Tech

By Jim Grogan

October 6, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this

Keep on winning and rankings will come. What I am delighted about is Coach Paul Johnson and the passion, discipline, attitude and professionalism he has brought to the Flats. He plays an exciting brand of football on both sides of the ball. I’m prouder to be a Jacket today, knowing our team will compete 100% on every play for 60 minutes in every game.

It’s going to be a great time to be a Jacket!! THWG!!! GO JACKETTS!!! Congratulations to Coach Johnson and his staff!!

By GT45

October 6, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

It’s disappointing on one hand, but, keep winning, and it will come. Even the bookies gave us only 14 points against Duke, so people have not yet learned. If we win the next two, I would look for us to jump deep in the polls! Go Jackets-

By Lavette4066

October 6, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

The rankings will come. I’ve said all along, Tech won’t crack the top 25 unitl it beats Clemson in Death Valley to go 6-1. If that happens (and hopefully the tigers will be in full implode at that point) then the fun really starts in the home stretch!

By son_sir

October 6, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

I say forget the polls and just keep winning and being consistent. This is not the GT of old, but to pollsters, GT has a history of inconsistency. That, coupled with an “across the board” anti-ACC bias in the media works against the Jackets. Keep winning and hopefully winning convincingly and the recogntion will come. In a way it is a good thing. It gives these kids a little extra incentive to prove to the nation that they are for real.

By PROUDTECHFAN

October 6, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

Our time will come Tech fans. We are about to really get into the meat of our schedule and if we do well we can justify being in the top 25. Right now even though we’ve dominated our last couple of opponents, won an ACC road game and came close to winning against a perennial football top 25 in Va Tech. I still dont think we should be ranked. Just havent gotten wins over quality opponents yet. But that doesnt bother me. With UNC being ranked now and a very big game against Clemson on the road, we will have plenty of time to get the national recognition. I think flying under the radar works in our favor. It keeps us humble, and it makes us work harder to achieve a goal. I am so proud of the program and the Tech faithful, we have a long way to go, but I know there are brighter day ahead of us. Thanks again Coach Johnson and his staff for having these guys prepared every week. your hard work and dedication to the program is much appreciated and well respected.

GO JACKETS!!!

By Big ED

October 6, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

I’m satisfied with TECH being unranked. When they run through Clemson, Virginia, Florida State, North Carolina, Miami, and Georgia, someone will notice. I’d rather TECH earn its ranking rather than the SISSY DAWG (As they are referred to in Alabama) method of being given a top ten ranking based on nothing. TECH can only go up as the SISSY DAWGS go down, down , down!

By GT76

October 6, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

I agree it is not a big deal about the polls and Tech. But it is interesting to note that GT is 11th in the Sagarin ratings this week. Isn’t Sagarin one of the inputs to the BCS model?

Beat GW and Clemson and they will jump into the top 15 probably.

By Billy G

October 6, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Clemson game will be the national coming out party. I have a good feeling Tech will smack the Tigers Oct. 18th

By TechRules

October 6, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

What’s really annoying is that Auburn, a team with two losses and a 3-2 win over MissStake, a team that Tech crushed 38-7 is still in the top 25.

Let’s face it, until polls are banned until after the first weekend in October, this will continue.

By Brandon

October 6, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

I don’t think I’d refer to anyone who had beaten my team 7 straight times as a sissy. The unseething hatred some of you Georgia Tech fans have for Georgia is disturbing. I can only sumise that it springs from your deep seated inferiority complex in relation to the red and black. Behold the aweful rage of the nerd.

By Clay

October 6, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Tech is not ranked due to the national perception of Tech. Keep winning and the rankings will take care of themselves.

By the way, you guys are starting to get a little ahead of yourselves about UGA. You haven’t won that game in many years. You’re going to have to win a few BEFORE you can start talking trash…

By Tech82

October 6, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe this blog has been posted for more than two hours and we haven’t heard from any obnoxious butt-lickers yet. They must be worried about beating UT with their overrated bunch of parolees.

GO JACKETS! Keep winning and the rankings will take care of themselves.

By Rufus

October 6, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Tech’s isn’t ready to be ranked, yet. Unfortunately, I see the Clemson game as a toss-up. We will lose to FSU, UNC, and “The U” game will be too close to call. By the time the Georgia game rolls around, the “Dawgs” will be so chewed up it’ll be a close game—another toss-up.

By Marietta Dawg

October 6, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Sissy Dawgs??? I thought Tech people didn’t have to resort to name calling, but I was wrong.

The polls only matter at the end of the season. Paul Johnson is doing great things at Tech and soon enough the respect will come. At this time of the year, the polls are way too volatile, even FSU was ranked after whipping two I-AA teams and then they lost to Wake.

By Condorcet

October 6, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

@Brandon: At least a few of our players were alive when Tech won its last title.

By What's the good word....

October 6, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

I am a little disappointed to see that Tech was not ranked this morning, but as many have stated, we are playing great football under the leadership of Coach Paul Johnson. If we can win again Clemson and other key match ups over the next couple of games, we will get the attention this team deserves.

Everyone at the beginning of the season said we would be lucky to win 6 this year. I think CPJ has already showed that he means business and will stop at nothing short of perfection.

Just keep winning and we will get the recognition we deserve!

GO JACKETS!!!

By EE86

October 6, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Any polls before mid-October are meaningless anyway. Just win baby!

By fes

October 6, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

uh, it was dook. what do you expect? yes, they are vastly improved this year, but they still aren’t all that great. beat another quality opponent and you will be rewarded.

By G'Vegas Dawg

October 6, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

The polls have obviously not been consistent this year or the past few years for that matter. It doesn’t make sense that (and as an avid UGA fan I can’t believe that I am saying this) as dominant as GT has won and as well as they have played that they are not ranked. Granted, they haven’t really played good competition, but, look at USC, Mizzou, Ohio St. or Oklahoma, they haven’t really played anyone either. The polls are really being made a mockery of with the complete inconsistency that has been going on this year. How does UGA move up this week without even playing? How does Alabama not slip after beating an unranked Kentucky by 3? If you use the formula that has been used so far this year, Oklahoma slips as well as Alabama. Really not fair to anyone…..

By ArkyTech

October 6, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Why on earth is Auburn ranked?

By Munson's Call

October 6, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

I am a Georgia fan and even I think Tech should be ranked. I don’t quite understand why they aren’t. Tech has looked solid in all its wins and its only loss is against a ranked team. My only guess is GT is not getting the benefit of the doubt due to playing in the ACC which is getting trashed by the national media for the most part. How does Auburn stay ranked as bad as they have looked all season? 3-2 over Miss St!? Tech dominated that same team. The polls are a joke.

By okeefe59

October 6, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Who cares about the polls? Just keep winning.Let the voters take cars of the polls

By GT Man

October 6, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Right now, we really don’t care about ranking. CPJ just keep your eyes on the next game, and take care of GT business.

If everything breaks our way, we will get the due rewards.

GO Jackets.

By FSG

October 6, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

As long as our ranking goes up after our twelfth game of the season, earlier rankings don’t matter.

By SEC Bore

October 6, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Once again the media infatuation with the SEC is evident. I could understand a 2 loss team still being ranked at this point in the season under one circumstance: they were preseason top 5 and lost narrowly to other top 10 teams. No, Auburn is still ranked simply because they are in the annually overhyped SEC. An intramural flag football team could amass more offensive yardage than AU right now. Quit kidding yourselves…the offense is atrocious!!! Did anyone watch them vs Tennessee or Miss St??? I never thought they could regress from the Brandon Cox era, but they have ten-fold! uit ranking SEC teams because they are in the SEC! Yes, over the past decade most every team in the SEC has been strong…however, only about 2 or 3 teams are truly as good as the polls make them out to be on any given year. Guess what, this year Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida arent up to scratch. Quit trying to rank them!

By wreckmaniac

October 6, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

There’s plenty of time to worry about polls. Anyway, unless you are #1 or #2 they define only which bowl you go to. The main concern for me is whether or not Tech just might cut off a big slice of Dawgbutt this year.

By Jack G

October 6, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

When you start the season ranked at the very bottom of the chart, it takes a little time to get noticed, Just keep on wining and sooner or later the pollsters will take notice. The only poll that counts is the last one of the season.

By Volman

October 6, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

All the “dawg” fans (who probably don’t/didn’t go to UGAy) are starting to sweat a little bit with the start from CPJ and these Jackets! That’s why we keep seeing so many of them posting on the AJC Jacket blogs!

Be nervous! You can’t always get your rank HANDED to you every year! Your whooping will come in due time! (Seems like it already has once at the hands of Alabama)

By Dewey

October 6, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

There aren’t 25 teams worthy of being in the top 25 right now. Or for you left-brainers, there are 50 teams that could make the argument. But that’s what makes college football so interesting. The main thing is that the games are fun and exciting, without the frustration of the Chan Gailey era. GO TECH.

By Brad

October 6, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Can’t believe I’m more concerned about playing Vandy and GT than I am UT and AU!! Then again, there’s plenty of season left.

By amazed

October 6, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

The ACC still has football?!?! When did this happen???

By Shnelly

October 6, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

In response to Brandon…unseething isn’t a word. Perhaps you meant seething hatred. You also misspelled “surmise” and “awful”. If being a Tech fan means that I am a nerd, I’m proud to be both. From experience, I have found that UGA fans are far more hostile. My uncle got his head cracked open by a beer bottle thrown off Sanford Stadium.

I’m proud of what the Jackets are doing this year. Recognition will come in time. GO JACKETS!

By willwc

October 6, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

I’d love the publicity that comes with being a top 25 team, and I think Tech deserves to be ranked there, but I’m not especially tweaked about it for the time being. If we can keep playing this kind of football against the tougher teams over the second half of our schedule, we’ll get the respect and attention we deserve from the media, and play ourselves into a pretty nice bowl game in the process.

It is interesting to note that out of all the computer rankings used by the BCS formula, every single one of them currently has Tech higher than they are in the human polls, including two (Sagarin and Massey) that include Tech among their top 15. For now, I am comforted that what I am seeing from this Tech team is backed up from unbiased sources, and if this team can keep winning for a couple of years we’ll re-make a name for ourselves as a team that can be ranked by the media even when our results on the field scream that we shouldn’t be (cough cough Auburn).

By wreckmaniac

October 6, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

TechNation or NerdNation, whatever you want to call us, is enraged over the loses to UGA. We were enraged after 2 loses to UGA. Any rational person, I think, would expect Tech to lose 2 before the season is out. I still expect at loss at UGA and another ACC loss, quite possibly UNC. Even so if Tech goes 8-3,it will have been an awesome year.

By dawgs2004

October 6, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Hey Buzz Belle, Remember this comment from 9/29 after UGA loss to Bama.Hahahahahahahahhahahaha! Well back to you for tech not being ranked this week after beating such a tuff Duke team, I don’t think so. Hahahahahahahahhahahaha!

By Captain Reality

October 6, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Just stay away from the West Coast come Bowl Season. Tech fans have had the Boise Blues enough already. When the bowl bids start coming out maybe the polls matter.

By tjs

October 6, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Tech so far has displayed character, and they have played hard…If CPJ had a air attack at all, I would say they could beat Clemson.I see UNC’s huge line and depth getting the best of any body in the ACC..Like tech QB is a weakness as far as passing goes…CPJ will get some 4-5 star recruits for next year, aand there are 3-4 run/pass qb’s in Fla high schools who could do wonders for their offense.

By BA

October 6, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Frankly, as a long time GT fan…I think we will need to beat Clemson or roll over G Webb by 75-0. I do not think we deserve to be on the top 25 quite yet.

By Steve

October 6, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

I agree with GT Man, the next game is much more important than the rankings or anything else for that matter. Stay focused on that and this will be a successful season.

By BA

October 6, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Frankly, as a long time GT fan…I think we will need to beat Clemson or roll over G Webb by 75-0. I do not think we deserve to be in the top 25 quite yet.

By BA

October 6, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Frankly, as a long time GT fan…I think we will need to beat Clemson or roll over G Webb by 75-0. I do not think we deserve to be in the top 25 quite yet.

By DawgII

October 6, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Brandon,

Aweful? My spell check doesn’t recognize that as word. Please don’t represent the Dawg Nation if you can’t do it without sounding like an idiot.

By wreckmaniac

October 6, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

I was at South Bend this weekend and saw ND barely hold on to beat Stanford. Tenuta’s defense did not blitz as much as Tech did when he was here but I can tell you for certain that I would not trade the ND defense for the Tech defense. I will certainly credit Tenuta for getting most of that talent here but Mr Wommack is doing a terrific job instilling the Johnson philosophy- discipline and 110%, 60+ minute all-out effort.

By Steve

October 6, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

And how does Tommy Tuberville still have a job?

By dawgdan

October 6, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

As a Bulldog fan through and through, I’m quite surprised that Paul Johnson is able to do this well so soon at Tech. He’s a damn fine coach and GT will only get stronger as he builds that program up. I haven’t seen a tougher ACC team yet, and I think it’s a joke that y’all aren’t ranked. We look forward to teeing it up on Thanskgiving weekend. Should be a fine football game.

By BA

October 6, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Frankly…and as a long time GT fan, I don’t think we deserve to be in the top 25 quite yet. We need to beat Clemson, or blow out G.Webb 77-0.Our schedule hasn’t been that strong thus far to deserve that ranking.

By wordy

October 6, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

ACC is perceived soft. Maryland and Wake losses this weekend do not help the rest of the group. Plus I can’t think of 1 quality non-conference win in the ACC. But who cares about rankings anyways. Rufus I agree with you. Especially the FSU game. Has Tech ever beat them??? I think the Dawg fans are still in denial and think just playing in the SEC makes them great. You got handled by Alabama and almost got beat by USC. The Tech game is not an automatic win for them. If Sturdivant comes back healthy and Stafford returns I think next year is your year to win it all. But your injuries this year really destroyed your team. Tech and UGA play each other with the same record at the end of the year. 8-3.

By GTA

October 6, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

The only poll that really matters is the BCS and we’re in the polls in a couple of their inputs (Sagarin #11). The Harris poll hasn’t come out yet either, so we’ll see what happens then.

As far as us being in the AP or Coaches poll, I just think the media and everyone has that perception about the ACC and that’s why our teams aren’t getting the rankings we deserve (thanks a lot Clemson).

Despite perception, if Johnson and Tech keep winning, people will start taking notice. Especially with the meat of our schedule coming at a perfect time (the second half). We turned the ball over once this past weekend and were able to keep the Devils out of the endzone despite the first quarter drive being their best until the end of the game.

It’ll be interesting to see what different looks defenses give us. Duke did a great job stopping the option, but then they saw what happens when you leave Bebe one-on-one on the outside. Once teams start committing to stopping the run/pass, the other opens up, that’s what’s so dangerous about our football team.

By DBCOOPER

October 6, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

A second Tier team beating another second Tier team gets you nothing. Losing to a top team is often percieved as being noble. That’s just how it works. Is it right? Probably not. When and if Tech beats what’s perceived as a top team the will not be recognized.

As for UGA’s ranking. They returned many players from a winning team in 07. They beat some good teams down the stretch Florida, Auburn, Alabama(and oh yeah Tech),and an unbeaten Hawaii on New Years Day. They finished #2 in the country. That’s why the ranking. Not to mention the fact they have a couple of All Americans at key positions.

I guess you have to spell it out for some people.

If Tech runs the table and defeats lets say a Missouri or USC or Oklahoma in a nationaly telivised bowl game. THEN people will notice them. Maybe!

BUT until then, they will continue to whine and take petty little cheap shots at their superiors.

By GetOverIt

October 6, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Really dawgs2004, thats what you have to come back with? “Well back to you for tech not being ranked this week after beating such a tuff Duke team, I don’t think so. Hahahahahahahahhahahaha!” Good one.

By Nice Schdule

October 6, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

GT will get ranked when the get into the meat of the schedule. Like after this week’s game vs. GARDNER-WEBB???

Being in the AZZ, er ACC doesn’t help em. It’s hurtin’ em.

By Hoof Hearted

October 6, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

I’m a Georgia fan, and even I think it’s ridiculous that Tech isn’t in the Top 25 yet. However, that’s what you get with sportswriters, and even coaches. One problem Tech has is its schedule. Gardner-Webb and Jacksonville State aren’t helping. Even beating Clemson isn’t going to help a lot based on their implosion. A complete beatdown will help, but I bet most people will attribute that to Clemson’s weakness and being overrated, rather than Tech’s amazing improvement this season. I don’t agree with that, I’m just saying…

To get up in the rankings, Tech needs to keep winning (duh), and beat some more quality opponents, like Miami, FSU, and UNC (even though I wonder if those are “quality” opponents). Other teams are going to lose and drop out, and Tech will get in eventually. Johnson is an amazing coach, and I hate it. Alright, that’s enough Tech-love. To Hell with Tech!

By WN

October 6, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

The ranking has absolutely no merit, other than to determine who plays in the national championship. It’s useless poll created by media or coaches, so obviously there will be some bias. Statistics can only infer from numbers which doesn’t tell the true story.

Bottom line, keep winning. Only wins count. Get the Coastal division, get the ACC championship and then we can talk about which BCS bowl we should get to.

By techster

October 6, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

Exactly who decides which team is ranked where? Tech is a young,developing team that needs to learn to block low, as coach Johnson is telling them, week after week after week. They need to stay in their assigned gaps on defense until it is second nature.. How many teams have bitten the dust after reading from so called gurus about how smart and talented they were. This team has the makings of being very good if they pay attention to assignments. They dont need rankings to reassure them they are a good football team. If they do, they aren’t going to reach their goals anyway. They haven’ t been in any “barn burners” as Al Ciraldo(remember him) used to say. The people who write for the papers aren’t smart enough to rate garbage trucks, must less good football teams. Most older players used to have a sign in the locker room. It isn’t the dog in the fight, its the fight in the dog. The thing that most successful people will tell you, sheer determination will be win over stronger and faster many times. It you are fast and strong and determined, you generally rise to the top of the heap. Selah

By cbell

October 6, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

My only problem with not being ranked at this point is the fact that Auburn with 2 losses (beating Miss St by 1 while Tech thrashed them) and UNC with the same record (both losing to Va Tech - the difference being Tech lost on the road) are both ranked. I don’t quite understand how either of those teams can be ranked above Tech.

By Wow

October 6, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

wow the ajc is going to bat for Tech.
wow

By GT76

October 6, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

The polling process for both the coaches and the writers is allowed a wide variance of results. This is because there are no rules, policies, guidelines or study required. Many of the coaches hand off the voting to aids or they just “knock it out” in a few minutes on Sunday morning.

Those that lost the previous week are usually knocked down 5-8 slots and those that win below a loser move up the list.

The best example of blind, ignorant voting is Auburn at 4-2. The voters should not be allowed to place a 2 loss team on their ballot when there are so many 1 loss teams that clearly are better. But they are probably not even reminded to look at it that way.

They just figure Auburn is Auburn so they must be good. Same for Wisconsin. Meanwhile GT and TCU are in the top echelon of many NCAA statistics but look invisible to the voters right now.

It’s mainly a follow the herd mentality most of the time.

The system for polling can clearly be improved to get more consistent results.

But hopefully the cream will rise to the top! If it doesn’t we will have a crappy BCS again.

By SlickWillie

October 6, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

The ranking will come as most have stated. Coach Johnson inherited a damaged program and is breathing new life back into it. You can feel the new attitude. Other teams will note it when they play the Jackets.

Hey son_sir, pass me that bottle, will you?

By BLAZER

October 6, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

LET’S WIN ABOUT FOUR MORE IN A ROW AND

THEN IT WILL BE AN ISSUE ABOUT RANKINGS.

IT MEANS NOTHING IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OCT.

ANYWAY!

By ACC gets no respect

October 6, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Forget about Tech not being ranked, what about the lack of respect for the ACC in general? All of these SEC pumpers on this blog need to wake up. Ugarulz- its not just about Bama beating UGA. Its about MS State losing 3-2 to Auburn and 34-24 to LSU.(yeah, the same team Tech POUNDED) Or Wake Forest beating Ole Miss who then goes on to beat Florida IN THEIR HOUSE. Or Maryland beating California who is widely recognized as the 2nd best team in the PAC-10. And before you go off ripping the PAC-10, keep in mind hapless UCLA beat Tennessee.(probably the worst team in the PAC-10 beating a middle of the road SEC team) And then NC beats the pants off of clearly overranked UCONN on Saturday.

After the first week of the season, you SEC homers were ripping the ACC and calling it weak. Well look what has happened since! It amazes me that when the SEC teams beat each other its “parity.” When the ACC teams beat each other its because they suck. So what if Miami and Florida State are down, what about the “other” ACC teams rising up?

And since Auburn beat MS State 3-2, why is it such a big upset that Vandy knocks off Auburn? You SEC guys are pathetic. The once mighty conference seems a little overhyped to me. Parity my arrs..

By DawggyStyle

October 6, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

C’mon, this is Tech we are talking about. I’m guessing the techsters are already shopping for Hotel rooms in Boise. Of course they should not be ranked. Not today, not next week, never.

BCS talk-now that’s funny. You beat Duke. Wow. This isn’t basketball season, get over yourselves and….. Enjoy Boise!!!!

By Rec

October 6, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

“Glaring Omission” is a huge exaggeration. You usually have to beat a ranked, near ranked, or formerly ranked team to become ranked early. Tech’s big wins have come against Miss. State & Duke, with a close win over Boston College. Though they might have nice records, none of those teams have high quality wins or are near ranked.

Although Tech might have a slightly better resume than Auburn, Auburn isn’t still ranked because its in the SEC but because it began the season ranked and has only lost to ranked teams which hasn’t been quite enough to drop them out. That’s not an SEC bias, but a flaw in the system due to having preseason rankings (i.e. Wisconsin in the coach’s poll). Auburn will drop out w/ another loss (WVa or Miss), Tech’s ranking will come w/ another quality win (Clemson).

By kshizzle

October 6, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

It’s disappointing. As far fetched as this may sound I was telling myself at the beginning of the year if things go well and we win all of the games and get to the Georgia game with both being undefeated (assuming Georgia would be #1 at the time), I didn’t think we would be in a position to be ranked #1 even if we won the game. That is because not being ranked in the preseason pretty much gives you 0 chance of winning the National title. So far besides a couple bad turnovers, personal fouls that caused us to lose at VT, I think we look like the best team in the ACC hands down. I’m just mad we probably won’t go to the ACC title game because nobody can beat VT. We have to win out and need VT to lose 2.

By Hoofless Hearted

October 6, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Hoof Hearted,

We just need some wins against quality teams? What, teams like Georgia Southern and Central Michigan? Those were quality wins for the Dawgs all right. Its funny how the same principles of “strength of schedule” don’t apply to the SEC. Auburn beats a MS State that Tech POUNDS 3-2. Wake beats Ole miss who then beats Florida in the swamp. LSU gets credit for beating Auburn who clearly sucks. And then its such an upset when Vandy beats them too! Oh, but wait, its the SEC and everybody considers it parity. My god, this is ridiculous.

By Steven d.

October 6, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Glaring omission! Gimme a break, they play in the acc, note the small letters, half the teams in that conference can’t even line up, if they break the top 30, thats ridiculous.

By John

October 6, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

For those of you who can remember back to 1990 - the same still applies today. The polls are brutally unfair to teams who are NOT ranked in preaseason polls and have to win 4 or 5 games befor even getting noticed or ranked. Then they slowly, if they keep winning, will inch up the polls whereas someone that starts at say, 10 or 11 in the 1st pool, could rise in just a week or two. Had we had a preseason ranking in 1990, we would have been in the #1 position going into our bowl game and there would have never been a split decision. We started that year unranked and I beleive it wasn’t unitl after our 4th game that we even got into the Top 25. I am not sure why we get overlooked. I have been to 3 games and think we look pretty darn good!

By blackprix

October 6, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

I don’t care if they are in the Top 25 now … it’s ALWAYS about being there when you end your season.

Chan Gailey had a few Top 25 rankings over 6 years but NEVER ended up there - no thank you!

Keep improving and progessing, win more games and it all will be there in the end. Most fans would agree, GT football is coming back and we’re all enjoying it again!

By UGA95

October 6, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Ga fan here.

Tech should be ranked.

See you chumps in November!

By blackprix

October 6, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

I don’t care if they are in the Top 25 now … it’s ALWAYS about being there when you end your season.

Chan Gailey had a few Top 25 rankings over 6 years but NEVER ended up there - no thank you!

Keep improving and progessing, win more games and it all will be there in the end. Most fans would agree, GT football is coming back and we’re all enjoying it again!

By blackprix

October 6, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

I don’t care if they are in the Top 25 now … it’s ALWAYS about being there when you end your season.

Chan Gailey had a few Top 25 rankings over 6 years but NEVER ended up there - no thank you!

Keep improving and progessing, win more games and it all will be there in the end. Most fans would agree, GT football is coming back and we’re all enjoying it again!

By Larry Hartstein

October 6, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

To those who brought up 4-2 Auburn — I agree.

Auburn probably played its best game in losing 26-21 to LSU. Auburn’s best win was 14-12 at home over a struggling Tennessee team. Auburn handled Southern Miss earlier, but Southern Miss is down (2-3, 0-2 in C-USA). And while I don’t usually like to compare scores, the Miss. St. comparison (3-2 Auburn, 38-7 Tech on back-to-back weeks) is pretty stark.

By The Truth

October 6, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

The voters are taking a wait and see approach with Georgia Tech. They are not one of the chosen few that get the benefit of the doubt. The voters know that Georgia Tech has many tough games ahead of it and the perception is that Georgia Tech does not handle success very well. Don’t shoot the messenger folks, it is what it is. That’s the perception fair or unfair. Its probably unfair because that reputation came from the previous coach. In ‘06 and ‘07 Georgia Tech worked its way in to the top 15 only to choke it all away the second half of the season. It will be interesting to see if Paul Johnson can reverse this trend. Like I said, the voters are taking a wait and see approach just like they do with alot of other teams.

By the way, YES I’m a Georgia fan and YES I think Georgia Tech is a top 25 team. However, all this BCS and national title talk is simply absurd. And you wonder why we make fun of you. Good grief Tech fans are clueless.

By GT45

October 6, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

I went to a wedding after the game Sat, and ran into a bunch of dawg fans. Of course, the usual comment was, “Ya’ll played that powerhouse, Duke.” The problem is that if you don’t follow ACC football and Tech, you have no idea how far these programs have come. That is a local and national problem. Winning will take care of that. If I were a Duke fan, I would be proud of that team. Their D looked great the first half, especially that Linebacker talked about last week. Anyway, looking at the spread the bookies gave on that game, maybe they lost enough money to get their attention!

By gt06

October 6, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Absolutely Tech should be ranked. To all those people who say you have to beat a ranked team to be ranked is not a true statement at all. To be ranked in the top 15, yes, you have to beat somebody. But the teams ranked 16 - 25 haven’t beaten anyone either and I feel like Tech’s wins, along with how dominating Tech’s last two wins were, warrants a top 25 ranking. Tech totally dominated an SEC opponent and a conference opponent. Other teams in the Top 25 can’t say that. I’m also convinced that Auburn couldn’t score a touchdown against Tech even if we gave them 6 quarters.

By yellowblood

October 6, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Most pollsters won’t vote for us because of our Tickle Piles. They think they should not be a part of college athletics.

By BravesFan79

October 6, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

As a Hardcore GT Basketball, Football, and UGA Football fan i gotta say the bickering is stupid.

My fellow GT football fans need to face the facts that the BCS SUCKS!! And until we ALL fight for a PLAYOFF system college football will always SUCK!!

Ive told everyone on here for years that even if GT went undefeated and won the ACC, thed get screwed over just like Boise State, and Auburn did.

You fellow ACC fans SERIOUSLY think any acc team not named Miami or FSU would get “voted” into the big game over a 1 loss USC, Texas, OU, Ohio State, or SEC champ are kidding yourselves!!

What im looking forward to is a sport where we actually have a FAIR shot to win it all…. Mens Basketball. 09 is going to be a Great year for hoops!

BOYCOTT ALL THE MEANINGLESS CRAP BOWL GAMES!! DONT WATCH, DONT ATTEND!!

Real sports have tournaments….not exhibitions!

By JR

October 6, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Brandon, I do hate UGA. One of the biggest reason is the stupidity of their fans (You are the poster child for this group). Another is that they run a very dirty program and someday it will be exposed for what it is. Your last NC was won with players that couldn’t read or write (your lawyer said that) so I would be embarrassed to even claim it.

By chuck allison

October 6, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

I think it is great that my team has managed to avoid being ranked thus far. We are stealth contenders. At the end of the season, folks will look back and say, “Can you believe that, at midseason, the jackets were still not ranked in the top ten?”

By DAP01

October 6, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

We can’t complain about the polls when there are seats empty each week. Keep winning and both the polls and the empty seats will take care of themselves.

By randy

October 6, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Even though I am a Huge DAWG fan…I must admit I do follow Ga Tech (being the other D 1 school in the state). I am very surprised they are not in the top 25. They deserve to be there period. They are playing good ball.

By whyucry?

October 6, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

What’s funny is the dumbass dog fans that come on here and say,”you shouldn’t be ranked, you shouldn’t be ranked, tech sux..blah blah.” If you idiots will stop and think for once in your lifetime…you should want the jackets to be ranked. So when your almighty team beats Tech it will look better. Or even if you lose to Tech it would be by a ranked team.

I for one could not care less if Tech is ranked. I like what Saban said, “doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish”

Keep winning Jackets and things will take care of themselves. Everyone elses opinions, statements or predictions hold no bearing on what will happen.

By adawg06

October 6, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Keep dominating that big bad ACC, you overpowering insects!! Oh yea, go ahead and talk about how you crushed the worst team in the SEC too, because we all know it makes you feel better about yourself. We will see you Thanksgiving wkend, and it will be another victory for the red and black, 16 out of the last 19 years, and another 7 win season for the humble bumbles, keep hating on UGA bc we lost. We will be fine, there is a reason you are not ranked, your conference is a joke, and you have beaten nobody. On the other hand, 3 out of the next 4 weeks, we play #13, 4, and 11. Do you guys play 3 ranked teams all year???????

By Old Gold

October 6, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Frankly, I’m glad we’re not ranked (yet). Let’s earn it at Clemson - if we win, we’ll be there. If not, back to work. We’re in the midst of a retooling/rebuilding season, and things appear to be ahead of schedule. Let’s enjoy the games, and let the polls take care of themselves.

To my fellow Tech men (and women) posting here: I’ve read an awful lot of classy posts from UGA fans on this thread. Let’s ignore the exceptions - the jerks - and respect the Dawgs who’ve shown good sportsmanship by not taking shots at them.

By THWG

October 6, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Buy your tickets (and some gas) for the game on October 18. For this will be the game that Georgia Tech finally calls enough attention to itself, and so much so that the polls won’t be able to ignore us any longer. A strong 6-1 record followed with home games against 3 of our final 4 ACC opponents should push us straight into Athens with at very worst a 9-2 record. Then the real fun begins. Go Jackets!!!!!

By LizDawg

October 6, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Try playing a real schedule and not a bunch of I-AA teams. ACC is undoubtedly one of, if not the, weakest conference in the nation and so winning over Duke doesn’t exactly put you into top 25 territory. Also don’t talk about Miss State, they are the worst SEC team this side of Bobby Petrino & Arkansas!

Just remember - *SEVEN IN A ROW, B * November 29th Paul Johnson will make it 8.

By GT06

October 6, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Adawg06-

I wouldn’t be bragging about playing ranked teams in the upcoming weeks, we all saw what happened to Georgia when they actually did play a ranked team. Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, Arizona State, and South Carolina. Your wins are worse than ours, and I don’t see any shutouts on your record either. I can’t decide who is overrated more, Georgia, Florida, or Auburn.

By bb

October 6, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

To answer your question: doesn’t matter, just keep winning.

The funny thing is, Tech probably hurt their chances of getting more respect for the last two wins by winning them so handily. If they had won close games against Miss. State and Duke, both wins would probably be seen as wins against solid teams. But by routing them, people think, ‘well, MSU and Duke are usually bottom dwellers anyway and are just showing their true form’, hence the wins lose luster in the eyes of voters.

FWIW, Duke impressed me this past weekend. The defense more than the offense (but that had more to do with GT’s D than their O). Going into halftime, I thought we were in for a close game right down to the end. Cutcliffe has them on the right track. They are no longer an automatic “W”.

By dumb

October 6, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

LizDawg-

If Miss State is so bad then why did those big bad SEC teams Auburn and LSU struggle so much with them, while Tech was up 35-0 before I could even go to the concession stand to get a Coke?

How come Florida can lose to Ole Miss while Wake Forest beat them?

How come Tulane gave Alabama more of a game than Georgia did?

If you think anybody is scared of Georgia judging by your performance so far you’re kidding yourself.

By adawg06

October 6, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

Yea, our wins are real bad. I believe we have the same record as you, but for some reason we are still in the top 10?? I wonder why that is idiot, maybe because when you beat a team in the SEC, it is respected way more than beating Duke, or JVille State, or big bad BC. Best thing you did was beat Miss ST, that’s a great accomplishment. GT has had 0 relavance in college football the past 15 years, get a life. How many 10 win season you have in the last 10 years, and lets not forget how tough your conference is, so it shouldn’t be that hard to do. Oh wait, you haven’t done that yet, or how many BCS games have you been to, I think that would be 0 as well. So before you talk about how bad UGA is, you need to have some credability in the college football world, and you have none. You can’t decide who is more overrated? GT would get absolutly humiliated if you played all those teams, that is not an exageration either.

By Sick of Crybaby Tech Fans

October 6, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Its so easy to hate Tech fans. Several UGA fans have given their team props on this blog and what do we get in return? We get a bunch of bitter jealous rantings about how overrated UGA is. We get a bunch of childish name calling And, last but not least, we get the usual baseless accusations of cheating. You panty wastes deserve every last miserable minute of all the heartache Georgia Tech football has brought you over the years. You people are pathetic. I hope Georgia Tech chokes away the rest of its season just like it always does. Good day.

By BR

October 6, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Try playing a ranked team, then complain about not being in the top 25. Shutouts? Try having an SEC schedule where SIX of your games are against ranked teams. UGA still has to play Vandy, LSU, Auburn, KY, TN, and Florida. Tech doesn’t have that all year long. When you are in a real conference and have to play big time teams, then maybe you should be ranked. Until then, shut up. Good luck next week against Gardner Webb—-another tough one.

By Denver Dawg

October 6, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

(1) You play in one of the worst BCS conferences. (2) You have beaten Jacksonville State, Miss State, Duke and BC (which has beaten NOBODY). (3) NONE of the teams you have beaten are currently ranked in the Top 25. (4) None of the teams on your remaining schedule are currently ranked in the Top 25, EXCEPT Georgia.

Shut up.

By john

October 6, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

I don’t know why - call me crazy, but for some strange reason I have a premonition that our game at UNC will be more important (and more difficult) as opposed to the game at Clemson.

And I agree with Old Gold - there are some decent UGA posts on here. Ignore the others. No need to make nasty comments. That is what they are hoping to get out of their posts. You’re just enabling them.

By Brandon

October 6, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

So I mispelled a few words, my point is that spewing this venom towards Georgia when you have about six games to play between now and November 29th makes Tech fans look pretty nerdy and obsessed, as does talking tough when you have been beaten seven times in a row by someone. There are some decent sensible Tech fans, but a lot of them on this blog sound like school shooters.

By T Money

October 6, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

This season has gone to show how great a coach Paul Johnson truly is. In the years he was Georgia Southern, he brought two National Championships, One Runner Up, made the playoffs every year, and either won or shared the SoCon title. People from Southern knew what Tech was getting, and it’s about time the rest of the nation saw it as well.

By crackbaby

October 6, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Not ranked? No problem.
The polls are a joke. Pollsters rank teams on history of a program, then make slight adjustments.

Computer rankings, though imperfect, take the simpleton sports “journalist” bias out of the rankings. Auburn at 4-2 is ranked 20th for crying out loud. Have these folks seen AU play this year?

By Born2Buzz

October 6, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Just keep on winning and the rankings will come. We have to overcome 7 years of Gaileyball so it will take winning and being consistent. And getting into the Top 25 means nothing. It’s staying there that is everything.

By wordy

October 6, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

adawg. If the dawgs play like they did vs Alabama they too might be a 7 win team. They didn’t just lose they forgot to show up. I don’t hate on the UGA team just the unrealistic Dawg fans. They come on the blogs pretending that the Bama game did not point to the reality that UGA is not a title contender this year. Or that they have been playing much lower than their expectations (granted some of your key players are out for the year). The Tech vs UGA game will probably be much closer than it is in your mind.

By Bob Stoops

October 6, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

I remember the simple pleasures of just gettting ranked. We really don’t worry much about that anymore around Norman.

Good blog, Larry …

By vamosjackets

October 6, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

SEC television contracts lead to the notion of a conflict of interest for many media types that have a vote in the AP poll. This system is total crap, for lack of a better word.

By Brandon

October 6, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

By the way Paul Johnson is a great coach. I was really hoping he would go to Nebraska.

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

October 6, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

As a UGA fan I can say it is a shame that Tech is not somewhere in the 15-20 range. If Ball State can be 25, then Tech has certinly earned that much of a ranking.

The style of football Tech plays is awesome to watch. Again that is tought to say,but man it is such a traditional college offensive.

Tech finally has a coach with a plan and a vision. That will prove to be scary to the ACC and perhaps even my beloved Dogs!

GOO DAWGS!!!

By gt06

October 6, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

BR-

KY, TN, and Auburn are awful. They just are. I’m sorry to break it to you, but you obviously don’t watch college football. I’ll give you LSU, Vandy, and Florida. But besides that, your schedule isn’t as tough as it originally looked back in the summer. Why all the hate that we haven’t beaten a ranked team? You haven’t either. Good luck struggling with TN this week, who by the way, isn’t going to a bowl game this year.

By GT45

October 6, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Dizzylizzy, Stay home with the kids if you don’t know what the h&ll you’re talking about. Do a little research before you make yourself look like an even bigger idiot. There is a piece on the strength of the ACC on ESPN today, if you are interested. Oh, by the way, Alabama just score, AGAIN!!!!!!

By GO Tech610

October 6, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Bulldog fans, Thank you for being on our side on this one. Can’t wait until the game this year, it will be fun.

Anywho, I am not so concerned about GT not being ranked…It is the teams that are ranked that bother me.

UNC? Why, they lost to VT AT HOME, we lost to them on the road, we hung with them, UNC gave up a huge lead. GT has already won a good one on the road at BC, they are starting to come around too. I just don’t get that one.

Not going to address Auburn….that is just a bad, bad team still ranked…..

and Ball state, what happened to strength of schedule?

GOO TECH!

By Billy

October 6, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Regarding the Tech-UGA feud —

I’m not really a hater of anyone, even UGA. I actually pull for the Bulldogs unless they’re playing Tech. The better they are, the more Tech has to gain and the less it has to lose when they meet up.

That said, I don’t lose any sleep over it when UGA loses, and another part of me is always pulling for that result. The only reason for that is the fans. UGA fans sicken me sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, Tech, too, has its share of obnoxious fans. As does pretty much any school. The difference is that the only Tech fans I’ve been around who were truly obnoxious in their fervor have actually attended the school. And the vast majority of those were actual students at the time I saw them.

If a middle-aged high school dropout is yelling at the top of his lungs about “his school”, odds are he’s yelling about “dem dawgs”.

By Steven d.

October 6, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Auburn couldn’t score on tech(small letters) in six quarters, no, not more’n six or eight times, you tech(small leters) fans are such idiots, heck they even hsd to home cook Jacksonville State to death to beat them. They cried like a baby so much, the SEC kicked them out. Act like men for a change.

By Buzzfan1936

October 6, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

I am disappointed Tech isn’t ranked in the AP & Coaches’ Polls. They should be. They are a helmet-to-helmet bad call [vs. VT] away from being undefeated and have run up impressive scores against teams with good credentials: Miss State who held “mighty SEC” Auburn to 3 points, Duke, 3-1, whose only prior, close loss was to undefeated Northwestern, and defending Atlantic Division champ, BC. I am, however, pleased that Sagarin rates Tech #11, close to UGA, #8, and this is appropriate.

I think the low rating in the AP & Coaches Polls will make the Jackets hungrier