AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > September > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTech graveyard kills ACC hopes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Charlottesville, Va. — They were done Saturday when Virginia wasted no time zipping ahead for keeps in the fourth quarter after a muffed punt deep inside Georgia Tech territory.
No, they were done four minutes later, when what was a lively gathering of 57,681 inside Scott Stadium became as silent as Thomas Jefferson’s tomb at nearby Monticello. The change was attributable to Tech wide receiver Correy Earls spending just shy of an eternity with a possible neck injury on the field before his gentle departure on a stretcher.
Actually, when you’re talking about the Yellow Jackets’ chances of reaching the ACC championship game by avoiding a second consecutive loss to start conference play, they were done as soon as their schedule said “at Virginia.”
Few campuses are more scenic than Jefferson’s little creation. Woodrow Wilson went to school here. So did Bobby and Ted Kennedy, along with Katie Couric. In fact, nearly every year, somebody or something is ranking this area sitting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains as the definitive place to live.
Guess none of those folks bleed old gold and white.
To Tech, this is an absolutely ghastly area, especially since Virginia now has spent eight consecutive games since 1990 swatting the Jackets within these city limits.
This makes no sense.
“Every year’s different. Every team’s different. It’s just the way it’s happened,” said coach Chan Gailey, whose Tech teams have just happened to lose in Charlottesville three times in as many tries. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, or maybe it’s just one of those sports things. “I guess,” Gailey added. “I don’t put much credence in that kind of stuff.”
So what is it? “I really couldn’t tell you,” said Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett, thinking, before raising his eyebrows. “What? It’s been 17 years since Tech last won here? We’ve played in tougher stadiums. I don’t believe the atmosphere has anything to do with it.”
Goodness, no. Virginia fans are more festive than feisty. Plus, there isn’t a rock for the home team to rub, which is the case for Clemson at Death Valley, located next to a spooky cemetery. There isn’t the tomahawk chop or the war chant that echoes throughout Tallahassee. Well, Virginia does have a horse that gallops around the stadium, but Sabre isn’t as famous as Florida State’s Renegade.
Here’s what it is: When the Jackets play Virginia on the road, they do more to lose than to win.
Period.
This time, the normally sure-handed tacklers for Jon Tenuta’s defense were often sloppy in the clutch. That wasn’t good, especially since Virginia’s Cedric Peerman joins Tech’s Tashard Choice among the nation’s most prolific running backs that few people talk about. With a lot of help from the Jackets, Peerman averaged nearly five yards per carry for 138 yards overall and a touchdown.
Then there was Tech’s shaky passing game. Again. After a wonderful throw for a 56-yard touchdown to Demaryius Thomas on his opening drive, Bennett digressed from there (17-for-40 overall for 230 yards and that touchdown). He also was victimized by dropped catches that even a poor man’s version of You Know Who with the Detroit Lions would have caught. The ugly combination caused the Jackets’ offense to keep settling for field goals (three) instead of touchdowns in an eventual 28-23 loss.
There also were all of those injuries for the Jackets. The starting backfield. A crucial wide receiver. The punt returner (which contributed to that muff by the backup). A safety. The center on occasion. Nothing was as horrific as when Earls laid motionless for nearly 20 minutes after making a block.
“Emotionally, that affected us a lot, because we’re a big family as a team, and that always has been our main thing,” said safety Morgan Burnett, a freshman from College Park who was among those pressed into service after one of those injuries. He responded with an interception.
It wasn’t enough.
Nothing ever is enough for the Jackets around here.
Permalink | Comments (47) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
Comments
By Dawgs2007
September 22, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
Same ole Tech! What a shame. They were going all the way after The Irish and Samford.
Shame,Shame,Shame.
By wes
September 22, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
We are so screwed.
By DawgLuvr
September 22, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
Nice job Terrance, make fun of possible career ending injury. You are terrible along with the Jackets.
By IronMike
September 22, 2007 9:43 PM | Link to this
This is very good news. The more losses the better when you are trying to get rid of the coach. We pay this guy $900k plus. I can beat Duke, Army, Samford and Notre Dame for a mere $350,000.
By Ross Reeves
September 22, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this
I am a Hoo fan and was at the game with family and friends. Correy Earls was the victim of bad luck, not a bad hit, and he seemed to be receiving the most careful attention, which is what caused the dealy. People (like us) on the west side could not see how he was, but occasionally a positive ripple of applause would erupt from the Virginia and Jacket fans on the east side and we took heart. I was searching the web to see what I could find out about the frightening situation with Correy Earls. I am embarassed to say that the Virginia web site did not give an update, but I was shocked that Terence Moore would make that “just shy of an eternity” crack when Earls may spend just shy of the end of his life suffering from an injury. Moore posted at 8:14 p.m. Could he have not reported on Earls’ staus, even to say the doctors had nothing to report? Was he so “ironic” because he knows Earls is OK— if so why not say that? The thoughts and prayers of Virginia fans are with him and the team tonight. We’ll forfeit the game for a good report. And AJC.com should be ashamed and apologize to Earls, the team, and the fans for its allowing this boorish behavior.
By Sad Comment
September 22, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this
I guess if Earls never plays again you’ll laugh and be glad you never see the kid on the field again. Very classy Terrance. If you have any children, i hope for their sake no one writes about them wasting their time receiving attention because of an injury.
By Jordan Vaughan
September 22, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
What an A-hole Terrance Moore is. That is absurd that he would make these comments. You make me sick Terrance.
By Michael
September 23, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this
Everyone needs to relax. The Jackets can still go to a school recerod 11 straight bowls.
Teams always lose 2 and go in the tank. Going in the tank could bring back the 80’s. If Tech people ever supported this program, now is the time.
Think about it, we’re 2-2, but we could be Notre Dame. The Irish may spend the next 3 seasons or longer working towards a bowl. We have 10 straight bowls, not many others can say that. If you keep bowling year after year, eventually the law of averages will turn in Tech’s favor.
We don’t need a National Championship right now, already got 4 of ‘em. What we need is Tech people to suck it up and support these kids in ‘07. Tech’s a helluva lot closer to something great than most would think. On the other hand, the last thing we need is our people turning their heads and giving up. Do that, and Tech may be Notre Dame in 2008.
By P.J.
September 23, 2007 12:13 AM | Link to this
Time to make reservations for the Name Brand Vulcanized Rubber and Steel-Belted Radials Bowl in Charlotte.
By sljackson
September 23, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this
damn t- you really do f*** white boys in the a* dont you.
By sljackson
September 23, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this
damn t- you really do f*** white boys in the a* dont you.
By sljackson
September 23, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this
you are such a piece of sht, terrance. what you said about earls. go to hell. if atlanta reads another article of yours, then youre in good company. complete scum! you really do scre white boys in the as, dont you?
By Confused in Atlanta
September 23, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this
Why do you skewer everyome except the choice to go for it on 4th and 6.
That is the biggest failure in coaching I have seen since Mora Jr. If you’re going to give back the ball, give it back because you missed a FG or because you are kicking off. And only being down 2 would have helped at the end to make easier play calling - nevermind a CHANCE to WIN the game.
You wont get fired when you play to win.
By jackets
September 23, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this
It’s Chan Gailey’s fault Tech lost the game. If Bill Railey was coaching at Tech you better believe he would have screened and fullback dived the Cavaliers out of the stadiium.
By jackets
September 23, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
It’s Chan Gailey’s fault Tech lost the game. If Bill Railey was coaching at Tech you better believe he would have screened and fullback dived the Cavaliers out of the stadiium.
By BJohnDAWG
September 23, 2007 1:22 AM | Link to this
Funny…how some things change and some things remain the same.
The insects from north avenue lose to another team they are suppose to beat.BUGS are 2-2 and this is suppose to be their year.0-2 in the conference. WOW.
Yeah this is indeed your year. LOL.
Oh and Richt and the DAWGS find a way to win on the road.Against a ranked opponent.
GO DAWGS!And to Hell with the BUGS from the North Avenue Vocational technical school.
By surfrider
September 23, 2007 2:23 AM | Link to this
The problem now is front and center as for the program. Six years and we are in last place. We have not developed consistent QB play and the recruiting overally dipped and it showed today. O’leary and Ross once said the first priority is to control the lines of scrimmage then move to speed basically or do both at same time if can. We don’t have the horses on the lines to play straight up and have to revert to schemes. At the same time maybe it will make sense to run the ball more and try some high percentage passes until the passing parties have an understanding of the reads. But all this is really mute as I think Gailey is toast and probably undating his resume. The real prayers now are with the injured player.
By john
September 23, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this
Nice post, Ross Reeves…Very classy. We appreciate it.
However Terrance Moore, along with the ENTIRE staff of writers, editorialists of this crappy newspaper, really make this great city of Atlana look like a third world cesspool. I’m embarrassed that our own hometown newspaper is such a rag, its embarrassing.
Terrance Moore: There is a SPECIAL place in HELL for you for that comment about Cory Earls. You are scum of the earth.
By Jim 70
September 23, 2007 7:49 AM | Link to this
having been a chan supporter for the past six years, i may have to jump on the bandwagon. what is totally frustrating has been his lack of recruiting a qb - josh and transfer steve being maybe an exception. but far too late.
jon tenuta keeps getting ravs about being the next head coach somewhere, but either he is doing miracles with the little talent he has or he is doing poorly with great talent. either way, the defense is not what it was hyped up to be. sure, injuries are a part, but i don’t think you can put all the blame on injuries for both the bc or va games.
at least i did not hear choice or taylor wining about the other team being lucky or gt calling the wrong plays. suck it up, admit we lost the last two games and see what we can pull out for the balance of the season. we can still go 9-2, highly unlikely, but a goal at which we can aim.
and i love the 0-4 for nd - how can a third year coach be in a ‘rebuilding’ year, which he swears it isn’t!
By reality bites
September 23, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
Chan Gailey definitely has the program going in the right direction.
By Terrible Truth
September 23, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Cheer up, you still have a choice between the Queen City Tire Bowl and the Queen City by the Bay Nut Bowl.
By sting
September 23, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
Chan doesn’t have the mentality of a big time winning coach, he’d rather make excuses-but the bottom line is he doesn’t have it, neither does Taylor Bennett have what it takes to be a winning QB and the creme of the staff, Tenuta can’t adjust when teams pick up his blitzing.
By Rich
September 23, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
5 points - 2 field goals would’ve done it. Kick the first one at 4th & 1. Then play defence, get the ball back and kick a second one. No defensive/offensive genius required. Chan has to go. Tech won’t improve on another 7 win year. Bring back O’leary.
By don
September 23, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this
Chan Gailey is probably a good and decent man, admired and respected by players and coaches alike. But his genteel south Georgia upbringing (Americus) didn’t prepare him for the rough and tumble world of high level intercollegiate sports. He would be better off at his old school, Samford, turning out genteel southern boys who don’t aspire to anything more,
By Bryan G.
September 23, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
I hear Boise is beautiful in December.
By 78MuttJacket
September 23, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
It’s hard to believe that Tech did not have the superior team on Saturday. They simply lost because of a lack of confidence and intensity. For the 1st half it was clear that the BC game had really left them flat and with a hang over. Too many mistakes: missed tackles, dropped passes, penalties, and a muffed punt. Add to that the crazy interception!
Let see how the players, coaches, and fans react next Saturday against Clemson. I agree with Michael, the fans need to stick with the team. I’ve got a very good feeling about that game and expect to see the Jackets get back on track. The program is getting better – look at the recruits, last season’s results, and landing John Bond. BTW this is Bond’s 1st season @ OC. It will take at least 1 season to have the new offense fully installed and hitting on all cylinders.
By gtne80
September 23, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
I’m sick of all of this pollyanna-ish, “Look at the recruiting, things are getting better” BS. Talent is not (and has not been) the problem under Gailey. The problem has been his inability to coach the talent that his staff has recruited. Another problem is his staunch refusal to let go of the reins of the offense. He ran off Billy O’Brien after a year and installed himself as OC. When that came back to haunt him, he hired Patrick Nix as a cover. Nix bolted at the first chance to get out from under Gailey and it won’t take Bond long to figure it out either. Gailey calls the shots on offense….an inept, poorly prepared offense. He continues to try to coach college kids like a professional team. His arrogance is blatantly obvious. He is getting more curt and sarcastic with the fans and the press. GAILEY IS A LOSER. THE UGA FANS KNOW IT AND LAUGH AT US FOR TOLERATING HIM. GET A CLUE!!!!!!!
By Be fair
September 23, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
I have read and re-read Mr. Moore’s “just shy of an eternity” remarks and I fail to see the lack of respect or intended humor that has some poor folks all upset. I interpret his words to simply mean that Earls was on the field for a long time. I assume those folks throwing a fit were either already upset with Mr. Moore about a previous article (fairly or unfairly), frustrated by another Tech loss at Virginia, or are simply white supremacists showing off their propensity for hate and lack of intelligence.
By wahoojoe
September 23, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
Have you ever considered the possibility that maybe some of those years that UVa was the better football team? Tech was clearly better the last few years, but upsets do happen. Like Tech going to the ACC championship game with last year’s team. Gailey and Groh are both bad coaches.
By Be fair
September 23, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
I would like to congratulate everyone who loves to second guess - oh if only I was as smart as you. You should pat yourself on the back for saying Tech should’ve gone for the field goal. I know you never would’ve gone for it on fourth and one. And you are so wise, you would’ve still been upset at this stupidity even if Tech threw a touchdown pass on that play and took a two point lead.
And of course, the fact that Tech was four and out the next time they got the ball, wouldn’t deter your wisdom. I suppose if they were only down two after kicking the field goal, they then could’ve kicked the winning 98 yard field goal on fourth down.
By NCWrekfan
September 23, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
Well look at it this way, Chan wants to get his 5 losses a year out of the way early this time. As sad as this is to say GT will continue to be average or below as long as Gailey is there. Over the last few years there has been a strong effort to create balance in the world of college football, but as in all things successful always some migrate to the top. With the separation of this year’s 4 elite teams, it just seems GT will continue to be a mid-level team in a mid-level conference. Gailey is just too much of a pro style (only in the part of calculating job safety) coach. He does not care about wining except in his division, so UGa has nothing to be concerned about as long as he is here. UGa has a chance to be one of the elites, because they have an excellent coach that can recruit. But there is no road to the summit that goes through Atlanta.
By dadgum
September 23, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
Terrence you are correct. It is very simple. Tech does just enough to lose every time in C’Ville. From the players to the coaches…just enough. Fact is though that Tech is all but eliminated from the division race. They will get pounded by Clemson next week then it will be official. You don’t escape an 0-3 ACC hole when you still have Miami and VT to play. UVA was a must win. YES, MUST WIN!
GT may have had better overall speed and talent but it didn’t show. That is coaching folks. Pure and simple. Tech is looking at 5 wins and 6 if they are very lucky. That will get you that hideous Emerald Nut Bowl and Gailey fired. When you count ND, Samford, Army, UNC, & Duke among your kills see the previous sentence.
By m
September 23, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
The hiring of Chan Gailey was the worst mistake in the history of Georgia Tech. I said it in December of 2001, when the atrocity of his hiring took place, and I say it in 2007. Until the cancer of Chan Gailey is removed, mediocrity will continue to reign at Tech. FIRE CHAN…..TODAY. Let the nightmare END….TODAY!!!!
By fred
September 23, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
You cannot “wish’ or “hope” your way to victories.There must be some out-and-out “FIGHT” in the coaches’ make-up, which is transferred to the players. Gailey has never been known as a fierce competitor,which is why so many peers heap raves about his “compassion”, “mentoring”, “class”. GT hired mediocrity and got it. Now…..GET RID OF GAILEY and hire a staff commited to winning (or convert Grant Field to condos). First: Clough and Rad——you got it in you? No? Don’t let the door hit you.
By flack jacket
September 23, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
I have despised the oaf ever since he set foot on campus. What has he done? 1) Major player academic ineligibilities 2) Horrific loss to UGA 3) Disgraceful loss to Duke 4) Thoroughly incompetent offenses 5) Failure to find or develop a good quarterback during his whole tenure? 6) Should I mention our bowl performances. Gailey is an embarrassment to GT. His resume is mediocre. You listen to him talk and you can hear the stupidity.
www.fireChanGailey.com anyone?
-fJ
By Ron
September 23, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
Without a doubt, Tech has no character. Losers find a way to lose. Losers have fate hunt them down like that batted pass that went for a touchdown. Losers drop the interception that would seal a victory. Losers fumble a punt near their own goal line with a narrow lead. Losers draw a penalty on 4th and 1. If any of those items had gone the other way, Tech was a winner. ANY one of them. But, for losers, it goes against you every time, because you do not have the character to step up and take it when the other guys are trying like hell to give it to you. This is like watching the Falcons screw up, year after year. Same thing.
By 91Wreck
September 23, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Well, another disappointing loss to an inferior team - a trademark of Gailey coached teams. After watching the debacles the last two weeks, here are my observations:
It is time for Chan to go. I have been a big supporter of his, but no more. He style isn’t working, and he is too old to change. I know that our program will suffer with a coaching change, but I would rather see a few losing seasons if we could eventually become a consistent top 15 program.
My apologies to GTNE80, but talent is the problem. I went back and looked at the ratings Scout.com gave our starters coming out of high school. Their average rating was 2.37 stars. We can crow about how good our player are, but week in and week out our guys are going up against guys that are bigger, faster, and stronger. We have a talent gap at GT, and that too is Chan Gailey’s fault.
I said it all last year (until I was temporarily fooled with the Gator Bowl performance) that Taylor Bennet just isn’t that good and he never will be. There is a reason why Chan stuck with Reggie. If Chan thought that Nesbitt would help him win more games, he would be in there.
Our offensive and defensive lines are too small. Our offensive line pass protects fairly well, but we cannot seem to open up running lanes against teams that are prepared to stop the run at all costs. Our front four gets absolutely no pressure on the quarterback.
Other teams have finally figured out Tenuta’s smoke and mirror tricks. Our defense just isn’t as good as advertised.
We will be very lucky to win six games this year. We might get lucky and beat Clemson, VT, or Miami, but I bet we will struggle to beat both Duke and Carolina.
It appears we have no on the field leadership. We need a go to guy that can rally the team with his play.
We will lose to UGA for the 7th straight year. UGA doesn’t fold against us, and we always seem to find a way to screw up the end of the game.
By Bill
September 23, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
Please get rid of Gailey.
By Spanky
September 23, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
Well,…on this sort of an occasion , I would just make a comment about how you dorks can be so mouthey 15 days ago,..yet now you’re torching your coach. I’m used to it,..happens every year. But, seriouly, I saw that play where Correy Earls got hurt. It’s one of those unfortunate injuries that happens in football. I hope the guy makes a full recovery. I hope that the AJC will give updates on him.
By gh
September 23, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Basketball will be here soon…..then Baseball….
By nascarfan_not
September 23, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this
Probably, unless Tech adds an animal husbandry program, UGA will continue dominate Tech in most sports. Anyone who would argue that Tech’s a tougher place to recruit is a fool. It more or less boils down to which staff can tell the most convincing lie to a gullable kid or more likely, his mother. But something else you can count on, no matter how dominate UGA becomes, there’s just something about that trade school that UGA doesn’t have. It will continue to gnaw at you; and no amount of dominance will satisfy you or make it go away. It’s OK, have another drink and enjoy your Alabama win. UGA does have great football, but that’s about it.
By gtne80
September 23, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
Mr. 91Wreck, I appreciate the intelligent discourse. Yes, there may be a talent gap between us and our 2.37 star recruits, and the UGA, FSU, Miami, Virginia Tech classes. I don’t think we can claim a huge talent gap with UVA, UMD, UNC, or the bulk of the teams that we compete against.
It wasn’t a talent gap that lost the ACC Championship game last year against Wake Forest. It wasn’t a talent gap that lost that game yesterday.
I’m not so blind as to believe that GT will be in the running for all 4-5 star recruits. We will have to catch the occasional star (like Calvin Johnson or Jonathan Dwyer) and “coach up” the rest of the talent that we do recruit.
That is what makes keeping Gailey such a big mistake. He doesn’t “coach up” anyone. He does not relate to these college kids. He tries to run the program like a NFL franchise and it’s a losing proposition.
By 78MuttJacket
September 23, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this
As a dedicated Tech fan I’m amazed how fast other fans are to call for firing the coaching staff. Not that long ago It would have been considered a fantasy to believe that Tech would beat Miami and Auburn two years in a row, beat Virginia Tech at home and play in an ACC conference championship game. On top of that have two top twenty recruiting classes. The losses so far this season are disappointing but remember: Frank Beamer had 6 very poor seasons before he had a “great’ team. Also lthink back to last year with all the head coaching vacancies that couldn’t be filled with top notch talent: Miami and etc. Do you really think that a Spurrier, Tressel, Richt (yea Rict), or Carroll would come to Tech? BTW name another top academic institution with a better football team: Notre Dame, Michigan, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Tulane, Purdue, and Vanderbilt. Oh yea maybe Virginia.
By Reggie Ball
September 23, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
Ha Ha! I told you jerks it wasn’t just me! It was Chan! He stinks!
By SettingItStraight
September 23, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
nascarfan_not,
Thanks for the insight into your pompous view of your school academically as you wax poetically about how UGA is so “dominate” in sports over Tech. UGA may not have have an engineering school to compare with Tech’s, but obviously Tech students aren’t required to take English classes—something we do have besides football at UGA.
Yes, we can whip you in football. Spell it with me now … D-O-M-I-N-A-N-T! Now go grouse about your sorry coach.
By Dawg
September 23, 2007 11:38 PM | Link to this
Let me get this straight, it was Reggie’s fault,Terence is a poor writer, Goober Gailey is a D-1 coach,Nesbitt will save your season. Next you’ll try and convince me that Choice is an engineer.LOL
By Keno
September 24, 2007 12:59 AM | Link to this
The Atlanta Journal has the best sports page I’ve ever read in my 60+ years. Earls is o.k. and Terence probably knew that. Georgia had a great game with Alabama (Stafford is scary), and Tech had a cruddy game. Is there really some place to put the blame besides maybe we’re just not that good. Tenuta is a great defensive coach, but whenever we face a good passing quarterback, we seem to be very vulnerable, or maybe it’s whenever we can’t get to the quarterback that other teams eat our lunch. Oh well, maybe next year will be better.