We’re live from a real bowl game (BCS notwithstanding)
Wonder if this guy can play left tackle and has any eligibility left?
I moved here 20 years ago, so I missed the worst chamber of commerce disasters involving weather and the Peach Bowl and Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. (Missed the 1988 season game when North Carolina State and Iowa combined for 14 turnovers and it rained so hard and for so long that former AJC staff writer Gary Pomerantz mused that the crowd of 44,635 (or not) “gasped like blowfish.”
Most assumed things would get better when the Peach Bowl was moved indoors to the climate-controlled Georgia Dome in 1992. But to this extent?
The Peach Bowl gave way to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and its current incarnation might be the greatest remainder of what the college bowl season used to be about: Good teams. Intriguing match-ups. Happy and content fans who viewed college football’s post-season as a reward, not an aggravating and illogical exercise in futility (read: BCS).
It helps that the Chick-fil-A Bowl has tie-ins with the SEC and ACC. It helps that the game has a roof to protect it from miserable weather days like today. It helps that fan bases from around the South love to come to Atlanta.
But none of that guarantees great match-ups.
Though the final scores haven’t always backed up the expectation of competitive games — as Georgia Tech would prefer to forget — the game has had great curb appeal. Just look at the last seven years: Clemson-Tennessee, Florida-Miami, LSU-Miami, Georgia-Virginia Tech, Auburn-Clemson, LSU-Georgia Tech and tonight: Virginia Tech-Tennessee.
I’ve seen the economic impact reports and claims that this game brings $33 million into the area. Honestly, I don’t hang out with economists and I have no idea what those numbers mean. But seeing “Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee” provides enough clarity.
Virginia Tech (9-3) is ranked 11th in the BCS standings. The Hokies would be a lot higher if they could figure out how to win a game in Atlanta. They lost their season opener to Alabama in the Georgia Dome, won their next five, then lost at Georgia Tech.
Tennessee (7-5) is looking for its first bowl win under Lane Kiffin. This game is a bonus for him, win or lose, since he spent most of the buildup to this season as a punchline and the NCAA is investigation potential recruiting violations.
I can probably figure out who Georgia fans are pulling for.
Anyway, I’ll be here live blogging during game, so let me know what you think.
Oy. They’re playing Rocky Top. I’m outta here.
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596 comments Add your comment
What's the long term supersize? .....
December 31st, 2009
11:12 pm
TECH SUCK’S ?……That’s what i tought IDIOT !!!!!! Comeback later when you start winning !!!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 31st, 2009
11:12 pm
Thanks, Buckhead
Supersize that order, mutt
December 31st, 2009
11:13 pm
long term, you TOUGHT somebody something. Damn, if you can’t even spell it, how can you do it?
Bo Williams
December 31st, 2009
11:13 pm
Meyer and the SEC have stepped down until August!
envious of the mighty acc . . .
December 31st, 2009
11:15 pm
Would love to see ACC vs. SEC top to bottom . . . this year, alabama vs. tech, florida vs. clemson, virginia tech vs lsu, auburn vs. miami . . . . you techmite and acc folks getting my point . . . yes, i even think vandy could handle duke or whoever drug the floor in your league. yes, the acc has a few decent teams every year, and yes, they’ve beaten weak ky and tn teams (both of whom beat a very bad uga team which beat the acc champion in its home stadium). truth is, saban could learn alot of paul johnson, who was born a winner according jeffie and the ajc . . . i have sources that say cpj was playing football in his mother’s womb . . . and, that through gestation he heard the voice of bobby dodd . . . dodd was saying, win, beat uga, we’ll expand from forty thousand to forty two . . .it will be great . . .
JabboRockefeller
December 31st, 2009
11:16 pm
I just hope the Falcons win.
I boycott anything involving Va Tech. Lots of evil emanates from that place…
Hey supersize... WE RUN THIS STATE !!!!!
December 31st, 2009
11:16 pm
Happy New Year everyone & THWGT !!!!!!!!
Billy
December 31st, 2009
11:16 pm
Everybody wave goodbye to all the assistant coaches leaving the Vols’
staff. Everybody, of course, except daddy Monte. Whew! What a mess.
Bo Williams
December 31st, 2009
11:17 pm
Tech, VaTech, Clemson and UNC can play with anyone in the SEC!
MikeHunt
December 31st, 2009
11:17 pm
Where’s all the UT knobs now. Pretty much what I expected from this one.
Expect nothing but drama and mediocrity from Kiffin until he is run out of town by the big money alum.
Lame has an alligator mouth and a hummingbird a..!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 31st, 2009
11:18 pm
And just how many SEC teams every year are as good as they think they are. The SEC generally has 3, maybe 4 teams at most who are really any good. They just never play anybody of consequence OOC, even usually in bowl games.
Hairy Dawg
December 31st, 2009
11:18 pm
They is sorry to losing Vols because every one knows that ACC stinky. VT wins to embarass SEC all because Vols given a better bowl with a lucky win over Dawgs. But Vols is chokers and thats why I knew they would losing at Peach bowls. Dawgs knowing what takes to beat VT in Peach Bowls but we is screwed to play Tex AM. Lame Kiffin the Big Mouth can now go recuruiting with his tail between legs because Dawgs will be unloading the whooping can on signing the studs over weakling Vols.
St. Simon's Daddy
December 31st, 2009
11:18 pm
Supersize, it does mean “squat”. St. Simon’s , M, Yellow Fuzz and others came on the blogs on a daily basis to remind us of the game last year. As far as NC, you don’t have anything to worry about.
Lame Duck
December 31st, 2009
11:19 pm
Wow….Tennessee fans have to really excited about next year!!! Yikes. The total beat down couldn’t have happened to a better person than Lame Kiffin. What a big time loser he is. Thank you, VT. You made my day. The only SEC bowl games that matter are the BCS games. All the other ones are just scrimmages. But the Vols sure looked horrible. I am sure the Vols fans have seen enough of Crompton…but who do they have to replace him next year???? Yikes! Triple yikes! And Berry is a goner, too. Quad triple yikes!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 31st, 2009
11:19 pm
Hairy Dawg, are you drunk, or are you just illiterate?
Vince Dooley
December 31st, 2009
11:20 pm
wow, order is restored, Ga Tech beat Va Tech, Tennessee killed UGA (ACC Champions), Va, Tech killed Tennessee, Ga Tech is ACC champions again !!!
Bo Williams
December 31st, 2009
11:21 pm
Recruits flocking to the ACC where football is very good and academics are the best! They want a good education too!
outsider
December 31st, 2009
11:21 pm
Hairy Dawg, do you actually talk this way. I’m thinking you are a typical UGA fan that cannot put two words together without sounding like an idiot.
reality check bo williams
December 31st, 2009
11:22 pm
you’re dream bo williams . . . VT can, and did, stay on the field with Bama but Tech, UNC and Clemson . . . you boys have had a bit too much to drink tonite . . . keep drinking nerds, happy new year to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bo Williams
December 31st, 2009
11:22 pm
SEC is about “divide and conquer”. Only they do it to themselves.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 31st, 2009
11:22 pm
Daddy, a few Tech people might have posted daily on the UGAG blogs, but I doubt that number even compares to the number of mutts who have posted on Tech blogs since the whole concept was begun. I have never even read a UGAG blog, much less posted on one. There is nothing there of any interest to me. Apparently you, in your attempts at revenge, are more obsessed with Tech than most Tech people are with UGAG. I hated (HATED) that Tech lost this year, but I’m over it. Like I said, it was just a bump in the road and overall doesn’t mean squat.
Bo Williams
December 31st, 2009
11:24 pm
Hey reality check, who won the UNC-VaTech game and where was it played? Answer up or shut up. You SEC slut.
how did gnats beat VT?????????
December 31st, 2009
11:24 pm
As an SEC fan I can only say how much I thoroughly enjoyed watching Lame and his thugs get beat like a drum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks VT . . . btw, how’d ya’ll lose to the nerds
No class
December 31st, 2009
11:25 pm
so VT B___Slaps Tennessee and Kiffin cannot even shake Beamer’s hand. Priceless
Vince Dooley
December 31st, 2009
11:25 pm
Lets be real everybody……honestly:
I don’t know what all my fans in dawg nation are talking about……but me being an intelligent coach and person there’s no argument about this……I’d take Tech’s 4 shinny National Championships any day over that silly one-on-one record between UGA and Tech…..just plain common sense I tell ya!
JabboRockefeller
December 31st, 2009
11:26 pm
I believe Hairy Pooch is quite possibly liquored-up to the sloppy stage…
Burdell
December 31st, 2009
11:26 pm
How ’bout them oranges?
reality check bo williams
December 31st, 2009
11:28 pm
I don’t know, nor do I, or anyone else for that matter, really care who won the UNC-VaTEch game and the same applies to where it was played. Nor do I see why it matters. VT was ACC’s best at year’s end . . . they could stay on field with anyone on a good night, beyond that, Bama, UF, LSu, UGA, AU, and probably a few others, would wax most of the ACC . . . the good news is, I can turn ya’ll off, enjoy each other nerds
Bo Williams
December 31st, 2009
11:30 pm
Good nite reality check, you should sleep real good with “hind tit” in your mouth.
Vince Dooley
December 31st, 2009
11:30 pm
VT coulda beat the SEC’s #1 team earlier on the year and had the lead going into the 4th quarter….SEC is overrated this year period
Burdell
December 31st, 2009
11:32 pm
reality check bo williams = sour grapes
No one in the ACC doubts who was “best” at season’s end….that would be the Orange Bowl bound Jackets. They beat VT fair and square. Suck it for now SEC…
Supersize that order, mutt
December 31st, 2009
11:32 pm
SEC is ALWAYS overrated, although Florida last year was pretty awesome.
Vince Dooley
December 31st, 2009
11:34 pm
don’t get me wrong……SEC last year was not overrated, they were the best bar non, but this year…….OVERRATED!!!
flagboy?
December 31st, 2009
11:35 pm
Not that I want to see any SEC team lose in the bowls, Tenn proved to be the exception to the rule.
Lane K. is an embarassment. His mouth is one thing, but he classless antics are over the top.
Beamer is a respected coach. . . good to see him come out on top over Lane.
Bo Williams
December 31st, 2009
11:36 pm
Vince, what was SEC record vs ACC last year in all games? Best “bar non”?
Red Dog 77
December 31st, 2009
11:36 pm
I have always had the greatest respect for UT , even though I bleed RED and BLACK, am a UGA grad. and want to beat them in the worst way when we play them. With that said, whats with the brush off Coach Kiffen gave Coach Beamer at mid field after the game was over? I remember when coaches showed sportsmanship to thier young men by example. I am sure I will always respect UT as an institution, thier young men who continue the fine tradition UT has as a football program. But right about now I am dumbfounded. I was pulling for UT all night, and for the SEC.But that unsportsmanlike brush off was the last straw for me! Lane Kiffen is not a coach, he is a punk. I brushed it off as bravado when he said he would never lose to UGA.But I think the little brat was saying something he really believed. This little creep is about to piss off way too many people. Now he can add Va. Tech to that list. As I said to you good UT people I respect you , but that little puke you have as a coach, is just that, make no mistake, it is not swagger, it is childish, immature, and not only bad for the SEC , by damned, his behavior is bad for college football.
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2009
11:36 pm
Folks, the game column is posted if you want to shift commenting over there:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/12/31/virginia-tech-finally-gets-it-right-on-third-trip-to-atlanta/
Vince Dooley
December 31st, 2009
11:41 pm
very disappointed in the way that Lame Kiffin barely even acknowledged Frank Beamer after the game…..what a spineless cry baby !!!
FFF
December 31st, 2009
11:44 pm
Few more 7-6 years, the UT fan base WON’T be too excited……
FFF
December 31st, 2009
11:45 pm
Enter your comments here
FFF
December 31st, 2009
11:45 pm
Classless act by Kiffin at the end of the game…..
Red Dog 77
December 31st, 2009
11:46 pm
I am still just amazed at Coach Lane Kiffen, Wow what a jerk!
Dostoyevskiy
December 31st, 2009
11:47 pm
SEC=Tiger Woods – EXPOSED!
Vince Dooley
December 31st, 2009
11:48 pm
Lane kiffen forgot his balls at his house…..give Frank Beamer the respect he deserves !!!
truth serum
January 1st, 2010
9:02 am
So much for the endless braying about the alleged superiority of the SEC, especially vis-a-vis the ACC in football. Tennessee should not have “volunteered” to get trounced! And UT had kicked the crap out of the Mutts and almost had Bama beaten!
Now on to the Orange Bowl to see “God’s Tech” win also with the Golden Option– just as under-manned Navy trounced Missouri. Geaux Jackets– sting ‘em!!!
Charles Cunningham
January 1st, 2010
8:42 pm
Jeff: Chick-Fil-A rescued the Peach Bowl and, for that, many of us who had a “hand” in clamoring for the original Peach Bowl (as a natural for the Peach State) are truly grateful. It was thought all along that “Peach” would be right up there one day with Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton and Gator (the used-to-be Big Five bowls). HOWEVER, when Chick-Fil-A dropped the Peach from the name of the bowl, doing so was not in the long-term best interests of the bowl inasmuch as the BCS is not likely to add a bowl that has only the corporate name with no college-like sentimental appeal like the current BCS bowls have. Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta are synonymous with the spirit of college football in which players play for the “sport” rather than the “fame and fortune” – at least while they are still in college; they are not yet in the corporate world, although their schools benefit from the corporate “sponsorship” of the bowls. Anyhow, it is NOT likely that Capital One or Chick-Fil-A are going to be added, although it would have been far MORE likely that Chick-Fil-A PEACH BOWL would one day be added. Having said all of that, I must say I am proud of Truett Cathy, a friend from my Hapeville High School days, and all those associated with Chick-Fil-A, and in 2010 may we all Eat mor Chikin!