Dear Georgia Tech...

A division title is the minimum you need to earn a ring.

(via @brandensmith1)

Extra Day of Hate

Today is February 29th.  We get an extra day this year to rub running the state with our 3rd and 4th team tailbacks, and our cornerback, in Tech's nose.

TD

And The Genius Blinked

When Tech threatened to pull the scholly offer from Antonio Crawford if he visited Miami, I thought he would be going to Coral Gables.  Why would a kid want to go to a school that would threaten such a thing? Yes, Coach Johnson, Certified Genius, had pulled offers based on commits visiting other schools, so visiting Miami seemed like the mere prelude to him not having the offer to go to Tech when he got home.

But Tech still wants him. Not that he cares. He's going to Miami. 

I thought it was interesting they didn't threaten the Adams kid when he visited Auburn, which led me to think about the threat to pull Crawford's offer.  Why do that?

And why did the coach that was recruiting the kid from Lanier County who's offer was pulled get fired?

Strange days in the Flats.

TD

Blutarsky's take on the death of the Johnson Doctrine.

Photo of the Week: Shawn Williams' Interception

A thing of beauty.

Also, fantastic camera work by Jim Hipple.
TD

Georgia v. Georgia Tech Photos: Defense

All photos courtesy of Jim Hipple.

Georgia v. Georgia Tech Photos: Offense

All photos courtesy of Jim Hipple.

Georgia Tech Review

One final look at vanquishing our instate rival doin' what we do the weekend after Thanksgiving:

The Good: 

• Game planning. I'll get to praising the job Grantham and his charges did with the option, but first, you have to give props to Bobo's game plan and adjustments.  It was clear from the first series we wanted to run. It was clear Tech was keying on the run. It was clear that Tech couldn't stop the quick pass and crossing patterns. Bobo took that and nearly made a West Coast offense out of it on the fly.  Very nice.
• In my 3 Questions, I almost set 225 as the target rushing yards to hold Tech to if we want to win.  They had 243. Grantham's plan of letting Geathers and Jenkins handle the middle, jamming the strong side, and bringing the safety up to protect on the weak side was awesome. The dive was negated and Washington didn't have many chances to give only one defender the opportunity to make a tough choice.
• That interception by Williams.  Big. Time. Play.
• Orson Charles showing why he is a Mackey finalist. Even double covered, he found ways to get open.
• The execution on the TD pass to Aron White. Just a beautifully run play.
• Zander Ogletree's run...and calling that play at that time. One of the Tech defenders actually tried to shuck him off thinking he was blocking.
• Garrison Smith.
• Butler back on his game.
• Boo Malcome's personal 36 yard, 9 play, 5+ minute manhood robbing drive.

The Bad:

• Murray still overthrowing the middle deep route. There's a reason we don't call it much.
• Spiking the ball...and the tictac officials that would throw a flag for that particular spike.

The Ugly:

• Chop blocks. 

Honestly, I could make the 'good' list longer. Glad 2012 is a leap year.  Extra day to rub it in.

TD

3 Questions Answered: Georgia Tech

1. Can the defense stand up to the big play threat? I'd say we did ok here.  We held them ~100 yards below their rushing average and well under their total yards per game average.  They only got off one long pass play and 7 or so runs of longer than 8 yards.  We held them to 4.6 yp rush, over a yard per rush below their season average.  
2. Passing Play competence? 19-29-1 vs 6-17-2; 252 vs 112; 4 tds vs 0 tds.  We only got smoked on one pass play. Murray could have been 24-29.  9 Bulldogs caught a pass in the game. This was a resounding yes.
3. How much are we looking ahead to the Dome? I admit I bought into the drivel being spouted at ESPN, CBS Sports, CFN, AJC, Fox Sports, SI and the troll that kept emailing me.  I was worried we'd be focused elsewhere.  I was so wrong.  

I think this win is so much sweeter because a loss might have taken away all the good juju we've gained from the win streak.  Lose to Tech this year and the whole 'Georgia is a product of the schedule' meme continues. I am much happier with the 'Tech must be mediocre because they lost to Georgia' meme.

TD

3 Questions: Georgia Tech

Mitchell making plays down field won't hurt (Image: Hipple)

1. Can the defense stand up to the big play threat? At the beginning of October, I was in a near panic over stopping Tech.  They were averaging 630 yards per game offense, good for first in the country by 20+ yards per game.  They were passing with abandon (relatively speaking) and running until their legs fell off.  Then came October.  People figured them out.  They faced some ok defenses in North Carolina State, Virginia, Miami and Clemson.  They faced a terrible defense in Maryland.  In October, they had the 84th ranked offense at 349 yards per game, a full 20 ypg under Georgia. In the past couple of games, they have done fairly well.  Can we bow up and make them earn yards?
2. Passing Play competence? I have a feeling the passing game will be make or break for both teams. If we stop them from getting that TE alone, they have to rely on the run. If they take our quick passing game away, we have to rely on the run. I like our chances in the first instance. I have little confidence in the second.
3. How much are we looking ahead to the Dome? Ha! I waited until the third question for a 'look ahead' worry. In all seriousness, I'm concerned about focus. Between Munson's death and the lack of respect factor in the SECC, how many retards and folks without a life will it take at Historic Mark Richt Field to get the Dawgs fired up?

At least the Tech fans are handling Munson's death with their typical aplomb. I can count on class from them.

TD

You Shouldn't Have Made Fun of the Dawg

I hate Tech. Let me rephrase that. I normally disregard Tech, but hate them some. If they win, well, what do you expect, they play in the ACC. If they lose, well, what do you expect.

Now, I have had my share of fun at Tech's expense.  My favorite four:

1. The Ramblin' Wreck wrecked. No one got hurt. Hilarity.

2. Tech not winning, but still putting Georgia in the number one spot in the polls. How very Tech to tie the number one team, giving Georgia the top spot after the Georgia-Florida game in 1980.  Hey, kissing your sister isn't all that bad, if that is your only kiss.

3. Lying to the NCAA. Yeah, because your programs are so pristine.

3. Reggie Ball's counting skilz.

In my mind, it all comes down to them mocking the death of UGa.  Consistently.  Hey, if someone had gotten hurt in the Ramblin' Wreck crash, that would have been sad.  No one did.  I'd have been happy (for once) if they'd beaten Notre Dame that glorious November day. It doesn't surprise me they followed the Tressel/Tennessee route with the NCAA.  

Reggie Ball....I got nothing.  That shit is just funny.

I've said it once, and I'll say it until my dying day: "You shouldn't have made fun of The Dawg."

TD

Ok, Guys. We've Got Tech in Four Days.

Because Munson wouldn't approve of us moping around, it is time to get on with hate week.

Beware, Tech isn't known for class when it comes to handling delicate topics.

TD