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
Dalton Dawg
November 5th, 2010
5:47 pm
I apologize for my ignorarnt fellow fans from the Dawg Nation. Nesbitt certainly has my respect and you guys fought very hard last night. Impressed me enough to make me a little nervous about late November. Good luck with Miami and Duke but not so much in the real ‘A’-town. ATHENS, GA!!
Coach Sleepy
November 5th, 2010
6:05 pm
We beat Kentucky!
Delbert D.
November 5th, 2010
6:08 pm
Georgia Tech has to cane the ‘Canes and out-duke Duke first.
Mike
November 5th, 2010
6:15 pm
The backup did look good, but how many times do we see that in just one game? How many times has a backup looked good, only to falter due to inexperience when the load is placed squarely on his shoulders? If this happened in September, I might agree with Mark. But it happened in November with no margin for error. Now teams gameplan for Washington, not Nesbitt. It is a much different deal when Nesbitt will not be coming in to save the day.
Miami destroyed Tech’s offense last year with Nesbitt, Dwyer, and Thomas. They probably wont be any kinder to Washington. Duke will be Tech’s sixth win. UGA? Sorry thats a loss. UGA has the week off and unless AJ Green, Caleb King, and Shaun Chapas decide to miss the game like in September, Tech’s D will not be able to stop them. On the flip side, I dont think Tech is going to fare any better offensively in the game.
Dirty Jacket
November 5th, 2010
6:28 pm
The Jackets win 2 of the remaining 3. Let’s just say I wouldn’t mind losing to Duke this year.
Jim
November 5th, 2010
6:32 pm
GT fans, your team played a hell of a game last night. I’m a VT fan and I have to admit I hate playing you guys, it always seems like you have our number, but it is a fun rivalry. It is going to hurt loosing Nesbitt, but this may have been the best thing for you all in the long run. Your back up QB is going to be very, very good and getting him experience now is only going to make him more dangerous next year. Good luck to you guys, finish strong.
ga_tech_92
November 5th, 2010
6:34 pm
Nesbitt, If you read this. I want you to know you’ve been me and my son’s favorite player for a couple years now. You could have bolted when the option came to town, after-all so many people said it was doomed to fail. You could have taken a lot of plays off, after-all you got hit A LOT in that system. You could have complained about not getting a lot of pass plays. You could have done a lot of things. What you did, was put GT Option football on the map. You beat FSU for the first time since they’ve been in the ACC. You helped put a lot of guys in the NFL. You put Coach Johnson into history with the best first couple years ever at Tech for a coach. You were ACC Champion. You are the star of one of the all time bad-ass plays, where you stripped the fumble away from FSU after a pitch was fumbled. You never were in the news for negative things. Every time I’ve heard you speak, you’ve made me chuckle with a joke…and always you represented Georgia Tech like a true Tech man. My salute to you Josh, you are indeed the man!! Grats on the all time ACC rushing record for QB….hate you left us the way you did…but in classic fashion…you were doing more than a typical QB…you were making a tackle. You gave it all and I really appreciate it. You rock dude. Hopefully you can get another game or two in…either way…thank you for representing Tech so well…such heart…such will…You gonna go open a southern food resturant one day right? Your interview about stuff you like to cook and eat was a pretty good start
GO JACKETS…SALUTE TO NESBITT and all the rest of the Tech men…thank you!!
Get well Joshua
November 5th, 2010
6:40 pm
I am sure others have written about this but it makes me sad that the last time Joshua Nesbitt will play football was last night. He won’t be drafted as a pro but may get a opportunity as a free agent – lets hope so anyway.
Would be sad to see such a great kid end his football career throwing an interception and breaking his arm.
Get well soon Joshua. You’re a man and Tech fans will always remember your effort, leadership and toughness.
Get well Joshua
November 5th, 2010
6:42 pm
Well put GT 92. Joshua is the man and will always be hugely respected at Tech.
tech numberonefan
November 5th, 2010
6:50 pm
all you georgia fans get prepare for a rude awaking…. tech is going to wipe up on georgia
techsnumberonefan
November 5th, 2010
6:58 pm
go tech… bulldog fans are so stupid
bonairedawg
November 5th, 2010
7:02 pm
Please explain what makes PJ such a great coach? Give me a break. He has really looked like the next coming of Bear Bryant when teams have had time to prepare for that HS offense that GT runs. Need evidence, last year versus a mediocre Ga team at best and GT was ACC Champions. Check out his bowl records. He plays in the ACC (Almost College Conference)which is absolutely pathetic. The ACC is one minor step above high school. He blew a 14 point lead against a sorry VT team. Before you bring up VT record check out who they have played. Got his butt handed to him by Clempson (wow-talk about yearly chokers. Looked sharp against yaerly powerhouse Kansas. Special teams are very well coached along with that extremely well coached defense. Check the stats. Intrested to watch GT over the next couple years now that the big boys are getting use to playing this HS offense.
Coach Sleepy
November 5th, 2010
7:07 pm
Why do I waste my bye week before the GT game instead of FL?
ww
November 5th, 2010
7:07 pm
It looks like Tech had to use the third quarter to get in synch, but afterwards, it sounds like they will be pretty good. I’m very excited.
Nesbitt will be great in the pros, and I feel bad they he got hurt.
wildbill
November 5th, 2010
7:08 pm
Stick em with a fork, ……….
BUZZMAN
November 5th, 2010
7:09 pm
I have to agree on one thing. The defense looked a little better. We just made too many dumb mistakes, such as throwing into the end zone and having it picked off. Then PJ going for it on forth down with a rookie quarterback. Va Tech did score on that series. Should have punted and put them down close to their own goal. I guess if you have to give a D.A. award it would go to our Scott Blair, kicked one out of bounds and then kicked short which resulted in a touchdown. We will beat Duke and that is all. I told you it was going to be a long season. Next year PJ needs to get a quarterback who can run plus throw, this is the only way we will win.
BIGBADBRUCE!!!
November 5th, 2010
7:19 pm
Wow, i really wanted to beat GT with Nesbit(the dust) @ QB. Oh well, guess now we all know why its good to throw with a QB rather than run a stupid option almost EVERY time! Painful as it is to say, good luck to Nesbit in the near future!
Mark
November 5th, 2010
7:24 pm
GA Tech will win one more game all season.
fork
November 5th, 2010
7:26 pm
Stick me in the tech honey bees.
Take off your pants and Jacket
November 5th, 2010
7:27 pm
So…what does this mean for Nesbitt’s Heisman campaign?
He is still going to win–Right?
Justin
November 5th, 2010
7:59 pm
Hey…bonairedawg???
CPJ is a great coach. He hasnt had 11 players arrested this year. He isnt on the hot seat. He has control of his team. He has the respect of his team. He is 1-1 vs. UGA-a school with far more resources, better facilities,and repeated top 5 to top 10 recruiting classes. Take it from Dan Mullen, who pasted your tails this year, who has nothing but high regard and respect for CPJ and his ability to coach and adjust on the fly and speaks with him regularly, sharing ideas and formations. Its so funny, you dawg morons have been saying for almost THREE years now that the “big boys” are finally catching up to our offense. “check the stats” you said. Dude, we are LEADING the nation in rushing yards per game this year. We hung 346 yards on the ground last night against one of the LEADING and most sought after DC’s in the country….btw, one who spent 4 days with his ENTIRE staff at Iowa this past offseason trying to learn how they stopped us, as well as spending close to a week in the offseason specifically practicing against the “high school” offense we use so they could stop it. DID NOT HAPPEN. We hung 400 yards plus on them, even after losing Nesbitt for over half the game.That sorry VT team you referred to, is ranked higher than you, has a better record than you, and is much more highly regarded right now in the national arena than YOU are. For the sportsmanlike dawg fans who have been blogging well-wishes to Nesbitt, i humbly thank you and cant wait to see you at the end of the month. For you IDIOTS who are so high and mighty on YOUR DAWGS, who havent beaten ANYONE, go back to your own blogs and whine and moan about losing to Colorado, Miss ST, a Gator team admittedly at thier lowest point in the Meyer era, (btw, is Georgia doing anything this weekend to pay thier respects to the MSU player who just died of cancer? We had MSU logos on the back of our helmets last night). High school offense my arse. Tell me what seat you will be in for the UGA Tech game. I will come sit beside you and LAUGH my tail off at you the entire game. Tech beats Miami 35-17, Duke 38-28, Georgia 28-17 and wins a bowl game with Nesbitt at the helm. 9-4 for us, WORSE case scenario 8-5. UGA WILL NOT EVEN GO TO A BOWL GAME THIS YEAR. Good luck vs. Idaho St. HA!!!!
Boca Baby
November 5th, 2010
8:00 pm
Sorry Mark, Tech without Nesbitt and I am feeling very confident that UGA will crush GT ‘tween the hedges.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 5th, 2010
8:05 pm
Boca Baby how do you feel with a ful ThUGA team against Auburn? Wait don’t the Dawgs need to focus on 1-7 Idaho St?
joseph
November 5th, 2010
8:08 pm
i am an uga fan always have been, but watching that game last night, i think gt is better coached than uga. i am not saying mr should be fired, what i am saying is he has had ten years. what would make you think the next ten years will be better than the last ten. something to think about.
michael
November 5th, 2010
8:17 pm
come on guys, ONE player on a team of about 60 dictates the direction? apparently not, we lost to a lousey ks team and were blown out in two of the other three games we played. maybe we’ll grow as a TEAM w/o nesbitt. maybe for us career college fans it’s a good thing for the team’s maturity.
QUESTION: nesbitt is as good as any other athlete that has come out of college and landed in the nfl. WHAT POSTION WOULD HE PLAY, THOUGH???????????????
RomeDawg
November 5th, 2010
8:27 pm
Pretty dumb thinking after last year Mark! We went to their house and whooped their top 10, ACC champ arse with possible our worst team in the decade. Johnson was COMPLETELY outcoached by Turner Gil too. Sorry, but CPJ is just another door mat for the SEC big brother in this state.
Navigator
November 5th, 2010
8:28 pm
Nesbitt can’t play QB, but is big enough to play split end or H-Back. If he bulked up, he could play tight end (Gonzales style), but the NFL isn’t out to train folks, so Canada might be his best bet.
John Galt
November 5th, 2010
8:37 pm
One must really laugh at Dogville. Those boys can only beat hapless teams and I am sure they are looking forward to Idaho State so their record will be at .500. As the OBC has stated, Dogville gets the talent, but never produces. I would like to see Mr. Paul Johnson with that talent. I would venture a MNC, whereas Dogville merely remains a regional team.
michael
November 5th, 2010
8:40 pm
CPC IS MORE FOCUSED. CMR HAS GOTTEN FAT AND LAZY. IT’S TIME FOR THE FAT CATS TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK…………
messin with the sasquatch
November 5th, 2010
8:43 pm
so dogboi’s, WE now have an excuse. so what is your excuse for losing to g8rs every year? and bama. and ball coach. and every other significant school.
Tony
November 5th, 2010
8:56 pm
Nesbitts an athlete and I wish him the best in the future. With that being said I find it amusing that tech fans are starting to talk about lower level bowls, so do you still think its funny that The Dawgs went to shreverport last year? Not so funny anymore, huh? GO DAWGS!!!
michael
November 5th, 2010
9:01 pm
notice the passing form in tevin?
John Galt
November 5th, 2010
9:23 pm
Typically response from Dogville, tony. It does not matter what after season football game, Bowl, one is intivted. Bowl games traditional make money for any football team. The bottom line is, Dogville, et al, is not that great and cannot beat the so called big boys.
Auburn University President
November 5th, 2010
9:41 pm
Who are all these guys from out of town with briefcases?
What?? NCAA investigators??
Dang! Got caught again!!
P.S. my spin strategy– blame it on Pat Dye.
LESD
November 5th, 2010
11:17 pm
Sorry to see Nesbitt end his college career like that. I’m a Dawg fan, but I respect his talent.
Paul Johnson can really coach
November 7th, 2010
7:45 am
The Hokies were very, very lucky to squeak by Georgia Tech.
NYJacket
November 7th, 2010
10:11 am
T3, don’t understand your claim of arrogance just because you disagree with a coach’s decision.
CPJ made the call he thought would surprise VT – it didn’t turn out. Thats football.
Arrogance requires someone to blindly disagree with trusted peers and ignore their advice.
Do you have an inside track on any such discussions? CPJ calls the plays. And, he does an excellent job of doing it.
You are way off base.
Nesbitt4Heisman
November 7th, 2010
10:12 pm
Tevin Washington went to Georgia Tech to play not to be Nesbitt’s backup
So 2nd string QB is an understatement
Godawgs75
November 8th, 2010
12:21 pm
Seriously lose to Tech, this is one game no matter what is going on in Athens we win. Ge State will be the powerhouse in Atlanta soon!!!
Godawgs75
November 8th, 2010
12:21 pm
Ga State
Jacketz
November 8th, 2010
4:03 pm
I saw more heart out of these Yellow Jackets after Nesbitt went out of the game than I have seen since the ACC Championship game. There is new life in this Tech team. Now looking forward to an early, and cold, tailgate and a strong finish to the season.