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
Go Tech
November 20th, 2010
10:39 pm
and after Tech beats them they will be the best 5-7 team in the country
GTpak
November 20th, 2010
10:42 pm
If GT does not play like their hair is on fire, we will be drubbed. Greene and Durham will have their way with us, because our weak D line can’t pressure the QB..
King and Ealey will run like crazy because out LB’s will be out of position and our D line will be laying on the ground.
The O will have trouble because no one except Cone and Smith can catch a pass, and the O line will get stuffed all game long. If Stanford can get good players, why can’t we?
If coach does not get the O Line and D Line in the weight room for next year, we will see more of the same in 2011. Too late for this year.
The score will be UGA 45, Tech 10. I hate to say it, but we just don’t have it this year and UGA has improved more than we have. Looks like this will be the Kansas game all over again.
Our best game was Va Tech, but I don’t believe we have the nads to put two games together like that this season. Next Saturday is going to be a long day for us Jacket fans.
What does it take to get this team fired up enough to play like they are playing VT every game?
Steve
November 20th, 2010
10:43 pm
Hey Mark
Which team this year has come the closest to beating Auburn and allowed only 3 points for 3 quarters against them?
And which team with 7 or 8 starters out, nearly beat the sec’s second best team and likely would have if a pass int call had been thrown at the end of the game?
outsider
November 20th, 2010
10:44 pm
One other thing, if you’re 5 and 6 even on the planet Pluto. You are still not very good. Having to beat Tech to have a 500 season with all that talent is pathetic. I say coaching is a big problem at UGA. CMR is a great recruiter beyond that he is noVice Dooley or Bobby Bowden. Time will tell.
Valid Questions
November 20th, 2010
10:44 pm
Will all of UGA’s players on probation be allowed to remove their ankle monitoring bracelets?
And will the thUGA coaches and players be wearing their lucky red panties?
No Cowering?
November 20th, 2010
10:46 pm
Yea, Tech’s bowl eligible, the Detroit slum’s international bowl. hehehehehehehe
Hey Tech
November 20th, 2010
10:48 pm
Georgia’s ready to welcome you to Athens and we’ve got the RAID!!!
Boles
November 20th, 2010
10:50 pm
What happens next year when uga has the same off season arrests but they have to play Boise?
You know at least 2 starters will break the law. Let’s see if they even suspend them.
mcg dawg
November 20th, 2010
10:51 pm
Valid Questions….you are so witty!
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
10:52 pm
Mark
Do you really think Ga has better talent than Texas?
Or Colorado, considering they beat them?
Just asking cause you asked for other 5-6 teams and you’ve been awfully silent. I guess you’re pondering a response. LOL
RefrigeratorMover
November 20th, 2010
10:55 pm
Mark, I’ve known you for 25+ years. Your catering to the masses east of Tech amazes me this many years later. One thing is for sure, putting the word Professional with your name won’t happen anytime soon.
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
10:55 pm
The answer Mark is an obvious No. Ga doesn’t have better players than Texas. Colorado doesn’t but their players outplayed Ga’s that night in Boulder. Which is the same old story at uga.
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
10:57 pm
Damn blog didn’t post my comment
The answer is no Mark. Ga doesn’t have better players than Texas.
They do over Colorado, but not that night in Boulder.
Which has been happening a lot lately.
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
10:58 pm
Ugh this blog sux
Won’t post my comment
The answer is no Mark. Ga doesn’t have better players than Texas.
They do over Colorado, but not that night in Boulder.
Which has been happening a lot lately.
Go Tech
November 20th, 2010
10:59 pm
and we are bringing the hedge clippers to take some souvenirs back to the big A town.
Students vs. Goons
November 20th, 2010
10:59 pm
FROM ANOTHER AJC BLOG: Think about the football team THUGA puts on the field. 96% of the players are academically provisionally accepted, with Adams and his cronies knowing full well that they will use up all their coaching and tutors and elligibility and then have their asses kicked out on the street and soon be pushing grocery carts around Atlanta looking for a warm place to sleep. What a pitiful way to run the State’s flagship university. I am going to this next weeks game where the Ga THUGS will undoubtedly whip my North Avenue Scholar Athletes once again. Brawn and brainless win out over brains any day of the week when you are talking mayhem on the field. But once again I am hoping that Tech stomps their sorry asses.
Well said.
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
11:00 pm
The answer is No. They don’t have better players than Texas.
outsider
November 20th, 2010
11:02 pm
Hey Mark, you have a lot to respond to. Not the most brilliant response I have heard defending a 5 and 6 record. Saying that talent makes UGA the best 5 and 6 team in the nation is not very smart. Like I posted earlier, if that is the case this coaching staff has done a very poor job this season. If this was Tech with the same talent, what would you say? Sometime if you are not careful your mouth will get in the way of logic.
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
11:02 pm
You know, Texas would be a good bowl opponent for Georgia. Provided both are eligible.
DILLIGAF
November 20th, 2010
11:05 pm
Nice article MB. Are you sure that you’re laptop didn’t get hijacked while you were sitting at the airport bar?
VERY SLOPPY.
GO DAWGS! GATA!
UGA/85′
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
11:06 pm
I’m surprised, by the way, that so many of you have read “the most impressive 5-6 team” as synonymous with “impressive.” I agree that Georgia has underachieved hugely. Have you not read anything I’ve written the last eight days?
ARdawg
November 20th, 2010
11:08 pm
Great WIN Guys!!!! No really
ARdawg
November 20th, 2010
11:10 pm
That’s Tech fans Mark. If it isn’t calculator text they can’t read it
jack bull
November 20th, 2010
11:11 pm
sorry folks, it’s official. there’s no way you can convince me that ‘the powers that be’ in each and every conference don’t have some say in who wins and loses when it comes down to the end of the season…the ACC obviously wants Fl St to be in its championship game with that last call..that was so obvious that their DB didn’t intercept that ball a minute ago, yet, even the replay officials say he did….and we all know who the SEC wants to be undefeated…scary, really scary..
jack bull
November 20th, 2010
11:14 pm
i guarantee you there will be a call in Auburns next two games that shouldn’t go their way, yet does…just wait.
ARdawg
November 20th, 2010
11:16 pm
Nebraska takes a big steamy dump
Alan
November 20th, 2010
11:17 pm
Mark r u watching the fsu maryland game? Reid on fsu dove for an int. Looked like he caught it and the ruling was a int. The review showed without a doubt the ball hit the ground. Yet the refs reviewed it for 5 minutes and the announcers were saying it’s md’s ball. Then they give it to Fsu. Unbelievable. Acc and sponsors want fsu in the title game. This bs ruins the sport.
Cowering will come
November 20th, 2010
11:17 pm
Dawgs will run with their tails ‘tween their legs, shouting excuses and whining as they go…..
Alan
November 20th, 2010
11:19 pm
I agree 100% jack. Sec wants Auburn in the champ game provided Cam is eligible in the coming week or weeks. And the Acc obv wants Fsu in the game with VT. Disgusting.
ARdawg
November 20th, 2010
11:20 pm
@Cowering
So you were impressed with that wonderful display to today too? Good for you
jack bull
November 20th, 2010
11:21 pm
it truly is alan…ruins the game…and it’s so dang obvious..
outsider
November 20th, 2010
11:23 pm
The most impressive 5 and 6 team means what you intended it to mean.
That UGA is the most impressive 5 and 6 team out there. Don’t try to make it into anything else. It’s laughable that a writer for a major newspaper would make such a statement. Whether it is talent or anything else it’s still a lame comment. UGA is 5 and 6, and have lost to some bad teams, don’t try to gloss it over.
Angry fan
November 20th, 2010
11:24 pm
@students vs. goons -
That is a very egotistical, incorrect statement you just made on a GT blog. How can you think any comment made on a blog is 100% correct? I seriously doubt the writer of the blog made that statement; it was just another jerk like you.
Alan
November 20th, 2010
11:24 pm
My friend is a fsu fan and even he said that was one of the most bs calls he’s ever seen. The fact fsu ran to the line to snap the ball after the bogus int told you it wasn’t an int. Then the replay showed it wasn’t. They take 5 minutes to review it. The announcers both say no int. And the refs say it is. Watch another bs call at the end here to keep maryland out of the endzone. Either that or they will give maryland good calls next week to beat nc state so fsu makes it then. F’ing disgusting.
Tech Alum
November 20th, 2010
11:27 pm
Georgia is going to a bowl whether they are 6-6 or 5-7. You heard it here first. If Tech wins, then there won’t be enough teams to fill the 70 bowl slots. Since Georgia is the most impressive 5-6 team in the land, then they’d probably be the most impressive 5-7 team in the land. In that case, the NCAA picks a 5-win Georgia to fill the 70th slot.
Jared
November 20th, 2010
11:29 pm
But Mark
Do you think Uga has better players than Texas?
You asked us to provide a team that we thought had better players. Someone did and you didn’t respond except with hey that would be a good bowl opponent.
Waiting for your response…(crickets chirping)….
Rodney Dangerfield
November 20th, 2010
11:31 pm
WOLLEY STEKCAJ,
DRAD just called me and he is trying to talk me into getting you back in the fold. DRAD said that without your money he won’t be able to buy the golden thrown this year. He said it is literally a gold plated toilet seat with the GT Yellowjacket inlaid right where you sit on the seat – it stings you in the ass with a little electric shock – you gotta see it. Soooo pretty please buy tickets to the game so that DRAD can get his golden thrown!
aarh
November 20th, 2010
11:34 pm
Eric- Colorado is bad, but you can’t go by a game from that long ago. UGA’s a lot better than they were back then. That game was on the road, & they had just installed teh 3-4 defense, & a Fr. QB. Typically teams like that are better towards the end of the yr. UGA even beat Tech last yr. when nobody…including myself…thought they would. I know the defense hasn’t looked lights out, but the last team (AU) taht UGA gave up a lot of point to…has done it to everyobdy they’ve played this yr. UGA appeared to play pretty well against them in the first half…before they appeared to be out of gas in the second half.
Mark Bradley
November 20th, 2010
11:34 pm
Pretty sure Georgia has a better quarterback than Texas. Also a better receiver.
Rodney Dangerfield
November 20th, 2010
11:35 pm
Anyone think Tech could play in the military bowl against Navy? I would rather see that than lose to Oregon St or Cal in the San Fran Nut Bowl.
THWG!!
November 20th, 2010
11:36 pm
No Cowering?-
A bowl is a bowl. At least we dont have to win the last game of the year to finish 500, and even be ELIGABLE!!
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
11:36 pm
Jared
He won’t answer because he didn’t do his homework before he wrote the silly statement. Anyone with an ounce of football knowledge knows that Texas has better players than Georgia.
And he can’t say they have better than Colorado because well, they lost to them. Too funny.
That’s why you spend a few minutes of research before making comments like that. Oh well. It is the Ajc.
THWG!!
November 20th, 2010
11:37 pm
and im pretty sure youre a bad columnist Mark…..
Ryan
November 20th, 2010
11:38 pm
Ok Mark, so now it’s which team has the best qb and wide receiver and not the best PLAYERS. Give me a break. You’re a joke man. Just admit you made a wrong comment.
state patrol
November 20th, 2010
11:40 pm
what all you dogtards are counting on is that your players will be eligible to play…another arrest is due anytime possibly tonight..watch some of your players get in trouble
outsider
November 20th, 2010
11:41 pm
I agree Ryan, if you stick your foot in your mouth about things you don’t research you need to have the guts to say so.
state patrol
November 20th, 2010
11:41 pm
any arrest yet
state patrol
November 20th, 2010
11:41 pm
the week is still young
Confused
November 20th, 2010
11:42 pm
I agree that officials and conference officials favor the leading teams in their conferences. I’m a UGA fan and have seen many questionable calls, especially in the UGA/Auburn game. Fairley should have been out in the beginning, just like they kicked-out the player tonight in the Miss St/Arkansas game, but the officials wouldn’t touch him, no matter what Fairley did. The SEC officials reportedly talked to the Heisman officials about Cam not being responsible for what his father has done. A sports attorney read from a law book that it doesn’t matter if a parent does it without the child knowing, it is still reflective upon the student athlete. That’s how it should be, or parents would be doing that crazy stuff all the time. It begins with calls to the Little League coach and just grows….
THWG!!
November 20th, 2010
11:42 pm
ARDawg almost as impressive as your Miss. st, colorado, Fla Wi……..oh wait….thats RIGHT!!!!