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
GTwrekfan
September 24th, 2011
6:50 pm
Enter your comments here
GTwrekfan
September 24th, 2011
6:52 pm
Hmmmm…I know math is hard for you UGA fans, but I will try to simplify…You see when someone says you are 2-2 it means that you have lost two games and won two games…When someone says Ga Tech is 4-0 it means we have won 4 games and lost none…Hopefully you can get the dip spit off of your laptop long enough to read this…
Paddy
September 24th, 2011
7:01 pm
Nothing worth reading on this blog people, just move on, nothing to read here!
Gator
September 24th, 2011
7:02 pm
as a gator fan i gotta say tech is the truth! all these georgia fans are jealous because we beat the crap out of them every year and tech is the best team in georgia!
Rise and Fall of the 3rd Richt
September 24th, 2011
7:02 pm
hey dog inbreds, go back over to that goober blog where the writer looks like he eats 2 dozen donuts a day and rides a walmart scooter around everywhere because he is too lazy to lean over and touch his toes
just saying
September 24th, 2011
7:10 pm
wow Paddy upset there is nothing to read on this blog, but yet he does troll it..in fact, one would think Paddy would actually go out of his room and go see a game in person but he can’t because he has to take command of all the ajc blogs 24/7
G
September 24th, 2011
7:10 pm
The ACC is joke
Bosie Dog
September 24th, 2011
7:11 pm
Ole Miss = one of the best team in …………..the worst state the the country. Mississippi!
George Stein
September 24th, 2011
7:19 pm
The ACC is.undefeated against the SEC this year, G.
gt45
September 24th, 2011
7:23 pm
Some mistakes, but very impressive. Go Jackets
It's no longer untested, but Georgia Tech is still undefeated | Mark … : GEA News
September 24th, 2011
7:33 pm
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[...] Georgia Tech is no longer untested, but it’s still undefeated [...]
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September 24th, 2011
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[...] Original post: It's no longer untested, but Georgia Tech is still undefeated | Mark … [...]
Simon Bar Sinister
September 24th, 2011
7:54 pm
I think it’s significant that Tech can make as many mistakes as they did today and still win. There may be better teams on the schedule, but Tech should play a better game.
Neither FSU nor Clemson looked that good today. Maryland looked horrible, and they beat Miami.
Don’t you Georgia fans think North Carolina is a significantly better team that Ole Miss? Aren’t you bothered by your team’s inability to score? Do you need to post here to feel better about your own team’s poor play?
86Dawg
September 24th, 2011
7:57 pm
Nice win today by GT. Though I’m a UGA grad, my son is a freshman at Tech now, so his mom and I left the red & black at home and went by B&N at Tech Square and geared up to show our support on Family Weekend. They even gladly took my UGA debit card for the $200 worth of merch, though I did get a few ribs from the locals in line behind me.
The Jackets looked really good offensively, did seem a little shaky on D. They’ll keep improving each week though…Paul Johnson really is a great coach. Thanksgiving weekend should be a good matchup. Other than that weekend I’ll be pulling for the Jackets (always have, btw, even when I was in school in Athens 30 years ago…most UGA GRADS (not casual fans, actual GRADS) have always had a healthy respect for Tech, despite what a lot of people might like to paint in these anonymous forums).
But, I have to say – it really is a odd to me that Tech doesn’t sell out all these games. Gorgeous Saturday, perfect weather, great environment, good matchup. This isn’t a knock or an insult, just an observation.
Part of the reason, IMO, is that Tech fandom is definitely a bit of an elitist club of sorts, dominated by actual grads and not casual local fans who probably don’t latch onto the team as easily as they do UGA.
But come on, there has to be more to it than that; a metro population with 4 million+ is there waiting to be drawn; how can the casual non-UGA and non-Tech grad in the ‘burbs, all these people who move here from elsewhere, NOT be aware that a great family college football experience is right there at their fingertips?
What am I missing? Is it as simple as a lack of marketing by the Tech Athletic department? Input from any long-time Tech people out there?
(I’m sure this may draw a few flames, but save it…I really don’t care. As noted above actual GRADS of UGA and Tech know the difference between healthy rivalry and anonymous internet tough talk stupidity. The latter of those two is meaningless to me).
GT85EE
September 24th, 2011
7:59 pm
Let’s face it. We were lucky to win today. We barely beat a very average team from the ACC. We will be lucky if we win two or three more games this year.
Nole Girl 93
September 24th, 2011
8:04 pm
UG fans need to hop off. Two weeks ago they were ready to skewer Mark Richt, remember. Now they’ve beaten who? Good job Jackets. As for me, I’m mourning watching my beloved Noles lose to freaking Clemson. Ugh.
Jackets:
September 24th, 2011
8:07 pm
A yearofthedawg: Are you referring to next year? Hope so….coz the mutts suck big time this year and quite frankly, every year. THWG!
GT Lady
September 24th, 2011
8:08 pm
Hey Nole Girl 93: I was pulling for FSU. However, was worried when Noles don’t have their QB. Trickett played well enough to win the game, but Clemson is good.
Lattimore
September 24th, 2011
8:09 pm
This is for the yearofthedawg and other Georgia fans and alum. Guess what? I am still running……
Boyz From N. Ave.
September 24th, 2011
8:15 pm
Sloppy but I’ll take it. Defense gave up too many yards for us to hope for much more than 2nd or 3rd in division. IMHO this 3-4 aint gonna work gainst the leet teams.
Nole Girl 93
September 24th, 2011
8:19 pm
Hey GT Lady, One word, Penalities. Face masks at terrible times. And the defense was banged up from Oklahoma last week.
Clemson is good this year. But I really dislike their annoying coach. He may be doing a good job, but still annoying.
BeesKnees
September 24th, 2011
8:20 pm
Its all BASIC PSYHCOLOGY. On people who HATE THEMSELVES, and their lot/station in life, spew their vitriol on opponents sites/blogs. Said people are INVARIABLY LOSERS. The rule applies to fans of any and every team and sport.
BeesKnees
September 24th, 2011
8:22 pm
Only people
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
8:24 pm
86Dawg, thanks for the classy comments. Liek you I can’t understand why we can have consistent sell outs. I reside in Nashville and still managed to get to 4 or more games a year. My season tickets are used by family locally when I can’t get down there. It’s a great atmosphere for a game and yet we have difficulty selling out. I’ve never been worried about the elitist (if it exist) attitude, I just love college football. I’m sure I’m not the only one! The pre game is fantastic and I urge the folks locally to check it and and enjoy yourselves!
Tonight I’m enjoying the Vandy/SC game though I’ve having a hard time with who to root for! I have one daughter at SC and one that just graduated from Vandy!
Anyway, it’s being a good day in my household, thanks again for the nice comments!
Go Jackets!
Taco
September 24th, 2011
8:26 pm
I guess we could have been tested better by taking an A$$ WHUPPING by Boise St? I guess Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss would have been a true test? Maybe a USC team that can barely handle Navy? All you UGA scabs go back to your hole at the bottom of the SEC and whine away! Maybe the Dawgs should petition to join the WAC and become relavent again. I hear Texas AM is actually taking UGA’s spot! Sweet.
Taco
September 24th, 2011
8:27 pm
Believe me the DABO show will soon come to an end. He is a clown and makes Les Miles seem like a genius.
Taco
September 24th, 2011
8:30 pm
Next year will be the year for the Dawgs! Is that an echo in the room from 1980? UGA jest won the Dollar General PRE-Season National Championship a few years back after having molested a super team from Hawaii. Next Year! WHOO HOO we all lose weight and start sleeping with super models as well.
gtne80
September 24th, 2011
8:45 pm
The defense and turnovers are going to cost us big sometime soon. When the offense puts up 35 points and over 500 yards of offense, we ought to comfortably register a win. Terribly disappointing to see us allow UNC to come back and tie the game after having them down by 14 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The strength of this team SHOULD be that when we get up by two scores late in the game, we need to be able to salt it away. Groh’s defense is showing some flashes, but way too inconsistent.
Clemson is looking very strong. We know that VT is going to be tough. Miami looked good last week, but layed a big egg this week.
This team has a chance for a special season if we can iron out the defensive issues and keep the turnovers to a minimum.
gtne80
September 24th, 2011
9:03 pm
NCSt (next week’s opponent) got thrashed by Cincinnati today. Maryland (the following week) hasn’t looked that good other than the win over Miami. Virginia lost today. Miami lost to Kansas St. We should go into the UMiami game undefeated and could go into the Clemson game undefeated. Clemson and VT back-to-back looks really tough. Duke is putting up some impressive offensive stats with Cutcliffe at the helm. Then there’s UGA. Maybe 8-4?
Birmingham Jacket
September 24th, 2011
9:03 pm
Well said, as usual, Bradley.
Kind of nothing to say, but we will take a win. Not overly impressive… But Gailey’s teams would have found a way to lose.
Damn good take on the game, and journalism.
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
9:04 pm
Thanks, B’ham Jacket.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
9:14 pm
86Dawg, thanks for a classy post. I can assure you, a lot of Tech fans don’t understand what’s going on with attendance; it just doesn’t make any sense. What ticked me off today more than anything though was the fact that the student section didn’t fill up. That REALLY baffles me. When I was a student at Tech, not only did we fill up the student section, it was filled at least 15 minutes before kickoff. Lately most students are still arriving midway through the 1st quarter. SICKENING !!!
Buzzman
September 24th, 2011
9:18 pm
Tech was lucky to get by with a win. North Caroline isn’t that good of team. If our defense doesn’t improve we are doom, what is going to happen against someone like Clemson. Florida State couldn’t stop them. They are going to kill us. Big Al better work on the defense now. I do not see any improvement over last year. If there is, WHERE!!! Where is the pass rush, our secondary sucks, N.C. passed at will. If we are lucky we should beat NC State,Maryland, Virginia,Duke, lose to Clemson, Va. Tech, Miami, and as usual Georgia. Today was a win and that is all. Just a win, not pretty, nothing special. Made to many mistakes…….
Ed
September 24th, 2011
9:20 pm
This was a TEST? Granted it was a conference game they had to play bit I wouldn’t call NC a test. I’m sure they would rather have played Villa Rica High, that’s about the level of their schedule so far.
Golden Tornado
September 24th, 2011
9:26 pm
Good article, Mark. By the way, there are no errors in it, either of spelling or grammar. I re-read it after some well-meaning soul back up the line implied that such errors were present. I have a doctorate in Writing (really). So, rest easy.
As to business: Is NC State our “trap game”? They will have had nine days’ rest, won’t they?
Mark Bradley
September 24th, 2011
9:27 pm
Thanks, Tornado. I went back and corrected one error, but I couldn’t find anything beyond that, either.
UGA = Yawn
September 24th, 2011
9:46 pm
Great day. Great game. Take 1 at a time
and keep moving forward. We kept our
composure and won a difficult game. Should
bode well for our future! Congrats to Paul
Johnson. I think he is great!!!
UGA = Yawn
September 24th, 2011
9:49 pm
PS: Buzzman is a UGA fan. Duh. No GT
fan would talk like that. Sorry your puppies
stink.
Samuel E Jones
September 24th, 2011
10:03 pm
Year of the dog? LOL, more like the year they can Mark Richt. Best of luck rear end sniffers… NOT! You haven’t beat anyone yet. LOL, Carolina almost lost to Navy.
Before you shout lack of class, please review almost all the post your fans have put on the GT sites the past 10 years. What goes around comes around and you assholes are due. Before you peg me as a sore loser GT fan, let me clue you in. I went to GT and got a BEE back in the early 80’s. After graduation I lived in Woodstock, Georgia for 11 years and my next door neighbor was a Georgia alum and hardcore fan. That said, he was one of the best guys I have ever met, bar none. After his wife died young from cancer, he offered to take me to a UGA – GT game and let me sit with him in the expensive seats. Everytime he introduced me to one of his UGA buds, I said hello, held out my hand, and to my amazement, everyone of them put their hands in their pockets and turned away and walked off. I’m sorry people but this is just damned rude behavior. I was born and raised in South Carolina and I do get the rivalry but this just speaks to extremely bad manners. I now live in Florida but I understand my former neighbor is now a well love high school football coach in Georgia.
As an aside to this, back in ‘82 I took a date to a UGA game in Athens and as we were walking to the game a carload of drunk UGA fans yelled the worst obscenities at us I have ever heard. As they were disappearing down the street, an older (I would guess mid 50’s) UGA alumnus and his wife went out of their way to cross the street and apologize to us for that kind of rude behavior and wish us well during the game and our stay in Athens. I’m glad to know there is still a degree of class on both sides of this long rivalry.
The moral of this post is there is obviously hope for us all.
Go Jackets and THWG (on game day).
Tampa Bay Jacket
ED
September 24th, 2011
10:09 pm
I SAW 56 CHOP BLOCKS OUT THERE TODAY
23
September 24th, 2011
10:12 pm
my god the acc is worse than last year. it is a freaking joke. BUFORD could win 6 games with techs schedule.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
10:13 pm
ED, you wouldn’t know a chop block if one was used on you
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
10:25 pm
Hey Ed, I told you the other night to turn up the hearing aid and take your meds on time.
woodstockgt
September 24th, 2011
10:25 pm
Good win, even though we shot ourselves some. Good to see the UGA trolls commenting on here. I wouldn’t expect anything different when our team is ranked and theirs isn’t.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
10:26 pm
Hey Supersize, sounds like you had a good time today!
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
10:27 pm
@ Ed, turn your hearing aid up and take your meds on time, just like I told you the other day!
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
10:29 pm
OJF, I would have preferred a not so close game, but the test was good for us. It was tight, but we never panicked. And yes, I had a great time. Keep me posted on when you will be coming down, and hopefully we can meet. I have now met 5150 and macrotech (although it turns out I already knew macro from 20 years ago), so I would like to meet more of you guys too.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
10:31 pm
@ Supersize, I know what you mean but looking back on it perhaps it’s good thing it was tight. Correct the mistakes, tighten up the defense, improve special teams and go on to the next game!
Morrow, Blue Jays dampen Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes – Atlanta Journal Constitution | CgPage
September 24th, 2011
10:32 pm
[...] Georgia Tech is no longer untested, but it’s still undefeated [...]