AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFinally, some real football
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to the papers and the scoreboard, the college football season has begun. Actually, games have been played, but that’s not the same thing.
But they weren’t real games, in the mind of Enemy Watch, which didn’t bother paying much attention to Thursday’s farcical lineup:
Connecticut 52, Rhode Island 7
Boston College 31, Central Michigan 24
Minnesota 44, Kent State 0
Even South Carolina’s 15-0 win over Mississippi State has to be kept in perspective: In Starkvegas, they will play any night of the week if television’s interested in picking up the sounds of the clamorous cowbells.
Gimme a break!
This is not how major I-A programs in BCS conferences should start the season. No, Enemy Watch blew off the Thursday Night Thumpings in favor of another Turner Classic Movie reprise of “Double Indemnity,” in which Fred MacMurray repeatedly calls chain-smoking, sunglassed Barbara Stanwyck “baby.” The AJC’s own The Movie Guy rates this as first-tier film noir, charactized by the “rotten sweetness of corruption.”
Which is the perfect segue back to big-time college football. Take a look at Saturday’s listings on the official first day of the season:
Idaho at Michigan State.
Vanderbilt at Michigan.
Akron at Penn State.
Western Kentucky at Georgia.
Yawn.
California at Tennessee, UAB at Oklahoma, Utah at UCLA, Washington State at Auburn, a bit more competitive.
But not good enough.
Most of these openers are about picking up easy wins and shelling out pittances to the mid- and low-level schlumps who agreed to take such beatings.
That’s why Enemy Watch has nothing but admiration for Georgia Tech. For the second consecutive year, the Yellow Jackets will be opening with one of the elites. Last year’s win over Auburn set off an unpredictable year, and Gailey’s Guys may be no less confounding again.
But bravo for putting the Irish on the schedule, and Notre Dame for accepting. Even if their fans are a bit too full of themselves. Yes, wrapped up in Gipper mythology and Touchdown Jesues whatnot, the South Benders are about as unbearable as any fans can be. Especially for this Midwestern Lutheran harkened by the cry: “Let’s Go, Valpo!”
(As in Valparaiso University, also in northern Indiana, home of the Crusaders.)
However, they have been diligent in visiting this website for news about the Jackets. Here now is a chance to see what they think about Tech and the game.
One. N.D. fan’s bold prediction: Irish 35, Tech 20. One more point than the whupping Notre Dame took from Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, natch.
If you’ve got time, here’s a radio take on Tech on the Irish Eyes website. The guest is Jonathan Leifheit of gojackets.com.
The South Bend Tribune introduces its readers to Calvin Johnson.
This member of the Mainstream Media predicts an Irish-Auburn clash for the BCS national championship. Oh, this is MacMurray falling for Stanwyck, silently knowing he’s going to be fatally deceived. He just can’t help himself.
Enemy Watch says he is wrong from the start: Tech 17, Irish 13.
What do you say to that, Baby?
Permalink | Comments (34) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech, UGA
Comments
By Nate
September 1, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this
Have you seen all the ND fans in town? WOW! Bad planning for GT, there will be more tech fans at DragonCon than bobby dodd on Sat. May te force be with you, you’re gonna need it DORKS!
By Not even close
September 1, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
I absolutely hate ND, but let’s not be ridiculous here. If Tech’s defense holds ND to 13 points or less, I will personally buy every Tech fan a copy of the Star Wars box set. If Tech plans on winning this game they better put up some points.
By antonio
September 1, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this
i am with you on the gt win, but i think the score will be tech 24 nd 21.
By Techfan
September 1, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this
The bashing in this state has become so old. Nerds for GT; rednecks for Georgia. The bottom line is there are Tech fans that are nerds and there are Georgia fans that are nerds. There are Georgia fans that are rednecks and there are Tech fans that are rednecks. Can’t someone, anyone, from either side actually make an original comment regarding the enemy? I am so bored with the same old crap.
Go Jackets!
By Red Fox
September 1, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this
Nate….Many in this part of the country are familiar with the National Championship aspirations that come to teams in early September…ask any Dawg fan in any August.
But the hoopla train is quickly divereted. One good thing that about Dawg fans and the SEC is that they can still win the conference and go the BCS.
I feel bad for ND this year for two reasons.
One (1) Notre Dame is traveling on the road to one of the best upset minded teams in the country over the past few years (if needed ask any Auburn or Miami fan). If you like, I have references. You don’t want to be playing this game, especially talking smack. No GT players have any fear of ND. We aren’t like Army, Navy or any of the other teams that schedule ND to make a little dough. I don’t mean to take anything away from ND’s schedule, as ND has and does play numerous perennnial powerhouses each year (ie. USC, UT, etc.). Many props there. My point is that you should not take GT lightly.
Two (2) After ND losses Saturday, it has a pretty tough schedule to get through September (PSU & Michigan). I hate to say it, but it will be damned tough to get to the the BCS with two or three September losses.
In closing, tread lighly tomorrow. I’d hate to see a throng of green and gold catholics walking out of Bobby Dodd with their heads hung, know what is remaining just in the month of September.
By AU
September 1, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this
I don’t understand this headline “Finally, some real football”. I thought this blog was about Tech.
By Wozzo the Wonder Dog
September 1, 2006 02:42 PM | Link to this
Nerds.
By STEPHEN
September 1, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this
TECH WILL WIN BC ITS DUE FOR REGGIE BALL TO HAVE A GOOD SEASON. I PREDICT A 21-20 SCORE BC THERE WILL BE MORE FIELD GOALS THAN TOUCHDOWNS.
By LuckyCharms
September 1, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
you forgot one. Some Tech fans are terrorists!
By Old Dawg 55
September 1, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
As my username would reveal, I am a Dawg fan although not a nerd or redneck, but the memory of that gentleman coach, Bobby Dodd, compels me to pull for the Yellow Jackets! Wreck’um Tech!
By Steve
September 1, 2006 03:12 PM | Link to this
A couple points. I love fearless predictions as much as the next guy, but I prefer the actual game to people’s naive pronouncements.
No one at ND is taking this game lightly, count on that.
It seems like it will be nearly impossible for any defense to keep ND to less than 30 points.
ND insist that its defense is faster and more experienced than last year’s. And they have new schemes for the secondary after Weis spent time at the Carolina Panthers this spring.
GT’s best hope is for ND turnovers, a Brady Quinn injury, and/or a 225 yard game from Charles Johnson.
Anything can happen, sure, that’s why it’s so fun to watch.
By Tech Fan
September 1, 2006 03:15 PM | Link to this
Thanks for confirming to everyone here your level of intelligence
By gdawginkalamazoo
September 1, 2006 03:30 PM | Link to this
Steve,
Who is Charles Johnson?
By Jason
September 1, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this
Steve…gdawg makes a good point. Why should be listen to your thorough analysis of the upcoming game if you don’t even know the player’s names. It just goes to prove the arrogance of ND fans. You all think you’re God’s team. Tell me…will Jesus be on the sidelines Saturday night? Just curious.
By cynthia mckinneys hair dresser
September 1, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this
Taking it a step further: GT starts the season 3-0 and ND 0-3 (the Tenn. of last year). This years ND team is the most over-rated team in the history of over-rated teams!
By cynthia mckinneys hair dresser
September 1, 2006 03:53 PM | Link to this
The sad thing is, after GT beats ND in every phase of the game, soundly, ND will still be ranked higher than GT when the new polls come out.
By GTNikko
September 1, 2006 04:00 PM | Link to this
ND may be a bunch of Catholics, but God is an engineer!!
By HOUDAWG
September 1, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
From out here in Houston …….
Yeah, was born a Dawg fan, but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see Tech get the upset here. Never liked ND, but respected what Weis did with ‘em last year. BUT, that WAS last year ……. think this team is HIGHLY overrated. All those NE writers got back on the bandwagon to predict an ND National Championship ?! Give me a break — ND loses 2 - 3 games this season …..
By godawgs
September 1, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this
This game seems very similar to UGA’s game vs. USC next week. Both Tech and USC are upset-minded schools who feel a breakout season is long overdue. Does this change things? No. I’d say there’s about a 20% chance of either Tech or USC winning. Tech, your best chance of winning would be a major injury to Brady Quinn. Whomever came up with the DragonCon comment, I’d love to buy you a beer this weekend in the sweet sweet city of Athens, GA. Tech will blow this year just like usual… Nerds…
By Jason
September 1, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this
godawgs…no class as usual.
By Don
September 1, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this
CAL 35 Tenn. 17
You saw it here first. Go Bears!!!!!!!!
By desertdawg
September 1, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this
I wish Tech the best of luck and I agrre that ND is overrated as any team in history. They were waxed here in Tempe last year and not much on the defensive side has changed. I expect a close game and maybe Tech can pull it out in the end—hell, I hope Tech us undefeated come Turkey weekend and we will have some fun then. Also from what i saw last night the chickens wont cross midfield against our D—have a safe and happy 3 dayer!! GO DAWGS
By Bob
September 1, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this
Western Kentucky will play Georgia closer than you think! The better teams in IAA play excellent football. Yes, IA teams are deeper and most of your better players play at the IA level. In addition, on average IA layers are bigger and in most cases faster in skill positions, but that doesn’t mean players in IAA don’t know how to play the game. If you have played the game like me you understand that games are not won on paper, but on the field.
By desertdawg
September 1, 2006 05:41 PM | Link to this
just ask ASU who was 14-14 with NAU last nigh at the end of 3 quarters
By Ft Worth Dawg
September 1, 2006 06:16 PM | Link to this
Bear Bryant always loaded up the non-conference schedule with creampuffs. His rationale — The SEC schedule was tough enough, and why risk having a loss when your goal is the national championship. I’d swap out Auburn or Florida for Notre Dame is it were solely an issue of difficulty. Also, Tech’s rationale for playing ND was more than exposure - Tech needed to be able to bundle ticket sales in a year when they weren’t playing UGA. I can’t wait to see Tech’s attendance figures for the non-ND games this year.
Is ABC going to shield the eyes of the Columbus, GA Little League World Champs so they won’t have to see Tech players getted maimed and brutalized? I feel sorry for those kids — One minute World Champions and the next having to watch Tech play.
Okay Techies, enjoy your final 24 hours of being undefeated.
By bugger
September 1, 2006 06:25 PM | Link to this
Bobby Dodd? Don’t you mean Bobby Ross? He is the former Tech coach, right?
By The One
September 1, 2006 06:33 PM | Link to this
Wow. I come on these blogs to try to read about real insight about college ball. What do I find? The same stupid ugag posts saying the same things over and over again.
Do you stupid ugag folks really know how idiotic you sound? Do you realize how you are representing your school? It amazes me that you will post on a blog for the world to see how insane ugag fans really are.
Yet you continue to do it over and over and over again. How embarrasing for your university and for the real football fans.
By crackbaby
September 1, 2006 06:53 PM | Link to this
This is likely to be a high scoring game. Hopefully, Tenuta can devise an aggressive attack to stop Darius Walker, whose importance to the ND attack is vastly under-rated.
In my view, Tech’s running game is the key to winning. Tashard and Rashaun Grant.
Also, we have some good receivers other than CJ that may attract less attention and thus get open more - James Johnson, Dunlap and interesting that Greg Smith is second on the depth chart.
Tech 31, ND 20.
By DecaturTechFan
September 1, 2006 07:04 PM | Link to this
GT will fight the good fight, win or lose. They always play well the first half of the season. Ga, on the other hand, is a slow starter. Having to face the greatest offensive mind in college football the 2nd game of the season will put a damper on UGAhhh’s SEC aspirations. Both GA schools are 1-1 going into week three. GO Jackets!!!
By cynthia mckinneys hair dresser
September 1, 2006 07:14 PM | Link to this
FT WORTH DAWG (Dumb Animal With Gas), The Same Bear Bryant GT played every year they were in the SEC? Even then, we were playing ND. What would a stupid mutt like you know about playing for a National Championship anyway, unless you’re talking about Gymnastic or Equestrian events?
By Reality
September 1, 2006 08:20 PM | Link to this
Since Notre Dame recruits their players from the cream of the crop and Georgia Tech recruits their players from the part timers at the Varsity, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure this game out. The dill-holes from North Avenue will be walking around on Sunday with their a* in one hand and their peckers in the other. The only question they will have on Monday is ‘How do I hold my pencil?’ Would you like some fries with that chilidog, Massa? Tech Turds Just Suck which is appropriate since they play in the ACC (Always Crappy Conference). Good Luck Irish.
By Juice
September 1, 2006 08:25 PM | Link to this
I love watching Georgia fans talk noise. But I always have wondered, how do you type on a laptop while controlling your lawnmower? That’s a pretty stellar trick. Idiots.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
September 1, 2006 09:32 PM | Link to this
As a DAWG, I remember us opening with U.C.L.A. on a Monday night, Labor Day week-end. The national exposure was unbelieveable. Check out the 4 & 5 recruits that’ll be on the “Bug” sideline for starters. Yes, I would love to see Ga. open every season with a big time game. You just can’t buy the free advertising for the school. It would also help a lot with our chances to play for the NC. It appears that my opinion is in the minority,but I’d still like to see it.
By BIGDAWG
September 2, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this
GT=GEORGIA TERRORISTS