Can't find anything to do on a Sat? Here are ten reasons you should come spend some time at BDS @ HGF tomorrow.
10. Nice Weather - It's November 9. The Silver Wings Jump Team parachuting in to Bobby Dodd Stadium 8. Heck, it's not a noon game. 7. Duke wideout Conner Vernon leads the ACC with 61 catches 6. 5. Jerrard Tarrant could have a big game. Duke throws the rock a lot and QB Sean Renfree has been picked off 15 times. 4. Lots of scoring. Endzone type of scoring. 3. Warm nuts out of the warm nut machine under the West Stands 2. A chance to say Thank You to the seniors 1. Make that place crazy loud when they introduce #9
I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you all who helped make this years GameDay Experience possible. We hope everyone had a good time regardless of the outcome of the game. And for those blog readers who stopped by to say hello, it was nice to meet you.
In 6 years of doing the GameDay Experience it is the first time we didn't cheer the team to victory. We only do the big tailgate once a year, all the other tailgates are a small group with a cooler and a sub sandwich, but you are always welcome and feel free to stop by anytime.
I thought about making this entry into a referendum on poor officiating but as the game continued, it dawned on me that the referees did their job, the Tech team did not. The team just did not show up, not in the "we were tired" but more like the "we got off on the wrong bus stop" kind of of not show up. At no point in this game did Tech even come close to creating any bit of momentum or forward movement to speak of.
Score a touchdown? Now turn around and let the other team score on the first play from scrimmage. Run a couple of good plays for positive yardage? Follow that up with a nice fumble. Stop them on 1st and 2nd down? Ok, now let them get about 20 yards on 3rd.
It just kept adding up until it was over.
Less Videos, Better Play
I do want to say that I liked the videos, specially the one about the Georgia Tech weight room. It was inspirational but with a great punchline. It was really well done. Maybe Daron can find it online, I can't seem to.
What I did find disjointed was the number of videos. It seemed that nearly every football player had a video going at one point or the other. Whether it was the desperate call for us to chant "Defense!" or just ones to play while waiting through a timeout, there seemed no end to them. They kept asking us to yell and scream and support our team. Listen Tech players, I will always support my team. I will always cheer for them whether they be 1-11 or 11-1. I will wear my Tech gear with pride. I will get others to join the cause.
However, if you want me to roar during the games, then you better give me something to roar about! Give me a defense that knocks people down and challenges them to get up and try again. Give me an offense that runs the other team over. Show me the heart and and the determination that I know you guys have. So what did I see against Miami? No fire, falling down from ankle swipes, slumped shoulders, defense being pushed around. More of that and you will have to turn up the volume on the video board to resemble crowd noise.
Defense is Painful to Watch
I think the defense has made gains this year. Young players in a new system takes time and there will be issues. No one expects there to be miracles performed. We saw, on this particular day, the inconsistency that is beginning to define this team. Many of us hoped that the effort at Virginia Tech would give this defense more confidence to go out and put on a show. That did not happen. What made this even more apparent is that during the special ceremony celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the National Championship. They played a great video showing their accomplishments. In that video, we saw a dominant defense playing with aggression and intensity. Compare that with the Miami effort and it was evident that there is a significant drop off.
I don't want to come across as negative but I see a defense that is always playing backwards. The defensive line is being pushed back, the linebackers play side to side never forward and the secondary leads the team in tackles. I honestly believe that this team has the talent and ability to be a tremendous defense but I don't think we will see it this year.
The two good things that did come out of that day were UGA losing and Low Country Boil. I will let Daron talk about that one.
Joshua Nesbitt's career at Georgia Tech has come to an end.
I have to say, I knew one day I would have to write those words, but I had hoped it would come after an Orange Bowl victory in his senior year. Sadly it ends too early and not the way any of us would have wanted. On what will amount to one of those freakishly unlucky plays, in an attempt to tackle a VaTech defensive back, Nesbitt breaks his forearm. Done for the season. Not too long after breaking a run for a TD that gives him the record for the most rushing yards by a QB in ACC history.
It's been a joy watching Nesbitt play over these last four years. The guy was clutch and he leaves us with some amazing memories.
Joshua, you will be missed. Thank you for all you've done and for being a great representative for The Institute.
Post your favorite Nesbitt moment in the comment section.
Thoughts on last nights game.
I have to say that I went in to this game expecting a full on blowout. I had a feeling we'd lose by 3 TDs. Call me a pessimist, but I just hadn't seen anything from this team so far this year that would have lead me to believe otherwise. Last night they proved me wrong. Rarely have I felt so good after a loss, and a loss that ended the career of one of Tech's all time greats. But, for the first time this year I can see the future, and it is good.
Hats Off Last night you saw the Al Groh effect. The defense played very well and Groh's calls kept VaTech guessing all night. More than once I saw VaTech's offensive coordinator shaking his head and throwing up his hands in pure frustration. And I believe Groh had a lot to do with it. With more time to recruit the players needed for his system I have faith in what we'll see from the defense in coming seasons.
Tevin Washington, you gave it your all. Under very tough circumstances you where thrown into the fire. Played with moxie and made some good throws. Nesbitt leaves big shoes to fill and I have no idea if Washington will ultimately be that guy, but I was impressed by what I saw.
Cons Special Teams - enough said.
Officiating. Now I'm not one to overly cry about officials. But the pass interference call that obvious incidental contact and set up the TD for VaTech to tie up the game was one of the worst calls I've seen in awhile. And I'm not sure how VaTech's O-line can hold that much over the course of the entire game and it never gets called.
Rest of the season It's not over. Sure, we are out of the ACC race. But there is a still a bowl out there to play for and the UGA game. I'm hoping that maybe this team can regroup and come out in the last three games and play the way they did the first half of last night. IF Nesbitt doesn't go down at the end of the second quarter last night, we win that game.
Come on guys, you can do this. The pressure of the ACC race is off. Now just go out there and have fun. Lay the wood on Miami, Duke and UGA. And lets hope we can see Joshua one last time in a bowl game.
Rarely have I felt so good after a loss. The future is still bright.
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