AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGetting caught up after FSU…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Apologies for the delay in the posting a blog. The folks at the AJC and myself have both been pretty busy with things like elections, family, and etc.
Speaking of family, I finally have bragging rights in my own house and its glorious. You see, I married a huge Seminole who used to be a Marching Chief and who comes from a family of even more ‘Noles. She often speaks fondly of the 1992 game where FSU ripped our hearts out and sent our program into a spiral that lasted for several years and ultimately cost Bill Lewis his job.
So after a break of several years, Tech and FSU finally met again and this time we got them! And boy what a win. For the last few minutes of that game I thought that the football gods were going to take another steaming dump on me like I experienced in Tallahassee in 2003. But then Cooper Taylor put his helmet on the ball and Reid fell on it in the endzone and the stadium seemed to implode and go nuts.
From my vantage point in lower 102, I could tell that Reid had the ball and we had the game before the referees even signalled it. That gave me a headstart and I was already trying to climb on top of my season ticket buddy when they signaled touchback. Luckily Dave is a big guy and has an inch and about seventy pounds on me. I think I may have given him whiplash and a pierced ear drum.
Let me tell you…after the heartbreak of 2003…this game goes up there very high on my list of games that I have attended in person. Its up there with UGA ‘98, Clemson ‘04, and both of the most recent Auburn victories. I would wager that its easily Top 10 for most GT fans…regardless of how long they’ve been watching Tech play football.
This was a signature win for Paul Johnson…a game that lesser coached teams would have lost. It was a game that shouldn’t have honestly been close except for Tech being exposed as young and thin in a few key positions…most notably quarterback and defensive back.
If Josh Nesbitt hadn’t been hurt midway through the third quarter we’re probably looking at a game in the 41-28 range. The Seminoles had no answer for Nesbitt and the offense was clicking until he went out. Take away the Jaybo Shaw turnovers and some better Tech offensive production and the Noles would be staring down the barrel of a good old fashioned butt kicking.
In the end I stood there silently in the stands and absorbed the scene as Tech fans streamed onto the field and sang the fight song with the team. I’ll admit a tear or two might have escaped and been wiped away quickly before anyone noticed.
Great crowd, great game, great win…
Go Jackets!
THWG!
Comments
By techman98
November 6, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
Man… What a scene that was. I sat through too many games against FSU that were lost in the last minutes. Some were bad calls, some were defensive breakdowns, and some had no explanation at all. As the final two minutes wound down, I thought that I was about to witness another heart wrenching loss, but alas… The ball flies in the air and we have it…. Finally, FSU got what we had gotten too many times before, and thank goodness Reid reached in and yanked that ball out so that there was no question that we had the ball. I think I am still sore from the celebration.
Agreed that a lesser coached team loses that game. The D would have given up once they crossed the Tech 40. But these guys played 60 minutes of football and good fortune came our way. I hope that they all learned something about football and life in that game.
Right now all focus needs to be on UNC. We have a tough game ahead of us and will be starting two new linemen. While they have played, they will each be pulling full duty for 60 minutes.
I was one of the optimists when Johnson was hired stating that we would have an 8 win season. People called me crazy, and while we still may not end up with an 8 win season, I didn’t think that we would be 3 points and 7 points from a perfect season. What an amazing transition and an incredible statement by our student athletes. They have rallied around a new coach and embraced him and his system. These players are truly top notch both in effort and class. I have been proud to read the papers and see how well they represent the school both on the field and off the field. I am proud to be a jacket win, lose or draw….
By Corey
November 7, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this
I couldn’t study for a few days after rushing that field… Best game I have been to in my short 3 years in the student section. I absolutely love going to games here. I just hope the rest of the fans felt the atmosphere like we did. I got tackled from behind the second that ref called the turnover in the end-zone. I sit on the North Stands so we couldn’t see anything but the ball fly out and then the missed pickup highlighted on the jumbotron… Want to relive it. Check out all the videos on youtube. I watched them all day Monday, trying to keep my mind off of that French test I had the next day…
Tomorrow is a very big game for us. I wish Maryland would have done us a favor last night, but what can you do. We just gotta win out… and I mean win out… This is the start of a new age of GT athletics… GO JACKETS!!!
By m
November 7, 2008 5:54 AM | Link to this
Chris, you basically said it all, except for the main thing. Every Tech fan, not just me, but every Tech fan should THANK GOD and Greyhound that Chan Gailey is gone forever.
By gtne80
November 7, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
We’ve all celebrated the difference between CPJ and TCG, but the differences so far are largely intangible (attitude, effort, etc.).
Let me make it VERY CLEAR. I firmly believe that with Chan Gailey at the helm of this team, we would NOT be 7-2 right now. We might likely have lost to BC, Clemson, and/or FSU. But as much of a critic of Gailey’s as I have been, even I have to admit that he had the habit of pulling out an occasional unexpected win also.
I also believe that Coach Johnson has the program headed in a very promising direction for upcoming years. The youth on this team combined with the promising recruiting news of late makes the future look VERY BRIGHT.
That said, when it comes down to it, we’re right back to where Chan had us several times; 7-2 with 3 games left.
The real mark of Coach Johnson’s mark on the program will be the NEXT 3 (or 4 or even 5) GAMES. Too many times over the last half-decade we’ve been in a position to have a special year and had a massive flame-out over the last 3 games. We’ve gone from the penthouse to the outhouse (i.e., Boise) in a matter of less than a month.
If the same thing happens this year, my optimism will go back into the tank…maybe not quite as low as past years, since I know that the future is brighter, but I just don’t think I can handle another crash and burn.
I have every confidence in Coach Johnson. (BTW - I never referred to Chan as “Coach Gailey”). I’m ready to be optimistic…I just want to SEE IT HAPPEN!!!!!
GO JACKETS!!! THWG!!!!
By Clemson 2000
November 7, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
This was definitely a great game, and I’m dissappointed I know longer live anywhere near Atlanta to be able to attend these games. However, I cannot imagine I’ll ever see a game that will be able to top our comeback win against a 9-0, #4 in the BCS Clemson team at Death Valley in 2000 where an unheralded George Godsey made a pass caught by one lone hand of Kerry Watkins for the winning touchdown. That was a game and far better than 2004 (which was half luck)!
By GT_JJ
November 7, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
Great post, Chris.
As long as we’re reliving the greatest moments, no way we can leave out UVA in 1990. Without a doubt, it remains the best football game I’ve ever watched. I’ll never forget watching that game in the dorm’s TV room, seeing Scott Sisson’s game winning FG sail through the uprights and all of us students pouring out onto Techwood Dr. and celebrating well into the night. Even though I wasn’t at the stadium, that will always be my favorite GT moment.
By Jim
November 7, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
Chris, Did you just call your wife huge?
By TDone
November 7, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Still the best game I ever saw on TV or in person was the 1998 game against UVA.
Dez White, Dez White, Dez White…
By War Jacket
November 8, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this
Even I’m too young to remember, but my Dad always talks about a 6-0 win over an undefeated number one ranked Alabama team, led by none other than Joe Willy Namath as being Tech’s greatest win on the flats.