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
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:38 pm
wide left
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:38 pm
CHOKERS FG AGAIN U OWE ME SOME MONEY
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:38 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAAHHAAHHAAHA CHOKERS
Al
September 24th, 2011
12:38 pm
I thought this kicker was on scholly? that was terrible.
Billy
September 24th, 2011
12:39 pm
Johnson is hot..and Mark wises he was somewhere else…….
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:39 pm
he was running for his life and couldnt see him
Billy
September 24th, 2011
12:39 pm
Johnson is hot..and Mark wishes he was somewhere else…….
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:40 pm
IF GATECH PLAYERS QUIT DRINKING THEY WIN THIS GAME,GO BETWEEN THE LINES ALL YOU WANT,CANT EXECUTE IN RED ZONE ,IN THE CLUTCH,ASK THE BRAVES ABOUT THAT
Ken Sugiura
September 24th, 2011
12:40 pm
the game is playing out like everett withers was hoping – managing tech possessions. field goals instead of touchdowns. lot of game to play, though.
Lea
September 24th, 2011
12:41 pm
I really don’t understand why UGA fans are on this blog. If you are such fans of your team shouldn’t you be on the live blog dedicated to your team?
If Tech is so inconsequential, why are you wasting your energy on this blog?
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:41 pm
What happens we u r hungover from the nite before
19
September 24th, 2011
12:41 pm
Have to shut down the run! NOW!
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:42 pm
bet tech wishes they could play kansas about 8 more times
GA TEAMES WILL NEVER WIN
September 24th, 2011
12:42 pm
unc is legit,this is not chico state u guys r playing
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:43 pm
Al Groh has Carolina confused. The Heels thought he was still at Virginia.
GO TECH
September 24th, 2011
12:43 pm
this is where we always seem to give up some bonehead play for a first down. let’s hold them for a change.
Billy
September 24th, 2011
12:44 pm
UGA up 3-0
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:44 pm
uga shuts down a gimmick play.
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:45 pm
What u expect?a bowout like last week?PLEASE
GO TECH
September 24th, 2011
12:45 pm
Groh usually played unc close. The offense has to call better plays to score tds and i beleive they will as the unc def wears down
GO TECH
September 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
That a way. Nice job. Now let’s get a goo dreturn
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
Tech forces three-and-out.
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
uga has another sack..ole miss on their own 5
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
who cares about uga?
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
Blocked punt.
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
Tech has ball at Carolina 22.
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:47 pm
mark
bet they dont score a td
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:47 pm
Looks like Tech is settling down
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:47 pm
2nd and 5
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:47 pm
nesbitt would have scored there..washington is just too weak..big heart..just weak
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:48 pm
3rd and long again
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:48 pm
3rd down another choke coming bring on the fg…….AGAIN
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:48 pm
First and goal
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:48 pm
1st and goal
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:48 pm
NICE RUN
TechMom77
September 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
Smelling the end zone……..
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
Turnover. Bad pitch.
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
orwin is techs only hope..tech cant get anyhting inside
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
Damn
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
TOLD YOU CHOKERS
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
love this offense….turnover waiting to happen,.,
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
Weak Washington pitch. Never got to Peeples
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:50 pm
HAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
TechMom77
September 24th, 2011
12:50 pm
D will step up……
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:50 pm
look for a qb change later on
Ken Sugiura
September 24th, 2011
12:50 pm
two big momentum plays for tech, can’t take advantage.
ACC IS NO.1
September 24th, 2011
12:50 pm
QUIT DRINKING PLEASE
atl xmen
September 24th, 2011
12:50 pm
meanwhile…uga driving again on ole miss,,,the freshmen went for 16
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
12:51 pm
Carolina punts.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:51 pm
D’s picking up