Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech on Labor Day: Who benefits?
Which Tech will fly higher? (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Georgia Tech hasn’t confirmed that it will move its game against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg to Labor Day evening, but an announcement should be forthcoming. (The holdup is because the Jackets are shuffling some other games.) So if Tech-Tech, which has become a midseason ACC marquee game, becomes a high-profile opener instead, who benefits?
Tech, I say. (Heh, heh.)
Virginia Tech benefits in that it gets the only other team to win the ACC Coastal since the league moved to divisional play at its place so early. As we know, Paul Johnson’s offense is unlike most others, and teams that have extra time to prepare tend to fare a bit better than those that don’t. (Johnson argues that this bit of conventional wisdom is overblown, but here we note that, of Georgia Tech’s five losses in 2011, three — against Virginia, Virginia Tech and Utah — came against opponents who had more than one week to ready themselves.) That said …
Georgia Tech benefits in that Virginia Tech is a famously slow starter. The Hokies lost their opener in 2008 (to East Carolina in Charlotte), in 2009 (to Alabama in the Georgia Dome) and in 2010 (to Boise State in Washington, D.C.). They also lost their second game of the 2010 season to James Madison, and last season they were tied with East Carolina in Week 2 with 7 1/2 minutes remaining.
The Jackets could return as many as 15 starters on offense and defense. The Hokies are scheduled to retain eight starters on D, but they lose four offensive linemen, two wide receivers and tailback David Wilson. And Virginia Tech, at least in the post-Vick days, has never been all that impressive on offense. If Georgia Tech can score three touchdowns on Labor Day night, it can win.
When last these teams met, Georgia Tech’s third touchdown gave it a 26-21 lead late in the third quarter, and the surging Jackets were poised to take the ball again when Jeremiah Attaochu sacked Logan Thomas on third down. But officials were slow to blow the play dead and the massive Thomas refused to go down and an agitated Attaochu took a swing at him and was flagged for the personal foul that changed the game. The Hokies kept the ball and scored, stopped the Jackets on fourth-and-1 and scored again and won 37-26.
We think of the 2011 Georgia Tech season as having unraveled at its end, but the Virginia Tech game was there to be won. Had Georgia Tech prevailed that Thursday night, it would have played Clemson for the ACC title, and the Jackets had already beaten Clemson once.
Most years, I’d say Georgia Tech wouldn’t profit from playing its chief division rival so soon on the road, but I’m thinking 2012 might be the one time it does. I’m thinking Georgia Tech will arrive in Blacksburg on Sept. 3 with a point to prove. I’m thinking the Hokies might find themselves behind 14-0 before they realize they’re in a game.
So: Am I picking Georgia Tech? As Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friend.” On Aug. 27, 2000, Georgia Tech was scheduled to play Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in prime time. Corso picked the Jackets to win, whereupon his rental car — he wasn’t in it — was struck by lightning. The game was washed out and never rescheduled. We all know the Bradley Jinx is mighty, and I’d hate it if I conjured up a storm of my own.
By Mark Bradley
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142 comments Add your comment
wes
January 26th, 2012
4:55 pm
My car has been struck by lightning.
AND…I bet on Georgia Tech over Virginia Tech while I was in Vegas last year and lost.
Some guys have all the luck. I am not one of those guys.
Tidal Wave
January 26th, 2012
4:57 pm
Who cares when these two teams play. They would be playing for 5th or 6th in the SEC West, or 1st or 2nd in the SEC Least. Just glad for UGA homers that ya’ll get to duck the Tide for another year. Two out of the last three NC’s and we will be ranked in the top five again. Thanks to the State of Georgia where we cherry pick any recruit we want.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 26th, 2012
5:08 pm
@ Tidal Wave, and then you cull out the ones you don’t want at the last minute and throw them under the bus. Class act there
Sid
January 26th, 2012
6:29 pm
I graduated from the school of hard knocks and I have no doubt my endowment is bigger than yours.
GFJacket
January 26th, 2012
6:56 pm
JB is right. Johnson’s problem is not offense, it is defense. VT is like UGA in that it has a wide latitude and lots of academic options to recruit players. Until Tech gets some Turfgrass Management degrees it will never be able to compete with major college football. Johnson’s system is the best they can hope for.
GFJacket
January 26th, 2012
7:04 pm
UGA is a lock this year for SEC East. With a little luck, UGA could be another SEC team that gets denied a shot at a BCS title, despite being undefeated.
1 4 GT
January 26th, 2012
7:09 pm
http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/p/30893609/Go-Dwags.aspx
1 4 GT
January 26th, 2012
7:13 pm
Left Coast Dawg—-My 7:09 PM post has a link you can open and see a dwag in action.
1 4 GT
January 26th, 2012
7:18 pm
ROFLMFAOLOL at Limp stinger but not Sid. Copycats are seldom funny, just sound used up.
Rick James
January 26th, 2012
7:27 pm
@GFJacket
Also with it’s poor showing this bowl season and weak schedules it may be long time before we see a national champion from the (A)thleticly (C)hallanged (C)onference
1/26/2012 Evening Edition | collegefootballnewswire.com
January 26th, 2012
7:45 pm
[...] Ryan Anderson Upwardly Mobile BIANCHI: Schiano Is Taking Over NFL Version Of Rutgers BRADLEY: Who Benefits From Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech On Labor Day? KING: NFL Draft Defections Help Hogs ADELSON: Greg Schiano Leaves Big Shoes To Fill PERKINS: [...]
GFJacket
January 26th, 2012
7:59 pm
ACC quit being relevant on the national champion stage long ago….
UGAFan
January 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
Seriously? Georgia Tech on Labor Day? Oh, that will be a ratings debacle. Who in this country would want to watch Ga. Tech and for that matter, Virginia Tech play?
Baby Ruth
January 26th, 2012
8:23 pm
That’s ok UGAfan….Least our coaches will be on the sidelines and not at the local jail!
ramguy68
January 26th, 2012
9:29 pm
VT wins walking away. Too much time to prepare for this offense. There is a history about that you know and it doesn’t bid well for GT.
Tech Fan Since 1950
January 26th, 2012
10:27 pm
Got to work all summer on those toenail tackles on that big and tall quarterback, who we haven’t stopped yet.
Hokie-in-ATL
January 26th, 2012
11:14 pm
Beamer will find a way to Chokie-pokie his way to a loss. It’s been years since he had a team ready to start a season, and the new starters on offense have decent experience as backups but won’t be in tune on day 1 of the season. And if they are, Beamer will call for an option play on a punt with the score tied in the 4th quarter again or something equally moronic. We are who we are. 10 wins again vs. bad teams and sh*t the bed vs. good teams. At least it’s a good excuse to drink beer regardless of win or loss though!
Really?
January 26th, 2012
11:17 pm
How can the north avenue trade school benefit from a loss? Va Tech will have much longer than a week to prepare and that means bad news for coach hypocrite and his high school offense. Why no mention that cpj and whoever the trade school’s ad is tried to back out of the move as has been reported by many other sites?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 26th, 2012
11:32 pm
Really?, I doubt that anybody at either school has tried to “back out of the move.” Tech’s only objection is that, unless they can do some schedule shifting, they will have to play again 4 days later. Even the Dwags would have that concern. Do you ever actually use the brain that God gave you?
Tech breaks streak – Monroe News Star » Hot Tech Blog
January 27th, 2012
3:28 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Womenbeaters of athens
January 27th, 2012
7:29 am
any arrests today?
Buzz2011
January 27th, 2012
7:37 am
Why the Dawgs benefit Bradley!! Isn’t that what you want to hear???????????
Gobbler!
January 27th, 2012
7:48 am
Va tech will be loaded this season—they should beat ga tech easily.
Sid
January 27th, 2012
7:58 am
Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight won a thunderous standing ovation when he defended Paterno’s handling of the 2002 allegations against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Paterno, he hinted, had been made a scapegoat.
“If there is a villain in this tragedy, it lies in that investigation and not in Joe Paterno’s response,” Knight said. Paterno’s widow, Sue, was among those rising to their feet.
Dostoveyskiy
January 27th, 2012
8:06 am
Do you think Beamer will still be at the VaTech helm? With former UGa player (Bell) saying he was duped by Donnan in Ponzi scheme, this will be bring more evidence that Donnan is indeed guilty. And who was possibly the only investor who made money by investing in Donnan’s get-rich scheme, when so many others lost their money? None other than Donnan’s very close friend, Frank Beamer. Beamer stated that there is no way that Donnan acted unethically. Looks like Beamer was closely allied with Donnan in this crooked venture. Not long before Beamer is implicated.
Robert
January 27th, 2012
9:34 am
@UGAslobberknocker – I’m a Tech man and have been fan since Dodd’s days. However, your posts still cracked me up. The truth hurts but sometimes it’s funny.
Bob, the Brave
January 27th, 2012
9:35 am
For cryin’ out loud, not you Bradley. Would those who would please stop talking about the swing on Logan Thomas “late in the 3rd quarter”. I watched the game; there was more than a whole quarter left and (good) stuff happened. Main reason people don’t like the Bees – more than anyone they whine and it’s never, ever their fault why they lost.
macrotech
January 27th, 2012
9:49 am
Left Coast Dawg, dwag is a LOT like swah….just with a greater limp!
JB….”Who starts at QB….”? Great question….More than likely, it’ll be Washington UNLESS Vad Lee has an AMAZING summer practice! Just my two cents worth.
macrotech
January 27th, 2012
9:50 am
“swag”….ooops
William Casey
January 27th, 2012
10:03 am
@Bob, the Brave: No whine here and I haven’t seen any other GT fan here blaming anyone other than ourselves for the VT loss last year. The Jackets had come out smoking on offense in the second half and the defense had just played its best series of the game. Our best defensive player then made an awful move out of frustration. VT took advantage and deserved to win. However, momentum had been all on GT’s side. Who knows would have happened without the swing at Logan Thomas? GT might have fumbled the punt or been held on offense. One thing for sure, though: GT was not overmatched or outcoached in that game.
headley lamar
January 27th, 2012
10:34 am
Who cares ?
I mean really .
It is just the ACC.
PittHokie
January 27th, 2012
12:33 pm
Offense will not be a juggernaut (never was!) but will make enough plays to put points on the baord. VT defense will get it done. Think what they did to Michigan and they will only get better with some seniors returning from injuries. Logan Thomas is developing into a stud QB and will have a huge year.
GTBrad
January 27th, 2012
12:42 pm
UGASlobberKnocker, the game is at VT
crackbaby
January 27th, 2012
2:39 pm
Mr. Bradley shows no respect for Logan Thomas. That kid is special. Hope he fulfills his potential, just not against the Jackets…
DeBord
January 27th, 2012
4:42 pm
Foster’s defense is gonna be crazy good next year. It very well could turn out to be his best front 7 since 1999. Predicting a low-scorning game. Per usual, the team with the less mistakes on offense will probably pull out the win.
DBHokie
January 27th, 2012
4:58 pm
VT retruns 9 starters on defense, plus another 6 in the front 7 that had significant playing time last year due to all the injuries. Don’t think GT will get to 17, maybe not even 14. FYI, last year VT was missing 4 starters on D when they played at GT. An extra week to 10 days to practice against the scheme preseason will not be good for GT.
As for the offense, 1 retuirn O lineman plus 3 others with extensive experience. Also 3 returning widereceivers with extensive playing time (1 was out last yr w/ injury having started the prior yr, other 2 were regulars in the rotation last year) so little drop off there. VT ALWAYS plugs in a good tailback — Evans, then Williams, then Wilson. nest year will be no different. Saying VT will score on 17 is absurd. i would expect 35+ against an AlGroh D with Thomas at QB with another year of experience and the full playbook at his disposal.
Oscar voting goes hi-tech – kypost.com » Hot Tech Blog
January 28th, 2012
3:29 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
UGA's schedule is a joke
January 29th, 2012
1:40 pm
nuff said…..
UGA = Yawn
January 30th, 2012
7:47 am
That stupid punch. Right in front of me. Knew instantly we were doomed. The biggest, bonehead move ever. I wish he’d transfer. I am not a fan. PS: GT will get smashed at VT. 1-10 vs UGA in last 11, 0-7 in last 7 bowls, 1-3 vs VT. Do the math, even the worst GT brains can figure this one out. Johnson’s experiment at GT is over. Let’s move on.
Torching a Blunt with Crow-ell
January 31st, 2012
2:42 pm
Three things certain as death & taxes:
1) Tech Alumni don’t want the curriculii watered down for athletics like the SEC
2)Beamer will intimidate the ACC and its refs into calling at least one chop block
3)VPI wishes it were Georgia Tech
Dr. K
February 1st, 2012
12:09 am
Logan Thomas gets his name into the Heisman race early with a great showing. Even without David Wilson at RB, the Hokies will be fine. They just reload at RB because of their system. I think the Hokies being in Lane Stadium for a night game with all that time to prepare has to bode well for VT.
Dr. K
February 1st, 2012
12:11 am
I can also assure you that no one at Virginia Tech wishes they were at GT, instead.