AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > December > 31 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMood of season rides on bowl win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Talk about a must-win game. It’s in Jacksonville Monday for Georgia Tech’s reeling football team against West Virginia during the Gator Bowl. Anything less than a Yellow Jackets victory would turn an already messy season into something just shy of unfathomable.
How unfathomable? Well, Chan Gailey would complete the journey from previously beleaguered coach who discovered magic during the start of his fifth season at Tech to suddenly beleaguered coach whose Jackets did all sorts of destructive things to turn prosperity before Halloween into poverty after Thanksgiving Day.
Consider this: With a loss, Tech would finish with a three-game losing streak after climbing as high as 13th in the October polls of the Associated Press, USA Today/Coaches and Harris. The Jackets’ rise in national consciousness was punctuated by a rare whipping of traditional power Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Just like that, Georgia Tech had the ACC’s brightest future, but then the clouds gathered around the Jackets in a hurry.
In no particular order, there was another disaster against the Bulldogs, and there was that meltdown against Wake Forest in the ACC championship game. The Jackets also looked scared in Death Valley against Clemson. Plus, even though they roared to a five-game winning streak after losing their opener at home to Notre Dame, the question remains: Why did the Jackets stop throwing to the great Calvin Johnson during the second half against the gasping Irish?
Not only that, members of Tech’s coaching and athletics support staffs twiddled their thumbs or something as Reggie Ball, their starting quarterback, and Kenny Scott, their best cover cornerback, became academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl.
The thing is, the Jackets can turn these negatives into a positive, but they have to do something first.
Win.
Like now.
And then Tech would have to win again during its next game in South Bend, Ind., to start the 2007 season.
Listen to Tashard Choice, Tech’s efficient running back, who knows exactly how to push his team back in the vicinity of the elite. It starts with the acknowledgement by Choice and the rest of the Jackets that this game against the famously swift legs of 13th-ranked West Virginia is big.
“I think it’s really big,” said Choice, the ACC’s leading rusher after averaging more than 100 yards per game. “Winning this game by beating West Virginia only will get us thinking about starting out next season with that big game at Notre Dame. That’s going to be huge. We’re going to start looking at Notre Dame really early. But first we have to win this game, and then start going into the offseason conditioning program, and then start preparing for the summer, and then the clock really starts ticking.”
The Jackets’ clock struck midnight last season after they were clobbered by a mediocre Utah bunch in something called the Emerald Bowl.
Still, Tech used that as motivation to set the foundation for much goodness this season.
You had Choice’s wonderful season, for instance. Then there was Durant Brooks punting his way to second-time All-America honors. The defense continued as a consistent force through the brilliant schemes of Jon Tenuta and more than a few gifted athletes. Johnson also was Johnson, which is to say he was otherworldly. If that wasn’t enough, Tech’s recruiting was its best in years. According to rivals.com, the Jackets’ recruiting should finish second or third in the conference and among the nation’s top 15.
None of that will matter if Tech doesn’t do what it has to do Monday. Said Choice, nodding, “We talk about this all the time, and that is, you always want to end your last game with a win.”
In this case, the Jackets HAVE to end their last game with a win.
Permalink | Comments (36) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
Comments
By GreenJacket
December 31, 2006 06:33 PM | Link to this
Winning this game would put Tech in the Final 25 poll, something Gailey has been unable to do since taking over a program that O’Leary was doing regularly. I will give Gailey and Tech credit for not blowing a game to a mediocre team as in the past but decent offensive coaching would have brought wins vs. Notre Dame, UGA, and Wake. I also have to tip my hat to the UGA coaching this year especially vs. VT last night ( players too, they never gave up ). Happy New Year to all !!
By Elijah
December 31, 2006 08:20 PM | Link to this
I play college football online on the playstation 2. I was playing a game the other night against a guy who chose West Virginia. We chatted after the game, and he said he was sorry that Reggie cant play, but he said he still thought that it would be a good game. I told him, “You don’t understand, everyone around here is glad he can’t play.” I think that we have a better shot without Reggie. He is to short to be a pocket passer, and to slow to be a running threat. Brady Quinn had better looking runs this year than reggie even before Reggie’s injuries. I saw somewhere that reggie runs a 4-3 or 4-4. That is bull, he ain’t got near the brake away of hamilton.
By Rick
December 31, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this
I play college football online…
Elijah, that is hilarious! ROTF!
By LongBeachJacket
December 31, 2006 09:06 PM | Link to this
Terence. Your assessment is sober and lucid. As you correctly surmise - winning cures many ills. A win tomorrow would be a good start. Tashard Choice seems to be asserting himself as a leader. Says the right things and has delivered a performance this year that puts the walk behind his talk - both solid. Hope for a victory tomorrow against a tough opponent. Highly confident that defense will be there; hope the offense can do their part. Would be a nice change of recent status quo.
By Greg
December 31, 2006 09:17 PM | Link to this
Samford, Troy, UVA, at VT, Maryland, Miami, at NC State, at UNC, Duke…those are Tech 9 victims.
Troy(who no decent BCS team should lose to at home), VT and Maryland(average, at best - Purdue is awful) are the only ones of those 9 who have a winning record…Miami “might” end up at 7-6.
So, Chan Gailey’s “magic” consisted of one upset in Blacksburg. He’s lost every other game this year against quality competition.
By randy
December 31, 2006 09:21 PM | Link to this
sorry, tech loses to wv! tech is not a football school!
By Bear Fan
December 31, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this
Please wait until signing day has passed then fire Chan’s lame a*!~
He is making me sick! Can Nix as well!
By Jon
December 31, 2006 09:41 PM | Link to this
Tech”s Gailey to be named Falcons New HEAD coach on Wed. Am. press conference per ESPN radio. Good catch for the falcons. This is not a drill!
By Kay
December 31, 2006 09:45 PM | Link to this
I second what “Bear Fan” wrote!!!!
By TONY TAYLOR
December 31, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this
Thanks YECH for the memories and that gift i got in the pile called a football. Too bad mr. ball cant hold on to the ball!
By Senior Citizen
January 1, 2007 06:51 AM | Link to this
Gaily has shown that he not competent to insure the success of his students in the classroom, either. In fact, he disclaimed any responsibility for this for the senior class, according to the AJC. The Athletic Association and the School spend too much money on the students for this to be acceptable. He expects the seniors to be totally responsible for their grades. So,how’s this working for you Chan? This attitude also accounts for the sanctions that were imposed by the NCAA on the athletic program at Tech.
By spike
January 1, 2007 09:17 AM | Link to this
Tech fans… You know deep down for once Terence is right. And you also know deep down Tech is going to lose this game.
By Texas Wreck
January 1, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
I agree that the game is important, but I disagree with the comment that the coaches are responsible for 3 ineligible players. Each one of those young men had control of their own class work. There are tutors available just for the asking. The athletic department asks them all straight up how they are doing, and they can ask for help. The only person responsible for their academic success is the men themselves. Bailing them out, or scape goating the coaches is not right. They alone are responsible….take this from some one who learned this same lesson at Tech. No excuses, accept it.
By Southga
January 1, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Oh, now it is the coaches fault if a senior flunks out. Sounds like something Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would say. Now there is some brain trust for you.
By orangejacket
January 1, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
What a New Years’ present! GT victory. Vols kick a$$ Chan with the Falcons, Mora with Alabamastan. Tech signs Mike Shula. The reign of King Reggie is over. Hallelueah! The King is dead! Long live the King!
Only thing better would be for TheMan to blocked from any post other than UGA.
By vetteDAWG
January 1, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
North Ave. Trade School / Red-Headed Step Child of the state of GEORGIA.
Pathetic football school in a Pathetic football league. ACC ( AnyOne Can Contend ).
Reggie / Calvin & the rest of the bee’s seniors - NBG = NEVER BEAT GEORGIA.
Please, give Gailey ANOTHER 5 year extention on his contract.
WEST VIRGINIA 30 - bee’s 10.
By Ga_Tech_92
January 1, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
WVA is the favorite in this game. GT is the underdog. Those two statements cannot combine to equal “this means Tech must win or it has failed this season.” WVA is supposed to win. If GT wins, it’s called “an upset”….you are not being realistic if you “require an upset” for acceptance. Upsets are, by design, not likely to happen. GT can win and I hope GT will win. But to say the season is a failure if they do not UPSET the other team is just silly. If you are just being a blind homer and think GT can win every game, regardless of pointspreads……that’s great, but that’s not what you’re doing. What your doing is setting up GT to fail. GT has a chance to pull an upset in a bowl. The underdog can never really be called a failure for loosing a game they are “supposed” to loose. Let’s hope GT shocks the world, but the entire season is NOT wrapped up in this one game.
A point about grades at GT. GT, I can assure you, has every support system you could ask for. The school is not in business to pass kids just so they can play football (Jan Kemp). We at GT do not want ANYONE to graduate who has not earned it. If you don’t have the brains and the work ethic, you will not have an easy road. Sometimes you might even have to miss a football game, horror of horrors……I think it’s called “life”. If football was more important than education at GT, then the guys would be playing today. It is a complement to every graduate to never ever just let guys slide so they can play (Jim H.).
By vetteDAWG
January 1, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
Why do ALL you bee fan’s keep bringing up Jan Kemp ??? That is in the past, let’s live in the present - The bee’s are the one’s who are not passing their grades & The bee’s are the one’s ON PROBATION ————
By FlackJacket
January 1, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
Even with all of the talent at Tech, you can’t overcome idiocy at the HC position. This is going to be a blow out.
What puzzles me is how we seem to be able to recruit so well. Is Chan the reason we have such a great class coming in next year? Too hard to believe!
By Barry
January 1, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
What is the over/under on the number of non-qualifiers the dumb dawgs will sign this year? 4 to 6 seems to be the standard…and, please, do not allow Dog players to be interviewed during broadcast…it is an embarrassment to the state of Georgia primary education system…but, I guess, it should be expected as we currently rank ahead of Arkansas and Mississippi in intellectual capital coming out of our high schools in Georgia.
By ben
January 1, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
I too think that Gailey sucks, but let’s not put O’Leary on too high of a horse. Once Friedgen left, the team fell apart and there was the academic scandal. We just liked O’Leary’s toughness as opposed to Gailey’s passiveness.
By D'Marcus Jackson (Kappa Alpha--UGA)
January 1, 2007 02:38 PM | Link to this
It’s almost halftime of the Gator Bowl…..
REGGIE WHO????????
By UGA - the Cesspool of the South
January 1, 2007 04:55 PM | Link to this
The Legend Lives - Tech Still Sucks. We lost as usual. CHAN MUST GO once and for all!
By UGA - the Cesspool of the South
January 1, 2007 04:59 PM | Link to this
When the game is close - Chan ALWAYS gets outcoached!!
By UGA - the Cesspool of the South
January 1, 2007 05:14 PM | Link to this
Typical Tech and Chan - get us all excited then LOSE!!
By UGA - the Cesspool of the South
January 1, 2007 05:22 PM | Link to this
Are we not the born losers of sports? UGA is down 18 and comes back to win. We are up 18 and do everything to lose - and we do!!!
By Dawghata
January 1, 2007 05:43 PM | Link to this
Another tough one to swallow as a Tech fan. However, it does make me feel a lot better about next season knowing TB is a good leader and more accurate passer than Reggie ever dreamed. Calvin, if you’re reading this, think what good things can happen in your Sr. year with a accurtate QB, good RB and O-line, and majority of your defense coming back. Start our year off right and get that degree that mom and pop want you to…you got the rest of your life to make money!!!
By noel malone
January 1, 2007 05:55 PM | Link to this
Its hard to feel good about this past season. Although Tech won nine games - somehow - these wins were overshadowed by the five losses. How does a very good defense give up 38 points? There is good news - Ball is gone and Bennett looks like he can be a very capable QB.
Now let’s see if the basketball team can win 20 games and do well in the NCAA tourney.
By UGA - the Cesspool of the South
January 1, 2007 05:56 PM | Link to this
Feel a lot better? You just don’t get it. Feeling a lot better will not solve our coching woes. He needs to go. The same will happen, year, after year, after year….. Don’t you get it yet? How many more years of Chan do you need to figure it out Dawghata!?
By Navigator
January 1, 2007 06:04 PM | Link to this
First, what was a flunk out player (Ball) doing on the side lines. Second, Bennett did what almost everyone thought he could. Third, where was the defense, again was there some sabotage going on by some of the defensive players (in support of Ball). Lastly, Gailey is not a leader, and could not influence his players to pick it up in the second half. Gailey also got the tight butt, and shut down the passing game (throwing on first down). Hey AD, are you a man, are you going to stand up and do something about this embarrassment of a coach?
By retired engineer
January 1, 2007 06:25 PM | Link to this
wet dog, why you so mean?
By Dawghata
January 1, 2007 06:26 PM | Link to this
I hear you, Cesspool, and would like to see consistently better coaching decisions (ex: correct QB). However, Nix and Gailey I feel called a pretty strong game, especially with the aggressive moves to start the second half. CG will probably stay another year, so why not think optimistically and see what we have coming back, coming in, and look forward to a superior 07 season!
By UGA - the Cesspool of the South
January 1, 2007 06:26 PM | Link to this
We got 9 wins this year - and not the usual 7 - only becuase we played 14 games! As far as I see it - it was another typical Chan 7-win year!!! Why is he still the coach????
By spike
January 1, 2007 06:29 PM | Link to this
Hey Just Me… You guys CHOKED!!!
By UGA - the Cesspool of the South
January 1, 2007 06:34 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe Tech paid to accomodate Reggie in Florida? What signals are we sending? We are an academic institution that shows off our ineligible athletes? This is strange, I agree.
By The Grinch
January 1, 2007 06:56 PM | Link to this
The good news for you guys is you’ve finally got a quarterback who doesn’t appear to suck. Bad news is you lost, and they didn’t even play Slaton in the second half. Tsk, tsk. However, congrats to Choice and Johnson on good individual performances. Go Dawgs!