Heat Check: Dogs and Falcons are smokin’; Tech’s a-mopin’
Who's sitting pretty now? Alexander Ogletree, for one. His team, for another. (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
Our weekly Heat Check was set back a day due to logistics (delayed-but-thankfully-not-canceled flight from Philadelphia on Sunday night), fatigue (mine) and breaking news (Dan Radakovich). But we’re up and running again. And we begin with:
GEORGIA: The Bulldogs won the game they had to win. (Some nut predicted as much, I do believe.) They’re exactly where I expected them to be, albeit not quite in the manner I expected. The question now becomes: Can they beat Alabama/LSU? Forecast: The same nut who liked Georgia to beat Florida sees no reason why the Bulldogs can’t give the West champ a run in the Dome come Dec. 1.
FALCONS: I put a 50 percent premium on road victories. (Even a lousy team, I figure, can luck out at home.) Sunday’s performance under ominous skies in a city that has never been kind to the Falcons was the most impressive regular-season road victory I’ve witnessed by this franchise since Nov. 8, 1998. Forecast: Those Falcons won at New England 41-10; they would finish 14-2 and reach the Super Bowl. Just sayin’.
HAWKS: They’re about to start playing for real, and consensus is … non-existent. ESPN The Magazine/Basketball Prospectus picks them to finish second (!!!!) in the Eastern Conference. Matt Dollinger of SI.com ranks them 15th in the NBA and seventh among Eastern teams. Forecast: There’s a chance all these shooters will hit a bunch of shots and this team will win 50 games; there’s also a chance nobody will guard anybody and this team will finish in the lottery. I’m know I’m hedging, but I honestly don’t know what to think. At least not yet.
BRAVES: They have to decide what to do about Brian McCann’s option. Forecast: I’m thinking they’ve already decided they’ll keep him for another year. But sometimes I’m wrong. (Though not, I say again, about Georgia-Florida.)
GEORGIA STATE: Lost again. Forecast: More losing.
GEORGIA TECH: Lost at home to BYU by 24 points on a day when the Jackets got touchdowns from special teams (stop the presses!) and the defense (miracle!). Which means Paul Johnson’s offense was the worst of the three units. Which means the whole operation was officially deficient. Which means nothing good. Forecast: Dan Radakovich, who hired Johnson, chose this happy moment to take a job as Clemson’s athletic director. This is getting serious, folks.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
227 comments Add your comment
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
Bob
If you think those ball players arent getting help you live in dreamland yes I know Tech is a good school and its hard but dont tell me those ball players arent cheating to pass at Tech
Ed
October 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Falcons being 7-0 and Dawgs being in the drivers seat of the SEC East now that’s why I go around with a smile on my face everyday.
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
While I agree with you patched tire, I would like to hear from a UGA fan why they think GT has pretty much irrelevant in the past 50 years. You guys argue that it has nothing to do with academics, and admission requirements. You argue that a better coach then CPJ would be able to bring in 4-5 star recruits. So please explain to us why no coach has been able to make GT a consistent winner since Bobby Dodd.
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
1:12 pm
but dont tell me those ball players arent cheating to pass at Tech
As someone who went to Tech, had some classes with football players, and knows the faculty opinion about football players, I will certainly tell you that. They do get help, but they aren’t cheating and they aren’t getting passes from professors. That’s not the way it works at GT.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
14 Gt
No I dont think its easy being a full time athlete and Techs academics are hard thats my point dont tell me some of those ball players dont get under the table help just like every other big time college
thats my point
nate from detroit
October 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Hey Bob, what about the management degree that is offered in conjunction with either Morehouse or Georgia State (I forget which) that is affectionately known as the M-train. How many of the football and basketball players are matriculating in that degree program? The academic excuse held water before Cremins and O’Lardy but we all know that academic compromises were made during those years so that the teams could be competitive.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
14 GT
Come with some facts that UGA is cheating give me a break Tech has already been caught with academic cheating before do you think it just stopped
blue
October 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Henri; don’t know what you are smoking, dude, but if you REALLY think that the team that loses in the SEC championship game is then going to play in the NC game this year, you are sorely mistaken. That’s item #1. Item #2…there is no way you are beating Bama if they get there. LSU might be a different story, but I don’t think LSU can beat Bama to get there.
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
nate from detroit, there were looser restrictions during the Cremins/O’Leary days and that came to a crashing halt after flunk gate. They were further tightened in the Gailey years after more academic issues. As it stands right now, the number of exemptions allowed and the admissions requirements are the strictest they have ever been. Add to that the rigor of the curriculum and the fact that we are surrounded by football factories recruiting the same guys we are and you get a difficult recruiting job.
Ted M
October 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
“The Michelin Man’s days are numbered at Tech.” yep but unfortunately the number is around 750.
Gary
October 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
GT Bob, you really are streching it. If Murray had a better offensive line he would be explosive. You see how good he is when he has time in the pocket and is not scrambling. Pretty sure he is throwing up crazy numbers until we face two of the best defenses in the country. Only so much you can do with a young inexperienced line in front of you. If Mason was better he would be playing. Not sure how you think Tech’s quarterback is better than Murray. I certainly have not seen it. WHat I have seen this year is Murray put up stagering numbers against Kentucky, Tennessee, Mizzu, and Vandy (and a couple of powder puffs). I have seem him struggle against the countreys best defenses. What that tells me is that he is a damn good quarter back who is dealing with some exploitable positions on the offense that rattle him when there is very good coverage. If the dawgs get through Aub and Ole I would expect the same struggles against Bama. I also know how good they played last year in the first half against LSU. Anything can happen…. Except Tech doing anthing good this year on a football field.
Evansdawg
October 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
How do the Tech fans keep the blades away from their wrists??
Bumblers
October 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Gary….that is a big stretch….give anybody more time to throw the ball and they would be explosive. At the end of the day Murray is not as accurate as he needs to be and he is a head case now that everyone has mentioned losing to ranked teams. Looks like they psych degree not paying off.
WhoCares?
October 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
Murray is hardly a head case. Really. He won the game, remember?
Gary
October 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
GTBob, I work with four recent GT Grads. You have the same athletic programs other schools have. 7:30 am math classes that are always ‘full’ when other students are trying to get in because the athletic department gets priority. They never saw a big name player in ANY class they took in the four years they were there. I am sure they are going to class. I just don’t think all your athletes are taking the same classes the students have to take. There are the true student athletes (like Murray) who can handle the rigors of school and football, but just like UGA many of your students require special attention (tudors, study halls, and intro classes) to maintain eligibility. I am not saying there is any fraud or cheating going on. I am just saying. Your team is not a bunch of tech engineers. Stop acting like it.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
October 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
Expect the unexpected…Bama could lose the next two games…just saying.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
Gary
Now now
Bob wants you to think Tevin and the rest of the gang will be working for NASA soon
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
They never saw a big name player in ANY class they took in the four years they were there.
Good for them. I personally had classes at the same time as some football players. They are not taking special mythical classes in some hidden bunker somewhere with special paid off professors like you seem to think. You are correct about one thing though, they do get priority in registration.
Mike S.
October 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
GTBob will essentially come on here and say anything. I think it speaks volumes that DRad has decided to leave at this point. I’m not sure where Clemson’s head is though. It will be interesting to see what the new AD thinks of Johnson and the programs future.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
14 GT
ok so all UGA football players are great academic pioneers as well
oh and that fact is Tech has been caught cheating before
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
2:02 pm
Bob wants you to think Tevin and the rest of the gang will be working for NASA soon
Tevin has already graduated and interns at a law firm. He may not be the best example if you want to bash our student athletes for being stupid.
Gary
October 30th, 2012
2:05 pm
Yeah, I am pretty sure W. Virginia has a fantastic QB who is still praised by the national media and will still be a candidate for the H Trophy even after getting crushed by two teams back to back. His receivers were covered and he was pressured. Other guys have jobs to do that will negatively impact the QB’s numbers and that includes the OC making the calls. Murray has a great arm, is very athletic, lives for game film, a hell of a student, and a great team leader. I really feel his only problem is his size. 6 feet is not tall for some of the SEC defenses. SC had 6′8 and 6′9 guys coming at him all day. That is like throwing a ball over and around a wall. Pretty sure the kid has broken almost every record at Georgia for QB except most wins (David Green). We are lucky to have him. Not sure who I would be willing to trade him for. I know a bunch of other key positions on the O where we need improvement, size, & depth. Oregon has a great QB… He has all day to throw the ball. He has not stood before a top 20 defense this season. If he does and he falters is he suddenly a terrible QB and not the video game hero ESPN describes? Top ten defenses make QB’s look bad. That is what they do. If Murray puts 40+ on Ole Miss and Auburn and Tech is he a bad QB just because they do not have a good defense. Your lack of logic and assumptions about mason are flawed. Every coach in the SEC would love to have him. Pretty sure Tech would love to have him.
Skeptic
October 30th, 2012
2:07 pm
I don’t know that interning at a law firm is a defense of one’s intellect. Lawyers are $.10/ doz
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
2:09 pm
For the record, I don’t think anyone here accused UGA of cheating. They just have degree programs that basically only exist for athletes and are a bit of a joke.
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
2:10 pm
I don’t know that interning at a law firm is a defense of one’s intellect. Lawyers are $.10/ doz
You are right. Tevin is GT’s version of Caleb King. Thanks for correcting me.
Stiffneck
October 30th, 2012
2:20 pm
GTBob, do you think Tech dumps CPJ at the end of the season??
Gary
October 30th, 2012
2:21 pm
Ha, you know the engineers mock the business school. You are not considered a Tech grad. They have a term for it but I can’t remember what it is. We have one and they pick on him behind his back. Tech is a very good school, but like all schools they have hard programs and easier programs.
Gary
October 30th, 2012
2:25 pm
I never accused tech of cheating. Just saying the grads I know say Tech has the same classes for their players. Sorry, they are not passing Techs 2nd year calculus considering some of the high schools they come from. That class crushes many of the good best students. You can’t make a curve high enough for some of the athletes.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
2:27 pm
Yes Bob we know UGA academics are so easy you just show up to class and everyone gets an A
GT is so hard students have to take every class 2 to 3 times before they ever make C
Gary
October 30th, 2012
2:28 pm
I do find it amusing that Tech fans seem to take more joy in Georgia loosing than a Tech victory. You figure both happen pretty rarely so they would get equal joy.
Vampire Bill
October 30th, 2012
2:30 pm
Maybe Paul Johnson should punch someone in the mouth?
B'dawg
October 30th, 2012
2:34 pm
I cant figure out why a Tech fan would live on this Bulldog blog. Every single day, mostly all day. Youre life must be simple, sad and just plain miserable. Get a job and a life. Seriously.
Tired
October 30th, 2012
2:36 pm
I am so tired of hearing how smokin’ hot Georgia is and a ranking of #6! They have only beaten ONE team that has a winning record. With a schedule like that, anyone would be smokin’!
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
2:41 pm
Yes Bob we know UGA academics are so easy you just show up to class and everyone gets an A
Would you really like to compare the difficulty of a Housing Degree from UGA and a Business Administration Degree from GT?
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
Get a job and a life. Seriously.
Nope, I have dedicated the rest of my life to the blogs. I will work just enough to keep an internet connection.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Bob
Again
The reality is no one cares about GT academics except GT fans who have nothing else to brag about since their Athletic program is abysmal
Again Tech will not be on the level of the Northern schools in the North Biased Media Eyes
So just give it up bob
Buzzzed
October 30th, 2012
2:56 pm
“How is Tech Handcuffed in recruiting compared to Notre Dame and Stanford”
Tech has high standards like ND and Stanford but doesn’t have BA degrees like ND and Stanford. Tech is hard to get in and hard to stay in. ND and Standford are hard to get in but they both have a some programs where they can shelter their athletes – unlike Tech.
Buzzzed
October 30th, 2012
2:58 pm
If you want to compare Tech to somebody, think MIT or Cal Tech with a football team. How may 5 stars do MIT and Cal Tech get a year?
O'Ventbrel
October 30th, 2012
3:00 pm
I know it’s becoming a cliche strategy in college football, but couldn’t Tech just try to implement the spread option instead of the triple option? Seems to me like that could make them pretty dangerous again and draw a few more solid recruits their way.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
3:01 pm
Buzzed and Bob
Well if that the case at Tech then why not drop your Athletic program ok and stop thinking you are going to compete with Div I level schools and win titles
ok
DIT
October 30th, 2012
3:06 pm
Tech people, stop making excuses. From what you are implying is that when you had a strong program your academics sucked. Now that your football programs suck you have strong academics.
Tech has always had strong academics. Stop looking for excuses why your program sucks and just come to the conclusion that Johnson is killing your program and no academics.
Good grief. Tell Bobby Ross that.
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
3:14 pm
Tech has always had strong academics. Stop looking for excuses why your program sucks and just come to the conclusion that Johnson is killing your program and no academics.
So Johnson is responsible for the last 50 years of a struggling football team? Do you really think things just now got tough?
GTBob
October 30th, 2012
3:18 pm
The reality is no one cares about GT academics except GT fans who have nothing else to brag about since their Athletic program is abysmal
I never said this, but you are wrong. Either way it doesn’t really change the argument we have been having at all, so if you would like to try and convince everyone that GT is a terrible school and nobody even knows it exists then more power to you. Deflect the argument that you are losing. Now go back to telling us how great a Housing degree is or how stupid Tevin is. Those were very thoughtful arguments.
Just the Facts
October 30th, 2012
3:21 pm
Last National Championship: Tech 1990; Georgia 1980
Academics: Tech is much harder; Georgia is much easier
Size: Tech only has about 19,000 students; Georgia has what 60,000?
This year: Tech has looked and played horrible, Georgia has done the same but had the easiest schedule in Div 1.
Alumni: Tech alumni realize this just a game; Geogria alumni are smart enough to know the same thing BUT most of the Georgia FANS have never set foot in a UGA classroom and they are the ones making all the noise.
woodie
October 30th, 2012
3:23 pm
Bama would bury the pups.
kingdaddy
October 30th, 2012
3:29 pm
Bama has beaten nobody important. Miss St./18th, Michigan /unranked…Who have you beaten Would-he???
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
3:37 pm
Bob
Tell me where I said Tech was a terrible school
UGA has many more degrees than just housing but that seems to be the theme with the business school at Tech with basically the entire athletic student body enrolled in it
kingdaddy
October 30th, 2012
3:50 pm
Face it, the Falcons are very good…
The Hawks are an interesting and intriguing to say the least. Heading in the right direction…
The Braves, young and built to compete, looks good…
Doggies, if they play with fire, can play with almost anybody…
Tech needs help. They need a pro-style offense and a serious minded Defense. I would hire a Defensive minded HC, and give him a decent OC to compliment your stadium. Your recruiting will improve and so will your game. What you have now isn’t cutting it…
Skeptic
October 30th, 2012
4:02 pm
Tech has 19,000 students? In the 80s is was ~9K. Where’d they all come from?
Bremen Dawg
October 30th, 2012
4:13 pm
I can’t believe I am saying this but Mark is right so far.