The Hot Button: Where would Tech finish in the SEC?
There's a difference between ACC speed and SEC speed. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It’s clear – to me, if not to C.J. Spiller and Dabo Swinney — that Georgia Tech is the class of the ACC. But the ACC is often described as the least of the six BCS leagues, and another conference in the neighborhood is regarded as the best. So now, today’s question:
Where would Tech rank in the SEC?
My first inclination is to say the Jackets would finish wherever Mike Slive’s refs got together and decided they should be, but that’s my little joke. Getting serious, I’d say …
Second in the East behind Florida. Third in the West behind Alabama and LSU. Fourth overall.
That wailing you hear are the cries arising from the confluence of North Avenue and Techwood Drive, but hear me out. As good as Tech is — and it is very good — there’s still a difference between the personnel of a top-shelf SEC team and of everyone else. (Ask Jim Tressel.) This doesn’t mean Tech couldn’t up and beat Florida or Alabama or LSU on a given Saturday; it simply means that, on most given Saturdays, talent would prevail.
We’ve seen the difference between the SEC and the ACC three times in this city in the past 15 months. Alabama beat Clemson in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic and then whipped Virginia Tech in the 2009 installment. LSU beat Tech 38-3 on Dec. 31, 2008. Three games on a neutral field, three emphatic SEC victories. Anyone who says there isn’t an imbalance between leagues, at least at their respective summits, isn’t dealing in reality.
On the other hand, SEC zealots are wrong to suggest the Jackets would finish far up the track in that famous league. Tech is better than Ole Miss, better than Auburn, better than South Carolina, better than Arkansas … yes, better than Georgia. To be placed below Florida and Alabama is no great failing, for those are two of the three best teams in the land, and to be deemed less gifted than LSU is no demerit, given that the Tigers have lost only to the Gators and the Tide.
Loading ...(And yes, I have noticed that Tech beat both Mississippi State and Vandy by one more point than did the mighty Gators. Whatever that means.)
Since you asked, I don’t think it’s a question of Paul Johnson’s offense not working in the SEC. It’s an issue instead of the SEC’s Big Three having superior defensive manpower. Nobody else in the ACC has the speed to keep up with Dwyer and Nesbitt and Roddy Jones; certain teams in the SEC do.
OK, there’s my take. Feel free to call me an idiot — pretty much everybody does — but know this: I do speak from observation. I’ve seen Tech and Florida and LSU in person both this season and last, and I saw Alabama in the imposing flesh twice in 2008. And I’m not trying to denigrate the Jackets, who might well be the nation’s fifth-best team. (After Florida, Texas, Alabama and LSU. Though I’m not suggesting LSU, with its two losses, should be ranked ahead of Tech in the polls.) I’m just telling you how I see it.
You’re now free to express yourselves on this weighty matter. Why do I feel you won’t need prompting?
And now, because fair’s fair: Where would Georgia rank in the ACC?
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901 comments Add your comment
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
3:00 pm
Shirley keep running the Black money making machine. How much do you owe the JACKSON and KING kids now?
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:00 pm
Amen DawgFan!!!
DawgFan
November 11th, 2009
3:00 pm
LOL!!!! I meant F-R-A-T boy, LOL, not fat!!!! Hilarious though!!! The fat boy would be appropiate nowadays, sadly!!
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:01 pm
I do have to agree with onadawg about shirley girl.
Dave from GT
November 11th, 2009
3:01 pm
Hey Dawg Fan, were you relieved when they caught the rapist?
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
3:02 pm
At least TECH bomber are smart enough to build a bomb. At UGA you can’t even find a student to make a STIL to make a drink. I give you that the Lawn guys can grow som good smoke and shrooms.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
3:05 pm
On a slow day this is always fun to JAB eachother on the Blogs. You do have to agree it is fun.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:06 pm
Who will make comment 700?
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
3:07 pm
ME ME ME please let it be ME.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:07 pm
Could not agree more, can’t imagine a better way to spend a rainy afternoon.
swBUZZman
November 11th, 2009
3:08 pm
Mark,
You said that Tech would be the team that no-one, including Florida, Bama, etc, would not want to play. If that is the case, then why do you concede they would be behind them in the SEC. And I know the answer to this already, but wasnt GT in the SEC at one time, and didnt they win it several times? And with CPJ, why would that be any different.
Dave from GT
November 11th, 2009
3:08 pm
I still don’t know if Dawg Fan (aka fat boy) was relieved!!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
November 11th, 2009
3:11 pm
Oh come on people, time for a new blog Bradley it has sunk to degrading the town the schools are located in. Athens is a beautiful college town. GT is located in one the great cities in the country. Crime happens every where. Stop insulting each others campuses. Geez. For their respective courses of study the state of Georgia is blessed to have two fine institutes of learning. And for football players don’t start on that either. We both have players to be proud of and then the ones working towards those NFL’s not Phd’s.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
3:11 pm
I am watching the Tech VT game from DVR and blogging. Wow if Only I could make money doing this like Mark, Jeff, and Tony life would be GREAT. HAHAHAHA.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:12 pm
Yeah the nerds were in the SEC over 30 years ago!!! That should count for something.
Trade School Junkie
November 11th, 2009
3:12 pm
Bradley:
The better question is:
How each conference or each team would perform if there
was a LEGIT D-1 playoff system??
B = Beauty
C = Contest
S = System
B = Bowl
C = Cartel
S = System
G-Man
November 11th, 2009
3:12 pm
Tech is better than LSU, right behind Bama and UF (with UF being the best, mainly due to Tebo and that defense). MacElroy (sp?) is suspect also. But if we fix our problems on defense in the coming years I think we hang with anybody, including the elite in the SEC. Remember, we’re still on the way up, so just being in this conversation in Johnson’s second year is huge (just ask the UGA homers). Go Jackets.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:13 pm
gdawg go back to michigan and let us worry about the south.
LVJacket
November 11th, 2009
3:14 pm
The issue with the Jackets is not the offense……its the D…..or lack thereof. Once the D improves, Tech will be able to regularly compete for titles with the likes of Florida, Alabama, Texas, OU and USC.
Dave from GT
November 11th, 2009
3:15 pm
I’m impressed, a G Dawg in Kalamazoo?
I agree with everything you say….. except the part about Athens.
Can’t wait to go there next year for win number 3 !!!
As for the SEC, let’s see where they end up in the BCS final standings.
BTW, I heard that the Big East was looking for a new member – one from a town called Athens! Good Luck Dawggies.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:15 pm
LVJ, if it’s and but’s were candy and nuts we would all have a merry christmas.
GeorgiaGirl
November 11th, 2009
3:16 pm
Pi$$onaDawg: First of all, your name is just fowl and shows the complete lack of social skills of the Techies.
Secondly, all I’ve ever seen run away from Tech are female co-eds.
And by reading this post, it is apparant that I (a girl, no less) know more about football than the Tech-tried-and-true ever will.
What quarterback do y’all hope to acquire in the future when he knows he’ll be running the option EVERY play?
You honestly think you could beat Florida??? Enjoy the delusion.
Techie Tedly
November 11th, 2009
3:18 pm
I disagree about LSU. GT would probably finish behind Florida and Bama in a 12-game season, but I think we are better than LSU this year. The way to beat PJ’s option is to overpower the blockers and get penetration into the backfield, while remaining disciplined on the defensive assignments. It’s not easy to do for a whole game, but that’s how Miami this year and UNC last year made us look like a high school offense with no quarterback. Every time Nesbitt took the snap, there were guys crashing through the line taking away all three of his options. Florida’s defense could do that for sure, and Bama could too if they had time to prepare. LSU would not be able to outscore us, unless we gave away the game with turnovers and special teams screwups, and over the course of a season we could finish a game or two better.
We have the talent and the speed on offense, what we would need to win the SEC over all is a faster defensive secondary. Jeff Demps at Florida may the only tailback in the SEC faster than Dwyer, Roddy, Allen, and thomas.
For head to head matchups, I think it depends what time of the season the game is played. PJ’s teams get better every game, and the past two years we have looked sloppy to start the season before we tighten up, quit turning the ball over and finish strong. As long as our offensive stars stay healthy, I would not want to face us in the latter third of the season, no matter how many points you think you can score on our defense.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:18 pm
Dave UGA is not dumb enough to make the same mistake you nerds did in leaving the SEC!!! Pocket protectors for everyone.
Dave from GT
November 11th, 2009
3:21 pm
Hey Georgia Girl, I think I remember you walking up the stairs at the GT student center. I was (looking up).
BTW, I think you mean foul…. not fowl. Google that and you will remember next time. You should watch the O’Reilly factor word of the day. Well… maybe not!
Let’s meet in back of the blog after UGA gets whacked in ATL (during the game). And be careful going up those stairs.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
3:23 pm
Ga Girl you don’t like my NAME? Wow I made that name just to make UGA fans LOVE ME. I am Sorry it didn’t work. My Social Skills work well to run my business and I do businees with many UGA fans. My best friend is a BAMA boy and I told him I would pull the sofa spring his ass sucked up during the LSU game if he would do the same for me after the Wake game. HAHAHA. It is all good.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:23 pm
Dave must be tired of his little asian gt grad.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
3:26 pm
U do KY don’t go that ASIAN thing my 2 sisters are Korean and Great women. 1 is finishing her Doctorate and the other has 3 Kids(1 UGA fan, 1 GT fan, and a Baby) so this is a Grand parent House Divided.
Dave's Little Asian GT Grad
November 11th, 2009
3:28 pm
UKnowY:
“Dave must be tired of his little asian gt grad.”
That is not true! Dave’s not tired of me at all and I’m not “some little asian grad”, I do have a name….it’s Bob.
Dave from GT
November 11th, 2009
3:29 pm
Hey, U KY !!!! What makes you think UGA could get into the Big East?
For the record. GT wins out, finishes higher that any SEC team except FL.
UGA lucky to get to the toilet Bowl.
And…. it’s the asian grad who really wants the GA girl.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:29 pm
what happened to “this is so much fun, and it’s great to poke fun at each other?”
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:35 pm
Dave I think it’s hilarious that GT has one win over an in state opponent every eight years and can’t then has a decent season after that and now the nerd fans are talking trash like they are freaking Florida or USC. Yes you finally made a great hire on a head coach and yes you have had a great season to this point and you still haven’t won anything since 1998.
Dave's Little Asian GT Grad (Bob)
November 11th, 2009
3:35 pm
Dave from GT:
“And…. it’s the asian grad who really wants the GA girl.’
You know that’s not true Dave, I only have eyes(and butt) for you!
If you behave the rest of the afternoon, I will model your thong for you when you get home from class.
Smooches!!
Pat
November 11th, 2009
3:37 pm
Go poke yourself.
Dave from GT
November 11th, 2009
3:41 pm
This is more fun that College Footbal GameDay with Herbstreit and Corso.
I do agree with U KY…… GT has THE JOHNSON.
Gotta go hang out under the stairs now!
So you guys have a nice day, and BOB, watch yourself if you ever get down to 10th and Peachtree.
GT Rolls !!!! The next decade belongs to the Jackets!!!
The ACC is on the rise, the SEC is going down ! Just get used to it.
It’s all in the Johnson.
Bye
Stinger
November 11th, 2009
3:42 pm
Tech would be a strong 2nd. Tech can beat Florida and Alabama, but for the entire season, would probably finish 2nd to Florida this year. Next year is a different story. # 1 jackets for 2010.
Florida # 1
Tech # 2
Bama # 3
Miami # 4
Clemson # 5
LSU # 6
Virginia Tech # 7
Arkansas #8
Boston College # 9
Ole Miss # 10
UGA # 16
gdawginkalamazoo
November 11th, 2009
3:43 pm
UknowY, I am in Michigan. Why are you worried about the south? I’m not. I grew up there, I have friends and family there and I frequently vacation there. So?
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:43 pm
PJ, I had the honor of meeting him once and would suggest this to anyone who may have the pleasure of his presence one day make sure to ask him to tell you the Timbuktu story.
Otto
November 11th, 2009
3:45 pm
It all make me laugh when a GT fan picks a name and in place of something that displays pride in GT they display pride in hating their rival.
It is drilled into the GT culture just listen to “whats the good word?” or the lyrics sung loudest during the fight song. THWG. Even old gold is ditched UGA history.
If your cross state rival does not hat chance are you are doing something wrong. UGA doesn’t hate GT, they’re just an annoying neighbor thus much fewer UGA fans with screennames such as Bugkiller and more with Dawg in them. It is great to be part of something that you can be proud of and define on your own.
Otto
November 11th, 2009
3:46 pm
*not hate you, chances
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:46 pm
Well gdawg it looks like trying to get your yankee a$$ riled up worked!
Dave from GT
November 11th, 2009
3:47 pm
This really is my last entry, but Otto, you sound like you are on crack.
Marlin Fisher
November 11th, 2009
3:48 pm
Seems to me like a pretty unfounded argument. Best evidence provided by the performances of previous years? Thats like using UF’s bowl loss to Michigan 2 years ago as a reason to ignore them now. Truth of the matter is there is no way to determine where the SEC stands nationally cause they haven’t played or beaten any real contenders outside of it (best game being a victory over a 6-3 #21 VT). You fail to mention that VT has the 4th ranked offense in the ACC and put up more points on BAMA then any (SEC included) opponent. You also downplay the direct correlation regarding GT’s greater margins of victory over Florida’s opponents. (That would seem to me to be of more importance than how bama did against clemson last year who turned out to be a 6 loss team.) You also fail to realize that this year, GT faces Clemson in ACCCG, will be beaten and thus are actually second in ACC.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:48 pm
Dangit hades must be freezing over cause I’m agreeing with GT Dave again.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 11th, 2009
3:52 pm
UKnowY, I never get “riled” up and my a$$ is still southern, thanks for asking. Have a nice life.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:53 pm
You do the same yankee
BG
November 11th, 2009
3:53 pm
Last. Tech sucks
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:55 pm
2nd that yech does suck!
Bobby
November 11th, 2009
3:55 pm
Enter your comments here
jacketnation
November 11th, 2009
3:55 pm
If the Jackets were in the SEC, we would have to become an institution of lower learning, so we could recruit Ghetto Thugs that can play football. We would have to offer “Food Science”, “Poultry Science”, and “Livestock Management”.