Yes, this post is about Tech. But here's a look at the 2009 Independence Bowl. (AP photo)
(*In this case, “BCS” stands for “bowl of cruddy stature.”)
Georgia Tech is 5-5. It needs to beat Duke, which is terrible, to become bowl-eligible. If the Jackets lose here today, they’ll need to beat Georgia, which is the best sub-.500 team in the country, in Athens next week to secure a postseason invitation. And where might Tech go if it notches Victory No. 6?
ESPN.com has Tech ticketed for the Military Bowl, which will be staged in Washington D.C. on Dec. 29. Scout.com, SI.com and CBSsports.com all have the Jackets headed to the one place guaranteed to slash Tech fans’ arsenal of ever-ready UGA insults by 67 percent — the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl, which is staged you-know-where.
For 51 weeks Georgia fans have gigged Tech with these four words: “We run this state.” For 51 weeks Tech backers have responded with one word: “Shreveport.” And — wouldn’t you know it? — the Jackets could well be bound for that charming city to play a bowl game on Dec. 27. Yikes.
That said, the only thing worse than going to Shreveport is not being eligible to go to Shreveport. Tech could and should take care of that today. (Did I mention that Duke is terrible?) Even without its best player, the Jackets are 10-point favorites. Should his Jackets somehow mess up and get beat, I fully expect Paul Johnson to punch someone, even if it’s only himself, in the face.
And with that, the floor is again open for questions, comments and testimonials from the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. And it must be stated that at least one outsider attaches great value to an Independence Bowl bid. I remind you that A.J. Green got $1,000 for his jersey from the 2009 installment of that epic event.
710 comments Add your comment
Butts Wagner
November 20th, 2010
3:10 pm
Last year Georgia Tech made its own breaks; while this year they’ve made too many of their own mistakes.
This is exactly it. GT is so soft this year.
Richard
November 20th, 2010
3:10 pm
Mark:
You have got to admit that PJ has become one of the WORST decision makers in the game today. He cost the jacekts a chance of victory in the VT game by going for it on fourt and four on the VT 45 and by God he just did it again!
If I were his D-coordinator, I would be LIVID.
Paul Johson … genius
GTFan
November 20th, 2010
3:10 pm
We don’t need a bowl game period!!
Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:11 pm
This team is god awful. Not going to renew my tickets next year. Gave the duke ones to a neighbor. Glad I am not wasting a Saturday there.
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:11 pm
Pual Johnson could do wonders at GSU.
GT982579B
November 20th, 2010
3:11 pm
How will this team beat Georgia or even become Bowl eligible if they can’t even play good against a Duke team that has only won one game in conference play! This is pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JB
November 20th, 2010
3:11 pm
I’m not buying it…Johnson will have them sky high for my Dawgs.
Tech Forever
November 20th, 2010
3:11 pm
GDBurdell
We weren’t any better running a conventional offense with the same caliber of recruits (or even better recruits for that matter), so the “high school” offense and our current level of talent is not the problem.
GTBob
November 20th, 2010
3:12 pm
Why do UGA fans want us to fire our coach so much? If he is so bad then I would think you guys would be talking us into keeping him.
Bad A
November 20th, 2010
3:12 pm
I guess the team doesn’t want to go to San Fran or Shreve.
JB
November 20th, 2010
3:13 pm
This is one Dawg fan NOT jumping on this. The last two years, I feel your pain. We are pretty average ourselves.
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
GTBob, UGA fans want fair and balanced. CMR is a better football coach than CPJ.
Rick
November 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
Funny how almsot a year ago Paul was talking about Uga and what had they done. Well Paul, look at how pathetic your team is. Enjoy Murray throwing all over your laughable defense, if you call it that and your option right, option left up the middle punt offense.
UGA 45
Yech 10
GT982579B
November 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
This team is absolutely pathetic. I REALLY hope they lose to Duke…
rob
November 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
As a die hard Tech fan its hard to say this but this Georgia Tech team is a joke. The players dont seem to care what happens. Im sick of this vanilla offense that cant to anything. Nobody on defense wants to tackle. This season has been a complete waste of time. The only good thing about this year is that its almost over.
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
Duke has outgained the home side by 91 yards.
GDBurdell
November 20th, 2010
3:15 pm
“Duke leads ga teck 13 to 6″
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Tech Forever
November 20th, 2010
3:15 pm
JB
Doing an excellent Lou Holtz here…..well done. Georgia wins by 14+.
Mores
November 20th, 2010
3:15 pm
Maybe we should just combine tech and ga and see if we could put a winning team together.
Bravissimo
November 20th, 2010
3:15 pm
Kennesaw St and Duke…all in the same week?….
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
3:15 pm
Tevin Washington: 1 for 5 passing, 37 yards rushing. I’m thinking Nesbitt is missed
They were right
November 20th, 2010
3:16 pm
These are Paul’s recruits. They are big time loser wusses.
Time to get rid of the pauls at tech. Neither one can coach.
Hey let’s go for it on 4th down again! Moron
GDBurdell
November 20th, 2010
3:16 pm
This is one Dawg fan NOT jumping on this. The last two years, I feel your pain. We are pretty average ourselves.
HAHHA “u r not a reel dawg fan” techie
Nurse Rachet
November 20th, 2010
3:16 pm
227-136 Duke had yardage edge
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
This is a big half for Tech: File that under “duh.”
Tried and True
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
As a Georgia fan I will tell ya…. don’t count PJ out. There is still a half left and alot can change.
Nurse Rachet
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
johnson needs to call Dr Lou at the half
Boo Radley
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
Mark — When do the fingers start getting pointed at Paul Johnson & Co.? They have been largely unquestioned and unscathed by media scrutiny throughout the meltdown that has been the past 12 games — a period in which they have lost 7 of 12.
Seems as though a .416 winning percentage over a full season equivalent would bring about some hard questions being asked of this staff??? If they do not get this thing turned around today and it goes south next week, they are staring down the barrel of .357 winnging percentage (pardon the pun) over the past 14 games. OUCH!!!
Cornelius Washington
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
Duke.
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
Mores, Tech would be better if GSU and Tech combined players.
GTBob
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
Did we actually get 40,000 fans at this game? If so i’m actually kinda impressed.
Jesse Stone
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
GTBob, UGA fans want fair and balanced. CMR is a better football coach than CPJ.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++==
NOBODY does less with more than CMR. NOBODY. If he weren’t a preacher, he’d be fired.
Bernie
November 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
what a lame slate of games today. You know its bad when the Ohio St game is the best thing on TV
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
3:20 pm
I’ll agree with Richard: It’s not easy being the defensive coach for a guy who goes for it every fourth.
Saint Dawg>>>
November 20th, 2010
3:20 pm
HAHAHAHAHA OHOHOH im lost for words…Gnats are worse than i thought!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA…Can’t wait for next WEEK GO DAWGS!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Atticus Finch
November 20th, 2010
3:20 pm
what is UGA’s conference record the past 2 years?
Captain Obvious
November 20th, 2010
3:20 pm
Great 1st half. Outstanding coaching. Fantastic atmosphere. GT is what college football Saturday’s are all about! The only problem is that everything mentioned earlier is untrue. We suck.
Cornelius Washington
November 20th, 2010
3:21 pm
CPJ = arrogant, redneck, PE major who cannot recruit.
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:21 pm
UNC and NCST is good.
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
3:22 pm
Jackets punted twice in the first — once after lining up to go for it and being called for a false start
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:23 pm
Looks like UGA has clinched a bowl birth today.
UGA2011
November 20th, 2010
3:23 pm
Hey Jessie, if thats the case why havent they fired PJ then? Far from a preacher
SteveW
November 20th, 2010
3:24 pm
After Va. Tech, it’s like Tech doesn’t have anything to play for. I know the DC was fired last year, because CPJ thought a National Title was possible this year. And this isn’t all on Groh, I think he’ll be fine into the future, beginning, next season. This is the Offense. 6 pts. and 130 yards or so in the half, versus Duke?
Maybe it has something to do with Duke having already faced the offense by playing Navy. I know Tech misses Nesbitt as well. What a great player. Hope he gets a shot in the NFL.
Tech seems unforcused – no Orange Bowl, no BCS, no ACC title – it seems like their just mailing in their chips. Wonder what CPJ will do at the Half? And how will he get them motivated for UGA? Just sayin’…
P.S. Looking at Duke’s depth chart, I say Cutcliffe is doing a very good job building a program. Duke is only going to be much better next season, and probably the year after that also – things are finally looking up for Duke!
Trey
November 20th, 2010
3:24 pm
Hey D Rad. You wanna give PJ another extension?
This offense isn’t going to work. When you are getting smoked by Duke, it’s time to rethink things.
And PJ, you said good teams don’t lose twice in a row. How about FIVE losses in a row?
That’s where you’re headed. Nice call on 4th down again. How many games will your playing calling lose? Your recruits are already bad enough.
Butts Wagner
November 20th, 2010
3:24 pm
These are Paul’s recruits.
About half of the players are Paul’s recruits. The 2008 class is mostly guys who were recruited by Gailey. 10 of the players committed after PJ was hired. 5 are players on offense, which is to say CPJ guys. I’m going to hold off on ripping PJ’s recruiting for another two years when the team will truly be 100% composed of his players, including upperclassmen.
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:25 pm
Touchdown Tarheels!
Bob
November 20th, 2010
3:25 pm
If we played the 3 teams we beat this season today, we would get blown out by all 3
Remember we needed a last second win to beat Wake.
Techsucoffski
November 20th, 2010
3:25 pm
That was a safety and the other was a touchback…..end of story. ACC sucks but its officials really suck!
Jesse Stone
November 20th, 2010
3:26 pm
UGA2011- because his players don’t embarrass the institution, because his teams haven’t underperformed for years, because he won a conference championship last year
Bad Bruce
November 20th, 2010
3:26 pm
UNC 2pt conversion no good. NCST still leads 27 to 25 with 1:00 left in the game. Onside kick coming.