With Georgia Tech loss, ACC struggling for attention again
This was the sad scene in Jacksonville at the 2007 ACC title game. Attendance was announced as 53,212.
The ACC wanted to be the SEC. It wanted the money, the clout, the conference championship game, the TV contracts and pollsters to give mid-level ACC teams the benefit of the doubt because, well, they were in the ACC.
But once again, the ACC looks like a souffle that keeps collapsing.
Georgia Tech lost to Georgia Saturday. Clemson lost to South Carolina. So both halves of next week’s ACC championship game in Tampa lost to mid-level SEC teams that are headed to third-tier bowl games. That’s not how a conference gets money or clout or a big TV contract or the benefit of the doubt.
Meanwhile, the SEC title game matches No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama.
While Tech coach Paul Johnson tries to figure out how to motivate his players after Saturday’s lost to the Dogs, ACC commissioner John Swofford needs to figure out how to spin this almost annual disaster into a positive. Good luck with that.
The conference has never received the marquee Miami-Florida State match-up it was hoping for when it expanded and split into two strangely divided geographic divisions (Atlantic and Coastal). Here’s the ACC’s brief championship game history:
♦ 2005: The first game has been the high point. It was a good game (FSU beat Virginia Tech, 27-22), was well attended in Jacksonville (72,749) and TV ratings that exceeded the SEC and Big 12 title games.
♦ 2006: Tech and Wake Forest were the surprise finalists and played a dreadful, touchdown-less game (won by Wake, 9-6). That year, just as this year, the Jackets were coming off a season-ending loss to Georgia. Announced attendance on Jacksonville dropped 10,000 (62,850).
♦ 2007: Two teams from the distant north (Boston College and Virginia Tech) caused attendance to continue to plummet. The No. 5 Hokies won, 30-16, so at least it gave the conference a highly ranked team going into the bowls. But then Virginia Tech was upset by Kansas in the Orange Bowl.
♦ 2008: The game was moved to Tampa. But it was the repeat matchup the ACC couldn’t afford. This time, B.C. and VaTech drew only 27,360 — which means half of the tickets distributed/sold weren’t even used. The Hokies won, 30-12. Not that anybody noticed.
♦ 2009: This week’s losses and the economy likely will hurt attendance. Regardless, the game would’ve garnered a lot more attention if Tech and Clemson were coming off victories.
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468 comments Add your comment
CatsFly
November 29th, 2009
3:30 pm
Hey, I’ll take my ACC athletic program and match it with any in the SEC. The Heels are arguably as good UGa in football this year based on what I have observed. They did beat Miami and VaTech. They did stink it up in a couple of games, but the dogs did as well. And when it comes to basketball, well….
Dawg Foot
November 29th, 2009
3:32 pm
St. Simons just crapped his drawers again. Hahahahahahahhahahahhahahahaha.
Dawg Central
November 29th, 2009
3:33 pm
Calvin….damn u went back to 1984……lol, lol, lol…..all I can say is 8 out of 9 and 30-24…..does any of that ring a bell for you????
Michael
November 29th, 2009
3:36 pm
I only know two ACC fans and asked both to explain the conference’s divisional alignment. Neither of them could. The SEC divides naturally East/West, but the only natural way to divide the ACC would be North/South. But they couldn’t do that because FSU and Miami would be in the same division. I suspect they just drew names out of a hat.
calvin
November 29th, 2009
3:36 pm
So, what would have happened if that 4th down pass had
been caught, as it should have been? Tech would have
had a first down deep in Georgia territory, and plenty
of time.
Star Trek is the shiznit. Tech rules 4ever!
November 29th, 2009
3:36 pm
Super Conference! Tee Hee Hee!!!!!!!
Larry Jones
November 29th, 2009
3:39 pm
Meanwhile, billions of people live on less then a dollar a day, football is so important…..
Seattle Jacket
November 29th, 2009
3:39 pm
OK. Yes Georgia was the better team last night. Tech was flat, de-energized, and disconnected. That is unacceptable for this Game. We should have no problem getting pumped for this game. Looks like the players fed right into the ajc hype. Yes, we have more important games to play, but this was disappointing to say the least. That being said, UGA played as I thought they would. They played with reckless abandon. They played like a wouded dog. They played with nothing to lose. They were the better team last night. NOW! Let’s remember. Tech is going to the ACC championship. as much crap as the Dawg nation will throw at it, it is still our Championship. We win, and we go to Miami. We need to get ready for this game. Clemson will be ready. Will we? I really think CPJ might have been sending a message to his players, the media and UGA. We want to win very game, but this is not the end all to our season. We didn’t question CPJ’s play calling when it worked, we shouldn’t question when it doesn’t work. By the way puppies, you guys totally dominated us last night. You played your very best game that you could play. Thanks to your SEC referees, you went from 80 something yds/game in penalties to 39 yards in this game. We played the flattest game possible. We played without our starting DT and QB (thanks to some dirty ball; Deny it all you want. that was dirty). wWe gave you every opportunity to BLOW us out. Yet in the end, we had a chance to win. We had a chance to totally demoralize you. Yes, we failed. But tell me what that says about the future of this rivalry. Dawgs beware. Whether you want to admit it, or are scared to realize it, Tech is here to stay. CPJ is here to stay. Your best beat our worst. Enjoy it while it lasts. Oh yeah, Nice to see Willie Martinez is the best D coordinator in the land. You bunch of band wagon pukes. You disgust me. TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!!!
Eat it St. Simons
November 29th, 2009
3:40 pm
((30-24)) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
ACC Champ
November 29th, 2009
3:40 pm
Is UGA the ACC Champion since they beat Tech and USC, who beat Clemson?
ACC Champ
November 29th, 2009
3:44 pm
Just think what the score of the game would have been if Green & Rambo would have played last night!
Reality
November 29th, 2009
3:45 pm
Simply AMAZING! If the ACC is so insignificant, then will someone please explain the rather large numbers of posts here from the SEC fans? They certainly must care about the ACC! Otherwise, they would ignore us like they do GSU and others.
Facts are facts.
1. GA Tech can still win the conference championship.
2. GA Tech can still go to a BCS bowl.
3. GA Tech will still have a minimum of 10 wins this season.
4. UGAY cannot even come close to items 1, 2, or 3.
This is why there are soooooo many pitiful ugay fans trolling the ACC and GA Tech blogs. Can you say “jealous”?
Reality
November 29th, 2009
3:46 pm
Oh yeah, one more thing…..
GA Tech is now 5-2 in the SEC for the last two years. That is a better winning percentage than ugay or most all of the SEC teams. Does this mean we also must go to the SEC conference game?
ACC Champ
November 29th, 2009
3:46 pm
Where can you buy ACC Champion T-shirts?
RedGADawg
November 29th, 2009
3:47 pm
Yella Bugs only beat three FBS teams with winning records. How that deserves a #8 ranking is a mystery! They can be proud of wins against the only two SEC teams to not be bowl eligible. Not a wonder Paul Johnson has been so successful when the competition is so weak. It would be interesting for TechnoGeeks to play three FBS non conference opponents and win two out of three.
Reality
November 29th, 2009
3:48 pm
Seattle Jacket,
Thanks for your post. However, please understand that 90% of the people posting here are loser ugay fans with nothing better to do than to vent their jealously. I hope you don’t expect a reasonable and mature response or conversation here.
Dawg Central
November 29th, 2009
3:48 pm
seattle jacket….I sure hope Paul Johnson is here to stay…..God i really do……lol…..UGA owns Tech….there isn’t a rivalry anymore….just annaul ass whoopings for the Yellow Jackets…..so dream a little dream seattle….and enjoy the ACC championship game…..lol…….Tech was ranked 7th….UGA…worst team in 15 years,,,,we are Tech’s “DADDY”
Reality
November 29th, 2009
3:49 pm
ACC Champ,
Check the GA Tech bookstore. Idiot.
1970Dawg
November 29th, 2009
3:49 pm
Cal, if Thomas hadn’t dropped that ball, R Jones would have intercepted the next desperation pass and would have run it back all the way. 37-24
would have been even better. What if AJG had been able to play or what if Stafford and Moreno hadn’t gone pro? We can play that game.
Dawg Central
November 29th, 2009
3:49 pm
Reality……has it set in on your ass yet????? lol…..GO Dawgs!!!
marseilles mutt
November 29th, 2009
3:51 pm
Dawg central got a little news for you chum, I’ve got three letters from Uga- freshman weren’t eligible when I played- and a couple for baseball. I didn’t have a thing to do with that win last night and neither did you Ace.
However, I spent considerable more time on this earth than you seem to have, and I realize that what goes around comes around. Further, quite a few of my long time friends played against me at Tech, and I assure you, you are not qualified to carry the jock straps of players on either team.
Actually Sport, I doubt that you would have stayed in Payne Hall for one week during two a day before the door knob hit your skinny ass.
Save your comments for your other teen age girl friends. Or better yet,
come to the Lettermen’s reunion next year and tell us all how smart you are.
Reality
November 29th, 2009
3:53 pm
Dawg Central,
Can you help? I have been searching on the new polls that came out today for your team – ugay. Where are they ranked????
FDawg
November 29th, 2009
3:54 pm
Seattle Jacket….you can give all the excuses you want about getting mashed last night by the DAWGS, but don’t give me that ” we have more important games to play ” crap. If you can’t get up for one of the oldest rivalries in college football against your cross state rival, then you learned one of life’s little lessons about looking ahead….and you paid for it. See ya next year!
dawgit
November 29th, 2009
3:59 pm
So UGA has beaten Tech in 8 of the last 9 years. Tech has beaten UGA only 8 times in the last 25 years?
We Own You
November 29th, 2009
3:59 pm
Love Calvin’s logic…..He noted that Tech won in Athens 4 times in 25 years (12 tries)…..and equates that to Georgia’s winning 5 times in 10 years in Atlanta (5 tries)…..Aren’t the Nerds cute when they try to defens their suck-a$$ program. Sit down and shut up, Jackets….We own you.
We Own You
November 29th, 2009
3:59 pm
Love Calvin’s logic…..He noted that Tech won in Athens 4 times in 25 years (12 tries)…..and equates that to Georgia’s winning 5 times in 10 years in Atlanta (5 tries)…..Aren’t the Nerds cute when they try to defens their suck-a$$ program. Sit down and shut up, Jackets….We own you.
Reality
November 29th, 2009
4:00 pm
Bobby Dodd is one piece of **** stadium.
Dawg Central
November 29th, 2009
4:00 pm
mutt…i did 20 years in the Marine Corps u soft ass Techie…so don’t tell me about carrying jock straps….US Marines use to love to punch college boys in the face…..and take their women…except Tech women…we didn’t want them…so, don’t even try to compare a lame as Tech athlete to a US Marine unless u are an idiot…..Go Dawgs
ATLfan15
November 29th, 2009
4:01 pm
Well said, FDawg!!
While I agree that there are some less than articulate UGA brethren on this blog who are basking in last night’s victory (some of it is just ignorant), there have been soooo many Tech fans on this same blog the past year who can criticize and smack-talk, but can’t take it when it’s directed back at them. You got dominated at the line of scrimmage last night with CMR and Bobo using your own game plan against you….so just sit back, suck it up and take it like men. GO DAWGS!! THWGT!!
BravesFan79
November 29th, 2009
4:01 pm
Im a GT fan 1st and a UGA fan 2nd, and i still think GT is the better team. This has been a rough year for both defenses. Just think UGA 1st fans… you might end up being the big loosers in the end if Martinez stays.
When we all know it wasnt Martinez’s defense that won it, it was UGA’s rushing attack and costly GT turnovers.
Where's the Apology???
November 29th, 2009
4:02 pm
Jeff and Mark,
You were both DEAD wrong about the game last night. Where is your apology? Better yet, where is the article about how PATHETIC GTU’s defense is? The better team clearly won and shoved GTU around like they were on roller skates all night. Bring it AJC boys. You and your paper have been covering for GTU since Furman Bisher was the sports editor. Furman’s gone so you have no excuse. We UGA fans are waiting. You heaped dirt on us all year. Quit hiding behind the sorry Falcons game today.
Saint Simons
November 29th, 2009
4:03 pm
Hey losers, I mean tech fans
UGA 30 – GT 24!!!!!
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!! OVERRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.firepauljohnson.com
JDM
November 29th, 2009
4:04 pm
where is st simons hahahahahahahaha
FDawg
November 29th, 2009
4:04 pm
Hey Reality….wake up fool. Nice comment about UGA not being ranked but I believe our unranked team just whipped your team’s ranked asses. Now that is Reality!
Seattle Jacket
November 29th, 2009
4:04 pm
Dawg. Gloat while you can. Just remember. Tech is winning with players reqruited for a pro style offense! These guys didn’t even know what the Spread option was befor last July. We have a 255lb weak side tackle. He is a converted TE. Yes, I can’t wait for CPJ’s recruits to get here and start playing. And, no, the majority of our juniors will be back. I am worried that Bey Thomas might be gone. Who can blame him. He will graduate this year by the way. But Dwyer will be back. Josh will be back, and our d line will be deeper, and our o line will be stronger and bigger. So please, be a good puppy and stfu before you get hit in the nose with a rolled up newspaper. Man the intelligence level of some dogs amazes me even still. I appologize to the true Proud Dawg Nation who are true football fans, and are not trash talking little punks that give all of you a bad name. We have them, too. I wish they all would be banned from this forum.
happydawg
November 29th, 2009
4:05 pm
What a great win. I have read enough from these local writers about how Paul Johnson is possibly the greatest coach the flats have ever seen. Tech is respected nationally and it’s fun to beat a good tech team. The future is still bright(Mutt and Jeff). Fellow Dawg fans, please win with class and don’t become that which you hate.
CatsFly
November 29th, 2009
4:05 pm
Do Tn., Fl., and LSU own UGA like UGa owns Tech?
NativeGeorgian
November 29th, 2009
4:06 pm
it needs to be played at the Ga Dome or in Charlotte…florida is too far for people to drive especially with a bad economy
GritzBlitzer
November 29th, 2009
4:07 pm
Schultz: Please comment on Johnson’s decision to stray from Tech’s usually successful option strategy by passing there at the end of the game. Did he take his eye off this game because of “bigger” goals to achieve?
DAWG
November 29th, 2009
4:07 pm
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the early Christmas gift Georgia Tech. Go “DAWGS”.
Joe Fan
November 29th, 2009
4:07 pm
Keep it in perspective folks. GA Tech was not ready in the first half. Call it the effects of two weeks off or being over confident. In the second half Tech was the better team which is further supported by their continued top ten ranking in the BCS. The lastest BCS poll is out and GT is # 10. So GA can use their win as comfort while they freeze at the Music City Bowl but if the two teams played 10 times GT would win 7-8 of them.
SAINT SIMONS DOES M
November 29th, 2009
4:11 pm
Reality- Keep telling us you don’t care. Keep telling us it doesn’t matter. Keep telling us you’ll play next week for a title no one respects before fewer people than will attend most Ga. high school playoff games. Keep telling us how smart you are. Keep telling us we work for you when you’re sitting in 3 walled cubicle Monday morning as the laughing stock of the office. Keep telling us how relevant NATS and the mighty ACC are. Reality is that this will burn your a$$ more than a UGA grad cutting your hourly wage for the under achiever you will always be. Chew on it & get ready for the next 364 days of payback for you and your pompus windbag trolls!!!
yellowjacket82
November 29th, 2009
4:11 pm
Congrats Dawgs. You played a great game last night. You UGA bloggers obsessed all year about beating GT and you did it. Please don’t be upset that beating you was not GT’s biggest goal. We plan to win next weekend and go to a BCS bowl. We will have then accomplished our major goal. UGA fans can say all they want about how much better UGA is than the ACC…..and remember, what goes around comes around.
Reality
November 29th, 2009
4:14 pm
Dawg Central,
My nephew just finished marine corp training. He told me of the rather large number of gays in the marines. Count you as one, huh? No wonder you didn’t want the women. LMFAO!!!
Dawg Central
November 29th, 2009
4:18 pm
Joe Fan……I will give u factual numbers…..UGA and Tech has played for the past 9 years and UGA has won 8….thats facts not wishes……Dawgs will always be Tech’s envy …even when they are ranked 10th…how pathetic
Pi$$onaDog
November 29th, 2009
4:19 pm
We might have lost but I am still full of myself.
Roger
November 29th, 2009
4:19 pm
Wow…..sounds as if Seattle Jacket is not having a good Sunday. I’d just like to know exactly what was meant by the “your best beat our worst” comment considering the dismal season that UGA has endured. I would really like for Seattle Jacket to elaborate on that. Yeah, I cannot wait to read the reply since our best player was on the sideline watching the game. BTW, great effort on behalf of GT; it was a good game.
too much over too little
November 29th, 2009
4:20 pm
Congrats bullpups!
To fellow Tech fans – deep six this one, it is over, and the TECH /Bullpup game of today does not yield the dividends of a championsip game!
As far as the SEC and ACC go ……who cares?
Georgia is a lower tier SEC Team and upset GT in a rivalry game….little discussed is the absence of the GT Quarterback – that was the true game changer….. and even with that he came back, somewhat hobbled, and nearly pulled off the comeback. This is what makes college footbal fun and painful.
See you next year in Athens – I look forward to adding to my hedge collection.
Josh
November 29th, 2009
4:21 pm
Seattle Jacket, uhh we didnt have the best reciever in the country on the field in AJ Green. You lost Norbit’s husband for one possession and brought in billy bob shaw to throw a pick. Dwyer averaged less than 2.5 ypc. King and Ealey both averaged over 9 ypc. That was the worst attempt at an excuse yet. Go home rainy city dweller.
matthew
November 29th, 2009
4:22 pm
Tech fans are such douchebags. No, Tech wouldn’t win 9 times out of 10 – they haven’t. And nobody cares about the All Crap Conference “championship” and no one really gives a crap about the Orange Bowl.
And need I remind you, don’t count your eggs before they hatch. C.J. Spiller is going to run it down your throat… so you won’t have to worry about an Orange Bowl bid… think Gator bowl. And you’ll lose that one as well.