2013 could be big for Tech, which could stand a big year
One day in the Sun brought much joy to the Yellow Jackets. (AP photo)
For Georgia Tech, many things happened en route to 7-7. The Yellow Jackets barely got bowl-eligible, and then they got bowl-ineligible by losing the ACC Championship game, and then the NCAA granted a waiver that allowed Tech to be invited back to the Sun Bowl, which is where it became the only team ever to beat the preseason No. 1 after losing at home to Middle Tennessee.
When you lose seven games, you can’t say you’ve had a good season. (Unless you’re Duke, which in football nobody aspires to be.) When you win seven games after starting 2-4, neither can you say the whole thing was a total loss. The Jackets took a season going wrong and wrestled it into something that seemed better than mediocrity, even though .500 is the definition of mediocrity.
The sense now is that better days are ahead, but that sensation is largely the result of beating USC in El Paso, and bowl results aren’t always indicative of future performance. (Example: Georgia Tech lost the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl by 35 points and went 11-3 in 2009.) The Jackets wanted badly to beat Southern Cal, which didn’t want to play.
Yes, Tech should be better in 2013 than in 2012. It loses three starters on offense and three on defense, and the absence of quarterback Tevin Washington clears the way for Vad Lee, of whom much is expected. The guess is that interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly passed the audition with his work against Florida State and USC, and he has to be considered an upgrade over Al Groh, for whom nothing worked.
The schedule hasn’t been finalized, but it could be adventurous. Assuming the ACC’s rotation holds in its expansion to 14 teams, the Jackets will play host to Virginia Tech, Clemson and North Carolina. There’s a chance Florida State will play here, and there’s also a chance the Jackets could visit Clemson for a second year running. There will be trips to BYU and Miami, but it’s unclear how stout the Hurricanes will be once the NCAA gets done with them. Plus the Georgia game will be in Atlanta.
If Lee is as good as advertised and the defense is indeed better, the 2013 Jackets could win nine or 10 games. But here’s the sobering part: Tech hasn’t won that many games in a year since the bulk of Chan Gailey’s leftovers departed for the NFL in January 2010. In Paul Johnson’s first two seasons here, his teams were 20-7; they’ve since gone 21-19. Since Oct. 14, 2011, the Jackets are 9-12.
Johnson takes pains to note that his teams have at least tied for the best record in the Coastal Division three times in five seasons, but the Coastal has become the lesser half of a conference that still struggles for national credibility. Yes, the Jackets wound up representing the Coastal in the ACC Championship game, but that came in a year when Virginia Tech was awful by its standards and North Carolina was on probation and Miami chose to step aside.
Credit Johnson and his Jackets for being too stubborn to collapse, but Johnson’s pride has never been in doubt, and his stylized offense remains the best thing Tech has going for it. But the Institute will in the coming weeks make a hire that could have a greater effect on the football program than Johnson’s choice for defensive coordinator.
Dan Radakovich hired Johnson, but first the athletic director had to persuade himself that a run-based approach could win big in the 21st century. Then Johnson made the AD look smart by beating Georgia in Year 1 and winning the ACC in Year 2. Now Radakovich works at Clemson, which means Johnson will soon have a new boss.
Tech’s new AD might see underwhelming attendance as evidence that pitchouts don’t move the ticketing needle. The new AD might be more swayed by recruiting rankings. (At North Carolina State, Debbie Yow cited tepid signing classes as partial cause for Tom O’Brien’s dismissal.) The new AD might ask when/if this program will again be competitive against Georgia.
The nice part about beating USC was that it stirred, pun intended, a bit of a buzz around a program that hasn’t lately raised much ruckus. But that was one game, and an odd game at that. The new AD might, as new ADs do, look hard at a body of work.
Dave Braine hired Gailey as a coach and handed him a new five-year contract in November 2005, but it took less than two years for Radakovich, who succeeded Braine, to decide Chan wasn’t his man. Yes, Johnson has been better than Gailey, but maybe by not as much as you’d think. Through five seasons, Gailey was 37-27. Through five seasons, Johnson is 41-26.
This isn’t to suggest that Johnson could or should be fired. The belief here is that he’s a good coach, but it would behoove him to have a big 2013. Athletic directors find it easier to embrace a coach who’s holding a trophy.
By Mark Bradley
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274 comments Add your comment
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
3:04 pm
Paul, if you can’t figure a way to beat Georgia, it will never work out.
GT fans really need to accept that no matter who the coach is we are very rarely going to beat UGA.
Jacket Man
January 2nd, 2013
3:04 pm
Just a couple of comments; first, GA Tech’s current defense pretty much stymied three of the nation’s top offenses over the past 10 quarters (UGA for 2, FSU for 4, and USC for 4), so the defense has started to come around under Coach Kelley. It also became evident during the Sun Bowl that Tech’s offense will open up next season with Vad Lee and Justin Thomas running the show as the spread option was employed from the pistol in a whole new way, and very successfully. This was how these two players were successful in high school, and based on all reports, both QB’s will see action next season, and will do well.
The offensive line is evolving into a larger group of players, but they are still athletic enough to make their cut blocks and get downfield to get to the second level to open the holes. This means they won’t be able to be “manhandled” up front by the larger defensive lines like they had in the past. The team will be much more experienced and have a deeper bench across the board. More athletic wide receivers are waiting in the wings and the defensive line is about to be “restocked” with large, athletic, players.
I guess my point is that GA Tech’s offense has been productive since Paul Johnson came on campus, but now he’s evolving it into an even more “dynamic” attack so that defenses can’t expect such a high percentage of rushes any more. This shoud make the offense even more dangerous. If the defense can continue to play like they did towards the end of the season, and you couple that with GA Tech’s offense, then the Jacket’s will be a very dangerous team next Fall.
9 Games, Really?
January 2nd, 2013
3:05 pm
So mark off losses to Florida State, Clemson and UGA to start. That’s 9 games.
Then at least one ACC game that they likely should not lose or will be favored in. That’s 8 games.
One is an FCS game which means 7 vs. FBS opponents.
Success, right? Don’t worry Jacket fans, Johnson’s buyout drops to $7 million at the end of next season.
crackbaby
January 2nd, 2013
3:05 pm
Sun Bowl Win = Nice end to a disappointing season
With all the returning upper classmen it is fair to say that significant improvement must be shown in 2013. GO JACKETS!
blackandwhitestripes
January 2nd, 2013
3:07 pm
I don’t always talk to ugag grads. But when I do, I order large fries.
Paddy
January 2nd, 2013
3:08 pm
Why has Lane Kiffin not been fired yet??? His AD thinks he is a joke and hurts the great tradition at USC! Just wondering………………………………..
Supersize that order, mutt
January 2nd, 2013
3:10 pm
@ 9 games……IF we keep Clemson in Atlanta next year (still up in the air, I hear), then Tech wins, since we always beat them in Atlanta. We have won quite a few AT Clemson too, even when they had great teams. IF we play FSU in Atlanta, Tech wins; won’t say the same about in Tallahassee. UGA loses a lot of players after this season; don’t be thinking they are going to be as good next year.
Boobie Bowden
January 2nd, 2013
3:11 pm
And nobody feels sorry for Georgia since they are mostly dumazzes, arrogant yes, intelligent no, just run of the mill dumazzes.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 2nd, 2013
3:11 pm
@ Paddy……check this link from yesterday’s LA Times
Supersize that order, mutt
January 2nd, 2013
3:12 pm
Oops….forgot to type the link. Here it is, and it’s a scathing commentary on Lame Kitten
http://soc.li/uhH8m6
flagboy?
January 2nd, 2013
3:13 pm
If tech can’t win in the ACC over the next few years, it might be time for a change. Va tech is as bad as I can remember, FSU continues to underwhelm. . . I wouldn’t say Johnson’s offense is the problem, but he doesn’t get a pass on the defensive problems either. This is the same guy who brought Groh in to show him around while his other defensive coordinator was still on staff. . . .
I wouldn’t have picked tech to beat USC. Good win . . but gosh, southern cal was gawd awful.
Delbert D.
January 2nd, 2013
3:16 pm
By the time I got to differential and then integral calculus, I had it all figured out; straight A’s. I was in my thirties by then. My problem from the 9th grade on through the first attempts at college was trying to understand why all of a sudden we had to learn to multiply and divide letters instead of numbers.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 2nd, 2013
3:16 pm
LOL @ Delbert D.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
3:17 pm
Boy, Johnson must of handled the firing of Groh with his usual class. You know, straight forward and all.
The same approach that works so well with recruits. Guess you guys have a problem until you hire an AD. Hope they have some balls.
Lollocopter
January 2nd, 2013
3:17 pm
7-7? Yippee…
Seems like up is the only direction possible from there…
TTT
January 2nd, 2013
3:19 pm
All majors must take two semesters of calculus. That puts Tech at a distinct recruiting disadvantage.
http://www.admission.gatech.edu/images/pdf/B12C2056_CourseRequirementsChart_20110818.pdf
JB
January 2nd, 2013
3:21 pm
TTT….. What did Reggie Ball make? And the BB player Maurberry.( sp)….. Two calculus types if I’ve ever seen some.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
3:25 pm
Tech’s D did look inspired. I hope that young man get to keep the Job. Defense looked a lot better with Groh gone, All insults aside. Good win. They deserved it.
Delbert D.
January 2nd, 2013
3:27 pm
Super – Thanks for the link. I felt somewhat bad for Wittek not getting any kind of support from the sideline. He played pretty well in the UCLA game. I don’t think Pat Haden will put up with Kiffen very much longer. Get the letters of intent in February, and then fire the bum.
UGABob
January 2nd, 2013
3:28 pm
Yea Supersize, Tech would beat Clemson and FSU for sure. Ha ha. Hilarious. It does not matter that the game would be in Atlanta. Half of the stadium would be for Clemson or FSU. It does not matter how bad UGA is, they will win. Need a reminder on UGA beating Tech when Tech went to the ACC Championship game and UGA ended up 6-7?
T-Bone
January 2nd, 2013
3:29 pm
Great work, Mark. Always enjoy your perspective. And I agree. 2013 is pretty important for CPJ.
Junior Samples
January 2nd, 2013
3:29 pm
Why is eveyone talking about UGA?? This is a tech atricle isn’t it?
Mike S.
January 2nd, 2013
3:29 pm
I honestly dont see how beating a USC team minus Matt Barkley translates to anything. Matt Barkley not playing is the reason we won that ballgame. No way you can convince me our defense could contain him with their WRs. Then there is the fact that USC’s defense isnt very good at all. It got worked in PAC 12 play, yet managed to keep our offense from driving the field for more than 14 pts (the extra 7 came after a punt return to the USC 1yd line).
TTT
January 2nd, 2013
3:30 pm
@JB I don’t disagree. Most Division 1 football and basketball players aren’t academically qualified to attend UGA, much less Tech. Also, that’s not a dig a UGA – I’m simply pointing out that the Tech curriculum has some unusual hurdles like calculus, lab sciences, etc.
flagboy?
January 2nd, 2013
3:30 pm
Haden is apparently the one supporting Kiffen. Earlier in the year, he was the one who supported Kiffen and spoke glowingly about him. But there is no denying USC were a complete disaster this year. . . it would be funny if ESPN were to go back and count the hours of USC coverage from the beginning of the year.
JM
January 2nd, 2013
3:31 pm
which Tech player said the El Paso news media treated Ga Tech with more respect than the Big A?
Yellow World
January 2nd, 2013
3:33 pm
Mutts, let’s be realistic for a minute, forget about all of the academic talk and etc. You guys UNDERACHIEVE year after year, even with superior recruiting talent…. You beat Florida this year, a team who just happen to OVERACHIEVE this year and then for whatever reason decided to throw the game away when they played you…. I’m a Jacket Fan, and most of us (Jacket Fans) will agree that we have had our share of down seasons as of late, and most of us are not going to make any excuses about the matter. Now explain this Mutt Fans, how can a team that consistently loses to top tier Schools year after year possibly have anything to say to anyone??? Yet, you continue to beat your chests as if you have won 20 national championships or something…. Okay, you have beaten us most of the time, but compare the recruits on both teams, especially the offensive and defensive lineman, Oops… I guess this is my only excuse… Logically, Georgia, with their recruits and all the hype that they put into their program year after year, they really should beat us most of the time. Not saying that we are totally defenseless when we play you, but c’mon… it’s indeed simple logic. How about winning some national titles before running your mouths so much.
Reebok
January 2nd, 2013
3:33 pm
If the program doesn’t bounce back to at least 8 wins next year, Coach Johnson is in big trouble. 8-4 and a bowl game will keep him employed, but we’ve got to start at least being competitive with UGA…I know they are more talented than Tech, but so is USC.
Delbert D.
January 2nd, 2013
3:33 pm
@JB – FYI, when players sign on with no intent on graduating they skip the required math and science courses. The key with any new regime is signing players who want to graduate, at Georgia Tech or any school where the coach intends to stay awhile.
GT 21 - USC 7
January 2nd, 2013
3:35 pm
Al Groh was a “crummy” defensive coordinator, bad decision.
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
3:37 pm
which Tech player said the El Paso news media treated Ga Tech with more respect than the Big A?
I didn’t hear that but it wouldn’t be all that surprising. Even when GT wins and snaps their losing bowl streak the best the AJC can come up with is a luke warm article that ends by basically telling us that we should fire our coaching staff.
dawgfan
January 2nd, 2013
3:44 pm
“Not saying that we are totally defenseless when we play you….”
I don’t know dude. One win in 12 years is pretty freaking defenseless. Kentucky has put up a better fight than that.
Georgia Tech=JOKE
Delbert D.
January 2nd, 2013
3:45 pm
Mark Bradley must have thought long and hard on the “where it became the only team ever to beat the preseason No. 1 after losing at home to Middle Tennessee” comment. I can’t see how that will ever be duplicated in my lifetime. That was really inspired journalism.
Mike S.
January 2nd, 2013
3:46 pm
Also, enough about academics. If Stanford can build a program that competes for BCS ball games..if Vandy can have a nine win season out of the SEC and build a current top 20 recruiting class…if Northwestern can compete in the Big 10 and finish ranked in the top 20, then Ga Tech can recruit the talent necessary to be a program that can at least finish in the rankings. This state is one of the best recruiting states in the nation. Gailey’s 07 class was top 20, and his 08 class was projected top 20 before he got fired. Recruits will come here, but they wont for the triple option.
JM
January 2nd, 2013
3:47 pm
GTBob, I don’t recall when I saw it on twitter, but one of the players said it.
I see the slap in the face of GT fans talking about this win causing a buzz in the GT fan base. The author obviously didn’t bother attending the ACC championship game. (or even researching afterwards) There was a great atmosphere in the GT stands. I could even hear it on the TIVO after the game. Great crowd noise. GT’s fan base may be small, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t excited about GT football as the author seems to imply. The GT player was correct, the news media in the Big A doesn’t respect Ga Tech, even when they perform well on the field. Sad.
Athens
January 2nd, 2013
3:50 pm
@GTBob,
You finally post on a GT article. Congratulations ! Hey guys, you can have him…ha!
@Supersize
I don’t condone losers from any school bashing on anothers schools articles just to be a troll, but as I remember, you were a king troll at one point in time. Little sensitive aren’t we?
Masters Champion
January 2nd, 2013
3:53 pm
Shhheeeezzzzz, you never went to the Institute. THIS IS AN INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING. The education you get is life changing. Too many UGA and SEC athlets have nothing to show for their matriculation. That is sad.
Thias is a great post from Cos Spofford:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2013/01/02/2013-could-be-a-big-year-for-tech-which-needs-a-big-year/#comment-621321
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
3:53 pm
Mike S., in the last 10 years here are the records for the teams you mentioned:
GT: 85-58
NW: 72-66
Stanford: 68-65
Vandy: 46-87
Those programs are seeing some success for the time being. To pretend like they have always been world beaters in spite of academics and that GT has always been terrible and just used academics as an excuse is a little misleading.
UGABob
January 2nd, 2013
3:54 pm
The AJC does not report much about Tech because nobody cares about Tech! Can’t even fill your own little stadium! If it were a good product, at least a few thousand of the millions of people in the area who are not from here would start attending games.
Tony
January 2nd, 2013
3:54 pm
Well a good bowl game again for my city of El Paso, and a BIG THK YOU! to the Jackets for thier win. USC had put our city down (nasty comments) and did not want to play the Jackets. USC (GA. TECK , El PASO, NEW YEARS EVE,) it s..ks. Well they got what was comeing the Boo crowd and a loss. Go Yellow Jackets good job!
TTT
January 2nd, 2013
3:55 pm
@ Mike S
You make a good point about Stanford, Vandy and Northwestern. I harp on academics because when I was a tutor for the GTAA, I heard directly from athletes how other schools wouldn’t shut up about how hard Tech is. Recruiting is a dirty business and the idea that these guys (with a few exceptions) are student-athletes is absurd.
oh brother!
January 2nd, 2013
3:57 pm
Is this the Georgia High School blog???
Mike S.
January 2nd, 2013
3:58 pm
Unless Vad Lee transforms into Cam Newton in the offseason, I’m not seeing a better season next year. For all the talk, Lee didnt do any better than Washington in the games that matter. Nesbitt struggled his senior year after Dwyer and everyone else left. Based on recent performance, you cant count @Miami, UGA, @BYU, Clemson, Va Tech, or FSU (if on schedule) as wins. Then there is that out of the blue shocker loss Johnson has gotten in the habit of (VA in 11, MTSU in ‘12). Of course this also assumes no improvement in the ACC over this year. Im just not seeing how Johnson can impress a new AD, unless they hire some kind of yes man.
AP
January 2nd, 2013
3:58 pm
Paul Johnson is rather unimpressive socially. Hence, hard time to like him unless he’s yours. This affects recruiting. He has a hard time relating and kissing butt! Also, the occasional foul mouth is quite embarrassing for the supposedely classy Institute! Prediction, he’s out in two years and ends up in some place like Kansas!
Delbert D.
January 2nd, 2013
3:58 pm
This is no more the news media than the Bleacher Report or 247Sports or the Chuck and Chernoff show on the radio. These blogmeisters simply stoke the fire of their biggest audiences. The AJC Sports beat guys, Towers and Sugiura are supposed to provide actual journalistic reporting. At least one of those two is not really a fan of the school he covers, and that is the way journalism should be.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 2nd, 2013
3:59 pm
@ Athens……I HAVE NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE posted on a UGA blog; hell, I don’t even read them. Now that’s not saying that you haven’t seen my name pop up on there, but I can assure you it was not me making the post. If you read the Tech blogs (or even Mark’s blogs) much, you will know that there is a name thief who posts under other blogger’s names. He used mine incessantly for about 6 months; now he uses other bloggers’ names at random. Mark, however, “outted” him to 1 4 GT by giving the email address which he uses—-dereckdooley@aol.com. However, like I said, you have never, and will never see me trolling the UGA blogs
oh brother!
January 2nd, 2013
3:59 pm
What do you guys think of that little 10th grader…oh wait…that is the starting qb at tech…my bad.
Truth hurts
January 2nd, 2013
4:00 pm
GT grads working the ramp at Hartsfield! True
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
4:02 pm
The AJC does not report much about Tech because nobody cares about Tech!
Then why are you here talking about Tech?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 2nd, 2013
4:02 pm
UGA grads greeting shoppers at WalMart! TRUE