Georgia Tech loses ball, Thomas and all hope

Less than a year after Georgia Tech walked off this same field with an impressive victory over seventh-ranked Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl and finished the season 11-3, adding some gloss to that chip on Paul Johnson’s shoulder, the Yellow Jackets continued to flop around in a swamp of misery Saturday.

Four turnovers. Nine fumbles. One more and they would have won a free set of oven mitts.

“We don’t value the ball very much,” Johnson said.

Have you ever …?

“No. I never,” Johnson said.

(The truth is, I was still forming the question. But it probably wouldn’t have affected his answer either way. Continuing … )

“I’ve never had anything like this. I don’t have any answers for you. I know people are frustrated. Hell, I’m frustrated.”

It wasn’t all bad. Tech actually lost only two of nine fumbles. So they recovered 78 percent of their own fumbles, which, you know, is something to build on.

Or not.

Georgia Tech lost to Miami 38-21 on Saturday. That dropped the team’s record to 3-8, with only the Georgia game remaining.

So about that question, “What if they finish 5-7 and some bowls take a 5-7 team,” that sucker was stomped flat and it ain’t moving no more.

The 1-7 finish in the ACC is their worst season since going 0-8 in the conference and 1-10 overall in 1994, when Bill Lewis was fired as coach. Johnson isn’t getting fired, nor should he be. Aside from the fact Tech extended his contract through 2020 late last season and couldn’t possibly afford buying out the contract, Johnson earned a heap of credit points for his second 11-win season in 2014. This season has just been one unmitigated disaster after another, whether it’s turnovers, injuries or the usual scenes of self-immolation on defense. Examples of all were evident in Saturday’s loss. Included:

• Starting quarterback Justin Thomas left the game with an injury after he drove the Jackets to a touchdown and a 7-0 lead on their opening possession. Thomas apparently fell back and hit his head on the ground during the series. His status for next week is held as a state secret. More on that shortly.
• The Jackets had four turnovers (two fumbles, two interceptions). Three of the four turnovers led to touchdowns (one directly on a return of a fumble by Patrick Skov). Redshirt freshman quarterback Matthew Jordan, who replaced Thomas, had taken only two snaps since an early-season win over Tulane. It showed. He had a costly fumble at the Miami 3-yard line, killing a certain scoring drive when this game was actually still a game (7-7). He also had an interception.
• Wet conditions made for an ugly and sloppy game that probably would've been ugly and sloppy even in dry weather, given the nature of the two teams. That said, the nine fumbles were a Tech school record and gave the team 33 for the season (13 lost).

So here’s the rundown on Tech going into the Georgia game: a 1-7 record since opening the season with wins over Alcorn State and Tulane; a banged up quarterback; a lousy defense; an excess of thumbs.

Feeling lucky, Jackets?

“Like I told the team, I’d love to be able to play a game where we didn’t kill ourselves with turnovers and we put an offensive and defensive performance together for three or four quarters and see what happens,” Johnson said. “We don’t give ourselves a chance to win.”

Without Thomas, they have zero chance. With him, they have the well-it’s-a-rivalry game chance.

Johnson said only after some prodding that Thomas “didn’t have a concussion. He hurt himself when he hit the ground.” He wouldn’t go beyond that.

Thomas walked stiffly from the locker room to the bus after the game. That would suggest an injury in the neck or upper shoulder area.

“I’m OK,” he said.

The injury?

“It’s not disclosed. Whatever (Johnson) said. It’s not for us to put out,” he said.