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
30-24 GO DAWGS
November 29th, 2009
8:47 pm
“INBRED NEXT TO THE WOODSHED IN CESSPOOL LAND” THATS ALL YOU HAVE? YA’LL EVEN SUCK AT COMEBACKS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA 30-24 SUCKA!
joe cox will be fine
November 29th, 2009
8:47 pm
m, ss, yellofuzz-cowards- losers-leaving your fellow tech fans-the cool ones- to take the heat you worked so hard to stir up.sissies.
Nate
November 29th, 2009
8:47 pm
GT is a 4th rate high school,
Dude we get it. You are revenging St. Simons. My gosh, all Tech fans have disowned him long ago. You don’t have to bring us down with your thousand posts on this blog with the same crap. Congrats on the win, but please this article isn’t really even about Georgia. Tech will rebound and hopefully bring the A game Saturday.
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
8:48 pm
It always happens. You run out of facts, your feelings get hurt so you start the insults and name calling.
7-5 pedestrian dogs are STRUGGLING for attention
November 29th, 2009
8:48 pm
Shreveport ?
7-5 ,
NOW THAT IS PEDESTRIAN
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
8:50 pm
Don’t cite the Nesbitt first-half injury as the difference in this game. There’s the small matter of Georgia Tech’s defense, which was trampled by Georgia’s offensive line. When two running backs — Washaun Ealey and Caleb King — both run for over 165 yards against you, it’s hard to have any excuses at all.
Reality
November 29th, 2009
8:50 pm
ugay who? aren’t they the shrevport players?
Dshep
November 29th, 2009
8:51 pm
Who cares!!! ACC is not even 2nd rate Conf.
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
8:52 pm
Dis anyone mention that the Dawgs won 30 – 24?
mark p'''richt is an idiot
November 29th, 2009
8:52 pm
I am a real man with my 7 and 5 team….no way tech can do that since they have already won 10….and btw I talk smack to oposing players…what a man I am….i am a bigger piece of trash that they leave in athens when they tailgate
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
8:53 pm
Did mention?
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
8:53 pm
GT LOST TO A TEAM GOING TO SHREVEPORT BOWL. HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA AND MOREHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHHHAHAHA AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER
BIOMASS
November 29th, 2009
8:54 pm
Jeff, I haven’t read anything about Johnson’s play calling on the last series. Please direct me if it’s been posted. Thanks.
reality
November 29th, 2009
8:55 pm
Tech wins one game against Georgia in the past 9 years and they thought they were the team to beat and “on the rise”. Well, GA has won 8 of the last 9, 15 of the last 19, and no worse than 7 -3 in any decade since the 50’s.
When Georgia gets beat by Florida, 5 of the last 7, 15 of the last 19 (see the similarities), you never see GA fans claiming they are going to beat Fla from now on or that GA is dominant.
The majority of Tech fans have very little perspective / understanding. Welcome back to irrelavancy. Enjoy the AAA game next week.
dawgs
November 29th, 2009
8:55 pm
Nats keep your head up and beat Clemson. Word is that winner can replace Vandy in basement of SEC! 30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7-5 pedestrian dogs are STRUGGLING for attention
November 29th, 2009
8:57 pm
Paul Johson is 4-2 in SEC games,
you ignorant 7-5 morons.
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
8:57 pm
Caleb King just ran for another 75 yard touchdown!
7-5 pedestrian dogs are STRUGGLING for attention
November 29th, 2009
9:00 pm
GT has a 10-2 record
and the dogs think 7-5 is a national championship.
reality
November 29th, 2009
9:01 pm
paul johnson is 4-2 in sec games.
Come on, beating vandy (twice) and Mississippi St dosn’t count.
That is like beating Wake, Duke, North Carolina….. wait who do you guys ever play, no wonder you have 10 wins. what a joke.
CPJ is 1-2 against legitimate SEC teams.
gtlinz
November 29th, 2009
9:01 pm
Congrats to the Dogs – they played well and earned the win. They exposed what every Tech fan knew down deep but wanted to forget when we finished up our schedule against the weaker part of our schedule – and that is that our D is just plain bad. Josh Nesbitt (with a little help from friends) willed us to 10 wins, kept the ball away from the other team (making our D look better) and with him I liked our chances. Without him for a signicant part of the game (and not at full strength) made it a hard win for us, unless UGA decided to give the ball away – which they did not do against us.
I think a little perspective is in order here. CPJ inherited some great skill players but a reduced scholarship total (thank you Chan) and some serious holes. Last year we won 9 games and beat UGA with a DISMAL offensive line, and this year has won 10 games and a shot at a BCS bowl with a very suspect defense and an improved (but not great) offensive line. In years past, I suspect our dominant D line compensated for secondary problems until we met a good passing team and then we would get exposed by WAC teams in lower tier bowls. I graduated in 1984, have seen some bad years, and we have the right man at the helm. It is just year 2, and I believe that any coaching or recruiting issues will get adequately addressed.
The rivalry is back on. I hate losing this game, but we actually could afford to and we will continue to be competitive with CPJ and beat UGA our fair share. Mr Braine did not think it possible, but DRad knows and hired the right guy. Keep the faith and know that the Dogs will have to deal with us from now on. Heck – that win may keep our friend Willie employed and keep a few of our Sunday players around for another year !
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:01 pm
GT LOST TO A TEAM FULL OF IGNORANT 7-5 MORONS. THE SWEETEST. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER
play by play
November 29th, 2009
9:03 pm
Dwyer, stuffed at the line of scrimage
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:03 pm
GT LOST TO A TEAM WHO THINKS 7-5 IS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. HAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER
7-5 pedestrian dogs are STRUGGLING for attention
November 29th, 2009
9:03 pm
Enjoy Shreveport and grab some chitlin’s at the Greyhound station.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:05 pm
GT CAN AFFORD TO LOSE TO UGA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA, AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. DO IT EVERY YEAR THEN HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA FOREVER AND EVER
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:09 pm
GT LOST TO A TEAM WHO WILL ENJOY SHREVEPORT AND GRABBING SOME CHITLIN’S AT THE GREYHOUND STATION. SOME BODY KNOW THE PALACE VERY WELL. SHOULD HAVE TRAVELED THERE BEFORE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAfOREVER AND EVER.
coach p'''richt
November 29th, 2009
9:10 pm
let me see , if i do the math and we win one more game we will be 8 and 5….that better than 10 and 2 right? What if GT loses the next 2, CRAP that would be 10 and 4….man we still suck
Mr Charlie
November 29th, 2009
9:11 pm
Sure,
GT is 4-2 against SEC teams, 2 wins to that powerhouse Miss State, one against Vandy, and one fluke againt the Dawgs.
Then of course, their 38-3 humilation against a top teir Sec team in the Bowl game last year.
Barbara Dooly for Congress
November 29th, 2009
9:11 pm
Can Clemson avoid a Gamecock hangover,
Dabo has a long way to go.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:13 pm
GT LOST TO A TEAM THAT SUCKS. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA, AND HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA, AND MORE HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AND FOREVER AND EVER
Dennis
November 29th, 2009
9:13 pm
I heard Johnson say that the game didn’t define the season and when I heard it I felt an awful foreboding feeling that Tech would not be ready to match intensity. I think his team thought that UGA thought the same thing, only they didn’t, UGA wanted it more and should have been matched by intensity from Tech. Horrible loss and again lost to a mediocre UGA team it should have handed its hat to just like the old Goof teams. Usually when you see teams falling like flys they are trying to go through the motions without an injury.
Barbara Dooly for Congress
November 29th, 2009
9:14 pm
Shreveport is humiliation Mr. Charlie.
Mr Charlie
November 29th, 2009
9:14 pm
Gtlinz. How could you “afford” to lose this game, you could have finished the season ranked #2, but I guess it all depends on your goals. Now you will night win a tarnished ACC title (Thanks to S Carolina’s win), and just hope you don’t have to play an SEC team in a bowl game.
Jon
November 29th, 2009
9:15 pm
Stop hating on Tech, Georgia fans..
Charlotte Dawg
November 29th, 2009
9:15 pm
Oh they are just devastated. I’ve never been happier to see such agony on people’s faces. Tears of sadness. My god it was funny!
Guess I won’t be seeing all that tech garb at the mall, movies, etc when I go back home to Mayretta for christmas! Last year was the most I’ve ever seen…hmmmmmmmm
Just know Tech fans that we still don’t respect you. This is why last year stunk so bad…we knew we were beaten by lessor men.
I hope the chop block option recovers against clemson in the “Championship” game.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:16 pm
GT LOST TO A TEAM THAT WANTED IT MORE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER
Alex
November 29th, 2009
9:16 pm
Charlotte Dawg, its “lesser”
Weed-Eater.com
November 29th, 2009
9:17 pm
Watch out for the pedestrians at the one traffic light in Shreveport dawg fans.
Stinger
November 29th, 2009
9:18 pm
This game meant nothing to us this year. We are going to the Orange Bowl and your weakass team is going to the Papa Johns Pizza Bowl. We were focusing on the Conference Championship match up with Clemson.
Mr Charlie
November 29th, 2009
9:18 pm
Well, GT did not have any had in handing us that humilation, and, just think, a team that beat GT, and beat S Carolina (who beat Clemson ) is going to Schreveport. What does that mean for the ACC? Maybe they outta make Schreveport the new home of the ACC championship game.
ACC=WAC
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:18 pm
GT LOST TO HUMILIATED TEAM GOING TO SHEVERPORT. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER
Mr Charlie
November 29th, 2009
9:20 pm
Weedeater, he man a lot, GT and Clemson both lose the back SEC the week before the championship. Way to bring credibility to your conference. Not to mention the blown opportunity to finish in the top 5 on the BCS rankings. Frauds.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
9:20 pm
ACC (ASSOCIATION OF CUP CAKES) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER
Get Real
November 29th, 2009
9:21 pm
Klumpson is about to open a can of whoop azz on you sorry sissies. What about all that NC talk on the blogs a couple of weeks ago…………LMAO. Did you really think you could beat the dogs two years in a row? Going to be a shame when you lose the last 3 games of the year and finish out of the top 25. NC talk at Yech…..now that is funny.
BG
November 29th, 2009
9:22 pm
Caleb King just scored again!!!!!!!!!
Mr Charlie
November 29th, 2009
9:22 pm
As I said Thursday, GT ain’t won anything yet. Just imagine if the Dawgs played in the ACC, this years team would have been undefeated, and King/Ealy would have rushed for 3000 yards.
Charlotte Dawg
November 29th, 2009
9:23 pm
“The game meant nothing to us”….not from what I could tell
I’ll wish ya’ll luck against………AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA…Doesn’t matter! You just lost to the bain of your existence!
ACC=just a shame!
Uncle Bobo
November 29th, 2009
9:24 pm
Shreveport here we come.
jojatek
November 29th, 2009
9:24 pm
Yes.
Charlotte Dawg
November 29th, 2009
9:25 pm
I really do hope “m” killed himself and nobody shows up to his funeral.
“M” really man. Do it! I dare you!