Can Anybody Give A Summary Of Bark Bradley’s Column This Morning?

The article highlights Georgia Tech’s surprising football season, marked by resilience and unexpected victories, including two major upsets and three last-second wins despite challenges like a tough schedule and injuries to key players. While the team has faced some disappointing losses, Coach Brent Key has instilled a competitive spirit and sense of optimism about the program’s future.





Georgia Tech, though unranked, has proven to be a formidable opponent, using unconventional strategies such as rotating quarterbacks. Haynes King, limited by a shoulder injury, complements freshman Aaron Philo, who has emerged as a capable passer. The Jackets have also shown an ability to control the clock, a factor that helped them win against teams like Miami and N.C. State.





Looking ahead to their rivalry game against Georgia, the article acknowledges Tech’s underdog status but suggests that they might have a chance to make the game competitive. While Georgia has dominated the rivalry in recent years, including a six-game winning streak, the Bulldogs have shown vulnerabilities this season, offering a glimmer of hope for Tech fans. A win in Athens would elevate Georgia Tech’s season from memorable to legendary.
 
I can give you the entire article, and it was written Friday, not this morning

​
Bradley’s Buzz: Tech shouldn't beat UGA, but does Tech know that?​
​
mail
​
Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo (12) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter in an NCAA college football game at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium, Thursday, November 21, 2024, in Atlanta. Georgia Tech won 30-29 over North Carolina State. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)​
​
Georgia Tech folks will remember this season. To bleed seven wins – including two major upsets and three last-gasp victories – from a stacked schedule, and to have done it despite a significant injury to its most significant player … well, who could ask for more?

Um …

Let's be clear. Tech shouldn't win in Athens on Black Friday. But what if it did?

The season began with the Yellow Jackets facing Florida State – this was when FSU was expected to finish first, as opposed to last, in the ACC – in Ireland. Tech won on the final snap. Two weeks ago, Miami and Cam Ward rolled into town unbeaten. Tech led for the final 42 minutes.

Tech isn't ranked – it received one vote, that for the 25th spot, in this week's Associated Press poll – but it's a team nobody wants to play. The Jackets are clever. The Jackets will fight you. They're rotating quarterbacks, which never works, but it worked against Miami and did again Thursday against N.C. State.

Haynes King can run but, owing to an iffy shoulder, can no longer throw downfield. The freshman Aaron Philo – who was supposed to be redshirting and maybe still is – has become the designated chucker. He ran three times on Tech's final drive against N.C. State. The results: first down, first down, game-winning touchdown.

Even in a season that saw a bad loss at Syracuse, a not-great loss at Louisville and King-less drubbings versus Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, Tech has kept the faith. Much of that is due to Brent Key, the alum who became the coach and who has, without offering soliloquies about "branding," branded this as a rising program in a league where anything seems possible.

Does "anything" include beating Georgia in Athens? Probably not, but the Bulldogs have had issues, too. If Tech could get ahead – several opponents have gotten ahead of Georgia – might it control the clock by mixing Philo throws with King runs? It might. Could it keep that up for four quarters? Unclear, but it would be fascinating to see the Jackets try.

Tech last beat Georgia in 2016 on Qua Searcy's improv leap. The Bulldogs are going for a seventh consecutive victory against their neighbor. That would match their longest streak of running this state, previously achieved in the 1990s and again in the first decade of this century. Since 2000, Tech is 3-19 against Georgia – though all three wins came in Sanford Stadium. All were under Paul Johnson, who enjoys them still.

It wasn't so long ago that we wondered if – not when, but if – Tech would ever again stare eye-to-eye with Kirby Smart's Georgia. Last year's installment marked the first time since 2016 that Clean Old-Fashioned Hate ended with a single-digit margin: UGA 31, GT 23. Was that a sign of a closing gap, or was it a one-off?

The Jackets aren't great at defending. Both Miami and N.C. State gained 400 yards against them. Then again, Tech won both games. Against the Hurricanes, Tech held the ball for 34 minutes, 49 seconds. Against the Wolfpack, 33:20. Georgia ranks 102nd among 133 FBS teams in rushing offense. Just FYI.

Let's be clear. I expect the Bulldogs to win. They have more at stake. But this is the first time Smart's first season that I foresee a competitive game. If we've learned anything about these Jackets, it's that they'll compete.

With the degree of difficulty involved, Tech folks would be content with a 7-5 season. Should this team somehow get to 8-4, it wouldn't just be remembered fondly. It would be remembered forever.​
​
​
Not to rain on Tech's parade, but …​
​
mail
​
Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo celebrates with fans as he leaves the field after defeating North Carolina State, 30-29, at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Thursday. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)​
​
Philo is a freshman. King has a year's eligibility remaining. Don't forget Zach Pyron, a redshirt sophomore who started at QB against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. Maybe all three will remain on Tech's roster next season. But, if I'm not mistaken, there's such a thing as a transfer portal.

(If I'm not mistaken, that's how King came to the Flats in the first place.)​
 
Dirty Jacket said:
This would be the first competitive game since 2016? Is he just making öööö up or did he not watch last year’s game, and even Keys first season game in Athens was competitive til they pulled away in the second half. Okay.
Click to expand...
Right. Bark must have been asleep when our game was on because, outside Bama, we were the only team to be "competitive" with the mutts last season.
 
2023 never really felt like we could stop them but it was competitive mainly because the no quit in our team. 2022 would have been better had a couple of turnovers late-ish not happened and the BS Bowers “catch the ball off the ground TD” not happened. Both were competitive unless competitive means the good guys won.
 
Dirty Jacket said:
This would be the first competitive game since 2016? Is he just making öööö up or did he not watch last year’s game, and even Keys first season game in Athens was competitive til they pulled away in the second half. Okay.
Click to expand...
He didnt say there weren't competitive. Just the first time he thought Tech could be competitive going into the game.
at least that's how I read it - that going into those games, he didn't see em being competitive.
 
Dirty Jacket said:
He’s an idiot. Going into last years game I felt like we had a legitimate chance at winning the game.
Click to expand...
Many years ago, before a Tech basketball game, the AJC sent Bisher to do a column. John Hollis was the beat writer then.
Bisher shows up and Hollis goes, "Furman! What are you doing here? I thought they'd send Bradley."
Furman: "You mean Dr. Naismith? (Bleep) thinks he invented college basketball."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top