Live from Tech-UNC: Will first-play lightning strike yet again?
Exhibit C: Tech's first snap last week. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
I’m not in the habit of constructing game plans — I would never ever venture to give highly paid coaches any advice, heh heh — but I offer one piece of advice for North Carolina’s Everett Withers:
On the first Georgia Tech snap, have your men back up 30 yards.
The way I see it, it’s better to yield a chunk of yardage that a touchdown.
As we know, Tech has scored on its first play of every game this season, which is about to conclude its first month. Against Western Carolina, it was a 5-yard toss sweep. (Turnover set it up.) Against Middle Tennessee, it was a 73-yard touchdown pass. Against Kansas, it was the 95-yard counter by Orwin Smith.
Aggregate time of possession on Tech’s first series of Games 1-3: Thirty-four seconds.
Aggregate number of points on Tech’s first series of Games 1-3: Twenty-one.
Today’s titanic tilt comes billed as Tech’s first test, which it is, kind of. But Carolina isn’t exactly a convincing 3-0. It overrode five turnovers in Week 2 to beat Rutgers, and in Week 3 it was outgained by Virginia, which has won one conference game in two seasons. (Both games were in Chapel Hill, FYI.)
I like Tech by at least 10 points today — the Vegas line is GT by a TD — but I offer this caveat: Even if the Tar Heels win on the scoreboard, there’s no guarantee it’ll stick. As you’ve doubtless heard, Carolina is in the habit of forfeiting victories.
On that cheery note, the floor is again open for questions, comments and thoughts on the choking Braves. (What’s that? They’re three games up? Never mind.) I’ll be here until the last touchdown is scored, and I welcome your company. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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810 comments Add your comment
all atl.teams r losers
September 24th, 2011
12:21 pm
you think???
all atl.teams r losers
September 24th, 2011
12:22 pm
lowe is not the problem ,cant win if u only get 2 hits
all atl.teams r losers
September 24th, 2011
12:23 pm
ga.tech is asleep will score a td on this drive
BANK ON IT
GDBurdell
September 24th, 2011
12:23 pm
HAHAHA tek goes for the fg, that means UNC is for real (and that tek is irrelavent)
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:25 pm
Nice pressure Tech!!!!
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:25 pm
………….
Steve
September 24th, 2011
12:25 pm
“All ATL teams R Losers” are you kidding? Lowe is not the problem? Check his stats smarty.
Billy
September 24th, 2011
12:25 pm
D looking better…
GD u funny.
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:26 pm
Sack and forced fumble by Attaochu. But Carolina recovers and punts.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:26 pm
Ole Miss scored on their first play, called back on a penalty
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:26 pm
Braves make the playoffs ,can u guys at least have a sellout for a playoff game?i doubt it
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:27 pm
Ole Miss now driving
GDBurdell
September 24th, 2011
12:27 pm
Is anybody still watching this…
Billy
September 24th, 2011
12:28 pm
sell out are not..winning is what counts.
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:28 pm
steve
check your stats genius relieves have blown 13 saves this year……GENIUS
BTW IN LOWE STARTS,TEAM HAS SCORED 2.6 RUNS /GAME GENIUS
Tech Rules
September 24th, 2011
12:28 pm
So what great city are you from, “GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN”?
Steve
September 24th, 2011
12:28 pm
“GA Teams will never win” do me a favor and check the attendance for the Braves two home playoff games last year.
Steve
September 24th, 2011
12:28 pm
And Lowe’s ERA is???????????
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:28 pm
Orwin Smith for 36 yards on toss right.
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:29 pm
Tech’s getting it going.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:29 pm
GD why are you here instead of the Schultz blog???????????? Orwin Smith down the sidelines!
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:29 pm
sack for uga…ole miss punts
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:30 pm
BILLY
WINNING?LOL SINCE 1995 ?LOL HAVE NOT WON A 1ST ROUND SINCE 2001 ,MLK IS DEAD AND SO IS YOUR DREAM,LOL
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:30 pm
I say as Jones is tackled for a 4-yard loss.
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:30 pm
Great catch by Hill. One-handed leaping snag. First down.
Billy
September 24th, 2011
12:31 pm
Great catch
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:31 pm
AH ya gotta love sticky fingers!!!!!!!!!!
mmgtfan
September 24th, 2011
12:31 pm
Atta boy Stephen Hill
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:31 pm
johnson crying and moaning again..great catch by hill,,very bad throw by washington
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:32 pm
AND WHERE IS HANSON,JJ?LOSERS,DONT WORRY HAVE ANOTHER DRINK IM SURE LOWE IS
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:32 pm
That’s a catch
Steve
September 24th, 2011
12:32 pm
So the rotation in the first round will be Hudson, Beachy, and Lowe? Good, OK, and terrbile.
19
September 24th, 2011
12:32 pm
Did they not practice tackling technique this past week? (kind of thought they would after 1st half against Kansas) Or is UNC O-line that big?
GT fan
September 24th, 2011
12:32 pm
What a catch!
Steve
September 24th, 2011
12:32 pm
*terrible.
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:33 pm
NO TD HERE WHO WANTS TO BET??
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:33 pm
Quarter ends. But I believe rules stipulate that three more will be upcoming.
GT fan
September 24th, 2011
12:33 pm
Now it’s time to pound them. We will wear out their defense and by the second half, there will be the 60-80 yard runs like last week.
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:34 pm
BILLY
ITS YOUR DREAM WHEN U SAID WINNING,WINNING WHAT?CANT EVEN MAKE IT OUT THE 1ST ROUND
O-me
September 24th, 2011
12:34 pm
Braves baseball is on DOB blog…
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:34 pm
two plays for uga and 40 somthing yards
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:35 pm
GT FAN
LOL,R U DRINKING LIKE LOWE IS?OR U HANGING AT HOOTERS LIKE CHIPPER?
GT fan
September 24th, 2011
12:35 pm
Our offense is nearly unstoppable with a passing attack.
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:36 pm
uga driving..uga freshman avg 8 yards a pop
Billy
September 24th, 2011
12:36 pm
I agree on Braves and being 1st round joke..maybe with BC gone it will be different this time around. If not to he!! with’em
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:36 pm
Braves baseball is everywhere,like your teacher said read the blog again….genius
another excellant education in ga
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:37 pm
SACK
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:37 pm
Washington dropped on second down. Throws to no one on third. FG attempt is …
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:38 pm
thaT PASSING ATTACK? HAHA YOU DONT HAVE A PASSING ATTACK
mmgtfan
September 24th, 2011
12:38 pm
SLOT WAS WIDE OPEN!!