In this Tech-Tech slugfest, the Jackets are undone by a punch
Georgia Tech's Tevin Washington scored three touchdowns. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Technically speaking, this wasn’t the ACC championship game, but you can’t go wrong assuming the winner between the Techs will play for the conference title. It has happened every year the league has staged a championship game, and it figures to happen in 2011, too.
But which Tech might it be this time? The one that was ranked in preseason and is ranked still, or the one that began play unranked, worked its way to No. 12 in the polls, fell out after two ugly road losses but wedged its way back after upsetting No. 5 Clemson? The former is officially known as the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the latter as the Georgia Institute of Technology. For purposes of space, we’ll call them Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.
For a series only in its ninth installment, this has become a corker. The past three meetings — those since Paul Johnson arrived here — had been decided by a total of 15 points. What transpired Thursday night at a not-quite-full Bobby Dodd Stadium was more of the same. One Tech got ahead. Then the other Tech did. Then the first Tech scored 16 consecutive points to retake the lead. Wild, wacky stuff.
Details? Sure. Georgia Tech led 7-0. Then Virginia Tech went ahead 14-7. Then Georgia Tech kicked a field goal to draw within four points. Then — shades of the Miami game — the Jackets allowed a touchdown inside the half’s final minute. The Hokies led 21-10 and seemed to have taken control. But no.
Georgia Tech drove 61 yards in 44 seconds to a catalytic field goal as the half expired. Then the Jackets, aided by a Virginia Tech personal foul, opened the second half with a drive to one touchdown. The Hokies’ lead was two points. Virginia Tech moved inside the GT 20, at which point Julian Burnett smacked the ball from David Wilson’s grasp. Soon Georgia Tech was ahead by five points and poised to throw a hammerlock on the proceedings, whereupon linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu threw a punch.
The Jackets had stopped Virginia Tech. Attaochu was about to complete a third-down sack of quarterback Logan Thomas. But Thomas, who weighs 254 pounds — 31 more than Attaochu — didn’t go down, and Hokies linemen rushed to his aid, and Attaochu wound up taking a swing at an opponent. He was flagged for a personal foul; he was lucky he wasn’t ejected, and he might yet face a suspension.
To his credit, Attaochu didn’t t dabble in denial afterward. “It was an overdose of adrenaline,” he said. “There’s no excuse for it.”
Said Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech’s coach: “The big penalty kind of changed the game.”
Handed its mulligan, Virginia Tech did what a good team is supposed to do. It fashioned a drive that changed the careening game yet again. The massive Thomas scored on, of all things, a 12-yard quarterback sneak, and the Hokies were back ahead. Then Paul Johnson did the Paul Johnson thing and went for it on fourth down on the wrong side of midfield — at the Tech 31, to be exact — and Tevin Washington was halted.
“Maybe we could have called a better play,” Johnson said. “But we didn’t execute the play that was called very well, either.”
Why had he gone for it? “I felt like we needed to score. From the second possession of the game, we couldn’t stop them.”
Again the Hokies took their windfall and cashed it in. A Thomas touchdown pass made it an eight-point game. Washington slipped and fell trying to pass on third down, and Georgia Tech had to punt. By now Virginia Tech’s offensive line was pushing the Jackets’ defense backward, just as had happened over the final 10 minutes of the first half, and a field goal with 3:02 to play pushed the Hokie lead to 37-26.
And that was that. A crackling game had, at least for the home side, fizzled at the end. The winning Tech is again in playing-for-a-championship mode, while the losing Tech has been eliminated from the division race. To be blunt, Virginia Tech seemed the more talented team for much of the game, but Georgia Tech will long wonder what would have happened had Jeremiah Attaochu kept his hands to himself.
By Mark Bradley
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534 comments Add your comment
Momentum is KING
November 10th, 2011
11:29 pm
Going for it on 4th down was the right call. When the defense was not getting gashed for 20+ yard runs it was giving up 7+ yard sneaks up the middle. The only way to stop that is to keep the ball on offense. The personal foul was dumb and probably cost us the game.
GT Joe
November 10th, 2011
11:29 pm
blaming CPJ for going for it on 4th? how about blaming Tevin for not reaching for the first? If he can’t execute the play, it doesn’t matter how good/bad the play call is.
SE GA Fan
November 10th, 2011
11:30 pm
That is just wishful thinking, GT Joe! Lots of players contributed to your loss.
PJ haters Are RETARDED
November 10th, 2011
11:30 pm
Going for it on 4th and 1… isnt that stupid when your defense can get a stop the ENTIRE NIGHT!! It didnt really matter… for those of you who have played football and understand it you know this… for those that were to small and dont really know… keep talking trash… they had their chance to win… but didnt get it done… but PJ isnt the problem… WHEN YOUR DEFENSE CANT FORCE A PUNT THAT IS A PROBLEM!!
Woman Beating Goon Mike Mooney
November 10th, 2011
11:30 pm
The headline should have been “Tech Loses But Paul Johnson Outcoaches Mark Richt and Frank Beamer”!!!!!!
Baby Ruth
November 10th, 2011
11:31 pm
Kick Attachu off the team F-ing idiot!!! Al Groh sux as well!
MLH
November 10th, 2011
11:31 pm
Enter your comments here
Hilarious
November 10th, 2011
11:32 pm
A lawyer who graduated from UGA who is so blatantly vulgar, it’s hilarious that he works for a firm that represents whistle blowers. Did I mention he’s a racist? This same person has pictures of his dual screen monitors WITH the billing software running LOLOLO
fbGuy
November 10th, 2011
11:32 pm
CPJ is cruising on past accomplishments. He sucks at Tech.
DMac
November 10th, 2011
11:32 pm
We coulda been a contenda.
around town
November 10th, 2011
11:32 pm
Hilarious, what are you talking about?
The Ghost
November 10th, 2011
11:33 pm
Mark:
I’ve been a lifelong CPJ supporter. I hate to admit it, but he will not be a serious contender at this level of football. This game falls on the coaches for sure, but rest assured CPJ will blame the players. Was CPJ screaming “bullshit” at the refs on the play where Attaouchu punched the QB? It was as blatant and in the open as any bone headed play i’ve ever seen and he is screaming at the refs?????? Of course, if we didn’t just cuddle and hug their players, and chose to tackle, that would have never happened.
Please tell me there is at least chatter in ATL about this staff leaving?
GTBob
November 10th, 2011
11:33 pm
I fully believe that if Jeremiah Attaochu had not thrown that punch then GT would have won this game.
dbc
November 10th, 2011
11:33 pm
This one sums it up…”a not-quite-full Bobby Dodd Stadium.” It’s sad watching Tech on National TV in that joke of a stadium. You mean you can’t fill that place on a Thursday, with two highly ranked teams playing? Really? Make that one ranked team.
Hilarious
November 10th, 2011
11:33 pm
A lawyer who graduated from UGA who talks about the women in his office so openly (read: they take dmps, and they smell) that they would be ashamed about what he’s writing.
kb
November 10th, 2011
11:34 pm
Dukes defense only gave up 14 points to VT, This is a VT team that Duke had on the ropes.
The Legendary Derrick Steagall
November 10th, 2011
11:34 pm
Where are all the Techies who called Kwame Geathers a thug for punching Vandy’s center???? At least Geathers was justified after the guy tried to take out his ankles from behind…..Attachou just got frustrated because he was not strong enough to bring down Thomas…..be honest Techies….your guys are not much different than players from other schools……do you think BayBay Thomas is the only Tech player to accept gifts??? Do you think Joe Hamilton, Kelly Campbell, and Stephon Marbury started smoking weed after Tech????
Lay'em Down Smack'em Yack'em
November 10th, 2011
11:34 pm
Why punch somebody wearing a helmet?
All Cupcake Conference
November 10th, 2011
11:34 pm
This you can be sure of.
Tech may have lost the game but the genius CPJ … the Oracle of Annapolis out coached the other guy.
Not his fault Tech lost.
Hilarious
November 10th, 2011
11:35 pm
A lawyer who graduated from UGA who says things like this on his personal blog:
“I’m not sure I can practice law long enough
To not be surprised and highly aggravated by some clients’ stupidity.”
Eric C.
November 10th, 2011
11:35 pm
GT didn’t stand a puncher’s chance after the failed 4th down
old/White
November 10th, 2011
11:35 pm
Enter your comments here
around town
November 10th, 2011
11:35 pm
Ever Read, that is a thoughtless, fanatical comment. Johnson is obsessed with the idea that “his” great offense can do anything, so he goes for it on his own 30 with 15 minutes left to play. And runs the same putrid play that had just failed on the previous down. He deserves to be called out severely.
Gold/White
November 10th, 2011
11:36 pm
CPJ has jsut lost it, what a bone head call.
Lay'em Down Smack'em Yack'em
November 10th, 2011
11:36 pm
The world needs ditch diggers, too.
PJ isn't the problem
November 10th, 2011
11:37 pm
When your defense cant force a punt… going for it on 4th and 1 isnt a big deal… they should have run the midline follow or toss for the 1 yard.. water under the bridge… CPJ is an awesome coach… and people that think otherwise… aren’t very bright and probably have never stepped foot on a highschool football field much less a college field… This is a young team and probably is ahead of where most of us thought they would be… they had plenty of chances to win this game tonight…
The Ghost
November 10th, 2011
11:37 pm
I can’t handle this anymore…..been a lifelong CPJ fan but this is a joke!!! Game is on the coaches but they will blame the players as usual. I wanted Chan Gailey to go more than anyone….he is not a college coach. However, GT set themselves on this track way back when they held on to O’Leary just long enough to let a very hot Ralph Friedgen slip away to Maryland. Ultimately get rid of O’Leary and get Chan, as he is a solid guy. Turns out he is still an awful coach. From Chan to CPJ seems exciting but for me, at the time, I would have taken Ray Goff or Jim Donnan to lose Chan. If we would have just pulled the trigger quicker on O’Leary.
kb
November 10th, 2011
11:37 pm
Here come the parade of ifs Tech football champions of “if”.
Hilarious
November 10th, 2011
11:37 pm
Did I mention said lawyer from UGA rages about his mormon boss on his personal blog?
NG Dawg
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
tough loss, the punch lost you the game. 4th down call failed because of the QB, he stinks.
Eric C.
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
Momma said knock you out
Lay'em Down Smack'em Yack'em
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
Sometimes, you are the hammer, and other times, you are the nail.
neil marlowe
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
looks like 8-4 and a minor bowl. Tech needs somehow to get some more
talented football players. we did well to keep it close tonight.
Paul in NH
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
@Hilarious
I can put 2 + 2 together from your posts and work out that WnE is also JM – but give it a rest
Mike
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
Going for it on 4th down was not stupid they would have scored anyway if the had punted. Do you believe the defence would have made a stop? Going for it was not a bad call but Tevin should have reach the ball out for the first down. Paul Johnson is still a great coach.
Yep
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
a 20 year old makes a mistake and it is all his fault that we lost. While that mistake caused a first down VT was still about 70 yards away from a TD. It was also his fault we gave up a 60-70 yard TD with a minute to go in the first half. He made the call to go for it on 4th down on our own 30. It is all his fault we lost. And who does he think he is not living up to the expectations of all us arm chair coaches here on this blog. Now that was an unsportsmanlike play and he should receive a half games suspension for it but to try to lay this loss solely on him is ridiculous. The team wins and the team loses.
Fire CPJ
November 10th, 2011
11:38 pm
I thought CPJ is a good coach, but today’s game changed my mind. 4th and 1, really, and why the players are so out of control. Are they morons?
Big L
November 10th, 2011
11:39 pm
CPU does not call the same play. Sometimes he runs it right, sometimes left, sometimes up the middle. Uggh, pitch it. Plop.
Lay'em Down Smack'em Yack'em
November 10th, 2011
11:39 pm
Why can’t we get a decent punter?
Hokie-in-ATL
November 10th, 2011
11:40 pm
Good game tonight Jackets. People would be saying how smart and great and aggressive CPJ was if they’d made that 4th and short. And with our D-line as banged up as it is plus he’d made a 4th down earlier, and up to that point, the GT O had shredded our D in the 2nd half, it probably really wasn’t a dumb call.
As for the punch…Jack Tyler hit your guy way out of bounds too. They all do dumb things in the heat of the moment. #45 will probably hear about that again during the week. I’m sure CPJ will give him a big lesson in negative feedback to discourage him from doing that again. And Tyler will be running the stadium steps at Lane.
It’s a game of inches and this one could have gone either way. VT’s unofficial nickname is the Chokies for a reason. One or two plays go differently, and GT is much happier. Good luck against Duke and UGA.
jimbob
November 10th, 2011
11:40 pm
I thought the tv guys were right: CPJ figured the best chance of winning is to keep his offense on the field. Tech’s average play is certainly more than a yard, so based on the percentages, I have no problem with the call. Easterbrook on espn wrote a good article on this a year or so ago. Coaches should really go for it on 4th down a LOT more than they do. But if they just punt, then no one will get on their case and call them idiots.
Attuchi single handedly prevented GT from possibly winning.
.
Moral Victory Anyone?
November 10th, 2011
11:40 pm
Techies,
How about a moral victory tonight? This is your classic fallback when you get your tails beat. You guys ay want to buy Logan Walls some new roller skates for the UGA game.
NG Dawg
November 10th, 2011
11:40 pm
I’d take CPJ over Bobo any day…
Truthsayer
November 10th, 2011
11:41 pm
VT was the better team. Period.
All Cupcake Conference
November 10th, 2011
11:41 pm
When you recruit Thugs like Attachou these things are gonna happen.
Mudcatjoe
November 10th, 2011
11:41 pm
I don’t know why everyone is on Paul Johnson. He didn’t lose the game tonight, the stupid punch cost us the game! Georgia Tech was clearly the better team, but once again, fate strikes us down!
gcs
November 10th, 2011
11:42 pm
The silly Paul Johnson offense will NEVER work on the major level.
If you want mediocre winning seasons and bowl games in Boise & Shreveport every year, stick with Johnson.
.
NG Dawg
November 10th, 2011
11:42 pm
I’d say GT was better until the punch. Then it was all downhill.
IL Jacket
November 10th, 2011
11:42 pm
Mark, well written article on game as it unfolded. Impressive under deadline like that. A deflating loss when you think you have a real chance at the victory. Our inexperience showed tonight and I think our coach made a questionable call with over 11 minutes left in the game. A little time off, then let’s finish strong Jackets!!
GTBob
November 10th, 2011
11:42 pm
I have no problem with the 4th down call. I might have called a toss play though.