AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 08
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Bad memories from Duke ‘03
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was at the Duke game in 2003 when we lost 41-17.
I’d just bought a new Jeep and was looking for a good reason for a roadtrip in my new wheels. Duke didn’t sound like a compelling opponent, but the Blue Devils did provide a destination. So I grabbed one of my old college buddies (and his new girlfriend) and we hopped in the Jeep and headed to Durham.
What a miserable … MISERABLE … road trip. Talk about a long drive home. I never want to do that again. There was some debate about whether the new Jeep or the new girl was the jinx on that trip. Surely we’d angered the football Gods in some way and the loss to Duke was a sign of some sort.
Today, the Jeep has about 60k miles on it and my buddy has married the girlfriend … so both are still around. We’re not taking either to Durham for a 2007 replay of the 2003 debacle though. Nope…not gonna do it.
Duke 2007
There’s really not alot to talk about here. We have to beat Duke … period.
There is no need to compare units or stats or records. We have to beat Duke.
‘Nuff said!
Tech ‘Fans’
I’ve come to the conclusion that we have one of the shakiest fan bases in collegiate sports. There’s no resolution, there’s no fortitude, there’s no tenacity in a fan base that leaves a stadium in the third quarter of a game. Boo’ing a public service announcement? You have to be kidding me. It was an embarassment.
Some of our top recruits, a national television audience, and the national media saw a pathetic GT fan base that was willing to give up and leave early while their team was still on the field.
Winning Out
As I said in my earlier blog … Coach Gailey is in a position where he needs to win out. I stand by that statement and I’m fervently hoping that he’s able to do it. An 8-4 record with a win over UGA and a decent bowl game sets our program up to potentially string back to back 9 win seasons together.
If Chan can secure 8+ wins this season there is no way he’s asked to step down or pushed out the door. You simply don’t fire a coach who guides a team to 8-9 wins a season in spite of hurdles like probation, injury, and poor fan support.
If this staff can stay together and weather the probation period while also improving on the recruiting trail … then the future is bright, regardless of how dark and dismal the recent losses have been.
But again … all of my hopes and expectations will be dashed and moot if we lose one or more of the next three games.
We have to get to 8-4 if we’re going to get a chance at that ninth win!
Gailey has to deliver.
Hoops
Looking at the schedule, we have a brutal stretch starting 11/27 that will see us on the road at Indiana and Vandy before returning home to host Kansas on 12/18. We’re going to know a lot about our basketball team before Christmas rolls around.
