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
What
September 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
Build it and they will come..George!
Jacket in Fair Play, S. C.
September 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
I came to Atlanta today to win a game, get drunk and enjoy a great Tickle Pile. I”m DRUNK!!!
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
Since Virginia is still paying Groh millions, maybe they feel they are finally getting something for their money.
He has demoralized first our defense and now the whole team.
bill
September 29th, 2012
6:49 pm
@ George.Defense is the main culprit,of course……BUT,.the offense couldn’t sustain a drive to finish off Miami. Washington isn’t awful…but he wants to do too much by himself. On the 4th down in the OT, you had 2 OL’s expecting a pitch to the B-back.Washington had a TD if he pitched like the play was supposed to be executed.You don’t have 3 men running away from the line on such a crucial play if the QB didn’t make a choice to be a hero instead of executing the called play.
He didn’t rally the team in the 2nd half against a team that LOST to McNeese St.. Nice kid, no doubt. Has proven time after time last 3 years( save Clemson game) that he doesn’t have what it takes to lead in this offense.Please…that Duke win was a game that shouldn’t have gone down to the wire.Tech has to go with Lee…..and Days.He isn’t Reggie Ball…but he isn’t a kid that should be the starting QB. He’s a senior…..he has had many chances…..6-7, 8-5…..2-3…..4-8?
Jacket Dad
September 29th, 2012
6:50 pm
“How can you recruit when the fans don’t show up?” I’ve been to games…even went to Shreveport and bought tickets for extended family. And left embarrassed and disgusted with lack of effort and poor preparation.
I can’t go to games any more and you are probably right to question my lack of attendance. Every game feels like the hammer is about to fall. Every game feels like we are in it to “not lose” it. I tried. I just can’t take it because I’m one of those fans who really gets into it and yells support and most of the Jacket fans turn and stare like I’m interrupting their nap. I’m the guy who replays plays in my mind all night. So I can’t watch this train wreck – it’s affecting my health.
The buck stops at the top. Johnson has a challenge at Tech and we all know that. However, the current product stinks and is tanking.
Smyrna Gold
September 29th, 2012
6:50 pm
I’ve been a Tech fan since 1952 and I have seen highs and lows but I do believe we are at the bottom of the barrel at this point. Tech needs to send DRAD, CPJ and GROH packing; the Tech fans need to hold the athletic dept. leaders accountable, quit making lame excuses for losing or get out od Div 1 football altogether. If CPJ is the coach at GT next season then we should just pack it up anyway. This program is really pathetic.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
6:51 pm
Actually it may be that whoever played us after the demoralizing Miami loss was going to win.
Groh makes his players look like one stars by seldom blitzing.
Nothing wrong with blitzing to get a pass rush.
Tevin gets pressured at home a lot more than the opposition QB.
Tevin running stats were lowered by the sacks he took when MTSU beat our blockers.
They got fired up when they sensed we were down and they could win.
What
September 29th, 2012
6:54 pm
tevin calls his own # when close..he is trying to score all TD’s himself to look good. sick!
Smyrna Gold
September 29th, 2012
6:54 pm
And btw, good coaches don’t put a product like this on the field after being in their 5th year. Can’t anybody see GT is going backwards. My god, what does it take???
bill
September 29th, 2012
6:55 pm
Mark…would you go with Lee at this point? If PJ wants to stay HC, he may have to.This team needs a spark….TW is what he is. Isn’t going to get better. Lee or Days could.
Burgess
September 29th, 2012
6:57 pm
Is there a place on Tech’s campus that Petrino can drive his motorcycle ? And are there any volleyball players available ?
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
6:59 pm
@bill.
Defense more to blame.
Tevin had won the three games prior to this.
The momentum shifted in the three OTs because we had let them back in two of those games by going conservative on offense.
What
September 29th, 2012
6:59 pm
Go back to uga Burgess and stick it.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:01 pm
CPJ has spent his time here going for it at or near the fifty when he should not and often fails.
Then against Miami, when he should go for it on fourth, he doesn’t.
The absolute required situation to go for it and he doesn’t.
That’s the coach choking.
Both CPJ and CAG have demoralized our team.
GT alum
September 29th, 2012
7:03 pm
Whether we like it or not, we need to stick with CPJ. Hire another coach, we may get a Chan who wins only 7 games. If we get a coach who wins 9-10 games, he will be picked off by a bigger school and we are right back to where we started. CPJ needs to make staff changes and get coaches who can recruit and FIRE-UP the team on the field. Tech plays with no upbeat energy.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:05 pm
The season is not over.
But Clemson at Death Valley.
Will a motivated team show up?
They could quit for a game and get it back together.
We’ll see.
But not happy in the present.
crackbaby
September 29th, 2012
7:05 pm
Coach Al Groh – “I’m done talking about “
crackbaby
September 29th, 2012
7:06 pm
[insert team here....}
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:08 pm
@GT Alum.
Will CPJ’s judgement be any better when he replaces Al Groh?
But I think the two of them together have demoralized the team.
They can tackle better than that.
They quit because their coaches have wasted their efforts to defeat Utah, VT and Miami.
E-From Riverdale
September 29th, 2012
7:09 pm
Already been said Al Groh must and will be gone very soon. Johnson was crazy to hire Groh in the first place after watching how his Virginia Teams got beaten into submission, what did Johnson see. In the end it appears the hiring of Groh could cost Johnson his job and by the way Groh was moved from the field to the coaching box for this game, the next move is out the door.
ha
September 29th, 2012
7:10 pm
I’m done, time for this smug ass coach and his disaster of a defensive coordinator to it the road. Until that day bye bye.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:11 pm
The players are angry with the coaches for wasting their efforts.
The coaches get the millions and they are the ones losing the games.
GT65
September 29th, 2012
7:12 pm
I just can’t get excited anymore with CPJ and staff. Let him finish the year and let him go.
GTBuzz81
September 29th, 2012
7:12 pm
I’ve figured out CPJ’s plan.He wants our team to look as bad as possible so that Georgia will be overconfident come November.Brilliant
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2012
7:16 pm
I would not fire Paul Johnson. To answer the question posed while I was driving home.
QB/DB
September 29th, 2012
7:18 pm
There is a reason Groh is no longer at Virginia. There is a reason McCollum was released at M. Tenn, and while McCollum was at N.C. State their recruiting was below average. Speed was Coach of Navy’s JV??? Give Groh an Admin. job. McCollum gets the Kennesaw State job. Hire Giff Smith or Alabama’s Lance Thompson (both are GREAT RECRUITERS AND KNOW THE AREA) Bring in another Assist. who can Coach and recruit, let a passing guru work with QB’s and CPJ problems are over
Stinger 2
September 29th, 2012
7:21 pm
I guess it was not our day. Maybe it will be next Sat. at Clemson. My guess is that
CPJ will start Tevin and he should. This game will be the turning point of the season and its is not fair to put that much pressure on Vad Lee. Now if the game gets out of control with no hope for GT to win, bring on Vad.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:23 pm
Since I love Tech, I do the AD job for a dollar.
Then I’ll hire myself as head football coach also for a dollar.
I’ll take the savings and use them to put out a help wanted sign for D and O coordinators at whatever it takes to get the best.
I have past Tech fooball heroes as advisors.
All I’ll do is urge the coaches to keep doing whatever gets us ahead.
NO sense stopping ourselves like Utah and Miami games.
I’m really discussed with the coaches because of Tevin.
He deserves better than to be their fall guy.
He played better than I thought he could in all three OT losses.
In all three, the other team had the momentum because they knew they were beat and we let them (in the words of Dennis Green) “off the hook”.
GT65
September 29th, 2012
7:24 pm
Mark this craps got to stop….5 years and CPJ has not changed.
UGA almost lost to Tenn..44-51 Tenn fumbles on 28 with 1:50 to go.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:26 pm
BTW I’m aware the above fantasy is not going to happen except in some alternative universe.
BusterBrave
September 29th, 2012
7:28 pm
@George Stein, bout’ bein’ separated from the brain,but he couldn’t be worse a defensive coordinator than Groh,and hey’, he might have paid attention to the brain after all these years on his staff,enough to reprogram his Bulldog brain……..and if Johnson is let go for whatever reason,could be in line for the job……….like I say,a interestin’ idear……….
GT65
September 29th, 2012
7:28 pm
Tenn gets ball back with 15 sec..to go
GT65
September 29th, 2012
7:29 pm
game..
Snellville Jacket
September 29th, 2012
7:29 pm
I was at the game we lost to Furman in 1983. Thank goodness I wasn’t in Atlanta today. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. I was also at the FSU game In 1992 when Bill Lewis lost the team after he looked absolutely clueless in blowing a big lead. I hope the same thing didn’t happen to CPJ last week vs Miami.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:30 pm
Vad is the QB of the future.
Tevin deserves better than these OT losses.
The coaches have demoralized first the defense and now the offense too.
Groh is the opposite of Tenuta.
Sometimes we wondered if he blitzed too much.
With Groh, he clearly does not blitz enough.
But if I am wrong and it is the player’s fault, who bears the responsibility for recruiting them?
BusterBrave
September 29th, 2012
7:30 pm
@ George Stein,good point though and well taken………..
tommy
September 29th, 2012
7:33 pm
I still support Johnson. He needs to fire Groh and let assistant coach defense for rest of season. For what ever reason Groh has lost touch with his players. Johnson has got to start Vad Lee. If Vad Lee dont get it done put in Thomas. Tech fans are tired of Groh and Tevin. Dont let your stubborness lose your job Johnson.
Tech's Dennis Green
September 29th, 2012
7:36 pm
We had Utah beat and let them off the hook.
We had VT beat and let them off the hook.
We had Miami beat and let them off the hook.
After doing that to my team three times, they gave us a stinker to get even.
I don’t blame them.
I’m getting the big money and I am the one losing the games.
P B Orr
September 29th, 2012
7:39 pm
Is Bobby Petrino available?
Lee Goza
September 29th, 2012
7:40 pm
Our offense is ok even with Tevin. I think it will be even better with Vad at some point. We’ve got to find someone who can recruit and coach defense with reason and heart. Groh is not the guy.
JC
September 29th, 2012
7:41 pm
Mcneese St. seemed to handle MTSU.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:41 pm
Tech’s Dennis Green was me.
I never had an appreciation of his tirade until now.
It wasn’t a meltdown.
He got his feelings out.
His FG kicker missed to lose that game vs the Bears and also lost him the game vs the Falcons after he had made 30 straight kicks.
No wonder he was pissed.
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:42 pm
@Lee Goza.
Agreed.
Ga Today
September 29th, 2012
7:43 pm
I’m a dawg fan and i do hate tech, but man whats really going on? Recruit some of those kids FROM your home state and that will help out a lot i think.
GT65
September 29th, 2012
7:43 pm
Why Orr you want a date..
Yellow Britches
September 29th, 2012
7:44 pm
I will not live long enough to see Tech hire a new head coach who then has the time to rebuild this mess–if indeed it can be done. We might be closer to Tulane than UGA. But this administration has lost its players. No heart and no confidence in the guys holding the clip boards. Sad to see because we have pride and a great, albeit checkered past. Time to admit what our eyes see and what our hearts tell us. Admit the mistakes and start over. Sigh
Jacket Detective
September 29th, 2012
7:44 pm
When Petrino rides off with your daughter, will you be OK with it?
thunDerstruck
September 29th, 2012
7:45 pm
Where is GATech Boob? Oh,I forgot. He’s breaking down th GA -TN game
Ghost of the Flats
September 29th, 2012
7:45 pm
Coach Johnson, Presbyterian is on line 3. They say they will come back
for another game if we’ve got the cash to pay them. Do we have enuff ?
GT man
September 29th, 2012
7:48 pm
If Rad wants to again put GT back into the football elite, then PJ and Al have to go !!!! The 1920’s offense is not working and can you imagine West Va playing us today ????? Why do we not know how to cover on pass defense ? Murray will be a Heisman against us.