If I’m PJ of GT, I’m worried about MSU and StarkVegas
This one has “trouble” written all over it, and that’s “trouble” with a capital “T,” which rhymes with “C,” which stands for “cowbell.” Georgia Tech is venturing out of conference, out of the Eastern time zone, out of its comfort zone — all the way to Starkville, Miss., for a night game against a hungry team playing under a new and ambitious coach.
Tech is the better team and should win. But Tech is coming off a big victory over North Carolina, which followed a resounding loss at Miami, which itself followed a narrow escape against Clemson. The Jackets have ridden the whirlwind the past three weeks, and now they face a game that doesn’t affect the ACC standings but could well mess up a season.
And Mississippi State isn’t bad. Under Dan Mullen, it’s actually scoring some points. It had 24 against Auburn and 26 against LSU, which needed a goal-line stand to win. It has won at Vanderbilt, which isn’t easy. (Tech will learn that soon enough.) The Jackets will gain nothing much by winning but will again disappear from the Top 25 should they lose.If I’m Paul Johnson, I have one question: Who scheduled this one? Dave Braine?
(Answer: No. This was Dan Radakovich’s doing.)
And then there’s the intangible that confronts every visitor to Starkville. (Sometimes called StarkVegas by mean-spirited hacks like me, although I’m trying hard to mend fences after what I wrote in 2005.) That’s the cowbell. Or, more accurately, the cowbells, plural. Technically they’re banned at SEC games — seems the conference brethren all developed tinnitus — but State fans sneak them through the gate. This is a non-conference game, which means only one thing …
More cowbell. Holy cow.
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130 comments Add your comment
dmajor
October 1st, 2009
12:28 am
first
dmajor
October 1st, 2009
12:34 am
I don’t feel too worried about this game but I don’t think it should be as lopsided as last year. If our defense plays like it did last week, we should be fine. Any word on Jaybo coming back soon? Not that he is detrimental, but Nesbitt could surely use a break or two during games. I think this will really test Nesbitt’s toughness.
Toe Meets Leather
October 1st, 2009
12:44 am
MB, you penchant for picking/leaning toward the ultimate loser gives me additional hope. Methinks you were short on fire-the-folks-up material and decided to lean in the direction of Starkville to generate interest. Mississippi St. may have padded numbers against SEC defenses (LSU is NOT worthy of their ranking, Auburn is still a paper tiger (pun intended), and Vandy is still…Vandy), but they haven’t faced a defense that’s hungry to win the rest. At least as hungry as we are now. There’s no real reason why Tech can’t win out. I think CPJ has drilled that into them and I think they’ll be eager to show that Saturday. The road to 12-1 starts Saturday…
“Toe Meets Leather”….now available….www.stingtees.com.
Jackets21
October 1st, 2009
12:50 am
We could lose this game…..but I just don’t think Miss St. is very good. Even after watching the Miami loss, I feel this is game should be a comfortable win if we continue to build off last week. UNC’s defense is a lot stronger than MSU. Tech rolls.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
October 1st, 2009
12:53 am
Oh my! Scary cowbells. What will we do? Why even play the game?
LOL I agree with the other poster. You must have been out of ideas. GT is not good enough to overlook any opponent, but this team does not have more talent that UNC, so if we take care of the ball, we should win by 10 or more.
Go Jackets!!
BugKiller
October 1st, 2009
1:19 am
Mark, you’ve got to learn how to embed YouTube or Hulu clips into your blog.
Because that’s one of the greatest SNL moments EVER.
TeeBerry
October 1st, 2009
1:44 am
I kinda think the cowbells sound sorta nice…. especially when they are the rythym(how the f-bomb do you spell that word??) instrument for “Rocky Top”, which, if I ever get divorced and married again, will be our wedding hunch,… I mean, march. OOOOHHHH, Yeahhhh!!!
Here we go again
October 1st, 2009
1:56 am
it’s got a sneaky ‘h’ in there. rhythm.
BugKiller
October 1st, 2009
2:37 am
“By the way, my name is Bruce Dickenson. Yes, THE Bruce Dickenson.”
“I’ll be honest, fellas, that was sounding great, but I gotta be honest, but… I coulda used more cowbell.”
“I’m telling ya, fellas… ya gonna want that cowbell… on the track.”
“I’m the cock of the walk, baby!”
“I gotta have more cowbell… baby.”
“Guess what? I gotta fevah! And the only prescription… is more COWbell!”
http://www.buzzhumor.com/videos/28180/More_Cowbell
Heard
October 1st, 2009
2:39 am
Tech wins… No problem…next game please….
Volman
October 1st, 2009
4:33 am
Seriously… Mr. Bradley, this is all you have? Seriously?
That’s the cowbell. Or, more accurately, the cowbells, plural. Technically they’re banned at SEC games — seems the conference brethren all developed tinnitus — but State fans sneak them through the gate. This is a non-conference game, which means only one thing …
More cowbell. Holy cow.”
m
October 1st, 2009
4:45 am
After 3 tough ACC conference games, it is nice to get to play a non-conference breather against the pitifully weak sec.
The sec is alabammer and floriduh and the 10 dwarfs. Miss St is roughly equal to #4 ranked (what a joke) lswho. So either Miss St is great, or lswho sucks…has to be one or the other.
Mark, why don’t you give credit to Tech for being the only team (out of 108 non-sec teams, that is voluntarily playing 3 sec teams.
By the end of the season, Tech likely will be ACC and sec champs…although the sec is so weak this year that being sec champ is not saying much.
Thank God and Greyhound (and DRAD) that chan gomer gailey is gone forever.
By the way Mark, this is a pitifully lazy blog you wrote today. Surely you can do better than this.
Ozzy
October 1st, 2009
6:53 am
m
My theory on you is that you’re actually a UOG fan, posing as a Tech fan. You’re posts are so frickin stupid, that’s the only way a reasonable person can logically explain it.
That said, I hope LSU kicks the crap out of your team Saturday, but I don’t think they will.
Tech’s not good enough to overlook anyone, but I think they win this one.
Go Jackets!
P.S. Best use of cowbells ever – The Stones on Honky Tonk Woman
2nd best use of cowbells...
October 1st, 2009
7:07 am
…by The Band on “Up on Cripple Creek”! Ozzy, you must be as old as me!!!!
Thursday Night Lights
October 1st, 2009
7:25 am
That’s the first time I have seen the words “Tech is the better team” printed since about 1990. I still don’t think it’s true, but it was really odd to see that sentence.
Normally, if someone thinks Tech will win it will be spelled out a little differently. For example, “Tech is horrible, but they have a chance with their gimmicky, high school offense in this game…”
SatchelBuzz
October 1st, 2009
7:25 am
Were on a mission,……Sine Metu.
THWG!!
GTpak
October 1st, 2009
7:26 am
Say what you want, but NC’s defensive coach had our number last year and carried that same scheme / level of play to Miami against our offense. Mostly same players, different coach.
Now we have the Gator offensive coordinator at Miss State, mostly same players, different coach. This is not the MSU team we played last year!
Moral of this story is, don’t be over confident. Bring your A game. Go Jackets!! It will be a close one and I hope we come out on top.
Alabama Jack
October 1st, 2009
7:27 am
Respect All, Fear None.
RFP
October 1st, 2009
7:31 am
I was very confused when I read MB’s comments stating that “Tech is the better team”. By better did he mean more of a gimmick? He must because I haven’t heard Tech labeled the “better team” in quite some time.
» SEC links: Twenty years after Chucky Mullins John Clay’s Sidelines
October 1st, 2009
7:38 am
[...] Mark Bradley of the AJC is worried about Mississippi State. [...]
bamafan
October 1st, 2009
7:43 am
Hey M – you cannot trash the SEC as weak and then claim credit for
“voluntarily” playing THREE SEC teams. Have you thought about the inconsistency in all your postings? Have you ever considered that LSU might not be as good as # 4 AND that Miss State is not as good as performance against LSU indicates. It is possible that BOTH are true; it doesn’t have to be ONE or the OTHER.
davidbaker
October 1st, 2009
7:43 am
And “mississippi queen” by Leslie West and Mountain is heavy on the cow bell.
Ozzy
October 1st, 2009
7:46 am
2ND Best –
Must be. There was a special on some channel the other night – forgot the name but it was The Band’s last concert – very cool. They were a little before my time, but I wish I could have seen them.
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” – Blue Oyster Cult was another good one.
Go Jackets!
Nativebird
October 1st, 2009
7:49 am
Anytime Josh Nesbit starts at Quarterback, the opposition has a chance. Deep down CPJ knows this, that’s why he always has that constipated scowl on his face.
FBR
October 1st, 2009
7:52 am
Just looked at the techmite’s schedule. It has to be among the top 10 easiest in Div. 1. Typical tech scheduling–play the bottom teir, not the top teir.
PT
October 1st, 2009
7:52 am
Why is it that Tech fans such as dmajor love to refer to things from last year. This is a totlally different team from last year, much better and Tech is not as good. They could get better but not yet, This game will be a war with Tech nudging at the end.
Dan
October 1st, 2009
7:53 am
SatchelBuzz
I love how this is all about Miss State yet you NATS have to say THWG anyway. Shows real desperation ……
GT71
October 1st, 2009
7:56 am
Shoot – I played the cowbell with many, many bands at many, many frat parties and it’s real easy. Even a central time zone bulldog can do it. Just beat it with a stick or clapper it around a while. But it didn’t help those bands (they sometimes asked me to stop – no Leslie West fans) and it hopefully won’t help the MSU team. BUT – bring the A game, cuz they’re all 60 minutes and they’re all tough.
Asheville Dawg
October 1st, 2009
8:01 am
Mark – I was one that was really disappointed at what you wrote in 2005 about Starkeville, as my Dad was a professor at Mississippi State and I spend a lot of time there and no one deserves to be dumped on like that. Just wanted to let you know I appreciate your fence mending and I officially forgive you! Keep up the good work.
Hey Dogtards
October 1st, 2009
8:03 am
@ FBR
“Just looked at the techmite’s schedule. It has to be among the top 10 easiest in Div. 1. Typical tech scheduling–play the bottom teir, not the top teir.”
———————————————-
i before e, except after c.
self’d & credibility = blown
Mark Bradley
October 1st, 2009
8:03 am
Isn’t “Mississippi Queen” Homer Simpson’s favorite song?
And I never saw The Band, either. But I have watched “The Last Waltz” a time or two.
Jim
October 1st, 2009
8:03 am
Hey Tech it aint the Cowbell that will beat you. You are playing as SEC team that is imporved that outgained you last year but could not score, This team Can score, is playing at home and hmm we do have fans that attend the game, Whey did you return 4000 tickets? It is only a 4 hour drive to Starkville.. Cummon ,, and something you love to hear GO DAWGS!
blazer
October 1st, 2009
8:05 am
Enter your comments here
still 45-42-glad to play sec school-good old southern backyard football!
Mark Bradley
October 1st, 2009
8:05 am
OK, BugKiller, YOU ASKED FOR IT! AND YOU GOT IT!
MORE COWBELL!
MattyB
October 1st, 2009
8:11 am
I don’t think it was a poor scheduling decision. I think it’s a good way to get your feet wet in the SEC, which is slightly different from the days of old when Tech itself was the standard bearer of the conference. If GT truly wants to elevate itself beyond the mediocrity of years past, it’s going to have to face tougher non-conference competition, and win some of those games.
We don’t need no stinkin’ Blue Oyster Cult! Jackets take care of the Missies 27-17!
Mark Bradley
October 1st, 2009
8:13 am
I think Tech will win. But the scariest games are the ones on the road you’re expected to win.
Baba O'Riley
October 1st, 2009
8:18 am
Jim- The game is not played in the stands. It’s played between the white lines. Some of you SEC fans tend to forget that. Why don’t you start the “We got spirit” cheer against the fans on the other side. That way, you can claim victory from the bleachers. “We got more…we got more…”
Dawgs Fan
October 1st, 2009
8:31 am
MSU could be flat as a pancake since they put it all on the line against LSU. North Carolina was very weak, QB play was really bad. I think MSU is much better than NC since they do play with a little fire thanks to their new head coach. If MSU does not come out tired and flat they will most likely take the bugs. Tech was equally unimpressive agaist NC. Looked like neither team actually wanted to play that game.
RDM
October 1st, 2009
8:32 am
More cowbell baby! Oh man, that’s good stuff! Mark, thanks for the morning pick me up.
GeoffDawg
October 1st, 2009
8:39 am
We used to sneak flasks into Sanford Stadium. I guess cowbells is how they roll in StarkVegas.
SimpleDawg
October 1st, 2009
8:40 am
It will be a sad day in Bugtown come Sunday….
…and it’s even going to be on TV.
How does one cook crow?
eastofA1A
October 1st, 2009
8:42 am
Enter your comments here
I watched some of the CSS replay of LSU/MSU. I was impressed with the athleticism and quickness of MSU on both sides of the ball. More so than LSU. And their offense under Mullen is vastly improved. … I thought we got some cheap scores on them last year to balloon the total a bit. This game worries me in Starkville, as their players won’t be constantly distracted by looking up at all the tall buildings.
Mark Bradley
October 1st, 2009
8:42 am
“Used to sneak flasks into Sanford Stadium?”
aztec
October 1st, 2009
8:45 am
im sure paul johnon and his staff and all the players are very concerned about miss state, its you sports writers and the gt fans that need to focus on worrying
j
October 1st, 2009
8:46 am
MB – Get a life. Shouldn’t y’all be talking about how bad UGAY will lose this week? You are a shock jock of sports. GT wins big!
Barkin'Dog
October 1st, 2009
8:47 am
Here’s where Tech understands what the Dawgs experienced going to Ok.St., after scheduling a game way in advance with a team that is usually an “easy win.” Sometimes that road opponent is much better than intended at game time. Perhaps Tech will feel the unexpected sting of a lackluster loss. I usually pull for the state team, but I’m going with the SEC here. It’s a great match-up, with a result that will garner a lot of flack here from the winners of conference-loyal fans.
HPB
October 1st, 2009
8:47 am
Glad Tech is playing against its out of conference against a quality conference. That certainly garners more respect than playing, say, Idaho State.
My cowbell preference is All Right Now by Free. (Lost some of the hearing in my left ear listening to Terry Lee and the GTs play that cover in a little club called Grumpy’s up on the Ocoee river.)
Hey Dogtards
October 1st, 2009
8:50 am
@ Dawgs Fan
“Tech was equally unimpressive agaist NC.”
———————————————————————–
Take off the mutt-tinted glasses and you’ll have a little bit more credibility. Tech throttled a ranked (albeit likely overrated) opponent. Tech had 300+ yards rushing and 400+ yards total. Tech held UNC to 150 yards. Dwyer had 150+ yards rushing, Nesbitt had 100, and Morgan had 2 ints. Time of possession was 42-18 in favor of Tech AND Tech didn’t turn the ball over once. How is that remotely unimpressive?
Just to compare
1) uog hasn’t given up less than 17 points this season.
GT was 10-19 on third down. The only time uga sniffed 50% it was 5-9.
2) uog hasn’t given up less than 200 yards of offense this season and has allowed two opponents to break 400. It definitely didn’t hold a ranked opponent to 150 yards.
3) Tech forced three turnovers, something uga hasn’t done (unless you count Cox throwing a pick as forcing turnovers). Tech also didn’t turn the ball over, uga turns the ball over three times a game.
4) The margin of victory was bigger than any margin uga has had this year, either win or loss
5) Tech had the ball for 42 minutes. uog has only had the ball longer than one opponent, and that was 32 minutes.
6) Including either rushing or receiving, no single uog player this season totaled the 158 yards JD did in the last game
7) GT didn’t let unc score in the first half. uog only prevented one opponent from scoring in the first quarter and has given up 20+ points in the first half twice
9) unc was 1-11 on third down. Arkansas was 3-14, and that is the best uga has done all year.
10) GT beat a ranked opponent. uga hasn’t done that yet.
That’s just a quick comparison. Maybe unc isn’t amazing, but they got whooped and Tech looked impressive. You can say aspects of their game wasn’t impressive, like the kick game and at times the lines. But you lose credibility saying the team didn’t look impressive when they did.
Ramblinwreck83
October 1st, 2009
8:52 am
Can’t all you UGA fans go back to your blogs. All you ever do is find a Tech article that has a blog and talk trash the whole time. Worry about your own game this weekend. You’ll need all the luck in the world to beat LSU. All those turnovers will come back and bite you finally.
FBR
October 1st, 2009
8:53 am
@Hey Dogtards—self’d?–
Being a technoid-always living with that yearning in the gut to be like the really prominent program in the state-always wishing, always hoping, always-always, but never, ever admitting it.