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Saturday, September 20, 2008
Tech is showing its true colors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mississippi State hadn’t been to Atlanta on football business since 1929 and by the time the sun lowered over Grant Field on Saturday, the Bulldogs of Starkville realized they hadn’t been missing anything. From “black October,” as the stock market left its mark 79 years ago, to “black and blue September” in State’s current diary. Georgia Tech won the game, 38-7, and at times it seemed some of the towers of downtown turned their heads to avoid the sight of the pummeling going on below.
So let’s take it from here: First, this was the same Mississippi State team that held Auburn to three points last week. This was the same team that beat both Auburn and Alabama last year, coached by the same SEC Coach of the Year, Sylvester Croom. This also was a team that hadn’t scored an offensive point since the third quarter against Southeastern Louisiana two weeks ago, and the streak was extended for three more quarters Saturday. (The Auburn score was 3-2.)
This was an ACC team taking an SEC team to the woodshed, putting a new slant on all the critical jawing and restoring some of the shine on the ACC. To be blunt, it was a game that Paul Johnson virtually turned into a spring scrimmage. Except, in contrast to Tech’s spring scrimmage this year, rife with fumbles as the Yellow Jackets were being indoctrinated in Johnson’s totally mysterious spread option offense. And this was executed under extenuating circumstances.
Tech did it with four quarterbacks, not by choice. Josh Nesbitt, the starter, was gone after eight plays, out with a pulled hamstring after a 21-yard run. To be followed by Jaybo Shaw, a freshman from Flowery Branch; then Bryce Dykes, another freshman, and later Calvin Booker, a senior noted for his passing skill. Jonathan Dwyer had the day of his life, 141 yards afoot, 88 in one stirring dash that set a Tech record. By the time the game reached the fourth quarter, Johnson had very nearly emptied his bench. It was a splendid day for auditioning, though little about it was smooth and glossy, more along the line of wild and woolly.
It was a high noon game played in dazzling sunshine, to a registered audience numbering 48,402. The white uniforms of the Tech band were almost blinding, and the sun’s rays bounced off the oompah horns. It seemed a shame that these two teams hadn’t been sharing visits during all the years they were fellow members of the SEC. There was a reason: Bobby Dodd considered it a step back in social standing to schedule a game in Mississippi, State or Ole Miss. He played Ole Miss once in the mid-40s, a game scheduled by retiring AD Bill Alexander before Dodd became head coach. After that, it was his show and a personal matter.
This game with Mississippi State came about while Chan Gailey was coach, with Louisville on the schedule. He prevailed on Dan Radakovich, the new athletics director, to scratch Louisville, and it so happened Mississippi State had an open date, and willingly it fit. It isn’t supposed to become a steady thing, but Radakovich does have in mind expanding Tech’s geographical range, and with Johnson on station, it is an inviting prospect. However, not until we have seen the sideline photos of the coach and his expressive critiques shall we have a clue as to his view of the proceedings. There was one heartwarming indicator, however, as he departed the field. As the student body cheering cheered, he cheered back, clapping his hands and smiling broadly.
Stay tuned. This is only the beginning. The future is still in the works.
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