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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > October > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe buzz is back with Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We on the periphery tend to regard college football in this state as Georgia first, Georgia second, Georgia all the time. We tend to forget the proud program sitting off North Avenue, the program of Dodd and Heisman and the Morrises and the Swillings. We tend to forget until some driven man steps forward and demands that we pay attention.
Four games on the job, Paul Johnson seems such a man. He isn’t deferential to anyone or anything. Sometimes Tech people tend to be too circumspect for their own good. Paul Johnson doesn’t dabble in circumspection or, for that matter, circumlocution. He says what he thinks.
Johnson has Georgia Tech at 3-1 with a good chance of being 5-1 when it plays at Clemson on Oct. 18. At a time when the national spotlight has centered on Georgia’s presumed pursuit of various titles, the Jackets have launched a grass-roots campaign. They’re out to remind us that this is a two-program state. They’re looking to win championships of their own.
This week Michael Johnson, the tall and talented defensive end, authored an as-told-to piece for Sporting News Today, in which he averred: “Don’t be surprised if we end up 11-1 … Georgia Tech is the only team that can beat Georgia Tech.”
Boldness plays well with this constituency. Reggie Ball became infamous for, among other things, saying of Georgia: “Come on, dog. It’s just a game.” Tech people cringed. Tech people want to hear that their beloved Institute takes football every bit as seriously as the hated Mutts in Athens.
Tech people never got that feeling about Chan Gailey, who, the consensus held, played not to lose. Tech people want a coach who plays to win, and they believe they’ve found one. “[Paul Johnson] has unified the fan base,” says Jason Hill, a Tech grad from Conyers who has been quoted in this space before. “He’s gotten the excitement back and the teamwork back.”
Gailey, as we know, never beat Georgia. The last Tech coach to manage that was George O’Leary in the 2000 game that got Jim Donnan fired. Johnson has Tech folks feeling they’ll get Mark Richt and the Mutts, if not this year, then surely soon. Says Hill: “It was that way with O’Leary. You got the feeling he wasn’t scared of anybody and he’d take on anybody anywhere. We took a lot of pride in that.”
Viewed alongside other zealots, Tech people really don’t ask for much. They want to beat Georgia two times of every five, and they want their team to wear gold. (This one does, if in a garish configuration.) Most of all they want a coach who’s skilled at what he does. “Tech people understand business,” Gailey once said, and what doomed him was the consensus that he was forever underperforming.
Four games on the job, Johnson has instilled a different sensation: He knows what he wants and isn’t shy about sharing. “He’ll jump on a guy when he makes a mistake,” Hill says. “That really hits with Tech people. People want a coach who looks like he’s mad when they’re mad.”
Yes, it’s early. For all Michael Johnson’s bravado, the Jackets still could lose four or five games. (If they were unlucky to lose at Virginia Tech, they were lucky to win at Boston College.) And we forget this now, but Gailey’s first team started 4-1. But Gailey — partly because he followed O’Leary, partly because he was hired by Dave Braine — was never embraced even on his best days.
Paul Johnson has been embraced. Paul Johnson has made Tech people believe that happy days are here again. The buzz, long dormant, is back.
Permalink | Comments (95) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech/ACC
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By gtrugby
October 3, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
“…Tech people really don’t ask for much. They want to beat Georgia two times of every five, and they want their team to wear gold.”
That is total BS…I want to beat Georgia every year. All Tech fans want to beat Georgia every year. I am not going to settle for anything less than beating Georiga every year. And better yet, neither is Coach Paul Johnson.
THWG!
By Hal
October 3, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
I second that!
By I hate you
October 3, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I hate you Mark Bradley. You ignorant, no talent a$$-clown, uga, sec homer. Are you done crying about the bama game yet?
By SanDiegoJacket
October 3, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
All I ask is to beat Ugag every year, everything else is just a bonus!!!!
THWG Every Day and in Every Way SanDiegoJacket!!
By fred
October 3, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
The only reason to play the game is TO WIN! Tech now expects to win every game on our schedule—-WHY NOT? You get one trip in life, why settle for mediocrity? That attitude can NOW flourish somewhere else—-NOT ON THE FLATS!!!
GOoooooooooo JACKETS!THWG!
By New England Jacket
October 3, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
What’s this two out of five garbage?
Only two things matter to a GT fan: winning the next game, and beating UGA. Of those, beating UGA matters the most , by a country mile.
Two out of five? You need to check yourself.
By chickensbeforethey'rehatched
October 3, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
sure, you’ll be beating UGA every year… REAL SOON!
Yep! you’ve ARRIVED now, boy!
By Herschel Talker
October 3, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Everyone on this post is a bunch of nerds. You will always be second class to UGA. You may win every now and then, and generally even that is with the ref’s help (Joe Hamilton fumble in 1998, Jasper Sanks “fumble” in 1999). But I digress. You guys go and get all “geeked” up over your once a decade 10-win season. In the meantime, when does basketball season start? Tech will always be irrelevant in football in the state of Georgia.
GLORY GLORY TO OLD GEORGIA!
By ONCEEVERY8YEARS
October 3, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
LOOK OUT UGA!!
GA TECH IS BACK!!!
HOW DO WE KNOW? BECAUSE THEY SAID SO!!!
By Bug Killer
October 3, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Ahhh….
… but with this article filled with joyous optimism forgets is that in Athens, GA resides a certain man who made it priority number one upon his ascension at Georgia to turn this state into a one-team state.
Who looked at the NATS signing of what’s his name, that wide receiver, shrugged his shoulders, and still went out and beat Bugland.
This is a one-team state. And it will be until Southern bellies up to the adult table and joins either Conference USA or the Big East.
Those pitiful little Bugs can’t even fill up their high school stadium. Why should anyone pay them any mind?
By tech , irrelevant?
October 3, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
tech’s not irrelevant, they just have beaten absolutely nobody. the worst team in the sec, miss. state, and possible the worst team in the big east, i mean acc, boston college. and of course jack. state which i assume is in jacksonville fla. , now they have to play mighty duke, gardner webb, and virginia.. course at the end they get to play that weakling over in athens…they’ll probably beat those dawgs by 2 or 3 tds..yeah when pink elephants roost in trees… good luck insects …we are so proud of your 3 big time wins!
By MalibuGT
October 3, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Mark, its funny there was a lot of speculation in the AJC last winter about what kind of coach GT needed to hire to ignite the fan base. The recommended prescription seemed to be get a young, up & comer assistant (in other words copy the Richt plan). When Coach Paul Johnson was selected, many critics focused on his boring system, his age & personality, etc. I give Dan R. high marks for seeing what others didn’t. You cannot make me believe any of those other candidates would have this team and these fans where we are right now.
I sit 15 rows behind that GT bench and it is amazing to see the coaching, instruction, and intensity - which Chan Gailey simply lacked.
His system is anything but exciting. He is the right man for this particular job.
Give ‘em h*ll Tech!
By givemeabreak
October 3, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry, Dawgs…
Anytime the Bumbles find a coach who can beat us more than once every decade, they soon leave for a better job anyway…
Tech is just a stepping-stone program.
By Glenn Peake
October 3, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Fine column and watertight analysis, Mark. I don’t get all the frothing at the mouth in the comments. Tech sure seems to be on the right track, so I really don’t get all the vitriol in the messages here (from both sides—not to get all fair-and-balanced). To be perfectly honest, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Tech fan, and I’d be delighted at 2 wins every five and sneak in a third every once in a while. It’s called parity, equilibrium, oh, I don’t know, being realistic. What I do like is that Johnson is getting everything he can out of his players, and I see this as a continuing trend with a short- and long-term upside (many upsides, in fact, including beating UGA a reasonable amount over a five-year period). It will also attract players who buy in to the discipline and monofocus Johnson requires. I see those qualities in Tech this year, and I see it as a trend with long-term upside and a big potential for consistency. Players will want to play for a coach like Johnson who’s all about winning. All of Tech’s opponents should be taking note. They’re on notice.
By Carolina Jacket
October 3, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
We surely must beat the Dawgs, but lets not let a hungry Duke team sneak up on us. Look at all those upsets, many of which NO ONE predicted. Just be sure to take care business, every week.
By charles
October 3, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
I love the UGA fan complaining about Tech’s wins this year. Who has UGA beaten this year??? Not so impressive either huh?
By wes
October 3, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson was my first choice to replace Chan Gailey, and boy oh boy, am I glad we got him!
We are BACK!!!!
By David T.
October 3, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Wouldn’t it be wise to wait until ALL the games have been played to proclaim “We are BACK!!!!”, wes? Maybe that’s preferable to that big plate of Crow Pie Tech fans feast on every year. This isn’t the first time Tech started fast against the pansies on their schedule before folding up down the stretch. There’s probably at least 2 bigtime beatdowns coming to you before the end of the season. It’s inevitable. After all, you’re one more QB going down from total disaster. And your QBs are going to get hit hard and often by some of the teams left on your schedule. If Jaybo gets hurt Saturday you guys have a big big problem.
By Summerville S.C.
October 3, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
There’s always been 2 D1 programs in this state Mark. It’s just that one of them is 12-32 against the other over the last 44 years. It’s kind of hard to notice when it’s that lopsided.
By New England Jacket
October 3, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Glenn: Any season that doesn’t include a win over UGA is a bad season, as far as I’m concerned (there are other ways to have bad seasons even if you do beat UGA, of course).
If you agree with me on that point, then you’re willing to have 45% “good seasons”? Not good enough for me.
Like I said before, I don’t care about name-calling, I don’t care what UGA fans say; I only care about the business of winning, and I care about the winning the UGA game 3 times as much as winning every other game in our season combined.
By Glenn
October 3, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
New England Jacket: Your points are well taken. Of course I’d prefer to take five out of five in any given timespan, but considering the way things have been going the last seven years (coinciding precisely with Richt’s arrival and Goff’s and Donnan’s departures), I think we have to expect that—with the exception of peaks and troughs now and then—Richt will keep UGA at a high level for quite some time. He’s still young and he is a very talented coach, motivator, and recruiter. That’s just the way I see it, and I think the facts bear that out (0-7, anyone, against Richt-coached teams?). Until UGA hits a dip, they’re the class in this state and in this region. Hate to say it, but it’s true. Of course, I’m never satisfied with losing to UGA. I’m not suggesting that any Tech fan should be. But until the equilibrium in this state swings in the other direction (and considering the relative trajectories of Tech and UGA over the last seven years, there’s a lot of momentum to be shifted), I think that taking two or three out of five is something to shoot for. And as things change, perspectives and outlooks will change. Richt will have some rough years with UGA, and we’ll be in a position to pounce with CPJ at the helm. Of course I want to win every one against UGA, but we have to walk before we run. Achieving parity with UGA in the state is the first objective, then we think about winning five out of five. I think we share the same optimistic view of CPJ’s upside, and, of course, I want and expect GT to win EVERY game it plays. On that we can agree (and a lot else, I’m sure).
GO JACKETS!!
By Mark Bradley
October 3, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
For the record, Paul Johnson was my second choice as Tech coach. Chris Hatcher of Georgia Southern was my first, simply because I thought his throw-the-ball offense would be more palatable to Tech fans than Johnson’s run-the-ball scheme. So far, I haven’t heard any complaints about this offense.
By GT GRAD
October 3, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
I want GT to win every game they play and win the National Championship every year. This is obviously not realistic, but it is my desire. I expect a solid, respectable program which wins all of the games they should win and sometimes pulls an upset when they are CONSIDERED the under-dog (a few games between 2004-2007 come to mind: Auburn TWICE, Notre Dame, Miami, Virginia Tech, etc.).
UGA fans need to take into consideration a few facts. UGA typically has recruiting classes in the Top 5 and GT usually has recruiting classes in the 20-40 range. It is really amazing that we play UGA so close every year and that we have a respectable overall record. Why is it that UGA teams have consistently performed below expectations. UGA almost always ends up ranked lower after the games have been played;because they are over-ranked ijn the pre-season (2007 is the only exception). On the flip side, GT teams almost always end up being ranked higher after the games have been played after being under-ranked. Huh……it kind of makes you think a little (if you have a brain!!). I say coaching and a high percentage of players with solid character/inteligence has a lot to do with these results.
By nerd hater
October 3, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Jackets, Rember this. GT is not a “final destination school”. If PJ is as good as you all dream of, he will drop GT like a hot potato when a real program comes calling.
By GT student
October 3, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this
nerd hater…..he will turn GT back into the title contender that we have missed for so long. Every year UGA cannot live up to the hype and 1980 gets a year further in our memories. I was 1 years old when GT won its last title, that was in my lifetime. I hope UGA never wins one in my lifetime, and trust me the recent UGA dominance is over as we will not just be a W on your schedule. He reminds me of a great coach we once had here, i think his name was bobby dodd. They both care about winning and will chew a player out if he messes up. Yet he is also a very cool guy, ive met him. He is also way smarter than most coaches for your SEC(overated) confrence. I hope to take my kids to Johnson-Dodd stadium at historic grant field one day and tell them this is where daddy went to school, show them the updated national championships sign and watch my jackets play.
By yellajacket
October 3, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this
GT is back to the good ole days of a fun-offense to watch like when we had joe hamilton, they did some of the stuff we do now such as the option and line up in the flexbone…now that the two incompetent qbs gailey recruited are gone tech will win and with johnson at coach win more than 7 games a year and win acc titles
By RAMBLE ON!!!
October 3, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
PAUL JOHNSON IS THE BOBBY DODD COACH OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HIS A BADDDDDDD MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BETTER THAN BOSS ROSS, JURY’S OUT ON ALEXANDER, DODD, AND HEISMAN
By Joe
October 3, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
I love Georgia Tech and always will be a fan of them.
Go Jackets!!!
By Michael
October 3, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this
Why does everyone think that Tech is a stepping-stone program? It’s in the ACC, which is certainly not doing great now, but these things are cyclical. It’s not as if Tech was in C-USA where it’d be nearly impossible to get to a National Championship game. If Tech wins all it’s games, it will got to the National Championship game most years (discounting when there are multiple undefeated teams, then it just depends). So CPJ can win a national championship, something he couldn’t do at Navy. He’s coached a lot in the state of GA, and seriously, did anyone think of FSU as a great job before Bowden got there, or PSU as a great school when Paterno got there? No, they built those programs. I’m not saying that he won’t leave. However, it’s not some foregone conclusion that he’ll leave Tech. I seem to remember Grobe staying at Wake when Nebraska came calling.
By Joshua Barlowe
October 3, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Bark Madley, welcome aboard.
Let me remind you, you were one of the first to anoint UGAy to that championship you speak of.
I’ll take this column as your repentance. :)
Go Jackets!
By Sautee Dawg
October 3, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this
Not a Tech fan but i am a fan of Paul Johnson, Tech faithful are fortunate to have him as coach. He’s a keeper! Can’t wait for the game in Athens this year should be a good one as always.
By ccrider
October 3, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Funny how all the Georgia fans get on this blog trashing Ga. Tech a week after getting their former NO.1 butts kicked by Alabama. Their team has been better than Tech for the last 7 years, but the history of this series shows that Tech was once the BIG DOG in this series. We have according to the NCAA 3 National CHampionships and the Bulldogs have 1. Our most recent one in 1990, Bulldogs 1980. Our total history is much richer with Heisman, Leahy and Bobby Dodd. Glenn mentioned the Bulldogs as the top program in the region. I think LSU and Florida with their National Titles would disagree, AS WELL ALABAMA. The dog fans are whistling past the graveyard. They continue to hope Tech will stay a lesser program so they can feel better about still having won nothing of National importance in 28 years. They TOO see Paul Johnson is a topnotch coach, it scares them and like little roosters they puff out their chests and go WOOF WOOF hoping to scare off the inevitable: TECH IS COMING BACK
By Douglas
October 3, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
Tech is back. Great article, great comment from ccrider!
By barkmadley
October 3, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
Please Bark Madley, please do more research. The only pulse of the fan base doesn’t come from the Hive. Is that the only place that you check? Just because they are happy with 2 of 5 and obsess about the team that was chumped by the Tide. At least send out an intern to maybe interview some students or attend a club meeting. Anything. The AJC is a complete embarassment to journalistic integrity. Did they not offer you a package on the lastest round of layoffs?
By mike
October 3, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
ccrider, If you want to talk history, swallow 59-36. Tech would have to win 23 years in a row and the serise would just be be tied. Is winning a national championship the only thing to qualify as “national importance”. Does finishing 2nd out of 119 teams last year mean anything?? Does going 359 days w/o losing a game mean anything?
By bark
October 3, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
What did that 2 ranking do for you last week mikey? And please quit counting offseason days. hahaha. what losers.
By tom
October 3, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
ccrider, national impartance is winning a BCS bowl game IMO. UGA has won 2 recently. When is the last TECH won a bowl of any significance? the 1990 citrus bowl against 18th ranked nebraska?? rotflmfao
By woofwoof
October 3, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
Hey, did you know that Noshow can leap trailer parks too?
By LongBeachJacket
October 3, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Nice article, Mark.
I think Tech fans (true Tech fans) are like most others in this respect:
They want to see excellence from their team. At least they want to see their team play to it’s maximum potential.
If Tech does that, it should win more than it loses. Sometimes it should win a lot more.
Alas, all things must be taken a step at a time. Potential does not always equal results. It must be earned and earned daily and weekly.
Coach Johnson inspires faith thus far because he’s created an atmosphere that expects…in fact demands…excellence. He’s seems to “get it” at a fundamental level. His track record is a strong indicator as are testimonials from those who know him and have played for him.
It’s refreshing.
That said. Keep it all in perspective. In football, as in life, things are not always linear. The trend line is what’s important. Things are trending positive. Expectations are that they should continue that way.
GO JACKETS!
By Terry
October 3, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
Mark,
We want to beat the dawgs every year. We want them to lose every game.
So don’t be bringing your unlucky charms over this way, get back on the dawg bandwagon where you belong.
By the way, with all of the cuts at the AJC, how did you manage to hang on? ;-)
By woofwoof
October 3, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
I understand tom, let’s just define whatever “impartance” we need to. I mean Tech could define it as a national championship in the last 19 years. Where is uga there? Exactly.
1980 is getting further and further away from your “elite” program. What I see with uga is a poor man’s FSU from where Richt came. High ranking but always losing THE game. That and the lack of discipline in the program. At least FSU didn’t pull the BS gimmicks though that Richt is.
By FJR
October 3, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
I think a lot of people here don’t understand the difference between “want” and “statisfied with”. Sure its great and all to posture that you wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less than winning 4 out of 5 against UGA, but that’s just ridiculous. Would you be calling for CPJs head if, 10 years from now, he had only beaten UGA 6 times? No, we’d probably be about ready to put a statue of him up.
Sure, 4 out of 5 against UGA is nice to aim for, but if you label anything less as failure, then you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Let’s start with just making the series competitive again.
By ccrider
October 3, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
MIKE, It means you have a very good program at Georgia, but When Tech has had the chance to win the BIG ONE it has been better. My favorite baseball team the Braves went to the playoffs a record 14 years in a row, but if you ask any baseball fan, they wouldn’t be considered the equal of the Yankees. The Jackets also wouldn’t in college football rank with the success of Notre Dame, Alabama, Oklahama Southern Cal, Ohio State, Penn State Etc. I understand your pride in the Bulldogs success. I also sense an inferiority complex of all the Bulldog bloggers that frequent this blog. Tech has a much bigger history in this country, scientist, inventors, former Presidents than just a football school. Georgia has been a more consistently good team than Tech in the last 40 years but ultimately just another of many good programs unable to win the BIG prize. Mike ask yourself, If Mark Richt’s great recuiting classes doesn’t bring a National Championship soon, will the DOG NATION be happy being just Another “GOOD PROGRAM”. I think the answer is a resounding NO. So, yes the ultimate goal is to win the NCAA championship, not just have a good record when playing your in state rival and at winning the BIG ONE we have been better.
By GT
October 3, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
Our statues are for coaches that have awards names after them. When Johnson gets to that level, he can have one too.
By TechCrybaby
October 3, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
I suppose you’re right, Mark Bradley: Tech people may be too circumspect for their own good. If you think they want to beat Georgia just twice in every five games, well, Bobby Dodd said we’re lucky to win one in every three! But then, his walk didn’t match his talk: He let the Bulldogs win only 10 out of 22.
By Charlie
October 3, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bradley,
I was just curious…do you really look like Alfalfa or is that just an old photo?
By NYJacket
October 3, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Mark,
It is obvious that you did not see the BC game. Tech was not lucky to win. They never quit and they took the fight to BC and came away with the win.
Luck didn’t have a damn thing to do with it!
By GT_Class of '91
October 3, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
**Good article Mark! It’s great to have the support of the hometown paper. 2/5 against UGA averaged over 2000-2015 is O.K. But Coach PJ may give you guys some really good stuff to write about, when he reels off 4 or 5 in a row against The Devils in Red and Black!
Go Jackets!**
By OldGold
October 3, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Forget about us all you want. What you can’t forget about is 4 National Titles, 15 Conf. Titles. 1980 gets further and further away every day mutts. Yeah, yeah, I know you beat us 7 in a row, but you’re still one shy of our longest streak against your faddish, unoriginal (borrowed fight song, borrowed helmet logo, borrowed mascot from your Yale school president) over hyped, cocky football program. Keep forgetting about Tech, and we’ll keep quietly rising back to the top and win another title in my lifetime, and you can take that to the bank. woof woof woof woof… or whatever unoriginal sounds you idiots make every five seconds. To HeII With Georgia!
By New England Jacket
October 3, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this
Glenn:
We can compromise. What I’m saying is, I want GT to have UGA in the position that UGA has had GT in for the past 7 years. They had no right to believe they could do that to us, but they did it anyway.
We have a disadvantage in recruiting, because not only is GT a superior academic institution, it is also less prone to waiving minimum admission requirements for football players.
Where 94% of UGA’s players would not even be considered for admission otherwise, only 9% of GT’s football players fall under that category at The Institute.
But we can win. We have to want it more. We have to want it enough to wrench it from a bigger, stronger, more talented opponent. We have to find an advantage and grind them down so hard that they give it up.
I don’t care about beating UGA in 2009. I want to beat them in 2008. There is no excuse for losing to UGA.
The future of the GTAA depends on GT winning that very game.
By michaelgee
October 3, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
Maybe UGA fans should wear black when they play GT, that black costume didn’t scare ‘bama and it won’t scare anybody else but perhaps an over nmatched Hawaii team again.
fwiw, UGA vs Hawaii was closer than UGA bama.
The newest UGA is jinxed.
By GT GRAD
October 3, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
Well stated OldGold!
It really makes no sense for UGA fans to belittle the GT football program. It only makes it look even worse for the UGA program when we beat UGA. GT has won 40% of the games against UGA (lifetime record). If GT is sooooo pitiful, what does that say about the UGA football program (the fact that they lose 4 out of 10 times they play GT)? It says UGA is not as good as the blind faithful would like to believe or it says GT is better than many of the idiotic/ignorant UGA fans would like to admit……….make your choice UGA faithful!!
UGA should want GT to win the first 11 games every year so that #12 helps thier strength of schedule. Oh yeah, what am I thinking………..UGA is an SEC team; SEC teams only want to play games that they know they can win out of conference. How did I forget??? This makes the SEC out of conference W-L ratio look good and helps the conference ranking. This approach helps in the polls, BCS bids, reduces injuries, etc. If the SEC is as good as they claim, they should be willing to take on better teams out of conference. The SEC bowl record was borderline pitiful prior to 2006. By the way, I truly believe the SEC has 4-5 very good programs, but they are not as good Top-to-Bottom as most SEC fans claim.
By Echoing I hate you
October 3, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
I echo the sentiment of “I Hate You” from earlier.. you are indeed an SEC homer and have clearly written this article in jest. I’m a die hard Jacket but lets beat Duke first and Clemson before you start chiming in with “I told you so.”
By Pago Flyer
October 4, 2008 12:12 AM | Link to this
Actually, UGA is always in the Top Ten recruiting class…but nothing happens.
By Mark Bradley
October 4, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
Actually, I covered the Boston College game. Here’s what I wrote.
By Daniekl
October 4, 2008 1:34 AM | Link to this
Georgia Bulldogs have no class and look sloppy this year. I doubt they will even go 8-4. Good luck pups, you will need it now that Paul Johnson is running this team. Poor mark Richt should start looking for another job. because in a few years when he’s lost to gt, ga will fire his a$$.
By kj
October 4, 2008 2:11 AM | Link to this
Hey tech , irrelevant? How has your mighty DAWGS beat this year? Oh that would be Ga Southern, Cebtral Mich, oh and lets not forget the might Arizona State….Oh and btw you just got crushed by VERY YOUNG Alabama team…..
Oh and before i forget Herschel Talker I got something for you too…..What has Ga done in the last 27 years? Nothing but whine about what til next year….you Ga fans kill me you always talk about how great your program is yet you win nothing….you’re not a national power you’re a national choker….You have done a damn thing since Herschel….yes your dawgs have owned tech lately but i do believe you gots do a whole lot of jumping up and down and cheering about your 1 win over the Gators every 15 years or so……
By jeff
October 4, 2008 2:48 AM | Link to this
Hey herschel talker,go have another BLACK OUT!OH i MEAN A CRY OUT! dAWGS HAVE BEAT NO ONE
By MidnightRambler
October 4, 2008 3:20 AM | Link to this
Tom, Yes, the Jackets won a National Championship more recently than UGA and played Nebraska which had been ranked #3 and led Co-National Champion Colorado 6-0 going into the 4th Quarter in the Citrus Bowl which the ACC Champs were committed to by contract. The ACC’s 2nd team, UVA came within 1 point of beating SEC Champ Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl with their star QB playing with an injured throwing hand. Both UGA and Tech have rich traditions of which both should be proud. Georgia has won more games in the rivalry, and I give you credit. Flaunting your success on the Tech message board is poor sportsmanship and shows a complete lack of class. As Winston Churchill said: “In defeat defiance. In victory, magnanimity.”
By KneeJerk
October 4, 2008 6:13 AM | Link to this
Mark Richt = great recruiter, but not so much a great coach. Gets fantastic high school talent, but does he ever win games in which the other team has more talent? I can’t think of many IMPACT NFL players that played under Richt at UGA. Why is that? Because he gets the best players, but doesn’t further develop them once they get to UGA. The last NFL QB developed under Richt was Danny Kanell and that was many moons ago. Good lucK matt Stafford. Hey, but he’s great with the gimmicks and bible thumping. There’s a future in car sales for that guy.
By Gator Nation
October 4, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this
Tell it straight J-Hill!!!
You still can’t play poker though.
By UGA Fans
October 4, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Have you guys noticed there are a lot less UGA terds posting on our blogs since they were CRUSHED last week. It’s been nice…
By webbl
October 4, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
to UGA fans a history lesson — before Tech had a brain fart and left the SEC Tech was the main team in the state. UGA needs to clean up its off field act. G Getting a top 5 recruiting class does not mean a great team is on the way. Just look at FSU which has top recruiting every year. A coach is still needed to make them into a team. CPJ is a wining football coach.
By mike
October 4, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
ROOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!! Love to see bulldog nation fans in stands crying!!!! GOOOOOO JACKETS !!!!!!!!
By Techster
October 4, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
NFL SIGNS MORE PLAYERS FROM THE MIGHTY -ACC-, THAN ANY OTHER CONFERENCE IN THE GOOD OLD U.S.A.
By gtfan2323
October 4, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
ugay has played one good team this year and got it’s tail took to the wood shed.I think that’s enough said.
By Sautee Dawg
October 4, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Techster
NFL signs more players from Miami than it does the rest of the ACC combined which hasn’t been a lot lately.
By bearcasey
October 4, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
I just like the way GT plays now. We’ll see how the chips fall as the season goes on.
By Techster
October 4, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Sautee Dawg I assume that applys to Gators as well!
By MisterT
October 4, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
I grew up in South Georgia as a Tech fan…not an easy childhood. Now, while I really do like my uga friends and family, the arrogance of many fostered in me the “Good, Old- fashioned Hate” that the book talks about. I would pull for the Taliban against uga in a tidily winks match. I am not like those uga fans and even grads that say “I pull for Tech except when they play Georgia.” That is BS! Then they precede to mock Tech when we have the likes of chan at the helm. Admit it ugaers you would absolutely get sick to your stomach if Tech owned your precious mutts for seven years in a row.
Bradley, you obviously still don’t get it. We will not be satisfied with two out of five. That is the definition of mediocrity. No “True Fan” of any team, be it Georgia Tech or uga, should be satisfied with mediocrity.
With regard to the offense that would be “palatable to Tech fans,” speaking as one for over forty years, I wouldn’t have cared if CPJ’s offense had truly been “3 yards and a cloud of dust” as long as we made every fourth down and at the end of 27 plays we put seven on the board and eventually won the game.
It is ALL ABOUT WINNING. With all due respect to the guy that said, “It’s not whether you win or loose…,” We all want to win. Win with character, but win. On Saturdays I really don’t care if Tech grads have a higher net worth on average, or higher SAT scores, or anything. I don’t care if we have 4 MNC’s and they have 2. I don’t care if ours was 10 years more recent that theirs. It has been 18 years for us. None of the guys on the field were alive when they won theirs and most couldn’t wipe their own @$$ when we won ours!
If we don’t win a whole lot more than we lose in the near future, I don’t know of any “True Fan” that will be happy. That is why we are Fans! We are fanatic about our team.
I have learned from being on the short end of the rivalry more often than not, how I want to win with class. I do have a few uga friends that are classy. I don’t want to rub in your face. I just want to be able to go to church on Sunday and be able to say, “Good morning Eddie,” and just know that for twelve months, I own the bragging rights and you have to keep your trap shut.
Bradley, I understand you are supposed to at least fain objectivity when you are writing/reporting on a game or team, but when you are describing a “FAN” of any team, GROW A SET!
What’s the Good Word? TO HELL WITH georgia!
By KneeJerk
October 4, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Sautee dog…bad guess. Neither Matt Ryan or Chris Long were Miami players. Look at last year’s draft.
By KneeJerk
October 4, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Sautee dog…bad guess. Neither Matt Ryan or Chris Long were Miami players. Look at last year’s draft. Must be the UGA 13th grade math
By KneeJerk
October 4, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Sautee dog…bad guess. Neither Matt Ryan or Chris Long were Miami players. Look at last year’s draft. Must be the UGA 13th grade math
By Rick
October 4, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
The real evidence that the Tech program is on the upswing with Coach Johnson is the number of UGA fans who responded to this article. But then, I guess they don’t have much else to talk about after last Saturday!
By Tech Fan in UGA Country
October 4, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Mark, Great article. I agree with both you and all of the people above. The way it should be worded was that we WANT to beat UGA every year, but REALISTICALLY would be satisfied with 2 out of 5, as long as we could be proud of the team, both on and off the field.
Go Jackets!
By j brezzy
October 4, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
YO GA TECH CLOSE TO UGA LEVEL,THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF BEATING THEM.IF THEY WIN TODAY,I THINK THEY SHOULD AT LEAST GET A #24or 25 spot in the ranking,JACKETS ARE FIRE RIGHT NOW
By j brezzy
October 4, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
YO GA TECH CLOSE TO UGA LEVEL,THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF BEATING THEM.IF THEY WIN TODAY,I THINK THEY SHOULD AT LEAST GET A #24or 25 spot in the ranking,JACKETS ARE FIRE RIGHT NOW
By j brezzy
October 4, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
YO GA TECH CLOSE TO UGA LEVEL,THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF BEATING THEM.IF THEY WIN TODAY,I THINK THEY SHOULD AT LEAST GET A #24or 25 spot in the ranking,JACKETS ARE FIRE RIGHT NOW
By j brezzy
October 4, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
YO GA TECH CLOSE TO UGA LEVEL,THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF BEATING THEM.IF THEY WIN TODAY,I THINK THEY SHOULD AT LEAST GET A #24or 25 spot in the ranking,JACKETS ARE FIRE RIGHT NOW
By BUZZ
October 4, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
UGA should have work blue numbers on their black jerseys last weekend. I hear Nick Saban was arrested for 85 counts of animal cruelty in the worst case of dog abuse since the Michael Vick case …
By Pago Flyer
October 4, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Doesn’took good for the DAWGS!
By You got to be kidding me
October 4, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
If Tech “is back” why are they playing on ESPNU? Get back to me when they play on a real network!
By Mark Bradley
October 4, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Here at the game, 15 minutes until kickoff. Not many people in the stands, I’m afraid.
By geechee27
October 4, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
C’mon Bradley…Chris Hatcher! He hasn’t proven he can win at GSU yet. He needs to win as many National Titles as Paul Johnson did at GSU before even being considered for Division 1. Hatchers too busy trying to get a job in Division 1 to even Coach right now. ELON! For the first time in 16 years, Tech made the right decision on a Coach. Let’s just hope that GT can keep him.
By Mark Bradley
October 4, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
End of the first quarter. Late-arriving crowd, apparently. It turned out to be a pretty nice gathering here at HGF At BDS.
By Reality Bytes
October 4, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
The thing is, a Ga Tech fan wants nothing more than to beat UGA in a given season. It makes his year to beat UGA.
The UGA fan wants to beat Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina (Spurrier Factor), in that order. Ga Tech is not even on his radar.
That won’t change until Ga Tech can get back to competing year-in and year-out. Everyone is jumping on Bradley for the 2 out of 5 comment, but that would be a colossal achievement the way things have gone lately.
By Reality Bytes
October 4, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
The thing is, a Ga Tech fan wants nothing more than to beat UGA in a given season. It makes his year to beat UGA.
The UGA fan wants to beat Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina (Spurrier Factor), in that order. Ga Tech is not even on his radar.
That won’t change until Ga Tech can get back to competing year-in and year-out. Everyone is jumping on Bradley for the 2 out of 5 comment, but that would be a colossal achievement the way things have gone lately.
By Not Disappointed
October 4, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Good win over Duke Jackets. One at a time!!
By JJ the Jet Plane
October 4, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
What is it with TEK people? You win a few games and you think you belong in the top 10? WTF??? We beat Duke, We beat NCState. BFD!! You have to come to Athens….eventually. Then you’ll see what it fels like to walk around with a hob-nail boot up your a$$.
Georgia TEK, TITLE TOWN??Hardly!
Hey, Why don’t y’all change your name back to the BLACKSMITHS?
By Sautee Dawg
October 4, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Rick we have a lot to blog about in the Bulldog Nation, I was just responding to what a great coach Paul Johnson is and how fortunate Tech is to have him.
Knee Jerk you are right about those 2 players but, Miami has more players active in the NFL right now than anybody.
You folks get so uptight when the Jackets and the Dawgs are mentioned in the same sentence, Looks like you would be more concerned with winning your conference. As for me i’d take winning the SEC over beating Tech any year. Congrats for your win today over Duke!
By hedgeprunner
October 4, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
great win today especially with our backup QB Jaybo Shaw, runs for one TD and hooks up with BAY BAY for 230 yards (has Stafford & Green) put up those kind numbers yet, I dont think so.Our defense shut down a pretty decent Duke offense too, CPJ must have made it clear at halftime he wasnt too happy & look at the outcome, never did we see this with Gailey.We will only get better, watch out hydrant humpers we are comming to prune some hedges in November….THWG
By GT GRAD
October 4, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Sautee Dawg,
You seem like a reasonable person; however, your above statement is simply not true. The ACC has 12 teams. The ACC has placed more than 100 players in the NFL over the past 3 years (more than any other conference). Miami has not put >50 players in the NFL over the past 3 years as you ahve suggested.
Please check your facts prior to posting incorrect statements……..there is enough negativity surrounding the ACC.
The ACC football conference is much better than advertized. If you look top to bottom, I would say the SEC is #1 (but only because of the top 5 teams; the bottom 7 of the SEC is weaker than advertized) and the ACC is probably #2. The Big 12 is probably #3, but their bottom 9 teams are sooooo weak that it hurts. The top 3 teams in the Big 12 are very good, but top to bottom the conference is not very good. The Big 10 and the Pac 10 are really just not very good at all except for USC.
By Sautee Dawg
October 4, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
GT GRAD You are probally correct, I was reading in one of our gameday programs comparing the number of players from UGA in the NFL to the rest of the NCAA D-1 schools. Miami had a commanding lead over everybody. I stand corrected about it being 50%.
By Tom
October 5, 2008 1:00 AM | Link to this
I am a third year GT student from Miami, FL who up until arrival had no idea about the rivalry or history these two teams share I can safely say that I would thoroughly enjoy beating U[sic]GA every single season more then any other team (sorry Mark Bradley but that little fact about winning 2-5 is not true at all).
I never understood the rivalry, having grown up in the UM-UF-FSU rivalry triangle and proudly supporting the Canes during their late 90’s and early 2000 glory years (Fiesta Bowl in 2002 still haunts me with that horrible pass interference call).
What us “geeks” and “nerds” do understand however, is that ok hey, we may not win or be as prominent a football team as Georgia is, but statistically speaking, we win in the long run.
By Nick Black
October 6, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
I’m just happy we’re finally going to beat FSU this year, after the terrorists got the game cancelled in 2001 and Chris Rix made a deal with the devil in 2003. And everyone knows: a 1-10 season that saw a UGA defeat at the end would be tolerable just for the shock factor in Athens. Go Jackets, sting ‘em!