It’s easy to see how the Jackets lost. They were undersized and over matched at the line of scrimmage. The play of defensive end Adrian Clayborn was enough to shut Tech down in the first half. The Jackets offense over thought the situation with a chance to take the lead late in the second half. A situation that saw Josh Nesbitt throw an interception that ate time off the clock, and a near safety on an 11 yard loss by running back Jonathan Dwyer.

That pretty much summed up the offensive effort for Tech. Save for one drive, they really did next to nothing against Iowa’s 11th ranked defense. As the old adage goes, defense wins championships…er…blah blah.

This bowl game had deja vu written all over it. It was reminiscent of the LSU loss in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl a year ago. It now seems that there is a way to stop Tech’s offense. Have a good defense and a month to prepare. That may also be another reason why Johnson is five games under in the post season, all Navy comments aside.

“Last year we just self-destructed,” Johnson said. “We had possessions [this game]. We just couldn’t get anything going.”

Nesbitt’s performance was quite awful, as his passes came off too high and too hot, meaning his footwork wasn’t there. This is of course was due to shoddy protection. It also doesn’t help when your receivers drop passes (Damaryius Thomas), or slip on wide open opportunities (Embry Peeples). All in all, the passing game for Tech hasn’t evolved, leading to a run reliant offense. That won’t work on top tear defenses with advantages in strength, speed and preparation.

There was talk of the Jackets eyeing a National Title game next year in Phoenix this past week. Fact of the matter is, unless Tech goes undefeated and becomes accurate with 10 plus passing plays per game, the Jackets aren’t going to win a National Championship.

Alabama would have their way with them. So would Texas. The lines have to get bigger and meaner. The routes have to be cleaner. The passes have to be accurate. The catches have to be made. Otherwise, it’ll be more of the same. Nesbitt hung out to dry.

Now Tech will have to wait and see who heads to the NFL. It’s difficult to see any offensive players leaving after tonight’s performance. It’s hard to see Derrick Morgan wanting to stick around as the only legitimate defensive lineman as well.

Tech will probably finish in the Top 20, and open next season near the Top 10. With a tougher schedule, Tech might get more attention, but unless they win it’s null and void.

On a night where they could have taken a step forward, they tread water in 40 degree Miami.

An ACC Championship and a 10 plus win season is something to hang a helmet on, but if this team wants to be elite the hunger has to burn more with this loss.

Until then, the Jackets will spin tires on a rusty Wreck.

1 : warrior, fighter
2 : a militant advocate or defender
3 : one that does battle for another’s rights or honor
4 : a winner of first prize or first place in competition; also : one who shows marked superiority

Merriam-Websters defines a champion as a warrior. A fighter.

On Saturday, December 5, Georgia Tech was just that.

For one fleeting moment in history, the Yellow Jackets ended the season defining themselves as something more than a mediocre program. It defined itself as a champion.

Since the glory days of Bobby Dodd, Tech’s celebrations have been few and far between. This of course is one of the main reasons the Georgia game is magnified. For most Jacket fans, that’s the National Championship game. Now, things have drastically changed. Paul Johnson has seen to that.

Try as the Tigers might, Clemson was unable to beat Tech for the second time this season. That’s right, the second time. Clemson and Georgia Tech made it meeting number 75 on Saturday. It was the first time the two teams had met twice in a single season. The Jackets have now beaten Clemson in four consecutive match ups.

Even with the warrior C.J. Spiller (turf toe and all) and his record shattering performance with over 200 yards rushing and four touchdowns, Clemson still was unable to defeat the complete team that is Paul Johnson’s bunch.

Tech punched its ticket to the Orange Bowl by the final of 39-34.

It took the entire team to win this one. It took Josh Nesbitt’s leadership and resiliency, despite being stopped on a fourth down conversion late. It took Damarius Thomas’ long touchdown catch. It took Scott Blair’s insanely accurate leg for three field goals, two of which were beyond 45 yards. Despite not being able to stop Spiller, the Jackets defense held everyone else in check, and caused two costly interceptions. It was also a defensive play at the end by Derrick Morgan, who sacked Kyle Parker, that solidified the win. With time ticking away, it was the X-Factor, Jonathan Dwyer who ran it in for the final score.

That final drive was like magic. With a little over six minutes left, Tech drove down the field. 85 yards. Five minutes. A touchdown. A lead. A victory. A championship. A season defined.

Clemson wasn’t going to roll over and die. They gave the Jackets all they could handle. However, in the end, the better team won. For Clemson, the loss of Spiller to the NFL could be devastating. He single handedly almost won the ACC Championship.

For Johnson, this is only the beginning. This is something Tech faithful should be thankful for.

“Hopefully we’re building a program that’s going to be here for a while,”‘ Johnson would say. “[The national championship] is a goal, certainly.”

Now Tech has a match up in the Orange Bowl, its first BCS Bowl birth.

Merriam-Websters defines a champion as a winner of first prize or first place in competition, also one who shows marked superiority.

Tech proved they were the ACC’s best all season. Ironically, they’ll play in the only place Tech lost an ACC game all season.

Next stop: Miami.

Johnson also got to see Mark Richt continue his winning ways against the Jackets. His Bulldog teams are 8-1 against Tech.

Johnson will now get to see what it is to deal with a loss to the team from Athens for a whole year. Even if Tech does beat Clemson for the ACC and win the Orange Bowl, Georgia fans will still be able to say, “we beat the ACC’s best.” Unlike the other teams the Jackets face, this menace is only a drive away.

The UGA bandwagon will runneth over again. Most of these individuals will be less than intelligent. Most of them will be ignorant as to what first down is. Most will see red and black and say, “gee, I like those colors.” They will then subsequently bark at the moon like the morons they are.

Meanwhile, Coach Johnson will keep his eyes on the prize. The prize that really matters. The only prize that matters. The Crystal Football.

Beating UGA and winning the National Title are of course not mutually exclusive. However, after the loss to Miami, Tech’s chances were truly null and void. The Hurricanes also softened the blow of this loss. Imagine an undefeated Tech team losing at home to UGA. Talk about nightmares.

For the first time in a while, Tech will be a hunted team in 2010 thanks to their surprising 2008 and 2009 seasons. If certain players come back, and a certain defensive coordinator (Dave Wommack) gets a serious evaluation (i.e. FIRED!), Tech will be in the Top 10 at the start of next year.

A week before the game, Johnson tried to keep everything in perspective.

“I don’t want to leave the wrong impression because I do realize that the game is important and I know for a lot of our fans that this is the game they want to win,” Johnson said. “[But] we want to get to the point where our program is bigger than one game. We want to win the game, but we want to do some other things that just beating Georgia won’t do for you.”

After the game he had words of defeat and deflation.

“Our No. 1 goal was to try to win the ACC,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “But we’re really disappointed. We all understood it was a big game. We all wanted to win the game.”

Unlike in 2006 when UGA beat Tech yet again, and the Jackets failed to win the ACC or their bowl game, this feels a little more optimistic. This loss hurts on a pride level. It doesn’t hurt the big picture unless the Jackets take it with them to Tampa. The team from Clemson is also licking wounds from an intrastate loss.

Tech seasons can no longer be measured by UGA wins or losses. UGA made their season with the victory Saturday. UGA was also a loss from being a .500 team. Richt saved his job.

The days of Gailey are over. This Tech team has 10 wins. A Coastal Division Championship. A chance at an ACC crown and an Orange Bowl birth. So what if the Governor’s Trophy goes back to the land of drunks and incompetence.

Tech will be back on the field next Saturday. UGA will be savoring a Tech win and crossing their fingers and toes for a Chick-Fil-A Bowl birth.

Yeah, I’d say the Jackets are still better.

The last time Tech felt this confident heading into a Georgia match up, Jim Donnan was the head coach in Athens. Tech won that game back in 2000. The following year, Mark Richt arrived.

Now, Richt’s job may be on the line.

To say that Tech’s coaching situation has been upgraded since 2000, is an understatement. Coach Paul Johnson has proven in two seasons that he wants a statue of himself outside the Dodd. He may be well on his way to cementing that (bad pun, I know). It started during a basketball game.

“To Hell With Georgia,” exclaimed Johnson during half time. For once, a Tech coach got it. As great as an ACC or National Championship would be, a win over Georgia simply matters more to Tech faithful. After all, the Jackets aren’t always going to be in the running in the BCS (one can dream). They won’t always be able to beat Virginia Tech (one can hope). However, the only beating that really stings, is the one your bully of a brother gives you and then laughs about….for a whole year.

For Mark Richt, he dominated Tech for years. Seven straight wins as Georgia’s head coach.

Then, the unthinkable. 26 points. Third quarter. The rest is history.

Then, UGA lost Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to the NFL Draft. Joe Cox replaced Stafford to the tune of 14 interceptions. Georgia has yet to find the running game. They have also had some embarrassing moments in route to a disappointing 6-5 record (*cough* Kentucky *cough*). Need the defense be mentioned?

If Richt should lead Georgia to a .500 record, he may be replaced. This will be made worse by an exclamation point of losing to Tech again. Bad news for Richt, the series is a streaky one. History is on the side of the Jackets.

At this point, it’s difficult to even see this being close. Tech’s offense scores. It runs the clock. The pressure will be on a terrible defense in an away stadium.

What about the rivalry, you ask? Oh yes, well there is that.

In 2002, UGA was at home. Richt was in his second year as head coach. Getting ready for an SEC Title Game appearance (it’s first of three under Richt), they wasted little time with the Jackets. 51-7 was the final. Tech was blown out. It was the most lop sided final score in the rivalry.

Now, it’s 2009. Paul Johnson is in his second year as Tech’s head coach. The Jackets are at home. They are preparing for an ACC Title Game appearance (first time under Johnson, second time in four seasons). UGA is down. There will be little sympathy.

This game could be over in the first half. First quarter. First minute.

Perhaps the death of another UGA (UGA VII to be exact) is an omen of change.

Change for the better.

THWG!

It’s yellow.

UGA and the Mark Richt era are on shaky ground. If there is one thing the decision makers over in Athens can’t stand, it’s an in state rival having more success than them.

Georgia is 4-4. They have four games left.

Georgia Tech is 8-1. Ranked in the Top 10. Prospects of an ACC Championship. The sky is the limit.

Both teams will play each other at the end of the season as usual, and in here we find the rub. Georgia is no longer sure of themselves or a victory over the team from The Flats. This is made especially so thanks to a 26 point third quarter in last years match up that lead to a 45-42 Tech win in Athens. This years game is in Atlanta.

Now with whispers of a Richt firing and a potential change at quarterback thanks to Joe Cox’s ineptness, flux is a kind word for the Bulldogs.

UGA went into their annual beat down against Florida…erm…”The World’s Largest Outdoor…erm…that SEC East rivalry game in Jacksonville, thinking that a change of scenery would strike fear into their opponents. Florida, being the reigning and defending National Champions, thought nothing of the black helmets or black pants. They just saw dinner. A 41-17 blowout later, and things are not looking up.

If UGA were to fire the best coach they’ve had since the “glory days” of Herschel Walker, whose rushing touchdown record was broken appropriately enough by Florida quarterback Tim Tebow during the game, it’s hard to see how things could get any better.

This is the same Richt who until last year, owned Tech. He had never lost to the Jackets, even as an offensive coordinator at Florida State. Now, because he didn’t deliver on a #1 pre season ranking a year ago, and his continued failure to meet unrealistic expectations this season, Richt appears to be on the chopping block. This is the problem with the UGA in a nut shell. The place is run by nuts.

Perhaps only Clemson has more lofty expectations. Perhaps not.

The problem with Athens is, they want to be in the conversation every year, and they think the SEC gives them that birth right. Sadly, the SEC also holds Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, two teams Tech defeated on the road. Mind you, the defense left a ton to be desired.

UGA is not elite, and really have never been. They were the best team for one season almost thirty years ago. They also had a running back that was very good. That too was thirty years ago. Since then, they’ve won three SEC Championships, two under Richt. Which leads to the asinine idea of firing him. Try Chan Gailey on for size.

Tech would kill for three ACC titles in that time period. In fact, the third ACC Championship since Tech’s last National Championship may come at the end of this season.

Athens should also get over the idea they should always be better than Georgia Tech. Not gonna happen. The tides have changed. Paul Johnson is doing for Tech what Richt did for UGA in 2001.

The only difference is, Johnson may be the coach to lead the Jackets to the promised land and their fifth National Title. Meanwhile, UGA is stuck with two, and should be more appreciative. They could be like Boise State, and stuck with none.