AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > October > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLoss will cast shadow on Gailey’s future
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
On a damp and foggy night, everything was suitably hazy from the get-go. Georgia Tech worked itself into trouble. Then it clambered out. Then, in the span of 13 seconds, it backslid. Then, on the cusp of victory, it authored an agony-of-defeat moment you had to see to believe. And even then you asked yourself, “Did that really happen?�
Reggie Ball had one of those halves in which he did almost nothing right, followed by a second half in which he looked like Joe Montana. (With Calvin Johnson playing the part of Jerry Rice right up until the excruciating end.) Just when Tech looked to have stopped everything North Carolina State could do, the Wolfpack threw a simple slant that went for 80 yards, retaking a lead that seemed lost forever.
Just as no Tech game is complete without an anxiety attack, no Tech season can pass without a loss that shouldn’t have been. This was one of those games it was supposed to win, and that alone should have told us the Jackets were swimming upstream. Tech seems better suited to being a fearless underdog, and on this night the Jackets only managed to abdicate their favored status by falling 10 points behind. Then they righted themselves, as they often do.
Tech played a powerful third quarter and nosed ahead two snaps into the fourth, and midway through the period it was driving for the touchdown that would put the Wolfpack away. But the drive died, and Travis Bell missed from 24 yards — earlier he’d missed from 27 — and on the next snap quarterback Jay Davis hit Brian Clark in stride. Clark flashed between Jackets to score the 80-yard touchdown that gave an already weird game an astonishing twist.
Behind again, the Jackets saw one drive fizzle. Then Gerris Wilkinson dropped Toney Baker on third-and-1 when a first down could have won the game for State. Then Ball, who infamously forgot what down it was in Athens last season, found Johnson for 12 yards on fourth-and-5 with 1:28 remaining, and from there it seemed ordained. Ball would throw it high and Johnson would rip it from the darkened sky and Tech would win at the end.
But, no. Ball ran the Jackets into position, dashing to the State 2 with 32 seconds left, and here Tech messed up in a way nobody could have imagined. Ball faked a handoff to P.J. Daniels, then raised up and threw to Johnson, who not only didn’t catch the ball but also managed to deflect it to defensive back Garland Heath, whose bizarre interception finally decided it. How’s that for an ending? You get the ball to your best player, and he spits it out.
This nutso game could have ended no other way. Ball had gone from being booed in the midst of a 6-for-25 first half to hearing his name chanted as he led the Jackets goalward in the final minute. He did everything he could do, and still it wasn’t enough. Tech contrived — and that’s the proper word — to lose to a team it should have beaten by two touchdowns, and that, sad to say, remains the signature of this program under Chan Gailey.
Tech wins a game it probably shouldn’t, then loses one it absolutely couldn’t. This loss will remove the Jackets from the Top 25, a perch they’d labored long to reach, and will again cast all manner of doubt on Gailey and his stewardship. This was a game that was nearly lost twice and nearly won twice more, and finally it was lost in the strangest way possible. The great Calvin Johnson had the ball on his fingertips in the end zone, and he shoveled it to the other team.
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By Brian
October 7, 2005 02:13 AM | Link to this
If they had run the ball they’d be sitting on a win right now.
By Greg
October 7, 2005 03:40 AM | Link to this
Yeah, the “fearless underdog” role worked real well for GT at Virginia Tech.
Never thought I’d hear Reggie Ball’s name uttered in the same sentence with Joe Montana.
Looks like a return trip to Boise for the Jackets.
By Kevin
October 7, 2005 04:38 AM | Link to this
I sat and watched in utter disbelief at the play calling of Gailey. Two running backs in Daniels and Choice on the 3-4 yd line. A person of logic would say “Lets run the ball” but Tech decides to pass. It is the retarded plays like this that stunts the growth and haunts Tech.
By geechee
October 7, 2005 05:18 AM | Link to this
Good column Mark.
By 12th Man Dawg Fan
October 7, 2005 06:09 AM | Link to this
Still wish Calvin would’ve gone to Georgia. Maybe Calvin does too? Nothing wrong with that play call. The ball was a little behind CJ, but he should have come down with it. The D back took his legs out at just the right time.
By Astro-Turf
October 7, 2005 06:11 AM | Link to this
Calvin—-you picked the wrong school. WAAAAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! GO DOGS!
By Jacket No More
October 7, 2005 06:31 AM | Link to this
I give.
By Whit Payne
October 7, 2005 07:10 AM | Link to this
Nothing wromg with the call. They make that 8 of 10 times.
By Bobby
October 7, 2005 07:11 AM | Link to this
Looking at the schedule from here out 4-6 under Chan is a good possibility. Tech may not have to even worry about the Boise Bowl. Tech needs some coaches - special teams, defense and head.
By bubba
October 7, 2005 07:18 AM | Link to this
Kevin is very right. The first half play selection was terrible at best. This team plays like they are in the Arena Football League not the ACC.
By bill garcia
October 7, 2005 07:18 AM | Link to this
Ga Tech has to make up its mind. Does it really want to be a top 25 team or not? Setting academic standards at levels that make recruiting difficult sets the tone. I am not saying that Tech should drop its standards to the level of UGA, but flexibiliby would make things run a little more smoothly.
Chan Gailey has done a very good job with the odds stacked against him. NCAA violations have hit the program hard and will continue to do so for a couple of more years.
If you fire Gailey, then who would you hire? Weiss is gone and there is simply no one else out there that can do a better job Italic:and is willing to come to TECH.
This is not a matter of hiring a new coach. This is a matter of understanding the realities of life. The University of Miami has built a phenomenal football program that has propelled the school to significant success in the academic realm. The school has a much larger endowment than it did when the football program was floundering. That is not by coincidence.
Wake up GT, advance the school by investing in the biggest money-maker in college today. Invest in the football program.
By techster
October 7, 2005 07:21 AM | Link to this
How does a pass play get called at 1st and G on the 3?!? Inconsistency rules at the flats…again…and again…
By Zip
October 7, 2005 07:24 AM | Link to this
Ball’s first half performance is what we have come to expect. Bigger, faster, better, defenses await, and so does the “Smurf Turf” of Boise. His handicap is two fold, lack of physical and mental stature. Tech will be better off when his reign at QB is over.
By tim
October 7, 2005 07:25 AM | Link to this
Let’s see now: more yards rushing, more yards passing, more first downs, greater time of possession, more sacks, turnovers even. That’s right, it’s another victory everywhere but the scoreboard. This gets old, and it begins (and needs to end) at the top.
By Alan
October 7, 2005 07:29 AM | Link to this
Pass is called bacause the running game in short yardage has been questuionable at best an there was maybe only one more play if that failed. CJ’s feet were knocked out from under him, if not he comes down with the pass and CG is a smart coach…
By Mike
October 7, 2005 07:35 AM | Link to this
I’m afraid Gailey must go. The special teams play by Tech is about the worst I’ve ever seen. And why did he call the time out with 32 seconds left? Run the ball with Daniel, then call a time out, then a pass play, then a field goal if necessary. It was one of the more painful and unnecessary Tech losses in memory.
By Rick
October 7, 2005 07:46 AM | Link to this
Tech’s offensive line is horrible. Sure, Reggie had a bad 1st half but he was also running from an NC State defender immediately after almost every snap.
By Steve
October 7, 2005 07:54 AM | Link to this
I don’t get fans. I understand the logic of blaming a loss on the coach and giving the players credit for victory, but C’mon, Gailey put Tech in position to win. That was a freak loss, but those plays happen more often than they should because these players are kids, not pros. Gailey has managed his way through a rash of injuries, players not making grades because of the arrogant academic department not keeping the Athletic Department informed, and now sporadic talent inside a brilliant defensive scheme and logical offensive maneuvering with a head case QB. If he could sign just a little more talent he would have more competition, and more victories. He deserved Coach of the Year last year for what he managed with, but Tech fans will have his head before he’s able to lift them out of the muck of mediocrity. You will not hear Gailey making excuses like these posts all around me because he’s a winner…something Tech fans want, but are too impatient to see it materialize because they think like most sports reporters. Give Gailey 3 more years and see what happens…they will not only turn the corner, they will have a program that will consistantly competer for it’s division in the ACC.
By Clifton Crawley
October 7, 2005 07:58 AM | Link to this
NORM CHOW, NORM CHOW NORM CHOW NORM CHOW NORM CHOW NORM CHOW NORM CHOW NORM CHOW
By JB
October 7, 2005 07:58 AM | Link to this
Tech will never win an ACC championship, much less a national championship. They will rarely beat their in state rival. That is who they are and the sooner they understand that, the better. Perhaps that will allow that to let go of their envy for UGA but I doubt it.
PS - The play was fine. Had the pass been a shade better or had the DB not taken out Johnsons legs, it would have been a TD.
HBTD!
By Michael
October 7, 2005 08:01 AM | Link to this
We blow our last time out on first and goal on the three yard line with 32 seconds, thats the first mistake. Then a pass play is called, why Chan why ? At this point, I just hope to see Tech make it to a bowl game. Maybe its time to can Chan.
By John Green
October 7, 2005 08:06 AM | Link to this
Gailey is a very nice man. His game plans, play calling, and clock management, however, belong in church more than on the football field. Tech will never be a real consistent winner without a real football coach.
By Jim
October 7, 2005 08:08 AM | Link to this
If Johnson had held the ball, Gaily would have been given credit for a great surprise call.
By GT Dave
October 7, 2005 08:08 AM | Link to this
Exactly what I was thinking Mike! When O’Leary was head coach, we always had top tier special teams. Between our punt returns (which were horrible), our kickoff coverage (about as bad) and Bell (no idea what’s going on with him) it was a sad display. You win/lose close games with your special. We absolutely should have not taken that time out. We run one play to make sure we are in the middle of the field, since obviously we can’t kick a field goal from the left hash mark, try you fade to Calvin in the end zone then go ahead and kick the field goal. It was a total dominiation in the second half and there was no way we were going to lose in OT.
And to Mr. Garcia….. Stop freakin’ whining about Tech’s academic standards! Nobody was complaining about our strict standards back in 1990, or when Hamilton was here? It seems like Tech people only complain about that when we are losing. Shouldn’t the reputation of our school actually help in recruiting? Maybe we can use a Sports Management degree like other schools, but give me a freakin’ break. If we’re having a problem recruiting, that’s a problem with the coaching staff who go out and try to sell our program. Who wants to come to a program who is 6-5 every year when you have a school 70 miles away that’s 10-2/9-3? Or a school 4 hours south that’s in your same conference and is in the top 5 almost every year.
Do we need a new coach? Probably yes. When I can go to a bar or to the game and half of the Tech people can actually predict what play is coming next, it’s utterly ridiculous. And as you know, most of the Tech guys never even stepped out on a football field. The play calling is as predictable as the number of trips Friegen makes to the Krispy Kreme every day.
Why not get some up in coming young coach to possibly come and revamp our program. Can we get one and are there any out there? Not sure, but something has to change in the mindset of our program if we are even going to compete in the now powerful ACC.
By D.C.
October 7, 2005 08:11 AM | Link to this
It seems like the jackets never have anything under control. The situation at the two yard line was no reason to panic or make rushed decisions. We never seem to be prepared for this type of late game scenario which we seem to get ourselves into quite often. Spike the ball to stop the clock, try to run the ball on second down then call time out and come up with one play on third down.A field goal and overtime is the worst thing that should happen.This is what a prepared team would do. Coach Gailey has to take responsibility for the way this team performs under pressure. He needs to get a proven offensive coordinator and concentrate on steering the ship before it sinks.
By dave
October 7, 2005 08:16 AM | Link to this
well, for someone who has criticized the play calling for the past two years i think they finally started calling pass plays suited for reggie…..screens, dumps over the middle, short stuff that seemed to work and reggie can handle….but they also called way too many passes downfield and most of those passes weren’t even close, usually 5-10 yard overthrows…..reggie is a great athlete, but he is just not that good a passing QB…too inconsistent….even passes that were caught were low, behind the WR, and only occasionally right on the money…. but in the second half ball suddenly starts hitting on all cylinders…. (especially that 4th down pass) and tech dominated on offense, just not many points to show for it….and i liked the last call, you call the play for your best player….unfortunately the pass was high, a little behind CJ and he only got one hand on the ball and the first defender started to take his feet out from under him (can’t fault CJ)….if reggie leads CJ with that pass its a win(or if bell makes a FG for that matter)….i feel bad for the players/team….but inconsistency on offense is the hallmark of the gailey era and this is probably the beginning of the end for chan
By paul
October 7, 2005 08:21 AM | Link to this
Not a tech fan but that loss was not the coaches fault. Cant run on 3yd line 32sec left no time outs. Too risky. Ball threw it behind him. A good pass, game over.
By JR
October 7, 2005 08:22 AM | Link to this
Don’t blame the kicker Bell. Both of those misses are the result of the holder. On both he let go of the ball a split second prior to the kick and the result is exactly what happened when he does that. I know, I used to hold and had that problem until it was pointed out to me by the kicker that I was the problem for those wide right misses. Once I stayed down, no more misses.
By Dawg Fan
October 7, 2005 08:30 AM | Link to this
The call was not a bad one. A jump ball thrown to your best player is usually a very safe play. It very rarely results in an interception. Now, you should blame Gailey for losing these games consistently year in, year out. His first half play-calling was bad, but his QB was also terribly erratic and the running game wasn’t exactly effective. As for the standards at Tech that I keep hearing complaints about, weren’t ten players kicked out of school immediately after O’Leary’s departure? Did they suddenly become bad students due to depression over losing their coach? The idea that every Tech football player is some genius going for an engineering degree is ludicrous.
By JMB
October 7, 2005 08:37 AM | Link to this
Will Yech EVER stop with the silly educational bit? First of all, UGA is a highly regarded school. Second, the two just don’t compete. If you want to be an engineer, you go to Yech. If you want to be a Vet, Pharmicist, Lawyer, etc, you go to UGA. The only thing they do have in common is a business school and guess what? UGA’s is rated higher.
Bottom line, your school is no better and your football team will only be, every once in a GREAT while. Just the facts. Much as you might not like them.
By Bob Harrington
October 7, 2005 08:37 AM | Link to this
Maybe Bobby Ross will come back since he is fighting a losing battle at West Point. Also, U. of Wyo. has a great coach probably looking for warmer climes.
By GW
October 7, 2005 08:42 AM | Link to this
Running for the TD would have gambled away a lot of seconds. Gailey didn’t miss the FG or drop the winning TD pass. Bell missed the FG and the all-world Calvin dropped the pass, although he was worn out. The goof-up was calling timeout with the clock stopped for a first down. A spike on 1st down would have left 3 downs, 32 seconds and 1 timeout. I suspect Tech doesn’t like the spike/clock killer play anymore. Any QB that is jawing with the defense constantly likely does not have his mind in the game. Calvin pushed off on his TD catch and got away with it. Add all that up and maybe Gailey ain’t gettin’ it done. Who knows?
By Max Sizemore
October 7, 2005 08:46 AM | Link to this
Those critical of Gailey — and we’ll excuse Bradley, who is normally a pretty bright guy but who needs to have something to write — don’t deserve a good coach. N.C. State has a great defensive front, and Tech righted itself offensively in the second half and did everything necessary to win — except kick a field goal and catch a pass at the end. There was great, gutsy play-calling by Nix and players making plays — especially on fourth down. It was a terrible loss, but not one to hang one’s head over. Or fire the coach.
By kudzu
October 7, 2005 08:47 AM | Link to this
I was just rejoicing over the Braves win, (flipping the remote all night) then O Crud, I couldn’t believe it. I was thinking we’re gonna get a TD and win the game, not settle for another field goal miss attempt, and tie.
It was a freak play, but it was the right call. We hadn’t run the ball all night; Ball could either pass or scramble, which he had been doing well all night; plus no timeouts and 39 seconds. That’s why it was the right call to the right receiver. CJ has caught more difficult passes, it’s almost as if he just didn’t get his hands squeezed around the ball as he was being hit.
Ball sucked up the place in the first half, he couldn’t throw anything. Good comeback though. Tough loss, may be hard to recover.
I agree this may have done in Coach G. I don’t know…still, though, it was a great last effort drive but just a freak play.
By Ron Roberts
October 7, 2005 08:50 AM | Link to this
Ahhh, yes… the chill in the air…the leaves changing colors… the Braves in the playoffs, and the YellowJackets begin to crumble.
This of course allows Tech fans more free time to focus on jumping into BULLDOG BLOGS and crack jokes about academic standards, et al, while Georgia continues towards attainable lofty goals like conference championships and top ten rankings.
By Robbie
October 7, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this
What we saw last night was almost exactly what Chan wants to see. He believes that games should be played at the 17-14 rate of scoring. Reggie is not great, but he was playing his heart out in the second half. One major problem is that he has only one option on most pass plays, and if he is covered, he throws it out of bounds.
The only way Chan should stay is if he will hire a good offensive coordiator and let him call the plays. It might be time for Tenuta to step up and get his chance and he can hire a new coordinator.
I am very tired of watching a team not be able to score 20 points, unless they have months to prepare.
By DirkDawggler
October 7, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this
Chan Gailey is a FINE coach. Really! He has my vote of confidence.
By David
October 7, 2005 09:01 AM | Link to this
The play of the game was made by the DB for NC STATE who timed it just right and took the legs out from under the receiver on a pass that was thrown behind the receiver instead of out front. Sorry Tech, you guys never looked ready to play from the start..
By George W. Bush
October 7, 2005 09:03 AM | Link to this
Coach Chan Gailey won’t be fired. Tech know that they can’t get anyone better than him.
By Old Gold
October 7, 2005 09:29 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, more & more, Reggie’s inconsitent play reminds me of the original Tech Number 1, Eddie Mcshan. Great potential that never quite translated to the win stats.
Isn’t that the same north goal line that Georgia fumbled first and goal late against us that sent Donan down the tubes? We need to remind the youngsters that the points are not on the board until we carefully get the ball across the line.
By brewdawg
October 7, 2005 09:29 AM | Link to this
I was at the UGA-Auburn game a couple of years ago when mark richt ran the ball at the 1 yard line at the end of the game. Uga was stopped, and never got another play off. The play call was correct bumblin bees, Johnson simply didn’t make the play. Still would take him in a heartbeat though.
By coastal Jim
October 7, 2005 09:35 AM | Link to this
Chan has officially replaced Herm Edwards in the penalty box for BAD clock management. That was textbook awful.
By Objective
October 7, 2005 09:36 AM | Link to this
Here’s the one thing I can’t believe no one has commented on (or at least I haven’t seen a comment about it) and it’s absolutely a reflection of the coaching. Tech called timeout with 32 seconds to play, came to their sideline and took their time planning the final play. They came out on the field in a two tight-end set with two running backs behind Ball (obviously a running formation) and Johnson split to the RIGHT. Meanwhile, at least 3 Tech coaches are out past the numbers on the field screaming their heads off at Calvin Johnson to move to the other side of the formation. They just took a timeout, took their time, decided on a play that emphasized deception, and then…… THEY CAN’T EVEN LINE UP RIGHT???!!! Gee, you don’t think the fact that the entire defense could see the coaches screaming for Calvin to switch sides kind of eliminated some of the deception, do ya? What would have been wrong with getting Ball to rollout with a pass/run option. If the receiver is covered and you can’t run, throw it away. Why pass over the middle of the field into traffic???? Horrible, horrible, horrible call.
By Doug
October 7, 2005 09:40 AM | Link to this
OK, look. As a Dawg fan I despise Tech with every fiber of my being, and I’ve certainly never caught any kind of Vince Lombardi vibe off of Chan Gailey, but you Tech fans second-guessing his final play call need to grow up. Tech hadn’t run the ball well all night and Johnson was maybe the one consistent playmaker they had on offense; in a situation like that, you get the ball to your best guy, period. Gailey played the odds and realized that if he called a run, there was a very good chance Daniels (or whoever) would get stuffed and they’d lose a lot of precious seconds off the clock; call a toss to Johnson and there was a very good chance they’d get six. He couldn’t have accounted for a game-changing freak play, which is basically what happened. It wasn’t even a matter of Johnson not making the play — 99 times out of 100 he probably would’ve pulled that ball in, but this was the 100th time and the N.C. State defender just happened to be in the exact right place at the right time.
Not only COULDN’T Gailey have accounted for a freak play, he SHOULDN’T have accounted for it. I always hate when something bizarre happens and a coach gets criticized for not playing it safe, as if every single freak outcome has to be taken into account and guarded against on every single play (anyone remember the second-guessing that followed Jasper Sanks’s non-fumble against Tech in ‘99?). Sure, if Gailey calls a pass play at the end of the game there’s a chance someone from N.C. State comes in and blows it up. But there’s a chance of that happening on EVERY play, and if a coach works himself into a lather before each play thinking “Gosh, what if we throw an interception,” then he’d never throw a forward pass at all. Hell, if all you’re going to do on each play is assume the worst possible outcome, why not just punt on first down? Gailey called the play he thought had the best chance of getting the Jackets into the end zone. It was a good call, the right call; N.C. State simply did what they had to do.
By Nick
October 7, 2005 09:43 AM | Link to this
Mark; You are reading way too much into GT’s game ending loss. Two of the better defenses in the ACC clashed and it was a hard fought game. Tech hung in there as did State, and a bumbled reception gave State the tough win. This wasn’t the game to judge Chan Gailey’s career, I was more concerned about the 51-7 debacle in Blacksburg. If Johnson hangs on to the pass, does that mean that the Gailey era is successful?
By Matthew
October 7, 2005 09:53 AM | Link to this
Hey, I can already here that familiar song of losers sung at Yech wafting up from Altanta on these crisp autumn breezes.
“When does basketball season start? When does basketball season start? Is it basketball season yet?”
Prettiest music I ever heard!
Calvin Johnson went to the wrong school, and the look on his face on ESPN told that tail. Let this be a lesson to all of you top-10 recruits in Georgia. You go to Georgia, you play your games on Saturday, you play for SEC-Titles, Nat’l Titles, and Top-5 and Top-10 finishes. You go to Yech, and well… you see what’s happened to Calvin Johnson.
Hey Bugs, he’s gone after next year. He won’t be sticking around. Our Juniors, for the most part, stick around because they know that it’s special to play football at Georgia. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. At Yech, your players feel like they’ve been there for a lifetime.
Poor Calvin Johnson. He made his bed, now he has to sleep in it.
I can hear it growing louder…
“Is it basketball season yet…”*
By Matthew
October 7, 2005 09:57 AM | Link to this
Okay, hear not here
By Ga. Fan
October 7, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this
The techies are whining about Johnson being bumped on a pass play leading to an interception. Johnson stopped right in front of the db . Johnson’s fault !
By dawsoncup
October 7, 2005 10:14 AM | Link to this
As Jake Scott once said: “What cudda’ happen….did”!
By JMB
October 7, 2005 10:15 AM | Link to this
“Two of the better defenses in the ACC…”
I’m thinking a good D doesn’t give up 51 points.
WVU only gave up 34 points to the real Tech.
I thought the Yech guys were supposed to be good at math?
By Mike
October 7, 2005 10:20 AM | Link to this
I don’t think State was a team that GT was supposed to beat by 2 TDs. Recent history would tell you that. If the game had been called even remotely fairly, State would have won going away.
By Jackets fan
October 7, 2005 10:22 AM | Link to this
All of a sudden our kicker can’t make easy field goals. That’s tough to stomach. But a note on the last play. 32 seconds left with no timeouts. You can’t fault Gailey for not running the ball. If they run and don’t get in, they might not get another play off, or would be in a rush to do so. But what I question is the location of the throw. The middle of the end zone from the 2 yard line is a very crowded area. If they throw that pass toward the corner or sideline, it would probably dropped incomplete and they could have run another play. But because it was the middle, a defender was standing there to catch the tip. They should have run a bootleg and gave Ball the option to throw it up to CJ or run it in if it was open.
By JP
October 7, 2005 10:26 AM | Link to this
Hey, you can’t really blame anybody. Gailey called a play to get his best player the ball, Johnson tried to make a play but didn’t come down with the ball. Sh*t happens. But I was not surprised, this is what coach Gailey’s team has done over the years. I said that this will be his last year and i’m stickin to it. GT is a better team than NC State, you should win those. So Tech fans, i’m sorry but you are looking at another mediocre season.
By oldfoggy
October 7, 2005 10:31 AM | Link to this
I keep hearing how our academics are the cause of Tech’s failures.
WRONG!
Techs failures can be laid at the feet of one man and that’s Gailey. He not only needs to sell Tech he needs to sell Atlanta! I’ve travelled the world from Budapest, to Bucharest, to London, to Paris etc. Atlanta is the place to be. It has everything that a young student athlete wants or needs. Compare it to Tuscaloosa, Auburn or most any other southern football town. Those are nothing cities and can not compare to Atlanta.
Gailey needs to go and go now. His propensity for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is getting old and tiresome.
By Mark
October 7, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this
The reason they passed on 1st and 2 was because some imbecile used the last time out with the clock already stopped to move the chains. A run that didn’t make it could have resulted in the clock running out without the FG. The bigger issue is why were we 3 points behind this team in the first place? Because Gailey calls a conservative game and leaves it all on the defense to hold - never trying to take the offensive and put teams away. Gailey has said very clearly in the past that he just wants to score enough points to win and let the defense hold it. When you play that game, you leave yourself open to a single fluke play — bingo, there it is!!
By DADARN
October 7, 2005 10:36 AM | Link to this
I really enjoyed reading the post by Matthew. She really loves those dogs. I am glad she reminded me about all the national championships the dogs play for. Year in and year out. USC, watch out for the dogs. Oh, and that Yech thing is really clever. The few juniors that do stick around, do so becasue they have court orders restricting travel or do not have a drivers license.
By WW
October 7, 2005 10:43 AM | Link to this
Why would you call a timeout when you get a first down that stops the clock to move the chains and then do an even dumber thing and throw the football up for grabs even though it’s CJ? Run the ball and if that doesn’t work, call a timeout!!! State defense was on its heels and we gave them time to recover, what a joke. I’ve been to many games but i’ve never seen one in person more heartbreaking than that, period(not even the 2001 Maryland Thurs. night game when Joe Burns ran out of bounds). Chan is a great person but a questionable coach. The special teams are terrible. There seemed to be only about 5 plays in the playbook last night. Time for some serious changes.
By Whopper Dawg
October 7, 2005 10:47 AM | Link to this
Caught the last two minutes. Great call. Great team. Great coach. Couldn’t have happened to a better program. I laughed and laughed. See you in Atlanta.
By WW
October 7, 2005 10:50 AM | Link to this
I feel for the players because they played their hearts out only to be disappointed by their own coach. Those guys deserved to win after coming out and making plays in the second half. You could see the frustration in the UNC game on Reggie’s face when CG kept calling pass plays when all that was needed was to run the ball and the clock.
By Nate
October 7, 2005 11:01 AM | Link to this
Hey Calvin, It’s not too late to transfer!
By SuwaneeDawg
October 7, 2005 11:04 AM | Link to this
First off, obviously I’m a UGA fan and have no love for Tech so you guys can take this for what it’s worth. This isn’t ONLY a Gailey or academics problem. Tech has been in this same pattern for a LONG time. Win more than their share of games they have NO business winning then lose to a Wake or UNC or a game such as last night.
GT Dave hit the nail on the head - if Tech isn’t brining players in who can handle the workload, that’s a recruiting issue. There are some top notch players who can score more than the minimum on their SATs. Regardless of the stereotype, football players and intelligence aren’t always mutually exclusive. Is Gailey a great coach, nope. Is he a solid coach, most of the time. However, I don’t think Tech’s fortunes will ever change unless they bring in someone who completely tears that program down and rebuilds it from the ground up.
Don’t get me wrong - personally, I’m enjoying this. I just don’t think it’s completely justified to blame Gailey for all of this like it hasn’t been happening for years.
By Rudy
October 7, 2005 11:19 AM | Link to this
Why all this uproar??? This has been going on at Tech for as long as I can remember, loosing to a nobody!!! Get ready, Duke’s gonna get you too!! Go back and look, Pepper Rodgers, Bill Curry,(what a joke) Bill Lewis, George O’Looser and now Chain Gang Gailey. You could bring in a Steve Spurrior and the results would be the same. What High School kid wants to go to Atlanta Georgia and play before a half full stadium?? Next week for the Duke game maybe all 200 of you can sit together on the same row and save money by having a very small clean up crew come in on Sunday. If you really want to see football, come on over to Sanford Stadium……..Woof Woof
By Northwest Dawg
October 7, 2005 11:28 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand why my fellow “DWAGS” are pointing fingers at Gailey’slay calling. We’ve all watched MR. make some of the dumbest play calls,excercise dumb clock managment, and complain about what happens in the Red Zone but not have enough confidence in his team to go for it on the other teams 5 yd. line
By GunnerFan
October 7, 2005 11:32 AM | Link to this
Gailey’s a great guy, but his skills as offensive coordinator are sub-par at best. Tech was in a position to win, but they were also in position to lose. A position they shouldn’t have been in and in the end did not get out of. Sadly this has become GT’s MO under Gailey. Too many plays are forced, gameday adjustments are rare/rarely effective… Losing to a better team is one thing. Consistently losing because of your own mistakes or inability to improveme is another.
Why was “the play” a bad call, IMO? Because it sent Johnson INTO traffic, rather than the corner, and required Ball (Mr. Inconsistent) to throw OVER the lines.
By Dawgssuck
October 7, 2005 11:55 AM | Link to this
Few things…. One, to the puppies. Those who laugh last, laugh hardest, and i cant wait to play you guys next month. You barely beat us last year with Mr. Greene, think you can actually do it with DJ whatshisname?? Only if you have refs making poor calls again. And that wont be enough. Two, Chan has got to stop the big play. Two big pass plays for two touchdowns, that accounted for half of NCSU’s offense. Three. Fire the holder. Kick the kicker..hard. Four…I have been a tech fan for 24 years. I got my degree from NC State and i never quit rooting for Tech. This is beginning to get a little old. Five…I like Chan Gailey. I really do. But it just seems like Tech comes in flat more times than not. We had over 450 yards of offense and only 14 points to show for it. Thats insane. Special teams played horrible. Anyone remember Bobby Ross and all the fun little trick plays he used to call? Six…..Chan, Mr. Tenuta, Patrick, players…..WIN OUT. Win every last game from here on out. Make the adjustments. Get fired up. Run the ball down everyones throat, no prisoners, pass the ball until Reggie cant stand anymore. Send Calvin off to the races and throw a bomb to him, and then do it again. It can be done, no more excuses or disappointments. Believe in yourselfs, make the right call and the fans will cheer so loud and so hard that you cant even hear the voice on the other side of your headsets. Bring the imtidation factor. Seven…..go Tennessee. I cant wait for this butt whooping. Eight, and i’ll shut up….To Reggie Ball…..keep your head up, show the nation what we know you have inside of you. Nine….sorry,gotta put this in….Bulldogs suck!!!
By Kelvin Self-Centered
October 7, 2005 12:09 PM | Link to this
Dawgssuck (JAELLIS1@hotmail.com - immediately above post) is a complete moron. The Dawgs own you. You can’t wait to play them? You’re a fool. We will destroy you. We toyed with you last year because you are geeks, and we like toying with geeks. DJ will own you like Marcus Vick did. We will crush your faces with a hobnailed boot.
Go watch “Revenge of the Nerds”. It will make you feel better about last night’s game. You will finally be able to see nerds succeed as opposed to the nerds’ failure last night.
By DT Buzz
October 7, 2005 12:10 PM | Link to this
Mark, I usually don’t agree with your columns but you hit this one right on the head. I’m a proud a DT alum and die hard fan and it kills me to see our tema lose like this. However, whats hurst even worse is seeing the same type of crap year-in, year-out. There is no doubt Chan has worked hard at his job. There is no doubt the players do their best every game. The fact still remains that Chan and his system has not molded with the players. Inconsistancies in every aspect of the game prove this. I would be inclined to give the guy a break had I seen some sort of progression to a consistant football program. I have yet to see it an fear I will never under Chan reign as head coach. Chan best of luck in retirment the Jacket nation is looking for something much better than you can deliver.
By jimmy
October 7, 2005 12:12 PM | Link to this
it is time to decide if we are willing to settle for 6-8 wins most years with the occassional 9 and the more occassional 5. gailey seems to bring a certain averageness to the program. i agree that gailey doesn’t throw or catch or tackle but if you don’t think a more dynamic coach would get more dynamic results then you are sadly wrong. if you don’t believe me then explain how charlie weiss has taken the same basic players and is getting totally diffent results than willingham had at notre dame.
By CW
October 7, 2005 12:23 PM | Link to this
For the love of God, please no more comments about the academics, recruiting etc. Tech clearly has a better team and more talent than NC State, yet we lost another game that just shouldn’t have been in question late in the fourth.
Our special teams play is absolutely killing us. Our offense had a long field all night and NC State had the ball at the 40 all night. Both our punt and kickoff return teams look scared to handle the ball. The coaches can’t make plays for the players, but the coaching staff has got to fix this problem. Even in our three wins, special teams has been horrible.
As for the last play, you can’t blame that on Chan. However, CJ started looking gassed mid-way through the 4th quarter. He’s a great player, but Chan’s gameplan just puts too much on his shoulders. Meanwhile, we have a stud like PJ Daniels that is being under-utilized.
As far as Gailey’s future at Tech goes, I see this as the beginning of the end for him. If we can’t get by NC State at home then Clemson, UVA and even Wake will be a struggle. It is hard for me to see right now how we’ll even be competitive with Miami and Georgia.
By Bulldog Bry
October 7, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this
As a Georgia fan, I usually enjoy watching the Yellowjackets fail. But when Johnson dropped that ball it broke my heart, I just felt so horrible for him. They marched down there knowing what was going to happen and knowing no one could stop it. 9 out of 10 times, that’s a touchdown. Don’t beat up Gailey. He’s working with what he has and doing a pretty good job.
By Mountain Jacket
October 7, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this
A few posts mentioned this but it needs to be reiterated. The final play wasn’t the issue. Being in that situation and HAVING to make that call and play is the issue. As long as poor “just-enough-points” Chan is there, we will keep ending up in these situations. Tech should have been running out the clock up 2 TDs rather than having to create another miracle.
The only thing that is consistent in the Gailey era are teams that are unmotivated, unprepared (Ball cannot be practicing those long passes to Johnson can he? And still overthrow by that much?) and with a game plan that reminds me of Jimmy Carter asking his daughter for nuclear weapons advise.
This team CANNOT put other teams away. As I’ve said to some of my friends, I’m afraid that we are only two plays away from being 1-4. There are talented players on this team with no sense of direction or mission.
By Colonel Rebel
October 7, 2005 12:41 PM | Link to this
We have a coach at Ole Miss we’d love to pass on to Tech if you all are really that hard up.
By Greg
October 7, 2005 12:41 PM | Link to this
Chan couldn’t coach the Dallas Cowboys. What made Braine think he could do for Tech. I don’t know who’s out there, but they have to be better than what Chan has to offer. A week off to prepare for the game and what kind of game plan was that? Do you think Tech can forgive O’leary. Reggie, what is he thinking on the field? I’ve seen better decision making in pop warner football. Three years now and he still hasn’t figured it out. With Chan and Reggie running the ofence we’ll never be better than mediocre. In fact, I wonder if we could bet Duke. Thank God for Tenuta and his defense or we’d be 0 and 5. N.C. State was in trouble but we couldn’t take care of business the way we should have. That’s what makes a good team good. Take care of your business. At this point we’re a bad team getting worse. How long can Chan explain away the poor perfomances. Braine take a good hard look. Do you want to have a good team or are you going to settle for what you have? Make a choice. At this point, who can we beat. We’re going to be lucky if we win one more game. Forget about Boise. Forget about any bowl. We aren’t that good.
By Joe
October 7, 2005 12:52 PM | Link to this
Don’t put the loss on Calvin Johnson. He was hit as soon as he touched the ball and never had possession.
This loss is why SI said Gailey is the worst coach. He beats a team he shouldn’t (Auburn) and folds against a team he should beat easily. We’ve saved Amato’s and Tommy Bowden’s job more than once.
By WW
October 7, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this
Am I the only one still wondering why Tech called a timeout after a first down after Reggie rushed for 14 yards? Seems to me they could’ve ran another play (one that involved running the football) before calling a timeout, that is, if it didn’t work. You got the defense guessing and worn out, don’t stop. Horrible clock management! Awful coaching all around, particularly play calling and special teams.
By KneeJerk
October 7, 2005 01:06 PM | Link to this
Chris Hatcher at Valdosta State could be an outstanding coach at GT. Very young, but check out his record. He’s one of the top coaching prospects in the nation.
By MeatCleaverDawg
October 7, 2005 01:14 PM | Link to this
LOL, Game ended just right, LOL.
By Ty
October 7, 2005 01:16 PM | Link to this
I think the forum has captured everything quite well. Here’s my view of the ‘bottom line’
1) Recruiting is a coaching issue. Mike is right, O’Leary and Ross recruited the same quality with better results.
2) The play calling is ridiculous. When 51,000 fans ALL know the play before the snap, what are the odds the opponent’s defensive coordinator doesn’t.
3) The only time the play calling isn’t predictable is when it makes NO sense (for example, third and 2 and moving the pile is NOT the time to throw a 40 yard pass to a receiver 20 yards down the field!)
4) The Gailey era is defined as follows: Win one game you shouldn’t, lose one game you shouldn’t, get embarrased on the field at least once, get embarrased off the field at least once, and visit Boise at the end of the year.
As for me, I’ll wait it out with the Team (but it is going to be very depressing being at the bottom of a 12 team conference and playing 8 homecoming games every year!)
By Ty
October 7, 2005 01:19 PM | Link to this
P.S. One ‘addendum’ to the previous posting…. To understand where Tech fans see our program, just listen to the talk after a loss like last night….or more accurately, the LACK of talk after the game. Fans weren’t ‘stunned’…they have become apathetic and expect mediocracy from the Gailey-led Jackets.
By June Jones
October 7, 2005 01:20 PM | Link to this
June Jones would be the best choice for Tech. Think of the offense, would definitely beat georgia most years.
By John
October 7, 2005 02:01 PM | Link to this
Now we know how Jasper Sanks felt.
By Kelvin Self-Centered
October 7, 2005 02:09 PM | Link to this
It’s plain and simple: Tech sux.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
Hey Calvin - at UGA, we don’t take receivers who drop TD passes.
By Joyce
October 7, 2005 02:15 PM | Link to this
I love this site after a “Bumbling Bee” loss. You Tech folks need to go down to Macon and get you some of the girls at Wesleyan College to come up there and suit up. I’m sure they wouldn’t be the embarassment as the bunch you have up there now. Hang in there Chan, we love kicking yo a* every year……..Go Clemson!!!
By Matthew
October 7, 2005 02:50 PM | Link to this
“Basketball… Basketball… Basketball…”
Come on Nerds, time to take up your annual autumn song!
“Basketball… Basketball… Basketball…”
Sing it with me, you guys know the song.
John, the only way you’d know how Jasper Sanks felt is if Johnson didn’t drop the pass and the other team intercepted it, but a blind ref said that happened.
If you’re talking about the Auburn game in ‘01, that was coaches fault.
As for Jasper Sanks the football player, well, he was a bust. Are you then insinuating that Johnson is a bust, because if you are, you’re an idiot.
Which you are already for being a Bug.
“Basketball… Basketball… Basketball…”
JAELLIS1@hotmail.com, you’re obviously delusional. You must also love Bobby Cox.
The Dawgs can’t wait to play your pitiful team, although, it would be nice if y’all would actually raise our BCS standing one of these years instead of hurting you.
I know y’all think we have a rivalry going, but if your poor play continues, I may have to advocate dropping Yech from our schedule, even if y’all are an automatic win.
We’d get more BCS points from playing Southern every year instead of y’all.
Come on, Bugs… let me hear it!
“Basketball… Basketball… Basketball…”
By Ernest
October 7, 2005 02:56 PM | Link to this
This was the most heartbreaking loss that I’ve witnessed as a Tech fan. These guys played a heckuva game and were let down by the play-calling and special teams unit. As a Tech and UGA fan, its funny how many “diehard” UGA fans are posting on the Tech blog. UGA recruits a top five nationally ranked class each year and all they have to show for it is 1 national championship that can be laid at the feet of Herschel Walker. Whatever school Herschel went to would have won a national championship. UGA is the most underachieving program in the NCAA. With the talent that goes through that school, they should have at least played for 3-4 more national championships. Tech overachieves most years because their recruiting classes are not even top five in the ACC. As a fan of both programs (UGA and Tech), I can say with full confidence that most UGA fans are the most unknowledgable “football” fans in the country. There are only a few that admit what is obvious. The talent level at UGA is vastly superior to what’s at Tech collectively. But what does UGA have to show for it in the last 20 years. One SEC championship when both Fla. and Tenn. were rebuilding. Good job Tech players. Keep your heads up. Good luck Dawgs. DJ will be the difference in your season this year (No more David Dilfer - er.. Green)
By T'Ville Dawg
October 7, 2005 03:05 PM | Link to this
One thing is certain: you Nerds would be nothing without UGA. Looking at your whinning about last night’s loss, these blogs contain mentions to UGA 50% of the time. Reggie Ball is one of the poorest throwers of the ball that I have ever seen and is a gangsta in football clothes. You would think that you Nerds had a decent team with the amount of smack talking that your players do. They need to concentrate on the GAME not whether they have better tattoos, weed, or thug connections. Face it, your team has more bad apples than UGA and far less talent also!! Oh, Mr. Garcia, do you know what majors your athletes are? Here’s a hint: it ain’t engineering. Atleast UGA won’t admit borderline athletes where as you Nerds accept thug-like characters.
By T'Ville Dawgs
October 7, 2005 03:14 PM | Link to this
Ernest, you are NOT a UGA fan so quit posing. If you would like to join the DAWG bandwagon please send $100 to the UGA athletic department ASAP. You are a NERD and under no circumstance would be considered a UGA fan. BTW, were you one of the 20,000 or so GT fans that dressed up like a hunk of concrete at last night’s game?
By HERDofNERDS
October 7, 2005 03:49 PM | Link to this
TheRevenge of the Nerds will not happen any time soon ! It looks like another beat down ! ALPHA BETAS 51 TRI LAMS 7
Please send Reggie to class to learn how to count to FOURTH DOWN. He will be seeing it often. Tech’s proud academics at work !
By 51 to 7
October 7, 2005 03:57 PM | Link to this
T’Ville Dawgs- Ernest would be better of spending that $100 donation to get him 15 club level seats for life at Tech. (This includes hotdogs, cokes and a yellow shaker).
By Todd
October 7, 2005 04:00 PM | Link to this
Look this is simple, and needs to be stated over and over, if the clock is stopped why do you call a timeout ? Why not run the ball ? Didn’t we run to score the 2nd TD ? If you don’t make it then call it and get your stuff together. CG called a fine game up to that point, as he cannot be held responsible for Ball missing wide open WR’s all during the first half and two missed FG’s but come on CG when the pressure was real you lost your composure. You let the team down and 51,000 fans down all because you didn’t know when to use the timeout.
My 10 year old son, who was sitting with me in the rainy west stands at 12 midnight, asked why we wanted a break when we were doing so good. Unfortunatley my only answer was to give N.C. State a chance to rest !
Love Tech, always have & always will but we have to get a high profile coach who will attract high profile talent and create somthing that is hard to get, Tech Football tickets, and a consistant winning tradition. They will sell out every game if we get that high profile coach. If you build it they will come, so I hear. Pay someone who fits the mold and let’s get-er-done.
By Ernest
October 7, 2005 04:13 PM | Link to this
T’Ville Dawg,
Just because I don’t spew all kinds of nonsense that doesn’t pertain to football in any way, does not mean I’m not a UGA fan. I like the football team because they’re always talent-laden. The typical UGA fan is an idiot however. Ref: your post
Typical of the usual UGA fan, you call Reggie Ball a thug. How did you come to this conclusion? Was he caught hanging out with Golston, Swain, White at that bar in Athens? Maybe he’s a thug because he’s a young black guy with tattoos. That would describe 90% of the black male population. Your point exactly, right? You’re an idiot that does not contribute one point about football in any of your postings.
By T'Ville Dawg
October 7, 2005 04:31 PM | Link to this
Ernest, you better employ the help of Bert on your own topic because YOU my friend are the one who is football illiterate. NEVER EVER claim to be a Georgia fan with the statements you made. You are undoubtably a nerd through and through. Football to you is bouncing a round ball through a hoop and childishly bopping up and down to the Budweiser anthem (get a life Nerds). My reference to Ball being a thug is based on his actions on the football field (the tattoos further my claim too). He flaps his gums all game, taunting and flashing some kind of gang signals. Don’t cry to me about your Nerd’s shortcomings in life. And certainly do NOT claim to be a UGA fan when we beat down your Jackettes again!
By JM
October 7, 2005 04:34 PM | Link to this
Can’t blame Gailey for that one! Maybe Calvin’s head will come back down to earth for a while now. Too bad he didn’t have the chance to spike the ball again!!
By Ernest
October 7, 2005 04:49 PM | Link to this
T’Vill Dawg,
How would your backwoods a*s know what a gang symbol is? If you do know, are you a thug? Football players jaw at each other all the time. 99% of the time, Reggie Ball is the smallest player on the field. I’m sure he constantly hears from defenders about his small stature. He’s just a tough SOB who doesn’t back down from anyone. Based on your requesites to being a thug, every player on the UGA football team is a thug … and you still haven’t posted one thought about football that wasn’t some idiotic attempt at humor. I can almost guaranttee that you are a UGA fan that didn’t finish high school, must less attend college. Once again, you’re an idiot.
By Kelvin Self-Centered
October 7, 2005 04:51 PM | Link to this
Ernest (atalien69@yahoo.com) likes men.
By Kelvin Self-Centered
October 7, 2005 04:54 PM | Link to this
Ernest is a fool.
By Kelvin Self-Centered
October 7, 2005 04:56 PM | Link to this
Ya know what I mean Vern???
By jimmy
October 7, 2005 06:10 PM | Link to this
if this “kelvin self-centered” is a uga fan then ya’ll should kick him out. i am a tech fan and even i am embarrassed for him.
By David
October 7, 2005 06:57 PM | Link to this
I don’t understand why everyone thinks Tech is a better team than NC State. State has had a better conference record the past 5 years. State only lost to Va Tech this season by FOUR points, not FORTY. State has had 5 straight years of top 25 recruiting classes. State has beaten FSU twice and Va Tech once during that time. Both Tech and State are middle of the road teams that are trying to climb the ACC ladder. Both are almost there, but there are missing elements for each team. There is just as much talent on both teams, but discipline and execution evade both teams during key points during a game. Tech has benefited from several breaks during the last several years to beat State teams. This year the tables turned a little bit. Both teams now have two conference losses; one to VT. How they respond the rest of the season will determine who goes bowling in Boise and who goes bowling in Georgia/Florida. It was a bizarre game, and heartbreaking…but you can’t assume to roll over another talented team.
By frank
October 7, 2005 09:10 PM | Link to this
Todd hit the nail on the head. The questional call was not the pass to CJ, but the time out call with 32 seconds left with the clock stopped after the 1st down at the two.
This seems to happen almost every game. The GT offense is moving the ball, and the other team’s defense is reeling. We call an inexplicable time out killing our momentum. PJ would have walked in the endzone on first down had the timeout not been called.
Not calling for Chan’s head, just the questionable timeouts when we’re moving the ball.
GO TENNESSEE! ROCKY TOP TENNESSEE!
By Mark Bradley
October 7, 2005 09:39 PM | Link to this
Tech was lucky to be in it. C Johnson pushed off on his TD catch plus numberous no calls as Tech contiuously held the nation’s premier front defensive 4.
By tom
October 7, 2005 09:56 PM | Link to this
Matthew,
You need to get educated (This will be hard to do at a cow school like UGA). You said that if a player goes to Georgia, he plays for SEC Championships and National Championships. Hrumpf! Georgia last played in a National Championship game 25 YEARS AGO! UGA has played for two SEC Championships since the league went to 12 teams. Georgia won one Championship and was humiliated by LSU in the other. What are you smoking in your Bulldog pipe? You dirt-dumb Dawg fans carry on like your Poodles are world beaters, with only one National Title under your bulging belt. (We have four—our last one was 14 years ago, your last one was 25 years ago!!) Go back to school before you go on the web again spouting your incorrect platitudes. Georgia is an annual Nation Power wannabe. (Wait and see how this year pans out…and reality will begin to set in Saturday on the banks of the Tennessee River!)
Then comes Florida (another loss), followed by Auburn (loss No. 3)… and what about Tech?! You guys have a whole bunch of “Jasper Sanks” types on this year’s team! (That’s loss No. 4) When you get to El Paso for your bowl game, Wisconsin or Syracuse will probably dump on your parade—and you Dawgs will fall further down the bowl-winning percentage list! (By the by, you do realize that GT is No. 1 in bowl-winning percentage, don’t you?).
Matthew, crawl back under that pile of Uga squeeze you’re living beneath. Get your story straight and write again!
Oh, you mentioned basketball: Do you know how many points a basketball player gets for a “3-point” goal? If you don’t know, Harrick, Jr. can tell you!
Maybe, just maybe, UGA will win the SEC this year…That way your players will have spending money for the summer (SEC Championship rings bring up to $300 on Ebay!)
And to think, your parents probably named you after one of the Apostles…and that approaches blasphemy!
TOM
By ashley
October 8, 2005 01:13 AM | Link to this
I dont think Ive ever heard that stadium go from roaring to dead silence as quick as it did last night. You cant place blame in this game because there are too many people to blame. The only thing I want to know is why you would call your last timeout when youve just driven down the field and youre sitting first and goal on the 2 yd line?? If anything, spike the ball. Just doesnt make sense. Im not questioning the pass play because 9 out of 10 times Calvin comes down with it. We could have ran but you waste too much time trying to reset if you dont get it. But why blow your final time out with 36 seconds on the clock and the ball sitting on the 2 yd line??
By Matthew
October 8, 2005 02:05 PM | Link to this
Tom,
You’re an idiot who has no idea what reading comprehension means.
Hey Tom, what’s the difference between these two statements?
We play for Nat’l Championships at UGA.
AND
We play in Nat’l Championships at UGA?
Well, the first one was what I wrote, moron. It is a true statement. We play for Nat’l Championships at UGA. That is our goal every year.
The goals at Yech? Finish over .500 and play in a fourth tier bowl game in Idaho or Seattle.
We play for New Year’s Day. We play for SEC Championships. And our goal every year is to play for a Nat’l Championships.
That, you dimwitted Bug, is the difference between Yech and Georgia.
Well, that, and you and your ilk’s inability to comprehend the english language in it’s written or spoken form.
You’re obviously the idiot you seem to be if you believe Yech is going to beat us this year. The same Yech that got blown out by VaTech and lost to NC State?
How about this Tom, you illiterate bastard, you worry about how many games your team is going to lose this year.
I look at your schedule, and y’all will be lucky to get to 6 wins.
As for Tennessee, I have no doubt we’ll beat them. Same with Florida and Auburn.
As I said, beating Yech is a forgone conclusion. We’d be better off (from a BCS standpoint) from playing Southern every year.
The only game I’m worried about this year for the Dawgs is the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. That defense is for real.
But, even if we lose to them, we’ll be playing a BCS Bowl game with only one loss.
As for y’all, if you’re lucky enough to get to 6 wins Tommy, I hope you have fun in Idaho or Seattle playing a bowl game in the middle of December.
Sing it with me Tom…
“Basketball… Basketball… Basketball…”
By Matthew
October 9, 2005 11:18 AM | Link to this
Tom… oh, Toooommmm?
Where are you?
That’s what I thought…
Idiot.
By Russ
October 10, 2005 02:33 PM | Link to this
Sorry to come in late on this thread but something must be said about the play calling. Give it to PJ on 1st and if he doesn’t make it spike it and kick a FG. That would be the safest plan, but Gailey loves to think he’s in the NFL with top rated receivers and quarterbacks. When Gailey first came to GT he had a mindset such as 2nd and 1 lets play-action and take a sack; he finally got out of that mentality but it rears its ugly head every once-and-a-while and this was one of those times. He needs to do the obvious occasionally and run it with your future NFL tailback from the 2. He has some of the worst play calling in the history of GT and the offense is as bland as it gets. I’ve personally suffered long enough with C.G. and I’d rather see another coach at the helm and lose rather than seeing Chan coach us to another up and down season. As I recall, Bobby Ross didn’t have a problem coaching us to a few wins with the same academic standards in place; so that’s not an excuse. By the way, to you UGA fans out there, the last team in the state to play for a national championship I believe was GT not UGA; so your comments are not welcome.