First of all let me say that I don't post on here often but I do enjoy lurking and reading all of the posts on this board. It truly is addictive and I find myself checking back everyday to see what new "tidbits" I might learn about the goings-on within GT football. I love the insight and the "frankness" of some of the posters on this message board. It makes for very interesting reads. With that said I have an observation and a question (apologies for a little verbosity):
1) I know this has been discussed on this board and others, but has a GT over UGA victory ever been this satisfying? This season has been a long one, and yet it seems so short and leaves me wishing it could keep going, but take a second and honestly think back to the days after spring practice closed and what our collective expectations were for this team heading into the summer and the upcoming season. I've always been an unapologetic defender of GT and it's sports teams, especially football, even in the bleakest of times (the majority of my GT undergraduate years were during the Bill Lewis years....I think I just vomited a little in my mouth), and I've been following GT football religiously for over 30 years. Having said that, even as one that tends to have extremely bright, gold colored glasses, I couldn't imagine that we could expect better than 7-5 and I was called crazy by several "die-hard" Tech fans. I mean come on, a new coach, a totally new and unique offensive system that required a total and absolute re-tooling of everything these kids had learned since high school, kids that weren't recruited for this system, and above all, a mentality of mediocrity that both the football team and fans had been subjected to, and quite honestly if I may, had become accustomed to over many long years. The list goes on and on. I mean, really, could we really expect any coach, and I include the supposed superstars like Meyers, Saban, Carol, Stoops, etc. to be able to right this ship in 1 season? I know some of you did, but unfortunately for me, I had become too accustomed to getting my hopes up to only be let down every year (2006, et al.) And also think back to the summer for a second, and all of the media outlets around this state and quite frankly all over the country. I mean you couldn't pick up a sports magazine, or newspaper, or turn on the radio, or watch television without hearing about those MF'ers form Athens. I have a long commute from home to Atlanta everyday and so if I want to listen to sports talk radio, it's 680 or 790. And for talk radio, WSB 750, the home of the butt slurpers. I would be so pissed off by the end of the ride home it wasn't even funny. I know people that drove beside me thought I was crazy when they saw me cussing the radio. Call me a glutton I guess. I say all of that to say this, I saw the '84 defeat of UGA in Athens as a kid, was present at every game during the 3 year winning streak over UGA from 1998-2000. However, I can honestly say that I've never seen a better win for our guys than this one. I mean who could've ever imagined this year being capped off with this signature win during our 1st season under Paul Johnson. This was the one I wanted above all others this year, but I never in my wildest dreams imagined it could have happened. My only regret is that I couldn't be there to see it in Athens. I'm envious of all of you who were. After the total dismantling of UGA's SEC defense by PJ's "gimmicky" offense I can only imagine the utter shock and despair among the faces of the Mutt fans that had come to Athens to witness this game. I think for the majority it would have been some sort of consolation to beat us with all the accolades we had been getting up until this game. Total disbelief....
2) I’m ashamed to admit, that at half time, I didn’t give our boys much of a chance to come back against UGA. I mean, UGA had pretty much passed at will on our defense, save a few plays, and they were really exposing the youth in our back 7. Add to that fact, our offense just didn’t seem to be clicking. I felt UGA had gotten in our heads once again and that the game was gonna be a blowout. I had gotten myself so psyched up for this game and really felt we had turned a page this year after Miami. How could we look so rattled? I mean I really wanted to cry (I’m man enough to admit it) or throw the damn TV out the window. I had told myself that as long as GT looked competent against UGA and gave them a good fight I was OK with that, but even though we kept it close until the last 7 minutes or so during the first half, I felt like UGA’s offense was clicking and we weren’t going to be able to get back in the game. Momentum was definitely on thier side heading into halftime………and then….the Diesel, in his usual fashion, takes the opening handoff 60 yds for the score and a 2 point conversion later, we’re right back in it. I was still cautiously optimistic, but the heavens opened and PJ poured out a can of whoop ass on the mutts and any momentum that they had was gone in the blink of an eye. The rest was a blur. My head was spinning so fast that it was surreal. I still can’t believe it. This long montage leads me to my question. What was it that Paul Johnson saw in the way UGA was playing us in the first half, that lead to the second half onslaught? I’m sure old Willie M. and Markie are still asking the same question. Was it that UGA became overconfident and subsequently sloppy in their assignments? Was it over pursuit? Was it the DE and CB play and the way they were reading/defending the outside? Was it our boys finally settling down and getting in a rhythm? Or was it something more subtle and inherently genius in PJ’s play calling?
Anyway, sorry for all of the rambling. I appreciate y’all indulging me. I can only say what has already been said. Damn, I can’t wait till the bowl game and next year and also........
TO HELL WITH UGA!:D
1) I know this has been discussed on this board and others, but has a GT over UGA victory ever been this satisfying? This season has been a long one, and yet it seems so short and leaves me wishing it could keep going, but take a second and honestly think back to the days after spring practice closed and what our collective expectations were for this team heading into the summer and the upcoming season. I've always been an unapologetic defender of GT and it's sports teams, especially football, even in the bleakest of times (the majority of my GT undergraduate years were during the Bill Lewis years....I think I just vomited a little in my mouth), and I've been following GT football religiously for over 30 years. Having said that, even as one that tends to have extremely bright, gold colored glasses, I couldn't imagine that we could expect better than 7-5 and I was called crazy by several "die-hard" Tech fans. I mean come on, a new coach, a totally new and unique offensive system that required a total and absolute re-tooling of everything these kids had learned since high school, kids that weren't recruited for this system, and above all, a mentality of mediocrity that both the football team and fans had been subjected to, and quite honestly if I may, had become accustomed to over many long years. The list goes on and on. I mean, really, could we really expect any coach, and I include the supposed superstars like Meyers, Saban, Carol, Stoops, etc. to be able to right this ship in 1 season? I know some of you did, but unfortunately for me, I had become too accustomed to getting my hopes up to only be let down every year (2006, et al.) And also think back to the summer for a second, and all of the media outlets around this state and quite frankly all over the country. I mean you couldn't pick up a sports magazine, or newspaper, or turn on the radio, or watch television without hearing about those MF'ers form Athens. I have a long commute from home to Atlanta everyday and so if I want to listen to sports talk radio, it's 680 or 790. And for talk radio, WSB 750, the home of the butt slurpers. I would be so pissed off by the end of the ride home it wasn't even funny. I know people that drove beside me thought I was crazy when they saw me cussing the radio. Call me a glutton I guess. I say all of that to say this, I saw the '84 defeat of UGA in Athens as a kid, was present at every game during the 3 year winning streak over UGA from 1998-2000. However, I can honestly say that I've never seen a better win for our guys than this one. I mean who could've ever imagined this year being capped off with this signature win during our 1st season under Paul Johnson. This was the one I wanted above all others this year, but I never in my wildest dreams imagined it could have happened. My only regret is that I couldn't be there to see it in Athens. I'm envious of all of you who were. After the total dismantling of UGA's SEC defense by PJ's "gimmicky" offense I can only imagine the utter shock and despair among the faces of the Mutt fans that had come to Athens to witness this game. I think for the majority it would have been some sort of consolation to beat us with all the accolades we had been getting up until this game. Total disbelief....
2) I’m ashamed to admit, that at half time, I didn’t give our boys much of a chance to come back against UGA. I mean, UGA had pretty much passed at will on our defense, save a few plays, and they were really exposing the youth in our back 7. Add to that fact, our offense just didn’t seem to be clicking. I felt UGA had gotten in our heads once again and that the game was gonna be a blowout. I had gotten myself so psyched up for this game and really felt we had turned a page this year after Miami. How could we look so rattled? I mean I really wanted to cry (I’m man enough to admit it) or throw the damn TV out the window. I had told myself that as long as GT looked competent against UGA and gave them a good fight I was OK with that, but even though we kept it close until the last 7 minutes or so during the first half, I felt like UGA’s offense was clicking and we weren’t going to be able to get back in the game. Momentum was definitely on thier side heading into halftime………and then….the Diesel, in his usual fashion, takes the opening handoff 60 yds for the score and a 2 point conversion later, we’re right back in it. I was still cautiously optimistic, but the heavens opened and PJ poured out a can of whoop ass on the mutts and any momentum that they had was gone in the blink of an eye. The rest was a blur. My head was spinning so fast that it was surreal. I still can’t believe it. This long montage leads me to my question. What was it that Paul Johnson saw in the way UGA was playing us in the first half, that lead to the second half onslaught? I’m sure old Willie M. and Markie are still asking the same question. Was it that UGA became overconfident and subsequently sloppy in their assignments? Was it over pursuit? Was it the DE and CB play and the way they were reading/defending the outside? Was it our boys finally settling down and getting in a rhythm? Or was it something more subtle and inherently genius in PJ’s play calling?
Anyway, sorry for all of the rambling. I appreciate y’all indulging me. I can only say what has already been said. Damn, I can’t wait till the bowl game and next year and also........
TO HELL WITH UGA!:D
