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
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:26 pm
can Nesbitt play defense…or better yet, can he coach a defense?
Michael
November 28th, 2009
9:26 pm
I’m not giving up on the Jackets (I remember the third quarter from last year), but they’re just getting their butts whooped on both lines. They didn’t start reading their press clippings, did they?
PissedDawg
November 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Time for the Nerd Jackets to find a hiding place for the next year. The ACC must be crap is the Nerd Jackets are 10-1.
Meanwhile...just for kicks Jeff
November 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Hey Jeff, since he’s probably in such a good mood, I’ll give you a dollar if just for kicks and giggles, if you walk up to CPJ right now and ask him for directions to The Varsity.
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
You keep talking about the intenional injury that no one else commentating on the game is talking about
JDM
November 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Hey St Simons hahahahhahaah
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Good run by Tech, Paul has been playing possum.
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:27 pm
Off subject, but how can Tiger and his wife keep delaying with police? Does anyone else get that treatment?
jimbob
November 28th, 2009
9:28 pm
Tech defense has entirely sucked–but not Nesbit can give them a breather.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:28 pm
Dayman if Nesbitt cannot take the pounding maybe the Dungeons and Dragons team will take him.
PissedDawg
November 28th, 2009
9:28 pm
Just keep running and do let Joe Cox throw. Do those Solar calculators work out there, being a night game and all. Nerds.
Yelllow Jackett
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
For all that is right in the world, beat them Tech. We can’t let these dawgs have their day!
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
how bout them Dawgs
Buzz like a butterfly
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
What a hit!
Reggie Ball
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
With me gone , who will GT fans blame for the loss?
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
Looks like the Dawgs intenionally sacked Nesbitt, the big bullies.
D
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
SON OF A BITCH
Michael
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
Yes, p***edDawg, the solar calculators work under the stadium lights.
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
Third and 21 — run a dive?
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
9:30 pm
Georgia lets clock run? Interesting.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:30 pm
Willie is whipping Wommack in the ReMax bowl.
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
9:30 pm
Wait .. TEch called timeout.
Jacket Lawyer
November 28th, 2009
9:30 pm
It’s what we do. Johnson has a trick up his sleeve.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:31 pm
Three seconds, dang I need a beer.
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:31 pm
I remember Dawg fans crowing at halftime last year to.
Michael
November 28th, 2009
9:31 pm
Wow, 13 TOs in one game. We could use a few tonight.
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:31 pm
Hey Cuz I hate to see anyone get………………never mind.
BugKiller
November 28th, 2009
9:31 pm
I am completely and utterly stunned right now.
Now, I can’t allow myself to get too excited.
Willie still has the second half to screw it all up.
We were up at the half last year, too.
But still. Pretty shocked right now.
Are you shocked, Jeff?
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
9:32 pm
This is one of strangest things ever seen.
GT87
November 28th, 2009
9:32 pm
Typical dogs, leaving the game early.
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:32 pm
too
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:32 pm
A trick or a treat.
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
9:32 pm
on that silly CPJ and his high school gimmicks
Michael
November 28th, 2009
9:33 pm
That time could have been better spent on a half-time pep talk.
Jeff Schultz
November 28th, 2009
9:33 pm
OK … now half is really over.
Biggest surprises: Georgia has run ball with relative ease, kept TEch offense off field. Obviously Nesbitt injury hurt Tech.
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:33 pm
17 – 3 halftime. A lot of football to be played yet.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:33 pm
45, I might just break into a little of the General’s sippin solvent.
Realistic Tech Fan
November 28th, 2009
9:33 pm
I knew last year was a fluke. UGA is gonna win 8 out of 9 games. I hate that they own us.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 28th, 2009
9:34 pm
Nesbitt’s arm is stronger than he thought. That throw went a good five yards beyond the endline.
Yelllow Jackett
November 28th, 2009
9:34 pm
Din’t UGA win last week’s first half? Oh and then what happened…
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:35 pm
CMR said he was not satisfied right now. Loran said what do you like. He said he liked that they were getting after their rearends right now. Last is a direct quote.
Paul in RDU
November 28th, 2009
9:35 pm
Don’t you have a penalty when one team runs across the field before the half is over?
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:36 pm
Jacket we turned it over four times in the second half last week. Do you think we will do it again?
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
9:36 pm
ok I will say it. Second half is coming and this is when this Dawg team loves to check out. Lets see if Richt can put the accelerator on and blow out the #7 team in thier house.
I have my doubts.
Dayman
November 28th, 2009
9:36 pm
Cuz it is Warcraft now….but yeah they will take him.
Baba O'Riley
November 28th, 2009
9:36 pm
We are lucky to be down only 14. Open receivers and dropped passes by UGA. Wommack’s defense is not letting the offense on the field
hardmanb
November 28th, 2009
9:37 pm
Well, last year we were down 16 to UGA at the half. Maybe PJ can do it again.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
9:37 pm
Sorry Dayman, I never played. Is that the one with Mr. T? Now that would be cool being Mr. T in a game.
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
9:37 pm
Good game plan by Bobo. Run the ball and keep the Jackets offense off the field.
Sounds simple doesn’t it. Wommack needs to make some adjustments to stop the run.
Paul in RDU
November 28th, 2009
9:37 pm
GT gets the ball – First series is critical.
Just like last year