Jackets’ response to critics suddenly gives them title shot
Tech freshman linebacker Chaz Cheeks is carried by fans after win. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Few took them seriously at 6-0.
Everybody piled on when they lost two straight.
This is what happens when a sports team operates in a world of around-the-clock analysis and hyper kinetic Tweeters.
Georgia Tech is a good football team, one that, as improbable as it seemed a few days ago, suddenly has a chance to go back to the ACC title game for the second time in three seasons. When Virginia Tech comes to Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 10 – assuming the field and maybe some fans have been resuscitated by then following an unscheduled, late-night Saturday block party — the Yellow Jackets can all but assure themselves of the ACC Coastal Division title with a victory.
There is a pretty good chance they will be home underdogs again. But if this bunch of 18-to-21-year-olds has proven anything this season, it’s that they seem to operate better after most have already drop-kicked them into third-tier-bowl oblivion.
Tech fans hadn't celebrated like this since 2009. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
“We’ll probably be an underdog,” said the quarterback, Tevin Washington. “That’s OK. It’s just motivation. I prefer it that way, because when nobody gives you a shot you can go out and prove them wrong.”
About that chip on Paul Johnson’s shoulder: His players appear to have inherited it. Whatever works.
Tevin Washington rushed for 176 yards, a Georgia Tech record for a quarterback. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
The Jackets had lost consecutive games at Virginia and Miami. They looked lost and Washington looked shaken. The option offense, which Johnson cherishes like offspring, had produced only three touchdowns in the previous 10 quarters. But against previously unbeaten Clemson, the Jackets rambled again, totaling 383 yards rushing, 443 in total offense and four touchdowns.
Tech upset the BCS’s No. 5 team, 31-17, in a game that actually wasn’t even that close. This came a week after the 24-7 loss to Miami. But the Hurricanes followed up that win with a 28-21 loss at home to Virginia on Thursday night.
Don’t try to make sense of it. Your head will hurt.
When it was over, Tech fans celebrated like they hadn’t since winning the ACC championship two years ago. There hadn’t been a scene at Bobby Dodd like it probably since the Jackets upset No. 4 Virginia Tech that same season, when fans tore down a goal post and carried it to the school president’s house.
(Campus officials have learned something since then: They took down the goal posts after Saturday’s game before fans could get to them.)
“I got into [the post-game celebration] a little bit,” Washington said. “But I tried to get off the field — it got a little crazy when the fans rushed the field. It’s a great feeling. Our team had been down in the dumps the last two weeks. So to come back like this and win is great.”
Yes, direction can change again. But the view in the ACC just got significantly better. Virginia (2-2) isn’t likely to run the table (remaining opponents: Maryland, Duke, Florida State, Virginia Tech). The Coastal title probably will come down to the nationally televised game between the Jackets (4-2) and Hokies (4-1) a week from Thursday. Tech’s only other conference game is at Duke. Virginia Tech plays North Carolina and Virginia.
The Jackets’ defense has steadily improved. (Clemson, which had been averaging 42 points in the conference, was held to a field goal in the first half and 17 overall.) But it’s the bounce-back by Washington and the offense that changes everything. He ran for a 176 yards and a touchdown, including carries of 46 and 56. It helped that everybody around him played better, but he looked more in control. The offense had a rhythm again.
Johnson also is learning what buttons to push with this team. Washington said he reminded them during the week that, “Everybody wrote us off.” The Jackets played with an edge that they hadn’t all season.
When it was over, the coach told the assembled media: “Let us finish the season before you do our tombstone.”
They’ve earned that.
By Jeff Schultz
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235 comments Add your comment
George Stein
October 30th, 2011
4:56 pm
Nicely done, Jackets.
The big story here is the defense shutting down Clemson. Apparently two weeks is needed for Tech’s offense but only one is needed to shut down Clemson’s.
Indy Jacket
October 30th, 2011
4:58 pm
Not So Fast
all i can say is you kiss yo mamma with that nasty mouth?..get off our blog fleabag!!
Not So Fast
October 30th, 2011
4:58 pm
Tek bloggers…go take a look at the UGA blogs.. yellow fuzz and GT and many others are all over it benchmarking the Clemson win versus the UGA win…..that’s what tek fans do… look up to UGA… I guess the VT game will be a breeze for Tek cause Clemson beat them and they only beat Duke by 4 and we all know Duke is a power house…. so what will they say about rankings when you lose to VT? tek is still not raked in the BCS and Clemson is still ranked higher in every poll… says the pollesters think it was a fluke….
Not So Fast
October 30th, 2011
5:00 pm
Indy….facts are facts….feeling insecure are you?
Indy Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:04 pm
facts from a dawg is like listening to the devil…come on now ill take you for a walk if you want to…but u aint gonna spoil this win no matter how much your a hater..see.YOUR on our blog..so whos got the facts..but the one fact that ur full of hate even though u beat the beloved gators..so look at yourself in the mirror and quit moping around..now get lost fleabag!
Not So Fast
October 30th, 2011
5:05 pm
as usual no interest in anything tek….. if teir weren”t a few Dawg fans on here it would be as boring as a date with a tek nerd….
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:06 pm
George, I agree with you-the defense looked stout last night. Our DBs are getting better and better-those were some speedy athletes Clemson has. I thought the DLine played well also. No. 94 was chasing Boyd like his hair was on fire. The defense can be
so much more effective when the offense maintains ball control like they did last night. It becomes a virtuous cycle.
Not So Fast
October 30th, 2011
5:07 pm
Indy,,, I am not the one beachmarking the win against UGA… tek fans are, I am not a hater, I am amused at how tek looks up to UGA… you are really stressing aren’t you… maybe you should take a deep breath and a walk
Indy Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:08 pm
why unemployed dawg idiots get mad at us tech nerds who make six figures is about the only thing that makes sense with them…god it makes me laugh!!!GO TECH!!!!
George Stein
October 30th, 2011
5:11 pm
Whatever makes you feel better about your lot in life, Not So Fast.
let's go Jackets
October 30th, 2011
5:15 pm
the Chaz in this photo appears to be much more graceful in lifting and other dancing style techniques
Not So Fast
October 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
Indy… when you lose the debate, change the subject…. old tired tek tactic
Stein…… I can see you wrankle easily too… makes me smile… you guys are too easy
RedandBlackDawg
October 30th, 2011
5:18 pm
Ga. Tech. has just been given the kiss of death, if Shultz thinks you are going to win the ACC. Based on his predictions when it comes to UGA games against Florida and Tenn. I think, this is a really bad thing for you.
UGA will go easy on you techies and not beat you up too bad, but make no mistakes about it, you will be on the short end of the scoreboard when you play UGA. Defense will shut you down.
GO DAWGS and GATA
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
5:21 pm
the Mutts beat a 4-4 Gators but they are on the TECH Blog Talking smack?
Shouldn’t you guys be on bill king’s blog sniffing each others butts?
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:22 pm
Tebow looking sharper today, but Lions looking like a juggernaut today.
Indy Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:23 pm
GO TECH!!! and make no mistake…WE WILL NOT TAKE IT EASY ON YOU,so dont give us any breaks either..TECH 45 PUPPIES 17…and that one is gonna hurt you guys for years..next year will be far worse though..i see a shutout!!!!
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:24 pm
Hey 5150, was the crowd as electric as it appeared on TV last night. Did the team stay on the field after the game?
Indy Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:28 pm
Steelers are looking pretty sharp today….man i wish i was at that game last night…
GTFan478
October 30th, 2011
5:29 pm
@Red &Black dog You mean like how yalls d shut down the all mighty powerhouses of UF and Vandy. Give it up man. Uga has done nothing this year but lose to anyone that is good. And where was that shutdown d the last three years against Tech? I love seeing scared little dogs whose barks are much much worse than their bite.
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:30 pm
That looks like a TD by Calvin. Called down at 1/2 td. Line on field.
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:33 pm
Oh well, Calvin got jobbed. 24-3. This could get ugly in 2nd half.
A Dawg Fan
October 30th, 2011
5:36 pm
My some of you guys tune changed quickly. What happened to the needs special teams coach…fire the running backs coach etc. One thing is for sure Paul Johnson will be at Tech for a long time. And coach Bohannon is a very good coach. Congrats to the Jackets and my Dawgs!
CAJacket
October 30th, 2011
5:39 pm
To be fair, you have to give ugag some credit. They were written off at 0-2, but have persevered and are playing well. I don’t really care what the competition is, it’s not easy to play an A game every week. Let’s keep the same edge against the turkeys!
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:42 pm
Dawg Fan, I’m still concerned about our special teams play despite the fact that we played much better last night. I guess it is not that uncommon to split the special teams duties from what I have heard this past week. Our kickoff return on both sides still needs improvement.
Congratulations on your big win yesterday, Dawg Fan. I think we all know how frustrating it can be to lack success against a big rival.
carolinajacket
October 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
In all fairness Dawg Fan, did you read the blog that was going on during your game with UF? I’ve never seen such hateful and classless comments directed towards anyone. And these were by UGA fans towards their own coaches. A couple of times I assured them that Georgia would win the game — I thought by at least two tds. But they never let up. worse than anything they even write about Tech.
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
IL Jacket. a lot of the players were in the crowd for a few minutes having fun.
IT was GREAT and exciting for sure.
carolinajacket
October 30th, 2011
5:45 pm
After the South Carolina game, I predicted, and still do, that UGA will not lose another game — unless Tech plays its A game. Like it or not, the DAWGS are loaded with talent.
ramblingbuzz
October 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
Splain to me how Ugagers can come on here bragging about beating a lousy UF team with a one-legged quarterback. Beats the crap out of me how they equate beating UT, Ole Miss, MSt, Vandy & UF with being a greatg football team. Once delusional always delusional I guess.
mike
October 30th, 2011
5:48 pm
lets face it, the acc sucks. clemson??? their defense is a joke, what has VT proven?? they are severely over rated
Astropig
October 30th, 2011
5:49 pm
“Everybody piled on when they lost two straight.”
Everybody= Mark Bradley
“Georgia Tech is a good football team”- Jeff schultz
“Right now, though, only one team is on the upward trail, and that’s the one bound for Jacksonville.”- Mark Bradley
Proof that columnists bow to the passion of the moment.They don’t know a lot more than a fairly knowledgeable fan.
ramblingbuzz
October 30th, 2011
5:49 pm
yeah Mike let’s face it. Besides LSU & Ala, the SEC blows pretty bad too.
ramblingbuzz
October 30th, 2011
5:51 pm
Bark Madley has always been enamored of all things UGA. How many times has he proclaimed them NC? Schultz not so much.
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
5:58 pm
Don’t think Tebow will be engineering this comeback, 31-3. Done nothing since opening drive field goal.
old gold
October 30th, 2011
6:02 pm
i love that the first time in forever uga beats the gators (in a weak win against a weak opp.) it’s overshadowed by us upsetting a BCS contender… just a little something for bradley and all his followers to swallow, but don’t worry you’ll have all the spotlight beating up the sisters of the poor next week… wish it was late Nov. already
wreckmaniac
October 30th, 2011
6:02 pm
Tech will be at least the 3rd toughest opponent UGA faces this year and since the dawgs lost to their first and second best opponents, its likely they will lose to Tech.
ToeMeetsLeather
October 30th, 2011
6:05 pm
Don’t think the Jackets will be underdogs on the 10th. Probably be favored by 4 or so. Hopefully they can keep the fire in the belly and also do not overlook a solid Duke squad. TECH/Clemson in Charlotte would be quite a rematch. So much for the media darling Seminoles, huh.
jay
October 30th, 2011
6:09 pm
Yeah but the overshadowing will be overshadowed when Dawgs swat the bugs once again. Yeah,
Dawgs lose to Gators ALOT. Just remember Dawgs are Tech’s gators.
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
6:19 pm
TD for Calvin.
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
6:28 pm
ToeMeetsLeather, I saw a fair amount of the second half of the VT-Duke game and was shocked at how little success VT had rushing in the second half. If Duke had a field goal kicker, they would have won. Either Duke is a lot better than I have given them credit for or VT is not as good. I guess Nov. 10th will tell the tale.
tech engineer
October 30th, 2011
6:30 pm
Tech is back! GT will upset Ga in athens—mark it down. Ga had trouble beating a terrible fla team with a gimpy QB. Tech beat the #5 team in the country by 2 TDs. Tech > GA!
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
6:35 pm
tech engineer……………the Dawgs come to Atlanta this year.
Be careful that game is a LONG way away. need all the players healthy.
...... I'm flying a Georgia Tech flag right now
October 30th, 2011
6:37 pm
`
…… for a good football team.
BG
October 30th, 2011
6:39 pm
TECH SUCKS!!
JR1967
October 30th, 2011
6:42 pm
Been a UGA fan, but I give a big congrats to Tech for a great win and hopefully toning down the naysayers who got down on them after the last two losses. Would be great for the UGA-Tech game if both teams came into the contest with 9-2 records.
JR1967
October 30th, 2011
6:43 pm
Tech Engineer-
Isn’t the game at Bobby Dodd Stadium this year?
230gr. Full Metal Jacket
October 30th, 2011
6:45 pm
“conciser”??????
Reggie Ball for Heisman
October 30th, 2011
6:45 pm
I almost feel bad for Tevin Washington for what Jarvis Jones is going to do to him on Nov. 26.
WE RUN THIS STATE… nerds
Tyler
October 30th, 2011
6:46 pm
Great win tech over Clemson. Didn’t see that happening but am not surprised given tech is a good team and Clemson typically stumbles this time of the year. Y’all are jumping the gun a bit, though, proclaiming you’re going to beat down my Dawgs ths year, considering our defense continues to improve to a dominant level. We held Tennessee and Florida to negative rushing yards. Bad teams or not that is an impressive accomplishment. Then there is the fact that tech has beaten uga ONCE since 2008, and we beat your best team in recent memory with arguably our worst team in recent history, in 2009. Let’s just see what happens on November 26. Will be a heck of a football game.
Good win against Clemson though. That is all. Go Dawgs!
Saywhut
October 30th, 2011
6:48 pm
Aren’t you the same writer who picked Florida to beat Georgia? You flip more than Mitt.
Arno
October 30th, 2011
6:50 pm
How in the world did Al Groh’s D contain Sammy Watkins? Fantastic.