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
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Also: Still not raining. I just went down on the field. But it is really dark above.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
I do NOT like the blue numerals
BLT
September 3rd, 2012
7:33 pm
I think those uniforms are a one time deal. Sorry, I’m use to the gold helmets and pants. Hope the players like them and play inspired football. If that happens I don’t really care what they wear. Big game, can’t wait for kickoff.
Let’s get it done Yellow Jackets!
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2012
7:34 pm
And wait till you get a gander at Paul Johnson’s all-white ensemble. Looks like Mr. Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever.”
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:34 pm
I like the honeycomb gold on the sleeves, but the honeycomb blue numerals should have been gold also.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
OK. You got me. I was kidding about PJ’s attire.
Br
September 3rd, 2012
7:36 pm
If the game is delayed, who then gets any advantages? Guess it depends if it’s the middle of the game.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:37 pm
They just showed Johnson on the tube, and he had on his usual blue polo shirt
Paul in NH
September 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
Does CPJ have the wide lapels and dark shirt to complete the look?
JustinSyder
September 3rd, 2012
7:39 pm
They tried the gold numerals last year against WCU. Everyone hated them.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
well, these blue numerals with that honeycomb design look like Duke baby blue from a distance
Thrashers Fan!
September 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
Go Jackets!
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
Uni’s look great. Just saw them on TV
Paul in NH
September 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
Supersize,
As a former resident of the Triangle I can tell you that the team that wears baby blue is not the Blue Devils.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
@ Paul…..oops….you’re right. my bad
iBALL
September 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
Folks, G-tech will not beat V-tech at home. C’mon Man!! That triple option crap is old!!
Prediction
September 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
A storm will blow through after gt has a 10-7 lead and the game will be delayed. Then vt will come out and take over and win 27-17 and gt whiners like super will say see that storm killed our momentum. They have excuses every year.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
Still, from a distance, Tech’s blue honeycomb numerals look baby blue
tellitlikeitis
September 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
If GT loses tonight, you will never see these uniforms again.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
@ iBALL…..if it’s so old, why haven’t any of Beamer’s teams stopped it yet?
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
NOBODY makes excuses like the dwags
JustinSyder
September 3rd, 2012
7:47 pm
Prediction: Get a life.
Big Crimson 75
September 3rd, 2012
7:48 pm
Supe — Good luck pal!!
I’m rollin’ with the Jackets tonight.
34-27 Jackets!
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:49 pm
YELLOW!
ylojkt
September 3rd, 2012
7:49 pm
I was in New York on vacation for our big win against VT in Blacksburg, was a total domination. I was also fortunate that there are GT fans all over the country (and internationally, but that’s another story); we were on vacation staying with one of my wife’s college friends and her then fiance. The wife and her friend went shopping, leaving me and the fiance at a sports bar in downtown NYC; about 5 minutes into the first quarter, he disappeared and I didn’t see him again until about an hour after the game. Luckily, there was an entire table of GT fans there and I spent my time watching and celebrating with them. I found out afterwards (after the fiance stayed absent for large parts of the weekend) that he was in the grips of a cocaine addiction which eventually cost him his cushy Wall Street gig, so I was dumped while he took the opportunity to score.
Anyway, just a GT – VT anecdote that comes to mind every time these two play. And I agree that the GT WF championship game was an atrocity to watch, was so ready for Chan to go after watching that I couldn’t stand it.
Jackets will feast on some turkey tonight. GO JACKETS!!!!
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
Best looking uni’s Tech has had in years, love the white Helments
I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary about Uncle John...
September 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
After all the crap the jacket fans spewed on the UGA game blog Saturday? Supportive is not a word that comes to mind. Just sayin…
GT Girl
September 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
I think our unis and helmets look good. Hopefully we will too!
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
TW twisted his ankle in warmups, Vad Lee may have to start
Burgess
September 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
Paul Johnson is a legend is in own mind
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
just kidding about TW
GSUStud
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
I see where this game is televised nationally. Most people outside the southeast and the ACC have never even heard of Georgia Tech so at least they will get some exposure. As far as the game goes, Virginia Tech beats Georgia Tech easily, probably by about three touchdowns.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Aunt Mary……there were more dwag fans spewing crap on the UGA game blog the other day than Tech fans. I couldn’t believe how fast your fans turned on CMR in that game. That was pathetic
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
PJ is a legend in my mind to
Burgess
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Paul Johnson is a legend in his own mind
BG
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Georgia Tech is going to get the crap beat out of them.
JustinSyder
September 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
That’s weird, because they were just showing Tevin throwing the ball.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
Burgess is a man in his own mind
Prediction
September 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
Justin
Get a qb lol
GrrrlZilla
September 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
Mark – did you drive up through Fancy Gap/Mt Airy while it was fogged in? Bravos on the cajones & safe return if so. I was born near Blacksburg (don’t tell anyone) & still get nervous every time I go up that road, fog or no fog. In any case, Go Jackets!
Gt fan
September 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
Rain moving through?
Burgess
September 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
He won with Gailey’s players. He’ll never win big again. Isn’t it obvious to you, he’s in over his head.
Prediction
September 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
And a rb too!! lol
defactodawg
September 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
Mark,
Didn’t realize flying to Greensboro is the best way to reach Blacksburg. Gotta say, looking forward to the live blog but must also say hokie, hokie, hokie hi, let’s go gobblers of VPI!
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
A misfire on Virginia Tech’s post-National Anthem cannon blast. Had to pull the lanyard three times.
Ol'JacketFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
LOL@ BTTF, one of my friends texted me that exact same statement earlier today about TW, I cussed him for about an hour or so
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
What’s up super, from the spring game, now we finally get the season rolling. GO JACKETS!
Prediction
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
Yep Burgess but these angry nerds, lol, don’t see the obvious.
BigTimeTECHFan
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
LoL Ol’Jacket
LHarding Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
Dawg fan here, pulling for Gerogia Tech.