We’re live from Tech, Jackets have chance to take charge
The Jackets need to wait another year for a BCS title shot, but not for bragging rights.
Welcome to Opportunity Night.
Georgia Tech’s ability to become a national program is dependent in part on the ACC’s ability to develop elite teams and elevate itself significantly higher than it has been this season. But the Yellow Jackets never will have a better opportunity to take hold of their local rivalry.
Georgia fans don’t want to hear that. They view the Jackets’ 45-42 win last season and their ensuing hedge assault in Athens as some sort of aberration. All evidence is to the contrary.
This season has confirmed what we suspected last season: Tech is a program on the rise and Georgia is the one sliding. The Jackets are scrambling to keep their head coach, Paul Johnson. Mark Richt is not in trouble at Georgia but is expected to make changes to his staff.
Even if Tech had beaten Miami earlier this season and was entering tonight’s game undefeated, there’s a pretty good chance it would rank no higher than fourth in the polls, behind Florida, Alabama and Texas. That’s because of perceptions of the ACC. The Jackets would be sitting in that cluster with TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State, screaming for a playoff.
But let’s focus on the local landscape for now. The Bulldogs won seven straight games in this series (2001-07) before last season, and 14 of the last 17. But what happened last season at Sanford Stadium was not a fluke. If the Jackets win tonight, it also won’t be a fluke (they’re favored by 7 1/2).
The 2010 season is months away. But Georgia probably will be starting a freshman quarterback and Tech will return Josh Nesbitt and a blur of running backs in an offense that just keeps getting better. If you had to guess right now, which school do you suppose is going to be favored when the teams meet again next season?
This is Tech’s chance. It is the cliche statement game. Nationally, the Jackets certainly can make this a special season and say something about the program by defeating Clemson in next week’s ACC championship game and then winning the Orange Bowl. But closer to home, this is their chance to take charge locally.
Tonight’s game comes down to one thing for me: I don’t think Georgia’s defense can stop the Tech offense. The Jackets’ have defensive liabilities but I don’t see the Bulldogs matching the Jackets when they have the ball.
Do you agree? Weigh in and I’ll be back shortly.
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1,373 comments Add your comment
GT Fan
November 28th, 2009
9:50 pm
Why couldn’t UGA play like this all year?
I still believe in Jackets 2nd half.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 28th, 2009
9:50 pm
45 I’m all over the place…anybody know the freshman rushing high against GT?all time high?
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 28th, 2009
9:51 pm
What do you get when you take the number one pass offense and combine it with the number 107 pass DEFENSE … Houston 59 – Rice 0 … at the HALF!
Wow! Houston has 465 yards of offense in the first half alone.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:51 pm
bigdawg, if you are still there. I graduated UGA in 83. We always pulled for the Jackets unless they were playing UGA. I think the internet ruined those feelings.
La Jolla Dawg
November 28th, 2009
9:51 pm
Hi Jeff, thought I’d pop in to say hi, figured you might be a bit lonely. I see Cuz is visiting with you so I am assuming you are fine.
bigdawg
November 28th, 2009
9:51 pm
U-no! Very true and well-said.
Boise Dawg
November 28th, 2009
9:51 pm
I can remember almost feeling sorry for Tech at halftime last year and we were well on our way to 8 in a row. Georgia will need to score at least 17 in the second half to win this thing…. lets hope they can.
Go Dogs!
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:51 pm
ladawg…who is we? are you on the field?
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:51 pm
bigdawg – be careful. we are hated by our own kind for those kind of words.
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
9:52 pm
MIchael at least you admit you are not the majority. Tech can still win this game against this UGA team. But if they do not I can promise all the Tech fans will change their story and talk about how this game was not that important. You do not make rings about regular season games that do not matter.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:52 pm
Jeff did you get the chicken or did you have to share your hotdogs and cokes with Bradley?
mmmmmm
November 28th, 2009
9:52 pm
The nerds have put themselves in a position where they have to be perfect for a bit. A turnover early and its time to pull Nesbitt.
bigdawg
November 28th, 2009
9:52 pm
GT Fan: We ask ourselves that question every day!
panther
November 28th, 2009
9:52 pm
long scoring drive by Tech to open the second half
Joe
November 28th, 2009
9:52 pm
UGA would have a nice balance with this run game and A.J. Green in the mix.
stony
November 28th, 2009
9:52 pm
Thanks Cuz,
Those two are an embarassment to both sides. If you can’t find one, I’ll loan you mine. I’m sure you’ll wear it proudly.
Michael
November 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
BUD, please provide examples of UGA playing third and fourth stringers in this game. I’m sure we’d all love it if you shared that info.
Outside Observer
November 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
just like the Miami game – GT just can’t handle success and we need help at D
Boise Dawg
November 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
If Georgia wins tonight… Russ should get the job.
Technophobia
November 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
That penalty on 4th and 2 was huge.
GT87
November 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
bigdawg, numbers of pages on the blogs are like stadium sizes, they look impressive, but it doesn’t mean shat. You obviously have a complex about size…
Outside Observer
November 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
where is that clown st simons?
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
If UGA does hold and play a complete game on defense I hope this is not something that will save Willie’s job. I will take a 50 point second half Tech outburst if that is the case. I just want a win and a new DC next season. I hear that it is already a done deal with Tommy Tuberville which is very surprising. If it is true it would just be a quick fix b/c if he does well I am sure he will be in two years and then onto a new HC job.
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:54 pm
Casey Kasem long distance request for John Tenuta of South Bend, Indiana. “Baby Come Back” by Player
Realistic Tech Fan
November 28th, 2009
9:54 pm
I really don’t want to go back to the closet I hid in for 7 years…we need to win tonight.
U-no
November 28th, 2009
9:54 pm
One concern for Tech, we haven’t run the offense in the first half enough to know exactly how the Pups are defending all the plays. CPJ will have to work his magic tonight for a Tech win.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:54 pm
45, sometimes I think it is friendlier over here. The rabid dawgs and swarming jackets are on our blogs. Some of these guys can actually have a conversation. Even War Jacket is calmer here.
bigdawg
November 28th, 2009
9:55 pm
GT87: I’m being very nice and sporting. You are being a Wal-Mart GT fan.
CBB1
November 28th, 2009
9:55 pm
Tech will come out swinging. I am very nervous. GA Tech has been great all year at adjustment, UGA has not.
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:55 pm
stopped at the17
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
9:55 pm
we do not have a complex about size we just have enough dedicated fans to support a real size college football stadium in the south
keeping it real
November 28th, 2009
9:55 pm
If Tech doesn’t show up for the second half and the pups win big your going to have two teams playing for the ACC Championship that got there ASS kicked by two pretty bad SEC team
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
Sorry Boise, the Seilers do not believe in affirmative action. They only promote whites.
Buckhead Bulldog
November 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
Rob2595: you would be wise to chill with the smack. Techs O can put 14 up REAL quick. Just sayin, bro’.
UMAN
November 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
Johnson better stick a red hot poker up there sunshine or this could be ugly. GT must score td out of locker room.
OldDawg
November 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
Tech can come back and win this game easily…we will see…BUT…I promise you, and GT fans that enjoy your Tech blogs for sane and rational conversation or discussion…IF the DAWGS pull this off…THANKS TO SOME OF YOUR IDIOTS LIKE M, RAMBLE ON, AND SAINT SIMONS…YOU MAY AS WELL SHUT DOWN THE TECH BLOGS FOR A YEAR OR SO…THEY WILL BE BLOWN UP!
Michael
November 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
I think CPJ said it well this past week when he said that winning or losing against UGA was not going to define the season; he said that was giving the opposition too much power.
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
Cuz – I agree. The Jacket fans here are more about the the game than insults.
pilgrim
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
I don’t see the Dogs falling apart this time. Ealey will keep it up and Cox will hit some. If Johnson can come up with an answer at this point -he will be legend.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
go Be Be
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
TDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Jackets
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
ooooooh, you have more fans. And there are more soccer fans in the world than college football fans. so what?
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
now thats willie’s defense
bigdawg
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
OK, it’s a game again!
Michael
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
Nice way to start the third quarter, Jackets!
GT87
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
You like apples? How ’bout dem APPLES!!
panther
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
touchdown
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
77 yd TD.
And that;s why Josh Nesbitt is the key to this team.
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
uhoh
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:57 pm
CPJ probably did some chewing at the half to get that TD. Buckhead you are a prophet.