Just about every preseason college football poll had Georgia Tech ranked higher than Georgia. Does that say something about the direction of the programs? ESPN college analyst Ed Cunningham, and 680 the Fan’s Chuck Oliver weigh in on the question:
Cunningham
I think it’s a mistake this year to have Georgia Tech ahead of Georgia. It’s nice that you get to see these teams play each other at the end of the year. I think Tech’s schedule is brutal, and the offense there is little-by-little getting figured out. So I’m surprised to see Tech higher. I certainly don’t think it’s an indication that the Tech program has passed Georgia’s.
Quarterbacks tend to get more credit and blame than they deserve. Tech’s got Joshua Nesbitt back as a third-year starter, and he’s good. Georgia, meanwhile, has got a brand-new guy, Aaron Murray. Maybe that’s why polls have Tech higher, but I think the ACC is going to be very, very good and beat each other up before it’s over. And at Georgia, you figure you’ve got two good backs, an offensive line that is healthy and experienced and a new defense. Let’s face it, the defense has been horrendous the past couple of years.
In general, we complain about polls coming out too early, but the truth is, they do what they are supposed to do. It gets people complaining about a Georgia being behind a Tech. All of us know in our heads it means nothing, but emotionally, we’ll never distance ourselves from those early-season polls.
In our business, we have to be careful what we wish for. No poll that matters should come out before the third week of season, but when they do, it helps us in our jobs because people care so passionately about this, even in the summer.
Oliver
Why is Georgia Tech ranked higher than Georgia? I think it all points to Paul Johnson and the fact that Georgia Tech was able to go from the most average of all coaches to possibly the best in the conference in one stroke of the pen, and that includes Frank Beamer.
Tech hasn't surpassed Georgia as a program. There are simply too many insurmountable advantages UGA has (facilities, fan base, budget, etc.) But the Jackets have done the best thing possible in hiring a coach that has produced a conference title before he's even been able to get the players he wants on campus. Georgia is a great program. Tech is still trying to string together great seasons. With Paul Johnson, I have no doubt they'll get it done.
A key to that this season, obviously, is Joshua Nesbitt. He might be the toughest player in all of college football. As long as Tech can keep the outcome of the game in his hands, they have a chance in every game. Mark Richt's goal in Athens is the exact opposite -- rely on the offensive line, the two tailbacks, the best receiver in college football, etc., before asking Aaron Murray to go into Jacksonville, Auburn, Columbia, etc., and win ballgames. I think Murray is very able and will absolutely be a good quarterback, but as talented as he may be, he's still a freshman. That's a tough order in the SEC.
-- Compiled by Bill Sanders for the AJC
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