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
230gr. Full Metal Jacket
October 30th, 2011
6:53 pm
I’m hoping to see the ACC Coastal Champions versus the SEC East Champions on November 26th!!!!! And then BOTH go to BCS bowls as conference champs!!!
Scrap
October 30th, 2011
6:55 pm
Wow……..a win over a good Clemson team and folks are talking championshps and victories over UGA………We’ve got two more conference games to play………..against an always strong Virginia Tech team that won’t be a pushover………and in case you haven’t noticed, Duke’s got talent, and a very good coach……just ask Frank Beamer……..We’ve got a ways to go before we talk about Championships and in-state rivals.
James
October 30th, 2011
6:58 pm
@Glenn
All true..But what’s also true is that Georgia is going to beat you and crush your season as always.How about that?
IL Jacket
October 30th, 2011
7:00 pm
Flip more than Mitt-not possible.
How did Michigan ever have Brady sitting on the bench?
UGA>GT
October 30th, 2011
7:02 pm
You GT loving clowns are the most incompetent bunch of idiots in all of college fandom. I saw a win over Florida last night, but you don’t see me running my mouth. Why? Because we’ve only won 4 out of the last 22 games against them. Does this sound vaguely familiar to any of you? Let me remind you…
UGA has won the last 2
UGA has won 9 of the last 10
UGA has won 16 of the last 20
Yeah, you can go back to ancient history and find some more wins, but nobody cares. Talk your nonsense to Clemson, you’re only a rivalry to UGA because we’re in the same state.
this dawg want hunt!!
October 30th, 2011
7:18 pm
Tech and Clemson are both jokes as it relates to UGA. Beating Clemson is the biggest statement that Tech will ever make. Clemson has never been significant since Danny Ford left, and when they play Tech it is for the championship of who will be UGA’s whipping boy that year. UGA owns Clemson and Tech, but that isn’t saying a whole lot, because they both play in the pathetic ACC. If either of these pathetic programs were in the SEC, they would be lucky to play in a bowl, and you can forget them ever playing in an SECC game. Would never happen, but they can continue to beat their chests and brag about playing in an ACCC game, which means nothing compared to the SEC. Bottomline is Tech and Clemson are little brothers to UGA, and they would get their asses handed to them every week if they played an SEC schedule every year. But they can brag about winning 5 or 6 conference games each year against, N.C.state, N.C., Virginia, Maryland,Duke, Wake Forest, my God, what a pitiful conference, and what a joke Tech and Clemson really are. ACC=Mediocrity
Boobie Bowden
October 30th, 2011
7:21 pm
Dawg fans are passionate – stupid, ill-mannered, uninformed, and off-base, but they are passionate.
Ha
October 30th, 2011
7:22 pm
All I can say is dang good show. I wrote you offf but dang good show.
Ha
October 30th, 2011
7:23 pm
spelled off wrong sorry for the typo.
DS_CE91
October 30th, 2011
7:37 pm
Hey “this dawg….”
So, what happens if Auburn beats UGA? You know, the same Auburn that lost to “little brother” Clemson.
Just askin’……..
Lee
October 30th, 2011
7:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Big Dog 98
October 30th, 2011
7:43 pm
UGA will destroy GT again this year.
The ACC is a joke.
Tech needs to be in a conference with Duke, Army, Navy, Slippery Rock, Albany State, Savannah State, Morehouse, Richmond and the like.
Lee
October 30th, 2011
7:44 pm
Great game for Jemea Thomas. He was the AJC’s Defensive Player of the year three years ago. He’s a redshirt sophomore now. Watch for great things from him. Also note this–he was recruited to play on offense.
Kirby Smart
October 30th, 2011
7:46 pm
GT and the ACC are both akin to AAAA High School football.
If any of the ACC teams played in the SEC…they could not ever become bowl eligible.
Coach Vince "Coke Head" Dooley
October 30th, 2011
7:48 pm
The SEC rules and the ACC drools.
Dewberry
October 30th, 2011
7:49 pm
GT Rules!
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
7:51 pm
Ga fan living on what OTHER SEC teams do is just funny as HELL.
Why are you on Schultz’s TECH blog? I thought you All hate Jeff Schultz for picking against your MUTTS?
I Ben Jones ready for Auburn? has he been working on is Gut Punches?
LydiasDad
October 30th, 2011
7:58 pm
Where’s Mark Bradley’s article? He slammed us last week.
GT81
October 30th, 2011
8:06 pm
gotta love these ugaers picking at GTs schedule and such. UGA has yet to beat a team with a winning record. they have beat the dregs of the sec, but so has everyone else. bring on nov 26
UGA>GT
October 30th, 2011
8:08 pm
5150 UOAD is a hypocrite – on the UGA boards, but somehow doesn’t like it when some of us bored UGA fans return the favor.
UGA>GT
October 30th, 2011
8:10 pm
GT81… what two teams beat GT this year? I forgot… What were they ranked? What are they ranked now?
Nole girl 93
October 30th, 2011
8:14 pm
Spend the weekend in NC for a baptism and watched while so many orange flags flew south while we headed north today. I noted coming home the traffic was heavy but I did see as many Clemson flags. Go GT. Go ACC (Of note: FSU blew out NC State!)
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
8:22 pm
UGA<GT………….I don't tell you to leave the Blog. I don't say I am not on the UGA blogs. I thinks is funny when you do it and act like you dawg fans don't do it.
You change your name more than you change your underwear.
GT THRU AND THRU
October 30th, 2011
8:25 pm
Great win for the jackets. As for the dawg fan bragging about the SEC schedule and the ACC not having any strong teams: They played miss st, ole miss, tenn, fla, and vandy. WOW what powerhouses. All those teams are no better than NC ST, MD, VA, MIA, and UNC. Actually i think those ACC teams are better. Tech and georgia still have to take care of business as far as their conference schedules go before they have any chance at a conference championship. THEN we’ll see what happens on nov 26th for the state bragging rights.
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
8:25 pm
UGA<GT…………..I didn't say i am not on the UGA blogs. I don't tell you to leave. I asked if you hate Jeff and Tech so much why are you here? I don't care. You change your blog name more the a new born needs diapers changed.
Bob
October 30th, 2011
8:25 pm
Shultz is the only writer I know who argues with people who comment about how dumb he is. Picking Clemson to win. Not a long shot. Everyone did. Picking Florida to win. They usually do. No big deal. Picking Denver to beat Detroit. That had to be the dumb pick of the year. Stop bragging about how good you pick games, Jeff. I’ve seen an octopus pick games better than you.
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
8:26 pm
I have never said I am not on UGA blogs.
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
8:26 pm
Why do you change your name more than your Depends?
Bob
October 30th, 2011
8:27 pm
I thought GT fans were supposed to be smart. Beating bad teams is still greater than losing to bad teams.
German Shepherd Dawg
October 30th, 2011
8:41 pm
Congrats, Jacket fans. Good win for you.
Woof woof!
5150 UOAD
October 30th, 2011
8:44 pm
Dread it looks just like I. Crowell. They could be twins
Just curious
October 30th, 2011
8:45 pm
Wait a minute….UGA is ranked higher than Tech, but you make the fact Tech is now ranked a higher priority and promote it to front page with no mention of UGA? We always knew who you favored, but now it is certain.
Just curious
October 30th, 2011
8:46 pm
Gross postings…some shouldn’t be allowed.
yeller bug
October 30th, 2011
8:47 pm
Well, doggies, y’all get the spotlight alone next week while you take on the powerhouse New Mexico State. What’s their mascot—an illegal alien? Be careful—they eat dogs when they’re hungry.
GT Fan
October 30th, 2011
8:58 pm
BREAKING NEWS!! BREAKING NEWS!!
Per “Steve” the GT-GA game on 11/26 will not be played …
Steve
October 30th, 2011
3:22 pm
UGA 35 Nerds 21.
Everyone have a nice long Thanksgiving weekend with your friends & family. We’ll have to wait till Athens in 2012 to play the dogs again.
GT Fan
October 30th, 2011
9:01 pm
Steve,
If the games were played in the AJC, then both GT & GA would have lost yesterday. I’ll be at Bobby Dodd on 11/26 … will you?
let's go Jackets
October 30th, 2011
9:07 pm
this Chaz in this photo sure has got the other Chaz beat who appeared on DWTS. Better style, dance formation and lifting techniques and overal gracefulness
TopDAWG
October 30th, 2011
9:08 pm
Sorry to bust your bubbles but there are NO real power teams in the acc AND beyond Bama & LSU there’s not much in the SEC either
Randy Carson IMGT '83
October 30th, 2011
9:11 pm
UGA Fans-
Let’s be realistic, shall we? Isn’t it obvious that the SEC has many advantages over most of the other conferences? With the exception of Vanderbilt, don’t all of your universities have student enrollments of 25,000+? Don’t you have enormous alumni and fan bases from which you can solicit HUGE sums of money with which to build enormous stadiums? Aren’t most SEC schools considered THE university (or universities) in their respective states? And be honest, aren’t the academic requirements of SEC schools generally less demanding on the student athletes than those of the ACC schools?
So, honestly, what gives with all your braggadocio?
We get it. The SEC usually fields a better product than the ACC because SEC schools have the money, the venues, the favorable press and, again, the academics to attract better players ON AVERAGE.
Bottom line? You make fun of Tech’s schedule because you claim that we don’t really play any great teams. Doesn’t that argument boomerang on you because you’re playing us?
I mean, if you beat Tech, well, weren’t you SUPPOSED to beat Tech? But when Tech beats UGA, then we’ve actually accomplished something, haven’t we?
And it is SO sweet when that happens.
Randy Carson IMGT '83
October 30th, 2011
9:15 pm
UGA>GT:
Georgia played the #5 team (Boise State) and lost.
Tech played the #5 team and won.
‘Nuff said.
45ACP
October 30th, 2011
9:16 pm
Congrats on the win over Clemson. November 26, 2011 will be a whole different deal…
Randy Carson IMGT '83
October 30th, 2011
9:17 pm
Kirby-
If Tech or any of the ACC teams were in the SEC, then our recruiting classes would be different.
Think before typing.
James
October 30th, 2011
9:23 pm
What a great week it would be in Atlanta if we could have the SEC and ACC championship games on the same weekend.And maybe,just maybe the ACC game will sell out for once.@Randy Carson IMGT ‘83,If its so sweet when Tech beats Georgia you must have a very bitter taste in your mouth.I mean 1 out of the last 10..
James
October 30th, 2011
9:29 pm
@Randy Carson IMGT ‘83..
Tech beat the number 5 team in the nation which was another weak ACC team who was beating up other weak ACC teams.Georgia lost to a good number 5 Boise State team and this means what? That Tech is a better team? Maybe Coach Jonhson can use your logic in his pre Georgia game pep talk.
Flounder
October 30th, 2011
9:30 pm
[Dean Wormer] “Mr. Dorfman”
[Flounder] “Helloooooo” [smiling]
[Dean Wormer] “Fat, Drunk and Stupid is no way to go through life Son”
BUZZ 2011
October 30th, 2011
9:40 pm
Not so nerdy anymore , right Dawgs.. How many unbeaten #5 ranked teams have you beaten?? none, none….Only weak SEC teams with crippled quarterbacks , rocky top hats and cow bells…When do you play Bama or LSU
AFDawg
October 30th, 2011
9:57 pm
Shultzie, First — let me apologize to the Techsters for coming on here when the article is about Tech — I’m trying to lure Jeff out because he has gone into hiding again over his wrong pick about the UGA game (once again). Since I’m on here — let me say congrats to the YJ’s for their victory, and I do think they are the best team in the ACC this year. But, Jeff says in his article “don’t try to maske any sense of it” — to most of us it is very obvious, Clemson is not a top 5 team this year. Heck, Auburn put up 435 yards on them earlier this season. Jeff, I think it is remarkable that you write for the AJC but you can’t even identify the strengths of the two big in-state teams. In case you forgot, you actually picked both UGA and Tech to lose this past weekend. Boy, the AJC was brilliant when they hired you. Whenever you do write your article about how lucky UGA was to win, are you at least going to acknowledge (for the first time) that UGA has an awesome defense this year? I’m still waiting — or is your foolish pride going to get in the way again?
AFDawg
October 30th, 2011
10:03 pm
Buzz 2011, Slow down there big fella — your offense hasn’t played against a defense with the caliber of linebackers and secondary like the Dawgs. If you’ll remember last year — Tech hurt us up the middle. We’ve fixed that problem with Jenkins and Geathers — could be another Virginia or Miami night for the Jackets. But, I admire your team spirit. Looking forward to a good game.
DaDawg
October 30th, 2011
10:05 pm
Georgia will beat tech like a rented mule. Georgia’s fast angry D will shut down that mickey mouse tech option offense easy—book it! Dawgs will run the table and upset lsu in the sec title game!!!
Pat
October 30th, 2011
10:07 pm
Wow! Who is the only Georgia team to beat a ranked team? Good game Tech