Georgia Tech needs to win a bowl just to prove it still can
Dec. 27, 2010: It was a not-so-happy day for the Yellow Jackets in Shreveport. (AP photo)
Georgia Tech’s last bowl victory came when Reggie Ball, then a sophomore, was the offensive MVP of the Champs Sports Bowl. The date was Dec. 21, 2004. So yes, it has been a while.
“We haven’t won a bowl game in, like, eight years,” said guard Omoregie Uzzi, overclubbing a bit.
Tech makes much of its run of consecutive bowl appearances, now at 15. What Tech, showing PR savvy, plays down is that about all the Jackets have done in many of those previous 14 bowls was appear. Tech has lost nine of the 14, and only one of the head coaches involved in the streak has managed a winning record. Interim Mac McWhorter won the 2001 Seattle Bowl, making him the Mr. December of recent Tech vintage. George O’Leary was 2-2, Chan Gailey 2-3, Jon Tenuta (another interim) 0-1. And Paul Johnson, the incumbent, has fared worst of all.
The back half of Tech’s current six-game skid falls on Johnson. “We’ve lost three in a row,” he said after being asked if his 0-for-Tech bowl record makes him feel a greater need this time. “But I’d want to win if we’d won three in a row … You want to win anytime you play, even if it’s at jackrocks.”
(For the uninitiated, “jackrocks” is apparently the North Carolina term for the kids’ game with the metal thingys and the rubber ball — the game some of us call “jacks.”)
The convenient explanation for Johnson’s bowl failures is that a defenses have a month to prepare for his stylized offense. Johnson, who dislikes many things, dislikes convenience above all. “People can say whatever they want,” he said Monday, speaking after Tech’s morning practice. “You can find stats to back up anything. I think my bowl record at Navy was 2-2.”
(For the uninitiated, when Johnson says, “I think,” he means, “I know darn well.” His bowl record at Navy? It was 2-2.)
This correspondent, you’ll be chagrined to learn, has a theory: Except for the BCS title game, where each side want to win with all its might, most other bowls hinge on who wants to be there more. It’s my belief that Tech lost to LSU in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl in large measure because the Jackets had already won their Big Game by beating Georgia in Athens in Year 1 under Johnson. Something similar held true in January 2010, when Tech, coming off its rousing ACC title victory over Clemson, got outfought by Iowa in the Orange Bowl.
“We also ran into two pretty good teams those years,” Johnson said, and there’s no denying that LSU and Iowa are name-brand programs. But last season the Jackets lost to Air Force 14-7 in the Independence Bowl to finish 6-7.
Johnson: “Last year we should have won the game. That was very, very disappointing.”
The Air Force loss was another, I submit, symptom of motivational malaise. Nobody wants to go to Shreveport, but Air Force went knowing it could take down a team from a BCS league. The Jackets arrived knowing they’d be without Joshua Nesbitt, lost to a broken arm on a Thursday night when a still-in-flux Tech season was doomed.
This year, at least to these eyes, looks different. Tech won its first six, then lost four of its final six. Most Jacket backers would have taken an 8-4 regular season, but the way this 8-4 occurred left some uneasy. Said Uzzi: “We started off hot, but we didn’t finish so hot.”
If there’s an upside to a late-season fade, it’s that Tech should head to El Paso hungry. Uzzi again: “We’re trying to salvage the season, although ’salvage’ isn’t really the right word — I’m proud of what we’ve done. But this would put an exclamation point on it.”
Tech will face Utah, now part of the Pac-12, in the Sun Bowl on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve. It was in the 2005 Emerald Bowl that the Utes, then members of the Mountain West, delivered the first of Tech’s ongoing string of bowl losses. Three seasons later, Utah beat Alabama (and Nick Saban) the Sugar. But don’t bother telling Johnson any of this. He can cite chapter and verse.
“Until Boise beat them [in last year's Poinsettia Bowl], they’d won nine [bowls] in a row,” he said. “I hope we want to be there — because the other side has a history of wanting to be there.”
By Mark Bradley
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142 comments Add your comment
RR
December 19th, 2011
8:06 pm
WnE- I would agree with your assessments. But as GT fan, I can tell you that we think CPJ can and does plenty wrong. Most folks on this message board represent a small fraction of Tech fans and I’m sure the same goes for UGA fans. I’m ready for CPJ to start producing his keep. 0-3 in bowl games doesn’t cut it as a Tech fan, regardless of how whether we play in ACC or the almighty SEC. Quite frankly, we need to stop promoting our 15 game bowl streak. It’s meaningless if you can’t win them!!
12/19/2011 Evening Edition | collegefootballnewswire.com
December 19th, 2011
8:24 pm
[...] Richt When Hiring Next Coach GALL: Noah Spence, T.J. Yeldon Make Big Recruiting News BRADLEY: Georgia Tech Needs To Win A Bowl Game To Prove It Still Can GREENBERG: T.Y. Hilton, Kellen Moore & More SCHRAGER: Dreaming Of A College Football Playoff [...]
superDawg
December 19th, 2011
8:24 pm
I don’t think tek wins this game.Utah is bigger on th D line and faster.
Homer Simpson
December 19th, 2011
9:10 pm
You tell ‘em PJ… facts are meaningless; you can use facts to prove anything that’s REMOTELY true.
StingerSplash
December 19th, 2011
9:18 pm
MB,
Don’t dismiss just how stinkin’ good LSU and Iowa were, particularly on the defensive line. How many of those gentlemen on the LSU and Iowa defensive front sevens are currently playing in Mr. Goodell’s League?
GT23
December 19th, 2011
9:19 pm
Bottom line is that we must prove that we can win Bowl games with this offense. I think this offense is capable of expanding into a spread passing game. CPJ has shown this year that he is willing to move in that direction. We don’t have a true QB in this bowl game that can execute it on a consistent basis. Vad Lee is the answer for next season, if he stays! I do wish that CPJ would suck it up and realize that kickers are a part of this offense. Short fields with a good kicking game, makes this offense better! Spend a scholarship on a kicker that will hit 40 yard FG’s and punt the ball with accuracy to shorten the field. We can’t convert on 4th down at a percentage rate that will extend games late. Let’s get Vad Lee ready for next season, and recruit a special teams kicker or kicker’s that will make for a “triple threat”!
GT23
December 19th, 2011
9:44 pm
Look…I know punts are not fun or “sexy” and FG’s are sometimes a consolation prize. But, how many games could we have used a strong kicking game? I remember Scisson’s FG against NC that saved an undefeated season. Butler at UGA won a few games that kept them in the hunt in the 80’s. J’kowski at FSU won some games…All of these guys gave these teams an added element of the game that the defense had to contend with. It changed their scheme and game conditions late in the game. Right now, our opponents load the box and go after us because they know that they are defending the goal line.
indianman
December 19th, 2011
9:47 pm
go utah beat ga tech
Paul in NH
December 19th, 2011
9:49 pm
Mark
I agree that LSU and Air Force wanted it more than GT but I don’t agree about not wanting it as much as Iowa. Iowa’s D was just too good for GT – Claybourn was unblockable and he and 7 of his defensive teammates are in the NFL now.
Athens Dawg
December 19th, 2011
9:58 pm
HungChow & WnE
Nobody is interested in reading an opinion that last more the 5 lines……Get it? Good grief…..
Good luck to Tech in the bowl….!
Tech Engineer
December 19th, 2011
10:38 pm
Tech won 8 games with a weak schedule. They won half of the games against good teams. I’m not hopeful against Utah. Bah humbug!
macrotech
December 19th, 2011
10:44 pm
Our defense will come around….HOPEFULLY, sooner than LATER!!!
Jim
December 19th, 2011
10:47 pm
It’s great to see the triple option work in the nfl. So much for it can’t. This will only bring more top players to GT
davidinloganville
December 19th, 2011
11:12 pm
no one is running the triple option in the NFL they play a little spread option which is different. of course Denver plays a lot of spread option.
LydiasDad
December 19th, 2011
11:23 pm
Who cares about bowls? There are 36 of them now. Any team with an average can get into them, so they don’t mean much. Winning a bowl is nothing to brag about. It just means you’re an average team that beat another average team. Hooray for you, and I’m a Tech guy.
Mountain Dawg
December 19th, 2011
11:31 pm
Big games (and little ones) are won with Defense. Yech has no Defense. Therefore, whoever they play in a bowl will hang at least 35 on them. Count on it. If Yech gets behind, they cannot play ‘catch-up football’ because they have no passing attack, and the running game is barely adequate. At least they can go for a new record – most consecutive bowl losses.
outsider
December 19th, 2011
11:46 pm
WnE. No one gives a crap about your opinions anymore. Just change names as you always do. You do know that people on these blogs, both for Tech and UGA laugh at your idiot comments and pity you. If you are a lawyer which you claim to be, god forbid that anyone would hire such an idiot.
DOG TARD
December 20th, 2011
12:08 am
what exactly is a UTE?
outsider
December 20th, 2011
12:09 am
Mountan Dawg I agree with all you said, except for one thing. Barely adequate does not describe the running game of the triple option. For the misinformed including you, look up the rushing yards for G.T. and the national rankings. It’s the misinformed red necks that seem to get facts all balled up in fantasy thoughts. Why is it that all uga fans need to have a “dawg” name after a stupid first name. There must be thousands of “whatever dawg” names out there. I laugh at these each evening. I also know that most of you, never graced the halls of the University of Ga.
2010 bowl
December 20th, 2011
12:12 am
coaches lost the bowl game last year..it was bad enough wheb Tevin fumbled on the 2 yard line, he should have been yanked out of there but whoever that was on receving a punt fumbled and then the coaches allow that same person to go back out there to receive another punt only to fumble again. GEEZ GT COACHES, WHAT THE BLANK WAS THAT ABOUT?
Mountain Dawg
December 20th, 2011
12:42 am
Somebody needs to tell Turkey Neck that there is more to football than a high school offense. Defense is what wins games – regular season and bowl. Yech has NO defense, therefore Yech will lose in El Flasho. Maybe they can set their sights on a more attainable goal – losing the most consecutive bowl games. Then, they can have new rings made.
Whopper Dawg
December 20th, 2011
2:49 am
Tech does need a bowl win badly, four losses in a row under Johnson would carry a pretty good odor. What are they going to hand their hat on? Yeah, UGA beats us like they own us, but we are a middling ACC program that usually goes to a bowl where we lose. If I were a recruit, not something I would want to be a part of.
Whopper Dawg
December 20th, 2011
4:27 am
Oh, and Mark, please don’t use thingys again. You can do better than that.
Is he really that dumb?
December 20th, 2011
6:42 am
Does Paul Johnson think that a 2-2 record in bowl games at Navy is something to brag about?Maybe he get a ring made with that on it. Like he did the last time he beat the DAWGS.
“WE RUN THIS STATE”!!
USMC Dawg
December 20th, 2011
7:00 am
As a Bulldog fan, I hope to see Tech win their Bowl game this year.
I also hope that “the fans” from BOTH schools can show a little more class towards each other.
It’s getting ridiculous!
So this Dawg fan is saying “GO TECH!” (except when playing UGA)
USMC Dawg
December 20th, 2011
7:19 am
Chan Gailey was not a strong coach in my opinion, but that man could flat recruit.
Look at all of the great players who played at Tech during Paul Johnson’s first year.
Having said that, I hope Tech spanks Utah like I know they can. Go Jackets!
I am a Die-Hard Georgia Bulldog fan, but can we “stop it already” with the “we run this state” ghetto garbage? Seriously lacking class.
Go Dawgs!
drew
December 20th, 2011
7:26 am
It’s a freakin exhibition game, like all the other bowls (except the one that actually has some meaning). Who cares about exhibition games? If NOBODY watched these meaningless games, would the sponsors continue to throw all that TV money at it? Screw these bowl games…call me when there’s a playoff.
Reality
December 20th, 2011
7:37 am
GT needs a big win. This could be a confidence builder going into next season. Although the schedule is tough next year, GT should have a very good team.
Go Jackets!!!
gt1985
December 20th, 2011
7:50 am
I think that Tech will win this one.
Paul Johnson is the kind of coach that Tech needs. It will always be a challenge to recruit at Tech. Tech is almost like a military school. The corse material is difficult and rigourous. Most young children today hate mathematics and science and that is what Tech is all about. I would love to see Tech offer a curriculum that would enhance an athletes ability to perform in the sports arena after college.
Jim
December 20th, 2011
7:53 am
Wrong logan. I have seen 3 teams this year including denver run the triple option. What do you think it is when the qb pitches the ball idiot
Paul in NH
December 20th, 2011
8:12 am
What’s a Ute?
I believe it is a male between the ages of around 10 and 18.
Cadman
December 20th, 2011
8:15 am
It amazes me when i read these things. Many of these comments show a total lack of any snese of the history of football in this state. When I was growing up in Savannah (and I am in my 50’s, not 80’s) GT owned this state. There had been no Herschel and Richt (and doggies that really is all you have ever had). There was Dodd! but before there was Dodd there had been Heisman and Alexander (and yes for you dogs – they did name the trophy for the best player after him and yes most of his coaching career was spent on North Ave.). BTW – the Heisman (best player award), Dodd (best coach award) and the Homer Rice award (best AD) all originate from a place with real football history. This rabid Ugag sidewald fan base has all been built on the backs of Herschel and Richt. Most of you jerks wanted to fire Richt after the USc game…… Really brilliant…… go ahead… hire another Goff or Donnan, we would love it…
The only reason you think you are a top ten program is because of Richt ability to recruit. No matter what kind of offense you play or how you coach, if you keep recruiting great talent you will be in the top 25. The question is whether you will ever win a 2nd NC.
Not likely with Saban and Miles around.
And history will repeat itself….GT will once again rule this state….If we could have convinced Ross to stay, the dogs would have been on the losing end of this last run…
THWG
Wal-Mart Retards
December 20th, 2011
8:18 am
We run this state! We stoopid.
Nativebird
December 20th, 2011
8:21 am
MB, your title is correct, high school coach needs to win one. Your apologetic defense of why he hasn’t continues the charade. Get real. He’s a joke. Desperation hire by a desperate program is being born out every year he stays. At this rate, maybe we can scavenge a bowl win two years from now in the Famous Idaho Potato bowl. Or better yet, let’s just move the entire program to Division II so that this guy can win on a consistent basis, because in the end, isn’t that what we’re doing? Everything we can to justify keeping a small-time mini-tyrant in a hopeless attempt to prove this small-time mini-tyrant can win at the Div. I level?
Wal-Mart Retards
December 20th, 2011
8:24 am
Woof! Woof! Woof! We stoopid.
Reality Man
December 20th, 2011
8:46 am
Mark-
What has to happen for you to ever place any responsibility on Johnson? Just wondering.
old dog
December 20th, 2011
8:53 am
Cadman,
Get a life, and get a team! Get some d-linemen bigger than your kicker! Get some real defensive players. Get a QB, not an athlete! (Ya’ll shoulda kept Jaybo!) Of course we have our problems with “Can’t-Poor-P*ss-Out-Of-A-Boot” Crowell, and we do not belong in the elite of the SEC yet. However, even during a bad year (or several bad years) 9 out of the last 10 years we have won and this is destroying the rivalry. We may lose games, and there is no Herschel, etc. but we still kick ya’ll’s butt….what does that say for ya’ll? A high-school offense and a defense that is undersized and undertalented ain’t gonna cut it. Make all the fun of UGA you want to….we are still kickin’ ya’lls butt!! Keep the cripple option and you may pull one out on us occasionally, but that’ll be about it!
Hey, hey wait a minute
December 20th, 2011
9:05 am
Tech ran the ball up and down the field in all those bowl games. Nobody can stop our running game……
I need to check but I think the ref’s stole those games from us……………
If we don’t fumble we win most of those games……………..
Our recievers dropped sure TD’s………………
We do cowquelus………………
Win7
December 20th, 2011
9:45 am
when will georgia beat a good team? It will not be in the bowl–mich state will beat them by 13-20. Will they give richt a raise and bonus for winning the lowly sec east this year?? Other SEC schools are hoping yes!!!
1 4 GT
December 20th, 2011
12:25 pm
Hey Jason—-and anyone else….Please stop suggesting the GT footballers go to the Cattleman. Steakhouse. There won’t be any left for me and my friends!
@Cadman
December 21st, 2011
3:40 pm
Tech hasn’t beaten Georgia with any consistency since the early 50’s. Tech has won more games during a decade vs Georgia in on 3 decades. The games played prior to 1910, the 1920’s (the schools only played 5 times tech winning 3)and the 50’s .Even the great Bobby Dodd was 3-7 in his final 10 games vs Georgia .
roughrider
December 22nd, 2011
4:55 pm
It is embarrassing to lose this many bowl games in a row. It makes Tech look like they can’t play with any teams outside the ACC.