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
Burdell
September 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
VT might win and might have won any way, but that terrible call changed the whole tenor of the game! I hate it when the ref’s screw up so bad. I know it’s a tough job, but come on!!! If you’re the best the ACC has, then that doesn’t say much for the rest of the crews!!!!
GABud
September 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
You nerds can,t take the pressure. UGA will make you the laughing stock of the state again. Virginia is going to beat you like i predicted. CPJ is a joke of a coach.
BehindEnemyLines
September 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
FBYJ: We have receivers?
ramguy68
September 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
Nada
Mock 1
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
LOL I am sooo impressed with this offensive genius!!
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
Va-Poly defense pretty pumped up.
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
pass play for minus 4 yds……
Jackets88
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
Backs AND receivers are not blocking
BRAVOFAN
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
This offense is BRUTAL! They look slow and they seem to not have any playmakers.
GABud
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
QUIT CRYING YOU NERDS.
Mock 1
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
Time for a 5 yard loss
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
Credit where credit is due. Nice run, Tevin.
GT Geoff
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
I think CPJ is starting to turn us into a dynasty. THWG!
GT Girl
September 3rd, 2012
10:52 pm
We needed that
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
their D are making plays on their knees b/c our runners fall down as soon as they are touched.
Big Crimson 75
September 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
GTs putting it all in this drive.
GT Girl
September 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
First?
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
Good second effort.
Stats
September 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
Does ga tech have forward pass plays?
davidinloganville
September 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
Tevin making plays
TechMan23
September 3rd, 2012
10:55 pm
1st Down….4:35 min left
GT Girl
September 3rd, 2012
10:55 pm
Yes! First down!
BRAVOFAN
September 3rd, 2012
10:55 pm
The backs just look slow to me, maybe I am overreacting! For this offense to be effective you have to have a quick qb, quick running backs, a qb who is a better than average thrower, a sound o line and 1 big recieving threat down the field. Tech has none of that!
GABud
September 3rd, 2012
10:55 pm
cpj can,t spell DYNASTY. He will be fired after this year
Tampa Wreck
September 3rd, 2012
10:55 pm
Blocking by A backs on the edge has been pathetic all game. Aren’t putting anybody on the ground.
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
pass play for 0 yds…..
Will10
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
I love all the UGA fans bitching on here after their easy cinderella game.
ramguy68
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
lol…no forward passing game for GT
Jackets88
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
Blocking on the outside is embarrassing!
GABud
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
You are comparing them to the backs at UGA,TECHS IS SLOW
BRAVOFAN
September 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
Again these plays dont work because Tech has terrible blocking techniques! The recievers cant block either!
SEC Fact Finder
September 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
Poor poor play calling
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
gg
GABud
September 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
FIRE cpj
BehindEnemyLines
September 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
Blocking is non-existent.
BRAVOFAN
September 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
He is punting! This game is OVER!
Michael G.
September 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
A Punt?
ramguy68
September 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
Two passing plays on 1st and 2ed down…Maybe the genius doesn’t believe in his offense so much after all.
SEC Fact Finder
September 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
The Wideouts have not blocked anyone all night.
Burdell
September 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
Why in G@ds name do you throw a long pass?? Stupid!!!
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
@GABud:
I guess you were waiting until GT was behind to bestow these pearls of wisdom upon us.
Thanks, Ogre.
Will10
September 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
you guys would rather he go for it and risk giving it up, the O is not working at all
GABud
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
THIS GAME WAS OVER WHEN YOU TECHIES HIT THE FIELD. YOU LOSERS
Max
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
Horrible play calling…some genius
Randy Carson, IMGT '83
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
1st and 10 – pass for no gain
2nd and 10 – incomplete
3rd and 10 – rush for 4
So, why not get those four on first down???
Duane
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
LMAO at the clock management. Run 20 seconds, then use a timeout. So now VT gets the ball back and only has to make 1 first down to lock up the win. And even if they don’t GT gets the ball back with less than a minute and a half left.
Tampa Wreck
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
I don’t get it.. He goes for it on 50 in a tie game in third quarter, but punts on 40 with 3 minutes to go. What am I missing?
BRAVOFAN
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
Georgia is going to KILL Tech this year! The speed difference is evident and Michael Bennett from Georgia is a better blocker than anyone on Techs roster!
Fish Frys make u fat
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
I guess our rallying cry this year should be COVER the SPREAD!
Said it all nite….this system + this coach + these players = 7-5
Nite Owl
September 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
@GABud:
You know. Ogre. Revenge of the Nerds…