Tech secures a bowl but doesn’t exactly leave UGA cowering
With this swoop, Mario Butler takes Tech from behind to ahead. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
The goal, cornerback Mario Butler said, was to keep from becoming the first Georgia Tech team since 1996 to be bowl-ineligible, and that mission was accomplished. And if the Jackets entered Saturday’s game with the ancillary aim of rendering Georgia overconfident for next week’s collision … well, they managed that, too.
Upcoming in Athens: The most impressive 5-6 team in the land — that’d be Georgia — will face the least imposing 6-5 aggregation. Tech won Saturday for the first time since Oct. 16 and needed all the aid and comfort Duke could supply, which was a lot. Some will point to this tepid regular season as a massive comedown from the high of the 2009 ACC championship, and in its way it has been. But this comedown could well have been a nosedive.
The Jackets didn’t have much except Joshua Nesbitt when this season commenced, and now that the indomitable quarterback has been lost they have next to nothing. Their offense mustered but two touchdowns — one of them coming on a pass completion, of which Tech likewise had two — against Duke, which ranked last in the ACC in total defense. The Tech defense, meanwhile, yielded 443 yards to an opponent conspicuously lacking a talent on the order of, say, A.J. Green.
The first half was vintage Tech 2010: A touchdown run overridden on a penalty; a fumbled Duke kickoff uncovered; a fumble lost inside the Duke 10; a failed fourth-down bid that led to a Duke field goal three seconds before halftime. “We had a chance to bury them early one,” said Paul Johnson, the Tech coach, “but we couldn’t get out of our own way.”
Tech trailed 13-6 at the half. It drove smartly enough on its first possession of the third quarter but was held to a field goal, whereupon Duke drove smartly and was within 14 yards of establishing an 11-point lead, whereupon Butler made two plays. The first resulted in a 6-yard loss. The second netted seven points. Butler broke on the only pass thrown by Brandon Connette, who is Duke’s running quarterback for a reason, and took it 85 yards to score.
“I just jumped it,” Butler said, speaking of the pass route. Then: “When I cut across [the field on his lung-bursting return], my hamstrings were about gone.”
Tech would build a 10-point lead. Being Tech, it came close to handing it back. Duke missed a tying field goal with 9:20 left. Three snaps later, Stephen Hill outfought a defender to snatch a Tevin Washington pass from the air. The 79-yard touchdown was the sort play of the departed Demaryius Thomas authored weekly last season but that Hill, considered the heir apparent, has seldom made.
“Coach Johnson wants playmaking receivers,” Hill said. “[I've] had a bad little year. But the year’s not over with.”
Said Johnson: “We didn’t accomplish a lot of the goals we set as a team, but our players know they’re going to play two more games.”
Tech’s next game will be of great local interest, and it’s hard to imagine a team that needed 3 1/2 quarters to put away Duke at Bobby Dodd Stadium going to Athens and actually winning. But say this about these Jackets: They’ve somehow won more than they’ve lost, the key word being “somehow.”
Jonathan Dwyer gained 1,395 yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns in 2009; Anthony Allen, the new feature back, surpassed 1,000 yards with Saturday’s grinding performance but has scored only five times. Derrick Morgan had 12 1/2 sacks in 2009; the 2010 Tech team has 16. The aforementioned Thomas caught 46 passes for 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns in 2009; Hill’s numbers this season — 13 catches, 244 yards and three touchdowns.
When Nesbitt suffered a broken arm against Virginia Tech 2 1/2 weeks ago, the fear among Tech fans was that their team wouldn’t win again. On Saturday it won, if haltingly, and now the Jackets will play in a bowl, albeit an off-brand one. That’s actually pretty good value for a team almost devoid of playmakers, and you Jacket backers should try to hold that thought. Because what happens in Sanford Stadium might not be pleasant for the ol’ White and Gold.
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497 comments Add your comment
Barkin'Dog
November 20th, 2010
8:50 pm
THIS will be one of those games where, broadcasters, for decades, used the opening line, “You can throw out the record books for this game.” Should be a good game – for a half. The Dawgs should put a beat down on Tech, but noting will surprise me this season.
The Plain Unvarnished Truth about UGA (7:57 pm) “…You can’t say it much better than that.”
It’s obvious YOU could say or write anything close to that. It was well written BY SOMEONE ELSE. Off the mark, but that’s not the point. A Copy-and-paste talent will not get you ahead in life… that which you have none of, I’m afraid. Now go ‘COWER’ in the corner. Your beat down is coming.
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
8:52 pm
my glass house has a few missing window panes this year, too, but unlike Mark, and like oger,. I am an optimist that Tech will win
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
8:53 pm
oger optimistic ga will win, me for tech
dawghuff
November 20th, 2010
8:55 pm
Tech barely beat Duke… do you Tech ladies really think you can possibly beat UGA even when we’re at our worst? Please!
Barkin'Dog
November 20th, 2010
8:56 pm
Oops… nothing and could mistyped. Should have been “It’s obvious YOU couldn’t say or write anything close to that.” Hate to criticize when I deserve it too
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
8:56 pm
well we beat you when you had your best team in years (2008) so why not?
Oger
November 20th, 2010
8:57 pm
Tech Ladies??? Oger thought tech was all boys school.
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
8:58 pm
and you beat us in 2009 with reversed situation
Dawgs Roll
November 20th, 2010
8:58 pm
Tech was lucky to beat lowly duke, at home! Ga rolls next week—mark it down: Dawgs 45 Tech 17. This tech team is done.
question
November 20th, 2010
8:59 pm
tdog, do you think it was serious? Your guy will be making $$$ next year.
Hill will be making you guys just wish he was a dog.
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
9:01 pm
and this coming from a fan of a team whose mascot’s name is big bad BRUCIE
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
9:03 pm
if only he had waited to make those $$$ next year instead of this year Ga might not have to beat Tech just to go to the toilet bowl.
Oger
November 20th, 2010
9:09 pm
ahhhh. Bruce is a gay name.
lawzoo
November 20th, 2010
9:11 pm
This is why both elevens play all season. It all comes down to next week. Leave it all on the field, play like there’s no tomorrow, with your backs up against the wall.
The nation will be watching. dawgs-jackets. Nothing more needs to be said.
Seriously.
Oger
November 20th, 2010
9:12 pm
unless you’re refering to the boss
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
oger
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=75;t=000898;p=1
Golden Tornado
November 20th, 2010
9:18 pm
Is there a Master Plan written somewhere that says Georgia Tech must always play a game the week before meeting Georgia, while the Bulldogs
rest up and prepare for Tech?
Gonna be fun - bullpups or fuzzy bees
November 20th, 2010
9:21 pm
Truth is this season neither team has played worth a squat.
In what seems to be a down year in the SEC Georgia is near the bottom. An offensive line that couldn’t keep tigers off the QB’s back. A yound QB who is good because of a great receiver and his ability to scramble. A defense that isn’t that hot either.
Tech on the other hand has looked horrible at times – afraid to block and tackle.
Georgia should win although this year anything can happen
Clean up in aisle 6
November 20th, 2010
9:21 pm
good night oger got to go, wifey tired of football husband on blog and it is saturday night.
Old School
November 20th, 2010
9:21 pm
Today was a win, but not exactly one to write home about. Eleventh game of the season and still making the same silly mistakes. PJ was right: “We got in our own way.” Just like last year in the three games that were lost, the continuing problem is on both lines of scrimmage: not very strong. And I think this 3-4 defense accentuates this weakness. Duke’s No-Name QB had enough time to stroll up the street to the Varsity for a NDW and back and still have time to find a wide open receiver. I think Murray will pick our D apart with 10-15-yarders—-when he’s not launching bombs to Green. It’s going to be ugly.
As for our offense, Washington will be on the run all day (sorry, all “night”), even worse than today when he was continually harassed by the worst defense— even worse than our D— in the ACC. With 2 weeks to prepare for the option, the Leghumpers will stop our ground game, and without any passing threat whatsoever, well, it aint’t gonna be fun in Athens.
Really, really wish I could be more optimistic, but after seeing today’s game against a team we should have blown out I saw more of what I have seen most of the season, silly mistakes and penalties, zero passing game (although Hill finally did catch a ball), and a porous defense that puts virtually no pressure on the opposing QB. Groh better call the safety blitz more often than we have seen. It was responsible for our only sack today.
Again, wish I could have more faith. You would think a team would improve as the season wore on, but this team has maintained a level of consistent mediocrity. It started with the lackluster, uninspired effort in the season opener at Grant Field against a bunch of Bulldogs from South Carolina State (which I tried to pass off as an anomaly against a low,low,low “major”) and will unfortunately end against another bunch of Bulldogs. Yes, I said “end” because I am not counting whatever bowl game the Jackets go to. When nearly half of the teams that kicked off in September can go to a so-called “bowl game” 11 games later, some with 6-6 records, well, can you say “watered down” and “meaningless.”
I am expecting much better in 2011.
But you know what, as mediocre as my Jackets have been this season, it has to be less disappointing than being a fan of a way, way under achieving Bulldog team comprised of all those 4 and 5-star studs who couldn’t make a run in the weakest SEC East in years.
brokeback jacket
November 20th, 2010
9:22 pm
So we get to see the tech honey bees get smoked in yet another bowl game? Free hotdogs, free Cokes, and free anime porn for everyone!!
Ramblin Man
November 20th, 2010
9:24 pm
Sad thing is that Mark like most UGA fans predicting a win is right. The other sad thing for Mark and other UGA fans is that you have pull for a win over a very bad GT team just to get to a bowl. Much like us GT fans had to pull for a win over a bad Duke team. Hard to brag for either team this year, but I have seen several fair weather UGA fans take down thier UGA flags this compared to GT fans unfortunately seeing this type of season in the past.
FishyBusiness
November 20th, 2010
9:29 pm
RAMBLINGWRECK:Great bullentin board material .Nothing like lowering the Dawgs expectations of this GT Team !!!
An observer
November 20th, 2010
9:29 pm
Mark, do you feel better now that you’ve spewed all that venom? You know, when I took journalism in school, I was told that journalists had to be objective and therefore I opted for a different field. But these days I could be a really good journalist since no journalist seems to be objective regardless what they’re writing about. And if Georgia Tech is such a worthless team, what will a win over them really mean – anything? And if Ga Tech is such a worthless team then why doesn’t UGA find a more worthwhile opponent? Someone in the state MUST be able to give them a better game – right? I’m sure the Techies could find better things to do with their time.
Kramer
November 20th, 2010
9:31 pm
A bowl for the Dawgs at this point is mute. All we have left of this season is bragging rights with the GT Maggots. I want to see a shut out and completely embarass them to no end. Anything else is unacceptable. Their fans come on here and talk smack when they have absolutely nothing to brag about.
We will wipe the field with them and send them home with their stingers between their legs. 9 of 10 or whatever the record is!
Castle Pines Canine
November 20th, 2010
9:32 pm
Ramblin man you got it so right! Anyone who thinks UGA will have an easy game over Tech? Think again. Nothing would make Tech’s season a success like keeping the Dogs home for the holidays. No QB on either team, linebackers out, little incentive. I’d say Tech pushes the dogs all day and maybe UGA wins one. Green should be the star, but who knows?
Castle Pines Canine
November 20th, 2010
9:34 pm
Kramer, it is moot! Bradley is still mad that the Dogs beat Kentucky, and that Calipari has got the roundball team in trouble up there!
jeff
November 20th, 2010
9:35 pm
“the most impressive 5-6 team in the land”? Let’s look at that record. Louisiana-Lafayette is currently 2-8. Tenn is 4-6. Vandy is 2-8. The Wildcats are 6-4. And Idaho State just fired their coach, and BTW, the team so far is 1-9. So basically the most impressive 5-6 team has beaten exactly one team with a winning record. Sorry, why is that impressive? I understand, we can not let facts get in the way of a good story. Go Cocks! 17-6 Ha Ha.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 20th, 2010
9:38 pm
Come on Tech, Fairley softed Murray up a god bit for you..he is going to be Uber sore when you play them…blitz a lot..
In the immortal words of Sensei kreese, “Sweep The Leg!”
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!! 11-0
wreckmaniac
November 20th, 2010
9:39 pm
Huge pressure on Johnson. If he loses to a mediocre team like UGA he should resign and take Groh with him.
outsider
November 20th, 2010
9:40 pm
Hey Kramer, I don’t remember UGA wiping the field with anyone this year except division II schools. UGA knew that Auburn was going to run the football up their butt, but still could not stop them. Guess what Tech is going to try to do, the same thing. Plus they are better at it than Auburn. So don’t get so overconfident that you will be able to stop the leading rushing offense in college football. With a complete game Tech matches UGA score for score. Neither as a defense that can stop a cold. By the way this is not a UGA blog.
Make the game a close one
November 20th, 2010
9:49 pm
Sit Murray
Eddie
November 20th, 2010
9:51 pm
Bradley has a feud with Blewitt so he doesn’t like anything gt.
Hawks
November 20th, 2010
9:52 pm
Gonna choke another one. Just hope the falcons win tomorrow so this state has one decent team.
ARdawg
November 20th, 2010
9:56 pm
Great Win Guys!!
NOBODYYOUKNOW
November 20th, 2010
10:01 pm
Tech is pathetic. UGA is not great but they will beat Tech by 14 at least. Tech talking bowls is stupid. UGA and Tech need to forget about bowls so the two coaches can go recruit. The best game in the country next saturday will be Auburn and BAMA. GO BAMA!
sasquatch
November 20th, 2010
10:01 pm
i will be kickin those bees out of the park this weekend in little a town………
UGA = Panty Waste
November 20th, 2010
10:09 pm
Rather be 6-5 than 5-6 and have 15 player arrests and an AD with a skank and her red panties.
BEEFENSE
November 20th, 2010
10:12 pm
I told my UGAG golfing buddies before the season began that the nadlickers would lose 5 or 6 games–they howled and laughed and said no ******way. Well here we are with the puppies at 6 losses and fixing to be 7—a 7 loss season for last years preseason #1’s (we all know how that went). Get ready to eat crow and dust UGAG ’cause CPJ has a long memory from your last years antics at BDS. GT 38–butt sniffers 35——–and NO BOWL—-ha, ha, haaaaaaaha!
UF ALUM
November 20th, 2010
10:12 pm
Kramer
hey kramer, no, it’s 19 of 22 and we own your mutts, so you should watch what you say against a better academic school and better all around fans and city than your beloved puppies.
Big Stinger
November 20th, 2010
10:13 pm
UGA sucks but they’re going to light us up next week. I’d love to be wrong on this one but I seriously doubt it. Still love my Jackets.
BEEFENSE
November 20th, 2010
10:14 pm
Enter your comments here
BEEFENSE
November 20th, 2010
10:15 pm
—and as always Bark Madley—K.M A**!
Rick
November 20th, 2010
10:18 pm
This is funny
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/feed/2010-08/decade-ahead/story/sporting-news-projected-2010-11-bowl-pairings
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
10:26 pm
If someone can name me another 5-6 team with as good a players as Georgia, I’d be happy to reconsider.
Brad
November 20th, 2010
10:30 pm
Bobby Petrino lucks out again
outsider
November 20th, 2010
10:31 pm
Hey pal, then it must be the coaching. Right!! Go ahead and say it.
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
10:32 pm
I have one Mark
TEXAS!
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
10:33 pm
Or how about Colorado Mark
They did beat the dogs.
Go Tech
November 20th, 2010
10:36 pm
Mark, Ga may have some good players, but they are a not so good 5-6 team, for some unknown reason. Take your pick as to why from all the reasons that have been put forth by Ga fans all year.