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
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 28th, 2009
8:37 pm
oops
TechFan
November 28th, 2009
8:37 pm
We need to recruit a kicker. Blair is horrible.
Jacket Lawyer
November 28th, 2009
8:37 pm
We can’t kick our mother.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:37 pm
No good. Shoulda gone for it.
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
8:37 pm
When did Jason Elam start kicking for Georgia Tech?
Bill
November 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
FG- cost us
Michael
November 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
Shoulda gone for it on 4th and 7.
MauiJacket
November 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
WE ONLY SCORE TDS—TO HELL WITH FGS AND GA
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
Blair is a heck of a kicker, Walsh will one day be in the Pros.
TechFan
November 28th, 2009
8:38 pm
Would have had we not had the penalty.
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
8:39 pm
All the soccer players in metro ATL…we can’t find one to kick for us???????????????
Jacket Lawyer
November 28th, 2009
8:39 pm
We’ve had great field goal kickers in the past… but we can’t kick. Just go for all on 4th from now on.
MauiJacket
November 28th, 2009
8:39 pm
HOW CAN YOU MISS THAT BLAIR—-Glad you are getting a great education!!
TechFan
November 28th, 2009
8:40 pm
Good one Jeff.
Dreman1731TechFan
November 28th, 2009
8:40 pm
Just waiting on UGA to pass. I’m sure it’s going to be a deep pass.
NERDS!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 28th, 2009
8:41 pm
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
8:41 pm
Is Julian Burnett in the doghouse for something? He played well before his injury. Why isn’t he on the field?
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
There’s the first one!
M Cook
November 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
YESSSSS!!!!
Michael
November 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
Yippie! Now let’s restore order!
TechFan
November 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
TECH BALL!!! THWG!
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
Now you got the chance Jackets.
Mr. A
November 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
Hey Techies… run your mouth when you win seven in a row until then you have no right to talk even with all of the bandwagon sportswriters on your side for now!
And yes I told all my fellow Dawgs to keep it to theirselves when we beat Florida a few years ago. We should not talk when we only beat them every now and then!
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:43 pm
Good blocking by you guys on that last play.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:43 pm
Schultz drives a bandwagon, I thought he drove a Volvo.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 28th, 2009
8:44 pm
We’ll be okay. Jaybo can run this offense. We just need to watch for ball control … no fumbles.
Michael
November 28th, 2009
8:44 pm
Mr. A, I will support my team no matter if you win the next 20 or 50 or five thousand.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:45 pm
I was right, Jaybo gets in the game before Logan. And the way I said it would happen. Anyone want to know the lottery numbers?
Michael
November 28th, 2009
8:45 pm
Enter your comments here
Dayman
November 28th, 2009
8:45 pm
uh oh nerds
Michael
November 28th, 2009
8:46 pm
I didn’t mean to hit the “submit comment” button.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:46 pm
Michael, that is the kind of fan I like to hear. Pulling for you guys next weekend, not this weekend.
Clint Eastwood
November 28th, 2009
8:47 pm
We’re even now GT
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
8:48 pm
I hope Nesbitt is okay. He looked shookup on the sideline shot. I do hope he is fine.
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
8:48 pm
Sorry folks — lost WiFi for a while. No report on Nesbitt yet but he’s standing up now and testing the weight on his ankle.
Rural Education
November 28th, 2009
8:48 pm
It looked like the Ga defender intentionally rolled up on Nesbitt’s leg.
MauiJacket
November 28th, 2009
8:48 pm
We will prevail—this is great for Jaybo—he gets great experience today—-we win because of our system
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 28th, 2009
8:49 pm
With Jaybo at QB, I would start looking for more passing. Unless he’s gotten rusty from riding the bench, he’s normally a very accurate passer.
… and no … I’m not his mama … just a family friend.
UBA Boss
November 28th, 2009
8:50 pm
just like 1978 when UGA intentionally injured held Eddie Lee,
pilgrim
November 28th, 2009
8:50 pm
Anderson and Nesbitt.
Mr. A
November 28th, 2009
8:50 pm
I too hope Nesbitt is okay! I never want anyone to get hurt!
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
8:50 pm
Blair’s 1-for-2 … Had to feel a little pressure on that kick.
First quarter stats: Georgia outrushed Tech 98-70. What were odds of that?
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
8:51 pm
Blair looked hurt after that kick.
GT87
November 28th, 2009
8:52 pm
Typical thugs twisting Josh in the pile. If you can’t stop him, try to hurt him. Karma will be a bitch.
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
8:52 pm
No Nesbitt = No Chance
TechFan
November 28th, 2009
8:52 pm
Tech radio said Nesbitt is Questionable for the rest of the game. Going back into locker room to look at it further.
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
8:52 pm
Nesbitt just left the field — I would imagine to get a shot.
Michael
November 28th, 2009
8:54 pm
Best kickoff coverage I remember seen in a LONG time!
Michael
November 28th, 2009
8:54 pm
Whoops, bad grammer. Best I remember seeing in a long time…
Meanwhile...love the network feed
November 28th, 2009
8:54 pm
During the commercial break CWM ran up to Damon Evans in the stands and tried to leverage the defense forcing a field goal into a new five year contract.
Evans handed him a job application from The Varsity and promised a good reference.