Heat Index: Warm moments for Tech, UGA and the Richts
Todd Grantham gives Mark Richt a manly handshake. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The Heat Check returns a day late after a two-week hiatus, but hey … a return’s a return! And we begin with those who’ll be involved in a game of some interest come Saturday noon.
Georgia: Champion of the SEC East, the winner of nine in a row, the author of a rebound season. Think back to August: Would Georgia fans have taken all that and been happy? Sure they would. Heat Index: Mark Richt has gone from sitting atop the ol’ Hot Seat to sharing a warm moment with Mrs. Richt in front of 90,000 friends and neighbors.
Georgia Tech: Ranked in the Top 25, the winner of eight games after getting stuck on six last season, the author of a rebound season. Think back to August: Would Tech fans have taken all that and been happy? Yes, with a caveat. Heat Index: No Tech season can ever be ruled a complete success if the Jackets lose to Georgia.
Atlanta Falcons: They went to the no-huddle against Tennessee and looked great for three quarters. They wound up winning by six points. They’re 6-4, which isn’t bad. But there’s a caveat here as well. Heat Index: When was the last time we could say, “The Falcons really played a great game today?” When last did a postgame Mike Smith briefing not include a line about “things we need to fix”? When might those things get … well, fixed?
Atlanta Braves: Frank Wren hasn’t made a trade in a while. This isn’t like Frank Wren. Heat Index: “Nurse, could we take Mr. Wren’s temperature? He doesn’t seem himself.”
Atlanta Hawks: They’re not playing, which means attendance might actually go up. Heat Index: I have to confess I stole that line from occasional colleague Jeff Haws.
The team formerly known as the Thrashers: The Winnipeg Jets are fourth in the five-team NHL Southeast Division and 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference. Heat Index: You can take the team out of the country, but making it win is another matter.
Local college basketball: The four area men’s teams — Tech, Georgia, Georgia State and Kennesaw State — are a collective 8-8, and the Bulldogs (3-1) lost their first real test Monday night to California by 24 points. (Georgia was outscored 48-21 over the final 25 minutes.) Of the four, the best win belongs to Tech, which beat 2011 Final Four participant VCU on Friday. Then the Jackets turned around and lost to LSU, which had lost to Coastal Carolina. Heat Index: I say again — this figures to be a chilly winter, hoops-wise.
By Mark Bradley
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190 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
10:47 am
Sagarin Top 25 S.O.S. thru Nov 19
1- Kansas
2- Missouri
3- Texas A&M
4- Baylor
5- Kansas St.
6- Oklahoma
7- Oklahoma St.
8- Iowa St.
9- Texas
10- Texas Tech
11- Tennessee
12- Arizona
13- Mississippi
14- Miss. St.
15- Auburn
16- Minnesota
17- Colorado
18- Southern Cal
19- Washington
20- Oregon St.
21- Oregon
22- Florida
23- UCLA
24- Alabama
25- LSU
Remarkable
November 22nd, 2011
10:48 am
Mark, You told us what the temperature of the respective teams is regarding the season as a whole, but you did not prognosticate about the upcoming weekend. Who is going to be HOT this weekend? Come on, go out on a limb.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
November 22nd, 2011
10:49 am
It may have looked like a handshake in the photo, but if you were on the field you’d know Coach Grantham was trying to get the keys to the F-150. Coach Richt doesn’t like anybody else driving his truck and now that he can’t use the phone in his truck anymore (that’s his own little suspension) he is especially testy.
Mark Bradley
November 22nd, 2011
10:49 am
Me? Go out on a limb?
Loyal Dawg
November 22nd, 2011
10:49 am
I’ve been wondering how the “Trashers” are doing. That’s pretty funny- 13th out of 15. I wonder if the fans are still flocking to the games in droves?
Ron Swanson
November 22nd, 2011
10:52 am
GT Bob- considering you have won 15 games against UGA in the last 50 years, I would say that beating us may not be a miracle, but quite an accomplishment.
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
10:53 am
Note on Sagarin S.O.S. Re the top 10 teams all in Big-12. The Big12 (10 teams) plays a round-robin schedule. 4 Big-12 teams play no FCS opponents, and the other 6 play 1 FCS opponent each.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
10:55 am
I would say that beating us may not be a miracle, but quite an accomplishment.
It wouldn’t be a miracle or an accomplishment. It would be a decent win but that is about as far as you could go. Was UGA beating Florida this year a great accomplishment?
cochise
November 22nd, 2011
10:58 am
Sundays headlines…………Tech Wins Second Game Against Dogs This Century
Burdell
November 22nd, 2011
10:58 am
The general UGA fan sentiment reminds me a lot of the week preceding the Boise St game.
“We are too big and too fast to be beaten.”
GO JACKETS!!!
Ron Swanson
November 22nd, 2011
10:58 am
Tey as you may to equate Tech’s dismal record vs. UGA to UGA vs. UF, the numbers do not lie. Beating UF was great, but since you asked, we have beaten UF more than we have lost to them, so it certainly would not be comparable to a Tech win over UGA.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
11:01 am
I would be fine with that, cochise. Are you named after that street in Vinings? I hate running up that hill.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
11:02 am
Its always funny how UGA fans think games in the 60’s and 70’s have some influence on this weekends game. I’m pretty sure we don’t have any 51st year Seniors on the team.
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
11:02 am
When I played midget football *many* decades ago, body blocks (below the waist) were the first technique we were taught. In HS we ran the triple option (T-formation belly series) and used “crab blocks”, blocks at the legs while crabbing forward continuously using hands and feet on the ground. According to what I’ve read on blocking techniques over the last 3 years, crab blocking is still taught at the junior levels of football.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 22nd, 2011
11:03 am
GTBob, should GT beat Georgia they’re liable to be turning over cars and burning sofas on North Ave.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
11:04 am
It was when I was in high school a little over a decade ago, Delbert.
GaTruth
November 22nd, 2011
11:04 am
This will be all about the linebackers. Get over the cuts and fill the gaps, we should have success. Also the corners need to play tight M2M so the safeties can keep big runs to a minimum.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
11:05 am
GTBob, should GT beat Georgia they’re liable to be turning over cars and burning sofas on North Ave.
I want to beat UGA just like I want to beat every team, but I doubt we are going to turn into West Virginia all the sudden.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
11:05 am
Nothing wrong with a little destruction of property, Gorilla. Munson told us so! We’d be doing it in his honor!
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
11:10 am
Georgia Stein – Best way to honor Munson is stomp ‘em with his beloved hobnail boots.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
11:11 am
Sign me up, Delbert!
Luke
November 22nd, 2011
11:11 am
Ron, try as we might, their recent record equates to about the same. Georgia Tech is to Georgia as Georgia is to Florida. Is a simple analogy, regardless of whether they are still on the SATs or not.
zbulldawg
November 22nd, 2011
11:11 am
Larry Munson : Hunker Down ! Watch them knees against Tech ! When they go down for the cheap cut block Take your knees and fall with yours in their back Full weight ! Make the QB pay everytime ! VT took the game over in mid 3rd quarter ! We”ll score often against this defense ! They will have to play catch up ! Our defense will take their run away and see ya Would’nt want to be YA ! SICK EM
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
11:12 am
George Stein- I *did not* call you that intentionally! Sorry, it’s me and my keyboarding skills. Possible brain dysfunction as well.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
11:13 am
zbulldawg, there is nothing “cheap” about cut blocking. EVERYBODY does it. I know you can’t compare apples and oranges, but if Bama, who has a much better defense than UGA, couldn’t take the run away from GSU, then I don’t think the dawgs will be taking the run away from the Jackets
Mike Lum
November 22nd, 2011
11:14 am
15 wins for Tech in the last 50 years? Damn, just damn.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
11:16 am
I must’ve missed what you said, Delbert. Perhaps now that I’ve entered my thirties, my vision is going
Spanky
November 22nd, 2011
11:17 am
…Was UGA beating Florida this year a great accomplishment?…
Yes, Bob, it was! Within the past two decades, we (UGA) have had the Jaxville curse..a curse that makes you trip over your own feet…much like you guys when you play us!!…(see Reggie Ball)
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
11:18 am
“VT took the game over in mid 3rd quarter” – The score was 27-26 before VT scored with 9:49 in the 4th quarter.
Spanky
November 22nd, 2011
11:20 am
… I don’t think the dawgs will be taking the run away from the Jackets…
LOL, oh yeah? Like last year? You nerds are silly!
headley lamar
November 22nd, 2011
11:22 am
Tech is going down hard in Sanford Stadium West this weekend.
1-9 last 10 15 for the last 50. UGA favored on the road.
Both teams have good offenses. ( Although UGA’s is better. If they get behind they can catch up )
One team has a defense. The other team doesn’t.
All signs point to a UGA blowout.
UGA 38 TECH 14
Tech however does get close to 300 yards rushing and Tech fans will marvel at how CPJ out-coached Mark Richt.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
11:25 am
headley got his coordinates right. This is progress.
trupert
November 22nd, 2011
11:27 am
The GT option offense will have a few moments of glory in Saturdays game. In the first few minutes that is.
By half way through the first quarter Grantham will have the nations #2 rushing defense dialed in and it will be alot like the Auburn game for Tech. Ga will win big and prove once again that they run this state.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
11:28 am
Spanky, i’m glad you enjoyed your win but how can beating a bad Florida team be an accomplishment? If we beat you guys then you will fall to around 20 or so in the rankings, probably below Virginia if they beat Va Tech. It’s not exactly going to be big news. Anybody who places more importance on a game because of past record has self esteem issues.
headley lamar
November 22nd, 2011
11:29 am
headley got his coordinates right. This is progress.
I have you to thank for that.
Thanks again !!!!
headley lamar
November 22nd, 2011
11:32 am
If we beat you guys then you will fall to around 20 or so in the rankings, probably below Virginia if they beat Va Tech. It’s not exactly going to be big news
It would be huge news. Especially for you guys.
Beating your Rival for only the second time in 11 years would be the biggest thing for Tech since the ACC title they took away.
If UGA wins ( most likely outcome ) then it wont be big news or really that big a deal.
We have bigger fish to fry anyway.
Mark Richt
November 22nd, 2011
11:33 am
Mark this one down fellow ugly fans , Tech will be the best running team we have faced all year & should have beaten us every year since Paul Johnson has been in Atlanta .Turnovers have been their down fall and if they hold on to the pigskin it could be a long day at Bobby Dodd, but because I won the easy east I have a free ride to the dome to get my ARSE kicked by LSU or Arkansas…pass that doobie Crowell !
THWG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gator
November 22nd, 2011
11:33 am
GTBOB, This bad Florida team would beat tech, Demps and Rainey would run wild on the tech D.
No comparison to the level of talent between UF and Tech.Gators would have the same if not better record playing techs schedule.
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
QB passer rating comparison:
2010 – Nesbitt 105.4 rating, 2011 Washington 164.3
2010 Nesbitt 39/105 4 INT 37.1% 674 yds 7 TD 74.9 YPG
2011 Washington 60/125 6 INT 48.7% 1481 yds 10 TD 134.6 YPG
Joey
November 22nd, 2011
11:36 am
“Spanky, i’m glad you enjoyed your win but how can beating a bad Florida team be an accomplishment?”
***********************************************
The same way you Techies would have enjoyed a win last season over a bad UGA team. And you would have.
Human nature . . .
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
11:42 am
GTBOB, This bad Florida team would beat tech, Demps and Rainey would run wild on the tech D.
Demps and Rainey barely got 100 yards against Furman. Florida has a miserable rushing attack, they would have trouble taking advantage of our biggest weakness.
headley lamar
November 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
Turnovers have been their down fall and if they hold on to the pigskin it could be a long day at Bobby Dodd
But that’s just it. If you are going to run that offense and pitch the ball all over the place then you are going to turn it over and fumble. Its inherent to the system.
UGA Linebackers are going to be flying all over the place. The turnovers are coming.
My biggest fear isn’t Tech’s running game. I know we can stop that.
Its a matter of waiting them out and giving them the small ones until you get a big negative play or a turnover.
Its the play action pass and they get lucky and call the right play and we have a blown coverage or something.
headley lamar
November 22nd, 2011
11:44 am
Demps and Rainey barely got 100 yards against Furman. Florida has a miserable rushing attack, they would have trouble taking advantage of our biggest weakness.
Florida would be favored over Tech and would probably beat them.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
11:44 am
It would be huge news. Especially for you guys.
Really it wouldn’t be. Maybe if you guys were in the top 5 or something. Otherwise it’s just a year of bragging rights which makes it slightly more important then a big conference game.
Hal
November 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
Trevinb,
Georgia will be red hot after Saturday …Yeah ….embarrassed….
headley lamar
November 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
Its the play action pass and they get lucky and call the right play and we have a blown coverage or something.
Meant to add.
And that scares me more than Techs ground game.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
11:45 am
Florida would be favored over Tech and would probably beat them.
I know that SEC fans think the 12 SEC teams are the 12 best teams in the nation but this would never happen. Florida is awful. Time to accept it.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
11:48 am
headley, I commend you: not only have you finally gotten your geography right, you actually posted an intelligent opinion of a football game. Good for you!!!
Say It Aint So
November 22nd, 2011
11:50 am
What is this about?
http://www.gamingtoday.com/articles/article/33523-Georgia_football_coach_Mark_Richt_will_leave_at_end_of_season
headley lamar
November 22nd, 2011
11:50 am
Really it wouldn’t be.
You know it would be a HUGE deal for Tech.
I know your trying to downplay it as a way to insult UGA but you know im right.
IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST THING FOR TECH FOOTBALL IN YEARS.