AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > September > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOvermatched Troy never quit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
These Trojans came without enough horses, but they brought one helluva band. Now, to get back to football, it must be said that the men of Troy University, sandwiching Georgia Tech in between Florida State and Nebraska, found that the Yellow Jackets were not exactly their kind of meat. But it took awhile before the bumbling hosts brought about enough offensive muscle to lessen the discomfort of the occupants of the pews at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Matter of fact, the Trojans made an issue out of it into the fourth quarter. You check the score and you might get the impression that it was a rout. The truth is, going into the final quarter, the score was tied 14-14 and those gourmands who feed on upsets were rubbing their hands with glee. But not for long. On the third play, fourth-and-1 and a yard away from the end zone, Reggie Ball flipped a short pass for the man who usually blocks for him, fullback Mike Cox, and you could almost hear a huge sigh of relief rise above this arena, or at least the nervous Georgia Tech devotees among the 45,637.
The margin would expand to 35-20, but as the shadows fell across this hallowed old corner of North Avenue and Techwood, Chan Gailey was holding auditions once he got comfortable. The Trojans had come to town with their six-shooters armed and ready. After all, once you have spent a Saturday night in Tallahassee as the intended appetizer, why should a sunshiney afternoon in highly civilized Atlanta unnerve you?
The Trojans had little chance to exercise their bravado early on. Ball cranked up the offense early, and by the time he directed another one of those reverses, with Rashaun Grant circling addled Trojans on a 26-yard haul into the end zone untouched, Troy had managed to get off only two offensive series. Tech made it 14-0 in the second quarter, and this was beginning to look easy.
But not so fast, my friend, as the coach-turned-pundit Lee Corso is wont to say. Omar Haugabook, the Trojans’ quarterback, finally got some air in the ball and by halftime cut the margin to 14-7. And the rest, by this time, is history.
It had been the guess of many, I’d suppose, that any team that could hold Florida State to 45 yards afoot might be a serious problem to solve. And in ways they were.
Get this: Can you imagine a team holding Calvin Johnson to 9 yards on two catches and losing and Tech wins? Can you imagine that the same Ball you saw against Notre Dame would set an all-time Tech record for rushing quarterbacks, 130 yards against Gary Hardie’s 122 yards against Tulane in 1977?
And if you were waiting for Tashard Choice to move into P.J. Daniels’ vacated shoes, this would be the day. He doesn’t have Daniels’ bullish power, but give him some daylight and he’ll give you some yards.
With the lead in hand, Gailey began testing the depth of this crop. Several fresh and unsullied uniforms began to appear on the field, and some of these names might be filed away for future reference.
Greg Smith, a freshman, caught a couple of passes. Jamaal Evans, another freshman, picked up 40 yards after Choice took a rest. Another freshman who isn’t even in the book, Tyler Evans, got considerable action on special teams. He was a late walk-on from Kennesaw. And junior Gary Guyton intercepted a pass, and on it went.
But say this for the Trojans: They never quit. Once they saw an opening they still were landing punches. Say this, most of us were expecting something tough and ugly. Troy probably expected its chances were limited against a team that lost to Notre Dame by only four points, but you’ll never find out until you throw everything you’ve got at ‘em.
And if anybody was keeping score in the band division, the Trojans, silver helmets glistening under the sun, won in a wipeout. Unfortunately for Troy, score is kept only on the grass.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher, Tech / ACC
Comments
By GTeeGSUmbaUGAjd
September 16, 2006 08:10 PM | Link to this
When will you die you bitter old man???
I was there and despite your recap of the situation, the game was not nearly as close as you make it out to be.
There was another CRAPPY unnecessary roughness call on Tech that allowed Troy to score that was no where near like the hit Trent Green took last week. I guess we should start playing 2 hand touch when quaterbacks decide to run upfield.
Then there was a fluke interception in the end zone when the ball bounced off Calvin’s hand ( I know hard to believe that a ball hit his hands and he didn’t catch it). SOOOO realistically, outside of those 2 plays keeping lowly TROY in the game, this was not really a contest.
The Jackets took care of business and put another W in the score books while playing their reserves.
By jabba17
September 16, 2006 08:50 PM | Link to this
Knock it off GT-GSU-UGA. There are plenty of columnists in this fishwrap factory that are worthy of your vitriol, and Bisher is NOT one of them.
Basically, Troy played three good quarters and then ran out of gas after the Budweiser song (which, I know, is not one of Bisher’s favorites :) ). There was that INT in the end zone, that should have been a pass interference call (not to mention assorted other questionable calls).
Good game, good opponent, couldn’t go the distance, glad we won.
By Nikko
September 16, 2006 09:14 PM | Link to this
Uhh…Bobby Dodd Stadium is at the corner of North Ave and Techwood Dr. Tenth St. is all the way on the other side of campus.
By Chuck
September 16, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this
Why the hell did you write an article about Troy? Hello??????????? I thought this was GEORGIA… meaning we should focus on the falcons, GT and UGA.
By Ty
September 16, 2006 11:56 PM | Link to this
GT ‘blah’ ‘blah’ ‘blah’….(what kind of name did you think of?!?!)…. Bisher is a ‘class act’ who has supported all the programs for YEARS (back to Dodd)… wait until the hangover is gone before firing garbage like that! (thanks ‘jabba’ for the defense).
Nikko…WHAT are you talking about?!?! (the only reference I found to 10th street was YOURS!)
Chuck …. I realize that the AJC has so few real ‘writers’ that you may not recognize one…..
Mr. Bisher … Please don’t let the ‘riff-raff’ dim your day…you are the BEST the AJC has (and has had for a LONG time!!)
By chuck
September 17, 2006 12:34 AM | Link to this
So, we now know that Bisher disguises himself as “Ty” in order to comment on his own articles!
By Clay
September 17, 2006 01:06 AM | Link to this
So, I was there too and yes, it was that close. It was a lot closer than it should have been and Troy showed that it is a rising lower tier team in Div-1.
Yeah, some questionable, very questionable calls were made, but crap happens and we have to play through that. I think if you have watched enough college football you should know that.
Helluva game Troy. Keep workin hard and thanks for the wake up scare. Maybe this will be the game to a slacker opponent that we almost lost instead of losing to an easy win. This is the best team Tech has had since ‘99 and it is time that we walk with our heads high.
By WFC
September 17, 2006 04:15 AM | Link to this
Well, I guess someone will comment that Furman Bisher is also using the pseudonym “WFC” but here goes. Bisher is one of the insightful “class acts” in sports writing and has been for 40 years. Thanks Furman for hundreds of thoughtful columns. Now for the game: GT did what it needed to do: win. Troy is a talented team that simply lacks depth. The bottom line is that GT’S win was much more solid than FSU’s so I’m not complaining.
By potvox
September 17, 2006 05:17 AM | Link to this
Yeah, great article… But Bish, I’m still mad about a comment you made about Tech 25+ years ago that I overheard my uncle compaining to my dad about…Jerk.
By GTeeGSUmbaUGAjd
September 17, 2006 06:49 AM | Link to this
My apoligies regarding my first comment - just think that a local reporter should be focusing on the local team not the visiting team.
I too have enjoyed your columns for years, keep up the good work. I now retire from the blogging :)
By GTeeGSUmbaUGAjd
September 17, 2006 07:10 AM | Link to this
BTW - In case anyone cares
I meant no ill will to Mr. Bisher in my post it was merely a figure of speech that I picked up in some movie a long time ago. So take it that way when you read it.
By TechFan
September 17, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher your column is the one that I look forward to out of the entire sports staff at the AJC.
Tech did what they needed to do and that is win the ballgame. Bring on the ACC!
By wes
September 17, 2006 09:02 AM | Link to this
That first remark is one reason why I really try to stay off of these blogs.
It has been suggested that blogs represent the lowest form of human communication. I now, whole-heartedly agree.
Awful 1st comment.
By whoa
September 17, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this
GTee please dont blog anymore. That old mans son went to tech and died young he loves tech and is a very wise and kind gentleman. Dont ever wish for death you may not like what you get.
By sam
September 17, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this
I was at the game and watch a Troy team that stay with a top ten team for 3.5 quaters. Last week,ad can stay with alot Div. 1. Playing team with a different type of offense is very hard ask FSU. The calls in the game could have been better both ways. I want Tech to uses C.J more but the other teams know that,and tech has to find three or four weapons like a fullback and a tight end to help C.J. I would like a eight to nine win season. I am looking at 7wins to 8 wins. The offence is trying to find more players. The prob.is the not so special team.The average start on kick off is 35 are better this need to stop.
By GTVegas
September 17, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this
No doubt that FB is a class act, but he is also a class act with clear leanings eastward from his Atlanta Metro home. Does he cheer for the Jackets, no, he just covers the game because it is close to home and UGA is not playing a big name.
I, too, am disappointed that most of his writings with respect to Tech are not written with the same approach or attitude than those about UGA. But, after 40 years, why should we expect any less.
He covers GT because it’s in his back yard. He covers UGA because that is his true passion. Once that is understood, read his articles about GT for what they are, an attempt at an honest opinion from a UGA fan. I have nothing against FB, I have adjusted and formed my expectations of his writing over the last 20+ years I have been reading his writings.
By Not Disappointed
September 17, 2006 01:47 PM | Link to this
Troy played a good game, but Ball made some great plays. As usual the defense adjust. It’s was a good game and a W in the books. “Go Jackets!”
By Old Dawg 55
September 17, 2006 05:42 PM | Link to this
I am appalled at some of the comments directed to Furman Bisher!! I’ve been a reader/admirer for over fifty years and have always found him to an honest critic and an insightful admirer. I feel like he gives both GT and UGA a fair shake..probably because Coach Dodd would ave spanked him had he not! He and Jesse Outlar gave us years of great reporting and commentary…Bish still does! Selah!
By Troy Mom (and Double Dawg)
September 17, 2006 06:10 PM | Link to this
Thanks to FB for the kind comments about the Troy Sound of the South band - which, I note, no blogger can deny blew Ga Tech Band’s socks off!! At the stadium, at dinner and at the MARTA station, every Tech fan that saw our Troy shirts was gracious about the football team and praised our band. Much better manners than the Tech fans posting on this page! Gave this UGA grad warm fuzzy feelings for Tech.
By jabba17
September 17, 2006 09:54 PM | Link to this
I remember seeing my dad’s nicotine-stained sports section 35 years ago, and seeing Bisher’s big ol’ byline in the balloon letters. I knew he was something special back then and still do today.
I had the opportunity to meet him, in person, at a fraternity conference in Chapel Hill a few years ago. I thanked him for everything he ever wrote about Tech, even when I didn’t like it, because I always knew he was either dead-on right—or I could disagree with him as a gentleman, as that is how he always put forth his opinions for the reader.
No politicking on the sports page, no cheerleading by cutting down the Other Team, no stirring the pot for the heck of it. If I was ever angry after reading a Bisher column, it was always due to the subject matter and not Bisher’s treatment of it.
It is my hope that the rest of the sports staff at the AJC learn something from “the dean of sports writers”.
By Island Dawg
September 18, 2006 01:50 AM | Link to this
With the current state of the ACC (congrats on actually winning an OOC game) GT is looking damn good to run the conference table. Wish y’all the best until your visit to Athens. As much as my “compatriots” hate Reg I’d love to see him walk out with a ring of some sort after 4 years of solid work.
By Island Dawg
September 18, 2006 02:19 AM | Link to this
Besides Champs or Humanitarian that is, no offense intended.