AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USJackets believe they can win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a tough thing to evaluate faith, or confidence, but my bat senses tell me more every week that Georgia Tech players and coaches are coming to believe completely in what they’re doing.
There is a lot of wiggle room for interpretation on something like this, but I’m convinced most teams “think” they can win most of the time (not Samford last week), but in the back of players’ and coaches’ minds they know in many instances that they’ll need to have a few breaks, win the turnover war, etc. to actually achieve success.
In short, I’d be willing to bet that if put through a lie detector test a majority of players and coaches (everywhere, not just Tech) would say they “hope” to win. I see the hope range as the huge middle part of what might as well be a bell curve. On the far left, though, you have players and coaches who know they have little or no chance (Samford last week), and on the far right you have players and coaches convinced they’re going to win, or that it will take something like a miracle for them to lose.
In the middle, hope.
I’m not going to trot out any player quotes, or Gailey quotes here because to a great degreet the quotes are the same most years, and not just at Tech I imagine.
This is more about conviction, the way things are said, the body language of the people saying them, the intonation, inflection — all the above and more.
To be clear, I’m not saying any of this means Tech will win Saturday. But I think over the long haul having a belief system like this — as long as it is not falsely implanted — helps a heck of a lot. It sets players, coaches — teams — up better to deal with adversity when they face it because their faith is that much tougher to shake.
And just about everybody faces adversity.
It can go too far. Ohio State felt itself unbeatable in the national championship game last January, and wasted its time in practice leading up to the game. That was gross, big-headedness to the nth degree.
Tech’s nowhere near that point. But I think the Jackets have moved past hope, and are on the right side of my bell curve.
Matt
Comments
By meman
September 12, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Sure, why shouldn’t they believe? After all, they beat a team that hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown this year and has -8 yards rushing and clobbered a last place Division I-AA school. With the pathetic ACC this year (especially in the Coastal Division) there is no reason the Jackets can’t find themselves in a BCS Bowl. Can even Gailey screw this up?
By JustMe
September 12, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Confidence is very important in any sport. It’s great that the Jackets feel this way.
However, the team also must focus on one game at a time and not look too far ahead. They will quickly lose a game (any game) by doing that.
I don’t think that Choice will lose focus. He wants more and will earn it. Good luck with the Heisman!!!
By john
September 12, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
Meman,
Still reeling over the loss to USC last week huh? Hate it for you. It will be a long season for Ugag this year.
Enjoy!
By sg
September 12, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
meman must be one of those mad dog (can you say rabid) UGA fans, just taking a break from bashing Richt in order to bash Tech a bit. Oh my - isn’t there some anger in the state of Georgia this week?!
By jdx
September 12, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Matt, you might need to explain a bell curve for our neighbors in Athens. Draw a picture so you don’t further confuse them.
By meman
September 12, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
My favorite college football team is of no consequence to my comments.
“Facts is Facts,” gentlemen.
By techfan
September 12, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Hey meman,
It should be facts are facts. But I wouldn’t expect a UGAG fan to understand that.
By Reid Taylor
September 12, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
“mini-man” what are the facts about Georgia, Auburn, Miss. St., Vandy, and Tennessee? 1-1. No doubt Florida is good and LSU is the best team in the country. But, when you recruit strait from the Congo, like LSU and 10 other teams in the SEC, you are going to have great football with no academic standards. What is going to be really fun, is watching one the finest academic institutions in the country kick the s** out of UGA this year.
By stew
September 12, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
c’mon guys. i know the ajc needs something to fill up space, but this is a little premature. lets wait until the jackets actually play adecent team before we get our hope too high……..
-hate to say it, but meman is right. the acc is down this year. so, if the jackets are finally gonna cash in on that bcs bowl, this would be the year to do it.
By techfan
September 12, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
meman,
you want to talk about a pathetic acc, how about auburn losing to south flordia.
By Senior Citizen
September 12, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this
MEMAN
SPEAKING OF FACTS ; SPURRIER probably said it best : ” VANDY BEAT THEM “
By Reid Taylor
September 12, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
c’monnn stewww. Like you said, it is a little premature to call anything. Clemson, Tech and BC might be as good as any school in the SEC, with exception of LSU. You can only look at wins and losses, and how you “look” winning and how you “look” losing. Right now, Tech looks pretty damn good and Georgia, Auburn and Tennessee – pretty average.
By addicted
September 12, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Also, I think Matt is trying to convey an attitude that is prevalent in GT’s team, which is a belief that they are definitely amongst the top echelon teams in the country. They were doing well last year in the middle of the season, but did not have such a belief, which led to them losing 3 in a row. I think Matt is trying to convey that with this faith, in adverse situations of the kind they faced in the last 3 games last year, Tech stood a better chance of reversing the result in those games.
Also, can we please ignore the UGA mutts who show up here? It’s a waste of your time to even read what they say, which can often not be avoided, but at least dont waste time replying to them. We should be above that….
By augtguy
September 12, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
I am an Auburn student as well as a Georgia Tech fan. As far as South Florida goes, they would take out half the teams in both the ACC and the SEC. Go Jackets this weekend and War Eagle! I will be at both games and it’s going to be awesome!!
By GT
September 12, 2007 6:13 PM | Link to this
Tech look like winners when they are standing around on defense. They seem calm, like bring it on. Georgia during the Dooley/Russell days had that look. They are not looking over at the sideline or tired, they are just confidently waiting to knock somebody’s block off, like Muhammad Ali use to look while he was standing over a victim. I started noticing it last year. The offense looked out of whack with Ball screwing things up but the defense looked like they could handle anything and knew it. First time I noticed it was around the Virginia game at home. This year I notice it a little in the offensive line. The way they walk up to the line calmly knowing the territory. Old Secretariat had the same look heading into the gate at Churchill Downs. It’s “so glad you people have come to see me do my thing”. It’s there God knows how it got there I sure wasn’t expecting it, but God also knows I love watching it.
By buzztheirazz
September 12, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this
GT—great point.
It’s just plain confidence in what they’re doing. I believe that it’s the experience and depth that we really haven’t had before. Tenuta always has his players knowing what they’re going to do b4 they do it, so that they can just play without having to think about it.
By wes
September 12, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this
At least noone expects greatness from TBennett anymore after his first couple games. I think the exact same sentiments were rendered about TB before the Gator Bowl last year.
Tech 26 BC 16
By wes
September 12, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this
At least noone expects greatness from TBennett anymore after his first couple games. I think the exact same sentiments were rendered about TB before the Gator Bowl last year.
Tech 26 BC 16
By JACKETFAN 2
September 12, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
I am going to change the subject a little bit here. I keep hearing this hype about LSU. They are big, fast, and dumb. They goof up every year. I mean about every year. They can, and will lose 1 or 2 games, and that ain’t talking about losing in the championship.
By meman = owned
September 12, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this
meman, you failed. miserably.
By Slacker
September 13, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this
wes, TB doesn’t have to be great for Tech to win. Unlike Ball, he manages the games very well and give us the best chance to win by limiting the stupid mistakes, not getting over-emotional, and not turning the ball over. That’s what we expect out of TB and if we consistantly get what he’s produced so far, I’ll take it b/c it will bear 10 wins or more.
By WFC
September 13, 2007 6:03 AM | Link to this
SLACKER: you nailed it!! Bennett has no delusions of grandeur. He’s calm, cool and collected. And, as Clint Eastwood said: “A man’s got to know his limitations!” TB knows that with his superior offensive line and great running backs, he simply needs to provide stability and leadership. Avoid mitakes and GT will probably win.
By shivas
September 13, 2007 6:50 AM | Link to this
In the ND game you could see a different attitude about this team. At anytime in that game did it feel like we could lose? I usually have knots in my stomach throughout the game, but for some reason felt perfectly calm. This team does have attitude, and you can see it by how TC runs the ball.
By gtbaltfan
September 13, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
Slacker has a point. I am a GT grad, hugeJackets fan, now living in Baltimore and also a huge Ravens fan. In the 2000 season, the Ravens had a guy named Tony Banks at QB. He stunk, so they replaced him with Trent Dilfer at QB around the first of October. The Ravens did not score a single offensive touchdown in October but won three games. Dilfer played steady, no mistakes, very few ints., etc. The Defense was awesome and the running game solid with Rookie Jamal Lewis. The Ravens kicked a* the rest of the way, ran the table in the playoffs and stomped the Giants in the Super Bowl. Dilfer was boring but he didn’t lose any games for the Ravens. GT has a similar situation this year. Great D, great running game and a smart, though perhaps not spectacular QB. If TB comes around like in the GB, all the better, but I don’t see him losing games for us. I thinks GT’s season will be similar to the Ravens 2000 season. I sure hope so.
By Herbert
September 13, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this
Man we are going to have a hell of a Tickle Pile on Saturday night!!!!! Nothing like being a Girlyman on North Avenue!!!!
By gte578e
September 13, 2007 8:21 AM | Link to this
Maybe everybody should stop piling on meman? Is he wrong about what he said? He perfectly described the two opponents we beat. Don’t get me wrong, he’s obviously bitter, but we might want to wait to celebrate until Sunday. That’s the way it works on a team. You celebrate the day, maybe two after a victory; then it’s on to prepare for the next week.
Now, I couldn’t agree more with Matt, GT and Buzz. Having been on teams on both sides of the “belief” window, it can work miracles. It’s so much easier to scrape yourself off the ground when you’re exhausted in the fourth quarter if you KNOW you’re going to beat your opponent on the next play. Conversely, if you don’t have supreme confidence in what you’re doing, you’ll hesitate. Did you ever see an FSU player hesitate in the 90’s? What about Oklahoma’s defense? What about LSU and USC?
I’m not saying we’re in their league (yet), but it’s that confidence that win’s close games, like the four games we lost last year by four points or less.
I think this confidence is part of something bigger? I started to get a feeling in the offseason that Tech was on the verge of changing from a ‘team’ to a ‘program.’ What do you guys think?
By Big Coot
September 13, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this
GA Tech is good enouph to run the table in a down ACC! TB in charge absolutly gives us (tech) its best chance to win. He is smart and if you watch he actually makes reads. something i have not seen in 4yrs at tech. I will be at the game saturday and i have a real good feeling about it, the same feeling i had about ND. These men know they can win and win they will, Alot this tear.
By gatech87
September 13, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
No doubt as a former Div I SA, there is a HUGE difference in the end result if you walk out knowing that you are probably going to win if you play your game and minimize the errors. There’s no wishful thinking with that mindset…
By NS GTfan
September 13, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Big Coot, I also have a good feeling about this weekend. I like the article today about how Chan limited Tashard’s time on Saturday because we didn’t need him anymore. Well, I am confident we will see him in there the whole game, simply because it is a conference game. BC has an awesome defense, even though I think ours is better, but they have not seen a run game anywhere near as good as ours, so I think they will see their rush defense ranking drop considerably. TB is definitely a much smarter QB than Reggie Ball, and I am excited about this weekend because I think that we will see the whole offensive package unveiled this weekend.
GT 31 BC 17
By Big_Boy
September 13, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
Yo mean facts are facts dumb a@$?
By Bad_Boy
September 13, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
Yo mean facts are facts dumb a@$?
By shivas
September 13, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
TC is the horse, and we need to ride him often. Keep pounding the ball and movin the chains. I sure do miss all those DAWG fans talkin trash. Where are they? What’s the sound of one hand clapping?
By YO
September 13, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Meman = Redneck, imbred, loser. Facts are facts, gentlemen.
By gte578e
September 13, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
NSGT, I liked the article about resting Choice too. Anyone remember the score and amount of game left when Tony Hollings tore his ACL? I believe it was 28-19 and trying to run out the clock in the fourth quarter.
By New York Jacket
September 13, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
Tech did a better job on ND than Penn State. As a result the reserve players at Tech got quality minutes playing against a good ND team.
Samford was a scrimage but the Jacket offense looked sound and again the reserve players got a lot of minutes.
Boston College is as good as ND and maybe a little better. But Tech is overall a better team.
Jackets by 10
By Wrecker1
September 13, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
I think that what Matt is talking about here with the confidence level at TECH I started picking up on during spring practice. I think most athletes go into just about every game expecting to win b/c they and their coaches have put in the time and energy to do so. But some teams, and I really believe this TECH team fits in this category, go in knowing they will win and can’t believe it when they don’t. I think TECH had a lot of this approach last year and that’s why they beat VPI and came back to beat Miami b/c they knew they would win if they kept the faith. I said during the summer this team would be 12-0 going into the ACC-C and bowl season and I still stand by that.
By joe schmoe
September 13, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Meman, a Dawg fan on a Tech blog—u really have a life don’t you?? Why don’t you come around here when your pups finally beat an SEC East team—yep, lost to all the other 5 the last times you’ve played em.
I’m on UGA’s campus right now and have been all week. These folks, and the players I’ve encountered have lost a lot of confidence. As for Tech, those guys have had it all season long—I am around them quite a bit and it’s really something different from the last years, even last year.
By Wrecker1
September 13, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
gte578e I believe you’re right that the final score had already been established when Hollings got hurt. I can’t blame Gailey for having him in there though. I believe there was still 5-6 minutes to go and Hollings gave TECH their best chance to get 1st downs. He actually hurt his knee planting his foot which you could do in a non-contact practice. Wouldn’t it have been interesting to see Hollings play the whole year though to see what type numbers he could put up? He was TECH’s first break away back since the King Bee, Eddie Lee Ivery.
By yellowblood
September 13, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
I feel so much better knowing that Grant is ready. He’s a fine runner and I know that(god forbid) if Choice were hurt that Grant and Dwyer can handle the job. All we need to do Saturday is complete about 10 passes and avoid turnovers and dumb penalties.
By yellowblood
September 13, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
You guys are absolutely correct about Bennett. He knows he dosen’t have to carry this team and just has to think, react, and protect the ball. Thats all. Again,give me George Godsey any day over some kid who can throw the ball 100 yards and feels he is the only chance his team has. George changed my entire opinion on what a winning QB is. I firmly believe Bennett has
By Thorpe
September 14, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
What happened the last time Tech played BC?
What happened the last time Georgia played BC?
Go BC!