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
GT45
November 30th, 2009
8:48 am
The loss stings, no doubt. But the big picture still looks bright. I’m proud of our team and our coach. He knows his teams capabilities, and it shows with his play calling on fourth down-the one we made, and the one we should have. We need to take a look at our D and our D coordinator. We haven’t been very good at all the last two years on that side of the ball. We lost Nez for two series this game, and that easily was an eleven point turn around, and the game. The last two years, the best teams have lost in this series. Go Jackets-
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
8:48 am
MARTINEZ IS BACK. YES. JUST FOR GT GAME. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
Ledhead
November 30th, 2009
8:48 am
Horse sh-t MB, the dawgs beat a Tech team that had its highest BCS ranking in there history. Huge win for the dawgs and horrible loss for the Jackets. I love the silence!!!
JB
November 30th, 2009
8:49 am
Let’s see, last year IT WAS A BIG DEAL, This year it’s all about the ACC title game. Trust me, if Tech would have won, we would hear all about the new Sheriff in Town, blah, blah, blah…….
As the panel said last night on CSS with Bob Neal, let anybody walk in those locker rooms before the game, 8 of 10 would pick Georgia. Tech’s defense cost them that game and until Johnson takes that side of the ball serious, they will never make it to the big dance. Yes, the offense is impressive, but the worst Georgia team since 1980 beat the BEST Tech team since 1990. Any truth to the rumor that the ACC is asking Washington for stimulus money to help pay for the title game…..??????? HBTD
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
8:50 am
THERE IS A GOOD GAME GOING ON ON CHANNEL 614 FROM 8 -10 AM DIRECT TV. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA
CrackerJacket
November 30th, 2009
8:50 am
No excuses. The Dogs won and should be congratulated. I will admit that we’ve had some classless fans posting here over the last year. But, judging by today, there are a lot of the same on the other side. A LOT!
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
8:51 am
WATCH THE GREAT GAME ON CHANNEL 614 DIRECT TV 8A -10A, TODAY HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
Hal
November 30th, 2009
8:52 am
Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Arse Off!!!!
This is so hilarious and Mark… there was a point where I was under the impression that you were a good journalist! If you were, this story would have been printed before the game if indeed these were the facts. As it is, it is completely hilarious that the story changes AFTER they loose the game…
“oh yeah, well we didn’t really try hard anyway. Because we knew if we tried hard to win this one we would loose the ACC CG and that’s more important.”
FLASHBACK: 2002 & 2005
‘02 UGA 51 GT 7…. UGA SEC Champs
‘05 UGA 14 GT 7…. UGA SEC Champs
Great teams as we all were under the impression GT was, take care of business each week. Every game is important. They’re just back tracking now because they TALKED SO MUCH for 52 weeks and when game time came, they just couldn’t stand up to their own words.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 30th, 2009
8:52 am
WOW!!!! SPIN CONTROL GOING ON IN THE FLATS AND IN THE HEARTS OF TECH NATION!!!!!!!!
But the point is correct, you play for titles, and this year a mediocore UGA can lay claim to the state title. Once again UGA has shown that no matter what, Tech is the redheaded step child of the state.
30-24
C.Q.
November 30th, 2009
8:52 am
Hell, if I had just lost to a then 6-5, middle of the SEC pack, in state rival, I’d say I was more interested in a “real title” too!! But let’s be “real”… after what SC did to Clemson and now UGA to Tech – how “real” is the ACC championship anyway?? Has Tech had a pretty good year? Yes. Is the ACC anywhere near the SEC top-to-bottom? No. Take comfort in knowing that you are competing for a conference title in a totally irrelevant conference. If I was a Tech fan that’s what I’d do.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
8:53 am
THERE GOES GT FANS AGAIN CALLING DAWG FANS CLASSLESS WHEN THEY CANNOT WIN THE ARGUMENT OR GAME IN THE FIELD. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH fOREVER AND EVER
JDW
November 30th, 2009
8:53 am
Having watched CPJ for more years than most, I was at Ga Southern, I am damn sure he wanted both and would dismiss any thought of having to pick. He knows full well that losing to the DAWGS takes a lot of the luster off anything else that is accomplished this year. That said I am sure they will be ready to go on Sat and should handle Clemson.
bamafan
November 30th, 2009
8:55 am
Did anyone else find the decision to throw to the endzone three straight plays at the end of the game to be questionable??
Dawg Fud
November 30th, 2009
8:55 am
First off, i would like to tip my cap to Paul Johnson and the Jackets on a fine season. I wish Georgia was 10-2 right now.
What a game! The intensity of this rivalry has been renewed and I think that it is great for both schools and the state.
If Tech wins the ACC and the Orange Bowl, I think alumni and students will be more than pleased with the season.
Good luck in the ACC Championship game.
GO DAWGS!
PS – Saint Simons, m, and RAMBLE ON!!!…i hope you enjoy taking your medicine this year because you are going to get a dose of it.
Neil
November 30th, 2009
8:55 am
This article is funny Mr. Bradley because Clemson is using the same excuse for not winning at South Carolina. As a Clemson Alum… it’s just an excuse. Doesn’t change the fact that both Clemson and Tech lost rivalry games they were favored to win. At least you could tell that after the 3rd quarter that Clemson pretty much shut down shop and took the “L”. Tech was trying to win that game up to the last minute and just didn’t. They should have mopped the floor with Georgia… but didn’t.
If this game didn’t matter… then why keep playing your starting QB when he injures his ankle? I really hope that ankle stiffens up this week…. LOL
30-17 in the 4th quarter and you still playing all your starters (risking injury)?
So in the end… all this article is an excuse for losing a game Tech should have easily won.
Same goes for Clemson…
SEC is a better conference. Plain and simple.
Either way….. C-L-E-M-S-O-N!!!!!
GO TIGERS!!!!
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
8:55 am
ACC (ASSOCIATION OF CUP CAKES) SHOWED ITS TRUE COLORS AGAIN THIS PAST WEEKEND. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHA
Spike
November 30th, 2009
8:56 am
Hey M, St Simons, “He dropped the ball, and Georgia is going to win the game!” Glad it hurts so much from an overrated SEC team, and it is just the beginning.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 30th, 2009
8:56 am
Cracker Jack,
Karma- you had a few days of this coming to you. I am not going to do this for 365 days, but come on man, let us enjoy it for as few days. Yeah it sophomoric and juvenile, but hey it is all in good fun. At least from me.
One question though. If UGA had so much success running against you, how do you feel heading into a game against C.J. Spiller who in my opinion is the best athlete in college football. I always thought he was better than the Davis kid and took heat for saying as much on these blogs.
Dawg Fud
November 30th, 2009
8:57 am
yes, bamafan i did find that shocking and ultimately questionable. i would have run it down our throats.
good luck in the SECCG this weekend
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
8:58 am
IF GT FOLKS DO NOT KNOW IT, PAUL JOHNSON IS A LIFETIME UGA HATER, AND HE WILL NOT EXCHANGE ANYTHING FOR A WIN OVER UGA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER
hahaha!!!!
November 30th, 2009
8:58 am
Just spin as usual, Mark!!!!
I Run This State
November 30th, 2009
8:59 am
Mark Bradley,
Earlier in the year you wrote an article stating that UGA would finish 5th in the ACC. UGA beat Tech. SC beat Clemson. UGA beat SC.
When are we going to see a revised article stating the truth: Dawgs would win the ACC hands down.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
8:59 am
NESBITT JUST GOT SACKED AGAIN BY UGA. CHANNEL 614 DIRECT TV. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA AND MORE HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER.
game meant all to tech
November 30th, 2009
9:00 am
Martinez is gone…and yes not alot of calculus comments on here..should stick to calculus Tech fans and not debate football your now ranked 12th and not getting alot of national respect for your Acc championship game!!! Maybe you can beat a Clemson team…that is no longer ranked!!!
SadDawg
November 30th, 2009
9:00 am
I for one, will not plaster “Overrated!!” on my entry. To do that just dimishes what UGA accomplished Sat night. A 10-2 record with a chance to get to 12-2 is nothing to sneeze at, no matter what conference you play in. I hope Tech beats Clemson and wins the Orange Bowl. Everything they accomplish just makes our victory more important and satisfying. Great win! Go Dawgs!! Go Jackets!!
Let's Go
November 30th, 2009
9:00 am
That Headline may be the stupidest thing you have ever written. All year long Johnson has preached “one game at a time” and saturday that wasn’t good enough. You can’t conpare the two games unless you are looking for an excuse or a reason how Georgia exposed an average defense that can’t stop the run. You win a conference title, that’s great because the players get to experience a BCS bowl but to beat Georgia is just as big because you win the recruiting war. The same goes for this weeks game. Yes, it’s for the conference championship but Clemson recruits heavy in the Atlanta area and in Florida and a big win for Georgia Tech might put a dent in that and down the road that win proves just as big.
Hey Mark, what headline are you going to use if Paul Johnson excepts the Notre Dame job?
Buster Meeks
November 30th, 2009
9:00 am
If Tech and Georgia were still in the same conference it would be a bigger and more important game and a bigger rivalry. As it is it can still be a bigger game if both contend for their conference tittles each year. The ACC beat the SEC or vice versa.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
9:00 am
GT 3 AND OUT AGAIN. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER
UGAGRAD02
November 30th, 2009
9:01 am
UGA not a great year, USC not a great year. Beating the top two teams that are going to the ACC Championship..Priceless. Being the top of the ACC is like winning the Special Olympics. You may be in first place but you’re still retarded
Jekyll Island
November 30th, 2009
9:01 am
30-24
HA HA HA HA!!!!!!
Paul Johnson=F Bomb
November 30th, 2009
9:01 am
TECH WINS THE ACC TITLE. WHO CARES!!
IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THE DAWGS IT DON’T MATTER BABY. CLEMSON AND TECH WOULD HAVE LOST 4 GAMES THIS YEAR IN THE SEC. ACC IS A SORRY CONFERENCE WITH NO MAJOR PROGRAMS WORTH A FLIP ANY MORE. SEC SMACKED THEM IN THE MOUTH SATRUDAY. PAUL JOHNSON IS NOT A COACHING GOD. ALL HIS STUDS ARE LEAVING AND GEORGIA GETS A W NEXT YEAR. GO TO NOTRE DAME WHILE YOU CAN. GEORGIA OWNS THE LITTLE TRADE SCHOOL IN ATLANTA. BRING BACK REGGIE BALL AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK TECHIES IN TAMPA. SHOULD BE HALF FULL.
Bored of the Go-Dawg Nation
November 30th, 2009
9:01 am
Thanks Mark for posting something with some intelligent insight. 2 weeks ago the 2 teams involved in the ACC title game’s non-conference in-state rivalry games became insignificant. In the modern day of college football, success is graded on Titles and Bowl status. The majority of Go-Dawg nation considers a 2 win season a success – so long as those 2 wins are against Florida and Tech. Which is why UGA is and will forever be a 2nd rate (at best) team in an over-rated conference. I’m sure you will get to play a tomato can in the CFA bowl just so the ‘home’ team will sell some tickets at the dome and bask in mediocrity. The goal is to play another game in 2010. UGA is going backwards from that. Seasons like this will no longer yield 5-star recruits to be poorly coached, they will be 3-star poorly coached recruits. Then you fall into the area of UK. Oh wait. They are already ahead of you.
game meant all to tech
November 30th, 2009
9:01 am
No REVISION needed!!!! Georgia Beat tech…AGAIN……but is that really surprising..Mark Bradley couldn’t write for Sesame Street… check out the Chattanooga times they give better coverage on UGA football!!!!!
N.GA.DAWG
November 30th, 2009
9:02 am
i was so worried i bet 2 of my tech buddies 3 weeks ago we would beat tech strait up. i like my chances in this match up everytime!!!!
realDwagFAN
November 30th, 2009
9:02 am
Ahhh! Been waiting a whole year for this alternate universe in which GT was the greatest team with the greatest coach in the state to unravel. Back to the way things should be. I wonder will UGA get a ring? I wonder how it feels for the greatest coach in gt history to not only get beat but beat badly at his own game in his own stadium(where CMR has still never lost) by a coach and team thats best years are behind them. I wonder how the a so called worst defensive cord stopped this unstopable offense, and the so called worst offensive cord beat them at their own game. I wonder if Mark Bradleys lips are chapped from butt kissing?
JB
November 30th, 2009
9:03 am
Where do we send flowers to m and saint simons ?
Scrap
November 30th, 2009
9:03 am
MC….I will ask again…who is UGA playing this week. I’m not making excuses. You are absolutely right, UGA played a helluva game. NOBODY has run the ball on us they way UGA did. I’m really glad your running game made an appearance before season’s end. It probably saved some coaches jobs. In the end, the records speak for themselves. The rivalry is back, and that is good for football in Georgia. For now, we are moving on to bigger things. No, it’s not the SEC championship, and the winner isn’t going to the NC game. But just like this rivalry, things are evolving, and soon, the ACC will be a quality product same as the famed SEC. Lets let the records and the final standings speak for themselves.
game meant all to tech
November 30th, 2009
9:03 am
BORING OFFENSE..tech’s offense won’t attract alot of recruits..and i hope you nerds don’t need to complete alot of passes in the future to come back and win….Lmfao mr. Bored Bug
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
9:04 am
ORANGE BOWL DREAMS TO OPT OUT OF ACC BID LOUSY TEAM THAT DO NOT SHOW UP AND JUST WATCH ON THEIR COUCHES. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA FOREVER AND EVER.
game meant all to tech
November 30th, 2009
9:04 am
Scrappie Crappie..dawgs 30 Flagboys 24..put that in your record book…..
Scrap
November 30th, 2009
9:04 am
New Year’s resolution……………stop responding to idiots.
GO TECH
November 30th, 2009
9:05 am
Mark, as usual, you are full of crap, GT was better, UGA was so down, yet, GT still cannot handle prosperity and lets GA run all over them. History even records Tech wins 2 in a row, we wear our white, which during the PJ regime is unbeaten. You play a team that was destroyed by Tenn and KY and you still cant score but 3 in first half. Blame GT and the coaches, especially the defense coach, Womack, he needs to go.
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 30th, 2009
9:05 am
This is the greatest victory for UGAg since Lindsay Scott beat UF, so I congratulate them.
for me, well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82wU5NfRfr4
game meant all to tech
November 30th, 2009
9:05 am
st.simons took his gold yacht out to the bermuda triangle…lmfao
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
9:05 am
CHANNEL 614 DIRECT TV. THERE GOES EALEY AND KING RUNNING OVER GT DEFENSE AGAIN. HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER
Blackberry Cobbler
November 30th, 2009
9:06 am
UGA wins, now all the Tech excuse making comes out of the woodwork. Tech could flat out got outplayed and outmuscled in this game. UGA still has a sorry-@$$ season and some changes are forthcoming but beating Tech does feel good.
To CPJ and Tech fans, hope you win out– beat Clemson and win the Orange Bowl. But learn to take you medicine on this one and stop excuse-making.
Dawg Fud
November 30th, 2009
9:06 am
answer to your question Scrap: we are not playing this saturday…unfortunately
great article
November 30th, 2009
9:06 am
lmfao…30 to 24
CrackerJacket
November 30th, 2009
9:06 am
Low Country – you guys are the state champs. You have every right to lay it on as much as you want. That’s part of the deal. Congrats again on the win.
GO TECH
November 30th, 2009
9:07 am
As bad as I hate GA, applauds go to them, they wanted to beat GT and proved it. We stunk, especially the defense. GA was prepared and Tech was still eating thanksgiving turkey instaed of being ready. Hope this dosent turn into another 7 year ga string