AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > August > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTech needn’t worry about old ghosts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
The myth of Touchdown Jesus and its resurrection power over Notre Dame football continues. This is splendid news for Georgia Tech, because the Yellow Jackets are 26 days from opening their season at the site of the most overrated home-field advantage in sports.
That’s right. The Gipper, Leahy and the rest left the Notre Dame campus for parts unknown soon after they helped the Fighting Irish slay Charlie Ward’s explosive Florida State bunch 14 years ago.
“It should be a great advantage for Notre Dame, because you’ve got the pep rally before every home game,” said Lou Holtz, the old coach, speaking over his cellphone with his famous lisp. Added Holtz, who ranks in Irish lore between the Four Horsemen and Ara Parseghian, “You have the walk from the church with thousands of people lining the way. You have the band playing the Victory March. You have enthusiasm everywhere. But you’re right: It’s not a great advantage.”
No, it’s not. Take it from me, a South Bend, Ind., native who saw more than a few Notre Dame ghosts push the Irish to improbable victories in the shadow of the Golden Dome. Those ghosts were exorcised in the 1990s around the time lowly Stanford surged to victory at Notre Dame Stadium after a ridiculous deficit. The late Bill Walsh, in his second stint as Cardinal head coach, displayed his noted sarcasm during his postgame remarks by saying, “Gosh, just to think I may have used the same toilet as Knute Rockne.”
There also was that implosion at home against Tennessee when Notre Dame blew another mighty lead. While trying to spoil Tennessee’s upset in the final seconds, Notre Dame’s walk-on kicker became the anti-Rudy. He drilled his short field-goal try into the butt of a Tennessee player.
Then there was No. 1-ranked Notre Dame sprinting toward a second national championship in three years, but visiting Penn State shocked Notre Dame in the final seconds. That was three seasons before the Irish’s infamous home loss in 1993 to Boston College. The week before, Notre Dame was heading for another national championship after surviving Ward’s No.1-ranked Seminoles. Then Boston College kicked the game-winner at the end in the direction of Touchdown Jesus.
We’re still in the 1990s. You had the Northwestern stunner, and the BYU stunner, and the Air Force stunner.
Then came the 21st century with Michigan State (as opposed to, say, Michigan) whipping Notre Dame in South Bend five straight times. There also was Southern Cal’s fourth-and-forever miracle and Reggie Bush’s dubious shove of Matt Leinart into the end zone to keep Notre Dame mostly a wannabe in monster games at home.
I mean, what in the name of Gerry Faust is going on here?
“The other team is very excited to play against Notre Dame, and they are going to play their very best at Notre Dame,” said Holtz, who countered by telling his Irish players: “There are very few things that would motivate me more than to play against Notre Dame, except one thing. To be able to play for Notre Dame.”
Still, Notre Dame Stadium remains a friendlier place than you think for visiting teams. It’s the noise. There is little of it when the game isn’t bigger than big. The Notre Dame students are always loud and loyal. It’s just that there only are about 6,000 of them at home games. That leaves more than 74,000 of everybody else.
“You have so many people who come to Notre Dame games for the first time,” Holtz said. “And they’re going, ‘Wow. There’s Touchdown Jesus. Look. That’s where Rockne walked. Wow. That’s the end zone that Pat Terrell knocked the pass down against Miami.’ They’re just in awe. They’re observing, but they aren’t fans, which comes from the word ‘fanatic.’ It’s not like traveling to LSU, for instance.”
Or Bobby Dodd Stadium, which was rocking on its foundation for last year’s Notre Dame game.
So all of this is a huge advantage for an already solid Tech team. That is, if the Jackets remember like everybody else visiting Notre Dame these days that the Gipper really is dead.
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By GTarmchairQB
August 5, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Notre Dame is similar to GT. Lots of legacy. But too academic to be a real contender in modern day college FB (reference LSU bowl game 2006).
GT vs. ND 2007 will be close Terrance.
GT 24 ND 21
By stinGTime
August 5, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
ND…the first to feel the sting!
By Georgia Tech=JOKE
August 5, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this
“Notre Dame is similar to GT. Lots of legacy.”
That’s a knee slapper. ND has a legacy of great football and great academics. Georgia Tech has a legacy of mediocre football and using their supposed academic superiority as an excuse. I don’t hear Domers crying like babies about how their academics prevent them from being great in football. You Techies could learn a few things from them.
By RIP
August 5, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
If TECH can throw the ball, they should win. The run game is not an issue. By the way FSU would have had a better chance if they would have played Dunn that game instead of Jackson(That was the last game Jackson started that year).
By oasis
August 5, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
Nice column but not entirely accurate. The field goal against Tennessee went off the butt of Tennessee’s Jeremy Lincoln who was diving to block the kick and actually overran it. Lincoln later thanked his mother for his big butt.
By JustMe
August 5, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
GA Tech and ND have a lot in common with their football history.
This year, I hope Tech comes out on top. Winning this game will give the team the confidence that’ll carry them far in the season.
It will be up to the coaches to put the players in the right mind set regarding an away game.
By rudyswallows
August 5, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
I agree with you Terence. Notre Dame is one of the most overrated places when it comes to home field advantage. Touchdown Jesus is a MYTH.
Georgia Tech will win because they have a stingy defense with Wheeler leading the way and the offense will stomp Notre Dame with Tashard Choice at the helm.
By Georgia Tech = Jokes on "you"
August 5, 2007 11:27 PM | Link to this
Hey! “GT=Joke” When they name the top trophy in football (that would be The Heisman trophy) after Vince Dooley or Ray Goff then maybe you will have reason to laugh. Till then you can only hope for a little tradition. Oh that’s right..you do have the hedges so your dog will have something to pee on. Still dreaming of another 3 National Championships so you can catch up with GT’s tradition? Don’t worry…you will never be “good enough”. What’s it been now? 27 years since the mutts were lucky enough to play a sorry Notre Dame and “back into” their only football national championship. How sorry is Georgia football? You had Herschel Walker for 3 years and could “back into” just one National Championship. Now that is what I call underacheiving traditional Ga. Bulldog style. I believe that should be: “Ga. Bulldog tradition” = HILARIOUS
By Bob
August 5, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
Quote: “I don’t hear Domers crying like babies about how their academics prevent them from being great in football.”
Then you must have missed the previous comments a few years ago of former Notre Dame Heisman winner and NFL Hall of Famer Paul Hornung.
By DawgFAN
August 5, 2007 11:56 PM | Link to this
ya cuz tech has beaten georgia recently - NOT! Mark Richt is 6-0 against u little nerds. y dont u go drive ur little car off a cliff and shut the hell up! Go Dawgs! To Hell With Tech!
By Gtland03
August 6, 2007 12:23 AM | Link to this
THE FACTS-
national titles GT-4 MUTTS-1
lets not talk about history. because UGAy has absolutely NONE.
By jacketguy
August 6, 2007 1:55 AM | Link to this
Why tech will beat notre dame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbMw4tOM1Io
By Crux
August 6, 2007 2:05 AM | Link to this
Hey DawgFAN… This is the GT blog, we can say whatever the Hell we want to. Don’t come over here telling people to shut up. Get back on the farm.
By ndrick
August 6, 2007 3:01 AM | Link to this
This article is pointless, every program has its ups and downs, ND has had some of late. But, this is a program turning the corner, finally a top 10 recruiting class 4 years in a row. This senior class is sooo small because Willingham didn’t recruit, 58 th rated is just silly. Fla, Ala, Geo, FSU, all programs have it happen. Coach Weis has done a good job, this year maybe tough, but the future is very bright! Go Irish and best of luck to GTU.
By Paws
August 6, 2007 7:06 AM | Link to this
The Irish have their traditions and Tech has Tickle Piles.
By ED
August 6, 2007 7:59 AM | Link to this
Who won last year on the hallow Tech grounds? Oh yes Nd won. Just another bitter and poorly written article from you. Reprint this on the 2nd of September when ND wins again.
By JD
August 6, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this
I am glad Tech hangs on to what happened 70-80 yrs ago. I am curious to know how many of them were alive then. Why do “your” blogs always turn into Georgia blogs? Obsession and jealousy are tough emotions to get over.
By Sturge
August 6, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Paws and JD- Wow, the tickle pile reference is just so witty, especially since it’s a myth. Unlike the mythical tickle piles, here’s your starting QB ignoring a hot babe in favor of spooning his backup? http://www.secfanatics.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=27358 I assure you JD, GT fans are not obsessed and jealous of UGA, afterall you’re the one on the GT site. The only jealously I see is the hot babe as she watches Matt Stafford act out his homoerotic tendencies.
By martian
August 6, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this
Hey JD…you stupid mutt…the OBVIOUS reason Tech blogs turn into mutt blogs is because of mutts like you who come over and start your stupid insults. So, why does that always happen..mutt? Why aren’t you on a mutt blog? Bored?
By martian
August 6, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
Yea JD….YOU are the one coming over to a Tech blog and THAT makes US the jealous ones? Typical mutt logic! How about going to one of the dozens of dawg spooning blogs? Now THERE is something that is not mythical…just look at the REAL pics of your spooners! Tickle piles! You mutts can’t even MAKE UP something that makes sense!
By fortebuna
August 6, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
I think Tech should win but with Gailey as HC, he can snatch defeat from the jaw of victory better than any coach I’ve ever seen. For those of you who like to ignore facts I’ll remind you of some facts. Remember VT at BDS where Tech had a good lead? With Ball at QB we had 6 (go back and look at the film) 3’s and outs in the second half. Yes SIX! As a HC this guy is about as stupid as a rock when it comes to D1 FB. Contrary to the gist of this article ND is tough at home, Weise is a better HC than Gailey, if it comes down to a play to win the game I’ll give it to Weise and ND and Gailey will go fish while he laughs all the way to the bank with his stolen $1,000,000+ bucks!!!!!
By Michael T
August 6, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
Hey, Mr.=Joke, Academics: 12 perfect SAT scholars in the state. 1 goes to Georgia, 1 goes to Ga.State, 10 go to Tech. Tech, it seems, deserve all our respect, all the time,while the Bulldogs deserve our respect only on Saturdays.
By TC
August 6, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
It is a good thing that the game is still played on the field.
Ghosts are in your head.
Go Irish!
By Roswell Ed
August 6, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
THE “NEW AND IMPROVED” NOTRE DAME FIGHT SONG
Sissy Sons of Notre Dame, Sing her glory and sound her shame Paint her black and blue, And sneer with voices true, Hah! Hah! for Notre Dame. We will lose in every game Weak of heart and true to her shame. We wish to forget her And we’ll cheer her never, Spoils to Notre Dame.
CHORUS: Queers Cheer for Notre Dame Wake up the pansies cheering her name, Send the volley cheer on high, another blunder in our eye, what though the odds be great or small Old Notre Dame’s the underdog to all, While her loyal boys are prancing Without a victory.
And what’s with the photos of BRADY QUINN and those other dudes holding each others wangs?
By ed in Arizona
August 6, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Which BYU stunner? They beat Notre Dame twice. Byu also has beaten the likes of Miami, Penn State, Pittsburg, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas St., Colorado, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon St., Arizona St., TCU, etc. Your patronizing elitist attitude is oozing!
By Roswell Ed
August 6, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Nothing sez football more than the painting of
3 and out Jesus
By Spike
August 6, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
GT and ND do not have a lot in common with their football history. This is a joke, right?
By Roswell Ed
August 6, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
http://deadspin.com/sports/figures/brady-quinn-is-making-friends-257386.php
By shivas
August 6, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Good article TM. I find it objective and to the point. Of course, anytime you question the ND mystique, there will be angry homers who refuse to see reality. GT-35, ND-3. Game over by half-time. TC should rush for 200+, and TB throw for 250.
By tjs
August 6, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
The midget halfback from Ga, will have a field day…And Terence like other Atlanta “numbskulls” will cry foul….ND 35, GT 17…. pghman
By TechIsGayl-ey
August 6, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Tech has never won a unanimous or an NCAA recognized championship. If we claimed national titles like the nerds do, we could claim them in 1927, 1942, 1946, and 1968. But we only count REAL national titles. Call me when the clown car driving bugs win a NCAA recognized title that’s not women’s tennis. Bunch of losers.
By jacketnation
August 6, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Tech played them tough last year and should be tougher this year; due to a bigger OL with lots of game time. Much better QB with Bennett at the Helm and we have a load of Tailbacks including one of the best in the country. Good W/R with two of them being true frosh.
So, UGAG stay off our vent. You need to be more concerned with the rash of recent arrests that we have all seen in the news over there in Athens; bar capitol of the South East.
By Jeff Peters
August 6, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
You obviously weren’t there in 1999 when the Irish were down 24-3 at half against rival USC. They came back in stunning fashion to win 25-24 in the famous wind in the third, wind in the fourth game…man, I used to drive 17+ hours to get to South Bend because every game was capable of producing magic.
By Joe
August 6, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
jacketnation- Concur on everything you said, however, your last line, “Athens; bar capitol of the South East” is more of a compliment than a slam to fans like TechIsGayl-ey et al. After all, as we’ve seen w/their starting QB, alcohol bring out their latent homoerotic tendencies.
By Tiger Rag
August 6, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Tech folks talking Smack????? Of all college football fans, none have the “LITE IN THE LOAFERS” reputation of Georgia Tech and have you seen their women!!!! Face it fellows you are “girlymen”.
By DawgFAN
August 6, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
we’ll see at the end of the year hopefully uga will win (like every other game since we had richt) but if not yall r still nerds and god hates u Go Dawgs! To Hell With Tech!
By DawgFAN
August 6, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Don’t be mad because u ran out of zimas and who calls a girl a hot babe? how nerdy can u get
By Corsair
August 6, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
Terrence must be slipping. He made it through a whole column without somehow bringing race into it. What next? Bradley correctly picking the Final Four?
By Joe
August 6, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
I must defer to Tiger Rag’s expertise on knowing where to find “LITE IN THE LOAFERS” “girlymen”. However, even if it were true in GT’s case, Tiger Rag should look no further than the Lambda Alliance’s proudly wearing Matt Stafford’s jersey around Athens.
By jacketnation
August 6, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Get off our vent and go eat yourself a fried Boloney Biscuit. Later on there shouls be some good WWF to watch on Satelite T.V. The ugly women rumor is just that. We have drop dead gorgious women at Tech. I have seen a few porkers over at UGA; as in fatter than a sow. How are they doing over there with the school of livestock manangemnt?
Now get off our blog!
By TechIsGayl-ey
August 6, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
jacketnation: You are kidding, right? Your women are hideous. So hideous that it’s actually depressing. But then again, that’s why they go to Tech. To date and (god forbid) procreate with boys who are just as unattractive as they are. Now go fire up your Kia, get yourself a Taco Bell value meal, come back to your cubicle, and think of a good reason why your Georgia grad boss shouldn’t fire you.
By DH
August 6, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
For the Ty Willingham apologists out there, if ND is such an academic institution that can’t compete, why isn’t Ty competing at Washington, a university with a winning tradition and a state school that can recruit whoever it wants?
Comparing GT & ND is assinine, too. GT was rocking because they were playing ND…BECAUSE it was ND! Good luck GT…
By jacketnation
August 6, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
I don’t have a UGA boss. I own my own business and I’m an actor. The last two feature length films that I did; The director and assist director with both Tech grads. We had grips boys that were UGA grads.A Tech degree puts you in a position of authority. Being at UGA and on the football teams usually leads to being in custody of the authorites.
How many arrests have there been this spring and summer? I read about them all the time or see them on the news.
Get off our blog you trailer park dwelling fat beer drinking tatooed rednecks that pee of your rotting redwood front porch.
By TechIsGayl-ey
August 6, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
You’re an actor?? Mwahaha! Ok, ok. Let me guess: you’re 6’5, with chiseled good looks, and incredible athletic ability, right? hahahahah! Right, I’ll bet you’re not a dork, and you’re really a cool guy. I’ll bet you have sex all the time (with women, of course), and you’re not the real 40 year old virgin. Right? Oh, keep these revelations coming! You have absolutely made my day! Tell me another one!
By martian
August 6, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
You better be careful Jacketnation….Gayl-ey mutt might get turned on and want to spoon you!
By TicklePiles"R"us
August 6, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
guys we cant we just play videogames and fight with our controllers not with our words.
By martian
August 6, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
No one seems to know anything about ‘tickle piles’ but these pathetic mutt fans who are conjuring them up! Now the poor mutts are naming themselves after their new invention! It’s gettin bad folks!
By Joe
August 6, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
TicklePile- Is Stafford tickling Cox in the above-mentioned photo? It’s a simple question. None of you Dawg fans seem to have an answer. Can’t blame you though. Since you are fascinated w/the mythical tickle-piles, many of you likely have acted out your latent homoerotic tendencies in a similar stupor.
By TechIsGayl-ey
August 6, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
Tickle Piles have been a tradition at Tech long before the whole “spooning” thing was overblown. It’s an unwritten rule at Tech. To graduate you must be an active participant in Tickle Piles. That’s what was holding up Joe Hamilton and that other guy who graduated at age 40. They just weren’t that into Tickle Piles. They have always been geniuses, I mean, just listen to Little Joe talk. He’s straight up Gullah genius (“abba dabba babba TOUCHDOWN! Awww abba dabba babba!”). Little Joe and the 40 year old virgin have since seen the light. They are now fluent (probably the only thing Hamilton is fluent in) in Tickle Piles. Isn’t that nice?
By National Champs
August 6, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
This is for TechIsGayl-ey. The NCAA still does not recognize a national championship for Div I football.
The NCAA only recognizes champions in the sports that have tournaments to decide a champion. Use this page as a good reference before you put forward a bunch of made up information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAADivisionI-Anationalfootballchampionship#MostPollEraNational_Championships
The years you claim as UGA champions: I don’t even seem the dawgs mentioned??
1927-Yale 11-0 1942-OSU
1946-Notre Dame, Army 1968-OSU Undefeated.
This is an example of a UGA fans making up their own reality.
By Billy BOb BullDAwg
August 6, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
HEY! I like ‘em tickle piles. when me and jethro are havin a good tussel, i sumtimes like to get two fingers ‘neath his ribs and goose him real good while i go scootertooterscootertooter!!! I like that tickle spot.
It makes me happy.
hey! how bout my dawgs! dooley takin us all the way this season! Go dawgssic em woowooowoo.
By TechIsGayl-ey
August 6, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
National Champs: You’re an idiot. The next time you cite a reference, try not to make it an unregulated, general public contributed online encyclopedia. And by the way, Georgia was the only undefeated team in ‘68 at 8-0-2. Nice try though. How does it feel to be a full-blown retard?
By TechIsGayl-ey
August 6, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
But I’ll play by your rules and use this fabricated encyclopedia (the particular page you cited in fact) to discover facts. Such as, Tech is on probation through 2007. Georgia is not. I thought all the self-righteous nerds on here claim that Tech has never been on probation, and that Georgia is always in trouble. TECH IS ON PROBATION RIGHT NOW! You idiots kill me. Enjoy your efficiency apartments.
By JustMe
August 6, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this
My dear “TechIsGayl-ey”….
The fact that you spend your time on a GA Tech blog is amusing enough. That alone shows that you care in your inner sole about the great program at GA Tech - otherwise, you won’t be here at all.
By UGAFan
August 6, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this
I’m not of course but I’d rather be a dumass redneck than a “girlyman”. So would the rest of the world. That’s why Georgia Tech loses this argument. Georgia Tech=Girlyman!!! “Tickle Piles”—-A Georgia Tech Tradition!!!!
By Dawgy Pride
August 6, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this
Greetings Techsters,
Just to recap tradition - both schools have it.
Congratulations to Tech for their 4 National Titles (1917, 1928, 1952 & 1990), 5 SIAAC Titles, 3 Southern Conference Titles, 6 SEC Titles and 2 ACC Titles - overall record 649 - 436-43.
Congratulations to Georgia on their 2 National Titles (1942 & 1980), 2 SIAAC Titles, 12 SEC Titles (3 SEC East Divisonal Titles), 2 Heisman Trophy Winners and overall record of 703-379 - 54.
As a Dawg fan - I would also like to congratulate Tech on their 38 victories in 98 attempts against Georgia!!!!
With all that said - I am rooting for TECH it kick the everliving $hit out of Notre Dame for several reasons:
Southern Pride!!
BCS favoritism for ND (rules should be same for all independents).
Will make the Georgia/GT game more meaningfull in BCS poll for Georgia.
GT will think what might have been - after Georgia beats them yet again!!!
Good luck Jackets !!!!
By Irish
August 6, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this
Notre Dame-“Win one for the Gipper”
Georgia Tech-“Win one for the Tickler”
By neil gershon
August 6, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Moore,
I have read your column for many years and have had times of agreeing and disagreeing with your opinions. Sometimes I have felt your columns have been racially biased and on other occasions I find your comments to be completely correct. I grew up watching the racial issues surrounding Henry Aaron chasing the record of The Babe which were reprehensible. I even remember the Furman Bisher rap song (715,715 come on Hank, let’s jive (ask him about it)). Hammering Hank was always a hero to me.
I only bring up these issues as I wished to share my opinions with you on Barry Bonds. When I saw Mr. Bonds playing for the Pittsburg Pirates many years ago I admired him as a great player, but in the past few years I began to actually hate this supposed hero. Where The Hammer was a hero, The User is the lowest form of human existence. When The User passed The Babe I remember an article you wrote saying people were against The User because of race. I personally saw The User as only getting closer to The Hammer. I didn’t give a hoot about him passing Babe Ruth, I was concerned about this worm catching the true home run king, Henry Aaron.
Now we have reached the day and I am truly upset seeing this smear on what is good in baseball over taking a true hero. I was born and raised in Atlanta, I witnessed the way my hero was treated and have always been ashamed to know that people of my race treated such a great person so poorly.
Although I maybe different than most of the ilk you have attacked in the past, I do want to let you know that baseball is not about race, it is about true heroes (see The Hammer).
Sincerely,
By Jay
August 6, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
And I should be afraid of a team that has the longest bowl losing streak in the country…why?
By BankDawg
August 7, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this
Oh, the nerds and their incessant obsession with my Dawgs. I love it. Tell me again why you are better than me? Oh, that’s right, you can’t. Enjoy mediocrity you dorks.