Could Tech end its bowl skid against the preseason No. 1?
Give this tactical genius a month to prepare and ... he'll probably lose by two touchdowns. (AP photo)
If, on Labor Day morning, you’d have known Georgia Tech would be facing USC in a bowl, you’d have guessed that everything would have broken right for the Jackets. As it happened, Tech had a rough season, which is why it’s again headed to El Paso and not, say, Miami. But spare a thought for the Trojans, who have been the greatest flop in almost half a century.
Ranked No. 1 in preseason, USC finished its regular season 7-5. Not since Ole Miss in 1964 has a preseason No. 1 wound up unranked, and back then the Associated Press poll included only 10 teams. Today it has 25, and you still won’t still find the Trojans until you sift through the “also receiving votes” category. They’re 12th on that not-exactly-stellar list — behind the likes of Vanderbilt, San Diego State and Arkansas State.
So there’s your Sun Bowl matchup: A team that has gone from No. 1 to No. 37 in the time it takes to say, “Lane Kiffin can’t coach a lick,” against a sub-.500 opponent. You wouldn’t think there’d be muchat stake, but again you’d be wrong.
USC has no reason to try hard on Dec. 31. Georgia Tech does. Not since Dec. 21, 2004, have the Jackets won a bowl, and that was so long ago that Chan Gailey was the coach and Reggie Ball, then a sophomore, was the game MVP and the team Tech beat (Syracuse) was so mortified by losing 51-17 that it fired coach Paul Pasqualoni eight days later.
Since then, nada. Tech has lost to opponents great (West Virginia, LSU and Iowa) and small (Utah twice, Fresno State, Air Force). That seven-year skid strips the luster from the Jackets’ string of 16 consecutive bowl appearances, and the past four losses have come under Paul Johnson. On the list of bowl-winning Tech coaches, Johnson ranks behind Mac McWhorter, who led the Jackets to victory in the 2001 Seattle Bowl as a one-game fill-in for George O’Leary.
This can’t-win-a-bowl thing has rankled Johnson for a while, and it has also gotten to his players: Tech’s seniors made “Win a bowl” one of their preseason goals. As of Halloween, there was no guarantee the Jackets would qualify for one. But they beat Duke on Nov. 17 become bowl-eligible, and then they lost to Florida State in the ACC title game to dip to 6-7, requiring an NCAA waiver to book passage to El Paso. But they got it, and off they’re going.
Of the Trojans, Johnson said Wednesday: “They were ranked No. 1; they had the Heisman frontrunner (quarterback Matt Barkley), and they’ve got the Biletnikoff winner (receiver Marqise Lee). They’re a talented team. Like I told somebody else, we’ve had a pretty good trifecta.”
Well, yes. Tech just played Georgia and Florida State, two gifted aggregations, losing to the former badly and the latter honorably. Can’t say the Jackets aren’t used to playing NFL-ready opposition.
“They’re very talented, but we’re not scared of them,” cornerback Louis Young said. “They’re 7-5. They’ve showed they can be beaten.”
They have, repeatedly. There’s a chance the Trojans, who figured to be spending the holidays in more scenic places, will sleepwalk through the Sun, and there’s no chance the Jackets will. This hasn’t been the season they envisioned, but tying Miami and North Carolina for first in the Coastal Division and playing for the conference title helped ease the pain. Beating USC in a bowl would be a nice New Year’s tonic.
On talent, the Trojans should win easily. But on talent, the Trojans shouldn’t be 7-5. For the first time under Johnson, Tech enters its bowl with more to prove than its opponent, and sometimes the lesser bowls come down to who plays harder.
There’s also this: Monte Kiffin, father of the lamentable Lane, has announced his resignation as USC’s defensive coordinator, for good reason. The Trojans rank 63rd nationally in total defense — that’s 10 spots below Tech, which fired coordinator Al Groh at midseason — and were overrun by Oregon on Nov. 3. The Ducks managed 62 points and 426 rushing yards, including 321 by Kenjon Barner.
If Tech can do nothing else, it can run the ball. It’s doubtful that the Jackets’ defense will shut down Barkley and Lee, but if the Tech offense can score early and control the clock, this could be one of those scoring lollapaloozas Tech occasionally wins. (To wit: Tech 68, North Carolina 50.) It would be utterly in keeping with this bizarre year if it ended with the Jackets breaking their bowl drought and finishing 7-7 by beating a team that was supposed to be unbeatable.
By Mark Bradley
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181 comments Add your comment
DawgFan
December 20th, 2012
10:43 am
John, sorry to disappoint…I am a UGA grad making 6 figures…and so does my wife…so UGA grads do make it happen in more than just sports…. WE RUN THIS STATE!
brad
December 20th, 2012
10:45 am
Tech couldn’t beat Air Force. Whats make you think that their high school offense will work against REAL college talent? it might be worse than the whipping Georgia put on them. Everyone knows Paul Johnson is gone after they lose this game and the word on campus is the team is going to tank it just so they can start playing grown up football again.
juvenal
December 20th, 2012
10:46 am
not true, T J-he over throws across the middle…..Merry Christmas, Gorilla, miss you on our sites, you are funnier than dawgfan 7 the guy who says every other day, does that mean odd or even days?
juvenal
December 20th, 2012
10:47 am
T M , that is……
JR
December 20th, 2012
10:50 am
Good analysis. Well done.
Skeptic
December 20th, 2012
10:58 am
6 figures—$9,573.36….oh but x2 lets you upgrade to Marlboro from Pall Malls
WE RUN THIS STATE, eh? That’s pretty apparent
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
10:58 am
Everyone knows Paul Johnson is gone after they lose this game
Sorry to disappoint you but CPJ isn’t getting fired no matter what happens in this game.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
11:04 am
Tech could win this game. I doubt it though. It would take a serious motivational problem by USC to make it close and i’m not really sure our guys will be all that motivated themselves. There is only one bowl game that matters and the players know it. It would be fun to ruin Lane Kiffin’s day though.
Smyrna Gold
December 20th, 2012
11:09 am
CPJ can’t motivate this team for any game. Motivated or not, GT loses by at least 30. Tech may have more yards rushing so after the game we can brag about that. Same old crap.
10per
December 20th, 2012
11:14 am
I think Tech knows what it has to do to win.
The question is…can they do it, or will they put themselves in a position to do it?
roughrider
December 20th, 2012
11:16 am
Wonder how Tech would have done against Alabama?
Smyrna Gold
December 20th, 2012
11:20 am
To win, Tech has to score more points. That’s pretty basic. USC will score on every possession. Take it to the bank.
ylojkt
December 20th, 2012
11:28 am
Let’s go Jackets! Let’s get a win against the condoms!
GT TN
December 20th, 2012
11:45 am
@ Brad..love who you say we can’t win this bowl game because we lost to AF 2 years ago..using you logic that means UGA can’t beat Neb because you lost 2 years ago to UCF and only scored 6 points..I love reading dumb post by UGA fans
@ Smyrna Gold..there is no way you are a GT fan..if you were a real fan there is no way you would say the things you say..no matter how bad the season has gone a real fan would not trash the team like you do..why not show your true colors when you post instead of hiding behind some fake name..try Smyrna Red
GT TN
December 20th, 2012
11:48 am
@ roughrider..doesn’t matter what you think GT would have done against Alabama..we don’t play them..I know what your dawgs did against them..they got beat
MC
December 20th, 2012
11:55 am
Won’t happen. Matt Barkley will put 500 yds passing on our sorry secondary.
Go Dawgs
December 20th, 2012
11:56 am
So much Dawg envy. I bet there are a few folks on here that would give a kidney for another GT win against UGA
Middle Tennessee State
December 20th, 2012
11:57 am
Since we beat GT and they have a sub .500 record on the season, I think we should get to play USC.
TexGT
December 20th, 2012
12:01 pm
This game will get ugly for Tech, quick: USC 48 GT 13
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
12:05 pm
So much Dawg envy. I bet there are a few folks on here that would give a kidney for another GT win against UGA
I know that beating GT is the highlight of every season for UGA fans since they can’t accomplish anything else, but they really overestimate how much GT fans care. Personally, if they closed your school, and we never played you again then I think GT and the state of Georgia would be much better off.
Pitbull
December 20th, 2012
12:07 pm
This sad little bowl game against a loser (6-7) and Lane Kiffin the liar will have the Tech nerds popping their zits and pooping in their pants by the time it is over.
Tech won’t be in the game. El Paso is the new Boise.
Pitbull
December 20th, 2012
12:12 pm
Chances are the TV cameras won’t show the upper stands or the end zones either. Just like the ACC CG when Tech played in it and lost to heh heh Wake Forest. and then got blown out in the Orange Bowl in front of at least two dozen Tech fans in attendance.
No wonder the Sun Bowl was trying to get out of taking you.
No one will be there except for a handful of USC fans because USC isn’t playing anybody.
Watch for it.
Go Dawgs
December 20th, 2012
12:12 pm
But GTBoob… what would you then do with all your free time with no UGA blogs to vomit on?
Bali
December 20th, 2012
12:14 pm
Come on GTBob….do you just ‘hope’ that happens? I’m not here to dog anyone, but I’ve asked you before, do you really think CPJ is going to get you guys back where all of us dawgs know you were? Not bein a smartazz, don’t have any other motives, just asking a simple question. I don’t beat my chest over the dogs, cause I know an azzwhoopin is always just around the corner for ANY team.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
Come on GTBob….do you just ‘hope’ that happens?
No, its basically a certainty that CPJ is going to coach next year. We have no AD right now, he has a huge buyout, and he hasn’t really done that bad as a coach so far. Do I think he can turn things around? Possibly. We will see. He will probably never beat UGA again though so if that is supposedly all GT fans care about then we should fire him and bring in the next coach who has no chance of beating UGA.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
12:26 pm
But GTBoob… what would you then do with all your free time with no UGA blogs to vomit on?
Probably something productive.
DawginLex
December 20th, 2012
12:27 pm
I think Tech wins this game
If Washington starts, the chances drop
If CPJ will let Vad Lee do his thing, Tech can score a bunch on these guys
49-45 Tech
Bet the double wide
suwanee dawg
December 20th, 2012
12:29 pm
If there were the regular season, I’d think you guys would have a better chance. Every time other defenses have weeks to prepare assignments, your offense struggles. I really don’t care but it would be nice to see ya’ll beat Kiffen. GT Bob, you comments reflects your frustration and is really quite stupid. I cannot stand the Gators but wanting the school to close and to express things would be better if so, makes no sense. Get a grip, it’s just football.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
12:37 pm
Get a grip, it’s just football.
Its not just football. UGA is a stain on the face of the state of Georgia. Its graduates tend to stay in the state because no where else wants them, leading to a continual degradation of the education system for further generations. There is a reason that Georgia is so poor in education overall. Its because there are a lot of UGA Alumni and fans teaching and parenting kids in the state of Georgia. If UGA went away or was completely restructured, it would be a great benefit to the state and could start to improve the low brow unintellectual face that the state cannot get away from.
Bali
December 20th, 2012
12:43 pm
Now see….you just had to hit way below the belt. That was just uncalled for. There’s no wonder you get slammed on here man. You seem to be just a bitter, little man. You’re definitely getting the reactions that you want, so keep up the good work. As for me, I’m not gonna get sucked into your misery.
Mark S.
December 20th, 2012
12:45 pm
Maybe if they beat the “pre-season #1″ they can get themselves some rings. That would be …… SO tech.
Steverino
December 20th, 2012
12:46 pm
Before this bowl futility streak started, GT was at or near the top of the list in bowl winning percentage. Time to right the ship.
DawginLex
December 20th, 2012
12:47 pm
“UGA is a stain on the face of Georgia”
What evidence do you have to support this statement?
Have you checked what it takes grade wise and test score wise to get into UGA?
Provide links from credible sources or SHUTUP
Tech Fan
December 20th, 2012
12:48 pm
Go Jackets!
DawginLex
December 20th, 2012
12:53 pm
http://www.stateuniversity.com/blog/permalink/best-college-values-kiplinger-s-top-100-public-colleges-2011.html
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
These guys actually do research unlike GtBob
Rooty Tooty
December 20th, 2012
12:53 pm
Would like to see it happen but past experience tells me it will not happen…………
Buckeye
December 20th, 2012
12:59 pm
Tech will be number one next year! Coach Johnson is a genius!
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
1:07 pm
Now see….you just had to hit way below the belt. That was just uncalled for.
Sorry man, but the truth hurts. Remember this if your kids ever want to go to UGA. Don’t be part of the problem.
DawginLex
December 20th, 2012
1:09 pm
More spew GTBob, still no facts
Just pure hatred with no basis
I thought you Tech boys were not afraid to debate?
I guess it is difficult even for a smart old man like you to support statements that have zero basis in fact and are only supported by a pure hatred based on sports.
DawginLex
December 20th, 2012
1:11 pm
So I guess my best friend’s son who just graduated from UGA and got accepted after 1 interview to medical school to study to be a surgeon should hide his head in shame?
JB
December 20th, 2012
1:11 pm
Valdosta St could beat Tech………..For real
Peter
December 20th, 2012
1:14 pm
Not until they fire the head coach, and stop playing high school football.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
1:19 pm
Not until they fire the head coach, and stop playing high school football.
Yeah, we are doing so much worse with him then we did with all of those pro style coaches. At the rate that UGA fans want our coaches fired we might as well start searching for new coaches every time we hire one.
GTBob
December 20th, 2012
1:20 pm
Valdosta St could beat Tech………..For real
Why stop there. Almost any team in any division could beat Tech.
GATA
December 20th, 2012
1:59 pm
Call me a heretic, but this Dawg fan is hoping the Jackets beat Lame Kitten.
Alphare
December 20th, 2012
2:07 pm
Tech will win since Johnson is gone.
What? still there? no chance!
Bali
December 20th, 2012
2:16 pm
Bob, my son is currently attending Alabama because he plays on their wheelchair basketball team. Don’t clump all dawgs in your neat little box….or all people for that matter. You’re gonna miss out on meeting some really great people if you do. Now I CAN act as nasty as any dawg on here, but things happen when you grow up. Why do you continue with this diatribe towards UGA? Most grown dawgs on here have great tech friends…..why don’t you join the party and quit fighting?
GTfan11
December 20th, 2012
2:17 pm
I have to question whether CPJ can get a team up for a bowl. He’s losing some of his luster in my eyes. His one dimensional offense and swiss cheese defense is wearing thin.
Tech Legacy
December 20th, 2012
2:17 pm
I don’t think Tech will be able to stop USC at all. So, as you say, they will have to win by scoring a lot of points and getting some breaks along the way. That being said, I don’t think USC is probably that wild about playing a sub-500 team in the Sun Bowl and has everything to lose and nothing to prove. Tech, on the other hand, has everything to prove. Advantage Tech. I think that could be the difference…and Tech better hope so….
yellowfever
December 20th, 2012
2:23 pm
Old Dawg, hope your listening, to HELL with jawga yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. I thank that pretty much says it all.