Can Georgia Tech avoid a Dog hangover against Clemson?
Paul Johnson's next challenge is helping Josh Nesbitt and others get past the loss to Georgia. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Paul Johnson told everybody who would listen last week that the Georgia game would not define Georgia Tech’s season. Now all he has to do is convince his players.
The Jackets won eight straight games and had a chance to finish the season with a top-5 ranking. But they blew that by losing at home to Georgia Saturday, 30-24, creating the ACC’s worst nightmare: a championship game between two teams, Tech and Clemson, coming off losses to pedestrian SEC teams. The ACC title game now matches No. 12 (Tech, which fell from seventh) vs. No. 25 (Clemson, which fell from 15th).
But the bigger issue for Johnson is making sure his players get past what just happened. This easily is the biggest defeat the Jackets must bounce back from since he took over. It’s bigger than last year’s loss at North Carolina, and the even the early season defeat at Miami.
Three years ago under Chan Gailey, the Jackets were 9-2, then collapsed and lost consecutive games to Georgia, Wake Forest (ACC title) and West Virginia (Gator Bowl) to close the season.
Asked about a potential hangover, Johnson said Sunday: “It’s always a concern. When you have a big game like that one and you come out on the wrong end, and certainly it was a game we all wanted to win and we took seriously, you have to turn the page. We talked about that for eight straight weeks [during a winning streak]. We talked about it in the locker room [Saturday] night. We have to move on. The regular season is over. We finished 10-2, and that’s better than a lot of people probably thought we could do. Now we have a chance to play for the conference championship. We’ve earned it. Now let’s go play.”
Those were the right words. We’ll find out about the actions soon enough. I’m inclined to think Tech will bounce back. Question: Are you confident the Jackets can avoid a collapse similar to the one we saw in 2006?
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565 comments Add your comment
North Avenue Trade School
December 1st, 2009
1:02 pm
When the battle is over Georgia’s team will be found
With the Yellow Jackets swarming around….um….NOT
…..my bad.
Tech Sux
December 1st, 2009
2:08 pm
Yep, the nerds are really having a hard time dealing with reality
GOJACKETS
December 1st, 2009
2:09 pm
NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY OR HOW U TURN IT….GT IS STILL BETTER THEN UGA…SURE IT WAS A BIG WIN FOR UGA , BUT GT HAD BIGGER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. GA WAS LAST ON OUR MINDS….GO JACKETS@!!!!
GOJACKETS
December 1st, 2009
2:11 pm
AWWWW HE CALLED US NERDS….AWWWWWW I WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PEOPLEW IN SCHOOL AND A ATHLEEEEET IN SCHOOL AND I WENT TO GT…GUESS IM A NERD. BETTER THEN A REDNECK LIKE UGA AND ATHENS…
GOJACKETS
December 1st, 2009
2:12 pm
NO ITS NORTH AVN. THE BETTER SCHOOL….SORRY BUT TRUE
DAWG4life
December 1st, 2009
2:13 pm
Hey guys dont get excited about our win, Gt is still the better team in the state of ga. They just had a off night and were looking ahead to clemson.
GT90CHAMPS
December 1st, 2009
2:14 pm
OK IF TECH PEOPLE ARE NERDS AND UGA PEOPLE ARE REDNECKS….WELL I WILL BE A NERD OVER A REDNECK
Phil
December 1st, 2009
2:18 pm
“Mr Rhino and Keno, if the long pass odds were good, why did Tech not pass more often earlier?”
In a close game, if Paul Johnson identifies a weakness he has a tendency to save that for the fourth quarter or the end of the game so that he can use it to win the game, not just to get an advantage in the middle of the game.
See Clemson and Wake Forest.
Phil
December 1st, 2009
2:22 pm
“Nice and pathetic spin, Gee. Nez-2-bitts only missed two series.”
Two scores would… tie or win the game I think. Kind of a big deal.
Nick Papagorgio
December 1st, 2009
2:38 pm
Congratulations UGA. Washaun Ealey is going to be a great RB for you.
In two years CPJ has turned the “high school offense” into a team that doesn’t quit, and is ranked. Now we’re recruiting for defense.
Again, congratulations.
Wreck
December 1st, 2009
2:44 pm
What would really be humbling is having FIVE losses and sitting at home next Saturday.
We are over you UGA. Enjoy Shreveport while we are at the Orange Bowl next month!
Wreck
December 1st, 2009
2:48 pm
UGA Reality: Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl in beautiful Shreveport Louisiana
Tech Reality: Conference championship and a BCS bowl in sunny Miami
Have fun with 30-26 this year, mutts. Us Tech folks sure got our digs in last year.
Wreck
December 1st, 2009
2:48 pm
UGA Reality: Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl in beautiful Shreveport Louisiana
Tech Reality: Conference championship and a BCS bowl in sunny Miami
Have fun with 30-24 this year, mutts. Us Tech folks sure got our digs in last year.
TrainWreck Johnson
December 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
Wreck,
Johnson seems to have a thing for getting humiliated by 5 loss SEC teams. And careful, a loss to Clemson could very well land Tech in a lesser tier bowl than UGA finds itself in
Dawgs Win
December 1st, 2009
3:06 pm
Theres been an amber alert issued in Atlanta, Ga. There looking for 11 individuals between the ages of 18 and 21 and were last seen wearing gold and white jerseys. They go by the nickname Tech’s defense.
@phil
December 1st, 2009
3:11 pm
could have fooled me…four in a row.
grainy
December 1st, 2009
3:11 pm
Phil, you’re not nearly as knowledgeable about football as you think you are. No coach in his right mind would ignore a “weakness” and put it in his back pocket to save it for the last minute. That’s idiotic you’d even say that. Tech didn’t pass because they can’t. When your entire offense revolves around running the ball only, you’re screwed when trailing in the game with less than two minutes left and no timeouts.
And the Clemson game? Are you kidding? Tech had only 1 offensive touchdown thanks to one of their classic chopblocks
Really?
December 1st, 2009
3:59 pm
Sorry but Tech isn’t playing this weekens. The match up has chenged and the shirts have been made! HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SO8Y3MIsoP8/SxMN88MGbFI/AAAAAAAAGqM/eFnge3sjMxc/s1
Really?
December 1st, 2009
3:59 pm
Sorry but Tech isn’t playing this weekend. The match up has changed and the shirts have been made! HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SO8Y3MIsoP8/SxMN88MGbFI/AAAAAAAAGqM/eFnge3sjMxc/s1
Dawgfan
December 1st, 2009
4:24 pm
The series record of 60-39 is no fluke. 16 out of the last 20 is no fluke. The win last year, the Jasper Sanks non fumble, and the Joe Hamilton fumble that was ruled not, now those are flukes. That would make 19 out of twenty if we only had the review option back then.
Correction
December 1st, 2009
4:39 pm
Dawgfan,
In 1943 & 44 while most programs had their boys overseas defending our freedom, Tech shamefully and cowardly used other teams players since they were stationed on their campus during Officer Training. They used the captains of Alabama and Vandy. Therefore, those “wins” are voided. Also do not forget, Tech was caught cheating during the worst academic scandal in ACC history during the years of 1997-2003. So therefore, their “wins” in 1998, 99 and 2000 are voided as well.
UGA does not get credit for the wins, but its as though the games were never played, which in turn extends UGA’s win margin over the tools to 26.
Hope that helps
Mafia
December 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
“I know the game’s important, because it’s important to our fan base and the school and everyone else. Honestly, I get ready for this game as I get ready for any other game. I think you have to do that. I told somebody earlier that this is not the end all do all for our football program to beat Georgia. We want to win our share of games against them and it’s an in-state rivalry game and all. I understand that, but it’s not going to define our year if we beat Georgia.”
CPJ said this the Tuesday before the game. Just for all you Dawg fans saying we’re trying to make the game unimportant simply because we lost. That has been CPJ’s goal all along.
30-24 We're just better than you.
December 1st, 2009
5:12 pm
Always have been, always will be. And it feels great! LMAO
30-24 We're just better than you.
December 1st, 2009
5:37 pm
Another great thing about being better than everyone at gtu… people don’t think we’re social retards (and retards in general) like gtu folks.
gtfanfrom1951
December 1st, 2009
9:19 pm
uga fans have to pick at tech because they could not beat FLA.,Tenn,LSU,KU,OSU. The only thing UGA is better at is trashing their campus and drinking. It going to be a long time before UGA beats FLA,TENN.,LSU,KU. so enjoy this week
correction needs correcting
December 1st, 2009
9:58 pm
There are no voided wins
GT90CHAMPS
December 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
I wounder what uga’s record in basketball this year will be? lmao
GT90CHAMPS
December 1st, 2009
10:33 pm
Man uga people act like the gt game means the world to them. Didnt know you wanted to have sex with us. We have bigger fish to fry…acc championship game. Get your kicks uga, because 7-5 is weak….
GT90CHAMPS
December 1st, 2009
10:37 pm
oh yeah dawg fans….gt has the record for the longest streak in the series…8 in a row…eat your heart out
Old Gold Britches
December 2nd, 2009
7:43 am
“30-24 We’re just better than you.- you sound like a brat 5 year old “Don’t think you are social retard?” No they don’t . They know you are all just “RETARDS”.
What are you doing this weekend? hating on the blogs…….well…….
WE GOT A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME !!!!! RETARD!
Gt4ever
December 2nd, 2009
8:21 am
colorado90 or whatever your name is,,, Our 90 team would still be scoring on your sorry ARSE team! STFU!
The Other St. Simons
December 2nd, 2009
10:03 am
Old Gold Britches wears depends.
((((((30-24)))))))
An ACC “Championship”…..? In basketball, big deal. In football, a joke. Have fun watching two losers play in an empty stadium.
gadog
December 2nd, 2009
10:29 am
There’s nothing like a double-loser ACC championship! Oh, how proud the winner will be? Could the winner actually be called a “champion”? No, but then who really cares? Really, I mean it. NO ONE REALLY CARES!
NERDS!!!
December 2nd, 2009
2:24 pm
NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!!
JimboDawg
December 2nd, 2009
2:28 pm
I just got punched in the face by a GT fan…it hurt I cried
question for Mafia
December 2nd, 2009
4:07 pm
Why was the UGA game last year the end-all, be-all for Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson, but not this year? Didn’t you guys even go to the trouble of putting the final score on your non-championship rings??
Confused…..
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
December 2nd, 2009
5:00 pm
CPJ WANTS CWM
killerJ
December 2nd, 2009
6:55 pm
It Sucks To Lose To The Convics, But Look At It This Way,Tech Is 2 & 1 Against The Sec This Year & 4 & 2 Overall In The Past 2 Years.(1 & 1 Against The Pound Puppies).They Are In The Midst Of Firing Their Coaches Which Causes Bugs In The System Next Year(Better For Tech & Sec Foes)Tech Wins Against Clemson And They Will Be Forgotten And We Will Be In The History Books And Off To A Premier Bowl Game! Roll Wreck ,THWG!!!!!
killerJ
December 2nd, 2009
7:08 pm
Oh Yea,”Correction”, Your Not Going To Remind Us Of The Kemp And Harrick Issues Are You, I Wonder How Long Thats Been Going On,maybe Since 1944? Sala, Idiot.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 2nd, 2009
9:47 pm
Good luck to GT from this DAWG against Clemson. CPJ has turned things around fast at GT. It was a tough loss for you (just like last year was tough for UGA).
See you at Sanford next year.
UGA=SATAN
December 2nd, 2009
11:36 pm
uga fans are proving this by there utter hate of a team they don’t even consider there main rival. With the exception of a small handful of uga fans that have class and sense, the rest of you are hateful human beings and this is the reason why the majority of the south hates your team.
UGA=SATAN
December 2nd, 2009
11:38 pm
I forgot to mention, Boogies man still rides the short bus.
bull-dykes
December 3rd, 2009
12:36 am
We are the bull dykes! We rock! We’re 7-5 and we accept the fact that we are a middle of the pack SEC team!
Strapons for everyone! Let’s celebrate that we haven’t won a NC since 1980. We are irrelevant.
But hey, willie gave us some nice strap ons and we beat Tech! we are so proud of ourselves!
Yay! It’s great to be a bull dyke!
SourGrapes
December 3rd, 2009
8:29 am
UGA fans are having a hard time convincing me they don’t obsess over GT.
????????
December 3rd, 2009
9:20 am
KIllerJ,
What’s a “convics??” And for the record, Johnson is 1-2 against SEC bowl eligible teams. 3-0 against the cellar dwellers. Hang your hat on that.
GT plays rapists and drug Lords
December 3rd, 2009
9:24 am
UGA = SATAN,
If anyone is bitter and evil it’s the trash comparing an entire university and fan base to the devil. And you’re right, UGA doesn’t consider the Joke by Coke our main rival, because they’re not. We are 26 games up in the head-to-head and just beat the best team you’ve had since 1990 with one of the worse teams we’ve had since 1990, even without the best player in the stadium being involved. I know it’s hard for you to swallow, but you need to accept these harsh realities and move on.
nandy
December 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
The Kemp issue was a civil law suit and no NCAA penalties were ever issued. And the Harrick mess was thanks to our brilliant University President hiring one of his friends, and that only involved basketball players. So try again, numbnuts.
gt EXPOSED by UGA
December 3rd, 2009
10:43 am
apparent, bare, bared, brought to light, caught, clear, debunked, defined, denuded, disclosed, discovered, divulged, dug up, evident, exhibited, for show, found out, laid bare, made manifest, manifest, naked, on display, on the spot, on view, open, peeled, resolved, revealed, shown, solved, stripped, unconcealed, uncovered, unhidden, unmasked, unprotected, unsealed, unsheltered, unveiled, visible
SKD
December 3rd, 2009
11:39 am
It’s quite obvious from skimming (i.e. trying desperately to find even one relevant and articulate comment) these posts that none of you clowns went to either UGA or GT. If you did then you are “dumbing down” yourselves by blogging on these blogs. So much for intelligent conversation. BTW, there are some interesting games coming up on Saturday that most of you are ignoring. Sad really.
cookie
December 3rd, 2009
12:48 pm
SKD,
By “interesting games coming up on Saturday” do you mean every game other than the ACC Consolation Bowl?