. But wouldn’t have had a problem with twice.
mwb
November 29th, 2009
12:37 am
Again why do you Georgia fans continue to say you dominated us it was not a blowout it was a 6 point game that we should have won if we stick to our game plan with 2 timeouts and the ball at the 45 with over 2 minutes to play. Why CPJ decided to go for 3 bombs was not like him at all we have not done that the entire season if we had scored that quickly that would have given Georgia time on the clock to kick a field goal not sure about that call CPJ but we still love ya.
ladawg
November 29th, 2009
12:37 am
tech really is terrible. CPJ is waaaaaaaayyyyy overrated.
Dawgman566
November 29th, 2009
12:38 am
Hey Techies! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!
Dawgs
November 29th, 2009
12:38 am
Espn.com – “Georgia took a page out of Georgia Tech’s playbook, rushing for 339 yards to upset the seventh-ranked Yellow Jackets 30-24 Saturday night and put a real damper on the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.”
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:38 am
I just saw Ealey and King and they said they would run back to Athens!
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:38 am
Law Dawg — A.J. Green’s a great player and a huge loss for Georgia. That better?
bigdawg88
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
Mike T.,
Shut the heck up and go play some D&D. You’ve been pwned!!!
I’d rather be 4th in a good conference than 1st in a bad one!! SEC RULES!
GO DAWGS!!!!
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
I appluad GT Joe for being on here.
None of his fellow Jacket fans can be found.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
Hey Jeff,
Lumpy Johnson was too scared to run it. They were gettin punched in the face!!!!
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
Nice win, but as PJ says, this game doesn’t define our season. It did last year, because we had that streak on our back. This year, we’re about winning championships. UGA game was big last year, but this year, not nearly as important.
After last year, PJ said “we haven’t won anything yet”. He’s talking championships, the UGA game is nice, but we want conference titles and maybe more.
Again nice win, it made your season. It doesn’t kill our season though. That’s how football has changed in this state.
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
Ealey and King, Still running!!!
uga1989
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
Confused and Ratings Game, maybe it’s because your fans CAMPED OUT in our game blogs and relished every mishap. STFU and take it. 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!! 30-24!!!!
GT ATL
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
Looks to me like Saint Simons self served crow with his posting. So, I think it’s interesting that you leg humpers use the same rhetoric as he does (30-24 hahahaha etc). I thought you guys were Liberal Arts majors. You know, creative types. No?
Teck Sux!! 30-24 LMAO
November 29th, 2009
12:40 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA
EABOD Nerds.
SAINT SIMONS DOES M
November 29th, 2009
12:40 am
FROM THE ORANGE BOWL TO BOISE IN 2 WEEKS!!!! I’M LAUGHING MY AS_ OFF AT YOUR SUPERIORITY!!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
mwb
November 29th, 2009
12:40 am
I agree with you Jeff on the play calling at the end?????????????????????????/
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:40 am
GT Joe, Don’t make me sick. PJ is blowing smoke up your A.. if you think he doesn’t think this defines your season. Just like the LSU whipping last year.
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
mwb – That’s your coach. Ask him.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
LJ of UGA — Ah well. But hey — where’s the credit for nailing the South Carolina over Clemson pick. Come on people! Where’s the love?
Dan
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
he will be doing math. and still losing!
(((((((((30-24))))))))))))))))))) hahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahah
Oh yeah, your blogging rights are revoked!
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
Jeff, you do not have to apologise for Tech. I am sure m, yellow fuzz and St. Simons will be here as soon as they get out of traffic and to a Wifi spot.
whatever
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
Nice try GT Joe, but no one is buying that crap! You are focused on championships? What is the point of being the best in a lousy conference? And as evidenced by tonight, football has NOT changed in the state…we still own you!
HM
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
I’m just sorry for all the GT fans our there; unfortunately, we actually had to PLAY this game. Glory, glory, to ole GEORGIA!!
georgia tech breakin necks
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
UGA 7-5 GT 10-2
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
12:41 am
NCAA, ACC, BCS DEMANDS GT AND CLEMSON BE REPLACED BY UGA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
techengineer
November 29th, 2009
12:42 am
Tech Buzz: I thought with the 2 weeks off that we’d come out fired up,f resh , and ready to play.. They acted like they didn’t want any of GA.. I don’t mind losing but at least act like you are interested in playing your damn rival… I mean damn they looked like they were in la la land all night! So no I didn’t expect this especially with an extra week off..
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
12:42 am
I picked both Jeff, ask Bill King.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
12:42 am
Losing to clemson next week would be way more devastating than losing today; it would cost us a title and a BCS bid. Losing to UGA? Not nearly as important.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:42 am
Cuz .. Yeah, where is Yellow Fuzz?
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
12:42 am
The excuses are beginning to build. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
SAV DAWG
November 29th, 2009
12:42 am
Jeff, you must be a tech fan. No one gave UGA a chance. I guess you ALL were WRONG !
GO DAWGS!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:42 am
Word is in, no matter the outcome of the ACC Championship, VA. Tech is going to Chick Fil A. Which leaves the Gator for Tech after their loss to Clemson.
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
The Jackets and Clemson limp into the ACC Championship game after getting beat by the SEC.
lexdog
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
so will tech have rings made this year
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
GT Joe, Forget it. Tech will NEVER, even in their best years EVER rank up with UGA.
yello and scared
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
Ratings Game…12 wins in your high school league doesn’t equal 7 in our league. If it wasn’t for the SEC Championship game, it would be Florida and Alabama in the National Championship game. Last time I saw, the ACC didn’t have any in the top 10…and I am excluding the piss ants cause you won’t be there tomorrow!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
SAV DAWG
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
Yellow Fuzz can’t handle the SEC