Live from Miami: Is Georgia Tech about to pack it in or what?
Miami's Lamar Miller against Tech last season. You'll hear his name again today. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Miami – Two schools of thought on this one. One is that the schedule is about to catch up with Georgia Tech and that the Jackets will do well to win two more games. (Duke being the gimme, and even that’s in Durham.) The glass-half-full outlook is to proclaim Tech’s loss at Virginia a raging blip that augurs nothing much at all.
I’m kind of split. I do think the schedule is toughening. (Don’t think anybody would disagree.) I don’t, however, think Tech is incapable of finishing strong and winning the ACC Coastal. I think Tech will beat Miami today, which would make the Jackets 7-1 and would render the next two games — both at Bobby Dodd Stadium — hugely huge.
I say this largely because I can’t tell what sort of team Miami is. Here’s its season: Lose to Maryland, beat Ohio State, lose to Kansas State, beat (but get outgained by) Bethune-Cookman, lose close at Virginia Tech, win at North Carolina. See a pattern therein? Me, neither.
Miami folks insist the ‘Canes are about to embark on a run that could leave them atop the Coastal Division, and I do think Al Golden is a good enough coach to make that happen — someday. Just not yet. I’m still not sure Miami can coalesce around a new coach with all that has happened around the program. (I refer to Nevin Shapiro’s allegations of pay-for-play, among other things.)
The Jackets, on the other hand, are stable enough to learn from their Virginia experience and ensure that it won’t happen again. I say this with great confidence — as of 1:37 p.m., roughly two hours before kickoff. By 4 o’clock, I may have been offered reason to rethink.
But that’s why they play the game, as we genius sports writers like to say, and that’s why I”ll be here until the game is done. I implore you to join the festivities, and I thank you in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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1,303 comments Add your comment
Gorilla Biscuit
October 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
Hey, liven this party up or everybody’s going to go home.
Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
I’ve seen nothing to indicate that Miami can’t be had.
Biff Pocoroba
October 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
I bet we pass on first down this time since Tevin can’t run the ball and refuses to let someone else run it. I just hope he tries to throw to someone on his own team this time. Is Steven Hill even there? He hasn’t done anything but block in the back this month.
Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
Given that Tech has thrown an interception, failed on a fake punt and wiped out a 30-yard gain due to a penalty … the Jackets are OK
Tampa Wreck
October 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
We’re lucky we’re not down 21..Gotta get something going on offense. This hasn’t been one of CPJ’s better days with play calls.
Ernest T Bass
October 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
Tech wins one more game. Duke.
Finishes 7-5 and plays Navy in bowl game.
The game is canceled because it is deemed cruel punishment to make anyone watch 60 minutes of Tech vs Navy.
Max
October 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
We didn’t lose to UVA because of defense, we couldn’t get 3 points in 20 minutes.
If we lose today it’s because this offense is still ineffective.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
GT-UT, why did you think I was at the game?
Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2011
4:26 pm
Miami has had the ball in Tech territory three times
GT66
October 22nd, 2011
4:27 pm
Gotta give the D credit – bowed their backs when they had to – unless PJ can get O untracked we can’t keep dodging the bullet – hate to say it, but believe I would give Days a series if we don’t move it now – couldn’t be much worse
K
October 22nd, 2011
4:27 pm
Can it get any worse???
Our offense has gotten worse each week.
Maybe things will be better for us this quarter.
Offense hasn’t made a good decision yet today.
And only down 7-0.
GTBob
October 22nd, 2011
4:27 pm
D and special teams playing well. Offense terrible. That’s kinda weird for our team.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 22nd, 2011
4:27 pm
Ernest T Bass = Cupcake = Headley Lamar
OldSchoolTechFanatic
October 22nd, 2011
4:28 pm
D is looking good so far
Ken Sugiura
October 22nd, 2011
4:28 pm
run defense actually doing reasonably well.
Chris Miller
October 22nd, 2011
4:28 pm
he pitched it. HE PITCHED IT! And look … positive yards! *tear falling*
Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
Sacked on third-and-four
CarolinaJacket
October 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
But take away the block in the back and it was a W.
GT-UT
October 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
Supersize. I guess I can’t recall. We just chatted about it. I was staying home so GT wins.
Lee Goza
October 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
No not another dive.
Ol'JacketFan
October 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
Nice blocking there
Tampa Wreck
October 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm
Just pathetic.
Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
Very short punt
Gorilla Biscuit
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
Well-oil machine.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
well, the punting is back to “normal” now DAMMIT
Ol'JacketFan
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
No kicker, no punter, no offensive. Things are not looking good at all
Mark Bradley
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
A 13-yarder, to be precise
Gorilla Biscuit
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
-ed
Tampa Wreck
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
Even more pathetic. I’m not sure I can watch much more of this.
GT-UT
October 22nd, 2011
4:30 pm
Situational awareness is lacking on TW’s part. Nice punt BTW.
Chris Miller
October 22nd, 2011
4:31 pm
Tampa Wreck, you are WRONG. It’s also disgusting and exasperating.
IL Jacket
October 22nd, 2011
4:31 pm
Spoke too soon about the special teams. If offense can’t get something going defense is going to get wiped out in the heat.
whatsgoingon
October 22nd, 2011
4:31 pm
Once again – because of CPJ’s stubbornness he WILL NOT invest in a kicker/punter – and GT WILL lose games because of this.
Charleston Jacket
October 22nd, 2011
4:31 pm
good grief a 20yd punt? Coach needs to shake the team up. They look like they have never played a game
Supersize that order, mutt
October 22nd, 2011
4:31 pm
OJF, we DID have one GREAT KO and one GREAT punt. Like I said, back to “normal” now
Ol'JacketFan
October 22nd, 2011
4:31 pm
How many more ways it Tech going to find to shoot themselves?
Gorilla Biscuit
October 22nd, 2011
4:31 pm
Open tryouts for punter next week.
CarolinaJacket
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
The word was the when Johnson got his type of o-linemen, they would be great. These are his recruits now and they don’t seem any better. But, still only down 7.
If do right, no can defense
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
I want to see Synjyn Days next series.
Biff Pocoroba
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
CPJ’s seat is going to get hot pretty quickly now that teams have figured out how to stop his offense. The grumpy stubborn arrogance is cute when you are winning, but people get sick of it in a hurry when you can’t win anymore. Just ask George O’Leary. You can’t be a jerk going 7-6.
Technically Correct
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
I can’t watch it anymore.
Tampa Wreck
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
If the QB is gonna run the bal every play, I’d rather have Days running it.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
Carolina, not saying they will get it down, but remember, they ARE young
Charleston Jacket
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
20yd punt – seriously? we look really bad – coaching is non-existent so far
GT-UT
October 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm
Sending the wife to the liquor store. Going to need it
Ol'JacketFan
October 22nd, 2011
4:33 pm
Supersize, I know, I’m just so frustrated right now. This Miami team is there for the taking and Tech can’t seem to get out of the own way!
GT66
October 22nd, 2011
4:33 pm
Did ya’ll notice on replay of Jones run, he got his fingers caught in defenders face mask – that’s why the face mask penalty on him – Bad Luck
CarolinaJacket
October 22nd, 2011
4:33 pm
I know, but I was surely hoping for more.
Gtjohn
October 22nd, 2011
4:34 pm
Maybe the D can score
Supersize that order, mutt
October 22nd, 2011
4:34 pm
Biff, it’s not entirely because the other teams have figured out anything; hell, we aren’t executing worth a crap