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
Not Disappointed
December 31st, 2009
9:29 pm
Damn, the Stooges are on AMC. Stooges and Fred Sanford and I’m good for the weekend!
StingerSplash
December 31st, 2009
9:29 pm
You mean … there’s a bowl game besides the Rose Bowl? Because every eye is on Pasadena!
(and Jeff, if you think “Rocky Top” is annoying … and it appears you do … try listening to that damn promo every 45 seconds on the the worldwide leader and worldwideleader360.com.)
Reid Adair
December 31st, 2009
9:29 pm
I guess one of the Virginia Tech band members left his funny hat at home. Or at the Cheetah last night.
He was wearing a VT baseball cap – backwards.
StingerSplash
December 31st, 2009
9:30 pm
This just in…
Megan Fox has been named the worst actress for 2009.
I understand she needs a shoulder to cry on. I’m up to the task.
south
December 31st, 2009
9:30 pm
Tom – no cheap shots at the mascot
Just because you’re mascot dies every 1.3 seconds doesn’t give you the right.
Not Disappointed
December 31st, 2009
9:31 pm
You guys are hard on Dr Lou.
south
December 31st, 2009
9:31 pm
Stinger – I got a knee for her.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 31st, 2009
9:32 pm
Mark Spitz and so does Lou.
Buckhead Bulldog
December 31st, 2009
9:32 pm
Hooter’s Championship Swimsuit contest FS South
Not Disappointed
December 31st, 2009
9:33 pm
south, my wife want me to come to the party in the other room. Agreed to in-laws but they invited alot of friends. So much for a quite evening. So, I go out and get Rum nog from time to time. Speak to everyone and comeback to the man cave.
I think she got upset when I order Chinese take out an hour ago among other things
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2009
9:35 pm
Have you boys been playing nice since I’ve been gone?
Not Disappointed
December 31st, 2009
9:35 pm
I think Mark Bradley or Jeff likes Megan Fox? One of them showed her in a weekend prediction blog.
Poetry slam Part Deux; the sequel
December 31st, 2009
9:35 pm
My Olde English you will never tameth
This boast I am ready to claimeth
Russ will paint white on my A$$
Then I’ll be ready to pass
And throw touchdowns on you like Joe Namath
Tom
December 31st, 2009
9:36 pm
You were gone? How was the buffet?
StingerSplash
December 31st, 2009
9:36 pm
Vols fans, you may not ask the pretty girl at The Cheetah for a date because she is not your cousin!
How do know she is not your cousin? She has all her teeth!
(I feel bad for that cheap shot. Most Vols fans I know are actually pretty cool. But it just didn’t fit with Hokies fans).
Still trying to determine who is more overrated – Tyrod Taylor or Bud Foster.
sec fan
December 31st, 2009
9:36 pm
are these not our ref’s? fire them for allowing that last play. before half
oh shut up
December 31st, 2009
9:37 pm
jeff, thank god you’re here. they were getting ugly.
Reid Adair
December 31st, 2009
9:37 pm
Jeff, please get word to Lane Kiffin that Holly Rowe is very upset that he “blew past” her when she was trying to get the halftime interview.
Lame Kitten
December 31st, 2009
9:37 pm
Jeff…. has Urban’s wife made any more 911 calls? For someone who needs an ambulance,She has a sexy voice! Is she as hot as my wife?
oh shut up
December 31st, 2009
9:39 pm
tackel tenn, tackel.
sec fan
December 31st, 2009
9:39 pm
why are the ref’s letting this happen?
Buckhead Bulldog
December 31st, 2009
9:40 pm
Not Disappointed: RumNog and Chinese? Yummy!
Reid Adair
December 31st, 2009
9:40 pm
Nice tackling by the Tennessee defense on that Williams’ run.
Not.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 31st, 2009
9:40 pm
Out of “aimin’ fluid” @9:38p on new years eve… a new personal best!
StingerSplash
December 31st, 2009
9:41 pm
Ryan Williams, however, is the real deal. And he wasn’t supposed to start this year. Wow.
willie martinez
December 31st, 2009
9:41 pm
three stooges are more entertaining than this game.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
December 31st, 2009
9:41 pm
Once again, what is a Hokie. Doesn’t subway sell Hokie sandwiches or am I thinking about something else.
sec fan
December 31st, 2009
9:42 pm
at least call excessive celebration…..or false start will do
Not Disappointed
December 31st, 2009
9:42 pm
Well Lame wins the Wifey contest hands down!
You must tell us
December 31st, 2009
9:42 pm
Russ for the love of God tell us. Did they really paint your @ss white?
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2009
9:42 pm
Tom — you’re not going to believe it. They had chick fil a sandwiches.
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2009
9:43 pm
Nice drive by VaTech here, in case anybody’s paying attention. Curious to see how much that FG at end of half hurt Tenn.
willie martinez
December 31st, 2009
9:43 pm
poetry:
your writing reads pretty loose
as if you were really a goose
but funny you are
at least, thus far
but you’ll never be dr suess
Reid Adair
December 31st, 2009
9:43 pm
Give to Williams again. Tennessee can’t stop him.
Not Disappointed
December 31st, 2009
9:43 pm
What’s up with VT running to left so much? UT should adjust. OH well. Next time.
sec fan
December 31st, 2009
9:44 pm
piss….not again….where are the ref’s?
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2009
9:44 pm
Touchdown, Hokies. 24-14.
Tom
December 31st, 2009
9:44 pm
I’m guessing no Peach Milkshakes.
Now if VT is an A she she team
December 31st, 2009
9:45 pm
what does that make Tennessee?
Not Disappointed
December 31st, 2009
9:45 pm
Read up Jeff. Answer the question on Megan Fox? Did you use her in a weekend blog prediction?
willie martinez
December 31st, 2009
9:45 pm
should have known it: bet heavy against georgia and heavy on tennessee.
sec fan
December 31st, 2009
9:46 pm
Jeff, run down there and tell the ref’s that we need some calls! they can call holding on every play! what are they thinking ? they are gonna cost us the game .
oh shut up
December 31st, 2009
9:47 pm
hay jeff, going to the vortex later?
Russ
December 31st, 2009
9:47 pm
I just remember, it’s a Hoagie sandwitch, not a Hokie. But what’s a hokie.
willie martinez
December 31st, 2009
9:47 pm
poetry:
you cant take all night to write
any response you might want to sight
you’ll have to be clever
or ties you must sever
from jeff’s blog this very night
Now if VT is an A she she team
December 31st, 2009
9:47 pm
This is a pretty good game if u asked me and I expect the Vols to score next.
sec fan
December 31st, 2009
9:48 pm
those stinking refs let that thug pass Hershall! What are they thinking?
south
December 31st, 2009
9:48 pm
A Hokie is a dance I think
Russ
December 31st, 2009
9:49 pm
That’s a hokie pokie. Jeff, what’s a hokie, anybody?
south
December 31st, 2009
9:50 pm
sec fan – you can stop now. We get it. You don’t like the SEC, especially UGA. You would make a great spy.