Live from Tech-Tech: Rain (and an upset) could be coming
Georgia Tech's uniforms. Not much gold in them thar duds, is there? (Photo by M. Bradley)
Blacksburg, Va. — Here’s great news. There’s a flash flood warning in effect here until midnight, with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms at 7 p.m. (Kickoff is at 8, or whenever ESPN decides it’s good and ready.) We mention this because …
Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech were set to play here on Aug. 27, 2000, which was so long ago that George Godsey was Tech’s quarterback and some guy named Vick was playing for the Hokies. The game never came off. A savage storm that Sunday night forced the game to be canceled, as opposed to postponed. In ESPN lore, the memory lingers because Lee Corso’s rental car was struck by lightning. (Without him inside, let’s stipulate.)
For more on the non-game, here’s esteemed colleagues Ken Sugiura’s recounting of it. But I’m not worried about a repeat of the washout, for these reasons:
1. The forecast — and I’ve been watching — has actually improved throughout the day, and as I type it’s only partly cloudy. (It was, I should note, a weird drive up from Greensboro. It poured in Winston-Salem and was so foggy at 2 p.m. in the Virginia mountains that it seemed like night. Then it got sunny.)
2. My rental car is so small — it’s a compact roughly the size of the water closet on an airplane — that I’m pretty sure any lightning would miss it.
As previously discussed, this seems the biggest game in what stands as a massive season for Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson. As previously mentioned, I like the Jackets to win. I have found absolutely no one else in the media who seconds that emotion, but I’m accustomed to that.
If it should rain hard and/or long, it could well hurt (Ga.) Tech and its pitch-it-around option game more, but those sorts of forecasts are problematic. (Va.) Tech figures to be the better passing team, so inclement weather could curtail the Hokies, too. And if the ball gets so slick nobody can hang on, there’s no real handicapping that.
I’ve liked (Ga.) Tech’s chances all summer because I think this looms as a bigger platform for the Jackets than for the Hokies. VPI, as we old folks used to call this school, is expected to win by a touchdown. VPI is ranked; GT is not. VPI has beaten GT four of the past five years. Give the hunger edge to the visitors.
But really, who knows? Georgia Tech could win, or it could lose, or the game could be rained out. Hey, it happened once.
And whatever happens tonight, I’d appreciate it if you’d hang around for all the fun and frolic. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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1,439 comments Add your comment
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
9:59 pm
I only drink coffee at night if I am driving a long distance.
Or in my younger days when I needed to sober up a bit at the bar.
It does help if you are not smashed.
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
9:59 pm
This here is going to be a sustained drive for a TD.
edawg
September 3rd, 2012
9:59 pm
Will cpj or anyone at tech ever realize this high school offence will never work at this level of football? You can only hope for an 8 & 5 season.
dry dirt road
September 3rd, 2012
9:59 pm
the tight fits off center and off guard are too tight, no holes available
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
@Jon:
You sound familiar. Are you a Saints fan?
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
Tevin stinks….and hes the best we have atm……7-5 guys/gals….7-5
ramguy68
September 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
This is a very poor high school offense by CPJ
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 pm
Need a 75-yard punt
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 pm
…or a three-and-out.
GT fan
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 pm
Tevin’s playing like a freshman … scared! Why??????
dry dirt road
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 pm
somebody give PJ a shotgun owners manual
Max
September 3rd, 2012
10:02 pm
Tevin…bad
Nester
September 3rd, 2012
10:02 pm
Enter your coMark, your gonna have to adjust your predictions got Tech(s). UNC lost to both teams by 1 TD on the road last yr. UNC will outscore both Techs under the pines this year.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
September 3rd, 2012
10:03 pm
At this point, we’ve had the ball 37 seconds longer than VT, and have five yards fewer offense. You can’t ask for a closer game than that. When you consider that they’re ranked 16 and we’re unranked, it should give some reason for hope,
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
10:03 pm
I’m sick of losing to VT.
CPJ needs to win more of these games if he wants me to keep renewing season tickets.
ramguy68
September 3rd, 2012
10:03 pm
I’ve come to the conclusion that the genius CPJ’s offense needs a big physical QB to play on this level.
BW
September 3rd, 2012
10:03 pm
Every triple option play, Tevin is handing off to the B-Back.
dry dirt road
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
even a sweep is expected by VT, so forcing Tech to pass out of the shotgun is the only solution; how about a screen pass?
Under The Bleachers
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
GT fan
September 3rd, 2012
9:59 pm
anyone … which radio station is broadcast the game??? Want to hear Wes out here in Utah!
Sorry brother, SiriusXM is the only one I know of….RamblingWreck.com may give you some help.
Good luck
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
I do not want hope.
I want a coach with sense enough to punt the ball when our D is playing so well.
GT Girl
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
Tevin needs to get his game on
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
We need a new coach unless we are going to accept average on The Flats. CPJ cannot recruit, and this system will not work at this level. The leet kids wont come here to play, and Fish Fry aint gonna go to a shot gun fellas.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
Look at that D-line plug those holes!
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
Tevin would if CPJ would give him some field position.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2012
10:05 pm
Georgia Tech is D’in’ up.
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
10:05 pm
Tech D is winning this game if CPJ will call some smart plays.
Under The Bleachers
September 3rd, 2012
10:05 pm
Both OL’s are not blocking very well….without a great deal of stunts or blitzes….just as I typed that,,a blitz
Ted
September 3rd, 2012
10:05 pm
Please replace Groh with pj.
TechMan23
September 3rd, 2012
10:05 pm
Defense!! yessir!
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
Not thrilled with Sweeting’s coverage.
He did not know where the ball was.
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
Sweeting never looked back…..we are VERY lucky to be in this game…its not our D, its their misques.
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
Defense…dominating?
[shakes head, faints dead away]
tonya harding's broken skatelace
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
jackets looking sharp tonight. could be better, but hanging in there. love the new uni’s, not for every week, but love the idea of shaking things up once in awhile. and loving this defense!!!!
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
@Fish Frys … I’ll remind you that no other coach in GT history has won more games in the first four years on the campus. Also, GT has more conference wins than any other team except VT during that same period. That’s hardly “average”.
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
We need to take the game right here with a long scoring drive.
ramguy68
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
VT’s QB would be better suited to play in GT’s offense.
davidinloganville
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
this is a home favorite’s worst nightmare, the underdog hanging around, hanging around and then one big play wins it in the 4th quarter.
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
Ok, THIS here is the sustained drive for a TD.
Ted
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
Offenses stink which make the d look good. Tevin Wash is a terrible qb. Hasn’t improved at all from 2010.
Duane
September 3rd, 2012
10:08 pm
The sad fact is that our QB and B-backs (all 3 of them) are below average. That will be exposed against any good defense. Our best athletes (Justin Thomas, Synjyn Days, Broderick Snoddy) ar sitting on the bench.
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:08 pm
Think we can hire Grantham away from Ugag after we show Fish-fry the door? Remember O’Leary(my alltime fav btw) came in as a defensive coord.
dry dirt road
September 3rd, 2012
10:09 pm
well, at least Tech got their unis right; the white helmets are similar to the ones when I went to Tech in early 70’s
dry dirt road
September 3rd, 2012
10:09 pm
nice try
Jacket Detective
September 3rd, 2012
10:09 pm
@Ted.
I disagree.
tough place to play.
Has not had field position.
Defense gets an A plus.
CPJ an F.
Mark Bradley's Fan
September 3rd, 2012
10:10 pm
No neither team has a great Defense. Both offenses are that bad. CPJ their is a reason TWO teams in FBS run this offense. It gets you to 7-5, maybe 8-4 and a bowl trip to El Paso or Shreveport…Tevin is a joke, if you cannot throw at all, the safeties/LB/Cheerleaders/Parking attendants are going to stack the line. I predict Paul Johnson will be successful….after he is fired and gets another job with Texas State Valley CC or if he is real lucky, a job in the CFL
Promo
September 3rd, 2012
10:10 pm
After seeing Tar Heels earlier, then these two “juggernauts” , I’m convinced UNC is best team in Coastal Div.
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:10 pm
Sean McDonough shocked that Tevin made someone miss.
FROM THE OUTSIDE
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
you yellow flies $uck
Under The Bleachers
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Tevin is just playing a step slow on the option..that should have been a first down if he runs it hard
GT Girl
September 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
YAY! First down!