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
BradleyisaBulldogHomer
November 27th, 2010
11:46 pm
Do you Bulldog fans really think your team is deserving of a bowl bid? If so, y’all need serious help.
Paul's Johnson
November 27th, 2010
11:46 pm
The game was a microcosm of our entire season. Too many turnovers, mediocre defense, and just plain awful special teams. And yet we were in it until the end. I don’t believe in moral victories. A loss is still a loss. What you’re seeing out of a lot of Dawg nation is more relief than elation. You’re right, Mark. We’ve got to get better players. We can’t count on Bulldog coaching deficiencies to make up for talent gap.
dawgfan
November 27th, 2010
11:47 pm
Oh here we go again. Poor ole Georgia Tech just can’t get a fair shake in this life. They didn’t get beat. They were just “outmanned.” Is there a column in the record books for “outmanned” Bradley? I’m not sure there is. There is a W column and an L column. Johnson and his wonderful coaching ended up in the L column. That’s all that should matter. No excuses necessary Bradley.
We must have been watching a different game. I saw Johnson and his wonderful offense with the ball late in a close big game with a chance to win. I was immediately reminded of our game with them last year and their game with Iowa. And just like in those games Johnson the mad genius and his brilliant offense did JACK DIDDLY SQUAT. The guy is the most overrated coach in football. Lose and he’s hailed as a hero? Simply unbelievable.
Dr. J
November 27th, 2010
11:47 pm
A great moral victory and great coaching job by CPJ. Tech should be proud of this LOSS!
alumoGA
November 27th, 2010
11:47 pm
How did you type all that with your lips puckered to CPJ’s backside? WOW
Ole Ball Fan
November 27th, 2010
11:47 pm
Hey Burgess – Ok If I leave an extra dumpster this by the steet on Friday? Or are you greeting this week?
GT79
November 27th, 2010
11:47 pm
tech sucks – I hope your parents monitor your comments on here and put you in time out, son. Class is something that you show in wins and losses…..learn that please
Techbuzz
November 27th, 2010
11:48 pm
The last 6 minutes of this game was EXACTLY the complete summary of Tech entire season, from the fumbled pitch, the missed extra point and the absolute, no words to describe Tech’s last series? I have no idea what the hell that was? Tevin Washington needs to grow a pair to play in big boy football. You don’t get scared and run frantically in the WRONG direction when the game is one the line against your in-state rival.
GT24
November 27th, 2010
11:48 pm
Proud of the effort! The execution, not so much. The future is bright GT fans
bart
November 27th, 2010
11:48 pm
FIRE GRANTHAM NOW!!!!!!!
BradleyisaBulldogHomer
November 27th, 2010
11:48 pm
If Georgia runs this state, I think we should all head to Canada. That defense couldn’t stop a Pee Wee team.
Dawg in gatorville
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
Tech played a heck of a game. UGA was lucky and that is all this Dawg fan has to say.
Bob
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
Congratulations to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. They broke the D-1 record for most all-time MORAL VICTORIES tonight. You guys should put it on that sign on the connector, right there with your 1917 “national championship.”
Georgia Tech=JOKE.
Burgess
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
If CPJ is a BCS D1 head coach , the woods are full of them.
Hurt Kurbstreit
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
Well, I guess that the Georgia defense made a couple of stops when it had to. But only a couple of stops at the end of the game when Tech had to pass. If Tech had a little more time at the end they could have run the ball and scored. When will UGA ever get a defense? The Georgia offense looks good but AJ Green will bolt for the NFL next year and someone will have to step up. Durham is gone too.
Gordon
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
If I were a Georgia fan I would be bragging, too. They won the game. But you have to be pretty stupid to talk about a “high school offense” when you just gave up 500 yards.
We had to be +1 or +2 on turnovers, and we were even. But I’m proud of my team.
realist
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
Same story, tenth verse. Nothing has changed at GT sorry to say.
Can’t say I think the near future is bright.
BradleyisaBulldogHomer
November 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
I can’t believe ESPN put those 2 pathetic teams on national television. That was comical.
Ole Ball Fan
November 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
Dawgfan – Are you hoping you tenth best coaching staff in the SEC goes to Miami?
WE STILL OWN TECH
November 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
Hey bradleyisabulldoghomer! does tech deserve a bowl bid? you just got beat again! by the dawgs!
Burgess
November 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
The sad thing is, there will NEVER be a QB that can throw the football sign with Tech.
Shreveport Sam
November 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
yellow jacket fans—come on down to shreveport—we’ve got the coldest PBR in louisiana and some of the prettiest women this side of the mississippi. Hurry and book that motel 6 by the freeway—it goes fast!
Brian
November 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
tech sucks – GT79 is right, you need to show some class and while you are at it use spellcheck. As a UGA fan you are as embarrasing as the team. We are still a bunch of thugs and everyone should get ready for Richt to go to Miami. In case you drunks didn’t know Miami has a coaching vacancy.
Glory Glory
November 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!! BEES LOSE!!!
dawgfan
November 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
Who owns the D-1 record for most moral victories all-time? The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets of course.
Congrats nerds on this tremendous accomplishment.
Bad Bruce
November 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
Mark Richt will never lose to Georgia Tech again.
BradleyisaBulldogHomer
November 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
I sure hope CSS doesn’t show replay that game. I will cancel my Cable subscription. Hard to tell who was the worst team. Saint Richt was too busy working the refs.
yellow fuzz
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
once again we put up a GREAT game for the public..nice to see the best team won
..
marietta dawg
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
This is the stupidest article I’ve read all football season. No matter how heroic one tries to paint the picture, Tech lost tonight and has lost nine out of the last ten meetings. That statistic is monumental.
Tech Man
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
Man..the game was lost because of a pat miss!!!! Uga could not stop us..Allen ran over 160 yards and we had over 500 yards and we still lost!!!! and we did with a QB with 3 starts!! uga sucks
Burgess
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
Now Tech will go to a bowl game and lose again. Give a decent college staff a month to prepare for the micky mouse/high school offense and they’ll stop it….just like Iowa did last year.
atltiger15
November 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
sad thing is tech didnt need a qb to throw to make you dawg fans clean those skid marks in your underwear. They lined it up and kicked that butt up and down the field and missed an extra point
same stuff different year
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
Hey Burgess, quit whining about Johnson throwing the kids under the bus, the PLAYERS had the chance to make things happen and they didn’t, end of story, the last time I checked Johnson didnt fumble twice inside the UGA 20 and miss the extra point…
Chick
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
Tech man – show some class in a losing effort. Sore loses are worse than bad winners.
dawgfan
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
Ole Ball Fan, what does it matter to you? Tech would still get its azzes handed to them every year if they were at Miami. Techies better hope Richt goes to Colorado or something.
BradleyisaBulldogHomer
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
I guess the glory days are back for the Bulldog Nation. That win and the mighty victory over that powerhouse Idaho State team will be the building blocks for the future of Thuga football. Crank up the Soldier Boy and buy those Red Panties.
WE STILL OWN TECH
November 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
HEY GORDON AND OLD BALL FAN, YOUR STAFF IS 1 AND 2 AGANIST OURS. WE STILL RUN THIS STATE AND ALWAYS WILL!
Bagwell
November 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
And after the game, and after all these hateful comments, we’ll all get up and go to church tomorrow. God is good, but if he reads some of these posts, I bet he won’t be very happy. Both teams played well, and UGA is to be congratulated. Enjoy your victory, Dawgs, but don’t lose your friends or your salvation over a game, OK?
yellow fuzz
November 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
BradleyisaBulldogHomer.just to make sure you are clear on this..TECH fans hate you almost as much as Dawgs fans don’t know you exist .
Burgess
November 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
I’d rather see that offense on Friday nights at my local high school. I’d like to see some big boy football on Saturday.
You know, one where you can actually throw a football 10 yards downfield.
saint simon
November 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
Congrats dogs, you just gave up 500 yards to a freshman BACKUP QB…
Billy Jack
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Burgess stole my post…..
I was impressed with GT...
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
I am a Georgia State grad but favor UGA quite a bit.
However, the team with a future did not win tonight. The team with no future did.
Hey McGarity.. See what Miami did…. Please consider this after another bad year next year.
At least fire the OC Dumbo!
JacketGuy
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
If “We run this state” means “we still pick up the trash and deliver your pizzas”, then yes, you run this state.
Don’t forget to pick up my recyclables Monday morning.
Paul in RDU
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
If a decent college staff can shut down GT’s offense if they have an off week before playing them, what does that say about Grantham?
mark u dummy
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
mark its not about the coach u dum dum..its about the team and their result. Its dawgs again ok? like 9 of last 10 yah hear?????????
dawgfan
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Richt: 9-1 vs. Joke by Coke.
Richt: 2-1 vs. The New Sheriff In Town Paul “Manboobs” Johnson
Please Techies, show us all your superior intelligence by running your mouths about Mark Richt. We need a good laugh.
still a dawg fan
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
Whatever coach called that running play on our last TD should be fired tonight.We didn’t need a td all we had to do was take a knee & run the clock out but instead our wonderful coaching staff thought it would be fun to give GT a chance to tie the game. Although we won that call was a COACHING BLUNDER. Why give them another chance,we had not stopped them all night.Our no talent defense gave up approx 420 yards on the ground.We looked clueless most of the time trying to stop that high school offense but when you have high school defense those thing will happen.We won but disappointed in our coaching stall tonight.We had 2 weeks to prepare & that’s the best we can do.
Billy Jack DAWG
November 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
The Miami job is open. Mark have you got your bags packed?
saint simon
November 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
500 yards to a high school offense… LOL.