Post Utah.....

S

statelinejacket

Damn Good Rat
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
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I have to say that I have been impressed with Chan Gailey's moves. They all make good sense.

I have been a long time critic of Chan Gailey. Very long, very loud. Maybe it was the minority view at one time but it has certainly been the majority view leading up to this past season and the Utah game.

However: It's June 2006. And the changes since the Utah game have been refreshing as well as neccesary. Problems that I and many others have seen or at least percieved are being corrected. At least anything that can be evaluated and changed before the new season has started.

The change in the recruiting coordinator...Giff Smith for David Wilson.

The change in recruiting philosophy....going after the best players to attend Tech and working hard with 'the Hill' to get them admitted as they commit to play and study here. And don't you worry....their coming!

The hiring of the new assistants this year and last year are bringing energy and results to recruiting....and the practice field. Apparently Jon Tenuta is not the only one making his voice heard now. Coaches Kelly, Hunter, Jean-Mary among the new guys are making a serious impact on how Tech practices.

Gailey stepping aside and giving Pat Nix his opportunity to run the offense. Long overdue but it has finally come to pass. In all honesty I and many others have been critics of Nix. But you could never establish how much of the problem Nix was because Gailey was on the scene. He's given it all to Nix now so we are going to see how good Nix is. If he is anything as good as his father(Northside-Warner Robin's Conrad Nix) the offense is in good hands. Hopefully Reggie Ball will benefit, if he does look out!

Special teams, If Tech does as many schools do and mixes enough first teamers into the various units Tech can turn around what has been a huge liablity for the last 4 years.

On top of all this we now have a energitic and results driven AD in Dan Radakovich who won't accept mediocrity but also understands that he plays a key role in Gailey getting the best chance to succeed. Y'all know what I mean.

A spiritited fall camp and a taking down of Notre Dame with both the offense and defense having a major role could be the icing on the cake for our recruiting and a tone setter for our season.
 
I couldn't agree more, well said.

I just hope the boys don't forget what the utah players said about them after the game. That's enough motivation for me right there.
 
Refresh our memory RM...

...what did the Utah players say after the Nut Bowl?
 
Re: Refresh our memory RM...

That we quit. Most of the fans on these boards claim it didn't happen, but I'll take the word of those on the field rather than those watching.
 
Re: Refresh our memory RM...

You don't have to take the word of Ute players look at the replay. A few spirited plays but by and large Tech quit against Utah.
 
Very good points, SLJ...

I've said for the past couple of years that we are, oh, sooo close to a breakthrough....we didn't need wholesale changes, just tweeks and modifications to make it to the next level.

And so the tweeks and modificaitons have been made. I'm thinkin' BCS!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banana.gif
 
Great post SLJ. I too feel a big change in our program. It appears to me that CG was weighted down with Brainless and now has the guidance, support, and expectations that he needs to succeed from Rad. It is now up to him and his staff to make some really good stuff happen for our program, and I do feel it coming.
 
very well said SLJ. The thing I like most is that there is a positive vibe around our football team that hasn't been there in a while IMO. That dark cloud that has been over our heads seems to be breaking up. I've had the feeling since spring '05 that this fall is going to be a great one for us. I can't wait.
 
I was there...our boys QUIT. I have never been so embarassed to be a TECH fan. That was a long flight back to Georgia. The Ute fans at the airport were really cool about it.
 
When a team "quits" it's because of a problem with the team's culture / attitude which is directly tied to how the team is managed. Will a few coaching changes make a difference? Time will tell.
 
[ QUOTE ]
When a team "quits" it's because of a problem with the team's culture / attitude which is directly tied to how the team is managed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Granted, but when a team has the perception that they were screwed by a selection committee(s) combined with a trip to nowhere and a field that was really unplayable can contribute mightily to a don't care attitude.
 
What you are saying GTL is true but remember this the Utes were playing on the same field and they didn't quit.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Granted, but when a team has the perception that they were screwed by a selection committee(s) combined with a trip to nowhere and a field that was really unplayable can contribute mightily to a don't care attitude.

[/ QUOTE ]

Geeteelee, none of us likes it when our team gives the perception of quitting, but your comments are very relevant to what happened.
 
[ QUOTE ]
the Utes were playing on the same field and they didn't quit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, I entirely agree. However, they didn't have a great season nor do they have a long tradition of bowl appearances, so they perceived the bowl trip as a reward instead of a screwjob.

Additionally, the strength of our team, especially on D, is speed and that was completely negated by the field conditions that both teams played on. It affected us more than them.

Which is NOT meant to be an excuse for a pisspoor performance.
 
I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again....

if anyone "quit" it was a personal decision. Don't blame the coaches, unless they encouraged that behavior. No one forced our players to quit. That was their decision and they should be held accountable.

And all this tripe about "poor playing field" and they were "screwed" by the selection committee is more crap that is nothing but a lame, pathetic effort to make excuses for a stinking performance. How can anyone be upset about an all expense paid trip to San Francisco? And against a team you should be able to have fun playing against? If you are so blinded by pride that you think you got "screwed" and you can't get "up" to play the game, you deserve to get your arse handed to you.

Now, I don't know if anyone quit or not. I'm not a telepathic psychiatrist who can watch a game and automatically know what is in a player's head or heart. And I'm sure not going to take the word of opposing players who have their own agenda. And if I was a player who was giving it his all out there and getting his butt kicked and I heard some fan accuse me of being a quitter, I'd be more than p.o.'d

I don't know if anyone quit - but if he did - that was his decision. The coaches have some culpability, sure - but quitting -- in anything -- is a personal decision.

JMHO.
 
Re: I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again....

I don't think they quit. I think they realized that they were just getting beat all around. We weren't creating any pressure, the secondary was getting picked apart and we made comedies of errors on O(Penalties and falling down at all the wrong times) We just couldn't get anything going. It was a combination of all the above(the shaft, travel cross country, a huge O-line, a REALLY good QB & Receiver, etc.) but I don't believe our players quit til they knew we were in the bag.

"I don't know if anyone quit - but if he did - that was his decision. The coaches have some culpability, sure - but quitting -- in anything -- is a personal decision."
very true. the people that want to attack the coaches need to look at CJT for this one. we needed to bump that guy off his timing routes or SOMETHING and didn't adjust. but wtf do I know?
 
If I felt like I got screwed and deserved better I would come out swinging twice as hard to make a statement to all the nay-sayers, not roll over dead and re-affirm that I deserved the crappy bowl (maybe not even, judging by the score)

Riddle me this...
What is the difference between a GT team that gets down big and dies and a UGA team that gets down big to WVa but finds the motivation and gumption to dig down deep and play their butt off to come back and almost win? That is the real question.
 
Re: I\'ve said it before and I\'ll say it again....

The fact that it's happened on multiple occasions makes it the coach's responsibility.

By the way, what would the Utah players agenda be? Saying that we quit only diminishes their accomplishments. Saying that we gave 110% and they still whipped our arse would be what an opposing player with an agenda would say.
 
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