AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > September > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSong remains the same for Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
This was the game that was supposed to show how much the ACC has changed. It turned into the game that showed how much Georgia Tech hasn’t.
For as much good as Chan Gailey has wrought in his five-plus seasons here, his Jackets always, always, bump their heads on a ceiling. Whenever Tech folks get to thinking, “This year’s going to be different,” this year turns into more of the same. Having gotten people excited by beating Notre Dame by 30 points and by scoring 69 against Samford, the Jackets took the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium for a prime-time showdown and got themselves summarily smacked.
This doesn’t mean Tech turned into a bad team overnight., The Jackets are, as ever, a solid bunch. They’ll win a lot of games before they’re through. Still, what transpired Saturday night indicates this team has miles to go before it can think about its stated goal, which is to win the ACC title.
For one thing, Boston College is apt to be waiting should Tech happen to play its way to Jacksonville, and BC didn’t just beat the Jackets — it owned them. It stacked 512 dizzying yards on Jon Tenuta’s proud and seasoned defense, and quarterback Matt Ryan, whom Chan Gailey had likened to Philip Rivers and Brady Quinn, had a bigger night than either of those worthies ever had against this school on this field.
Ryan completed 30 passes for 435 yards, and from the first series it was apparent Tenuta’s blitzers couldn’t reach him. (Jeff Jagodzinski, the Boston College coach, used to be the Atlanta Falcons’ line coach in tandem with the weirdo Alex Gibbs, and clearly Jagodzinski knows something about protection.) It was 14-0 at the half and 21-0 after three quarters, and the only surprise was that it was still so close.
The first part of any plan against Tech is to blunt the blitz. The second is, and will be until he proves he can beat an opponent deep, to make Taylor Bennett throw. BC stacked the line to deny Tashard Choice, which is basic strategy, but not every team has the defenders to make it work. The Eagles do. Choice finished with 31 yards on 15 carries and left late in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Bennett completed 20 of 39 passes, but only one of those went for longer than 17 yards.
Say what you will about Reggie Ball, but even on his wildest days he held out the potential of making a big play. Remember that night three years and five days ago when he and Calvin Johnson made a slew of them to undo Clemson? If Bennett isn’t as erratic as Ball - not many quarterbacks are, or have ever been - neither does he possess the same occasional upside. (And let’s not forget that Bennett’s one big game as a passer came in the Gator Bowl when Johnson, who has since departed, snagged nine of those 19 completions.)
Bennett didn’t have to throw to beat Notre Dame because the Irish couldn’t tackle Choice and because the defense yielded nothing. (And, as we’re learning weekly, Notre Dame really isn’t much of a measure.) But there will come times along the ACC trail when the quarterback has to pull his weight, and that didn’t happen Saturday. The Jackets managed six first downs and 78 yards in the first half, and that level of offense wasn’t about to overhaul Ryan on his night of nights.
Give BC its due. The Eagles saw this game as their moment of arrival, and they rose to that moment. But the Jackets, who had known their share of signature victories under this coach, cannot be happy having authored yet another crashing comedown. They were outgained by 260 yards on their home field. They were never really in a game they were favored to win. They’re 0-1 in a conference they aspire to conquer.
Reality can be a pain. Repeated reality stings even worse.
Permalink | Comments (66) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley
Comments
By Tech Forever
September 16, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this
Seems to me actual preparation for a game by Gailey and his staff only occurs when there is some adversity to overcome. When things are going good I guess they give everyone a fairly easy ride during the week and treat the boys like “professionals”, yet another hangover from the NFL mentality.
There was another team this weekend playing in their first “signature game” of the season. Obviously Urban Meyer runs his program more closely to that of a high school than the pros in that he didn’t let up on them this past week and in fact I’ll bet it was their toughest week of practice to date…even though they were riding high off two bigtime lopsided wins. Look what Florida did in their big game.
Same ‘ole same ‘ole on the Flats. thsi game had “overconfident meltdown” written all over it and it happens at least once every year under Gailey. he simply cannot get an urgent adversarial mindset into the boys when their riding high. These are weeks, like this past, when his affability truly comes through.
By Tech Forever
September 16, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Seems to me actual preparation for a game by Gailey and his staff only occurs when there is some adversity to overcome. When things are going good I guess they give everyone a fairly easy ride during the week and treat the boys like “professionals”, yet another hangover from the NFL mentality.
There was another team this weekend playing in their first “signature game” of the season. Obviously Urban Meyer runs his program more closely to that of a high school than the pros in that he didn’t let up on them this past week and in fact I’ll bet it was their toughest week of practice to date…even though they were riding high off two bigtime lopsided wins as well. Look what Florida did in their big game.
Same ‘ole same ‘ole on the Flats. This game had “overconfident meltdown” written all over it, and it happens at least once every year under Gailey. He simply cannot get an urgent adversarial mindset into the boys when they’re riding high. These are weeks, like this past, when his affability truly comes through.
By ArkyTech
September 16, 2007 1:05 AM | Link to this
Sure, it’s a disappointing loss, but hardly doom and gloom. Lots of teams are struggling trying to break in new QBs this year. This is the first time Bennett has been in the position where he “had” to throw the ball. He struggled early, then played pretty well late. Tech will be fine - and Bennett got better as the game went on. Won’t win a NC (never was going to), but could very easily still win the ACC, beat UGA, and play in the Orange Bowl.
Oh, yeah, and as “bad” as Bennett played - still no turnovers, and I think 1 sack. BC took away the running game, and Ryan made some unbelievable throws. GT certainly will not face a better QB this year.
By TechPlayer
September 16, 2007 1:27 AM | Link to this
give me break, it was our first loss against a pretty good team. First you kill UGa over their loss to a conference rival last week and now you are ready to throw out our entire staff over the same thing. We didn’t play well, but we got a good team - so does UGa. It’s so unfair how these writers critize even wins (see Moore’s article) to feed controversy and hopefully sell more papers. I’m done with the AJC.
Last shot: why can’t we get jerseys to match our helmets and why does our student body wear yellow, yes yellow? Even home depot and BC can match paint color better than us. Finally, please stop throwing objects at opposing teams. Grow up!
By John
September 16, 2007 2:16 AM | Link to this
I hope tonights litter throwing episode ends the discussion about tech fans being “smarter” etc. Anything worse than geeks that don’t know how to act at a football game… nope didn’t think so.
By surfrider
September 16, 2007 2:24 AM | Link to this
Good points but you seem to forget that we have Calvin for 3 years and did’nt utilize him regulary. Put Calvin in tonight and the balance changes. Several balls should have been caught which brings up the question don’t we have a possession receiver? At the same time the staff seemd to be brain dead in making adjustments during the game. Surely did’nt they think BC would study Utah and the other teams that have torched Tenuta’s defense over the last several years. Basically that is the blue print to beat Tenuta now the question should have been what is Tech’s plan to stop that and to keep moving the chains. The mindset is still the problem. We go for three in the fourth quarter instead of thinking we have four downs to move the chains and score a TD. BC deserved to win but I did’nt like what appeared to be the laying down at the end. There is always a way to win games by going to two minute offenses, using four downs, onsides kicks etc…Gailey just does’nt seem to have the spunk to win big. I hope I’m wrong and was getting some hope this year but BC game is a big letdown.
By Aaron
September 16, 2007 4:45 AM | Link to this
Mark,
I don’t want to say “I hate to say it,” but it doesn’t make me happy…..
But I really enjoyed reading this piece. More than any story I’ve read on the AJC about the Jackets in a while. It was genuinely unbiased either for or against anyone. No one was bashed or hyped. It delivered an interpretation of this defeat that had meaning on game, season, and coach’s-tenure levels.
I’m glad to see something like this come out of the hometown paper.
Now let’s see more of this impressive journalism, and less hyping when things are going well.
And less belittling when things don’t go well.
As much as you may enjoy it. ;)
By GTDave
September 16, 2007 7:43 AM | Link to this
As disheartening it was to see us totally outmatched, I was more disappointed about our student section throwing stuff on the field and at the players. As a school and program who prides ourselves on class, this is an embarrassment to the institution. Clough needs to threaten anyone who is caught throwing things on the field, will be expelled. Either that, or move the Students to the upper level of the North Endzone. It’s one thing for students to be excited about the game and supporting the Jackets, it’s another for them to be acting like some 2-bit white trash fans. That’s what our friends in Athens are for. THWG!
By IWrecken
September 16, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
I regret to say, Tech fans have a whole lot to learn about sportsmanship!!
I was embarrassed by the actions of the students and others who through things on the field next to the BC players MORE THAN ONCE!
We may have a highly acclaimed academic school but our fans can be ‘low class’ just like other schools!!
Shame on all of you who did that last night!
By eddiedawg
September 16, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this
waaah waaah waah…..back to reality LOSERS!!
By Thomas
September 16, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
My family and I walked out once the embarrassing trash started flying out of the stands. Are we that low class?
I dont care if they offer a $500 savings bond and a Buick on top of the free cokes and Pizza, my children dont need to see that.
By GTJacket
September 16, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
Well I think Bradely’s assessment is on point. The BC loss was one of the most dominating games I can remember on home turf. Offensively BC did nothing differently that GT had seen on film, yet our defensive schemes and individual play could not address it. As bad as Tech’s defense looked the offense was perhaps worse. Earlier this week the coaches talked about how they had not needed to unleash GT’s passing talents in the first two games, but advised us that in practice the passing attack was great and to watch out. Game day against a good team disproved that assertion. Again, reasons for the loss are numerous.
The kicking game looked solid as did special teams coverage. Otherwise the team was a bust…no go-to guys, no real speed, no ability to break tackles, no ability to stop the passing attack.
I love GT and I support this team, but unless the coaching staff can make some adjustments on both offense and defense the season will not be as exciting as most of us had hoped. Let’s hope that we can learn from this humbling defeat and paly at a higher level for the remainder of the season.
Go Jackets!
By Stan Nolte
September 16, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
TECH PLAYER….First of all, Do’nt ever take up for UGA, Quit worrying about the color of your uniform, quit looking at the color of shirts that the fans are wearing and play some football….I hate to say it, but I watched you guys trot with your heads down back out at halftime and knew that everyone other than Michael Johnson had quit (He was jumping up and down)….The truth hurts, does’nt it ?
By john
September 16, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
Have empty water bottles are nothing. Get over it. It shows true passion and good for them. In my day at GT, it was Jack Daniels bottles. We have improved actually!
By WHO IS CALLING PLAYS?
September 16, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
I thought the new OC was calling plays? 1:40 left in the 3rd, down by 21, 2nd and 1…and someone calls a dive? Why wouldn’t you take a shot at the end zone? Where is the bravado? If it’s not Gailey calling plays, then the apple has not fallen far from the Gailey-tree with this new OC.
By Dan
September 16, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
Once again, Tech fans embarassed Atlanta last night MUCH MORE than the team…
By givemeabreak
September 16, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
Out of all of the about 7,000 students there, how many threw stuff on the field? Probably about 10, and there was also stuff coming from behind the benches too. Mix a night game with a lot of booze and a lot of frustration and thats what you get. The refs were horrible! The refs aren’t why we lost but it killed our momentum several times. Get off of your high horse about throwing cups on the field, I’m sure those students were punished if they got caught, move on.
By garrett
September 16, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
I guess now we know why Reggie Ball played so much! Tech dorks: underachieving again.
By yellow green blue pink jacket
September 16, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
Ize gots so exited thowin stuff on da field at dem cheaters that my wife brandine had ta stop me cuz i almost thow the baby at them. nex game ill make sure i fills up my pockets with roks befoe i cum in.
By NASCARfan
September 16, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
A few points:
Man, there’s nothing worse than a bunch of Bug Nerds who think they know anything about football acting like a bunch of classless yankees in throwing trash at the opposing team. Wait a minute… most of them probably are yankees.
Taylor Bennet for Heisman? Next question.
Tashard Choice for Heisman? After he pulled a Vick and “injured” himself in an embarrassing loss? Next question.
Bugland wins the ACC and plays in the BCS? Next question.
Bugland has double digit victories and finaly beats Big Brother? Next question.
Chan Gailey finally gets it, like Rich Brooks in Kentucky? The Rich Brooks whose team actually won a big game? Next question.
Pathetic Bug fans who throw trash and need to be enticed to their pathetic 50,000 seat stadium with cokes, hot dogs, and now, free parking, and who don’t actually sell out said pathetic stadium due to their pathetic, apathetic, front-running nature? Next question.
The following Q&A was brought to you by the Bill Belichick seminar in how to defelct and avoid the truth at a press conference
Works as great for delusional sports fans as it does for egotistical coaches.
Copyright pending.
See you in November, Bugs. And if you throw trash at me or my Dawgs after we whip your a*******es, you’re going to have about 20,000 members of Bulldog Nation in your house who’d be perfectly happy to start kicking some Nerd Bug a$$. So I suggest y’all learn how to act, you bunch of socially retarded, childish mama’s boys, otherwise, y’all find my Timberlands crushing your face like a Hob Nailed Boot, beeyotches!!!
By CrackBaby
September 16, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
I could not have been more wrong in predicting Tech by a large margin.
BC is very impressive. They DOMINATED at the line of scrimmage. Matt Ryan is a big time player and his receivers made great plays. Tech, UGA and the Falcons only dream about 400+ yards in the passing game.
I hope BC maintains its high level play throughout the season and Tech somehow finds a way to improve 1000%.
Tech’s secondary is a glaring weakness. Looks like we will lose to any drop back passer who gets good protection (e.g. Stafford).
This makes next week at Charlottesville a big game if Tech wants another shot at BC in Jax. Go Jackets!
By Trash Throwing GT Fan
September 16, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
I’m a proud trash throwing GT fan. We may not be able to beat anyone(see our last 6 games as a reference to our futility), but we can throw trash with the best of them.
Now let’s think of the good ol days and our win over Samford.
By Crosby
September 16, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
As the game ended last night my roomate looked at me and said “who is going to call ya’ll out tommorow in the AJC?” I knew it would be Bradley. I’ll say it again, thanks for holding our sports teams accountable. This is why I stopped getting season tickets two years ago. Until Gailey is fired I will not be at another Tech game. This game was not a shock to me. Bradley was right at the beginning of the season with his 5 loss prediction. We will lose to Clemson, VT, UGA, and our bowl game. If for some strange reason we get to the ACC title game with 3 L’s in ACC play then we will lose that to and end up with 6. Gailey will NEVER have his teams ready to play a big game when people think we can win. If we would have been 8 point underdogs last night then we probably would have been prepared. Braine was right..never will we win ten games. He forgot to mention as long as Gailey is the head coach. Let’s see if this AD from LSU actually backs up his talk. While I’m on the subject he needs to take a look at all 3 of the major head coach’s. Hewitt and Hall are just as disappointing.
By 2ndmama
September 16, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
I find it very interesting to hear the AJC turn on the Jackets this week. It is truly sad that when the chips are down the journalistic talents turn against the team. I want you to look hard at the game film and tell me how the story might be different if the receivers might of caught the balls thrown to them by Taylor Bennett. Yes, Ryan had a fantastic game… Hang on folks the best is yet to come. Let’s not BASH our personel What would happen if YOU SMART FOLKS would figure out how to SUPPORT your team and not TEAR down your team. I KNOW the team will continue to impress us as the fall continues.. #13 I am your biggest fan.. I BELIEVE IN YOU!!
By Classless Yankee
September 16, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
For NASCARfan…
You are correct, there were lots of Yankees at the game. However they were not the idiots throwing stuff, they were the young men scoring all the points.
By Thorpe
September 16, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
Tech was outclassed on and off the field last night.
Go BC!
By Emerald Bowl Representative
September 16, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Hello,
Does anybody have Dan Radakovich’s phone number? Thanks. See you guys in December.
Emerald Bowl Rep.
By Bob
September 16, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
“Winner’s less overshadowed for once…” What is trashy, AJC, is that there is an apostrophe in that headline.
By NASCARfan
September 16, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Classless Yankee… I was referring to the fact that Bugland has a lot of out of state students… including many classless yankees such as yourself, Al Qaida terrorists, and yet, nary a single good looking girl.
By Chris
September 16, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
It’s too bad Matt Ryan had to wait until his senior year to have a coach unleash his talents. O’Brien was/is too conservative.
Hopefully, the sports radio Monday-morning quaterbacks will properly face north and genuflect. BC is the class of the ACC.
By Mike
September 16, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
So much for national rankings. I’ve said for weeks now, wait till we play BC. Then we’ll see what we really have. We are just not a top twenty team. We needed to win that game to establish some credibility. Hard to remember the last time we won a big one we needed. VT last year? The game was pretty straightforward. Ryan needed protection, we needed to be able to throw. They did what they needed to do, we didn’t. The DBs really aren’t THAT bad. We got no heat on Ryan, and he is a very, very good player. No heat. Bennett was skipping passes in there, and our “receiving corps” dropped plenty, and ran lazy routes. We just looked lethargic overall, and BC looked resolute and pumped. We were never in it. I’m as disappointed as anyone. This year, I thought, seemed to have a different feel to it. NOT! BC is good. I hope they get their due this year. We are not good. But, it’s the 3rd game. We’ll see what they’re made of the next two weeks.
By techfan21
September 16, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
ok first of all the refs clearly made a couple of REAL BAD calls last night but first of all PAT CLARK sux he cant cover anyone and never has had the ability to. Next, Taylor struggled at times and missed a couple of throws, but the receivers need to learn to go get it just like Thomas did in the 4th. Third, Tenuta needs to change the coverage cause if it isnt working you gotta change it. We could get to Ryan but everytime we did they would hold the sh#$ out of us and we should have had at least 7 sacks if you count the penaltys. We will be fine the doggies lost their 1st conference opener so i guess were even. We will improve and if we see BC in the title game, I hope we change the secondary and less holding calls GO JACKETS!!!!!!
By BC-'78, '87/ Uva-'82
September 16, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
I’m a Jersey girl with many relatives and friends in Atl. I’m also an Alumnus of both BC and UVA so I know both Yankees and “Souther Gentlemen”up close and personal. Pregame, the AJC and Tech fans basically called out the BC team and last night BC answered. Last night, the actions of some of the students of Bug Nation belied the myth of southern hospitality and embrassed their school on national TV. Obviously good manners, class ann sportsmanship are not defined by geography. Pay attention because next week in C’Ville, UVA will demonstrate class on and off the field. Go Hoos.
By ben
September 16, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Better quarterbacking and better coaching- It’s been that way in every big game throughout the Gailey era, and I don’t see that changing. I thought Tenuta did a decent job, being as to how he had a super quarterback lined up against him and was completely overmatched. What’s worse news than Bennet being mediocre is we only have one reciever capable of playing big time college football, and he’s a freshman.
By watching childish fans
September 16, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
I’ve been going to Tech games for the past 20 years. What I’m starting to see more and more is the stupidity the fans. I as well as most people watching that game,know that there were plenty of bad and questionable calls by the refs. SO WHAT!!! We got our butts kicked up and down that yard last night. This is a national spotlight game and this is how you fan “wanna-bees” act? You make me sick. Go back to your hometown middle schools and jump in on the food fights. This is college football people, it’s very heart breaking and gut wrenching. So the next time you knuckle-heads are at the game and things aren’t going your way….scream, holler, and yell your a*******e$ off, but keep the whiskey cokes in your hands.
By JustMe
September 16, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
Set aside the ajc ‘sound bites’ and the bottom line is that BS exposed Tech’s weakness - our corners. That is really no shock to us Tech football fans. What was a shock was that the defensive coordinator that was supposed to be close to God, Coach T, didn’t have anything prepared to stop the BC passing game.
There is no shame for the #15 team to lose to the #21 team.
Tech must now re-group and look to the next game.
By Way to go, Nerds
September 16, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
No more talk….ever….about how classy Tech fans are.
By Bama Fan
September 16, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
I’m done going to games at Grant field. I live in town and love southern football, but it isn’t found at Grant field. You are right Jersey Girl, every school throws stuff on the field, but only at TECH does it happen every year. I have been to about every southern field and the headlines every year (NC state, Maryland, UGA, BC, etc.) have one embarrassing incident of the fans hurling things at the opposing team sidelines, band, or fans. PITIFUL. I understand that TECH fans have had a string of disappointing losses in the last few years, but they have had enough signature wins to eliminate this loser mentality. I find it amazing that a team with such a storied tradition and a alleged more intelligent student body would be so classless. I hope you lose every game, despite my respect for both Gailey and Tenuta. I will give my remaining tix away to a fan of the opposing team, cause I’m embarrassed to take anybody to that scene. Go Eagles!
By Johnson is a Johnson
September 16, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
So we let one get away last night, but I will say this…I wasted an almost full cup of jack and coke on the family in front of me for nothing. Man, his dad beat my a* black and blue when I tried to lick the alcohol off his wife and kid. Gooo Jackets!
By Big Al
September 16, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this
I knew Tech still sucked.
By Tech Forever
September 16, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Hey NASCARfan. Here’s the bottom line, as a Tech fan I’ve forgotten more about UGA football than you’ll ever know. I will go head to head with you about football any day of the week and twice on Sunday while napping during the second meeting. Football knowledge??? You??? Please….like oil and water….or Georgia fans and teeth….don’t go together. I’d own you in football knowledge…trivia or strategy.
You’re a joke….a punchline…and a bad one at that. I know guys like you….you’re an edit left on the cutting room floor.
By don
September 16, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
THIS IS TWICE THE VAUNTED TENUTA DEFENSE HAS GOTTEN CREAMED LATELY. IN THE GATOR BOWL AND NOW THIS DEBACLE. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
By hkh
September 16, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
I am so SICK of Jon Tenuta….
By another yankee
September 16, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this
NascarFan you realize you are insulting yourself when you talk about all the out of state students at Tech don’t you? You are basically saying that Georgia kids are too stupid to get in.
By TechIsGay-ley
September 16, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
My goodness, I thought Tech was better than this. That is, the football team, not the fans, who showed their collective as&es AGAIN. Looks like ANOTHER early season blunder. This is getting humorous. LONG LIVE THE CHAN MAN!
By Nascar Fan=
September 16, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
Matt Ciafaro does not represent UGA! He needs to leave the blogs!
By smitty
September 16, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this
typical chan game……i don’t know what it is about QB’s and chan but they just don’t seem to develop under him……should have worked on the passing game last week when they had the chance…..but NO, TB gets to throw 10 passes against a really weak team and he’s pulled early in the first half…….lousy coaching through and through…….and as usual, the defense wears out because the offense never mounts any sort of drive… BC had a little to do with that……..some things never change though……..chan is still an awful coach…….change the OC, change the QB and you get the same crap because chan is still the HC
By ncjacket
September 16, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
Bradley! Go home and eat your Dawg biscuits! GO TECH!
By Trigeek
September 16, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this
I was embarrassed by the trash thrown on the field last night, but for some red neck from Athens to try to give us moral lessons on how to act at games is quite ridiculous. As many UGA games where I’ve witnessed the absolute obnoxious, and often violent, behavior of so-called Dawg fans, NASCARfan needs to take a look in the mirror. No doubt, he was one of the Dawg “fans” on the sideline behind the UGA bench yelling at the KIDS on his team when Auburn was waxing them several years ago in Athens. When it comes to classless behavior, no one outdoes UGA “fans”.
By Ramblin Man
September 16, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this
Tech was not prepared for this game. From the first offensive series, they never tried to establish a running game. When you have one rush, and five passing attempts in your first six plays, you know you have switched from a running to passing game. Our defense was pathetic, especially the cornerbacks. If Tech does not have a better corner than Pat Clark, it is going to be a long season. He couldn’t defend my 7 year old grandson. With the performance in the secondary, any good passing team remaining on our schedule, need not worry about running the ball, just throw it. The only bright spots I saw on the D last night was Wheeler and M. Johnson. As for the offense, Bennett needs to get the ball to the receivers. He had to many thrown in the dirt. Taking nothing away from BC, they are a good physical football team of which last night Tech was not. I would rate Ryan as being in the top 5 qb’s in the country. We still have nine games left, regroup, play them one at a time and lets still have a good season.
Go Jackets
By TechFan
September 16, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
NascarFan is actually a pimple faced UGA dropout who doesn’t have the equipment to win any pole. When he’s not bagging groceries at the local Piggly Wiggly he’s at home drooling over Ryan Seacrest.
By MTL
September 16, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
First, having been at the game i thought is was a disgraceful display by the students. Unlike a typical UGA party binge, the fact that this is being discussed so much just shows that something like this at Tech is an aberration.
Second, Tech actually has relatively few out-of-state students for such a highly ranked (academically) national university. Plus, a lot of the trash coming from the stands was coming from the non-student section, probably some of the “good ol’boy” alumni.
Third, I find it ironic that someone using the name NASCARFan would be judging anyone’s class or lack of.
By 76jacket
September 16, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
In a nutshell:
Neither team could run the ball.
Both teams knew they had to throw the ball to win in this game. BC had a QB that could throw and came through; Tech didn’t.
When you leave a defense on the field as much as Tech was you give up lots of yardage; the Tech offense plainly didn’t do their part (poor passing game). If the passing game doesn’t come around we will just have a fair season. The game was over at halftime. We only matched points with BC in the second half. As far as the refereeing it was some of the worse I have seen at the college level in years. Both teams got a TDs out of questionable pass interference calls.The referee crew looked disorganized and made/missed some calls; mostly pass interference.(then measuring for a first down twice when it can plainly be seen??). Neither team deserved these refs. Momentum in the game was continually being killed. I referee HS and I would be ashamed after a performance such as I saw.
By RED FOREMAN
September 17, 2007 7:19 AM | Link to this
F-you, Bradley…
What sport did you play in college? Chess is not a sport.
What makes you an expert? Getting your A$$ slapped around by jocks in HS does not count.
You need to put your desk right next to Cynthia Tucker…You both suck a$$!!!!!
Red
By Still at Tech Fan
September 17, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
Yes, we did lose badly, but at the same time I am proud of our team.
1) We played in the 4th quarter… Other than Clemson in ‘04, it seems our team struggles in the last half of the game.
2) There were no major QB mistakes. Bennett didn’t throw an interception, and he didn’t fumble the football. I can’t remember (and can’t find the stat), but I don’t think there were more than 1-2 sacks either.
3) Our Special teams still looks much better than we did in previous years.
Yeah, we have some work to do with our passing game, but I believe our team is still improving overall.
By Bobby Dodd
September 17, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
Let’s face it, Matt Ryan is a stud, Taylor Bennett and the GT passing game have a loooong way to go, we plain and simply weren’t ready, might have helped playing a tough game before BC, on long pass plays our CB’s need to learn to turn around and look for the ball - could have batted down several, maybe had an interception or two, and possibly held BC to a lot fewer yards, we need to get the ball in J. Dwyer’s hands MORE and, finally, our line needs to learn how to block (aka, hold) like BC’s!
Aside from that, we still have a very, very good team, T. Bennett and the passing game will get better, we’ll be ready for tough games from now on and there is a better-than-good chance we’ll see BC again in Jacksonville. Now it’s time to go out on Saturday and take care of business in Charlotesville!!!
By The keed
September 17, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
I remember a time long ago when Notre Dame was pelted with dead fish on a rainy night at Grant Field. Tacky fans don’t go away do they?
By North Ave Pimp
September 17, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
Well the offense was not a big suprise to me. I knew there was a good chance GT might struggle if it could not run the ball. But the defense was a huge suprise. I thought for sure we would get more pressure from the front 7 and the secondary looked HORRIBLE. Soft as a tweenkie feel-n- although BC made some super nice catches and Ryan was good as advertised, glad he’s a senior.
By JLH
September 17, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
What else is new! Bradley said it better than I could. Another mediocre season with Gailey.
By JLH
September 17, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
Bradley summed it up better than I could. Same result from another Gailey coached team. Glad I didn’t watch!
By Phil
September 17, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
JUST BECAUSE YOU BEAT A LOUSY ND TEAM(AFTER 3 GAMES STILL CAN’T SCORE A POINT)AND BEAT A TEAM CALLED SAMFORD (NOT TO BE MISTAKEN FOR STANFORD) DOES’T MEAN TECH CAN HANDLE BC ON A SAT. NIGHT. FACE IT TECHIES YOU HAVE 1 RB AND NOW HE’S OUT, WHATS NEXT???BEST WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!I HEAR A BULLDAWG BARKING ALREADY!!! WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!
By Hank
September 17, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
For all you UGA hugga’s, remember, you got beat by Vandy at homecoming. You got beat by Kentucky at THEIR homecoming!!! You got beat by Spurrier and his South Click boys!! 5 consecutive SEC losses.
And here comes number 6 on Saturday.
By Randyt
September 17, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
I am a Vol, with no dog (no pun intended) in the fight, but GT is the most Jekyl/Hyde team I have ever seen. You can be a giant killer one week, and the next week get pummeled by a ‘high school’ team. I am not sure that Chan is the man, there is tooooo much inconsistency for it not to be coaching. After having said that, truthfully GA, and my Vols are both going to have tough seasons.
By TechFan4Life
September 17, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
On throwing cups: SHUT UP!!!! Cups are thrown in every statium! They were being thrown due to multiple horrible calls! If it were possible to send a cup half way down the field to hit the refs… they would have. BC’s team was just closer to the sideline.
On the classiness of fans: Don’t lecture us on class UGAys. I was at the UGA vs GT game last year and your fans are the worst in the state!!! I was walking back to the parking lot by myself, retaining what dignity I had left, and a pack of retards in red surrounded me and barked all the way back to my car. Class? It’s not just the session of instruction you skip everyday.
We didn’t act very professional on Saturday, but you have ZERO room to talk when it comes to having class.
By Greg
September 17, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this
This nothing new for Ryan. I don’t think anyone can slow him down, he’s that good. Ryan is a four year starter and that experience was evident. This is Bennett’s third game and the first real test were he’s had to throw the ball. I agree at times he looked bad but I did see some positives. Did we really think we’d see GT’s passing game be rated one of the best in the nation with a first year starter at QB and only one experienced receiver? We want see another one like Ryan, I agree, so 10-1 is a possibility. Bennett and his receivers will get better. They just need time. Ryan is the real deal and a lock in the top ten of next year’s draft. The Falcons look like they will be drafting #1 with their play so what about Ryan in red and black?
By No Justification
September 17, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
TechFan4Life, I cannot believe you are trying to justify throwing things at the opposing team. What happened to all of the hooplah about how good your team was after beating Notre Dame (0-3) and Samford (who?)? What you got Saturday night was a good dose of reality. UGA got a shot of that against South Carolina, and may get a refill a few times this year. One thing you can count on is that UGA will show up to play the game on November 24th. When can we start calling Bobby Dodd Stadium a “neutral” site? We usually bring just about as many fans as GT.