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
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
8:51 pm
How grown up of you, Herschel.
Buzzman
September 29th, 2012
8:52 pm
Remember at the end of the year, Mark Stoops (I think I got it right, Defensive coach for Fla. State). This is the coach we need to hire to be the head coach. Also I have been saying for 3 years we need to fire Big Al. I guess nobody listens and look where it has gotten us…….
techgirl
September 29th, 2012
8:55 pm
Fire PJ. I want to see a real offense on the field next season.
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:55 pm
I am a Dawg fan, but a Georgian and want to Tech to win every game but one. I following recruiting close and Johnson has let the talent slip greatly. He’ll sign 2 or 3 plums a year, but the balance of the classes are pretty weak. I do think if he had Georgia’s players, he would be almost unbeatable. Chan did leave him some special players. They are gone and it shows.
BBQ MAN
September 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
fire Groh NOW! fire CPJ at end of season.. Pay whatever it takes to hire Kirby Smart as new HC to begin at end of season. Great recruiter, great defensive mind
BBQ MAN
September 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
fire Groh NOW! fire CPJ at end of season.. Pay whatever it takes to hire Kirby Smart as new HC to begin at end of season. Great recruiter, great defensive mind
Buzzzed
September 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
Its not all coaching. The players have to make plays. They looked like little girls today.
TW threw accurate balls. The receivers let theirs hands get in the way of catching ball.
BBQ MAN
September 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
fire Groh NOW! fire CPJ at end of season.. Pay whatever it takes to hire Kirby Smart as new HC to begin at end of season. Great recruiter, great defensive mind
billydawg
September 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
Enter your comments here
Jacket1985
September 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
One thing that has been really glaring to me is how SLOW we are on both sides of the ball. We have no speed at all and can’t handle teams that do. It’s like we play in slow motion. How Isaiah Johnson and Rod Sweeting keep their positions I will never know. I thought we were supposed to be deeper than ever in the secondary.
I thought the Miami game was painful but this was worse….
Jacket1985
September 29th, 2012
8:58 pm
And if you think Kirby Smart or any of those other guys would come to Tech as HC, think again.
I don’t think Saban himself could win at Tech.
JB
September 29th, 2012
8:58 pm
Don’t think Tech hires a former bulldog.
billydawg
September 29th, 2012
8:59 pm
GT should move to 1aa fcs football.
culpezzo
September 29th, 2012
8:59 pm
Here’s the deal. I’m a long standing Tech fan — graduate and season ticket holder for 30 plus years. And will always support the Jackets. But…… a lot of folks aren’t like me me. Tech — as in Radakovich and others have got to realize if they don’t make changes — starting with getting rid of Groh — they will start losing their fan base and big time alumni support. That in college football these days is serious business. When the players do not want to play for the coaching staff — and ours don’t — you cannot win. I’m sure Tech had better athletes than MTSU but they were out coached and MTSU had more desire and deserved to win. Those qualities can beat talent in college football. Radakovich needs to quit worrying about how nice he might look in a suit and tie and take care of business. Al Groh has got to go!
billydawg
September 29th, 2012
9:00 pm
Triple option is very effective for a while when schools are not used to seeing it. But the more tech plays acc schools, the more they know how to defend it.
Middle teen?
my God
Observer
September 29th, 2012
9:00 pm
Just got called in to work……Suicide watch on North Ave…….
billydawg
September 29th, 2012
9:02 pm
thanks
so are you and your football program
gy6
September 29th, 2012
9:03 pm
the team is not buying what lardass is selling anymore, no respect, not buying in. explained.
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:03 pm
How do you know that, culpezzo?
We score plenty, billydawg. I cannot understand folks who continue to point to the offense.
2DPointAtlanta
September 29th, 2012
9:04 pm
GT can’t go on like this for the season. Management had better step it up like NOW or there will be a shake-up. Georgia Tech fans are NOT going to put up with continued bad performances.
billydawg
September 29th, 2012
9:04 pm
George…agreed…
Defense is very bad
kbrab
September 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
I’ve seen it all now. Groh is a disaster. I hate the thought of firing Johnson, but he’s the head of the program and he hired Groh. This defense looks lost, and that is the coach’s fault.
Strange Murphy
September 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
HOW BOUT THEM BLUE RAIDERS!!!
problems/solutions28
September 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
It time to start a new at tech , fire groh immediatly , he defense just gave up 49 points to who?????????
next step at season at season end, unless by devine intervention tech beats Clemson and UGA
fire PJ
Third step find a coach who can recruit and coach something no school in Georgia can boast at the moment, Smart anyone? or some other great defense mind
fix the D and install a spread offense and GT will be back to competing for championships before we know it
billydawg
September 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
clemson may score 110
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
No doubt, billydawg. The defense is atrocious.
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
Can’t tell if that’s the real SS or not.
Burdell
September 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
I think it’s fairly simple. We don’t have the talent to win while playing like “girlie men”. If they don’t have their heads in the game they will have their a** handed to them like they did today. It seems PJ thinks he can win with mediocre talent because his offense doesn’t need superstars. He might win more than he should with lesser talent because of the scheme, but he will never win big. Superior talent wins. You will NEVER win big without a great defense! Ask coach Saban. PJ doesn’t seem to care much about the defense. Until he changes that, we can expect the same lack luster results.
mmm
September 29th, 2012
9:20 pm
WTF was that??? are you kidding me? what a bunch of horses hit!
Athens
September 29th, 2012
9:25 pm
@ Super, funny to see these comments from a fan base that was so fired up after winning 45 – 42 a few years ago. Stafford was writing checks that his butt couldn’t cash during that game so hence the fluke outcome. GT has made the choice of hiring a high school coach and now must live with that decision. Yeah, it’s funny how it all turned out. Now here’s the worst part….you haven’t seen the bottom yet. Cheers!!
Jack G.
September 29th, 2012
9:27 pm
their
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:27 pm
I’m not upset at all; I’m numb from it now. I haven’t given up on the season because I look forward to it all year, and I have hope that the players haven’t quit.
I wish I had a suggestion for a new DC. I feel like a complainer without one.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
9:28 pm
This was an awful game on both sides of the ball. The offense did almost nothing in the second half. One TD against MTSU is inexcusable. This is a team Tech has scored 40+ pts against two years running. The defense is definitely awful right now, but the offense wasnt very good either.
Also, dont forget BYU on the schedule. That is actually going to be a tough game. Then @Maryland and @UNC the week after.
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:28 pm
I’m enjoying some Maker’s right now, Jack G. And it’s delicious!
Beau
September 29th, 2012
9:28 pm
Get used to it. GT will never be able to attract top recruits playing hign school football in the ACC. If scheduling cupcakes doesn’t work what’s next?
alex
September 29th, 2012
9:29 pm
Tech’s linebackers cannot make a tackle in space, really not D1 talent, can’t coach fast fibers…..
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:31 pm
Was 51-44 grown up ball, Beau?
Mike
September 29th, 2012
9:34 pm
@Stein – thats against UT with Bray, Hunter and Patterson. They wiped out NC St. week one. UGA did look sloppy with turnovers early when they could have shut the door, but lets be real. If Tech played that “sloppy” today, they would have flipped the score on MTSU and won by 3 TDs.
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:35 pm
I don’t doubt it, Mike. I have grown weary of hearing people talk as though they are SEC fans, though. I have never seen anyone have a conference flag on his car yet, though.
culpezzo
September 29th, 2012
9:39 pm
agree with Burdell about the need for a great defense. I’ve been following Tech long enough to remember when Bud Carson was our head coach. We may have gone 4-6 or worse but nobody embarrassed us like today. We were always in the game. We are clueless on defense and that is in the final analysis what wins football games.
Messin with Sasquatch
September 29th, 2012
9:42 pm
Johnson’s mistake was letting Tennuta get away.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
9:43 pm
@Sasquatch – i heard Tenuta didnt want to be DC under Johnson. he wanted Head Coach, or he was going to leave.
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:44 pm
I agree, Sasquatch. He got burned from time to time, but we were generally very good with him. I’d love to have him back.
George Stein
September 29th, 2012
9:45 pm
I like BVG, SS. I think, if Chizic is Auburn long enough, he’ll do wonders for them.
CC
September 29th, 2012
9:46 pm
Tackling is — dropping to the ground, flying through the air, or playing bumper cars.
Running up the middle is — a brick wall
Option sweep is — always covered by at least 5 defenders
Passing is — rarely used, leaving opponent defenses to think only about the run
Coaching is — unbearably predictable and cringingly arrogant
Receivers are — non-existent
The team appears — disconnected and possibly mutinous
The fans are — totally ticked and are, once again, in Hewitt-mode
Fortunately, football is — JUST A GAME..
Burgess
September 29th, 2012
9:48 pm
Tell me again, how many 1AA championships did Johnson win ?
Scott
September 29th, 2012
9:48 pm
LOL Georgie is surpsied by the pathetic offense criticism. Are you kidding????? How many turnovers did tevin have? Good grief. You and bob and super need to just crawl in a hole. You are CPJ nutt suckers.
WNE has been SPOT ON the entire time. Wake the f up. This offense IS furman.
CAP
September 29th, 2012
9:49 pm
LOVE TECH,BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUT ATHLETES AND OTHER D1 SCHOOLS,HATE TO SAY IT BUT LOOKS LIKE GT DEFENSE QUIT TODAY.OFFENSE SCORING ENOUGH POINTS,BUT WHEN THEY HAVE TO GET A FIRST DOWN LOOK UNCOMFORTABLE.CPJ,S OFFENSE WILL WORK,BUR TI MAY BE TIME TO GIVE VAD A CHANCE AS HE LOOKS LIKE A GOOD ATHLETE.
Scott
September 29th, 2012
9:50 pm
Time for George Stein AND paul johnson to leave. CPJ= CPH in football.
Burgess
September 29th, 2012
9:50 pm
The only thing Johnson has won is the ACC championship that he had to give back. And he won that with Gailey’s players. What blue chip athlete would come to Tech and play in that high school system. I do bet Tech could finish 3rd in region 1AAAAAA.