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.
Permalink | Comments (118) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
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By SteveO
October 7, 2005 02:40 AM | Link to this
Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Freakin Calvin Johnson!!!! “UH, I think I’m the best WR in the nation.” Calvin, you freakin suuuuucccckkkk. How freakin pathetic. Ball did all he could. Everyone always puts a loss on his shoulders. They are wrong. Its Calvin “I think I’ll toss the ball to the other team” Johnson and Travis “I can’t kick worth a crap” Bell’s fault. Fire Chan! Fire Chan! Fire freakin Chan Gailey!!!
By Ben
October 7, 2005 06:56 AM | Link to this
Gailey’s play calling is killing GT they pass on almost every first down, run on second and then its third and long. The last call of the game was typical. Try to run it first if you don’t get it spike it then maybe throw, but the whole game lost because a another first down pass attempt! Is Ralph able to come back to us!
By chuck
October 7, 2005 06:57 AM | Link to this
Is there any way we can get that removed? Calvin Johnson is more of a man, at 19, than whoever you are sir, and does Tech proud. Get a life, jerk.
By GT4life
October 7, 2005 07:41 AM | Link to this
As disappointed as I am that CJ dropped that ball, I was more disappointed in the halftime interview. I am sure that last play will bring him down to earth, but our players apparently need to take a class in interviewing 101. It reminds me of Kelly “The Future” Washington who destroyed UT’s team unity several years ago with that type of bravado. It’s a team sport and a team loss. CJ needs to give credit to the coaches, QB, OL, RBs instead of bragging about being the “greatest WR in America”.
By Ben
October 7, 2005 07:42 AM | Link to this
i agree if was not for calvin tech would have lost 17-0! Calvin did not ask for the ball to be high and have his legs taken out from under him.
By steven
October 7, 2005 07:48 AM | Link to this
Calvin and Reis ARE GT. Calvin played a heck of a game and if he wasn’t on GT, we’d be a sad sight to see.
By TIM CROWLEY
October 7, 2005 08:06 AM | Link to this
THIS REMINDS ME OF THE 67/68 SEASON WHEN THE CHANT OF “FIRE BUD” RANG THROUGH GRANT FIELD.”FIRE CHAN” NEEDS TO RING THROUGH THE FLATS. HE JUST CAN NOT GET THE TEAM INSPIRED TO PLAY A COMPLETE GAME.
By John
October 7, 2005 08:10 AM | Link to this
If this loss means Chan will likely get fired - then I am happy we loss. I think our AD, Dave Braine, doesn’t want to admit he made a mistake in hiring Chan, so he lets him continue. Chan must go! On a side note, I feel sorry for all the GT fans that went out and bought tickets after our Auburn game - boy, how they were fooled. Expect few of them to show for next week’s Duke game.
By Johnny Law
October 7, 2005 08:17 AM | Link to this
When you have games like this that you are supposed to win and consistently lose them, that falls to the coach. Ball throwing 25 times in the first half when youve got a back like Daniels is uncalled for. Furthermore, I get the sense that Ball doesnt trust/believe in the coaching staff the way a QB needs to. The sight of him consistently scowling at the sidelines as plays are being called in is disconcerting, and may lead to his uptight start in games. It almost seems as though it takes a whole half before the staff settles in and calls plays that Reggie feels comfortable with. A coaching staff has to be able torecognize that he needs to feel comfortable in order for good things to happen, and I dont see that on the field.
By Tim
October 7, 2005 08:23 AM | Link to this
That was a great game. Ball and the offense played their hearts out against one of the toughest defenses in the nation and he is still not 100% yet. Gaily had the team go for it on 4th down 3 times and they made it. We went for the win in regulation and came up just short. The defense stuffed the run and gave up 2 big plays. We dominated most of the stats except red zone scoring - 2 of those were missed field goals. I am proud of our coaches and team because I think they coached hard, played hard and played to win even though we didn’t this time. Look at the stats for the NC State - Viginia Tech game and you can see what a good team they are. I have been critical of Chan’s play calling in the past but you have to give the man credit for going for it in this game - he has been much more conservative in the past.
By Alabama Jack
October 7, 2005 08:25 AM | Link to this
Re: Steve O. Send this cud chewing single tooth functionally illiterate mouth breather back to Athens with the rest of his inbreed cousins and other genetic mistakes.
By fedupwithlosing
October 7, 2005 08:38 AM | Link to this
I have no idea how anyone can possibly call this a great game. It was two mediocre teams trying to out stink each other on a rainy night. Chan must go - we have to make some sort of change. Either we recruit better players and find a better coaching staff or we just quit the sport altogether ! Why go to all this trouble just to have a half empty stadium each week (on a good day) and to be pathetic game after game. The most telling quote ever was when Chan Gailey was asked why all of Georgia’s signees this year were nationally ranked prospects and NONE of Tech’s signees were - he said something like “I guess I just evaluate talent a little bit differently”. Yeah - you expect me to believe that you are right and 100 other college coaches are wrong. Nice argument. A wise coach once said that winning was a lot of work, but losing is contagious. Once you catch that losing bug, it infects the whole team for weeks - sometimes years.
By HJJ
October 7, 2005 08:45 AM | Link to this
Typical Tech………..
By Buzzsaw
October 7, 2005 08:49 AM | Link to this
CJ has won Tech far more games than he has lost and to say that this loss was his fault is ridiculous. Again, play calling on the next to last drive was awful. Pass, run, pass and punt. The draw play on second down was predictable Gailey and a horrible call.
I see this as our bowl bid game. Where are we going to get 3 more wins to be bowl elidgible? We will need to beat Clemson, Duke and Wake just to be considered for the Northern Alaska Salmon Bowl. Let’s say goodbye to Gailey and find someone who can call a coherent offensive game.
By Typical Joe
October 7, 2005 08:56 AM | Link to this
Its typical talk at GT. Its the coach’s fault, we can’t recruit, it the QB’s fault, its Calvin’s fault, its the kicker’s fault, it Braine’s fault. I don’t like the halftime interview. Let’s see if we can think of some more reasons why Tech is just not a top tier team anymore.
By Ken
October 7, 2005 09:12 AM | Link to this
As much people may not like Coach Gailey, let’s think about what his job actually entails… Putting the players in a position to win.
Travis Bell missed two field goals inside 30 yards.
Adjustments were made from the first to the second half. Tech’s offense actually dominated.
On first and goal he called a play to put the ball in tha hands of Tech’s best player.
As for the recruiting, he has to evaluate differently than so many other schools. Two thirds of the players in Gerogia’s class couldn’t get into school at Tech. Plus, is the talent really that lacking…? Two ACC Freshmen of the year. Several first and second team players. Lines on both sides that look very promising filled with 1-3 year players.
One last comment… It took Frank Beamer TEN YEARS to build VaTech. Braine was patient with him and it paid off.
By Jerry
October 7, 2005 09:15 AM | Link to this
I was at Tech when Bobby Dodd was there.You could look at a schedule and know which games you would win,lose, and those that could go either way. Reality turned out as prodicted. Bobby Ross is the only other coach for which that was true. Playing a football game is analgous to taking a math quiz. You study hard, know your opponent, play a good game, put the game away early, and always play with class and integrety. Some opponents,like some math quizzes, you do not pass but that just means that you study harder,suck it up and do that much better on the next one. If you cannot do taht in football, then get out of the game. If you cannot do that on a math quiz, then go to UGA.
By John
October 7, 2005 09:18 AM | Link to this
It took him 10 years at Va Tech? We aren’t Va Tech!? We have a history far greater than theirs and national championshps to prove it. At a school starting near the bottom, 10 years is fine. But we are Georgia Tech and we should not need to go through 10 years. We need a high profile, great coach - not a mediocre one that is given many years.
By wes
October 7, 2005 09:19 AM | Link to this
This sucks.
By Suffering Jacket
October 7, 2005 09:20 AM | Link to this
Good point about VT. However during the GT/VT pregame interview with Braine, he said that it was a different time and place and that the kind of patience that he was afforded at that time would not be acceptable in this day and time. It is time for Gailey to move on and maybe we can find someone that can get us 7-8 wins a year consistantly. That is all that I am askig for-to be respectable and not have to go to the Pacific NW in order to play in a bowl year after year!
By Tech Alum
October 7, 2005 09:20 AM | Link to this
As a Tech alum, I am getting incredibly sick of Chan Gailey. Everyone knows that breakdowns like the one that occurred in this game are a result of bad leadership. Our defense is solid for most of the game, then they give up some huge play that is game deciding (how many times has that happeend?). We have D. Bilbo, PJ Daniels, Choice, J. Johnson and Calvin Johnson, yet we can’t produce on offense? Who’s calling the plays on offense? Oh yeah, thats right, its Chan. Reggie Ball? Chan sticks with him because of the time invested in him. Reggie is mediocre. He can run, but he’s no QB. Braine, listen to the alums. We know you’re not an idiot. We know how you really feel about Chan. Tech fans, start your chants: Can Chan!
By Burdell
October 7, 2005 09:27 AM | Link to this
Important facts:
By Tech Alum
October 7, 2005 09:28 AM | Link to this
I appreciate your comment Ken. But keep in mind, Chan has been consistent with his inability to win games that we should win. Think about how this is a direct result of bad leadership. Think about our breakdowns EVERY single year. Think about your comment about our players. We DO have the talent. We can’t utilize our talent. Think about how we have someone calling pass plays while Reggie ball is throwing under .500. Also, think about this: Good teams, with good coaches go into games prepared. It doesn’t take them a whole half to get ready to play.
By GOOO DAWGS
October 7, 2005 09:31 AM | Link to this
I don’t know where you guys are coming from, I love Gailey and I think he’s great. I hope you guys keep him. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
By Roll Tide
October 7, 2005 09:35 AM | Link to this
I remember the days of Bobby Dodd and the great Tech tradition. The match-up between Bear and Bobby Dodd was epic. Tech has a great tradition. Don’t spoil it by keeping Gailey. He’s a great guy, but he’s not going to win for you guys.
By fedupwithlosing
October 7, 2005 09:36 AM | Link to this
10 years or 10 weeks - who cares - he is just not getting the job done. I had the priviledge of being at Tech at the same time as Bobby Ross. He just knew how to get the job done - he had a good staff, good players and good management. He knew how to unify the team to just go out and play hard. He was also a good man who would jog almost every day around campus and he would talk to the students. Second half adjustments ? What about some second quarter adjustments ? What about inspiring the team to play hard at the beginning and ends of the game instead of just one or the other and maybe the middle ? Talent ? Maybe we have 1 or 2 players that win a few ACC awards - but how many are in the pros ? Less than many Division II schools.
By Prediction
October 7, 2005 09:37 AM | Link to this
The way we gave up against VT and blew it last night I think we only have 2 more wins this season (Duke and Wake). We may have a shot against Clemson. As much as it pains me, I do not think that we have a shot when we play Miami, UVA or UGA (hopefully it wont be as embarrassing as 2 years ago). Maybe at 5-6 we can get rid of Gailey!
By Jerry
October 7, 2005 09:46 AM | Link to this
I was at Tech when Bobby Dodd was there.You could look at a schedule and know which games you would win,lose, and those that could go either way. Reality turned out as prodicted.Bobby Ross is the only other coach for which that was true.Playing a football game is analgous to taking a math quiz.You study hard,know your opponent,play a good game, put the game away early, and always play with class and integrety. Some opponents,like some math quizzes, you do not pass but that just means that you study harder,suck it up and do that much better on the next one. If you cannot do taht in football, then get out of the game. If you cannot do that on a math quiz, then go to UGA.
By Rickey
October 7, 2005 09:50 AM | Link to this
Bradley: For the betterment of Tech football, please get on your soapbox and call for the firing of Chan Gailey.
The program is in the midst of taking the plunge toward the bottom of the ACC standings and only a coaching change at the end of the year if not sooner can reverse the direction of the program. Fire Chan Gailey.
statelinejacket
By Isee
October 7, 2005 09:52 AM | Link to this
Now even I see why we Tech fans take so much abuse. Guys like SteveO. This is exactly how we get percieved as urban legends, bandwagon fans, etc. Calvin Johnson IS the best reciever in America. SteveO, tell us oh wise one where we would be without him in light of the fact that he seems to be the only wideout we have capable of consistent performance.
By CV
October 7, 2005 09:56 AM | Link to this
It’s obvious that Chan cannot make split second decisions when the game is on the line. We should not have thrown that ball. How about this option.
GT gets down to the 2 yard line on Ball’s run. We have 1 timeout and the clock is stopped to moved the chains with 32 seconds left. DO NOT call the timeout. We have time to get set and run PJ up the middle with about 28 seconds on the clock. If he doesn’t make it we have to get set and spike the ball with about 10 to 15 seconds on the clock. Now it’s 3rd down and we can try to run it again. If we don’t get it then call the timeout with about 5 seconds left. We can kick the field goal and go to overtime. We have the advantage in overtime. I don’t know if everyone else heard it but BDS was LOUD last night.
The one thing we had to make sure we got was the field goal. The ball was wet and our recievers had been dropping passes all night, so why would you call a pass play. When Gailey needs to be ultra conservative he’s not and he blew the ball game.
By SearchCommittee
October 7, 2005 10:03 AM | Link to this
John, would you please give us a list of the high profile great coaches that would be willing to leave their high profile, great jobs to coach at Tech so we can begin our search. If any of them are checking out these blogs, just the attitudes displayed here this morning will scare them off.
By GT4life
October 7, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this
I’m not sold that we have to recruit different type of athletes than the schools we play against. The vast majority of our players would not be admitted to GT under any circumstances as students. True UGA, Clemson, VT, FSU, and Miami take chances on a few studs that may not qualify, but I think Gailey would love to sign the majority of their recruiting classes. Let’s face it, most of our student athletes are not taking the same curriculum as the general student population. I’m tired of this lame excuse that we’re a finer institution of higher learning so we don’t want these kids. Trust me. We want them, but they don’t want us. They don’t want to play for Gailey, they don’t want to go to Seattle and Boise for bowl games, they don’t want to go to pep rallys where 50 fans show up, and they don’t want to play in a small stadium that isn’t sold out. We need to hire a coach that will bring some excitement to the program. Maybe USC has the right idea. Hiring Lou Holtz or Steve Spurrier and bring excitement. Even if they are short term hires perhaps we can get our program back to one that HS athletes will want to play for.
By Dawg Fan
October 7, 2005 10:15 AM | Link to this
Steve O is an idiot- I’m a Georgia fan and I think Calvin Johnson’s talent is downright scary. He didn’t ‘lose’ the game for Tech last night- it was a combination of things, missed opportunities with field goals, some questionable play calling (I think calling the time out after Ball’s run to the two yard line was stupid. You had the whole NC State team realing backwards and you take a break and let them catch a breathe and get organized. Just run a play and ram PJ down their throats….) That ball was thrown into double almost triple coverage BEHIND him as he was getting his lower body crushed out from under him and he STILL managed to get two hands on it. Tech’s going to have a chance almost every game just b/c of CJ. I’m looking forward a good fight in Bobby dodd on Nov. 26th. But- like Prediction said- I don’t think you guys have a chance. Now, would you please win some more games so we will look all the better when we beat you guys?
By TruthSerum
October 7, 2005 10:24 AM | Link to this
FINALLY! Thank you GT4life! Finally a Tech fan that refuses to scapegoat academics. EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE knows that Tech has football players that are admitted under different standards than regular students. Tech also seperates business from academics. EVERYONE sees the majors of the players flashed on the screen during televised games. No rocket scientists in waiting are seen. Thank you GT4life. To the rest of you whiners and excuse makers I say, Ye shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
By Edtwon Myree
October 7, 2005 10:55 AM | Link to this
The loss isn’t Calvin’s fault. Yeah, Calvin did drop a TD pass that would have put Tech ahead and made the score 21-17 true, but two field goals missed inside 30 yards lost that game. Calvin’s drop means nothing if Travis Bell makes those two chip shots. D-I kickers should be able to make a 24 and 27 yard field goal. Yeah and the next play after the second missed field goal we saw what happened, the big M-O in college football. This loss was a small part of a big problem that Tech has, when O’leary was here Tech was use to winning 8-9 maybe even 10 games a season, they tied with Florida State twice for the ACC. Now its okay to go 6-6 on the season, is mediocrity what Gailey preaches to his players. Tech always seems to lose to teams they should beat and beat teams they should loss to. For istance last night, last year to N. Carolina, the bowl loss to Fresno State (their in the WAC) and who can forget that loss to DUKE a couple years ago, DUKE, we loss to DUKE. DUKE. Oh and who called the kneel on third down in last years Georgia game. Chan’s be here 3 years and has only been okay, and he hasn’t beat Georgia yet. If Tech doesn’t win out and that means beat Georgia with a team that is arguably the best since Joe was here. The decision for Dave Braine(AD) should not be that hard, GET SOMEONE ELSE. This team was suppose to contend for the ACC championship this year, not anymore.
By Dre
October 7, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe we lost to this team! JFC! Chan Gailey is lucky that most tech fans follow cricket instead of CFB.
By charles
October 7, 2005 11:13 AM | Link to this
I support Chan’s call, NC State would have been expecting a run and we would have been in a big hurry after being stopped. He simply went with the hot hand of Reggie Ball and decided to go to the Ball-CJ connection that worked all night. The result was just a freak-play. Though the loss was heartbreaking, I’m proud of the boys for fighting back. This team has continuously earned my respect for their resiliency. There is still enough time to salvage the season. Go Tech!
By TruthSerum
October 7, 2005 11:17 AM | Link to this
Maybe this is the best team since Joe was there,HOWEVER. It is not even close to being as good as RALPH FREIDGEN’s group. The defense is obviously better, but the offense is not on the same planet with RALPH and Little Joe’s teams. And that is the absolute truth. When Ralph Freidgen left the flats, football went with him.
By TecheredPast
October 7, 2005 11:27 AM | Link to this
We need to finally realize that we are not a real football school. We are a basketball school. Just look at our recruits. How many of our players were offered scholarships by UGA or Florida State ? Calvin Johnson is about the only one. Top recruits don’t see us a real football school beacause they don’t come here. Fans don’t see us as a real football school b/c they don’t show up for games and instead of Tech raising prices for the right to buy tickets, we have to lower them. Our stadium is rivaled by some high school stadiums. I’ve given up on football. Basketball is just right around the corner !
By Donagh
October 7, 2005 11:27 AM | Link to this
Leave Calvin out of it. Let’s face reality, Ball is predictably inconsistent and Chan is clueless. Bench Ball. Fire Chan. Play Bennett. Hire a real head coach and a real offensive coordinator with a little imagination.
By Coach
October 7, 2005 11:41 AM | Link to this
Get off the players’ backs. Calvin, Reggie and the rest all played one great ball game against a very talented group from NC State. Chan did a great job of making adjustments at half time. His team dominated during the second half. Two big plays from NC State, flea flicker and slant pass that broke for TD’s. Take those away and NC State was humiliated. And, this is the same NC State that Va. Tech had to come back on in the fourth quarter to beat. There is nothing wrong with the Jackets. And I don’t think anybody in the country that is not already on their schedule would want them added. As far as Mark Bradley is concerned, I have forgotten more about football than he has learned. So Jacket fans consider the source of comments in his column.
By PB
October 7, 2005 11:45 AM | Link to this
God, please help me I’m not sure who is the most LAME! A closet dog fan drinking (truthserum) or a closet dog fan (claiming to be GT4life) wanting to bring notorious cheater Lou Holtz to the Flats… Both of you make me sick!
By TruthSerum
October 7, 2005 11:48 AM | Link to this
TecheredPast passes the polygraph. He has seen the truth and the truth has set him free. HOWEVER. He left out one thing. Tech is probably the only school in America that has to market tickets saying it is the only way to see a UGA game.
By MeSoTechie
October 7, 2005 11:49 AM | Link to this
I’m tired of hearing that our recruiting stinks b/c of academic standards. I agree with GT4Life. You don’t have to look any farther than Reggie Ball to see that we will admit almost anyone with talent. Don’t expect R. Ball to be designing any new dams to protect New Orleans. Tech wants to recruit the top athletes but they don’t want to come here. It’s just a fact of life. We will win an ocasional big ball game like the Tri Lams did in Revenge of the Nerds. But in reality, the Alpha Beta’s of the world will beat us in football on a regular basis. We have a much better chance in basketball. Then we will be able to have our Revenge of the Nerds.
By SearchCommittee
October 7, 2005 11:52 AM | Link to this
I’m still waiting for the list of great, high profile head coaches who would love to coach at Tech. Better hurry. I’m about to call Ron Zook.
By TruthSerum
October 7, 2005 12:04 PM | Link to this
PB. Know this. Dog fans don’t have to be “closet”. A certain trade school over on North Avenue has the patent on that. Yes the truth hurts PB. GT4life has been on enough blogs to establish his Tech credentials. He has just seen the truth, and the truth has set him free. GT4life obviously has seen the evidence. A quarterback that can’t count to 4 obviously shoots the academic argument straight to Hades. Set yourself free PB.
By PB
October 7, 2005 12:09 PM | Link to this
So TruthSerum you and GT4life are out of the closet?
By Ridiculous
October 7, 2005 12:12 PM | Link to this
Nice! Attack a college kid for his academics when you have no idea. Are you keeping tabs of Ball’s grades?
By Edtwon
October 7, 2005 12:13 PM | Link to this
Sure Ralph was a great offensie mind and a darn good head coach but he left in 2000, Tech went 9-3, and 8-5 in the years following that. Our poor performance has nothing to do with Ralph’s departure it’s the current coach. Ralph made the offense better because of his play calling. No, Reggie isn’t better than Joe, no where near, but PJ’s better than Joe Burns and Calvin who will be a top 10 pick when he comes out (if he doesn’t get hurt) is way better than Dez White. With Ralph we won games 50-48 now we win games 24-17 the offense is much more talented than Joe’s teams at the skill positions. So football didn’t leave because 9-3 is pretty good and 8-5 in a season where the teams has a distraction for a coach that wants to be at Notre Dame is pretty good too. Jon Tenuta makes this team what it is and holding a team to two big plays (which are going to happen) and a field goal you’re suppose to win the game. Make the field goal and we’re fine. I have no problem with Chan’s call from the 2, yeah I would have ran it but I’m not the coach. Despite that this is Chan’s 4th year and he hasn’t finished higher than 4th in the ACC. He lost to DUKE, there should be a clause in all ACC coaches contracts stating lossing to DUKE is cause for immediate termination. DUKE!!!
By Rico
October 7, 2005 12:23 PM | Link to this
It was like watching two high school teams play. Stupid penalties, bad play calling, and coaching.
By TruthSerum
October 7, 2005 12:27 PM | Link to this
No PB. Just stating the truth. It does not take a UGA fan to see the obvious. Is it so improbable that there are Tech fans who know the truth and admit to it. Why do you assume that anyone who doesn’t whine and come up with excuses is not a Tech fan. Admitting to the problem is the 1st step toward correction. It is easy to quantify the difference in lets say UGA and Tech. UGA markets tickets to UGA games. UGA fans go to the games win, lose, or draw. UGA does not have to promise hot dogs and cokes to ticket holders, etc. Would you like to move on to FSU,FLA,VT,Miami,et al? Know the truth PB. It is not hard to see.
By BillM
October 7, 2005 12:39 PM | Link to this
If these last two games don’t prove that Chan Gailey must go, and (take Brain-less) with you, nothing will!! 98% of good college coaches won’t start a player who dosen’t practice (VT). Throw the ball 40+ plays with a 1,000 yard tailback (NC St). 1st & 2 at the goal line and throw into tripple coverage. Not replace a kick holder who botched 2 field goals. It adds up to gross inaptitude. Some magazine rated Chan Gailey among the worst collage coaches. HE JUST PROVED IT !! DON’T BLAME THE PLAYERTS, THEY HAVE NO CHANCE WITH THIS COACH
By TruthSerum
October 7, 2005 12:41 PM | Link to this
Ridiculous, nobody said one word about anyones grades. Reggie may be the brightest bulb in the Tech pack. However, his inability to count to 4 in crunch time may have lost the UGA game last year. More truth. More fact. You guys make it so easy for others to pick on you. You provide the ammo. Is the truth so hard to handle. I bet if I criticize Iraq you will assume I am a Democrat too.
By PB
October 7, 2005 12:44 PM | Link to this
You’re insecurity regarding the supposed academic differences between tech and UGA is a clear sign you are compensating for something, what could it be?
BTW, every player at Tech has to take Calculus. There is a difference. Get your head out of rear end before UT hands it and your head to you on Saturday!!! I’m free!!!
By Edtwon
October 7, 2005 12:46 PM | Link to this
GT4Life are you serious Lou Holtz is only replacing a 6-6 coach with another. Search Committe your right no big time coaches and big time programs are going to leave their program in order to try to get ours back to prominance, thats just stupid for Bob Stoops, Mack Brown, Jim Tressel etc. to leave their program to come to ours. But what about Mike Price, sure he went to a strip club but what grown man hasn’t who cares, can he coach football games, who didn’t have a stripper at their bachelor party. Price won at Washington State and is winning at UTEP sorry PAc-10 talent and C-USA talent can’t compare to what he can work with in Atlanta. Sure we expect more from our athletes than that school up I-85 but we can get some darn good players. I think Mike Price will give us a chance to get back to respectability and possible contend with VT, FSU and Miami in the conference
By TruthSerum
October 7, 2005 12:59 PM | Link to this
PB please. It was not me that said the 1st word about academics. Yes PB. I guess that my insecurity rests with the fact that my degree is from a school north of New York City where the coach who won you a national championship presently plys his trade. NOW I’M FREE. Of your delusions.
By wes
October 7, 2005 01:02 PM | Link to this
Mike Price? Are u kidding me?
At least Dave Braine knows that he can’t afford to let Tenuta go. If I had to bet on who would be GT’s next Head Coach…I’d bet on it being Jon Tenuta.
Mr. Braine has already learned that giving away your best coordinator e.g. Ralph Friedgen…is NEVER a good idea. At least Tech has something solid in tact to build upon. Poor, poor Coach Gailey…he’s just not cutting the mustard here.
If you have the best WR in college football, a mobile QB, and an All-ACC running back, and you STILL can’t even score more than 20 some-odd points in ANY of the games?!?!?!? Something’s got to give.
And unfortunately, I think we all know what that is. Take care, Coach Gailey.
By SearchCommittee
October 7, 2005 01:11 PM | Link to this
Thank you Edtwon. You got it. There are plenty of viable coaches, some of whom you listed above that could get the engine started again. And don’t forget some of the hungry assistants from big time schools and conferences. After all. Mark Richt was a long time assistant from a big time environment. And then when you get them to Atlanta people need to support them and support the team. Enough of this defeatest attitude and multitude of BS excuses for underachieving. Coaches take a long hard look at things like that before taking a job.
By DJ
October 7, 2005 01:19 PM | Link to this
It should have never come down to a last second victory..The players are/have losing/lost confidence in the leadership and it shows (Johnson interview). I agree with you ”Johnny Law” (North Carolina game). Heartbreaking to see such poor game management. What is it going to take to correct the special teams issue. Tired of seeing those big plays by the opponents. Coaching change is needed.
By BillM
October 7, 2005 01:44 PM | Link to this
THE KICKING GAME: The ESPN comentators saw the problem. Bell missed because the hold was too close to the holders body. To kick from the left hash you must hit the outside of the ball. With the hold too close you would kick the holder!! Kickoffs suck, nothing inside the 10 yard line. Somebody should be able to reach the end zone. Quick kick is a powerful weapon with a strong defence. Not in Gailey playbook? Did somebody mention Bobby Dodd?
By JCrumb
October 7, 2005 01:51 PM | Link to this
I almost like the play call at the end of the game as it was not predictable for Chan, but that was not the right time to grow a set of balls.
As far as recruiting goes, academics does play a role as there is no Sports Management or Lawn Care major or whatever it is that the UGA players take, given a management major is a lot easier than engineering, it is still no pushover. Remember 2 years ago when we lost all those players due to academics, one of them happened to be one hell of a Running Back.
If Chan can’t beat the NC States of the country right now, with the talent that we have, he never will! We will never be better than mediocre with chan at the helm, period. He had his chances, he’s just not going to be able to do it. From what I see, the players do not respond to him nor respect him, we need a coach that will get the players fired up! But again, who in the heck wants to coach at Tech? Our best shot is take a chance and go for a new/young coach, like the falcons did with Mora.
Tech will almost never sale out the stadium consistently, WE HAVE MORE SEATS IN OUR STADIUM THAN LIVING ALUMNI IN THE STATE OF GA! Unless we become a nationally respected team people aren’t going to come to our game just for the hell of it!
Regardless of calvin’s tipped interception, he is hands down one of the best receiveres I have ever seen play the game of football. Bottom line, we need to go back to the drawing board, Fire Gailey!
By TiredofChan
October 7, 2005 01:51 PM | Link to this
As a Tech alumnus, I’m tired of this. I’m tired of two 50-7 drubbings. I’m tired of losing to a Duke. I’m tired of getting beat by North Carolina. I’m tired of 4th quarter melt downs against a Virgina Tech and North Carolina State teams on Thursday nights. And most of all, I’m tired of 3 years of sub-par 6-5 seasons. We have spent 3 years standing still and now its time to more forward. Where’s our “Mark Richt.” We’re never going to get to a “championship” at this rate and every year our recruiting suffers.
By old Tech fan (in NC)
October 7, 2005 02:24 PM | Link to this
CJ is a great WR (just ask him), but if he played in the pros and quit running the route that caused the first RBall pick last night, he would be fined!
Some of you “can” guys remind me of the husband that ask his wife to fry him an egg and and scramble one and then got mad because she fried the wrong one! And if Coach T is elevated to head, whom will be the D coord? (Note we fuss at the present guy for trying to be an O coord….would we fuss at T for the same type thing?) Are you can boys really wanting to can the coach in the middle of the season???
For a short while in the second half, I thought the game was football as it was intended…fun to watch!
By GT4life
October 7, 2005 02:29 PM | Link to this
First of all, I feel I was stating the obvious about the players we recruit. Now with the increased sliding scale, we are not recruiting student athletes much different than other schools. The better football players just happen to want to play elsewhere. Also I was not suggesting we hire Lou Holtz, but I think USC’s plan of bringing in big name semi-retired coaches is a good way to get recruits to want to play for them while getting the alumni excited. The timing was good for USC to hire those coaches and we may need to look in a similar direction. Would we be excited if we could hire Butch Davis, Jimmy Johnson, or any other similarly retired big name coach? We would fill our stadium with fans and great recruits. I think it’s obvious Chan needs to go.
By Tech'sWreck
October 7, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this
We are nothing but the NERDS they say we are if we can’t pull it together and get a solid football team. I mean it, we are made fun of for going to Tech mostly b/c of how we look, the way we dress and the way our football teams plays. There is nothing that we can do about the looks and dress problems but can’t we atleast have a solid football team? So we don’t marry the good looking girls and we aren’t very popular with the neighbors and most of us have never played sports, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be proud of our school!
By wes
October 7, 2005 02:43 PM | Link to this
Could you imagine how awful GT would be if #21 was not on their sideline? He makes Gailey look better than he should…and Chan ain’t looking so hot with him, either.
By GTforLife
October 7, 2005 02:49 PM | Link to this
Listen, not ALL of us Tech folks are nerds. The people that I hang out with say that I’m handsome and a snazzy dresser. Plus, I played soccer on my middle school team.
By Jerry
October 7, 2005 02:51 PM | Link to this
I was at Tech when Bobby Dodd was there.You could look at a schedule and know which games you would win,lose, and those that could go either way. Reality turned out as predicted.Bobby Ross is the only other coach for which that was true.Playing a football game is analgous to taking a math quiz.You study hard,know your opponent,play a good game, put the game away early, and always play with class and integrety. Some opponents,like some math quizzes, you do not pass but that just means that you study harder,suck it up and do that much better on the next one. If you cannot do taht in football, then get out of the game. If you cannot do that on a math quiz, then go to UGA.
By NoWhine
October 7, 2005 02:51 PM | Link to this
GT4life, you are a breath of fresh air. If reality would sink in with the whiners and excuse makers among us progress could be made. Jimmy Johnson would not tolerate attitudes like a host of Tech fans display. How many times do you hear USMA, USN, Air Force, Stanford, Cal, Notre Dame and others with academic standards as high or higher than Tech’s use it as an excuse for losing. NEVER! Top notch coaches and top notch talent look at the fan base when making the decision where to coach and where to play. Until the excuses and the whining stop, the losing will continue.
By SteveO
October 7, 2005 02:53 PM | Link to this
If you all want to defend Gailey for bad playcalling, defend Johnson for being cocky, defend Bell for slacking go right ahead. I know what overconfidence does to people in sports. I live in Alabama (not Athens)and I had to hear about how Auburn’s team is gonna kill ours(Both times). They never did. they believed they won the game before they played it. Same thing with Johnson and Tech. This is the best Tech team under Gailey, but they have been at this level before. every year they play someone they are supposed to beat and lose to them. Look at Gailey’s record after a bye week, too(See my post on the “Live from Atlanta” thing).I don;t care how good you are, if you get overconfident, you will lose. That is what made me so mad. P.S. The best wideout in the nation would have caught that pass, not tossed it to the other team.
By Dawg Fan
October 7, 2005 02:58 PM | Link to this
An interesting story that was passed on to me by a from a fellow citizen of the “Bulldog Nation”:
We sat in the Tech Student section on Saturday (on the other side of the band from y’all Section 130 people) and had a great time cheering our Bulldogs, taunting Tech fans, and enjoying the Bulldog home-crowd atmosphere of “Historic” Grant Field.
Well, once the score got to 27-3, the Tech nerds knew they were whipped and as sure as the sunrise, they started with their familiar “You’ll work for us someday” insults, a retort which any high-schooler recognizes as the swan song of a fan who is about to leave in the third quarter because his team is getting mauled on the field.
Anyway, after several catcalls of “How’s that McDonald’s pension plan working out for you?” and “You were too stupid to get into Tech,” my wife decided she had had enough. She asked the obnoxious Tech nerd in front of her if he honestly believed that every Georgia student couldn’t get into Tech. He said yes and she informed him that she had gotten early admission and a scholarship offer from Tech. She decided to go to Georgia anyway.
Then it got interesting. He says, “Well what did you major in?”, expecting to hear about a liberal arts degree. She says, “Chemistry and Molecular Biology.” He says, “What’s that?” She says, “You’re the Tech nerd, shouldn’t you know that?” He says, “Well what do you do now?” She says, “I got my Masters in genetics and now I do research at Emory. My lab is working on developing new ways to induce bacteria to produce human proteins and antibodies, and on developing a cure for Alzheimer’s”
He says, “Well, you’re obviously the exception to the rule.”
She says, “The exception? This is my husband, also a UGA grad. He’s a lawyer at the biggest firm in Atlanta. Standing next to him is our friend, a fellow UGA grad who is now at the top of his class in Medical School. I don’t think any of us will work for McDonald’s any time soon. But we must all be exceptions, right?”
I pipe up, “So what do you major in anyway, nerd?” He says, “Chemical Engineering. I co-op with a company in Dalton.”
I squinted for a closer look in hopes that I had found Doyle Rainey, but alas, it was an entirely different nerd. I said, “So you work on making better Scotch Guard? And you’re hassling us? Way to protect the world from grape juice stains. I’ll tell you what. When you trip and fall and break your leg while running from an “aggressive panhandler” here on your campus, come see my friend the doctor. When your nerd kids are born as genetic mutants, come see my wife for a dose of the proteins they lack. And when you Finally invent that new and improved Scotch Guard, come talk to me. I’ll help you patent your invention and make your company some money by licensing it to other companies. In the meantime, every time my dog pees on the rug, I’ll think of you, working in a lab somewhere for a company run by UGA grads.”
Shortly thereafter, at the start of the fourth quarter, he left as we jingled our keys. The moral of the story is this- Tech nerds can design all the bridges, roads, and buildings they want. It will still take UGA grads to run the state, to finance and develop the projects, and to do business in their buildings when it’s all said and done. We’ll call the Tech nerds again when the HVAC systems they designed foul up.
By Jerry
October 7, 2005 03:11 PM | Link to this
I was at Tech when Bobby Dodd was there.You could look at a schedule and know which games you would win,lose, and those that could go either way. Reality turned out as predicted.Bobby Ross is the only other coach for which that was true.Playing a football game is analgous to taking a math quiz.You study hard,know your opponent,play a good game, put the game away early, and always play with class and integrety. Some opponents,like some math quizzes, you do not pass but that just means that you study harder,suck it up and do that much better on the next one. If you cannot do that in football, then get out of the game. If you cannot do that on a math quiz, then go to UGA.
By NoWhine
October 7, 2005 03:13 PM | Link to this
Dawg Fan PLEEEEZE stick around. I don’t think there’s a Tech fan here that can reply to that.
By NoWhine
October 7, 2005 03:27 PM | Link to this
Dawg Fan. You ran em all off.
By Ga_Tech_92
October 7, 2005 03:37 PM | Link to this
Hello folks -
My opinion of much of this is one which defies logic, which means it defies most of our fundamental thinking. My opinion is this: It starts right here…it starts with us…blaming other people will get us no where.
What do I mean by that? Example: Last night at the game when NCState streaked 80 yards and regained the lead…the seats started to empty…and you could feel the crowd say “oh well we just lost”.
If that is what WE do…why or how should we expect the universe to somehow expect the players to behave any differently?
I don’t think the players gave up. My point is that WE have to be die hard fans. WE have to NEVER give up. It is contagous. I decided to get some positive energy going and started cheering on the boys with a “we can win this thing, drive one time and we win..it’s in our hands..come on boys let’s do it!”…etc. People around me suddenly picked up their spirits a bit too.
Life is contageous…energy is contageous…each of us cannot control how the players play…each of us cannot control how many people show up to the game…but we can each choose to show up and cheer like it means everything to us at that moment. Don’t you think the players subconsciously (or consciously) pick up on that energy? I do…I’ve seen it. Positive energy is contageous, I don’t believe in coinsidences. Example…I went to GSC (College at the time) for three years before going to Tech. At GSC we won the national championship 2 of 3 years. I came to Tech and we became co-national champions (colorado 5th down cough). I have no doubt in my mind that in some small way my refusing to loose and refusing to blame but demanding myself and those around me to GIVE IT HELL AND NOT GIVE UP EVER….works.
try it sometime. Even a half empty stadium with fans going CRAZY is more powerful than a packed one where people are just waiting for the failure to happen.
A ripple in the ocean creates powerful waves miles away.
Now that I’ve said that…
What happened in the game: You aren’t suppose to miss 2 short field goals and win. You aren’t suppose to throw almost every first down and win. But look at the stats, we dominated them in so many ways…it’s the small intangibles that make the difference…attention to details.
I think CJ is AWESOME…that said…yes he should be humble. Modesty and Propriety are the real means to notoriety. He is a man-child…he is going to make mistakes (interviews in this case).
What would I do differently in the game? Run more on first down, but not every time…mix it up is the point…don’t be predictable. Most of all, it seemed to me that we had our best successes when RB rolls out and passes a SHORT PASS to CJ within 4 seconds or less. Our line might be good, I’m not sure, but it didn’t seem like we could just sit back and take time to pass. Who can get to Reggie on the run?…then who can stop CJ from getting 5-10 yards?…not many folks. Also it didn’t seem like we were very accurate with the long ball…just wastes a down to do it more than one or two times a game…wasting a down is often the same as wasting a possession.
DON’T GIVE UP..REFUSE TO LOSE!!
Maybe our coach should go…I’m not certain of that…and I know people are frustrated…but we have what 4 national championships…that’s a lot more than most anyone can say they have…I think we can get a good coach based on our history…and yes…we do have some majors which would allow for less than rocket-scientist ballers to come into the school.
What we can do is RAISE HELL and support our boys win loose or draw….players will respect that…coaches will respect that…and it will all take care of it’s self in time.
*my 2 cents
By Chris
October 7, 2005 03:42 PM | Link to this
Dawg Fan obviously took the creative writing classes at UGA.
The only problem I had with Bradley’s article was the claim that Reggie got boo’d. I didn’t hear any boo’ing.
If we kick those field goals we win that game handily. That’s the bottom line.
By GT4life
October 7, 2005 03:51 PM | Link to this
SteveO, I don’t think anyone is arguing with you that Chan needs to be fired. The only fans on here wanting Gailey to stay are probably UGA fans. I disagree on CJ. He’s our only weapon. The ball was poorly thrown into double coverage, and he was trying to make a play. I agree regarding the cocky halftime interview, and he probably learned a tough lesson last night. He’s still our only great player IMO.
By Greg
October 7, 2005 03:56 PM | Link to this
Alright Dawg Fan… although that should say enough about you already… I am sick and tired of you imbeciles associating your athletes supposed “prowess” on the football field with your superiority in every facet of day to day life. Sure, you had a nerd sitting in front of you. Sure, you’re a lawyer at the “biggest firm in Atlanta.” Sure your friend is “at the top of his class in med school.” All of which are arbitrary (and most probably overstated, in the typical UGAg fashion) qualifications at best. This is where it gets better. You were winning on the football field, and you took a pretty innocent altercation and made someone else’s experience miserable. It wasn’t enough to just say “whatever man… look at the scoreboard and then say something.” You decided to browbeat some guy into submission if for no other reason than to get some odd high. I think that shows severe insecurity, and betrays the fact that you get a lot of crap about being a UGA grad (which you’ve had pent up for a while). I’ll be the first to admit, UGA’s not a school full of dumb farmboys and lazy hippies. It has many quality international-level programs that are reknowned within their respective fields. What UGA also has is a student population full of neo-conservatives and underachieving rich kids. Your alumni base has been in the past and will be successful in the future despite UGA’s less than stellar academic reputation, largely due to connections and networking. You’re objecting to UGA’s easy state school image, which will sadly never change with the kind of “1/30th honors students, 29/30 party students” demographics the student body boasts. Next time you’re sitting in your corner office at your high powered law firm, looking back fondly on your memories of UGA football glory and your times with your friends Teddy Roosevelt, Bill Gates, Andrew Carnegie, Frank Sinatra, Jesus Christ and Wolfgang Mozart, I hope your computer freezes, and your whole great big house of cards comes tumbling down because the tech support guy read your post. Go Tennessee.
By NoWhine
October 7, 2005 03:59 PM | Link to this
GT92, your 2 cents is worth a lot more if the point gets across. Why is it that the fans with the positive attitudes, the ones that can bring about positive change are the least heard. To get good coaches and good players a program has to have GOOD FANS. Can the academic excuse. It doesn’t fly anymore. Just makes one look like, well, losers. Perspective coaches do care what kind of fan base a school possesses. Many are willing to build or rebuild a program, would not for one minute take a job where the fans make excuses and jump on and off the bandwagon as if the program was MARTA. Another thing. Don’t let 15 minutes of fame, i.e. 2 wins over Auburn give a false sense of where a team is at. Tech is a construction project right now, like it or not. And the fans are not doing their part to provide the kind of atmosphere coaches and players need to succeed.
By UGA IV
October 7, 2005 04:14 PM | Link to this
Greg-sounds to me like you are the one with the severe insecurity-get over it and come and fix my computer!
By Ga_Tech_92
October 7, 2005 04:16 PM | Link to this
I haven’t been on the blogs long. Is it normal to not discuss the subject, but instead to banter back and forth with personal insults?
By NoWhine
October 7, 2005 04:26 PM | Link to this
Gets that way sometime 92. People get really emotional sometime and that seems to be when the insults get traded. A little smack is OK from time to time, but some people get real nasty. Mostly when being confronted with facts.
By rico
October 7, 2005 04:26 PM | Link to this
simple math:
good football + good luck = win good football + bad luck = still got a chance to win bad football + good luck = still got a chance to win bad football + bad luck = typical Tech loss
By Ga_Tech_92
October 7, 2005 04:33 PM | Link to this
Loss will cast shadow on Gailey’s future…I agree…but let’s see how the season plays out before we sharpen our axes imho.
Go Jackets!
By Dawg Fan
October 7, 2005 04:39 PM | Link to this
Greggie, Good post- I don’t agree with some of it. As I mentioned at the beginning of my post- it was a ‘story’ passed on by a friend. I’m actually just an actuary. Just trying to stir the pot and get everyone ready for Nov. 26th. Get over it nerd.
By Greg
October 7, 2005 05:06 PM | Link to this
Gotten over it. I’m going to go back to my nerd work (i.e. things you don’t understand) at my nerd school (i.e. grad school at Penn State) and look forward to my trip back to the Dodd for the November date you’ve stirred me up for. Go Tennessee.
By Mark2
October 7, 2005 05:12 PM | Link to this
Greg, good luck with the grad school. But do yourself a favor and don’t get too stirred up about November. Could be another 50 point letdown. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
By Joe
October 7, 2005 05:13 PM | Link to this
“The Dodd?” Is that what you call your arena? Give me a break. How original. Bobby deserves that than that. I’m old enought to remember Coach Dodd. What a class act.
By Greg
October 7, 2005 05:51 PM | Link to this
You’re attacking what I call Georgia Tech’s stadium? You couldn’t possibly be a Tech fan. But just in case you are, I’m sorry. Bobby Dodd was a great coach and humanitarian. You’re right. He did deserve than than that.
By Cotton
October 7, 2005 06:14 PM | Link to this
Ga Tech 3-Game Pack = $425.
(4) Hot Dogs & Cokes at the game = No charge, comes with the tickets.
Giving tickets to a big customer, who’s a NC State fan, and them watching the greatest WR in Tech history bobble the ball for a game winnig touchdown AND getting picked off in the end zone = priceless!
By MikeyMike
October 7, 2005 09:55 PM | Link to this
Give Tenuta the team. Let him find himself an offensive coordinator that can also do all interviews and b*t oneliners at halftime. We need someone in here who can take us back to the Bobby Dodd days. I AM SICK OF LOSING TO GEORGIA!!!!!
By Alum Greg
October 8, 2005 12:18 AM | Link to this
Mark Bradley, your analysis is on target, and you warned Tech of a potential game like this in an earlier season column. Unfortunately, this WAS a signature game for Gailey, his staff, AND his team. You don’t beat this State team with last second heroics…you beat it in Quarters 1,2,3,&4. You beat it with rushing first, then passing, with TDs, and FIELD GOALS. You beat it with steady and consistent defense, including the secondary. You beat it on the line of scrimmage.You play with intensity and you execute. You prove that you’re good and getting better every week. You don’t backslide. You beat the team you’re ‘supposed’ to and favored to beat.
By state fan
October 8, 2005 01:33 AM | Link to this
You lost one. Get on with it.. in the past 5 years NC State has lost 20 games which they could have won and perhaps should have one. The only advantage GT had last night (although a meaningful one) was playing at home. Otherwise, the two teams appear to be about equal on physical talent and lack of killer instinct. CJ is an awesome talent. The catches he made in Raleigh last year were unbelieveable and his play last night was fun to watch - even as a State fan. In the end, he failed to make a play and the defense did their job in assisting his failure. As a State grad living in Atlanta, I sure hope to see great play and success from both teams the rest of the year.
By Football Fan
October 8, 2005 12:51 PM | Link to this
I don’t think most of you people understand football 101. When your QB scrambles for a 1st down on the 2, you don’t use your last time out. You either spike the ball or run a play. When you use your last TO you take away the elemnet of suprise. You lose the ability to call a running play. I don’t blame CJ, everyone in the nation knew who was getting the ball. If you still have a TO left you make the defense respect the run and the pass. Typical Chan Gailey.
By GTPeriod
October 8, 2005 12:56 PM | Link to this
To Dawg fan: I did my undergrad at Tech, and am getting my law degree from UGA. When you make your comments, think about percentages. UGA has 40,000 people and has about the same number of majors. GT has 13,000 students and A LOT less variety of majors. Also, having attended both places, it would be really, really far-fetched to compare the academic quality of the students at UGA with GT. I can say a lot of positives and negatives about both UGA and GT. And I think UGA has a lot of quality students, lots of quality majors, but percentage wise, you have to be realistic.
But of course, somewhere between law classes, medical classes, and genetics classes, percentages had to have been taught. I mean, your wife, the UGA grad and the genetics major, should definitely know something about statistics. Also, if you make comments like “our grads are running the state, financing your projects, etc….� make sure that they are doing a good job. Surely, as a lawyer and UGA grad at the biggest law firm in Atlanta, you’re a good enough lawyer to think about possibilities and issues such as these. And keep in mind, the Tech fans that make those kinds of insults are the same as those Dawg fans who chant “Nerds� at the games and also making other insults. So, clearly, not only are out fans not innocent of that kind of behavior, but your fans are not completely innocent of such behavior either. But who I am telling this to, you’re a lawyer, and you should be sharp enough to realize this as well. Finally, ask the doctor at the top of his class, he probably learned this during one of his psychology classes; the chants that fans of both teams make are healthy actions towards a healthy rivalry.
Regards
By GreenJacket
October 8, 2005 01:01 PM | Link to this
Alum Greg, I think you have hit the nail on the head, since Gailey has been here , we have not seen our football teams improve from Game 1 to the end of the season. Enough said.
By Andrew
October 8, 2005 01:41 PM | Link to this
GT goes to football clinic in Blacksburg, gets their butts handed to them, has a bye to get ready for a team they should beat by three touchdowns and this is what they put out there? The loss wasn’t the players fault - it was THE COACH. Can’t complete a pass with an average QB and an awesome WR? That’s poor preparation and reflects on… THE COACH. Tech should be 5-1 going into Miami - instead they will be lucky if they beat Duke - who looks more like our rival nowadays. I used to really enjoy football season. Now I can’t bear to watch. GT BSM ‘90. Go Braves.
By dennis
October 8, 2005 01:44 PM | Link to this
Hopefully this loss will lead to Chan Gailey not being rehired. Maybe a young, full of zip coach will be recruited. After ruining a young man’s career through a needless injury, losing 9 to 10 players prior to the start of last year due to academics and destroying Bilbo’s career. Its about time!!!
By techaholic
October 8, 2005 03:41 PM | Link to this
Tech CANNOT AFFORD to continue with Chan Gailey. This is not the 70s and 80s when we stayed the course with a coach who wasn’t cutting it.
I don’t know how ANY TECH FAN, could answer this question any other way,
“are we better off now than we were when Coach O’Leary was here?’ … NO, NO, NO!
By RamblinMan
October 8, 2005 06:57 PM | Link to this
I’ll cap off this ridiculus blog with this to note: Football is a team sport and not one individual should be held responsible. The TEAM put themselves in positions to win and lose games. It’s all about how you prepare and play as a TEAM. You morons who blame CJ are ignorant sports fans who have never played a sport in your lives. You people who blame Reggie are even worse.
The key to producing a top 10 team each year is recruiting. Get someone who is good in the living room and you will finally get your wish. It doesn’t matter how strict your academics are. Don’t sit here and tell me that GT doesn’t water down some courses that athletes can take. AND don’t tell me that there all elite athletes are dumb.
If you have to hold someone responsible, then blame the coaches who built and orchestrated this year’s team. Not the collegiate ahtletes who bust their butts day in and day out.
By Stingz
October 8, 2005 07:34 PM | Link to this
Most of us know it’s time for a coaching change but most of us doubt that it will be any time soon. I expect another 1 game over .500 result at best and then perhaps a firing. The players deserve better than what they are getting from Gailey and crew. I can’t imagine any quality football player wanting to play at Tech knowing how uninspiring the leadership is. I’m sorry so many were fooled as I know they must be truly disappointed.
By Zinte
October 9, 2005 12:07 AM | Link to this
To put the loss on Calvin Johnson is as asinine as it is DUMB!! Yes, Johnson SHOULD have probably caught the ball but when Chan inexplicably called a pass play on first/second down w/Daniels in the backfield Chan officially set CJ up to fail. Because of things like this Tech will continue to be a middle of the road 7-4 team. Academics, recruiting and all that other LOSER excuse making will not make anything any better. Tech has ALWAYS had talent and yes the bar has been raised w/the additions of Miami,FSU and VA Tech. If the players were put in the
right situations Tech can/will compete w/ANY of them. Quit blaming/making excuses and simply look in the MIRROR!!
By jp
October 9, 2005 05:42 PM | Link to this
Reading all these comments embarrasses me to be a tech fan. You can’t win them all, but a true fan sticks behind his team always. Go Jackets!!
By mtraininjax
October 10, 2005 02:18 AM | Link to this
Hold the phone, Tech is 3-2, by all this talk you would think we were 0-5. Let the season play out, let’s see if Gailey can win a few more games he should lose. I think we can beat Miami down there. They have not played anyone since Clemson, and that was not a given.
I am no fan of Gailey, and I wish he would have gone last year, but I am willing to have him show me that he can lead Tech to a 9-2, 8-3 season. I think 7-4 is disappointing. We can beat UVA up there, and Clemson at home, what we need to watch for is Duke away and Wake at home. We have the propensity to lose the easy game.
We win at Miami, we are back in the Top 25. We can do it. Have some faith Tech fans. Jump on the bandwagon AFTER the season is over!
By Edtwon
October 10, 2005 10:16 AM | Link to this
mtraininjax, you make a great point I was one of those who were jumping the gun because I believed that we had a shot at the ACC this year, and Thursdays loss killed that. We are 3-2 and have a lot of games that we can win left on the schedule. I’m really not a Gailey fan and wished that he would have been fired after that spike on 3rd down in the Georgia game (I can’t understand that). But there is no way that we have a pre-New Years day bowl again. Seemingly FSU and VT will play in the Championship of course the winner gets a BCS bowl but the loser may also and with that said I expect us to be in the Gator Bowl, your right 7-4 is disappointing.
By GTVegas
October 10, 2005 02:17 PM | Link to this
TO Dawg Fan: Stories and Hearsay (as well as generalizations from both school’s fans) should be discounted for they aren’t worth the time to read without first saying that they are “just a story”. Now, that being said, being an actuary is about as nerdy as it gets if you want to generalize and label. I am a CPA, so I know the label well and, yes, I am a CPA who went to Tech. I am one of those who did actually have a full ride to one of these schools, but picked the other, thinking I wanted to be an engineer. The ironic thing is that I became an accountant and may have gotten a better “accounting education” from the other school. Well, at this point in my life (mid 30’s), I am semi-retired and have had both UGA and Tech greads working for me. Which is better? Neither, each person and school brings about their own qualities, strengths and weaknesses, that have no real basis in where they went to school. As I get older, it becomes much more apparent that the acedemic comparison just isn’t that valid and means even less the further you get out of school. That being said, the athletic competition is fun to banter about, especially when considering that my wife of 14 years was a flag girl on the UGA side of the ball. I acknowledge that UGA is generally a better performing team and she acknowledges that they have a distinct advantage when it comes to recruiting as the average UGA player has a very different basket of majors to choose, whereas the GT player does not and that, on average, the GT players tend to have more difficult acedemic paths that those of the UGA players. There are exception on both sides of the ball, as there are within the greater acedemic community. Don’t forget, these schools were once one and the same. I enjoyed rooting for UGA against UT this past weekend and my wife was sorry to see Tech lose like they did.
As far as GT football, that game falls squarely on Gailey’s back. That last play should never have been anyone’s fault as GT should have won that game from start to finish. Ever notice that Gailey’s biggest wins come when he has a month to prepare. Gailey is a great coach for the first game of the season and for Bowl games. It just looks like this year he might not get the chance at the latter. I have never been a big Gailey fan, not at Dallas or after any of his “big” wins. He needs to go.
By David
October 10, 2005 09:53 PM | Link to this
I have prayed for a couple of years that the team would lose all the games (other than UGA) so that the coach would go ahead and get fired. If he coaches for 20 more years he will average 500. Being a nice guy does not make you a good coach. We have good talent. I will give him some credit for assembling good players but his inability to win with them is proof positive of his need to go. Where has he had a record of winning as a head coach? Please, please, give us someone who will give our players a chance to win. We may not ever be consistently a top ten team but with all of the talent in the state of GA we should be in the top 20 every year.
By David
October 10, 2005 10:13 PM | Link to this
Dawg Fan; Read back through and had to respond. You obviously keep a great deal of the crack you were smoking in Athens. Does anyone on the team have a real major. Criminal justice, general studies and PE aren’t choices for our players.
In the 3 years that my family had season tickets to UGA (BE-before I saw the error of my ways) 82-85 was spent surrounded by toothless rednecks who barked and had a hard time finding their seats because they probably couldn’t read.
I grant you that maybe 2 or 3 people may have escaped who made something of themself.
The people who went to my high school and went on to UGA have been classic underperformers. Please keep the myths coming and we’ll see you on the 26th.
By GB
October 11, 2005 09:24 AM | Link to this
I am not going to say we lost because of the last play. Hey what if we ran the ball against a stacked defense and PJ had fumbled a wet ball. You fence sitters would have said throw the ball to Calvin! I am more concerned with the overall play calling during the entire game (and yes I know we missed two chippies) than I was with the unfortunate pass. NC State was a recipient of an early Christmas present. They are a very poor football team which makes this all the harder to take. Their coach is pathetic and talk about looking like an idiot! Trust me, the talk of keeping him around is not happening either. Ask the Maryland fans if they are happy with Friedgen right now. Bunting had one foot out the door last year at UNC but has survived to date.
Our offensive line is young and Ball has to have the ball in his hands to manuever. Getting rid of the ball quickly is the answer. Gailey’s play calling is trying to do that but it is becoming quite predictable. Prior to the season though GT was behind 5 teams in my opinion (VT,FSU,Miami,BC,Virginia) and we play none of those at home. Let’s be realistic about the season guys. I counted the NC State game as a sure win and it should have been but I am going to give Gailey the full season before I start the fire Gailey chant. Nevertheless I feel he must beat Miami and/or Georgia to keep his job and in the same breath I will say that if he doesn’t beat Duke he will be dismissed the following Monday. I feel Tech will beat Clemson, Duke, and Wake with UVA a tossup. I still feel we will have 7 wins somehow but the play calling had better change. You think Gailey has given a thought to letting someone else call the plays? I didn’t think so………
By Wizard
October 11, 2005 09:59 PM | Link to this
David, feeling a little arrogant? Just remember—it’s been four spankings in a row for UGA against the bugs (11 out of the last 14, if your still counting)!!! GO DAWGS!! WOOF! WOOF!
By David
October 12, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this
Yes Wizard, you may be right. Here recently it has been that way. At least one good thing is that when you UGA fans are depressed over your paychecks your team can lift your spirits a bit.
We’re still going to get your overconfident team on the 26th.
By Jcrumb
October 12, 2005 01:57 PM | Link to this
Jesus, forget about UGA vs. GT in academics. It is too hard to compare the two schools as we are totally different institutions. UGA grads should be “running” the state as they have over twice the student body/connections/liberal arts majors as we do, so congratulations. But if we want to look at numbers: the last time I looked GT was ranked above UGA as an instituion as a whole (top ten public university in the country, UGA: something like 18) and even our business school ranked above UGA’s (US News and World Report) The only reason UGA is starting to become respected as an academic institution is becasue of HOPE. Now anybody can afford to go there, admissions = supply and demand. The more that want to get in (and now can) the harder it will be to get in. But I will still give you UGA grads props, you go to a good school and a know a lot of very successful grads,even some more succesful than myself, its who the man is behind the degree that counts!
As far as football goes, Gailey is done, unless he pulls out a miracle 2nd half of the season, he is done and I will be happy when he goes. This is the best Tech team we’ve had in a while, and we still can’t beat a medicore team at home, pathetic.
By Mo
October 12, 2005 04:56 PM | Link to this
Georgia tech fans are totally sold on being a better academic institution than Georgia. However, I will prove to you now Georgia is not only better in the football field but also a better academic institution. By looking at US NEWS ranking among public schools, GT is 12 and GA is 19, it is obvious that both schools are highly ranked and GT is higher, guess why? Not because GT has better students or better professors as you probably think. When it comes to ranking, schools with medical and engineering schools get many points and highly boast the ranking mainly because they get a lot of funding and higher SAT. Yes grants and funding are very important. GT ranking is very disappointing because they have the major Engineering school in the state of GA and they are only 7 spots a head of GA. on the other hand UGA is 3 times bigger than GT and they don’t have a medical or “complete” Engineering school( GA is establishing an Eng. school, its just 3 years old) If UGA has a medical or an Engineering school, UGA will definitely be top 5 and a head of GT.one more thing UGA has the best science program in the state of GA (Biochemistry, molecular biology, Microbiology, genetics, Botany Ecology, cell biology, biotechnology, food science, chemistry …). GT is not even close. English is my third language so I apologize for misspelling or grammar mistakes
By David
October 12, 2005 08:14 PM | Link to this
I guess with your logic you guys should spot us points in sports contests since there are so many more students who could potentially be part of the team.
Also, if I were 7 feet tall I could be a great basketball player. It’s just not fair that I am not 7 feet tall.
Miss State has a “complete” engineering program. I believe you guys are ahead of them because you are a better school.
Relax, it’s okay to be the second best state academic school. GA public universities are much better than most of the neighboring states (NC excluded).
Maybe you could also spot our teams some points for not being able to major in bogus majors. The “least” difficult degree than you can major in is business, and it ranks better than UGA.
See you guys on the 26th. I’ll be the really tall guy at the stadium. You can’t miss me.
By wes
October 13, 2005 02:18 PM | Link to this
I was making fun of one of the UGA player’s majors during the UT-UGA game. He was majoring in Sports Studies. Little did I know there was a UGA graduate in the room with me who had that very same diploma. Whoops! Sorry buddy!
By Outsider
October 14, 2005 03:09 PM | Link to this
Having attended a west coast college that never played ACC or SEC teams I do have some unbiased Tech perspective. As a huge fan of the game I watched the Thusday night game. ONE play does not make a game. Everybody knows that. Living in ATL I follow GT and UGA, love neither but love football.
Tech needs a coaching change to breath some new wind in the players and fans sails. Tech was in the top 25! fans should be going nuts!! The Home games should be a tough ticket, not begging for fans. Future recruits see this lack of enthusiasm and don’t see much with the exception of a national Thus night TV audience once or twice a year. With UGA, AU, Bama, UF, FSU, UT, SC, Clem, etc. driving distance Tech has major recruiting competition. If you were a recruit - look at the list where do you rank GT. A coach that can excite existing players, fans, alums and recruits. Make this an top choice. “I want UGA, GT or FSU” not “I want Vandy, GT or NCST” A coach is needed that will spark excitement - Fridge at Maryland, Meyer at UF, and (sorry) Ritch at UGA. Fans, players, recuits can all believe in. That positive energy will snowball. Chan is a nice guy - but he had had his chance. Time for the program to go to the next level.
By David
October 14, 2005 09:54 PM | Link to this
Went to UGA and GT school websites and looked up many of starting players for both schools. UGA had majority majoring in Sports Studies. GT’s was split between Engineering and Management.
I guess those UGA players will dominate trivia day on Sports Talk when they graduate. Who was the UGA quarterback in 1983? Who holds the GT single game rushing record? Are these the types of test questions you have as a Sports Studies Major? “The fifth caller with the right answer wins the free wing certificate at Hooters.”
Someone email Chan a mapquest….to somewhere out of Atlanta. Or do the UT fan move and send a moving van to his house like they did to Johnny Majors. Come on Mr. Brain(E). Perhaps the need for the “E” is part of the problem.
Richt will always lose the key game. He is too nice. The great coaches aren’t as nice as he is. He will perpetually lose a couple every year. Good, but not 1980 again for those longing Dog fans. I’m just trying to use that math from college to calculate whether 1980 or 1990 is closer to the current date. Quarter century. BUZZ!