Tech

By addicted

January 25, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

I think the “crimes” people were screaming about was not about all the players, but just 1 in particular, who went to Alabama, because people suspected interference from an individual who was not allowed, by NCAA rules, to do anything wrt recruiting.

I have heard that the lack of in-state players this year has to do with the lower academic standards of this years class.

When you say consecutive conference wins, do you mean consecutive conference wins in away games?

By scooter11

January 25, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

He said ‘away’ in the first sentence. Duh.

By Matt Winkeljohn

January 25, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

Addicted,

You’re right about the academic viability of in-state players. Giff said that in a story I wrote months ago, and I’m sure it’s been repeated.

And Chris Jackson wasn’t the only de-commit some folks complained about, although there was absolutely howling about that one. I’m still fuzzy on whether there was a problem. Matter fact, I’m going to explore.

Back in a few days.

By GA Tech insider

January 25, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

Matt, while you are making some waves, why not also mention Jared Edwards, who is visiting GA Tech this weekend? He was committed to Iowa State but recently decommitted and will commit to GA Tech this weekend. He is a 6’5”, 250 pound tackle out of Mansfield Timberview High in Arlington, Texas and I understand that he is “country strong” and has a “mean streak”. He is still growing and Tech’s coaches think he can put on at least 40 pounds of muscle with no problem without losing a step.

Also, while I am mentioning recruits, in case anyone is interested, Evan Epstein, of Bishop Lynch High in Dallas, is visiting the following weekend, and should commit at that time.

While Evan is listed as a center and long snapper, since he is 6’4” and 285 lbs, and runs about 4.8 40, he is also known for his enormous strength and agility due to a wrestling background. He sounds perfectly suited as a guard in the new offense as he is so mobile.

It looks like Coach Johnson and his staff are finding some quality recruits who are academically eligible and fit into the new schemes, even though they started a bit late. Kudos to the staff.

By gtNC

January 25, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Can’t argue with you Matt. People definitely take it too personally when kids change a verbal commitment. I think it’s because it hasn’t happened much in recent years, so people sort of forget how this works. But they’re 17 year-olds. And some of them commit a year before they have to sign. It’s understandable to be unhappy about it, but don’t hold it against the kids.

Holding it against, oh, a dir. of player personnel? That’s understandable. Do explore, Matt. But we’re all sure that “he was not involved in any way”. Pure coincidence. Really.

By GTFan

January 25, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

Instead of just mentioning the recruits that decommitted, how about talking about their stats, what they bring to the table,etc.

By name withheld

January 25, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

if a kid commits and another school still goes after him…is it poaching (trespass for the purpose of stealing)?

By GA Tech insider

January 25, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

I guess Matt hasn’t heard that DJ Donley has decided to transfer to South Carolina yet. I Thought that would be headline news at the AJC.

By LongBeachJacket

January 25, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

Football recruiting will be fine. Some will come, some will go. It will work itself out. It’s too be expected.

To speculate, I’m looking forward to seeing how Dwyer - the big back, and Roddy Jones - the small back..and the other “fire plugs” Coach PJ is recruiting fit together. Should be interesting.

Don’t want to speculate about our QB situation. That will work itself out.

Womens hoops. They’ll be fine. Sometimes you have an off night. The trend is positive.

Mens hoops. UVA game is VERY IMPORTANT. It is winnable. Mens team needs to win at least 4 road contests, and hold serve at home to get a reasonable shot at NCAA. They got 1, now let’s get the next 1. Take’m one at a time.

Theme that describes Mens Hoop team: “Absent Causey it is a lost cause.” “With Causey hope flickers.”

In an ironic sort of way, Matt Causey is a “one and done” that actually works out for Coach Hewitt. What a pleasant surprise!

GO JACKETS!

By Whiner

January 25, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

You guys are such a bunch of sore losers. The only, and I repeat, the ONLY different qualifying attribute that Tech requires of their prospective athletes is that they carry a 2.5 GPA, as opposed to a 2.0. I love your pathetic attitude though. When yall have a good recruiting year, you declare that you have “outrecruited Georgia,” and when you have a horrid recruiting class, you blame it on the kids not being smart enough to go to Tech. What crap. Yall wouldn’t be singing the same tune if Richard Samuel, Dontavious Jackson, and Tavarres King would’ve chosen Tech. They are all GREAT students, and probably would’ve been the smartest athletes on your dump of a campus. But guess what? They’ll be in Athens next year. It’s not that there was a shortage of capable student athletes in Georgia, it’s just that they didn’t choose Tech. So now they’re “stupid.” No wonder everybody thinks your “school” is a joke.

By Matt Winkeljohn

January 25, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

2.55 at the end of junior year. more h.s. math required, too. dunno the cutoff in test scores off the top of my head. also, h.s. GPA is tabulated a little differently by tech than by some schools. if a kid flunks a high school class and repeats it, the new grade does not replace the former in tabulating gpa. they both count. dunno, though, which schools use the replacement method, but i do know that some do.

By RAMBLE ON!

January 25, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

Whiner must have gotten fired by a GT Graduate.

MATT say it ain’t so about DJ Donley!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Marcus Wright

January 25, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

Whiner When yall have a good recruiting year, you declare that you have “outrecruited Georgia,” and when you have a horrid recruiting class, you blame it on the kids not being smart enough to go to Tech. What crap.

I guesse the Texas 5A offensive player of the year is horrid. Don’t get caught up in the number of stars a guy has on Rivals.

Are you worried what Paul Johnson might do with a full year to recruit the state? You should be.

Good recruiting class this year. THWG

By TDone

January 25, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

Whiner,

Are you a football player? If not, why do you insist on living your life on the “decisions” 18-22 year old kids make? If your life is justified by college football recruiting, I really feel sorry for you.

Get a life, Dude!!!

By OLD MAN

January 25, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

Whinner — get the f—k off our web site. Go play with your precious UGA’s testicles. That’s probably the best sex you’ll have this month.

Now, let’s get back to Tech. Looks like Johnson and staff are doing fine in the last minute recruiting arena. Let’s see how it all plays out.

Sorry I’m so old, but once again, I ask would some one please tell me about this “tickle pile” phrase?

Thanks, Class of 57

By cooter

January 25, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this

BTW Taylor Cooper is really Cooper Taylor alias.

By Matt Winkeljohn

January 25, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this

The Donley stuff is at least partially true. Just talked to him, although I’m not normally doing much football this time of year. Mike is out of town, though.

He gone, but said the story his HS coach told Scout.com about him transferring to South Carolina might be premature.

He’s not coming back to Tech, though. He’s at home.

Story on the website soon.

Tough loss. Very, very, very good football player.

By BuzzEng

January 25, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this

Craig, to your question: Lady Jackets had a rough one last night. They were starting to get some attention, respect. Think that had anything to do with how they played? I’d respond: “It ain’t just the Lady Jackets - every Atlanta team seems bit by that bug - Hawks, Thrashers, Braves, Falcons, GT” - seems like even a little positive press or national coverage is the proverbial kiss of death.

By BuzzEng

January 25, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this

Matt - sorry for the “Craig” thing (blame it on my Thrasher blog habit).

By Yellow Jacket 56

January 25, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this

You UGA fans who continue to write on the Tech blog need to stop. I understand you’re obviously looking for more intelligent conversation than what you get on the UGA blog. Still, that’s no excuse. Please write on your own blog.

Good job by Coach Johnson and staff on short recruiting season. Probably will have to endure a rocky first year but I think the future holds much promise for more success than the previous regime. I do not expect us to become a top 5 program, but I do think we should be a top 25 team year in and year out. Every 5 to 10 years, with that kind of consistency, you can have a shot at the national title.

By Chan Gailey's Designated Driver

January 25, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this

Tickle Pile: http://i12.tinypic.com/4vskpl5.jpg

By eddie

January 25, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this

DJ Donley was probably the best physical specimen on the team. Don’t tell me this doesn’t matter. Get your head out of your a##. You can’t play big-time football with 1A talent. And don’t say Navy is big-time football. All of this sucks.

By gtforever

January 25, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this

Whiner

Spoken like a true UGA fan! Son, go back to your double wide and crack open another PBR!

By whiner

January 25, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this

Wow, you guys are so smart. I offered a valid argument, correlating the success of Tech’s recruiting classes, and the subsequent excuse making by the Tech faithful(?). All you lowlifes did was declare that I was stupid, like to sleep with dogs, and lived in a trailer. Wow. What intellectuals you are. Jesus.

By gtnation

January 26, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this

Sorry to say but Donley is not the last to transfer. Nesbitt may QB by default.

By surfrider

January 26, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this

Hate to see Donley go as these kids get caught in these coaching changes but that could happen anywhere next year at other schools aka. Threet. Hopefully there will be more emphasis on the school verse the scheme (eventhough we were ranked 100 in passing why is anyone wandering we are changing from that). The previous staff said they recruited players for the school but it appears otherwise. To those that remain, this coach is adaptable and will adapt schemes and plays to win and be exciting. And if history is a measure Pepper Rodgers running the wishbone sent more players to the pros than anyone since, one year 7 players drafted and another 5 signed free agent deals. But I like what we are recruiting so far and it should be better as time goes on.

By roddy

January 26, 2008 2:38 AM | Link to this

Bennett transfering? He won’t play in the new system anyway. I bet he’s next on the list to get a flight out of Hartsfield. Nesbitt is the right QB for his system and will be the starter regardless.

Donley is a big loss but lets face it, he’s a receiver and he wouln’t be able to contribute much under PJ’s new system anyhow. Burnett is stud on D and Donley would ride the pine if he did convert to defense.

Face it, a house cleaning of sorts will be needed and we have to be patient.

By WFC

January 26, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

College football recruiting is an inexact science. I coached HS football for 15 years and here is the deal. Sure, height, weight and speed are important. But not NEARLY as important as DESIRE and LOVE FOR THE GAME. Football is demanding. I wish that I had $20 for every talented player who was burned out by his junior year in high school but continuued on simply because he had been playing since he was 6 or his parents wanted him to. You don’t really know about a guy until he takes the collegiate field. And some guys are punks regardless of their “40 times.” Finally, GT as a school isn’t for everyone. I love the Jackets and have since 1960 but it wasn’t the right school for me to attend.

By Come on D.J. Donley

January 26, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Glad to see you have seen the error of you ways. CMR will surely be glad to see you in the Classic City.

By Come on Morgan Burnett

January 26, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Take Donley’s lead and check out the Classic City too.

By Josh Nesbitt is next

January 26, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Hey Josh , wanna come play saftey for us at Virginia Tech ? Better chance of making it to to NFL .

By Matt Winkeljohn

January 26, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Burnett may stay at cornerback, where he played at the end of the season and the leaders to play opposite Word-Daniels are Reese and Butler. If Donley stayed, and played safety, just who was he going to sit the bench behind? Djay Jones? Gone. Jamal Lewis? Gone. Joe Gaston? Gone. Martin Frierson? Dunno about that. He’d have been an almost certain starter at safety.

Charlton County coach Richard McWhorter on Friday told Scout.com that Donley was likely to transfer to South Carolina or possibly Purdue. McWhorter said Donley would have transferred to South Carolina already, but he did not get his release from Tech in time to do that.

But Donley said Friday night, “It’s wide open. I’m just waiting to see where, researching schools and waiting to see what’s next. I’ll have to sit out next season [because of NCAA transfer rules].”

By gt45

January 26, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Matt, Just out of curiosity, when a player says he is leaving, publicly, could he be allowed to come back to the school he “left” and play the next year? I hate to see DJ go, because I know that he is a heck of an athlete. I think we’ll be covered at reciever, but we will surely miss him on defense. Also, any dates on Spring practice, yet?

By Jake Astron

January 26, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

Worry about what we have and not what we lost. If Donley feels he needs to transfer let’s wish him the best, not talk down his skills.

PJ will be fine. We didn’t hire him to coach like Gailey, so it is inevitable that some players won’t like him or his style. It is what it is.

In the end, we traded a poor coach for what appears to be an excellent one.

And remember that there are four certanties in life:

1)Death 2)Taxes 3)That from January to Septenber, according to their fans, UGA is going to win the National Championship 4)Starting in late September, according to their fans, UGA will win next year’s National Championship

By PT Dawg

January 26, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

Typical GT drivel when it comes to getting smoked in in-state recruiting. When the Jackets are getting pummeled, as this year, it’s always the academics. When they can compete, e.g last year, suddenly that’s not such a big issue. And there’s not a big difference between the kids this year to last in academics and hasn’t been a big difference from year to year since 1986 (first year I kept up with recruiting; can’t speak for the years prior to that). But that excuse always pops up.

So, Matt, since you blindly agreed and won’t due your job and research this, I will to see what’s really going on here. I reviewed UGA’s in-state commitments/early enrollees to see if they had an offer from GT. And indeed many of them did. UGA has 15 kids either committed or enrolled from the state of Georgia. (Hebron wasn’t counted b/c he is originally from Maryland). Of those, nearly half, 7, also had an offer from GT - Tavarres King, Xavier Avery, Brandon Boykin, Bacarri Rambo, Christian Robinson, Deangelo Tyson, and Nick Williams. Of the remaining 8 kids, Cornelius Washington doesn’t have any other offers listed from anyone due to his early commitment to UGA; Bryce Ros and Cordy Glenn have offers from Wake Forest and Virginia respectively (schools also known for recruiting academically superior talent;)and Richard Samuel and Dontavious Jackson have already enrolled and attending classes. So that leaves just 3 of UGA’s commits that do not have offers from GT and either have academic questions or that status is not known at this time.

So, please, quit with the academic excuse for this class. You offered nearly half the kids we have committed from the state of Georgia and lost several more commits of your own with the coaching change. You lost them, plain and simple. It may be b/c your stadium is smaller and less intense, didn’t feel comfortable with the coaching uncertainty over the past year, don’t like the new offense, don’t like the new coaches, related better with the previous administration, would rather play in a better football conference or for a better football school, etc. Placing the blame solely and squarely on academics when more than half of our commits/admits from this state either were extending offers or could get in to school at GT is lame, incorrect, and quite frankly a loser’s mentality. Perhaps it’s the latter.

By joey

January 26, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

why does a kid have to be a five star player coming out of highschool to be a great player. i no out of experience living in nebraska that the huskers got all 4 and 5 stars for the past 5 or so years with callahan and all of them stunk. let me tell you something the midland states (nebraska, kansas, missouri, south and north dakota, iowa) have about all 2 star players just because no one knows who they are, but those are the kinds of players that end up being the best. it seemed to work out pretty well for nebraska in the pst befoer they got all these high recruits dont u think. hince 3 titles in 4 years in the 90;s.

By PTpuppy

January 26, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

PT-

I don’t think Tech fans are trying to make excuses, but when the coaching staff comes out months ago and says that it’s a down year for eligible recruits in state for GT, and we will recruit heavily out of state, we believe them. They said this well before Georgia started putting it’s class together. Also, when hasn’t Georgia out-recruited Tech in-state? They always have, well before Richt got there. But there is usually enough talent in state for us to get ours and you to get yours. This year it was not the case.

Also, I know for a fact that he never offered Boykin, I’m not going to look up the others that you said we offered.

By gt45

January 26, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

PT Dawg, Do you not have anything else to do? If you were a kid in highschool, would you want to go to a middling program, or a team that wins 10 or 11 games a year? You see, that is what we are trying to fix. We want to be that program, again, so kids will want to come to Atlanta. GT has a reputation as a tough school, academically. That is a fact. So you can go to a school who wins consistently, and maybe coast a little in class, or go to a place like Tech, which will be improving, and have to face the challenges both on and off the field. Some kids have that drive, some don’t. Now, we don’t care what your opinion of Matt is. This is not a UGA blog, so if you don’t have anything else to talk about, go bad mouth SC or Tenn.

By AlabamaRamblinwreck

January 26, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

It was inevitable that we would lose WR’s like Chris Jackson and now DJ. They don’t like having to block as much as they have to in the option offense. I for one am not worried about next year. I figure it will be anywhere from 4-8 to 8-4, and that is o.k. with me. I know that Coach Johnson is looking at making the program strong for years to come, and I am excited about watching a more unpredictable offense.

I could call Coach Gailey’s plays almost everytime, so I know the other team always knew what was coming.

Be patient, and please realize that it will take Coach 2-3 years to get us where we want to be, competitive on a national scale.

By PT Dawg

January 26, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

gt45 “If you were a kid in highschool, would you want to go to a middling program, or a team that wins 10 or 11 games a year? You see, that is what we are trying to fix. We want to be that program, again, so kids will want to come to Atlanta.”

Middling describes your program now for about the 6th decade or so, but I digress. Don’t let any sort of facts get in the way, but you already HAD several highly rated kids that either were committed to your program or were in your program. The QB from Arizona, WR’s from Ga, Fl, and one other I don’t recall at the moment, Donley, Peek, etc. Now you’re getting kids that only other “middling” programs such as Middle Tenn St or Tulsa want. That makes absolutely no sense.

In addition, you claim want to be improving, yet the vast majority here and GT folks I know admit that it will take Johnson “time to get his system in place and are expecting a tough 1-2 years. So going from say 7-5 to 5-7 isn’t an improvement and if you don’t think that won’t have a negative impact on recruiting, then think again. Why on earth would top flight QB’s, OT’s (blind-side pass blocking 5* kids will NOT want to play in a triple option offense), WR’s, or TE’s then come to your school play in a triple option run oriented offense where they won’t get the ball that’s losing on top of all that?

Reality check is you guys are in for a rough couple of years and it’s got nothing to do with academics.

Oh, and the other blogger that could call Gailey’s plays. Who won’t be able to call Johnson’s plays? It’ll be a run 95% of the time.

By gt45

January 26, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

TP, We all know there will be growing pains. We all knew we would lose recruits. Any realist knows not to expect an ACC championship the first year. But the pantry ain’t bare, either! Tech people were ready for a change, and we got it. PJ is getting a pretty young and somewhat experienced offense to come back. We may be hurting on D, but the majority of the Tech folks believe we are going in the right direction. You guys have had top recruiting classes since Goff, and you don’t have a NC, yet. Look that up if you want! The coach makes more of a difference than you obviously know. Only time will tell if his system will work at BCS level, but I know Gailey’s didn’t.

By Knowshon Moreno

January 26, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Just thought I’d ask if maybe my teammates and I could play you guys the first game of the season instead of the last because GA Southern looks a little better and I want an easier tune up game.

By dustin

January 26, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

gt will be find tech fans dont let these ignorant bull dog fans get you down cause its to hell with georgia

By Jimmy

January 26, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

The ignorance of certain people crack me up. PJ’s offense will NOT run it 95% of the time. This aint exactly a “3 yds and a cloud of dust” philosophy that this offense will have. It will probably be about 60/40 run to pass, but w/ Nesbitt as the QB, watch out.

By flub

January 26, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

If all the comments by the DAWG NATION are true about UGA out-recruiting GT year in and year out, why have we not seen a National Champ since 1980. It seems that your main goal is to out-recruit the rest of the nation(GT in paticular) and forget about the NC.

By Buzz Belle

January 26, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Hate to lose Donley but I wish him well under Spurrier. We will be fine, no, we will be great! It will take time, which we have, patience, which we have, and something NOBODY else has - THE LOVE OF TECH!

THWG

By TM

January 26, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Guys, Sounds to me like PT Dawg is scared of what’s to come in football at Tech. You can explain away about Coach Johnson’s new system, different players to fit the system, the fact that it will take time FOR improvement (and it may not), and academics and he just won’t get it..typical UGA mentality. Furthermore, he doesn’t have a clue that future players will not want to play in the triple option offense. He doesn’t know WHAT future players will choose. AND, how does he know that Tech will be losing? Sounds insecure to me. For years and years, UGA people just cannot accept the fact that Tech is a tough school academically and SA have to face alot of challenges on and off the football field. It’s been said that “Students who flunk out at Tech can go to UGA and make the Dean’s List.”

By P Dawg

January 26, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

Would the idiot calling himself Knowshon please stop embarassing himself and respectable UGA fans? No need to kick a program while it’s down. We wouldn’t appreciate it, would we?

By Coach Richt

January 26, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

Why does it matter what you made on the SAT? You come to Georgia to play football not study. And after we’ve used you up, if you don’t go to the NFL, when you move back home to South Georgia with a meaningless degree you can always sell you SEC championship ring on ebay. I mean, that’s what life is all about right?

By P Dawg

January 26, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

flub, the reason is simple. We play in the toughest conference in the nation. A few years ago, UGA had one loss, beat LSU to win the SEC and still didn’t get to play for the championship. Until there is a playoff system implemented you have to get REAL lucky! I’m glad we’re in the SEC but sometimes you wonder how many championships UGA would have if they played in the PAC-10, Big-12, or the Big-10. They just love OSU,USC, and Oklahoma for some reason. I mean, it took a very strange year for LSU to get in with two losses. I can only hope that UGA can run the table this year and let OSU play their weak schedule and get to us and let three consecutive SEC teams walk the dawg on them. No doubt UGA will kill them if we get there.

By P Dawg

January 26, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

The jacka$$ calling himself Coach Richt just made Tech fans look as bad as the idiot calling himself Knowshon. Tech has easy courses for their athletes and not all of UGA’s players choose to take these courses. Ever hear of custodial engineering anyone?

By Matt Winkeljohn

January 26, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

Custodial engineering? Seriously?

I digress, to use very big word used earlier by an interloper.

Facts? Go back and read the Tech recruiting story from four or five months ago, when the recruiting coordinator said in the paper that this will not be a year for great emphasis on in-state SA’s at Tech because the pool of players academically in play was smaller than usual for Tech.

But I admit, it gets old when Tech fans lean on academics as an excuse, but no less so from my neutral position than when Georgia fans get defensive about academics every time Tech fans use them as an excuse. Stop defending your own academics unless you’re ashamed of them. It gets a little old both

By TDone

January 26, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

PT Dawg, I would hope all this is your hobby. Otherwise, you have loads of problems.

It seems to me that you folks are putting a whole lot of pressure on yourselves.

Remember, there is a thin line between hurt, anger, and disappointment. If you don’t get to the NC game, what will you be willing to settle for?

By blog name ?

January 26, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this

PT Dog…do you always use this handle? or, do you normally sign as reality check? If not, you two should get together…both Tech haters.
cust’d eng same as animal husband lol another always…just as soon as the dogs lose one…it’s a rebuilding year!

By little ben

January 26, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this

I agree with Matt. If we keep using academics as an excuse (and i admit I’ve done it too) we may as well just quit the ACC and Div. I football and start our own Ivy League of the South with Duke, UNC, Wake and Vandy. No one brought up academics in 1990, right? Yes, we’re behind the eight ball a bit with higher standards, but there is so much in our favor, (future job prospects, being in the heart of Atlanta, cracking the starting line up sooner, etc.) that good players come our way all the time. I just watched 5 Jackets play in the Senior Bowl today, more than from any other school on the South’s squad. That tells me something’s working…

By hj

January 26, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

sec is good?? alabama vs sl, auburn vs s fo, ole miss vs missouri, s car vs clemso…..

By Wreckitrocket

January 26, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this

There were more “sour grapes” when the Henry Cty kid went to Bama mostly because of suspected interference, and because the kid was so outspoken and “pro-Tech” even just before he bolted. No one besides Winklejohn is particularly impressed by the defectors we have received, since they are defecting from inferior schools, both football-wise and reputation-wise. We might get excited and feel the guilty pangs of hypocrisy if we actually stole a quality athlete from an SEC school. Nonetheless, kudos to our new coach and staff for getting some solid, if unspectacular kids to commit relatively quickly, and we’ll hope for the best. It’s a shame that in the AJC Top 100 Southern Recruits, Tech doesn’t have a SINGLE recruit….not one. Even NC State has several….not mention many others. There are many ranking systems, and the only proof is on the scoreboard after they play awhile, but we have to hope the new system and the old talent carries us through the first year or so. Hoping for the best, expecting at least break-even, and willing to settle for a win in Athens.

By Old Grad

January 26, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this

I live in the mountains of north Georgia. The only tech fans up here are graduates like myself or people had attended or had some association with Tech. Everyone is a Georgia fan because of their “upbringing”. Hence Georgia is going to get the greater number of instate recruits no matter their record or who is coaching.

I also read where D J D. is academically inelligble which brings up another difference in the two schools. Getting in is one thing but staying in is another matter. And without the crip majors other schools have the school does not appeal to a lot of kids.

By DWG

January 27, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this

Time for a reality check tech fans. Let’s face it… tech people are smart, football guys are smart but not”tech” smart. The reality is that you can’t win with smart guys over superior athletes in football. As a dawg fan I hope tech makes the rivalry more competitive but you guys are stealing recruits from Duke not UGA. As a UGA fan, if my son wanted to get an engineering degree, I’d tell him to go to tech. If he wanted to do anything else I’d say go to athens. Best of luck in the future (except against us of course) but the reality is it’s a hard sell for a jock - even a smart one - to play in a 50K stadium as opposed to 100K. Good luck tech, I’ll be rooting for you until the end of November.

By DWG

January 27, 2008 1:07 AM | Link to this

TDone - If the dawgs don’t win the NC this year it won’t be a disappointment to most uga fans (I know some on these boards are irrational). Hopefully we’ll have a shot at the SEC but if that doesn’t happen, not the end of the world. I’m just glad that coach Richt has us playing at a high level and genuinely cares about the young men he coaches. I come on the Tech board because I’m interested in Tech football and hope they do well except at the end of November. Johnson is a great hire and I think he’ll do well with less talent. It takes a ton of luck to win a NC or an SEC championship. Keeping my fingers crossed that we have the same luck as LSU this year…

By eddie

January 27, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this

Little Ben, you watched 5 Jackets in the Senior Bowl and that proves it is working? With 5 losses? BTW, I didn’t see Robertson play; maybe I just missed him. Choice and Guyton played well. Wheeler got blocked all day, and was not a factor. Brooks punted poorly or not to his standard. He was smoked by the punter from South Dakota State.

By TJ

January 27, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this

I am sick of the trailer trash commenting on GT’s program. Why don’t all of you go “F” yourself. and for DJ, I hope the old ballcoach calls a route across the middle and the UGA safety takes your friggin head off.

By luvthejackets

January 27, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Coach Johnson did a great job salvaging this recruiting class in a very short time period. We do have some quality depth at most positions going into next season thanks to good recruiting over the last two seasons. Coach will have plenty to work with and hopefully he will put together a solid first season at Tech.

UGA fans, good luck next season. You will need it. There is no other school in the country that has done less with more than UGA. UGA has top 5 or 10 recruits year in and out.

By little ben

January 27, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

eddie, I was thinking your thoughts too regarding our performance this season(6 losses, btw, not 5), but my point was regarding talent of individual players, meaning that despite our recruiting successes or failures, the talent is definitely there year after year, as evidenced by our representation on All Star teams. The fact that Chan G. couldn’t do anything with it (for the past six years) is obviously a coaching issue. We all know recruiting is as inexact a science as any in big time sports, so let’s not get too excited about losing or gaining players. Someone correct me here if I’m wrong, but my recollection was Calvin J was only a three star recruit, and blossomed in college. And again, please let’s stop using our academic standards as an excuse. Notre Dame and Michigan are tough schools to get into too, and they both have a pretty good history or success, right?

By XXXX

January 27, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Will the UGA football drunks be allowed to attend class in handcuffs and ankle shackles ? I’ve heard that several of them come from dog-fighting backgrounds.

By TexasWreck

January 27, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Let me say this again: Recruiting is just the start. I have researched the numbers and the attrition rate of players at a college is very high, no matter what school you look at. Some get hurt, some just get burned out and quit, others transfer to try and get playing time somewhere else, and some just weren’t really that good to begin with. Tech has only had one 5 star recruit in the past 5 years and he was a first round draft pick- Calvin Johnson was a 5 star to answer little ben’s question. A number of 4 stars never played. The Field at Tech is full of 2 star and 3 star players who tough it out and make it into the lineup.
I officiated high school ball for years and watched can’t miss kids miss when they moved into the Big 10 and Big 12 and ACC and SEC- it is playing the odds and everyone gets dealt a hand that is almost random and always high risk. Good luck to all of the schools as they will need it.

By flub

January 27, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

I did not go to UGA nor did I go to GT., so I do not have a “dog in this fight”. What I have noticed that most of the outspoken fans in this “fight” did not go to college at all. They just seem to be boastful, abusive and wannabes. Until they grow up and relize that football is a game that has a winner and a loser and is to be left on the field after the whistle blows, they are going to continue to be boastful, abusive and wannabes. In the meantime, pretend that your future rides on what 17-18 year old boys do on Saturday afternoons.

By flub

January 27, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

I did not go to UGA nor did I go to GT., so I do not have a “dog in this fight”. What I have noticed that most of the outspoken fans in this “fight” did not go to college at all. They just seem to be boastful, abusive and wannabes. Until they grow up and relize that football is a game that has a winner and a loser and is to be left on the field after the whistle blows, they are going to continue to be boastful, abusive and wannabes. In the meantime, pretend that your future rides on what 17-18 year old boys do on Saturday afternoons.

By little ben

January 27, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

Well, put Flub, but if the non-college educated UGA fans (are there any non-college educated Tech fans in this state?!?!?) quit blogging, then life would get pretty darn boring…These Tech/UGA blogs are always good for wasting an afternoon when I should be getting work done, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!!!

By Not Disappointed

January 27, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Good Win for the Jackets over Virginia tonite. Clausey had a excellent 2nd have. Go Jackets!

By hear that winning streak?

January 27, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

another road win…soo predictable!

Matt C for president!!!

By BobinBuford

January 28, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

PT Dawg:

1) How many of those great “students” that you are recruiting at UGA will be majoring in Jim Herrick’s favorite major, Leisure Studies??

2) If a degree from UGA is so impressive to employers, why did UGA have to put up a billboard on I-85 begging people to hire UGA grads? Last time I checked, GT has not had a reason to pull a stunt like that.

3) On a totally different subject, I went to the woman’s game Thursday night. Michelle needs to recruit a tall girl to rebound, and the ACC should take a serious look at the official that call those games. Those 3 guys had no idea what was going on - seems like they went out and grabbed some guys who had just finished a HS junior varsity game. Usually they have at least one female offical at the game - I think the reason they did not have one at that game is because they would have been embarrassed to work with those 3.