I’m thinking PJ sees a real title as bigger than beating UGA
Paul Johnson and Josh Nesbitt can still be champions. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
I had this conversation with a Georgia Tech booster last night: If Paul Johnson had to pick between beating Georgia and winning the 2009 ACC title, which would have chosen?
“As fans, we’d always pick beating Georgia,” the booster said. But that’s from the fan’s perspective, which isn’t the same as a coach’s. And if I had to guess — and I don’t have to guess, but just for grins I will — I’d say PJ would take being the champion of a BCS conference. (Yeah, yeah. Even if it is only the ACC.)
I base this on something PJ said last week about beating Georgia — “Been there, done that” — and on his stated desire to win championships at Tech. “We almost did it last year,” he said, and the Jackets did. They shared first place in the Coastal Division but lost to Virginia Tech on a tiebreaker. And now the moment is here. Beat Clemson in Tampa and the Jackets will play in the Orange Bowl in Year 2 under Paul Johnson. And that’s pretty darn impressive even if they did lose to the hated mutts.
A year ago, I think PJ would have chosen the other course: He needed to beat Georgia to establish credibility among his constituency. And that had to come first lest he run the risk of turning into Chan Gailey. (Who was fired because he couldn’t beat Georgia, fired 51 weeks after he played for the ACC title in Jacksonville.) Having done the deed in Year 1, Johnson has more global goals.
Which is why, I submit, he talked down the rivalry last week. (Indeed, he came tantalizingly close to channeling Reggie Ball and saying of Georgia: “It’s just a game, dog.”) PJ said this flat-out: “I’m going to get Georgia Tech to the point where our program is bigger than one game.”
Georgia fans will crow that the ACC title game now holds no currency, but that’s not true. (The Tech fan’s comeback: “So who are you playing this week?”) Tech was the best team in its conference, which isn’t to be confused with the SEC but isn’t the New York-Penn League, either. And that was the Jackets’ stated goal from spring practice on — win the ACC.
Remember Tech’s rings from last season? They weren’t presented for beating Georgia, although they did bear the famous score. (I’m pretty sure this year’s rings won’t be engraved with “30-24.”) The rings were for tying for the Coastal title. This year GT and PJ don’t have to share a division with anyone. This year they can win the whole conference. And I’m thinking, in this coach’s mind, that was Job 1 all along.
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1,540 comments Add your comment
epnoymous
November 30th, 2009
5:42 pm
Everybody Hurts…sometimes.
30-24.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:43 pm
GT Joe
November 30th, 2009
5:41 pm
Nesbit is a pocket passer? Since when? I’ve seen middle school QBs throw better passes. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
GT Joe
November 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
Grinch, if you are anywhere near Athens, you’d know Nesbitt was a record setting pocket passer in HS. Chump.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
5:42 pm
Punctuation, son, punctuation. I will really help you in life. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!
GT Joe
November 30th, 2009
5:45 pm
Facts is facts grinch. GT, VT and Mia all had tougher schedules than LSU, bama and UF.
Mutt H8r
November 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
Congrats on the win again. The mutts beat a pretty good Georgia Tech team. WTF happened with the five losses? Did you lay down? Can you only get motivated to play your rival?? What kind of football program can only get up for the riv
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
Just saw the SEC is warning about fake tickets. The ACC is telling fans to lookout for fake hotdogs and cokes….
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
GT Joe
November 30th, 2009
5:44 pm
Riiiiiight. And what big name schools were attracted to him? Coastal Carolina, Daytona Beach Community College and Tech? Good move on his part. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
HBTD
November 30th, 2009
5:47 pm
OOOOOOH! DWYER GETS STUFFED AGAIN!!!!
OOOOOH! NESBITT GETS STUFFED AGAIN!!!!
OOOOOH! BABA DROPS ANOTHER PASS!!!!!
YOU LOSE!!!! DAWGS WIN!!!!!!!! 30 – 24!!!!
AND THERE GOES CALEB…………….AGAIN!!!!!
LOVE IT!! GO DAWGS!!!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:47 pm
GT Joe
November 30th, 2009
5:45 pm
Facts is facts. 30-24. 8 out of the last 9, and so on and so on. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:48 pm
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
HAHA! Good one.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
5:48 pm
I’m still waiting on the 5 big wins over the last 10 years from any Tech fan……
HBTD
November 30th, 2009
5:49 pm
GT. FACT(S)……….
UGA BEAT THE HELL OUT OF TECH
BAMA BEAT THE HELL OUT OF VA TECH
AND I’M PRETTY SURE FLORIDA WOULD BE THE HELL OUT OF MIAMI
SCHEDULES DON’T PLAY GAMES………….TEAMS DO! YOU LOSE…..AGAIN!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:49 pm
Mutt H8r
November 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
I don’t know. What kind of team can only get up for their rival? What did tech do last year? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Looooooved that showing against LSU.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
5:49 pm
Or, quite possibly, fake people in the seats….
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:50 pm
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
5:48 pm
Wasn’t there a big “upset” win over Duke in there somewhere? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Tech sucks
November 30th, 2009
5:53 pm
Funny how all the Nerds talked incessant trash about how bad they were going to destroy UGA and how forward they were looking to it. Then after they get their butts whupped, the game really didn’t matter/count and they have a bigger game to look forward to. Hilariously sad.
-You can’t spell DragonCon Convention w/out GT.
-You can’t spell Forty year old virgin w/out GT.
-You can’t spell Bangalore Call Center w/out GT.
-You can’t spell Living in Mom’s basement w/out GT
-You can’t spell Mugged on North Avenue w/out GT
Dawgsdawgsdawgs
November 30th, 2009
5:54 pm
Or a big OT win against Wake Forest?
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:54 pm
Tech sucks
November 30th, 2009
5:53 pm
Haha! Love it.
Careful, though, GT Joe may come back with some sort of Jedi “pattern” to confuse and daze you. BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Where's tha Luv ???
November 30th, 2009
5:54 pm
Hey GT Joe….well put…..Don’t waste your time on Grinch…he already admitted that they had the worst team….. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH !!!!!
AND THE STATE BELONGS TOOOOOOO
November 30th, 2009
5:55 pm
Enter your comments here
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:55 pm
Where’s tha Luv ???
November 30th, 2009
5:54 pm
Your reading comprehension is sorely lacking. I said this was the worst UGA team in 13 years and we still beat tech’s BEST team during the same time. You’re right….BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
5:56 pm
The bull pups can’t run with the SEC big dogs (Florida and Alabama) any more!(Exclamation Point) Now all they can do is run their mouths about beating and owning what they consider to be a lesser team.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
5:57 pm
Ok Nerds, I’ll lower it to THREE big wins, and I’ll spot you two: UGA in 2000 and 2008…..
HBTD
November 30th, 2009
5:57 pm
GHOST. TECHS TOP 5 WINS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS LISTED IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE TO PROGRAM:
1. GARDNER WEBB (2008). BLOCKED FG AT END OF GAME SAVES DAY!
2. VANDY (2009). THEY REALLY SHOWED THE SEC WHO WAS BOSS!!
3. MRS STATE (2009). DITTO VANDY
4. UGA (2008). NATS WIN AFTER DAWGS INADVERTANTLY GIVEN A SLEEP AIDE AT THE HALF INSTEAD OF A CAFFINE JOLT DUE TO BOREDOM. THE WIN WAS SO BIG THEY EVEN HAD TEAM RINGS MADE TO COMMEMORATE THE ONCE IN A DECADE EXPERIENCE.
5. N.D.(2008). A TEAM THAT WOULD GO ON TO WIN 5 GAMES THAT SEASON.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:58 pm
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
5:56 pm
Yes, it is hard to run in the SEC when the NC has been from the conference for the past 3 years. We CAN, however, beat the potential ACC champ quite handily. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
5:58 pm
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
5:57 pm
How about that riveting come-from-behind win over Gardner Webb last year? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
AND THE STATE BELONGS TOOOOOOO
November 30th, 2009
5:58 pm
Their are three teams in the State of Georgia
College = UGA
college= GSU
High School = Sunbury High school hornets
Go Swarm(hornets) http://www.swarmhornetswarm.com
Go Dawgs!
mwh6767
November 30th, 2009
5:59 pm
Congrats to the UGA footballm team and coaches. Im a Tech fan and season ticket holder but a good game plan is a good game plan so hats off. Second Tech HAS to do something about its front 7! UGA took advantage of our biggest weakness. Could be a long day against Clemson if CDS is smart enough and Spiller is tough enough to run between the tackles. To the Uga fans who are acting like this game was a cake walk, i wouldnt consider a 6 point win with the opposing team driving down the field at the end an a$$ whipping. As a tech fan you really have to question the 4 straight passes at the end. I hate to lose anytime but it is good to see this game get its venom back. It wasnt too long ago that UGA fans where crowing that the Tech game wasnt a rivalry anymore. Its plain to see that it is on and off the field now! Good luck in Tampa Jackets!
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:00 pm
down go the dogs, down go the dogs only can brag about beating ACC teams
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
6:02 pm
Uh oh, the pizza has just arrived. Wait a minute…..what the….the guy is wearing a tech hat. This is gonna be fun. So much for the tip. Later all. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Tech flavored Losers
November 30th, 2009
6:02 pm
AND THE STATE BELONGS TOOOOOOO, i agree with you,
but whats up with that Hornet team, who’s book is that? is it based off a real team? Where is sunbury Ga?
Mark
November 30th, 2009
6:05 pm
All I hear from this article is excuses. Tech was dominated by one of the worst Georgia teams in the last 10 years. Winning a title like the ACC is like winning a date with your sister. Bradley is making excuses for Paul Johnson. All games mean something. The fact your going to the Orange bowl when you play in a weak conference is a joke. The ACC teams would struggle with a good high school team. GO Dawgs and to you Techmites 30-24. We will rule for a long time to come.
got um covered
November 30th, 2009
6:05 pm
as long as we beat tech the world is a better place! did the players make it out of ATL okay? they didnt get robbed on the way out of the city did they?
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
6:05 pm
I tried to get someone to step up for their team to no avail….
Have a good evening everyone.
30-24!!!!
2N4YEARS
November 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
HEADLINE: Mark Bradley “I’m thinking PJ sees a real title as bigger than beating UGA”.
Funny how he says this AFTER the UGA loss.
Georgia Tech vs. Georgia: Clean, Old Fashioned Hate - Dan On The Street – Sports and More from Dan Sheldon
November 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
[...] field at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Bulldogs save their season. The Jackets look forward to the ACC Championship game. :Georgia, Georgia [...]
UGAfireDAWG
November 30th, 2009
6:07 pm
OH, now this game isnt important anymore!!! After we romped in ATLANTA for 350 yards rushing!!!! Get used to losing again Tech fans, THE NEW STREAK CONTINUES!!!
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((30-24))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
hahahahahahahahahah
Tech flavored Losers
November 30th, 2009
6:07 pm
look, there is no game more important, unless playing for a national championship, then that instate game, the recruits see it, the coaches know it too.
BUZZ LIGHTYEAR
November 30th, 2009
6:08 pm
HEADLINE: Mark Bradley”"I’m thinking PJ sees a real title as bigger than beating UGA”
Funny how he says this AFTER the loss to UGA.
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:09 pm
Ga was dominated by a team from the ACC between the hedges even with a top five recruiting class
joe cox will be fine
November 30th, 2009
6:11 pm
look guys, only a few tech fans acted stupid for a year. Time to ease up, show a little class, and treat other bloggers with respect. Wait a minute- thats crazy- gotta stop drinkin so early in the day.
Atlanta Gator
November 30th, 2009
6:11 pm
The Grinch wrote: “What do you think of GT Joe’s statement that if tech were in the SEC they would be playing for championships and BCS bowl games?
—-
OMG! Sorry, but GT Joe needs to know that Tech used to be in the SEC and they left because they could not compete with Alabama. In fact, Bobby Dodd and Bear Bryant did not speak from the time of their exit from the SEC until Bobby Dodds death. No, I believe if GT were in the SEC today, they would be a Mississippi State (consistently better than Vandy but consistently mediocre Conference-wide).
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:13 pm
Even with top five recruiting classe, lost last year 45-42 barely won this year 30-24 to an ACC team. Which team accomplished more?
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:16 pm
Which feels better doing more with less (10-2) or doing less with more (7-5)
Matt
November 30th, 2009
6:17 pm
Not that is makes much of a difference, but if your going to brag about the score its 30-24, not 31-24 for some you who weren’t aware. And the series record is 60-41 not 60-39. Yall just don’t count two of Tech’s wins because it was during the war. But UF/FSU, Army/Navy, Clemson/USC, Ole Miss/Miss St, Ohio State/Michigan, Auburn/Alabama, and every other rivalry counts those games that were played in those years. And yes I did compare Paul Johnson’s coaching ability to Mark Richt’s. The only thing that matters at the end of the year is how many wins you got. And so far CPJ has more in his tenure at Tech than Mark Richt has at UGA. Plus, Paul Johnson is winning more games without the top 5 recruiting classes that Mark Richt has. And these players may be filling in their roles well, but Paul Johnson does not have his recruits that fit his “high school offense” in yet. So he is doing a better job with the talent that he has inherited than the talent that Mark Richt has received at UGA.
C C
November 30th, 2009
6:18 pm
“I read where ESPN projected the Bowl Games and they had tech playing in the Gator Bowl. Since when did the ACC champ play in the Gator Bowl? BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
Let me clear that up for you and others with similar enlightening comments:
The ACC champ goes to the Orange bowl (or the BCSCG if ranked in the top 2), and the next-chosen ACC teams go to the Chick-fil-A and Gator Bowls. Period.
On the ESPN ACC blog, Heather Dinich — who has predicted against Tech many times this year and often been wrong about it — picked Clemson to win the ACCCG, so AFAIK that’s where the “GT to the Gator prediction from ESPN” appears. But on the MAIN ESPN “bowl projections” page, both Schlabach and Feldman predict GT to win the ACCCG and go to the Orange.
Regardless those are all just predictions for now, nothing more. Talk is cheap until they actually play the championship game.
At least Ms. Dinich wrote a positive blog entry on Demaryius Thomas today.
joe cox will be fine
November 30th, 2009
6:19 pm
Jokes aside- Unlike Joe Cox Tech will be fine, CPJ is gonna win and the rivalry will become more intense- no way Tech gains long term upper hand in rivalry, but the games have always been close-mostly anyway, u guys will proly win your share. Say 3 per decade?
Pi$$onaJacket
November 30th, 2009
6:26 pm
You would think that as much as tech as lost over the many decades, that the tech fans would know how to take a loss. Man, talk about poor sports and sorry losers. And I am glad the GBI arrested your students throwing things from the stands. You will always be the most obnoxious fans and classless fans in all of the NCAA. Oh, by the way, Caleb just scored again. 30 – 24 ! Go Clemson!
techengineer
November 30th, 2009
6:27 pm
Why are all these mutts on here trash talking?? They laid everything on the line for the Tech game since their seaon has been so god awful.. It’s that simple. Now I’m very dissapointed with Tech’s defensive performance.. No excuse for it and may be the single worse defensive effort I’ve ever witnessed in my life time of watching and playing football; however, it is clear that Tech is on the rise and the Dawgs are heading into a period of hybernation under the porch!!! No future for the Dawgs… Think this year was ugly just wait till next year.. lol