Georgia Tech is no longer untested, but it’s still undefeated
The biggest play: Roddy Jones down the sideline. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Georgia Tech hadn’t been tested, so it decided to test itself. It watched North Carolina score three second-half touchdowns and override a 14-point deficit, and suddenly serious stuff had arisen. The nation’s No. 25 team was tied at home, 7:22 to play.
“We thought we’d try to make a game a little more exciting,” Paul Johnson would say afterward, half-smiling but not nearly laughing. That said …
Johnson mightn’t have enjoyed every detail of this game — the two turnovers, the missed field-goal attempt, the never-ending run of lousy special-teams play, the dropped touchdown pass by the otherwise ascendant Stephen Hill, even his own loss of fourth-and-1 nerve — but he had to be tickled by its outcome. A coach can’t know about his team until it’s forced to make plays for the express purpose of game-winning, and Johnson’s Jackets aced that exam.
Tied with 7:22 remaining, Tech led with 5:20 to go. Nice kickoff return, long Roddy Jones run down the sideline — shades of Sanford Stadium, November 2008 — and a Tevin Washington duck-in touchdown. No poor pitchouts or muffed catches here. Just two minutes of precision at the moment precision was required.
“I’m kind of glad it happened this way,” Hill said. “It shows the team it’s not going to be easy.”
Tech’s first three games had been varying degrees of days at the beach. It hadn’t trailed since the Independence Bowl. It hadn’t failed to lead 7-0 after its first snap. It was amassing silly numbers even by Johnson’s standards, but you knew full well that September wouldn’t pass without silliness yielding to cold reality. Reality arrived Saturday wearing powder blue.
North Carolina isn’t a great team, but it takes football seriously enough to have committed so many indiscretions it was impelled to vacate two years’ worth of victories. The Tar Heels seized the lead here, forcing Tech to react, and sure enough Tech scored 28 of the next 35 points. But then Al Groh’s defense, which had limited Carolina to 30 yards over the final 27 minutes of the first half, started to perform like the Tech D we’ve come to know and bemoan, and the usually roaring Tech offense wasn’t quite at high tide.
Which sounds strange, given that the Jackets finished with 35 points and 496 yards. But when you enter averaging 59.3 points and 675.3 yards, you’ve set an impossible standard. Matched finally against an opponent capable of punching back, Tech missed just enough chances to keep this close.
Said Johnson: “We’ll have to look at the tape and clean up the stuff we didn’t do great, and there’s a bunch of it.”
A bunch? Not really. But enough to render this the Jackets’ first close game of 2011. And even after the go-ahead-to-stay surge, Tech couldn’t run out the clock. Carolina got the ball and one final chance. Would Groh’s defenders go belly-up?
Nope. Tech halted the Heels before they could draw close enough to throw into the end zone. The defense incapable of making any plays last season made several this time — linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu had three sacks, including one on the game’s final snap — and that’s an upgrade.
“Thirty-five [points] is better than 28,” said Johnson, voicing a familiar and incontrovertible theme. “That’s what I was pleased with.”
There was, however, a single greater point: We’d seen how sleek Tech could look against token opposition, but against the Heels we saw it being forced to make plays — and then making them. No team scores 66 every given Saturday, and the rest of the schedule will resemble more of what we saw in Week 4 than in Weeks 1-3. This outcome should give the Jackets even deeper faith in themselves.
And there’s hay to be made in this conference. Nobody looks impregnable. The Jackets don’t play Florida State, and they’ll get Clemson and Virginia Tech here.
“Our goal is always to win the ACC championship,” Washington said, and a month ago those words might have sounded fanciful. Four victories later, this season bears the look of a real opportunity. Tech has positioned itself to do something, and that’s all you can reap from any September.
By Mark Bradley
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368 comments Add your comment
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
5:47 pm
Same lame insults from the same lame posters. Would love to talk football but apparently posting insults is more to their liking.
Really?
September 24th, 2011
5:48 pm
Why do you think they pair the 2nd best team in the ACC with the 5th or 6th best team in the SEC in the Chick Fil A bowl each year? They want it to be competitive and the SEC wins 8 out of team with our low ranked teams against the best of the ACC every year.
How did UGA do?
September 24th, 2011
5:50 pm
LOL. SEC SEC SEC!? right? That’s all the dawgs have going for them right now.
Here’s a tissue, little girl. Hahaha I love it. Your juicy, delicious tears sustain me…
Really?
September 24th, 2011
5:50 pm
How did UGA Do? Tech sucks, their fans suck, their conference sucks, their facilities suck and most of all their schedule sucks. Have fun adding the mighty Pittsburgh and Syrancuse to your already pitiful conference while the SEC adds the #8 team in the nation Texas A and M, and will probably steal Virgina Tech and Clemson from the Awful Coast Conference.
Vince Dooley
September 24th, 2011
5:51 pm
It is all my fault Dawg fans.
No sense in blaming Tech people for my huge mistake hiring Ray Goof.
And to make it worse, I added Donnan to my bad hire list before Adams added Richt.
Other SEC schools like hated Florida, LSU, Bama and now Auburn have their BSC titles and we have none since Herchel.
I’m sorry.
It’s all my fault.
Really?
September 24th, 2011
5:52 pm
Yeah Dooley recommended Bill Lewis to Tech too. LOL
Really?
September 24th, 2011
5:53 pm
I bet by the time Tech plays UGA, UGA will be 9-2 or 8-3. Tech will be the same.
ramblingbuzz
September 24th, 2011
5:54 pm
Really….you only scored 27 on Ole Miss? Really? Wait till Vandy gets thru with your bottom tier SEC butts.
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
September 24th, 2011
5:54 pm
Who cares what Mark Bradley has to say about Ga Tech!!!! Go cover the redneck team in Athens.
Go Jackets!!!!
Luke
September 24th, 2011
5:54 pm
Bringing this blog back to the topic at hand, Tech didn’t look too bad. Few mistakes here and there (which is only imaginable when you start conference play). Special teams still scares me, but I was actually really impressed with the defense. The coverage was decent, and they never had a huge pass over the top. Jones is just a good receiver who is going to get his yards, as was their RB, who will be a stud at UNC. Nothing that can’t be looked over and corrected before we head out to Raleigh.
Good win today guys. Win is a win. Starting to be a great season!
How did UGA do?
September 24th, 2011
5:54 pm
Really?
I’m glad I caught your comment before I left. Enjoy your descent into irrelevance. 4* and 5* recruits, yet annual disappointment. Every year it’s “DAWGS 20** NATIONAL CHAMPS”…yet every year you get disappointed.
Sucks being a dawg where you have to rely on the accomplishments of your conference mates to give yourself relevance….
I’m running out of tissues for you, btw…
voice of truth
September 24th, 2011
5:55 pm
Ya know all you UGA/SEC homos need to go find another place to play,,why do you insist on saying really stupid things on a Ga Tech blog ,,you sound like a bunch of mega losers,,you really do,,I have to be honest because I am the voice of truth,,now come on and say something really embarrassing and stupid,,don’t let me down Gomer,,
Really?
September 24th, 2011
5:55 pm
Hey Tech fans. Just giving you all a hard time. Good luck the rest of the year. I hope when Tech and UGA play each other in late November they are both ranked high. That would be nice wouldn’t it? I real game that pits two of the best?
Any way, congrats on the great start. Have a great rest of the season.
Oh, and GO DAWGS. lol
Actually
September 24th, 2011
5:56 pm
Uga would be 3-1
ramblingbuzz
September 24th, 2011
5:56 pm
REALLY think I’m somebody when I can troll on a GT blog spouting nonsense.
How did UGA do?
September 24th, 2011
5:57 pm
LOL Really?
You hath trolled successfully. I am impressed. Here’s to UGA and GT playing their best when they face each other in November.
Go Jacets!
MalibuGT
September 24th, 2011
5:57 pm
I’m not sure what’s better – being 4-0 or seeing the Ugag trolls on the blog talking trash! good luck, i know you’ll need it when you aren’t playing coastal carolina or ole miss. see ya in November!
off to music midtown, go jackets! THWG!
Steve Spurrier
September 24th, 2011
5:58 pm
What is it with Georgia that all I have to do is show up and whoever I’m coaching against the Dawgs gets a win?
Now I can even beat them with South Carolina, a team that used to have no chance against Georgia.
Man I’m good.
Actually
September 24th, 2011
5:59 pm
No you wont be ranked. Not even close. Miss st tenn and uf will beat you along with GT. Just go back to loserville a holes
Actually
September 24th, 2011
6:00 pm
So true steve. Go to vandy next. That will be a real laugher!
Really?
September 24th, 2011
6:01 pm
How did UGA do?
Had to let you know, when you have 2 brother in laws and a nephew both graduates of Tech, along with most of my wife’s family being Tech fans, I am pretty geard for the Tech/UGA discussions. LOL. Do you want to know when it get really bad, when UGA plays Auburn, where my wife graduated from, 2 years after I graduated from UGA. Hey, good luck guys, and see ya on the UGA blogs. lol
RICH
September 24th, 2011
6:03 pm
REMEMBER GA TECH 4 NAT CHAMP.GA 1 OH EXCUSE ME GA 0 HERSHAL WALKER 1
view from the east
September 24th, 2011
6:05 pm
No mattre how bad the smell from Athens may be; they have to come on this web site and never anything positive to say. The simple truth is 4-0 versus 2-2. who are the two wins against? Lot easier to say bad things against another team than face the truth; Georgia starts each year under its current coach playing for the National Championship and falls terribly short.
Really?
September 24th, 2011
6:06 pm
Rich, be serious. You had the shared one in 1990 and nothing else dating to the 50’s. UGA and TECH both suck for National Championships.
ToeMeetsLeather
September 24th, 2011
6:10 pm
Holy cow, the parents go out to eat and all these UGAG middle schoolers get on their parents computer. Go away kids.
Special teams still need some work, covering the middle of the field on the short pass routes remains a major problem, but overall, a pretty good effort. Offense showed a lot of heart when UNC tied it up. 4-0 baby!
Rolling Along
September 24th, 2011
6:15 pm
Streak is still alive for this offense…. Well sort of. Georgia Southern first play from scrimmage against Western Carolina-TD… 7-0
Really…… Do something constructive. Get up and clean up the single wide or something.
stiggywiggy
September 24th, 2011
6:16 pm
Hey, “Really:” We Tech fans are open-minded. Tell us all about that first division one victory today over the doormat of the SEC West. So here’s your headline, Really:
SEC EAST DOORMAT SQUEAKS BY SEC WEST DOORMAT
Rodney Dangerfield
September 24th, 2011
6:18 pm
Good win against UNC, almost gave me a heart attack in the end. It would have been a pity to lose a game you basically controlled. Dumb mistakes need to be corrected or we lose to the likes of Clemson, VT, and UGA.
Lewis Grizzard
September 24th, 2011
6:18 pm
Hey, Really. Give it up, bubba. I was somewhat funny. You suck.
Coach Mark Richt
September 24th, 2011
6:19 pm
Can I stay now?
Hector
September 24th, 2011
6:19 pm
What a idiot for Ok state. Worse than hills drop by far
Tech Guy
September 24th, 2011
6:21 pm
So Vanderbilt is 23 points better than Ole Miss while the mighty whimpering dawgs are all of 14 points better than Ole Miss. Looks like the Vandy Doors are about twice as good as the lame ass dawgs.
Buck Belue
September 24th, 2011
6:22 pm
But, but…. I won us a national championship just a little over three decades ago. OK, so it’s the only one we got after playing football for 130 years, but still. We have more than Tulane.
Mike Moonpie Wilson
September 24th, 2011
6:24 pm
Hey, Cowboy Parrish…., how does this contraption work? What does “submit” mean?
CABBAGE10101
September 24th, 2011
6:24 pm
Digdawger, keep it about football and remember that kids read this. Your comment only serves to show your ignorance and lack of class. We can have our fun without these types of comments. I believe any Jacket or Dog fan with any class would agree.
Get Real
September 24th, 2011
6:28 pm
Hey, yearofthedawg…..who’s the “good” team you all beat? Coastal Carolina or Ole Miss?..Trying to figure that one out.
CABBAGE10101
September 24th, 2011
6:30 pm
Hey digdawger, your comments are uncalled for. Remember that kids read this stuff and your comment shows a total lack of class and intelligence, and would embaresss any Tech or Ga fan. If thats nthe best you got, ask for an extra shiff at Taco Bell where your cleaning of the restrooms is of some use.
Ekim
September 24th, 2011
6:31 pm
UGA trolls deserve to die.
smitty
September 24th, 2011
6:32 pm
FIX the kicking game NOW……i know tech is scoring a lot of points but the kicking game WILL matter in the VT and clemson games, count on it……..and any other big game after that………tackle better……….teach tevin to be more careful in the passing game when receivers are actually defended……Ie, make better decisions on when to pass into traffic…..hill, et al, will not be wide open all the time…….work on the blocks outside on the corners…….missed way too many of those…….lost yards and yards on rushing offense with poor outside blocking……….tackle better…….try a reverse every now and then when facing a team with a great defense with great pursuit like NC’s……….and remember to give the damn ball to orwin……..go jackets
How bout them BEES!
September 24th, 2011
6:34 pm
If class and character were dynamite, UGA fans would be a sparkler.
CABBAGE10101
September 24th, 2011
6:35 pm
Digdawger is a real class act. Kids read this stuff and he cannot submit an intelligent comment, only public bathroom graffiti.
Dawg'88
September 24th, 2011
6:36 pm
“no longer untested”?
LOL!LOL!LOL!
Good one Bark Madley. UNC is now a test in the football world…or were you thinking it was a basektball game in the ACC. Don’t confuse UNC’s prowess on the court with its ineptness on the gridiron.
A test? Please!
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
September 24th, 2011
6:39 pm
Really?
September 24th, 2011
6:06 pm
Rich, be serious. You had the shared one in 1990 and nothing else dating to the 50’s. UGA and TECH both suck for National Championships.
Correction my friend……. We earned that National Championship. Colorado cheated their way to a mythical NC buddy!!!!!
Rise and Fall of the 3rd Richt
September 24th, 2011
6:40 pm
same ole inbreds on here feeling assured with a big win over a sorry @ss ole miss team, ready to start running their uneducated ignorant moronic mouths cause they are dogdewdew fans….and since the dewdews won a game that makes them the truth …bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, drinking that koolaid again imbeciles
Brent
September 24th, 2011
6:40 pm
Mark Bradley – The level of competition will hardly be more comparable to UNC in the upcoming weeks. In the next three games, we face NCST, Maryland, and UVA. That’s really closer to the Kansas level of competition than North Carolina level.
Rise and Fall of the 3rd Richt
September 24th, 2011
6:41 pm
nothing but DOG DEWDEWS ON HERE…anyone get past the 10th grade? anyone of you even know where Mississippi is? keep drinking the koolaid
Gt/Fl footbal fan
September 24th, 2011
6:42 pm
What the heck are you talking about really? n carolina has a better team than you. Do you guys have 2 defensive ends that will be in the top ten and a defensive tackle that will be in the first round. North carolina is the best defensive line that we’ll face all year.
Burma Shave
September 24th, 2011
6:44 pm
Tech is a real school
UGA players are dopes
Richt recruits thugs
And shatters fans’ hopes
BURMA SHAVE
Gt/Fl footbal fan
September 24th, 2011
6:45 pm
Georgia does have a good d-line, but n carolina’s d-line is great. Plus they have 2 linebacker’s that could also go in the first round, and a receiver that will go in the 2nd round. Georgia wouldn’t beat North Carolina.
Truth is a b*tch, ain't it!
September 24th, 2011
6:48 pm
Just for the UGA homers who are desperately looking for a face-saving out in the argument about academic requirements: Industrial Management at Tech is far more difficult than any degree program that any UGA student – athlete or otherwise – is enrolled in. I’m talking about heavy technical subjects like calculus, physics, chemistry, not the remedial studies fluff that UGA goons take (and usually fail – case study is Caleb King).
The football factory in Athens is a pathetic embarrassment to all Georgians.
And a note to the AJC: Ask Mark Richt about that 73.5% special admit rate (i.e., dumbasses who can barely read and who will spend four years in remedial studies) and the average SAT scores for his recruits. That should be an interesting answer.