M. Bradley's opinion re: Mercedes Benz Stadium

[midatlantech]

Well I have long ago stated that we should be playing Georgia at the beginning of the year. The reasons are simple:
1) Get it out of the way. We are the ACC now.
2) We win 30% of the time; losses will only hurt for a week or two instead of a whole year.
3) On the years that we lose, we don't go to a bowl game. 7/10 years of not having fans going to bowls, make folks opinions about us pretty firm.
4) We are in the ACC now and should be focused on in conference opponents. Our last game should be Miami for example, where the game almost always matters.
5) We could garner more in state fans as the Tech-UGA game won't be the end of year ultimate game. The first game will be over for both teams and with nothing coming up for another twelve months, more sidewalk fans can jump on board with Tech.

 

[Vespidie]

What a loser mentality. No wonder he's a journalist. His most critical decision is whether or not to use the word 'nadir' in an article.

Wrong. His most critical decision ALWAYS revolves around how he can tie everything to Kentucky basketball.

 

[Member 6626]

Unlike Bark Madley, postal workers sometimes deliver things of value.

Rekt

 

[GCdaJuiceMan]

Unlike Bark Madley, postal workers sometimes deliver things of value.

 

[gtfan088]

Well I have long ago stated that we should be playing Georgia at the beginning of the year. The reasons are simple:
1) Get it out of the way. We are the ACC now.
2) We lose 30% of the time; losses will only hurt for a week or two instead of a whole year.
3) On the years that we lose, we don't go to a bowl game. 7/10 years of not having fans going to bowls, make folks opinions about us pretty firm.
4) We are in the ACC now and should be focused on in conference opponents. Our last game should be Miami for example, where the game almost always matters.
5) We could garner more in state fans as the Tech-UGA game won't be the end of year ultimate game. The first game will be over for both teams and with nothing coming up for another twelve months, more sidewalk fans can jump on board with Tech.

I'm not favor in of this, and really don't understand your point #5 at all. Are you suggesting that some UGA fans will become casual Tech fans if we move the game to the beginning of the year?

Also, in today's game it makes no sense for any major program to lock themselves into an annual season-opening game, thus locking themselves out of the Chick Fil A Kickoff game or any other neutral site matchup with a program they don't already play on an annual basis.

 

[beerbuzz]

Lock and erase this thread please

 

[Tampa Jacket]

Well I have long ago stated that we should be playing Georgia at the beginning of the year. The reasons are simple:
1) Get it out of the way. We are the ACC now.
2) We lose 30% of the time; losses will only hurt for a week or two instead of a whole year.
3) On the years that we lose, we don't go to a bowl game. 7/10 years of not having fans going to bowls, make folks opinions about us pretty firm.
4) We are in the ACC now and should be focused on in conference opponents. Our last game should be Miami for example, where the game almost always matters.
5) We could garner more in state fans as the Tech-UGA game won't be the end of year ultimate game. The first game will be over for both teams and with nothing coming up for another twelve months, more sidewalk fans can jump on board with Tech.

We don't lose 30% of the time. We lose closer to 75%-80% of the time, over the past 2 decades--- which honestly given the difference in the 2 schools is remarkable that we can even keep it that close. I love GT. But on paper at least, Georgia really should NEVER lose to Georgia Tech.

But...I would like to see the game played at the beginning of the year. I think we would have a slightly better chance to win because:

A. UGA has more depth. Injuries sustained during the course of the season are way more likely to hurt GT, than UGA.

and

B. Up until this point, Georgia's overall coaching staff, practice facilities, etc. has usually been much better than Georgia Tech's, which gives them the "improvement advantage", over the course of 3.5 months.

 

[GT flunkout]

Well I have long ago stated that we should be playing Georgia at the beginning of the year. The reasons are simple:
1) Get it out of the way. We are the ACC now.
2) We lose 30% of the time; losses will only hurt for a week or two instead of a whole year.
3) On the years that we lose, we don't go to a bowl game. 7/10 years of not having fans going to bowls, make folks opinions about us pretty firm.
4) We are in the ACC now and should be focused on in conference opponents. Our last game should be Miami for example, where the game almost always matters.
5) We could garner more in state fans as the Tech-UGA game won't be the end of year ultimate game. The first game will be over for both teams and with nothing coming up for another twelve months, more sidewalk fans can jump on board with Tech.

Not in favor of this at all.

#3 - this correlation is completely suspect. We had decent numbers in Nashville in 2013, definitely a good showing for the Orange Bowl in 2009. We didn't show up in 2016 in Jacksonville after beating UGA which was extremely disappointing. I doubt beating UGA would improve attendance in El Paso, Shreveport, and Detroit. If we had beaten UGA in those years we wouldn't have been in El Paso or Detroit or Shreveport, so there is that. There are a lot of factors that go into Bowl game attendance.

2016 was a serious outlier that is going haunt Tech for a while. Close proximity, good season, beat UGA, SEC opponent... and we didn't show up.

 

[samsgt02]

I'm way more optimistic at beating uga in the future with our changes in the culture of Tech football than simply moving the game itself.

 

[gtfan088]

I'm way more optimistic at beating uga in the future with our changes in the culture of Tech football than simply moving the game itself.

And the goal should be for us to raise our level of play instead of trivializing the game to mitigate the blow of losing.

 

[midatlantech]

I'm not favor in of this, and really don't understand your point #5 at all. Are you suggesting that some UGA fans will become casual Tech fans if we move the game to the beginning of the year?

Also, in today's game it makes no sense for any major program to lock themselves into an annual season-opening game, thus locking themselves out of the Chick Fil A Kickoff game or any other neutral site matchup with a program they don't already play on an annual basis.

That is a valid point. Otherwise, if we deemphasize the game by playing early, one week later, when we beat FSU for example, a ten year old may choose to root for us. As it is, we hold ourselves in a negative state if you will by being the loser for 9 more months.

 

[midatlantech]

We don't lose 30% of the time. We lose closer to 75%-80% of the time, over the past 2 decades--- which honestly given the difference in the 2 schools is remarkable that we can even keep it that close. I love GT. But on paper at least, Georgia really should NEVER lose to Georgia Tech.

But...I would like to see the game played at the beginning of the year. I think we would have a slightly better chance to win because:

A. UGA has more depth. Injuries sustained during the course of the season are way more likely to hurt GT, than UGA.

and

B. Up until this point, Georgia's overall coaching staff, practice facilities, etc. has usually been much better than Georgia Tech's, which gives them the "improvement advantage", over the course of 3.5 months.

I corrected lose to win. Nice ideas.

 

[BuckNasty]

Not in favor of this at all.
2016 was a serious outlier that is going haunt Tech for a while. Close proximity, good season, beat UGA, SEC opponent... and we didn't show up.

You ever think people over-hype the 2016 season? We went 4-4 in conference and 5th in the division. We did end the season very well but it was still a pretty iffy season. I just don't see how ending the season unranked merits the rating of a "good season".

 

[midatlantech]

And the goal should be for us to raise our level of play instead of trivializing the game to mitigate the blow of losing.

Trivializing the game? It will still be a big game.
I agree that we should try and raise our game and they seem to be doing that now, but we should also be very smart and schedule the best way for us. Uga has every advantage and they still like to schedule weenies or nobody, the week before our game. The entire ACC scheduled byes the week before us for ten years.
Ma Tech is going to continue to get in our way. Do we have to be so unique that we have to overcome EVERY hurdle known to man? At least things like scheduling, we can control.

 

[GT flunkout]

You ever think people over-hype the 2016 season? We went 4-4 in conference and 5th in the division. We did end the season very well but it was still a pretty iffy season. I just don't see how ending the season unranked merits the rating of a "good season".

Nah, I don't think it's overhyped that much. I don't think anyone nostalgically looks back at it as anything magical, but definitely "good". That finish with wins over VPI, UGA and in the bowl definitely saved it from being like every other mediocre year. "Good" is about right.

 

[Tampa Jacket]

Trivializing the game? It will still be a big game.
I agree that we should try and raise our game and they seem to be doing that now, but we should also be very smart and schedule the best way for us. Uga has every advantage and they still like to schedule weenies or nobody, the week before our game. The entire ACC scheduled byes the week before us for ten years.
Ma Tech is going to continue to get in our way. Do we have to be so unique that we have to overcome EVERY hurdle known to man? At least things like scheduling, we can control.

Georgia vs. Georgia Tech is a big game.

I like the spirit Collins is bringing.

But the UGA matchup is currently the most imbalanced it’s been since 1980-1982. UGA is currently bad-ass.

I don’t understand why players are committed to “The-G” when they will sit 2 years at UGA, but could start for FSU, Miami and UF—-but they are. Same thing at Clemson.

Collins needs to win 7 games the next 2 seasons, go bowling, and just play close against Clemson and UGA.

Wins are out of the question against these 2 National Championship programs. Too much to ask even at UF, Auburn, Tennessee, Michigan or Ohio State.

2021-2022 will be the first time we will have the personnel to challenge these top 2 programs.

2019-2020 seasons: We need to win the games we have a chance to win: Pitt, UVA, Miami, VT and Duke.

If Collins wins most of those games and maintains that momentum, we will recruit well enough to give us a chance against UGA and Clemson in 2021-2022.

What we don’t want is 5-7 and 6-6. That will stall momentum.

7-8 wins the next 2 seasons is the goal.

If Collins does that—-9, 10 and 11 win seasons will follow. Bank on it.

Go Jackets!

 

[GTLiebs]

Well I have long ago stated that we should be playing Georgia at the beginning of the year. The reasons are simple:
1) Get it out of the way. We are the ACC now.
2) We win 30% of the time; losses will only hurt for a week or two instead of a whole year.
3) On the years that we lose, we don't go to a bowl game. 7/10 years of not having fans going to bowls, make folks opinions about us pretty firm.
4) We are in the ACC now and should be focused on in conference opponents. Our last game should be Miami for example, where the game almost always matters.
5) We could garner more in state fans as the Tech-UGA game won't be the end of year ultimate game. The first game will be over for both teams and with nothing coming up for another twelve months, more sidewalk fans can jump on board with Tech.

There is a flip side negative effect for some of those reasons if we did change it. For 2, for some a beginning loss will only hurt for a week or two, for some it will still be til next fall but now the season is a part of that. For 3, if those losses reduce bowl attendance, might they not reduce regular game attendance?

Not saying this all refutes the idea, but losing a game important to people is going to suck no matter when it is. To give a positive for the end of season, losing that game first could end up hanging over the narrative of the season throughout: "Well sure they are leading the Coastal, but they still lost to Georgia"

 

[ibeeballin]

Lol at calling UGA a National Championship program

 

[midatlantech]

There is a flip side negative effect for some of those reasons if we did change it. For 2, for some a beginning loss will only hurt for a week or two, for some it will still be til next fall but now the season is a part of that. For 3, if those losses reduce bowl attendance, might they not reduce regular game attendance?

Not saying this all refutes the idea, but losing a game important to people is going to suck no matter when it is. To give a positive for the end of season, losing that game first could end up hanging over the narrative of the season throughout: "Well sure they are leading the Coastal, but they still lost to Georgia"

We lose plenty of games where it puts a big dent in my following week. Almost always by the next game, I am ready to go again.
You have to remember that UGA has all these advantages: they cheat, they will take any player, they can keep them in school while doing no work, etc. playing a school like that at the end of the year when you may be in the hunt for the ACC championship is counterproductive.
PJ was correct. Why do we have to play Clemson every year while the rest of the Coastal generally plays weenies. Add in UGA and our obstacles, we should manipulate everything we can to our advantage.

 

[BuckNasty]

Nah, I don't think it's overhyped that much. I don't think anyone nostalgically looks back at it as anything magical, but definitely "good". That finish with wins over VPI, UGA and in the bowl definitely saved it from being like every other mediocre year. "Good" is about right.

I can see what you are saying. That Pitt game still pisses me off.