Without Joshua Nesbitt, is Tech’s season over? Nah, I say
A tough break, literally and figuratively. (AP photo)
Watching from afar, my first two thoughts were:
1. Without Joshua Nesbitt, Georgia Tech won’t win again.
2. Mark Richt’s job is now safe for this year. (Weird how I made that leap.)
But then, after 30 seconds’ reflection, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t think Tech will lose its final three games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jackets and Tevin Washington — and Paul Johnson — don’t give us a finish to this regular season. Because Paul Johnson can really coach.
We saw it again last night. With his team a two-touchdown underdog on a rainy night in Blacksburg, Johnson saw to it that his men got the required fast start and kept them playing after the one indispensable Jacket had been lost to a broken arm before halftime. When inevitably Virginia Tech pulled ahead, Tech and Washington managed to re-tie matters.
When the Hokies ran back the subsequent kickoff for a touchdown, darned if the visitors didn’t muster up another drive. And had they scored another touchdown, I’d convinced myself PJ wasn’t going to mess around with overtime. He was going to go for two and steal the thing in regulation.
No, Johnson’s team didn’t win. But it gave a winning effort both with and without its MVP. It stacked 426 yards on Bud Foster’s defense, which is saying something.
And now I’m thinking Tech will, even without the great Nesbitt, contrive to win at least once more and render itself bowl-eligible. I’m also thinking Georgia shouldn’t be overconfident.
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291 comments Add your comment
rduck
November 5th, 2010
10:06 am
Thanks Josh for all the heart and effort you gave us the past 3 seasons. You are truly a warrior by any definition. Hate to see his career possilbly end like this but he has put his stamp on this program for years to come. God bless on a speedy recovery and thanks for giving your all…
WreckIt
November 5th, 2010
10:07 am
Georgia fans are just sad that they’ll have to spend the next month training their players not to look for #9 on the field when it comes time to try to break someone’s ankle off. Really, learning a new Jersey number AND trying to shore up their defense? That’s a steep mountain to climb… hopefully ole Choke Grantham can get ‘em ready to play!
Ted M
November 5th, 2010
10:08 am
“Have we pulled Stephen Hill’s scholarship yet??”
I wouldn’t want to do that to the kid. Perhaps I’d think twice about throwing to him though. He has only 12 catches and it seems like he has at least 20 drops. Does anyone have an accurate count on his drops?
Trade School Fools
November 5th, 2010
10:08 am
And certainly, if doing a choke sign on the sidelines is a big deal, shouldn’t using profane language on the sideline be a even bigger deal. As Johnson did multiple times last night.
Oh that’s right, the AJC and the rest of the idiot media only care to pile onto a program that will actually generate hits on their websites. Noone cares about Tech, so no big deal.
Hayseed Dixie
November 5th, 2010
10:09 am
@Glory Glory
Colorado, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Auburn.
Oh, and by the way:
Mississippi State, South Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Arkansas, Auburn.
Man, Colorado….
Yep, Colorado.
O-me
November 5th, 2010
10:11 am
Glory…Glory…How about them Gators…lol
all year long..Go Gators love the FG Choke Baby!
How about that last pass?
all year long..choked baby.
Slick
November 5th, 2010
10:12 am
Dawg gone, not crossing anything brother. I though I was pretty clear that Tech beating the Dawgs wouldn’t surprise me. I just disagree with the article. I don’t think losing your best player makes you a more dangerous team. For a play, series, half a game … maybe. But not for the long haul. Tech is a weaker team with Nesbitt in sweats on the sidelines. Period. And I’d be shocked if any Tech fan wanted to argue with that.
Jason
November 5th, 2010
10:17 am
Bromaryius Thomas,
Right now, I’d highly encourage you to stay away from Ciudad Juarez right across the bridge from the Sun Bowl in El Paso. That town has become extremely dangerous of late. The city looks like what would happen if all former UGA football players throughout all history were required to live in one place.
dawg gone
November 5th, 2010
10:17 am
ok slick, I agree GT will not be better but and thats a big but.Hoping Washington and players will step up. I see your point. Ok friend.
ramblinman
November 5th, 2010
10:18 am
Tough loss last night however GT hung in there til the end. Penelties, special team issues, etc all hurt but they kept fighting. Impressed with Tevin as well. Now let’s move on and beat Miami next Saturday.
brokeback jacket
November 5th, 2010
10:18 am
If the virgins didn’t roll out of bed for football games before, good luck selling tickets now that the merry-go-round has broken down. No Nesbitt and no Heisman, but there’s still free hotdogs, Cokes, and anime porn to get those 50 tech fans to show up in that ugly little stadium.
Whopper Dawg
November 5th, 2010
10:19 am
I have never heard a coach of a 5 – 4 team called great so many times.
2008 9 – 4 Bowl – Defeated by LSU 38 – 3
2009 11 – 3 Bowl – Defeated by Iowa 24 – 14
2010 5 – 4 Bowl – maybe, maybe not
Great coach indeed. You can have him.
Tweets that mention Without Joshua Nesbitt, is Tech's season over? Nah, I say | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
November 5th, 2010
10:21 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, eric thompson. eric thompson said: RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Without Joshua Nesbitt, is #GaTech's season over? Nah, I say. http://bit.ly/d4pu3m [...]
ramblinman
November 5th, 2010
10:23 am
brokeback jacket – come on! Be original! The attendance thing is so old! Think man think! Come up with something new…we know you can do it.
Hankie Aron
November 5th, 2010
10:23 am
Jason- Nice cheap shot, come on lay off man. Hey I just seen Reuben Houston. Is that you Reubie?
Junior Varsity
November 5th, 2010
10:24 am
This is another CLASSIC example of Mark Bradley trying to get blog hits.
He knows if he can stir up something to get the Dawg fans questioning his sanity, his job will be secure yet another day.
ONLY Mark Bradley (or Jeff Schultz) could come up with the following:
Georgia Tech LOSES, not only the game but their QB whom they made a Heisman Campaign website for, and has been the backbone of their Triple Option the last 3 years…….BUT, this means they have a BETTER shot at beating Georgia over Thanksgiving.
AMAZING!!!
Mark, i give you credit.You may be the WORST journalist since Terrance Moore, but you do know how to get blog hits…..
Exhibit A: My comment.
ramblinman
November 5th, 2010
10:25 am
Did I mention I’m gay?
dawg day afternoon
November 5th, 2010
10:26 am
SUCK IT, NERDS!!!
Hankie Aron
November 5th, 2010
10:26 am
Jason- Does the ACC deserve a BCS bid this year? They don’t even have a team in the top 20. I’ll have the maturity to lay off the Jackets if you do by laying off the Dawgs. Remember your best team from last year lost to one of our worst teams in recent years
crazy dawg
November 5th, 2010
10:26 am
brokeback sounds like you’ve been to the mountain but not to a Tech game. maybe its athens where you hang-out. just ride on off into the mountain buddy.
Nathan Deal
November 5th, 2010
10:27 am
So which Engineering Firm do you think Nesbitt will be working for next Spring??
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
brokeback jacket
November 5th, 2010
10:28 am
The lack of sell-outs at tech is even older news. Maybe tech will be original by not getting violated in a bowl game, so the tech virgins will have something to celebrate besides Dragon Con and ugly cheerleaders?
Nathan Deal
November 5th, 2010
10:29 am
NESBITT FOR HEISMAN!!!!!!!
http://web.nesbitt4heisman.com/nesbitt/index.html
crapondawg
November 5th, 2010
10:30 am
Dawgs couldn’t win without Green…do they believe GT will do the same without#9?
I don’t.
Junior Varsity
November 5th, 2010
10:31 am
yeah……
as long as Jacket fans fly the “To Hell with Georgia” flag on that ugly car, DAwg fans will talk about your embarrassing lackof attendance.
Get used to it. It’s just too easy.
dawgfan hearts brokeback mtn
November 5th, 2010
10:31 am
Seriously??? I was out last night at a bar and caught some of you techies in the midst, oh emm gee talk about serious geeks, ahahhaa, goofiest bunch of folk I ever did see. Quietest too when they would get a touchdown, come on have some baallls get up and YELL!!!! Go Dawgs, woof woof meeeeow!!!
brokeback jacket
November 5th, 2010
10:31 am
crazy dawg: it sounds like PLENTY of people haven’t been to a tech game, not even with free hotdogs, Cokes, and circle jerks.
Brit Massey
November 5th, 2010
10:32 am
Oh well, I prefer the Tickle Piles anyway.
Junior Varsity
November 5th, 2010
10:33 am
I agree….
Nesbitt actually means MORE to that MIckey Mouse offense than AJ Green means to UGA’s Run and Pass (pass?….there’s a concept for you Techies!) offense.
We saw what happened when AJ was out. Now let’s see what happens with Nesbitt out!!
Miami beats you. You beat Duke. Dawgs take you behind the woodshed.
Outside Observer
November 5th, 2010
10:34 am
Brokeback, shouldn’t you be preparing for that showdown with Idaho State? Or watching Cam Newton win the Heisman against Chattanooga? Come on, what a joke. One weak opponent to warm up, I understand. Two, complete joke. But I guess when you face the “wear and tear of playing in the SEC every week” you need a week to watch your team run up the score and pronounce they are one of the best teams in the country. Ahh the arrogance of the SEC…
Cam Newton has a clean record, no way these latest allegations are true!
November 5th, 2010
10:34 am
Uhhhhhhhhhhh no dudes.
Tech's #1 fan! yay!!
November 5th, 2010
10:35 am
Mark, do you think this will hurt Nesbitt’s Heisman chances???
Dirty Dawg
November 5th, 2010
10:36 am
So Mark your first thought was that Tech wouldn’t win another game…but then you thought better…what happened did you reinsert your nose up Paul Johnson’s rear end and was reminded of how much you enjoy the smell? What I saw last night, with or without Nesbitt, was two teams where one was ’sorry’ and the other one was glad of it. I don’t even know who Tech has left but if it ain’t the ‘Sisters of the Poor’ then they’ll play hell coming close…and with that lame-a$$ passing attack, Georgia could put eleven in the box and still cover those receivers.
As for keeping his job, Mark Richt will still be at Georgia after Paul Johnson is back at Georgia Southern, or maybe Georgia State, and Mark Bradley is working for The Sporting News or something – assume that still exists. Point is Marcus, your prejudice is really showing these days and ain’t appreciated one damn bit.
Junior Varsity
November 5th, 2010
10:36 am
Outside Observer…..
I recall when we were playing a conferece game last month, you guys were playing Middle Tennesee State……….
AJC Bias
November 5th, 2010
10:37 am
I am a DAWG fan, but Nesbitt is a leader and I respect him for that. He is also a great football player and I wish him the best as he recovers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back sooner than people expect. I am just trying to figure out the logic of the AJC writers. UGA loses a close game to Florida and that is evidence that Mark Richt can’t coach. GA Tech loses a close game to VA Tech and that is evidence that Paul Johnson is a great coach. Just because VA Tech was favored doesn’t mean anything. After all, they have consistently peed their pants in games that they were the better team (remember James Madison?). Does a great coach give the opposing team the ball at the 50 when to that point his team is winning and had been playing good on defense when VA Tech had a long field? Does a great coach give up a chance for 3 points to try and throw the ball before halftime when he has seen no evidence that is a good play for his QB? It’s obvious that Mark and Jeff have a problem with Mark Richt, but some objectivity would be nice.
UGA Fan
November 5th, 2010
10:37 am
Brokeback, you’re making all UGA fans look bad. STF up if you are a real dawg fan.
I hate Dawg & Tech fans that blast other schools showing their low IQ. Get a life.
Outside Observer
November 5th, 2010
10:39 am
Indeed we were, the same Middle Tennessee team who received votes in the AP Poll at the beginning of the year. I can’t seem to find Idaho State there….
Glory Glory
November 5th, 2010
10:40 am
Now that their season is over, maybe the honey bees and their fans can focus on tickling girls instead of each other. Do they even have girls at that school? Hell, even when the Dawgs lose (especially this season), we still have some talent to take our minds off it, not that you virgins would know anything about females.
dawgmatic
November 5th, 2010
10:41 am
BEES LOSE!!!
BEES LOSE!!!
Junior Varsity
November 5th, 2010
10:42 am
Outside Hope…..
You really don;t understandthe non-conference scheduling buddy. It’s not worth arguing with you. Go pull up MTSU’s record, and look at their “ranking” as you call it 5 years ago when you scheduled them.
Did you know Idaho State won the 1993 FCS National Championship?? There you go! So we obviously are playing a traditional powerhouse tomorrow!!!
Delbert D.
November 5th, 2010
10:44 am
Junior Varsity – You realize that MTSU is in the same conference as Louisiana-Lafayette don’t you? Georgia Tech has a 3-game home-and-home deal with MTSU.
Sanford Drive
November 5th, 2010
10:45 am
My condolences to Nesbitt. Nobody wants to se him get hurt.
But let’s be honest. I HATE Tech, almost as much as Tech obsesses over hating me. So I am not the least bit saddened by this from a FOOTBALL perspective.
It’s just the way it is.
Like ti was said earlier this blog, the ONLY bad thing in my eyes from Nesbitt hurting his throwning arm (oxy moron, i know), will be the year of excuses the bugs will have justifying their loss in Ahens.
GTBob
November 5th, 2010
10:46 am
Id like to agree with you Mark, but at this point i’m just hoping we beat Duke and that Tevin gets lots of good experience before next year. The season is pretty much over either way. We are already out of the ACC race, and I don’t think playing for a 6-6 bowl game matters to anyone. Its time to start rebuilding.
Junior Varsity
November 5th, 2010
10:47 am
Delbert, of course i do!!! I am not the one making fun of Tech for playing them!!
Outside Hope is the one who made a stab at UGA for playing a second FCS school this season, when Tech has ALREADY played two.
He is an idiot, and doesn;t get the scheduling philosphies of both teams. Apparently neither do you.
O-me
November 5th, 2010
10:47 am
Glory…Glory..and Brokeback are the same……….one and the same .
Go Gators, choked dawgs. no champship for a loser dawg. Gator bait..we kicked your A@@.
gt45
November 5th, 2010
10:48 am
To you people thinking CPJ was wrong going for it on that fouth down, would you feel the same if we made it? I’m sure he had the confidence we were going to score if the play had been executed right. At least a first down. I watched Beamer punt the ball inside GTs 40 on their first possesion, and couldn’t believe it. I’m glad we have a gambler, and wouldn’t trade him for nothing!
Junior Varsity
November 5th, 2010
10:48 am
I set the over/under at 600.
Tickets sold to Shreveport for the Jackets!!
MalibuGT
November 5th, 2010
10:50 am
always crack me up that dogg fans take the time to share their perspective of how no one cares what happens with GT football
FSG
November 5th, 2010
10:51 am
I’m actually feeling more positive about the season now than before last night.
That’s the best our defense has looked all year; VT’s backs were essentially held in check, and, once they figured out how to do ti, the air really came out of Taylor’s passing game. VT rolled up yardage, but it was not as bad as feared.
Looked like CPJ kept the kid gloves on Washington in the 3rd, but on those last two drives, he let him try to win it – how could anyone watch that last TD drive, and be disappointed? Washington’s pitches looked good; we’re not doomed – maybe the wideouts will actually catch his passes.
Miami’s a mess, so we have a shot there. Duke is Duke. Those guys at the end, who’re going to come in 5-6 – just like always, who knows?
College Football is Boring
November 5th, 2010
10:51 am
Heard there were some grown man football games this weekend. Must have meant Sunday, so wake me up then and not a moment sooner.