another optimistic rant for those losing hope...

[Ramble1885]

Lose hope? Not even close.

I lived a Tech life going to seasons of 4-6-1, 1-9-1, 1-10, and 6-5. Sometimes, simply fielding a competitive team is a major accomplishment. After decades of abject neglect, the Hill is finally taking steps and investing in the Program ... new facilities, new hires at AD and HC, and more student enthusiasm than I've seen in a long, long time.

I'm not discouraged at all. It is said that it takes 25 miles of ocean to turn a battleship around and head in the other direction. A ship loses a quarter of its speed in the first quarter-turn; a further loss of speed to 55-60% in the next. Only in the third quarter-turn does it begin to run steady again. I think that's a good analogy to a college football team. If next year we are looking at 6-6 or 7-5 ... we should be pleased.

you went to Tech from '79-'82

the HEIGHT of Herschelmania and the only time the gap between GT and UgA was bigger than the Geoff years.

God bless you.

 

[4shotB]

you went to Tech from '79-'82

the HEIGHT of Herschelmania and the only time the gap between GT and UgA was bigger than the Geoff years.

God bless you.

I was there from '77 - '81. Even though we had facilities worse than most high schools in the area I don't think the gap was as large as it has been the last 7 or 8 years. My recollection was that Uga was just a 8-3 type of team until Walker showed up and would return to that upon his departure. They were a good, well coached, disciplined, hard to beat team under Dooley but they were not the year in, year out contenders for the NC (without Herschel) that they have been lately. Of course, I was a lot more optimistic as an 18 year old than I am today so that may be part of my perceptions.

 

[stinger78]

IMPO, in those early 80’s years the only difference was Herschel. These days UGAg is piling top-shelf talent 3-deep. It’s crazy how these guys will sign up to sit on the bench. The easy portal-era transfer rules are to blame for this.

It’s the opposite of the Dodd years where Bear was bringing guys in for a tryout and cutting them if they didn’t make it. Now the players themselves come in with a tryout mentality and plan to transfer if they don’t make the 2-deep.

NIL is complicating this even more. Players on the 2-deep are now leaving for a bigger payday. It’s crazy now.

 

[Richland County]

I think a lot of us were expecting a better performance out of the offensive line, quarterback, running backs and wide receivers than we have seen thus far in 2024. This was refortified by the FSU performance and how we were able to control the line of scrimmage and make plays against what we thought was a top 10 football team. As we found out later FSU was a paper tiger so instead of validating our expectations, we should have been more realistic that what we were observing was a good performance against a bad football team. In other words, we had discovered fool's gold.

King has been off all season. My observation that he has not displayed much joy is playing the game this season and whatever is bothering him finally led to his inability to perform at all mid-season. Pyron was not able to sustain the expectations we had for him as a backup so now we are left to wonder who will salvage our QB situation. The most important player on any football team. Jamal has given us everything he has but he just has not been able to stand up to the punishment and lack of running lanes. We have had a sustained series of injuries to the backups, and we might end up in the same boat as we are in at QB at RB. The wide receiver talent has been underutilized, probably due to the limitations at QB, but also just a lack of quality performance on their part. I don't know what has happened to Leo Blackburn, but he has not produced any measurable contribution so far. Many of our other receivers seem to be unable to get open or make clutch plays when we have to have them.


The defense is showing marginal improvement, but we are still unable to generate a pass rush, our defensive backs are still not able to provide quality coverage, and we are thin at linebacker and scrambling to field competent talent at that position. I think our coaching is moving us in a better direction, but we need better talent and quicker development of the players we have in house.

It will be a challenge to get one more win this season. It is possible but it will take a special effort. I hope out players and coaches find a way to make it happen.

Go Jackets!

Jerry the defense is more than marginally better. Tech is better than NC St so to say it will take a special effort to win is defeatist attitude. Has this season showed us the warts of the program, sure it has. To say we need to develop players is correct but this staff has a first year OL coach, first year DC, first year LB coach, I can't imagine you expected all Americans running all over the field after one full spring did you. This program has made major strides in the last year. Look for the positive friend it's there.

 

[alagold]

I am very curious. about this comment. It appears disturbing at first glance. Can you support this claim with data? Or is it just your opinion?

Lets count the commit losses at the end but now I think they are --the WR is to awbern, the OT leaning to OSU, and Dinkens going to uga.Is that enough?

 

[Randy Carson]

you went to Tech from '79-'82

the HEIGHT of Herschelmania and the only time the gap between GT and UgA was bigger than the Geoff years.

God bless you.

'78-'83 for me.

At the game when UGA scored on its first play from scrimmage with only 7 seconds elapsed on the game clock after the opening kickoff. They caught our secondary looking at Herschel in the backfield and threw a pass over the top. After that, it was Herschel left, Herschel right, Herschel up the middle. I think they were ranked #2.

Yeah. Fun times.

Happily, a slow white kid from Enid, OK and a skinny black kid from Brooklyn showed up and Alexander Memorial became a focal point in college hoops. Being from NC, I felt that was more than enough compensation.

 

[4shotB]

Lets count the commit losses at the end but now I think they are --the WR is to awbern, the OT leaning to OSU, and Dinkens going to uga.Is that enough?

I don't see this as being any different from A) any other year or B) any other team to be frank. These are kids after all and they change their mind frequently. IMO of course.

 

[Recleb]

'78-'83 for me.

At the game when UGA scored on its first play from scrimmage with only 7 seconds elapsed on the game clock after the opening kickoff. They caught our secondary looking at Herschel in the backfield and threw a pass over the top. After that, it was Herschel left, Herschel right, Herschel up the middle. I think they were ranked #2.

Yeah. Fun times.

Happily, a slow white kid from Enid, OK and a skinny black kid from Brooklyn showed up and Alexander Memorial became a focal point in college hoops. Being from NC, I felt that was more than enough compensation.

‘79-90 here. Rock bottom to the mountain top (or damn close) in both revenue sports. It’s undoubtedly tougher to hit the highest peak these days, but we’ve done it before.

 

[tmhunter52]

Jerry the defense is more than marginally better. Tech is better than NC St so to say it will take a special effort to win is defeatist attitude. Has this season showed us the warts of the program, sure it has. To say we need to develop players is correct but this staff has a first year OL coach, first year DC, first year LB coach, I can't imagine you expected all Americans running all over the field after one full spring did you. This program has made major strides in the last year. Look for the positive friend it's there.

You make it sound like the coaching staff was just pulled off the street and introduced to the game. The coaches have played football and been on staffs of successful college programs. Some, including Key, have studied under and been mentored by football coaching legends. I (and maybe more than a few others) am growing weary of the argument that we - GT - need to be patient year after year while our coaches gain enough OJT to put a quality, consistent, winning program together. Are there challenges? Of course, but those exist for every football program. As a fanbase, we still don’t have justifiable reasons to be confident that we will win ANY game. If some among our fanbase have a defeatist attitude, it has been fairly earned by years of repeated disappointment. I agree with Jerry that we will need to play our best - maybe better than we have played this year - to defeat NCState.

 

[Thwg777]

It’s nice seeing the diversity of years here.

I did undergrad / grad from 2002-2006.

I missed most of 2014 due to work (crazy hours and not living near ATL). We moved back to ATL around the Collins years… I tried to make up for lost times and hence my saltiness since that well, sucked…

I’ve never seen GT defeat u(sic)ga in person. This remains my white whale (03, 05, 06, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23…). My wife went to Alabama and is a good GT fan for me. I have seen plenty of *** whoopings of the Crimson Tide over u(sic)ga! 2015 was my favorite. Horrendous rain in the cesspool but they simply destroyed u(sic)ga.

 

[GTHomer]

'78-'83 for me.

Happily, a slow white kid from Enid, OK and a skinny black kid from Brooklyn showed up and Alexander Memorial became a focal point in college hoops. Being from NC, I felt that was more than enough compensation.

Same years for me due to co-oping. Last years of Pepper Rogers (football) and Dwayne Morrison (Basketball). 1978 wasn't so bad however those years were brutal. We 'got out' during the rebirth of both programs under the BCs, Bill Curry and Bobby Cremins. It was fun playing in the SAC with the new basketball players. One could tell that good times were coming.

 

[stinger78]

You make it sound like the coaching staff was just pulled off the street and introduced to the game. The coaches have played football and been on staffs of successful college programs. Some, including Key, have studied under and been mentored by football coaching legends. I (and maybe more than a few others) am growing weary of the argument that we - GT - need to be patient year after year while our coaches gain enough OJT to put a quality, consistent, winning program together. Are there challenges? Of course, but those exist for every football program. As a fanbase, we still don’t have justifiable reasons to be confident that we will win ANY game. If some among our fanbase have a defeatist attitude, it has been fairly earned by years of repeated disappointment. I agree with Jerry that we will need to play our best - maybe better than we have played this year - to defeat NCState.

Even if we don’t make a bowl, I’m very disappointed but OK since we’ve had so many injuries at key skill positions. I still see progress, especially on D.

However, there are still 3 games to play and we can absolutely win one, especially if we get King and Haynes back strong. We can finish this thing 6-6 or 7-5 plus a bowl in what became a very challenging season.

 

[Richland County]

You make it sound like the coaching staff was just pulled off the street and introduced to the game. The coaches have played football and been on staffs of successful college programs. Some, including Key, have studied under and been mentored by football coaching legends. I (and maybe more than a few others) am growing weary of the argument that we - GT - need to be patient year after year while our coaches gain enough OJT to put a quality, consistent, winning program together. Are there challenges? Of course, but those exist for every football program. As a fanbase, we still don’t have justifiable reasons to be confident that we will win ANY game. If some among our fanbase have a defeatist attitude, it has been fairly earned by years of repeated disappointment. I agree with Jerry that we will need to play our best - maybe better than we have played this year - to defeat NCState.

Remind me not to attend any parties you go to. The atmosphere will be cold and unpleasant. CBK was hired 2 years ago. BTW his first HC job so I assume you were employee of the year in your 2nd year of the first leadership role you had. The current staff on D had little to do with the players they were given. So again I assume you had all the people under your leadership going 100% in the right direction with no bad apples popping up along the way. NIL is new obstacle that has to be tamed that no one saw how challenging it would be. Oh now current platers have the opportunity to leave you at anytime during the season for any reason. Again if you don't see the improvement on the field and overall state of the program you don't want to. That is a you problem. Lastly to develop players, players are needed. Recruiting is on the rise so that quicker development can take place. I have to also assume you were a national at identifying talent and not picking people that weren't what you thought they were. New AD btw so the program is moving in the right direction.

 

[tmhunter52]

Remind me not to attend any parties you go to. The atmosphere will be cold and unpleasant. CBK was hired 2 years ago. BTW his first HC job so I assume you were employee of the year in your 2nd year of the first leadership role you had. The current staff on D had little to do with the players they were given. So again I assume you had all the people under your leadership going 100% in the right direction with no bad apples popping up along the way. NIL is new obstacle that has to be tamed that no one saw how challenging it would be. Oh now current platers have the opportunity to leave you at anytime during the season for any reason. Again if you don't see the improvement on the field and overall state of the program you don't want to. That is a you problem. Lastly to develop players, players are needed. Recruiting is on the rise so that quicker development can take place. I have to also assume you were a national at identifying talent and not picking people that weren't what you thought they were. New AD btw so the program is moving in the

I’m happy to send you those reminders, but you’d be missing out! I’m often told that I am “the life if the party” and I seem to be somewhat in demand! At parties, I am particularly careful not to offend the delicate feelings and sensibilities of other sports enthusiasts. THWG!

 

[Richland County]

I’m happy to send you those reminders, but you’d be missing out! I’m often told that I am “the life if the party” and I seem to be somewhat in demand! At parties, I am particularly careful not to offend the delicate feelings and sensibilities of other sports enthusiasts. THWG!

That's all you got? Please don't confuse my positive vibe as being delicate. Please don't be offended when I say i don't believe you unless you are parting with your four fingers and thumb. THWG!!

 

[alagold]

I don't see this as being any different from A) any other year or B) any other team to be frank. These are kids after all and they change their mind frequently. IMO of course.

oh, its different this yr because (a) we actually have the best recruit class in YEARS so it seems and (b) losing guys blunts talent progress in this crazy new world to make ourselves even relevant and do it quickly from where we've been

 

[gtee91]

Lets count the commit losses at the end but now I think they are --the WR is to awbern, the OT leaning to OSU, and Dinkens going to uga.Is that enough?

And there goes another one

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

Remind me not to attend any parties you go to. The atmosphere will be cold and unpleasant. CBK was hired 2 years ago. BTW his first HC job so I assume you were employee of the year in your 2nd year of the first leadership role you had. The current staff on D had little to do with the players they were given. So again I assume you had all the people under your leadership going 100% in the right direction with no bad apples popping up along the way. NIL is new obstacle that has to be tamed that no one saw how challenging it would be. Oh now current platers have the opportunity to leave you at anytime during the season for any reason. Again if you don't see the improvement on the field and overall state of the program you don't want to. That is a you problem. Lastly to develop players, players are needed. Recruiting is on the rise so that quicker development can take place. I have to also assume you were a national at identifying talent and not picking people that weren't what you thought they were. New AD btw so the program is moving in the right direction.

Seriously? It doesn’t take an employee of the year to not get a delay of game coming out of a timeout. I’m pulling for CBK because what’s the alternative? Some retread coach from the SEC or BIG? But if you don‘t see the clear high school mistakes we make then you deserve a mediocre team. We are paying this staff a lot of money to become competent. I don’t even care if we win or lose anymore. I just want GT football to be competent.