AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 16
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Most important game of the season?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I guess it depends on how you define important, which is up to you to decide. The Georgia game, for instance, was important because it broke Tech’s seven-game losing streak against UGA, but on the other hand, Tech’s season was already a success by that point. It was a capstone win, not the foundation. I’d say that a game was important because it helped make the season what it was.
Here are my thoughts on what made each win important. What do you think were maybe the two or three most important?
Jacksonville State - gave a hint at what was to come, answered a lot of questions that the offense could work, showed off big-play potential.
Boston College - A win over what might have been the toughest defense Tech faced, win on the road over a defending ACC division champion, comeback showed Jackets’ mettle
Mississippi State - first game that the offense overpowered an opponent (500 yards of offense), bounceback win after loss to Virginia Tech, win over SEC, depth at quarterback proven as Jaybo Shaw played most of the way
Duke - Demaryius Thomas’ breakout game (230 yards) reveals breadth of offense, defense gets a shutout and gives up just 132 yards, arguably Tech’s best game to that point, gave Tech more credibility as Duke was an up-and-coming team at that point
Gardner-Webb - I’m not sure how you spin this. It’s important in that they won when it could have very easily been a loss.
Clemson - win got rid of bad taste of Gardner-Webb game, a defeat of a team that was a lot better than it showed at that point, another fourth-quarter comeback that showcased Josh Nesbitt’s playmaking ability
Florida State - ended Tech’s 0-12 streak against FSU, the most emotional and memorable win of the season (pre-Georgia), made Tech bowl-eligible, kept Tech from losing two in a row, kept ACC title hopes alive
Miami - dominating performance on ESPN, clinched share of Coastal Division title, seniors go out winners at home, (again) kept Tech from losing two in a row.
Georgia - broke the streak, comeback from 16 points down at halftime, probably put Tech in Chick-fil-A, Roddy Jones’ breakout game, um, did we mention the streak?
