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
RevDawg
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
Paul johnson should be fired for those 4 dumb calls on the last drive. They were running the ball and could have scored. Way to choke paul!!!!!! 30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dawg '85
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
All I know is the SEC rules in football… any ACC fans stick to hoops… UGA beats GT… SoCar beats Clem’s Son… and TeBlow’s Gators beat FSU… that ACC championship will be prestigious!
Techmites Suck
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
Just remember, you got outcoached by Willie M…..Your offense did nothing. If it wasn’t for King’s fumble, a crappy kickoff out of bounds and a good kick return at the end you had one big pass play. That’s it. Don’t want to hear about any big runs, etc. Going into the fourth quarter WE had eight 10-yard+ runs and King must have had five. Don’t want to hear about a dropped pass either….don’t forget that Troup and Wooten each had big drops and the Dogs overcame. Who would have thought…..coach WM outcoached the other living legend Paul Johnson (behind my 17 world championships). WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Saint Simon
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
Okay, I admit it…the Dawgs are awesome.
Truth is, I’m a schlep, I’m a 40 year old poser who can’t spell…my 8 year old daughter does all my typing.
I don’t even live in Saint Simmon – I stay in a trailor in Warner Robins…
Observer
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
LOL! Some Dawgs comments amusing beyond words. Jackets seemed out of sync tonight – maybe looking ahead to Clemson next week – dunno! Any rate, heck of a group of guys layin’ it down. Awesome, first class students. Love the fact that athletes who consider GT have their eyes on a real future cuz they’re in the right place to start. Not too shabby to be guaranteed a job BEFORE you graduate. When you say GT, you’ve said it all!!! Go jackets!! Hey “8 of 9″ – $100,000 a year guaranteed starting salary, you go right on an bleed red and black and $7.50 an hr. Woof Woof…..
Threeandoh
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
Tech fans- why did CPJ throw the ball 4 straight times on the last drive? Yes our secondary has been horrible most of the year and we commit interference more than any team in the country (it seems)but it seems you guys got away from what got you there…….
ellis
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Still #2 in Georgia. Always will be.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:07 am
RevDawg. If we’d had 4 mintes, sure we’d run. The clock stops on incompletions. The clock rolls when runner is tackled inbounds
Bobby Houseman
November 29th, 2009
12:07 am
Head to head, SEC teams will generally beat ACC teams in football. Today’s games proved that again: UGA over Tech, Fla over Fla State, SC over Clemson, etc. On the rare occasion that an ACC team beats an SEC team, it’s usually a fluke.
Threeandoh
November 29th, 2009
12:08 am
That is old, tired, and weak “observer”.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:08 am
Three..short on time and incompletions stop the clock
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:09 am
Yeah, no academic fallbacks tonight. We really wanted this game and came up empty.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:10 am
I don’tthink anyone looking at this game objectively could’ve called for a blowout. We can’t stop anyone.
JDM
November 29th, 2009
12:13 am
@ Baba “Short on time”? We had over 1:30 to go with a time out still under our belt. The option has been good to us and we definitely had the time to march the remainder of the field. Option to the edges (with Allen preferably) and get out of bounds after some good yardage. Not to mention if you time it right with the awful officiating in BCS football these days, you can sometimes get a free 15 yards (See also: 2008 Tyrod Taylor)
stony
November 29th, 2009
12:15 am
Two years ago, we lost to the dawgs, and I was despondent for weeks. Tonight we lost to the dawgs, and I’ll sleep fine. The difference is that two years ago, we had a coach and administration that accepted that reality, and offered no real hope of ever being better. Now, I see this as a bump on the road to the top of the NCAA mountain. GT is so much better off now than before. All GT fans need to look at the big picture…we are better, and getting better with every day that Paul Johnson is our coach, so take this loss as part of the growing process, and just support our team.
Bobby Houseman
November 29th, 2009
12:15 am
Yep, JDM, the officiating left a lot to be desired.
Observer
November 29th, 2009
12:15 am
Yeah Threeandoh, I’m with ya. And I rarely every would second guess the Ma (CPJ). The only thing I can figure is that you would expect that with time running out and the cloth stopping on incompletions, AND with the freekin’ law of averages, someone would have caught 1 out of 4 passes!!!!!!! For every thing there is a season. We’re running so very high right now and shouldn’t be greedy. CPJ has taken hand-me-downs and worked magic. He’d made this offense his own and we all love him. Football is fun again in Atlanta………
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:15 am
We are the 90’s Colorado Rockies with Galarraga, Bichette, Walker, etc. We can score with anyone, but we can’t stop anyone. It’s like slow pitch softball.
Tech Tony
November 29th, 2009
12:16 am
Now that I’m a little calmer, I do take my hat off to Georgia who showed a poise and a resolve they hadn’t shown all year. It meant something to them to win this game and it didn’t seem to mean as much to us and we all now see the result of that.
They took it right to us, grinding our defense down which in turn never let us get in sync offensively. It’s a bitter pill to lose playing your own game but that’s what they did to us. I too question the wisdom of 4 passing plays at the end but even in his short tenure, I believe CPJ has earned the equity to win or lose the way he thinks best. He called some plays down the stretch I would not have but over the course of the season he’s won 10 games and I’ve won none so he gets the benefit of any doubt.
It’s bad to lose to those people because they have so little class but it happened and all that’s left to do is move forward.
Threeandoh
November 29th, 2009
12:16 am
Tech fans are upset about the game. Dawg fans upset about the season. But at least we aren’t Notre Dame. Bye Charlie.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:17 am
Amber alert out for Morgan Burnett and any Tech linebacker. Just how did Wommack get the job, anyway?
Bobby Houseman
November 29th, 2009
12:18 am
Goodnight all. God bless the Yellow Jackets and the Bulldogs.
JDM
November 29th, 2009
12:18 am
@ stony Agreed. While Chan was at the helm, football just didn’t seem as passionate and serious as it does now. DRad wanted to “re-energize” the fan base and CPJ is still a good hire. A 10-win season is pretty nice. Potentially a 12-win season at this point if we show up to every game. Miami this year was our UNC game from 2008. We just didn’t show up. A comedy of errors, really.
Our special teams has always concerned me and I’ve been a big scrutinizer of Wommack for a while, now. Especially after tonight’s debacle.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
Many UGA fans on JS’s blog showed class. It wasn’t until after Thomas’s drop that the classless ones came over.
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
CPJ blew it on 4 pass plays……… We deserved to lose…. Should never have gotten away from our run game.. GA played a great game,but it was our game to win and we couldn’t get it done. Congrats GA!
JDM
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
@ Threeandoh: “Tech fans are upset about the game. Dawg fans upset about the season.”
Agreed. Very well stated.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
GT 4 u- Drew Butler never punted. That should let you know where to place the blame.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
Drew Butler = Maytag repair man
Herschel Talker
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
Baba O’Riley – that’s ridiculous. There was plenty of time left. No reason for him to be throwing at that point, and certainly not bombs. Tech is one dimensional, and they should stick with that dimension. Terrible playcalling.
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
Yeah,Our defense was lousy!!!!
stony
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
Oh, and my sincere congrats to the dawgs for a hard-fought victory. Y’all played hard, wanted it more, and earned the bragging rights for another year. Enjoy it, because as long as we retain our current coach, you will never be handed an easy win in this rivalry again.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Find us a DC, CPJ.
dawggirl
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Remember Techies . . . no excuses allowed. I think that I remember reading that all year long!! Refs, players hurt, etc. You got an old fashioned a** whoopin tonight.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Ealey saw better defenses while playing at ECI
I love my Johnson
November 29th, 2009
12:25 am
Oh, nevermind.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:25 am
dawggirl- yes indeed. Our lines were whipped
GT87
November 29th, 2009
12:26 am
Everyone has said that our “high school offense” wouldn’t work against BCS teams. I’m more concerned about our “high school defense”. I’m confident that CPJ will make the necessary adjustments for the future. While tonight may have been gloomy, the future is still bright. Go Jackets.
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
12:26 am
We deserved to get our a$$ whiped Dawggirl.. The way our defense played tonight..
matthew
November 29th, 2009
12:26 am
Baba – Over the past year Georgia Tech fans have been relentless about the win last year… Us Georgia fans will rub it in for a week and then go on to other things… you can’t say that about Tech fans. With that under consideration, you should have a better idea just as which fans are the classless ones.
Observer
November 29th, 2009
12:27 am
Geez “Threeandoh” – didn’t mean to ruffle your FOL’s. May be “old, tired and weak” to you, but truth stands! Had chldren, family and friends attend both schools so the rigors of the academics are not comparable. Love my jackets and excited for the days ahead. Hope to see UGA have better times. They seem to have a cloud of sad surrounding them at the moment. Somethng isn’t gelling. As for now, another year, another four quarters………
Dawggirl
November 29th, 2009
12:27 am
Jeff, just wondering . . . how do you rate Paul Johnson after this game? I’m thinking that he just might of been out coached tonight.
JDM
November 29th, 2009
12:27 am
@ dawggirl: Not making excuses, simply stating our core failures tonight. A properly coached Tech defense would’ve made for a FAR more interesting game tonight. Officiating was crappy both ways this game and has been pretty much that way all season. Nearly every team has a handful of asinine calls to hold issue with. Probably our most blatant came in a win vs UNC. However each conference seems to be pretty arrogant themselves and their officiating crews. Especially the SEC who will now fine any coach that publicly complains.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:28 am
The last 2 years, the team coming off a bye week has lost this game at home. Doesn’t make sense.
Threeandoh
November 29th, 2009
12:28 am
Drive home safe everyone. I’m a happy Dawg fan but here’s hoping Tech whips Clemson. I hate orange- always have.
matthew
November 29th, 2009
12:29 am
Yeah, Georgia fans are upset about the season because we have a bad one every ten years. Tech has a good one every ten years and other than a 3 point fluke, they can’t beat Georgia in the midst of their worst season under Richt. That tells you a lot about the two teams.
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:30 am
matthew- I disagree. Every team has some moronic fans. You can’t paint it with a broad brush. You should hang out more on this blog if you think UGA fans will let it go after a week.
Dawggirl
November 29th, 2009
12:30 am
So, what is your point JDM . . you got beat . . . again. Get over it. I won’t, at least for the next year . . . I plan to be as obnoxious as you Tech fans were for the past year. Win more than one in a row and then you can talk. All that we have heard is “there is a new sheriff in town” . . . he looked more like Barney Fife tonight.
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
12:30 am
No excuses…….. We lost…. End of story……….
Dawggirl
November 29th, 2009
12:31 am
You didn’t lose . . . you got beat!!!!!
Baba O'Riley
November 29th, 2009
12:33 am
Easy there dawggirl. Nobody in red knocked that ball out of Thomas’s hands. UGA won. That’s it