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
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:32 pm
what with the same class ga fans showed last year when they lost, give me a break. GA fans= arrogant and condescending, win or lose
Limelight
November 30th, 2009
6:32 pm
Fans should be arrested for throwing stuff from the stands, but let’s not get carried away and call Tech fans the most classless and obnoxious. Just look at your own.
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:34 pm
when your fans show a little class and sportsmanship you’ll get some back
Limelight
November 30th, 2009
6:35 pm
The dawgs came ready to play, and kept the turnovers and penalties to a minimum. Hats off to them. Now, do you call it a great win over a good team, or does Tech just plain suck? Can’t have it both ways.
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:37 pm
when ga wins their fans say what they want, when they lose they say what they want, but whine like a bunch of little sissies when other fans do the same to them
epnoymous
November 30th, 2009
6:38 pm
Wait a sec…
didn’t this same sportswriter comment on how GT football was defined by it’s rivalry with UGA?
If so, the definition is FAIL.
Saint Simons
November 30th, 2009
6:41 pm
(30-24)
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
wait a second………..
hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha
Pi$$onaJacket
November 30th, 2009
6:43 pm
Tech fans were making fun of GEORGIA losing to Kentucky. Well, Tech just lost to a team that lost to Kentucky. 30 – 24 ! Go Clemson!
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:47 pm
The definition of failure is doing less with more. Who has failed the most a team who constantly is blessed with some of the best players in the country but loses in their stadium to an ACC team, then loses 5 games and hangs on in the last minute to barely eke out a win against that same ACC team. Top five recruiting classes= unranked failure, little ol ga tech=10-2 and ranked #10.
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:50 pm
Ga fans made fun of tech beating Ga but not playing for their conference championship, so the mighty dawgs got beat by an ACC team that didn’t even play for it’s conference title.
Pi$$onaJacket
November 30th, 2009
6:51 pm
It’s so funny how techies try to find some hope, some reason for their losses, some way to try to make themselves feel better. It just does not work. Tech having a decent year is like a blind squirrel finding a nut. It happens rarely. Go on and try to spin it, but face it, you lost 8 out of the last 9 years. 30 – 24. Go Clemson!
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:53 pm
45-42 Mighty dawgs beat by an ACC also ran HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
Solid Gold Dancer
November 30th, 2009
6:55 pm
BCS has onnly punished Tech three spots for the uga game. They have listed this game as “No Harm, No Foul”. Reason being that uga’s SOS increased dramatically after having played Tech.
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
6:58 pm
Remember we are from the ACC you expect us to lose, What’s your excuse: 2008= top five recruiting classes =preseason number 1=losing three games, one to an ACC team. 2009=5 losses, barely beating that same ACC team=unranked losers
79dawg
November 30th, 2009
7:04 pm
Man up . . . . you lost. Quit making those stupid excuses. CPJ is ok with the loss . . . remember, that game doesn’t mean anything anyway. So what’s the problem? Whatever CPJ says is the truth.
HBTD
November 30th, 2009
7:05 pm
WOOFWOOF. NOT ONLY ARE YOU A LOSER, YOU SOUND LIKE A LOSER! GET USED TO THE DAWGPILE CAUSE YOU’RE GOING TO GET A STEADY DOSE OF IT FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS TO COME. IF HISTORY IS ANY INDICATION OF THE PAST, YOU’LL CATCH A BREAK AROUND 2016 AND THEN IT ALL STARTS OVER AGAIN. SUCK IT UP AND GET USE TO IT. YOU’VE CHOSEN TO BE A FAN OF A LOSER, NOW DEAL WITH IT AS BEST AS YOU KNOW HOW.
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
7:06 pm
Just carrying on a Ga tradition making excuses when you lose
Where's tha Luv ???
November 30th, 2009
7:06 pm
Hey Richt….your Tanning Bed bulbs came in…you can quit using that spray-on stuff again.
Oh yey…..what kind of hair cream do you use?…..that stuff stayed in your hair after a bucket of Gator-Aid washed over it….gotta have some of that stuff….maybe it was the fact that it had a Gator on it……hehe……..got bit by a Gator twice in one year….OUCH ! ! !
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
7:09 pm
5 losses and unranked, you sholud know what it means to back a loser
RT in NC
November 30th, 2009
7:10 pm
Dawg fans: I read a bunch of your blogs and had to wear UGA gear to work Monday. I’ll be listening to you MF’s brag aaaaalllllllll year long. I hate it! The UGA game will ALWAYS be the most important game of the year. There are you satisfied. Now, get off my blog or answer the following question:
I don’t particularly care what PJ thinks of the UGA game as long as he wins. I hate to second guess someone who has put life back in the program, but,
what was up with the three loooong passes at the end of the game? We had Josh Nesbitt at quarter back, a great runner, good decision maker, but no Matthew Stafford. I watched on TV, so I couldn’t see too well, but wasn’t there yardage down low? We had 4 downs a time out and over a minute to play. Were the first three long ones, just to set up the first down pass? That seems a little far fetched.
Russ, I ain't taken no dirt nap like UGA VII
November 30th, 2009
7:11 pm
Nothing’s changed, I am still a balllicker and dumb as a rock, just like our alumni.
What do I call a Tech graduate? Boss!
See you next year, d-bags.
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
7:12 pm
Just wanted to remind all you Dawg fans that your school sux and so do you. Sorry, reality sux too doesn’t it?
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
7:13 pm
The Grinch = a stupid inbred redneck. Sorry Grinch, but the truth must really hurt.
HBTD
November 30th, 2009
7:16 pm
THIS HERE IS BOOGER FROM HARTWELL!!!!!!!! YOU KNOW ME DONT YA????? HELL YEA WE WON YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! 30-24 WHERES OLD ST SIMONS? ??? OH YEA HE AINT HEAR. AND UGA STILL BETTER THAN YECH, YOU CAN COMPLANE ALL YOU WANT ABOUT ACADEMICS BUT THE FACTS REMAIN THAT 30-24, 30-24<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>> THATS FOR YELLOW FUZZY AND (NO) SAINT SIMONS.
Atlanta Gator
November 30th, 2009
7:20 pm
Once again I have to be moderate.
WOOFWOOF wrote: “Who has failed the most a team who constantly is blessed with some of the best players in the country but loses in their stadium to an ACC team, then loses 5 games and hangs on in the last minute to barely eke out a win against that same ACC team”
While it is true that Georgia barely beat Tech when Tech was ranked 7th and Georgia was unranked. Tech barely beat Georgia last year when Georgia was ranked 13th and Tech was ranked 18th.
Both losing teams had the same problem… they didn’t believe their opponent had the ability to beat them.
The contrast only seems sharper this year because GT had been stopping the run until Saturday night. And then let UGA (who had not been able to run on any other team) set records running against them. Why is it so hard for the ACC fans to admit that (between the two conferences) the SEC controls football and the ACC controls basketball most of the time?
Where's tha Luv ???
November 30th, 2009
7:20 pm
Hey HBTD,
Turn off your Caps Lock ….. DUMBASS !!!
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
7:20 pm
HBTD – you really suck. How does it feel to be really, really stupid? I suppose you really don’t know that you’re stupid if you are, so as they say, “ignorance is bliss”. You must be a very, very blissful person.
Dave from GT
November 30th, 2009
7:22 pm
The way the game ended….. was almost like GT threw it away. Maybe CPJ was thinking strategically, knowing that the heat is on Richt. Perhaps he would really rather beat Richt again, next year in Athens.
A couple of years of that, and the UGA fans will be scalping tix to the Jacket fans – just to fill up Sanford.
That’s what’s coming down the road for the GA team that really has no hope of finishing anywhere but 3rd or lower in the SEC east.
No hope…… Doomed…… Urban owns you guys and you can’t help but chuck at least 2 more games to a teams like UKY or Carolina…..
So… a life of SEC mediocrity, your season highlight is a trip to the big city (to play tech)!
How desperate, how pitiful. No wonder the dawg laid down and just died.
WOOFWOOF
November 30th, 2009
7:24 pm
Time for dinner, so bye bye little 5 loss unranked bullpups, you can come out now because that mean old fan from that little old ACC team who beat you at your own house is gone now. And in case you have not figured it out;
GO TECH TO HELL WITH GEORGIA fans
San Francisco Dawg
November 30th, 2009
7:25 pm
And when Johnson loses to Clemson he will say that the bigger picture was winning a bowl game! What happens when Tech loses the bowl game? Looking ahead to the spring game?
Come on, if Tech had beat Georgia, Johnson would have said that this was the most important game of the year…now, you play a second tier championship game against a Clemson team that got beat by the Gamecocks…and yes, we beat the Gamecocks..
Good luck stopping Spiller…he’s having a ball watching game films of the Georgia/Tech game…
UGA VII
November 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
It’s dark in here. Why did you guys put me in this box? It’s a conspiracy I’m telling you! Who is this Russ character anyway? If I knew that this lousy team was going to win the damn thing I wouldn’t have faked the dang heart attack. Listen fellas, everything’s ok and I really would like you folks to let me outta here. Ok? Let’s let bygones be bygones. Ok? I was just scared about the game and didn’t want to face all those mean yellow jackets. Let me out. Ok? Hello!! HELLO!! Damn! I thought the vet school would’ve figured it out by now. I guess our vet school ain’t no good either. Hello! Let me outta here!!!
tommy
November 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
I don’t agree totally with this article. I myself was very upset after the game Saturday night. There were many games in the Gailey era that Tech could have one if they just made one or two more plays. This game felt to much like the Gailey era. I know the offense is totally different, but Tech came out like they didn’t really care. Mark Richt was concerned about his own job and came to play. I love CPJ, but he got out coached the other night and our defense is about as bad as UGA if not worse. One thing that helps me sleep at night: Tech’s program is on the way up and UGA is on the way down. They will always be tough to beat, but I believe Johnson is going to get the caliber of athlete that UGA has been getting all along. The future is bright.
Atlanta Gator
November 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
GT, you had a good run, but I think teams have figured out that triple option. So, CPJ better go back to the drawing board. And UGA, you have a great offense but your defense is hit or miss (mostly miss). You must get rid of Martinez if you want to really compete.
Final note: The SEC owns football in the United States. The ACC can have basketball (although Florida and Kentucky can hold their own)
Dave from GT
November 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
Atlanta…… Gator……..oxymoron
Go DOGS
November 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
The only problem is got to get through UGA to get to a real BCS Champ game…..An ACCCG, obviously, doesn’t mean squat. However you need to compensate for your loss is your deal……just remember UGA IS your REALITY! BAM! 340 Yard smack down!
bulldog in carolina
November 30th, 2009
7:34 pm
an AWFUL COAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP….harr harr harr…you finally played a real non-conference foe and were overwhelmed…probably will beat little clemson[what an impressive showing against #5 sec east team]…as long as you stay in that conference you will think you are better than you are…..miami was the only other decent team in acc and they trashed you…QUIT DREAMING and gloating over jax state, vandy and miss state wins!!!!DAWGS RULE!!
Atlanta Gator
November 30th, 2009
7:37 pm
Dave from GT wrote: “Atlanta…… Gator……..oxymoron”
–
That makes absolutely no sense. However, I’m glad you know the word ‘oxymoron’. Most of GT grads don’t know enough english to pull that one off.
Atlanta Jacket
November 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Have fun in Nashville, Memphis or Shreveport Jail birds. And what is this another player arrested again. Have the jail birds ever gone a season without a player arrested under Mark Richt. I had the over under at 8 this year so you are doing quite well with what 3 or 4, but there is still another month to go.
Fix my email account, ya $40k/year geek!
November 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
Ha ha…..loving it. Kisses to all of you sweeties XOXOXO. Uhh Bye Bye now….chumps.
Hey! Get one of your CE with the GADOT to fix all of the pot holes around ATL….
Bawa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
UGA = REALITY
ATLshirt.COM needs glasses
November 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
ATLshirt.COM, I don’t know about “ugly betty’s”, I think those GT girls look pretty good myself.
EXHIBIT #1:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/11/22/bradleys-buzz-espns-dinich-now-likes-clemson-over-tech/
30-24 Dawg
November 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
30 – 24… hahahahahaha… 30 – 24…. hahahahahaahahahahahaha.. 30 to 24 bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaah. It gets funnier every time I say it. Wait… let me try it seriously.. THIRTY to TWENTY FOUR. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA oh, oh.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA. Oh my god that’s funny.
ATLshirt.com Doesnt Need Glasses
November 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Well, I see that there are at least 4 hot women at tech, sorry, but the masses are nothing like them
Notice how special those 4 are, they get to stand on the sideline and cheer… I wonder what kind of classes they are taking at tech ?? Basket Weaving or Cosmetology ??
Dave from GT
November 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
Make it the word of the day…. O’Reilly (ATL GTR).!!! On to Pithy comments: Do you really mean to say “most GT grads”? Check it at the grammar school.
I really like the Gators, have a couple of kids that graduated from that school. And I Actually went to the Orange Bowl for Spurrier’s last game.
I do not believe that Atlanta Gator is really a Gator. I think he/she is a UGA imposter. Now Spurrier…. he is a real Gator. Remember Galen! How about Charlie ? Ben Hill Griffin… now that’s a Gator. Livin large in A town ? Not a chance in hell!
Florida give us hope. One day GT can grow up and play like Florida.I know there is a way, and we are on the way with CPJ, who is the Spurrie of his generation.
The rest of the SEC East are relics… and doomed to mediocrity. Take that idiot Kiffen ! Richt from Free Shoes University and loaded with Bowden’s dirty plays (aka roll Nesbitt’s ankle).
So man up Gators, one day you may get to play GT in the BCS ….. and that may not be too far into the future!
Statue for CPJ
November 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
I’m not even phased by the UGA loss. Both team’s offenses played well and I enjoyed the game.
I’m absolutely stoked for the ACCCG and the possibility of New Year’s in Miami!
BUZZ LIGHTYEAR
November 30th, 2009
7:49 pm
ATL GATOR speaks the truth.
Taylor
November 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
lol this is all too funny. tech dorks trying to justify the lose. What happens if you lose to clemson? Does that mean the game didn’t matter either?
30-24 enjoy it
Bowhunter47
November 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
Mark,
You are pathetic.If CPJ is such a great coach, why not win both.
Taylor
November 30th, 2009
7:53 pm
Atlanta Jacket
November 30th, 2009
7:38 pm
Have fun in Nashville, Memphis or Shreveport Jail birds. And what is this another player arrested again. Have the jail birds ever gone a season without a player arrested under Mark Richt. I had the over under at 8 this year so you are doing quite well with what 3 or 4, but there is still another month to go
won’t be going to any of those places, but okay!
Atlanta Gator
November 30th, 2009
7:56 pm
Dave from GT wrote: “I do not believe that Atlanta Gator is really a Gator. I think he/she is a UGA imposter. Now Spurrier…. he is a real Gator. Remember Galen! How about Charlie ?”
———-
I remember Gallen Hall and Charlie Pell (though I’d like to forget them). And, you can believe I am a Gator or not. But I can prove I graduated in 1988. How about you?
And, I would LOVE for my Gators to play GT in any game. You think we b-slapped Fla. St.? After seeing what Georgia did to GT, I’m convinced we would squish the jackets – like the bugs they are. PS: CPJ would not make a pimple on Coach Spurrier’s butt.
Dave from GT
November 30th, 2009
7:57 pm
Time to pop the top on a PBR and get on over to Fox. The O’Reilly factor is on.
Can’t wait to find out if Tiger pulls an OJ!!
And…. how many more ways the legions of Community Organizers are going to screw up the country when the rest of the population is so preoccupied with working to pay the taxes that keep those bastards in business.
To each according to their need.. From each according to their ability.
Soon it won’t matter about UGA – Tech or Championships….. We are all going to be the same…..
Enjoy the competition before the rules change and there are no winners and losers.