Outmanned Tech fights to the end but can’t finish the drill
One guy coached a winning game. The other coach won. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Athens – Give Paul Johnson a couple of months and he could take the remaining Rolling Stones and have those geezers rushing for 300 yards a game. Say what you will about the man, but he can coach the heck out of what he has. At issue Saturday night was whether he had enough.
There aren’t many coaches who can outdraw Johnson with the X’s and O’s, but the game, as we’re constantly reminded, isn’t played on a whiteboard. It’s played by real-life players. And Johnson’s Jackets lost to Georgia here Saturday not because they didn’t play hard or well but because in the end they just weren’t as skilled. Try as they might, and they tried mightily, they could never take the lead.
If anything, Saturday’s game showed us how clever Johnson is. He bled 512 yards out of an offense missing its best player. Tech held the ball for 38 minutes and 14 seconds, ran 92 plays to Georgia’s 48. And even at the end, when the Bulldogs appeared to have scored the clinching touchdown, they looked up and realized the old fox on the far sideline had one-upped them again.
As Johnson said, allowing Georgia to score was “the only way we could win the game.” And rather than alert its players to the possibility and advise them to get a first down and then fall on the ball, the Bulldog staff was caught unawares.
“We didn’t coach very good there,” Mark Richt said, speaking of Washaun Ealey’s 20-yard touchdown run with 1:29 remaining that put Georgia up eight points. “We got outcoached right there. It was good strategy by Coach Johnson. I thought when it happened, ‘He got us there. He got me.’ ”
It was that kind of night. Georgia won the game but left the distinct impression that it had gotten away with one. Johnson’s Jackets messed up early and often and still were one drive from winning the thing. (And then, one possession later, one drive from forcing overtime.)
Tech fizzled twice early — getting stopped on fourth-and-2 at the Georgia 19 after recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff, fumbling inside the 10 not five minutes later. And here came the Bulldogs, seizing a 14-point lead that at the game’s outset seemed like twice that much. But back came Tech, back on the strength of those two Johnson staples: A running game and a sheer stubbornness.
Even the hardiest of Jacket backers were dreading this strange game, in which the team with the lesser record entered favored by two touchdowns. Georgia clearly has better players than Tech, and without quarterback Joshua Nesbitt there are moments when it seems Tech has nothing at all. And yet the visitors kept fighting after falling behind by those two touchdowns, and soon it was apparent that the team lacking its best player wasn’t lacking in guts.
It was 14-all with one minute left in the first half, 21-all with a minute left in the third quarter. And this wasn’t because Tech was playing letter-perfect football; on the contrary, it had taken three Georgia turnovers and gotten nothing from them. And still the game was tied, the underdog having become the aggressor, the Bulldogs looking as confused as they had all season. (Which, given how the season had gone for Georgia, was saying something.)
Late in the third quarter Tech was driving to take the lead when Roddy Jones fumbled. Georgia nosed ahead on Washaun Ealey’s touchdown burst on fourth-and-goal. Then Tech fumbled again, quarterback Tevin Washington pitching to Jones as the Tech back was about to get splattered, and the resulting loose ball was taken for a touchdown by Georgia linebacker Justin Houston.
Another two-TD lead for the home side, this with barely a quarter to go. Surely there was no responding from this, not with the redoubtable Nesbitt a spectator with his broken arm. But doggone — no pun intended — if the Jackets didn’t surge to one touchdown and then, beggaring belief, another. With 4:56 remaining, the Jackets were within a point of even.
And Scott Blair, who hadn’t missed an extra point all season, missed the extra point. And surely that was that. But no. Georgia didn’t lose six times by its ability to deliver under pressure. The Bulldogs moved within field-goal range, chose to go for it on fourth-and-1 and saw Aaron Murray fumble the snap. At last Tech had its chance to take the lead.
And it couldn’t manage a first down. Tevin Washington was dropped for losses on first and second down, threw incomplete on third and fourth, and the Jackets had to be done, didn’t they? But Johnson pulled his let-’em-score trick and still his Jackets kept coming, flying across midfield with 45 seconds left. And then finally it was done, Washington delivering an interception.
Georgia had won and rendered itself bowl-eligible, but the lasting memory of this game won’t be of the Bulldogs and their escape: It will be of Johnson and his Jackets and how close they’d come with all their fumbling and without their No. 1 quarterback. It will be of the coach with the lesser players forcing the Bulldogs to the brink. If Paul Johnson can ever recruit similar talent on a consistent basis — admittedly, it’s a big if — Tech won’t wind up 6-6 again anytime soon.
“I wish I could have found a way to help them win the game,” Johnson said, speaking of his players, but he’d done all any coach could do. He’d put them in position. His undermanned team just couldn’t finish the drill.
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859 comments Add your comment
We Own You
November 28th, 2010
10:24 am
The Tech-Georgia series is great becasue everybody goes home happy. Tech fans are happy because they come close and Georgia is happy because they won–and the games are close enough for Tech fans to make all sorts of excuses and explain what would have happened and what could have happened. And Mark Badley can kiss Paul Johnson’s a$$ all year and talk about the Tech fumbles without mentioning that the game wouldn’t have been close without all the Georgia fumbles—and he can cite all the statistics he wants (which is what LOSERS do–but the only statistic that matters is in lights on the big scoreboard and it shows that GEORGIA won for the 9th time in 10 years–so To Hell With Tech!
DawgBone
November 28th, 2010
10:25 am
Was Mark Richt “clever” when he took a rookie QB to SC and almost won without his best player? You seem to have a bit of a bias Mark. How about you say something like “you give Paul Johnson 3 years and he still can’t teach any of his qbs to throw a football without a double hop?” Johnson is a good coach, but let’s not act like he’s accomplished in 3 what Richt has done in 10. The Dawgs have had a bad year, no doubt, but Richt owns the Jackets worse than the Gators own him.
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November 28th, 2010
10:27 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Colin Ake, Go UGA Football!!. Go UGA Football!! said: GoDawgFootball says Mark Bradley: It is hard to believe a school with the tradition and class of UGA has fans li… http://bit.ly/hhpjxv [...]
sb
November 28th, 2010
10:28 am
I am a UGA fan. With that said neither teams deserves to go to a bowl game, and here is why. Both are just 6-6. Excluding the 2 cream puff teams they both played UGA has not beat a team with a winning record, and GT has only beaten1 team (N.C.) that has a winning record. Last nights game was embarsing to both teams fans. Neither defense could stop a high school team. I say let them both go home and think about next season.
Al
November 28th, 2010
10:30 am
Why I would kill myself if I were a Tech fan:
They always lose to UGA
They play in a half empty high school stadium
There is constant crime on campus or near it
There are ZERO women
Tailgating sucks
They play in the ACC
billhulsey
November 28th, 2010
10:32 am
KNOW WHAT A GEORGIA GRAD SAYS TO A TECH GRAD?? YESSIR BOSS, RIGHT AWAY, BOSS ANYTHING ELSE BOSS??
cattle dawg
November 28th, 2010
10:33 am
Good points dawgbone.
jaded equation
November 28th, 2010
10:35 am
At the end of the day I’m pretty sure it’s the ah, W, that counts.
messin with sasquatch
November 28th, 2010
10:37 am
i think coach rich would be a fine U coach. and hang on to mr whipple because he squeezes the charmin out of his qb’s.
Al
November 28th, 2010
10:37 am
Billhulsey I really hope you are some 15 year old kid. First, that joke is older then when Tech actually beat UGA on a constant basis. Second, It really is the other way around you loser. UGA is one of the best public universities in the country. Google it.
GA still sucks!!!!
November 28th, 2010
10:38 am
With a number of players coming back on defense I see no reason why GA can’t compete for a national championship next year. I think AJ Green will be back for a run at it. The millions of dollars in the NFL can wait. Good luck!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Boozer
November 28th, 2010
10:38 am
Why is it after a loss, GT fans still want to say how bad UGA is. The only stat that matters is on the scoreboard. If UGA is bad what does that make GT. I would rather be 6-6 in the SEC than the ACC.
Really?
November 28th, 2010
10:38 am
To: Katherine @ 9:42 a.m.
“…. it’s nice to go out with a win.”
Really? There’s still a bowl game and I wouldn’t say “going out with a win” just yet. Dawgies typically choke in the bowls. Count on UGA ending up 6-7 for the year … a sucky season indeed.
RGP
November 28th, 2010
10:39 am
To this fellow (or gal) who insists on these infantile responses involving long sequences of “HAs” accompanied by scores, let me ask:
1. When were you born?
2. Did you graduate from UGA?
3. If so (to 2), what was your major?
Hey, Boozer?
November 28th, 2010
10:40 am
Everyone (not just GT fans) said BEFORE the game how bad UGA is.
Sadly, because it’s true.
messin with sasquatch
November 28th, 2010
10:40 am
also not surprised we lost – we fumbled more, you dogbones…………….
messin with sasquatch
November 28th, 2010
10:41 am
maybe jimbo would be willing to come to athens, since he can whip gatorbait……………
Ted M
November 28th, 2010
10:41 am
Scott Blair is the only good thing about GT’s special teams. It’s unfortunate he kinda choked.
There is no excuse for GT’s year long miserable special teams play.
jarvis
November 28th, 2010
10:42 am
Boy, you are some whiny b*tches this morning.
In all of Johnson’s greatness, he is just like the rest of Tech’s coaches since the early 60’s. He has a losing record against the Dawgs. Bradley acts like the lack of Tech talent is some sort of ominous mystery from the heavens. They have no talent because they recruit no talent. Assessing and recruiting talent is suddenly not part of being a great football coach?
And don’t hand me that academic crap. Stanford is in line to have a top 5 class this year. The bottom line is much like their alumni base, their coach is brilliant at what he does but lacks the personality to connect with normal people. He can’t bring in what it takes to compete.
Worst Georgia team in 15 years, and what was the result? W for the Dawgs.
jarvis
November 28th, 2010
10:43 am
By the way Tech fans, your turn out was embarrassing. You should be ashamed. There was almost no Gold in Athens yesterday.
ummmmm
November 28th, 2010
10:43 am
why is no one talking about the fact the tech never stopped ga, ga gave away at least 5 possesions, etc. Instead we’re talking about how tech gave it away. Please. Georgia gave it away and still won big. Go away tech, you aren’t good. Period.
GA still sucks!!!!
November 28th, 2010
10:46 am
Al, I hope you are some 15 year old kid posting on a blog after beating Tech. Yeppie. At least we can admit we are terrible. Can you do the same? Congrats on becoming bowl eligible.
Big Brain
November 28th, 2010
10:47 am
In defense of UGa….oops, defense and UGa is an oxymoron
Al
November 28th, 2010
10:48 am
Really “GA still sucks?” UGA has been awful the last two seasons. However they still beat you dorks. What does that say about Tech? Does it suck knowing you will be a virgin for life?
Ted M
November 28th, 2010
10:49 am
Hey Mark,
You’re still beating Jeff by about 2 to 1 on blog posts. When you get home from Mass you should call him and rub it in. lol
Paddy
November 28th, 2010
10:49 am
Ga still sucks……so you think the millions in the NFL can wait for greene? Pick up the check. He would be a fool to come back, and this coming from a Dawg fan. A career ending injury next season and his life of leisure will never be realized. This is not a tough call, with the chance to acheive the American dream at 21 yrs old, you turn pro!
Nan
November 28th, 2010
10:53 am
Typical smug look on Paul Johnsons face. You are an idiot Mark Bradley. I know you have to write something, but damn! If you were looking to stir things up, you did it. Georgia won… PERIOD.
GA still sucks!!!!
November 28th, 2010
10:56 am
Al, you know how it feels to get beat down every year. Your team did something no one could do this year and that was make the Gators offense look good. So go be proud of your 6-6 year. Like bulldog fans always say……we will be great next year.
Duluth Dawg
November 28th, 2010
10:56 am
Jarvis,
You hit it the nail on the head. Bradley and his Tech losers act like they deserve a medal for keeping it close. HERE IS ALL THAT MATTERS: TECH LOST AGAIN. This makes 9 o the last 10 and Fish Fry Johnson is 1-2 versus UGA.
SUCK IT NERDS! This is one thing you guys know how to do in addition to claiming moral victories.
Steve
November 28th, 2010
10:58 am
The WHAT bowl???
December 29, 2010 Washington, DC
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman 2:30 pm ESPN
ACC No. 8 vs. C-USA No. 4
Projection: Georgia Tech vs. East Carolina
flagboy?
November 28th, 2010
10:59 am
Galt, you’re an idiot. Granted, i’ll give you AJ ran out of bounds in the first quarter on that one play, but you’re looking foolish.
Greene goes in the top 5.
if – IF – he was taking it easy, tech has some first hand knowledge of how that goes with Dwyer last year.
Al
November 28th, 2010
11:00 am
“GA still sucks” yup, you are right. UF always beats UGA. What’s your point? I know that UGA always has and always will owns Tech. Must suck to be you.
Duluth Dawg
November 28th, 2010
11:01 am
Really,
UGA has won its last 3 bowl games. Tech has lost their last 6 bowl games. So who typically loses in the bowl game? Really, you really need to get your facts straight. LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
flagboy?
November 28th, 2010
11:05 am
billhulsey
KNOW WHAT A GEORGIA GRAD SAYS TO A TECH GRAD?? YESSIR BOSS, RIGHT AWAY, BOSS ANYTHING ELSE BOSS??
Ah. . . now I know the game is over because the year-long tech blog mating call has begun.
john
November 28th, 2010
11:06 am
We can all break it down … Johnson coached his heart out… Tech was undermanned. Georgia had the better players… Richt should have done this or that. The fact of the matter here is … Georgia has won the last nine out of 10 and scored more points than Tech last night and, I believe, that’s enough said! So all the Tech fans, who are saying, “typical Georgia fan!” I’d rather be a typical Georgia fan than a freaking nerdy Tech fan anyday. Go Dawgs!!!!
GA still sucks!!!!
November 28th, 2010
11:06 am
Al, what is always will owns Tech? You are definitely a UGA grad. You are so mad you can’t even type correctly.
Andy in Blairsville
November 28th, 2010
11:07 am
Georgia wasn’t even .500 or bowl eligible until November 27th, yet their fans feel the need to gloat about beating a beat down (like UGA) GT Tech.
Pretty sad what Georgia football has become.
To billhulsey ---
November 28th, 2010
11:08 am
You’re assuming thUGA’s actually get JOBS after they graduate…. lol
dawgfan
November 28th, 2010
11:10 am
Georgia Tech=Moral Victory U.
Techies always want points for 2nd place. Its amazing how the AJC coddles this pathetic loser mentality too. Every year its the same crap. UGA just shows up and wins and Georgia Tech shows the courage of a lion in keeping it close. One word: BULL****. Tech had a better record than us. Tech was a preseason top 15 team. Why do they always get a free pass when they fail to live up to expectations? They lost the damn game. They’ve lost 6 damn games this year. Most coaches are measured by wins and losses, but somehow CPJ is measured by some subjective loosy goosy standard of “outcoaching” people. One more word: BULL****.
Techies, Bradley and the AJC aren’t doing you any favors with this crap. Believe me. It makes us respect you even less. And yes, you care.
We Hit and Run This State
November 28th, 2010
11:11 am
Gotta love the classy ugag fans. Sat around a bunch of ‘em last night too.
THWG
hey, jarvis?
November 28th, 2010
11:11 am
the fact that few techies were in Athens is no reflection on Techies. It’s a reflection on Athens.
Stinks there. Garbage there. Filth there.
I know that UGA is used to it. When you live in a house that smells all the time, you become immune to it. But visitors gag.
Glory Glory
November 28th, 2010
11:11 am
Al, you’re the sort of trailer trash, redneck idiot that gives Dawg fans a bad name. You think that because some school that you never attended beats another school you never attended that somehow you are a better person. What a bunch of hog wash. Enjoy your win as a fan but stop acting like a 12 year old. It’s only a football game you doofus. Most of the Tech fans are alumni and I can guarantee you that they didn’t go to Tech because of a football program. So your taunts are about as intelligent as you are. Here’s an idea: why not get a real life outside of football you moron.
Al
November 28th, 2010
11:12 am
Why would I be mad? We beat you, again. Sorry for a typo. What’s it like to be perfect? I was out all night laughing about you dorks. 9 of 10? Really? Ha ha.
“Andy” are you kidding? Do you have any clue what you dorks would be saying had UGA lost to the nerds? The gloating would happen whether UGA was 6-6 or 12-0. We love watching you losers cry since this is your biggest game of the year.
Al
November 28th, 2010
11:14 am
Well “Glory Glory” I did graduate from UGA and have my masters. I live in a $350,000 house so I don’t believe it is a trailer. UGA fans enjoy beating Tech because every year, the nerds on North Avenue talk all season about how Tech is going to beat UGA. Why are you on here little boy if you don’t like football? ‘It’s only football?” You need to move to the Northeast apparently since you don’t like it. Gosh what a loser.
Dawg Time
November 28th, 2010
11:15 am
With that huge win over Tech, the Dawgs are back! Look for a deep BCS run in 2011—Ga wins the SEC east easily in 2011—Fla’s down and not coming back, UT and USC will not have much—Ga plays Bama for the SEC title–mark it down!!!
Jeremiah
November 28th, 2010
11:21 am
uga athletics is now best known for its arrests and problems. this coupled with continued under achievement should cause uga to run- not walk- to hiring Derek Dooley. uga is now being passed by mississippi state and will be passed by ut next year.
flagboy?
November 28th, 2010
11:21 am
Well, the Dawgs played pretty good at times on offense. Again, the turnovers were killers. The opening kickoff and the punt return (anyone else say to the themselves “oh crap” when they saw B Smith back there to receive the punt?. . . comment about that Bill Shanks) and King’s fumble. I really thought K Durham had gotten that first down inside the 10 on the catch. . but oh well.
Tech had a ton of yards on offense, but then again, they also ran about twice as many plays as we did. The yards per carry avg worked out to be about the same. I’ve said this for a few years, and even said it in defense of Willie Martinez, there isn’t just that much talent out there on the defensive side of the ball, top to bottom. At the end of the day, that falls back on the coaches, but i’m not ready to call Grantham a “bust” like others are.
Good win for the dawgs because any loss to tech sucks. Tech played well and really made a game of it, despite what Vegas had to say.
Question to tech fans: What about Johnson throwing the ball on the next to last possession? I thought he had plenty of time to continue to run his offense with Allen. . . I think they still had 2 timeouts at that stage. I was shocked he did it, but I was shocked he did the same thing last year. Just asking.
Go Dawgs!
Glory Glory
November 28th, 2010
11:22 am
Al – that’s an even bigger crock of stink than your earlier posts!! Absolutely NO ONE believes your last post. Yes, I’m sure you have your Masters in Remedial Studies. LMAO. Anyone can read your prior posts and absolutely KNOW that you’re an idiot. So, saying that you have a Masters Degree from UGA just puts the school down even more. What a tool!
dawgfan
November 28th, 2010
11:23 am
Al, don’t engage them in their childish little “I’m better than you” pizzing contests. Just point at the scoreboard and laugh at them. They think they are so clever in pretending not to care, but the pain and agony is evident. Like the clowns that they are, they are crying like little girls on the inside.
OWNED
Al
November 28th, 2010
11:24 am
Do I care if anyone believes me? Especially a loser like you. A “tool?” What kinda tool can I be little 10 year old? 9 of 10, still makes me laugh. Unreal.