Archive for October, 2009

Sorry…someone has to say it…

Maybe Frank Beamer and his cHokies should have been thinking about their game against North Carolina rather than whining and crying about getting blocked a few times by the Jackets.  Its funny how they didn’t complain last year when they won the game.

I already suspected that Beamer’s boys were having a tough time working through their manhood issues based on what had been in the press the past week.  But then the cHokies allowed a woeful Tar Heels team to come into their house, supposedly tough Lane Stadium, and score twice in the last three minutes of the game to tie and then win the game.  Less than two weeks ago VT was being mentioned in national title conversations…and now they aren’t.

I wonder what the complaints will be this time?

Travel Plans for Tampa?

How many of you have made travel plans to be in Tampa on December 5th?

With the aforementioned loss by Virginia Tech, the ACC Coastal Division title is squarely in the Jacket’s …

Continue reading There’s No Crying in Football! »

What a great Saturday…family time in the morning, the Jackets stomping a hole in the Hoos and the Charlottesville Curse, and more family time in the evening.  It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Jackets Stomp the Hoos 34-9!

After a slow start, Paul Johnson once again made halftime adjustments and opened the third quarter with a monster, clock devouring drive that resulted in points.

18 plays, 82 yards, and almost 11 minutes…are you kidding me?  What we’re seeing is a little bit of what the Navy fans told us we could expect.  They call Johnson’s offense “The Big Stick” for just this reason.  Johnson pounds and pounds and pounds some more…and opposing defenses crack and crumble and give up crucial scoring drives late in games.  We’ve seen it against several opponents this season…

Also…hats off to the defense.  What a tough, gutsy performance on the road.  The Hoos got into scoring position a couple of times only to be turned away from the endzone.

Wishful thinking …

Continue reading Ding Dong! The Curse is Dead! »

I remember exactly where I was in 1990 when Scott Sisson kicked the game winning field goal to beat the #1 Hoos in Charlottesville.

I was at my friend Brian’s house watching on TV and when that kick sailed through the uprights we went nuts, hopped on my motorcycle, and rode through downtown Barnesville GA screaming and honking the horn.  After junior college, Brian went on to UGA and I went to GT…but that Scott Sisson kick was something I’ll bet we both remember fondly to this day.  It was a helluva football game and high drama to a couple of college guys who loved college football.

Unfortunately, since 1990, Charlottesville has been something of a House of Horrors for the Jackets.

1992…55-22 loss…

1995…24-7 loss…

1997…35-31 loss…

1999…45-38 loss.  Despite having Joe Hamilton under center and a #7 ranking coming into the game.

2001…39-38 loss.  Hook and Ladder…’nuff said…

2003…29-17 loss.  Matt Schaub and Heath Miller dominated us.

2005…27-17 loss.  A three game win …

Continue reading Do the Jackets turn the Corner this Weekend? »

Wooooo…don’t know about the rest of you Tech fans but I’m pretty fired up right now.  The home crowd was awesome.  It was easily the loudest I’ve heard Bobby Dodd Stadium in years and the defense fed off the energy all night.

What a game…what a win…what a statement…Paul Johnson has the Jackets back in the national picture and on the national stage.

And it couldn’t have happened against a nicer bunch of miscreants and misfits than the Virginia Tech Hokies.  I’ve been pretty up front about my feelings about VT in previous blogs.  The fact that this win came against the cHokies just made it that much sweeter.

We’ve been getting disrespected by the local media (including all the local outlets) and the national media for quite awhile now.  This is a win that cannot be ignored.  There was no fluke play.  There were no questionable penalties or calls.  There was simply focused, solid, and determined coaching and execution from Georgia Tech that resulted one of the biggest …

Continue reading Huge Win! Statement Game! »

Its 10am and my lovely wife and two perfect daughters just headed out to ballet and tap class.  My chores are done and I’ll be hitting the road here shortly myself.  My tailgating buddies are likely already frying up the turkeys and wondering where I am.   Before I head out…a few thoughts…

I have some grave concerns about this game.  This is a chance for the Jackets to make a “we belong” statement.  Are they ready to do that?

On one hand, its Homecoming and we’ve won a vast majority of our  Homecoming games over the past several years.  (Losing to UVA last year broke  a streak I believe.)

On the other hand, we’re facing a Top 5 VT squad that has suddenly found balance in their offense.  That doesn’t bode well for our defensive squad, which has given up yards in bunches while benefiting from an offense that has bailed them out with big plays and clock eating drives.

I’m worried that VT will do what FSU should have done…eat up yards and clock with their running game, …

Continue reading Fried Turkey for Homecoming? »

Noles?

Before we move onto the Hokies and midseason grades, I thought Tech fans might enjoy the following Youtube highlight clips courtesy of poster ‘georgiatech22‘ on the Hive:

Anthony Allen’s Big Run and Nesbitt’s TD

Nesbitt’s Bomb to Thomas

Marcus Wright Carves the FSU D for a TD

Dwyer Rambles 60+ Yards for a TD

Josh Nesbitt Steals the Fumble Back!

Nesbitt Takes the Ball in for a TD

Hot Bobby! Hot Bobby!

I really enjoyed those clips since I didn’t get a chance to watch the game on TV.

Hokies!

The Hokies are gonna be a tough out folks.  Not typically the kind of team you schedule for Homecoming.

However, the Jackets play well at home and play well on Homecoming historically.  And Tech should also benefit from great crowd support and a 6:00pm kickoff time which will allow for even more fan support and participation in the stands.  (I don’t want to hear any excuses about people missing the game due to ballet practice or soccer games or etc.   The 6:00pm kickoff should …

Continue reading Noles, Hokies, & Mid Season Grades »

This will be another quick hitter since its been a long weekend with lots of driving, lightning storms, and a crazy football game which went well past midnight on Saturday.

Saturday was one of the most insane football game days I’ve experienced in quite awhile.  The day started off really hot but then the storms arrived mid-day and brought the humidity with them.  And for the last few hours before the game, the sky cleared up and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen.

But then the game starts and FSU and GT trade touchdown drives before the PA announcers tell everyone the game is being suspended for lightning.  Now…its important to understand that at this point noone had seen a hint of lightning or even felt a rain drop.  We’re all looking around with a “You’ve gotta be kidding!” look on our faces.

So off we go, into the bowels of Doak Campbell to wait out a little over an hour’s worth of a lightning delay.

Let me tell you, fellow GT fans, as bad as you think the restrooms are …

Continue reading Back from Tally…Strangest Game Day Ever! »

If any of you see a silver Jeep with a GT flag on one side and an FSU flag on the other, en route to Tallahassee today, it’s probably the wife and I heading south for the game tomorrow.

The plan is to meet up with FSU family and GT friends tomorrow for some tailgating and fellowship before the primetime kickoff.  We might even try to catch a little of the UGA vs UT game, so we can sing Rocky Top a few times.

I have no idea what to expect from our game…both GT and FSU have been very up and down this season.

The result could easily come down to whichever team can play four quarters of football and make a big play on special teams or defense.

Because I’ll be out of town, its likely to be very late on Sunday or possibly Monday before my next blog.

Rest assured its not an AJC conspiracy or lack of support of GT…its simply the fact that I’ll probably be driving back from Florida.

Go Jackets!

Beat the Noles!

Continue reading Heading to Tallahassee! »

A few things are floating around the boards and blogs today…so lets just get right into them…

1) Clean Old Fashioned Hate…in the Georgia Dome?

Are you kidding me?  Who came up with this wrong headed idea?

Pardon me while I vent for a few minutes…

Neither GT nor UGA gain enough from this proposed debacle to make it worth moving the annual Thanksgiving ritual anywhere but Between the Hedges or On the Flats.

Both the Dawgs and Jackets are already located right square in the middle of the best football recruiting territory in the nation.  There would be minimal recruiting advantage over what both already enjoy returned from this game.

One of the teams, most likely Georgia Tech, would have to give up a home game.

The Georgia Dome SUCKS for football games.  Football games should be played outdoors…period.  I don’t care if its cold or rainy at the end of November.  That’s part of the experience.  I’ve been to games, both college and pro, in the Dome and I don’t like it.  Its …

Continue reading Hot Topics on a Wednesday Night »

Just a quick hit here, before I try to catch the end of the Miami vs Oklahoma game.  (Go ACC!)

If you had told me that the Jackets would throw for more yards than they would rush for, I’d have laughed.  But that’s just what happened as Josh Nesbitt went 11 of 14 for 266 yards and a touchdown.  Four different receivers caught passes, led by Demarius Thomas’ eight catches for 175 yards.

The Jackets still ground out yards on the ground as they ran 54 times for 216 yards.  But it was the passing game which saved the day.  And it definitely gives the FSU coaches something to look at and worry about before the upcoming game this next weekend.

I expected the Bulldogs to be able to run the ball.  They have a real stud in Anthony Dixon and he was instrumental in MSU running for over 200 yards on the Tech defense.  The Jackets defense didn’t seem all that keen on tackling anyone, especially Dixon.

It was a strange, strange game with huge momentum swings and big plays.  Kick …

Continue reading Offense Bails out the Defense in Starkville »