Middle Tennessee 49, Georgia Tech 28: What’s left to say?
These are the Blue Raiders. They won. By 21 points. On the road. (AP photo by Rich Addicks)
Were Georgia Tech outrageously lucky, all its fans would be as circumspect as Dave Miller of Atlanta. Miller, a 1977 Tech grad, sat above the South end zone as Middle Tennessee was driving to Points No. 43-49 on Saturday, whereupon he rose without ceremony and moved toward the exit.
“We’re just young,” Miller said. “We had some injuries on defense. And Middle Tennessee is a good team.”
Miller’s summation: “We’ll get better.”
Not 20 feet away, another Tech fan watched the same game end and drew a different conclusion. “This was ugly,” said Jerry Kenney, also of Atlanta. “No pass rush, no tackling. I’m sure Clemson [Tech's next opponent] will be licking its chops.”
Kenney was asked if this had just been a bad day for the home team. “It’s not one bad day,” he said. “It’s two bad days in the week [the first being the overtime loss to Miami], and hope is going out the window.”
Here we offer the boilerplate disclaimer: In sports, things are rarely as bad (or as good, for that matter) as they seem. Indeed, that’s a pet phrase of Paul Johnson’s. That said …
Favored by 27 points, Paul Johnson’s team lost to Middle Tennessee. By 21. At home.
“Probably the worst,” Johnson said, speaking of losses his teams have suffered. But this coach only arrived in December 2007, and this was the worst defeat Georgia Tech has known since Sept. 17, 1983, when Bill Curry’s Jackets lost to Furman 17-14. (Three years later, another Curry team would be tied by the Paladins.)
Yes, Middle Tennessee is a Sun Belt team, and yes, the Sun Belt is an FBS conference. But still: On Aug. 30, the Blue Raiders opened their season by losing at home to McNeese State.
“Embarrassing,” Johnson said. “I don’t think there’s any other way to describe it.”
Chan Gailey’s teams were infamous for alternating stunning victories and stump-the-band losses, but Gailey never lost to Middle Tennessee. (Did lose to Duke, though.) Heck, even Bill Lewis — known around Tech as He Whose Name Must Never Be Mentioned — never lost one like this. (Did lose to Duke, though.)
It would have been bad enough to lose to Middle by a point on a 65-yard field goal that glanced off a pigeon and bounced through the uprights. But Tech lost to Middle on a day when it led the 27-point underdog for all of five minutes, nine seconds. A week after yielding 42 points and 609 yards to Miami, the Jackets were gashed for 49 and 510 by the Blue Raiders.
Said Johnson: “As bad a game tackling as I’ve ever seen.”
Said linebacker Quayshawn Nealy: “In the first half we missed 25 tackles.”
Johnson again: “It was like we were running in mud.”
Tech has played five games, losing three. It already has lost twice at home, marking the first time the Jackets have lost on consecutive weekends at historic Grant Field/Bobby Dodd Stadium since 1988, which was Bobby Ross’ second season. And now we have to ask What This All Means for this abashed coach and this humbled program.
Check the schedule, and you’ll see more than a handful of winnable games remaining. But Miami looked winnable, and Middle Tennessee was deemed a given. By losing both, Tech has fallen to 2-3 with games at Clemson and Georgia to come. By losing both and looking helpless on defense, it makes us wonder if Tech has either the scheme or the personnel necessary to prosper in the ACC, a conference it ruled not so long ago.
Will defensive coordinator Al Groh be in place tomorrow? (For this game, he was moved upstairs to the press box, and those 49 points and 510 yards suggest that perspective isn’t the issue.) Middle’s first five touchdown drives spanned 75, 78, 88, 68 and 75 yards, and here we have to pause to ponder the first part of the sentence.
Middle’s first five touchdown drives. The first five of seven. On the road. On a day when it was a four-touchdown underdog. Against an opponent from a Big Six conference that has graced a bowl for 16 seasons running and was the ACC champ (since vacated) in 2009.
Whatever was working for this program works no longer. Johnson’s prized offense can’t score enough to override his defense, which looked stout at Virginia Tech on Labor Day night but has fallen to pieces. And the excuse made after the Miami game — that Georgia Tech was two plays from being 4-0 — no longer holds currency. There are no excuses when you lose by 21 points at home to Middle Tennessee.
Said Jerry Kenney, the Tech fan: “There was a basketball player named Micheal Ray Richardson, and he once said, ‘The ship be sinking.’ ” He nodded toward the field.
By Mark Bradley
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561 comments Add your comment
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
10:33 am
I remember Brent Cunningham for Tech in about 1971 when he ran a dodgy run all the way downfield for maybe a td. He was on the track team also. But Tech’s BC was no bowling over runner like MT’s BC who ran right at Tech as opposed to Brent dodging tackles. Usually runners dodge tacklers, but this MT BC was unusual.
air of mendacity
September 30th, 2012
10:35 am
pathetic – I was hoping for a good UGA / Tech year end matchup. While Tech might play UGA hard, I am afraid with that D they have no chance. Both Grogh and PJ gone after this year. I guess some of the rich alum will have to find the money somewhere.
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
10:37 am
Tech might want an entrance into the Ivy League Div b/c they no longer have a required sports program other than a one quarter “Wellness Training” course, but they have to field a team against Duke and NC, both highly academic schools, so they cannot hide in the Ivy League Div.
Tech Legacy
September 30th, 2012
10:39 am
It was disgraceful…the lack of effort was abysmal. Still, the key problem is the lack of talent. Groh may be an issue, but no coach is going to look that good without good players, and Tech doesn’t have enough of those. Johnson has been a pretty good coach, but he seems to be losing this team. They seemed to quit yesterday. It’s clear now that Va. Tech and Virginia aren’t very good offensively. Teams have found something in Tech’s defense and are exploing it. And it’s not going to get any better with Clemson on Saturday. I’m afraid that could be very, very ugly.
GT 55
September 30th, 2012
10:41 am
All you ‘fans’ should be ashamed of yourselves. The coaching staff needs YOUR support right now, not negative criticism.
"" HOT SEAT ""
September 30th, 2012
10:42 am
rise up
Time
September 30th, 2012
10:46 am
It’s simple folks, it really is. CPJ was never any good as a coach. He won a little bit with other people’s players and a offense that noone runs, so he was able to sneak up on some teams (UGA included). But now that all of Gailey’s players are gone, and people know what’s coming, well, this is just the start of the ugly losses at Tech.
Hint for the people at Tech, when you go around thinking you’re smarter than everyone else, you’re usually not. CPJ was never, ever, a good coach, and certainly not the savior that was going to own UGA as most Tech fans tried to make him out to be.
AJGT2K
September 30th, 2012
10:46 am
As much as I love GT, I was rooting for MT yesterday. The kids have completely given up on CAG and CPJ. It was obvious in the 4th quarter of the Miami game that CPJ had given up on them too with the horrific playcalling. I was rooting for MT because that would be the only way something would get shaken up. We have too many GT fans in denial about the future of this program under CPJ and would let the hemming and hawing go on for a couple more seasons if Tech has won. Yesterday’s loss left no doubt that we are in serious trouble. And now something must be done.
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
10:47 am
I think the first two unis of this year should have been the only ones for this year. For the BD reunion, they should have worn the all white they wore for the VT game since Miami wore dark, orange jerseys. BD was the AD when I was there and Tech wore white helmets then, but this year Tech wanted to look like a BD team. They did win, but they could have worn white helmets too. That game threw them off, and then the next week they wore the same gold helmets and lost. Tech yesterday should have worn the all white unis again instead of the tan pants. This uni combination would be a matter of either light ones or dark ones, with the dark ones worn against Presbyterian. But the white helmets are just so cool with the hexagon pattern over them. Groh needs to get back on the field instead of sitting on his behind in the press box.
Beast from the East
September 30th, 2012
10:48 am
I don’t even know what to say other than Tech is truly representative of the type of defense played in the ACC.
Can anyone explain why the ACC still gets an automatic BCS bid? Seriously…
Time
September 30th, 2012
10:50 am
“I would like to see a young, fiery d-cord that shows passion on the sidelines.”
Sorry, Todd Grantham is not available.
Fred
September 30th, 2012
10:50 am
Wonder how many Dwags will be rolling the Blogs after the loss to USC next week?
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
10:51 am
Tech’s gonna play a real team next week playing Clemson, a bowl caliber team. Clemson is a sophisticated, well-oiled team. Tech’s on the skids, too.
MainDeal
September 30th, 2012
10:59 am
Clean house–coaches and incompetent AD. Hire new AD, hire petrino! Problem solved.
Roger Warren
September 30th, 2012
10:59 am
I’ve been a Tech fan for 45 years. But after yesterday’s debacle, I’m officially filing for divorce. Via con Dios boys.
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
10:59 am
Tech needs a uni identity. They are trying an Oregon walk in closet wardrobe, but they need a Tech-style Auburn national championship team wardrobe Cam Newton played in under Ted’s Roof, just a two uni light or dark combination, nothing complex.
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
11:00 am
Roger, there isn’t anywhere else to go to.
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
11:04 am
Most people identify with the big schools as fans. If you don’t want to do that, and Tech is closed, and you don’t want to identify with the pros, you need to drop out of sports and find a hobby or read or do both.
68Cougar302
September 30th, 2012
11:08 am
We will get creamed by the Dawgs this year – no doubt about. When you have a coach forcing a defensive scheme on to players who can’t run it, you get beat by MTSU. Most good coaches figure out what they have and adjust the scheme. Gotta play 4 down lineman to keep o line off linebackers. Got to keep the outside linebackers back to check the TE or fill the zone to stop the slant (ie Jarvis Jones), need a big middle linebacker (like Olgetree) either fill the gap on the run or drop and fill the zone. Need to stop hitting and wrap up and tackle. Groh can’t figure our what to do because Tech players can’t run his D. He needs to wet a hook and go! PJ also has a blind spot with Washington. Vad Lee is clearly more talented. Washington never steps forward into the pocket and he gets creamed. Yes Dawg fans, your team is better coached and you have better talent. We usually make in interesting for 3 quarters then lose in the 4th. Unless things change substantially, we will be done in the second quarter if not earlier.
dry dirt road
September 30th, 2012
11:13 am
GT 55, why support CPJ if he denies the reality that the 3optoff is passable and runnable from against a good defensive team that clearly shuts it down on every play? Can you imagine what is going to happen against Clemson, Georgia, and maybe even Duke this year? NC too. Tech needs to drop back in a wildcat as proven by yesterday at end of game when TW was getting creamed, needing a blocker the wildcat would provide on both sides of him. They also need a tight end, and screen plays, perhaps shovel passes also, depending on the density of the dirt and their efficiency curves at those particular times of the game that enable them to shovel or not.
Excited Fan
September 30th, 2012
11:21 am
Can we simply pay Brian Gregory another million to coach the football team too? At least they will play with fire and stand up to a hit in the mouth……..
predictions
September 30th, 2012
11:23 am
UNC will score 110 on GT in Chapel Hill. Clemson will roll up 78 and UGA will rest it’s starters in the second half….. lights out…shut down the computers and go home. This program is done for 2012.
GTsux
September 30th, 2012
11:28 am
Fire Georgia Tech.
Armand
September 30th, 2012
11:33 am
The proper word-is Humiliated! I’ve not seen such poor defense in 57 years of watching GT football.
Personally, I’ve never cared for Al Groh, and agree he should be terminated now while we are still in the first half of the season, and have time to pull it out, although an uphill battle…
Arthur Redding, Jr.
September 30th, 2012
11:35 am
There’s a simple truth here: the program is getting weaker. Johnson has not been able to replace athletes that were here when he arrived. Now dependent entirely on his own recruits, Johnson is putting a mediocre team on the field,especially on defense.
I like PJ but Tech needs to let him go at the end of the season. There are plenty of good young coaches that would love the opportunity to coach at GT.
confused
September 30th, 2012
11:37 am
dont blame it on groh,you need to get rid of johnson. He is responsible for it all. Yall are going no where regardless,this is tech not UGA
catlady
September 30th, 2012
11:40 am
Perhaps Tech should send all these boys back to class, and recruit another team. H3ll, maybe they could BUY another team!
Stinger 94
September 30th, 2012
11:41 am
Perhaps our 2013 schedule should include:
Agnes Scott College
The Georgia School for the Blind
The Snellville Kindercare Center
Duke
The Georgia Methodist Children’s Home.
I hope our defense can hold each of these to under 40 points.
I give up. There is nothing else to say.
THROUGH
September 30th, 2012
11:43 am
Every one is leaving Tech. They have finally wised up. You can not play much less compete with the DAWGS. I have a working partner who has been tech alumni for years and he has given up season tickets and all support for tech. You all are toast if you support tech. Tech has never been a football school any way. you are all finally waking up.
Joel Cote
September 30th, 2012
11:44 am
the defensive coordinator has got to go and need to get people who want to and can play defense on that side of the ball. They are simply unable to stop anyone!!
Tom
September 30th, 2012
11:44 am
Anybody have Jon Tenuta’s number?
November!!!!
September 30th, 2012
11:45 am
It is going to get ugly in ATHENS in NOVEMBER if you make this trip!!!!
Beast from the East
September 30th, 2012
11:46 am
Is Duke the second best team in the ACC this year?
GAILEY
September 30th, 2012
11:47 am
I told you techies not to get rid of me. I am laughing all the way from FLORIDA!!!!
GAILEY
September 30th, 2012
11:48 am
Arkansas would kill tech,the weakest team in sec!!!
greta
September 30th, 2012
11:49 am
Rotting from the top: D Rad cost a Acc championship and scholarships and has not been held responsible in any way. What other program would tolerate the arrogance and lack of responsibility. He would have been fired then if in the private sector. Good example of the accountability of a bureaucracy. Does not represent Tech. No apology, just arrogance.
Coaching selection speaking for himself: I feel like punching someone or hanging myself after losing – everyone wants to play for a violent suicidal coach. Not a head coach. After last years remarks re: Walmart – CEO is Tech grad, and using the “r” word – only to get whipped. Not a representative of the Tech I am proud of.
Does no one else see this and care. Time for a change now.
Bobby Cremins AD, Mark Price assistant AD. Start the Football Coach search now. Atlanta is a great opportunity being squandered and mismanaged. Remember Coach Ross? He did that at Tech in Atlanta. No more excuses. Lets have some accountability please.
How can Alumni get the movement started to change from the rotten arrogant top?
Let’s do this!
GAILEY
September 30th, 2012
11:49 am
Where is GTBob crying under his mamas dress tail
GAILEY
September 30th, 2012
11:52 am
Quit football and quit crying. There is only one football team in this STATE!!!! “UGA”
Nesbitt
September 30th, 2012
11:54 am
Nerds wish you had you back,right!!! Your ship is not sinking! It has sunk!!!!
Nesbitt
September 30th, 2012
11:55 am
I would not come back any way. Would be a waste of my time!!!
Nesbitt
September 30th, 2012
11:56 am
Those new uniforms with those yellow panties does not get the job done!!!
BUG SQUASHER
September 30th, 2012
11:57 am
Cant wait until NOVEMBER!!!! WIll be a beat down!!!!!
old dog
September 30th, 2012
12:00 pm
Keep that sombitch till we play ya’ll. To Hell with Tek, today,tomorrow and every other day!
Toe outlook is bleak...
September 30th, 2012
12:15 pm
At 2 and 3, here’s what’s coming – loss to Clemson, win over BC, loss to BYU, win over MD, loss to UNC, loss to Duke, and loss in Athens. But GT will call it a moral victory if they stay within 3 TD’s against the Dawgs, and say that they run this state.
Toe outlook is bleak...
September 30th, 2012
12:15 pm
And Coach Shrek will be back next year.
MANBOOBS JOHNSON
September 30th, 2012
12:16 pm
Please give me another year I know we can beat Middle Tenn one day.Honey hand me my bra.
Toe outlook is bleak...
September 30th, 2012
12:19 pm
Just think where GT would be today if they never invented the forward pass……Probably getting run over by Benny Cunningham.
Buffalo Bob
September 30th, 2012
12:22 pm
Remember the people who said 7-5 wasn`t good enough so Gailey had to go. Now GT will likely be worse than 7-5 and GT can`t afford another expensive buyout. Suddenly, Chan looks better than PJ to some of his former detractors but Tech can`t afford another buyout of a coach`s contract. You must stick with PJ. VT, Clemson, and Georgia come to Bobby Dodd Stadium next season so there will be people in the seats but there will not be many GT fans in those seats. Again, maybe Tech should apply for membership in the Sun Belt Conference and join those folks, along with Georgia State, in that conference!.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 30th, 2012
12:23 pm
A note to all who may wonder…….NONE of the posts attributed to me that have been made since the end of the game yesterday and up until now (12:23PM) were made by me. The immature jerk who apparently thrives off stealing other bloggers’ names and posting his thoughts under those names is at it again. He has been reported to upper management at the AJC. Since it is the weekend and apparently upper management does not work on the weekend, no response has been received nor action taken. HOPEFULLY, something will be done once and for all to handle the matter. Remember, all of you who post on these blogs, regardless of your school loyalty, you too can be the victim to such fraud and defamation of character. With that in mind, I would urge any and all of you to email Bradley, Ken Suguira, and any other staff writers at the AJC and insist that this matter be addressed and resolved. Thanks
Tech Employee
September 30th, 2012
12:28 pm
I work at Tech & a past fan of GT Football. But if the general public could see the attitude some of the players on campus after a loss,is so Gangsta. The high 5’s & laughter like , Boy we almost looked like we were playing football. Also to see CPJ doing his semi-fast walk on campus like he’s exercising is a joke. His attitude is like, well yeah we lost so I’m the coach & I do what I want. Start with the AD then CPJ, Groth then the rest of the worthless coaches. Get someone with a Take No Hostages Attitude. Even after Tech lost like 2 years in a row, CPJ made the comment, Oh now I know how important this game is to Tech. You Dumbass. CPJ made the comment also that if he wasn’t winning he would move on.. Umm Umm Umm Umm CPJ please call 2 Men & A Truck now. CPJ the Paul Hewitt of Ga Tech Football.