Live from Tech: An actual big football game against Duke!
Tech co-quarterback Vad Lee runs through the oddly garbed Maryland Terrapins. (Photo by Luis M. Alvarez)
Let’s face it: To call Duke football the rough equivalent of Georgia basketball would be, over time if not at present, an insult to the hoop ‘Dogs. Duke’s last winning season was in 1994; it has won one ACC championship since 1962, and that bears an asterisk, seeing as how Steve Spurrier was then the Blue Devils’ coach.
But here it is 2012 and Duke has a chance to claim the Coastal Division if it beats Georgia Tech today and Miami next week in Durham. Me, I don’t think the Dookies can win either game, but maybe that’s just me.
As we know, the Jackets are themselves somehow alive and kicking in the carnival ride that is the ACC Coastal. Tech can get to 5-3 in league play and stamp itself as the leader in the clubhouse by beating Duke. And the Jackets have won eight straight against the Devils and 16 of 17. The exception was in 2003, when interim Duke coach Ted Roof startled his alma mater 41-17 on a dark Durham day that stands as one the low points in Tech football annals.
OK, enough. Tech needs to win and will, I say. I’ll be on hand to watch and crack wise, and I’d enjoy your company. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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358 comments Add your comment
Toady (no longer reformed)
November 17th, 2012
4:10 pm
Humphrey is an overrated troll.
If do right, no can defense
November 17th, 2012
4:10 pm
Washington is overthrowing our receivers. The only reception (to Smith) was also a little in front.
CPJ for write-in President
November 17th, 2012
4:11 pm
All we have to do is score 1 more than our opponent. We have no defense….that’s a given. But from what I’ve seen this year, we can score with the best of them. Go Jackets!
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:12 pm
It is windy today. Might not look that way, but it is.
Reebok
November 17th, 2012
4:12 pm
We better score on every possession next week, because I don’t think Georgia will ever have to punt.
Toady (no longer reformed)
November 17th, 2012
4:12 pm
Cool! No mention of profanity but Humphrey gets a pass on his verbiage. Seen it before.
Reebok
November 17th, 2012
4:12 pm
He didn’t overthrow Laskey. It went right through Laskey’s hands.
Humphrey
November 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
I didn’t curse the first time. Hey folks remember, if Tech loses today, they will not make a bowl game.
Ramblnwrek
November 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
Hey, a short pass. What do you know…
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:13 pm
UCLA leads SC 24-0.
Some people think Kiffin gets canned if he loses this one.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:14 pm
Touchdown. David Sims up the middle from 19 yards out. Tech leads.
Ramblnwrek
November 17th, 2012
4:14 pm
I didn’t even see the BB take that.
JF McNamara
November 17th, 2012
4:14 pm
Its less “windy” for the Duke QB, and it will also be less “windy” when Vad Lee gets in.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:14 pm
Tech’s not losing today.
Ramblnwrek
November 17th, 2012
4:16 pm
Mark, I think TN would love that the most. But really they would like to see a NCAA investigation knock on USC’s door the day after Kiffin gets axed.
Ramblnwrek
November 17th, 2012
4:17 pm
“Lane Kiffin” the gift that keeps on giving.
Ramblnwrek
November 17th, 2012
4:18 pm
Is it too much t ask to kick it high and have some hang time?
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:19 pm
Long kickoff return and an iffy late hit. Duke at the Jackets’ 38-yard line.
Ramblnwrek
November 17th, 2012
4:19 pm
Geez they practically start in the red zone.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:19 pm
Wow. This is kind of where we came in, huh?
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:20 pm
Duke false start at the 5. Makes it the 10.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:21 pm
Who said Sean Renfree can’t run?
Touchdown, Duke.
Humphrey
November 17th, 2012
4:22 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
If do right, no can defense
November 17th, 2012
4:22 pm
Defense has vanished into thin air. What was different this time? Duke’s hurry up. Burned us.
Biff Pocoroba
November 17th, 2012
4:24 pm
No special teams and no defense for the fifth year in a row. CPJ better keep this offense going. DRad isn’t here to give out undeserved contract renewals anymore.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:25 pm
Vad in.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Tech across midfield. Neither of these teams can play a lick of defense.
smitty derf
November 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Lifelong Tech fan. Love Johnson’s offense but sometimes question his personality. But, somebody explain the special teams weakness. With 85 + scholarships, is it not possible for Johnson to recruit one kid in the state each year who can kick the ball into the endzone and eliminate long returns?
thegeneral
November 17th, 2012
4:31 pm
Smitty Derf, Tech has a kid coming in next year the can kick the dawg out of the ball. Played high school ball in Atlanta. Harrison Butker is his name and he’s got a leg
If do right, no can defense
November 17th, 2012
4:32 pm
A little worried by the lack of big (20+ yard) plays by our offense today. May come back to haunt us. On the other hand, good work on 3rd down… and will get the defense rested.
CPJ for write-in President
November 17th, 2012
4:34 pm
I’m all for keeping our defense off the field…..but to rest our defense? I don’t think it matters much if we rest them or not. I’m more interested in getting their defense tired and a step slow.
White&Gold
November 17th, 2012
4:35 pm
Nice time for a toss here.
If do right, no can defense
November 17th, 2012
4:35 pm
Fair point, CPJ.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:38 pm
Vad Lee scores on fourth and goal
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:39 pm
Review
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:39 pm
I think it’s a TD
White&Gold
November 17th, 2012
4:40 pm
Didn’t think he got in on first glane, but that defintely looks like a TD.
White&Gold
November 17th, 2012
4:40 pm
*glance
Paul in NH
November 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
Not “indisputable” on review
If do right, no can defense
November 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
Get a stop here, defense. Please. And special team, don’t screw up.
Ken Sugiura
November 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
longest scoring drive, in terms of plays, of season. (16)
Paul in NH
November 17th, 2012
4:42 pm
GT may not punt in this game
Reebok
November 17th, 2012
4:43 pm
A defensive stop would be as huge here as it is unlikely…
White&Gold
November 17th, 2012
4:44 pm
That new kicker can’t get here soon enough. We can’t be letting teams return balls from outside the 10.
Paul in NH
November 17th, 2012
4:45 pm
Got to get pressure
smitty derf
November 17th, 2012
4:45 pm
General, good to know. But why not already when the Coach is so quick to blame Special Teams or say he is going to see to it. Why not every year? That would put 4 kickers on the practice field every year. He is in charge of recruiting.And he h as been the Coach for how long?
Paul in NH
November 17th, 2012
4:46 pm
Offside
Ken Sugiura
November 17th, 2012
4:46 pm
assuming tech can somehow get a stop, they get the ball first in second half and can go up 14. big assumption
White&Gold
November 17th, 2012
4:49 pm
This defense is just flat out hard to watch.
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2012
4:49 pm
Renfree hurt.