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
Tech
November 11th, 2009
3:56 pm
BG Sucks!
Bobby Dodd
November 11th, 2009
3:56 pm
Better beat Duke before we start telling the world how good we are! Just saying…
Buckheadbill
November 11th, 2009
3:56 pm
Reggie Ball took 2 years of advanced Kal Q Lus?
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
3:57 pm
later nerd fans have to go back to scrubbing toilets now, i only graduated from an sec school
Regent
November 11th, 2009
3:58 pm
Jacketnation, you now must offer how to be an ass 101. I am sure you aced that required course..
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:00 pm
sorry but what was joe hamiltons major something to do with weighing ounces? oh and what about stephon marbury, what was his gpa again?
jacketnation
November 11th, 2009
4:00 pm
Reggie was fine in the class room, just an idiot on the field. And Gailey was too hard headed to put him in the secondary, like the other schools (including UGA) wanted to do.
Mark Richt, the jersey dick
November 11th, 2009
4:00 pm
Georgia Girl – are you the one that looks just like Rennie Curran?
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:01 pm
how could i forget mr. ball, what down is it again?
DawgNation
November 11th, 2009
4:02 pm
JackNation,
Stephon Marbury, Keith Brooking, Reggie Ball, Michael Johnson, Josh Nesbitt and countless others of your dredlocked hoodrats would probably disagree with you. Tech just does fine finding thugs in their pipeline high schools in the ghettos of Atlanta.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:03 pm
betcha he never forgot anything for a test.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:03 pm
Couldn’t have stated that any nicer DawgNation
Jeff
November 11th, 2009
4:04 pm
The Trade School is the only engineering institute with a Humanities school
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:05 pm
they have to get the athletes in somehow.
Les Miles
November 11th, 2009
4:05 pm
and Nesbitt will teach the class on thermal management this semester…..LMAO. Dwyer can’t even spell his name but we are to believe that all these players are the next Steven Hawking……give it a rest techies…..your football players are not rocket scientist.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:07 pm
with the percentage of foreign born students enrolled at g yeck i’m surprised they don’t have more in the athletic department.
Q-tip
November 11th, 2009
4:07 pm
Tech doesn’t have to worry with who they recruit. Because their star athletes all magically make passing grades, until they get busted for cheating like they did for 6 years during 1997-2003. Only to throw a poor hourly paid office clerk under the bus for their cheating ways. Pathetic.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
4:08 pm
DAWG NATION Dreglocked players? I think UGA has a few and the Athens-Clarke County Jail knows them by name and finger print.
I love hairy arab chicks
November 11th, 2009
4:08 pm
Hey, stop talking about my school you UGA hillbillies!!! At least our athletes can tie their own shoes and point to what they want to eat at McDonalds!!!
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:10 pm
i think UGA has two starters with dreads but you can clearly see the name on their uniform. i still haven’t caught the running backs name for yeck who transfered from louisville.
DawgNation
November 11th, 2009
4:10 pm
Yep. Ours get busted for ridiculous driving infractions while yours get popped for raping women and slinging rock.
jacketnation
November 11th, 2009
4:11 pm
They only offer Jackass 101 in Athens. It is part of the prestigious 4 year live stock management school. My grandfather had a third grade education and he was a great livestock and farm manager on his 144 acres. We are proud of our student athletes. One of our offensive lineman is majoring in aeronautical engineering. Three Tech grads flew the space shuttle (same crew) last fall. UGA has made major accomplishments with student athletes as well. Developing microwavable hamburger helper is something the Bulldawg nation can be proud of.
Georgia Tech 9 – 1 and # 7 in the BCS
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:11 pm
i was wondering if mcdonalds still had the picture menu
Joey Hamilton
November 11th, 2009
4:12 pm
y0!!!! WeZ alL bEe sMaRt n’ ClaSsY aT dA UnIvErSiTiE uH Ge0rGiA tEk!!!!
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
4:12 pm
I will ask this again. How can you UGA fans love the AA football players on Saturday and hate them when they date your FAKE Blonde Barbie Tri Delta Daughter on Monday? UGA the Ole Miss of the EAST COAST.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:14 pm
wow they have microwavable hamburger helper now? were those three tech grads that flew the space shuttle the ones starring in that movie space chimps?
VOLS
November 11th, 2009
4:15 pm
TN Vols can beat Tech on any given Saturday !!
jacketnation
November 11th, 2009
4:16 pm
oooh oooh aaah aaah
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
4:17 pm
KY on Yourself. His name is ALLEN and all you need to see is what the Dawgs will see his hair in the breeze as he runs for anothe GEORGIA TECH TOUCH DOWN.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:17 pm
when did anyone get angry for their daughter dating an nfl prospect?
BobbyGodd
November 11th, 2009
4:18 pm
Hate to say it…but you are probably right Mark! Tech would likely be better than all three of the SEC teams you mention if only the defense performed like many of us expected back in August. We lost three DL’s but returned the remainder. This has been a very disappointing team defensively since the first game against Jax St. and has certainly not improved much. Had Skinner decided to throw short routes for first downs rather than the deep ball – GT probably loses the game to Wake. We made Vandy look very potent on offense and GT is likely the only team capable of that infamous act. But thankfully, coaching and second half offensive play has been terrific.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:20 pm
oh i just figured he grew his hair that long because he was embarrassed that his name was misspelled on his jersey.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 11th, 2009
4:21 pm
DUH when he beatr her and was f….g everything that walked ie McNair. GREAT guy but a bnurning in Hell POS for sure.
Marlin Fisher
November 11th, 2009
4:21 pm
SEC has NO case
All they have managed to prove is their own standings (in the midst of a ton of suspect officiating). To which, I reply, “We already knew that” Being undefeated is not impressive when your suppose to be better than your inner conference opponents and your national challenges include FIU, Troy, Charleston Southern, etc. Take a look at the SEC vs ranked opponents this year. They’re 1-3 (Ok State, VT, GT x2) For comparison sake the ACC is 3-3 (TCU x2, BYU, USF, Stan, Pitt). And might I add thats considering teams that are still ranked, not just teams with great expectations
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:21 pm
i think vols is right, at least until papa kiffin leaves poppy cock.
jacketnation
November 11th, 2009
4:21 pm
I am sure you trailer park dwellers so the widely publicized report last fall that; Georgia Tech athletes ranked #1 in the nation in highest SAT scores; above Notre Dame and even the IVY league schools. Florida was near the bottom but ranked the #1 party school (underaged drinking) with UGA posting #3. UGA does a lot of “posting”. Posting bail at the Athens Clark County Jail. They should add a full time bail bondsman to the athletic staff.
DawgFan 4 Life
November 11th, 2009
4:22 pm
According to saragin: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc09.htm
Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Clemson would finish 3rd, 4th and 5th in the SEC (then LSU at 6th) then Miami at 7th. The ACC would capture 4 of the top 7 teams in the SEC (which is what should be expected)… UGA would be 7th between all teams in the ACC.
DawgFan
November 11th, 2009
4:24 pm
Dave from GT,
Was I relieved when they caught the rapist? Only a nasty, cold-hearted, miserable Yech fan would make light of a rapist that ruined the lives of numerous women. I’d love to see you in person sometime, Dave.
UKnowY
November 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
yes true 1-3 but who did yeck beat from the SEC??? both last place teams and who else did the acc play two mountain west teams, two big east teams, and a pac 10er. none of those teams would have finished in the top eight in the SEC. just like yeck wouldn’t have
Reginald Dwight
November 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
You’re exactly right. The Jackets are awesome and great fun to watch. They would fall into place just about where you said (provided the SEC head ofc instructs the refs to allow it). Good call sir.
Old Gold '71
November 11th, 2009
4:28 pm
Mark, as a Tech alum and season ticket holder… I think you’re pretty close to being correct. I’d rank Tech second in the SEC East, and second in the SEC West this year, third overall. You hit the nail on the head – the Jackets’ defense is up to where it would need to be to finish higher, and that’s also why talk of playing in the BCSCG is premature. A great team, but not a complete team – yet. Give Paul Johnson a little more time and I think they will be.
umpers
November 11th, 2009
4:28 pm
Marlin,
Yeah douche. Hang your hat on Yech playing and beating the mighty Miss. State and Vandy types. Top to bottom, year and year out, the SEC owns the ACC. Richt is 11-1 against them. Nuff said.
Diehard Tech Fan
November 11th, 2009
4:29 pm
Mark,
I strongly disagree. Tech has proven to be the best team in the nation this year. Heads and shoulders above anything the SEC has produced. Out of the 32 NFL teams, I’d wager to say that Tech would easily beat 28 of them on any given day.
Old Gold '71
November 11th, 2009
4:30 pm
NOTE: My bad – meant to say that the defense is NOT up to whee it would need to be to finish higher -
I love manboobs
November 11th, 2009
4:30 pm
PLEASE HELP!!! PLEASE!!! DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SHIRTLESS PICTURES OF PAUL JOHNSON? WE CAN ARRANGE SOMETHING FOR A TRADE. THANKS!!!!
Diehard Tech Fan
November 11th, 2009
4:31 pm
Old Gold,
You are selling my Jackets waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too short. We would clearly dominate the SEC, along with most professional conferences.
Rave from GT
November 11th, 2009
4:34 pm
DawgFan has manboobs
Dr. J
November 11th, 2009
4:38 pm
The ACC gets to play cupcakes without going out of conference…..I’ve known many Tech players over the past 30 years—believe me, they didn’t take calculus.
Wooglin
November 11th, 2009
4:45 pm
Excellent analysis. Tech’s offense is as good as anybody’s but until we get better than an Ivy League defense, we are never going to ascend to the elite. I am not sure we can consistently recruit the big hogs necessary for a great defense, year in and year out.
jacketnation
November 11th, 2009
4:45 pm
UGA academic requirements for athletes is limited to being able to write your name; with a crayon.