You're right, Boomer, except it has been between the ears for 40+ years. That's when it started: 71, 76, 78 were all games with ridiculous endings that went uga's way. After that the field seemed to slope their way. We had to be two or three TD's better than them to win. We were also what I would call "in phase" with them. When they were down, we were down farther like the late 80's and mid 90's. We could never keep enough consistency to break their momentum. We'd be good for a couple of years, but we couldn't maintain it and force them to play at their peak year in and year out to beat us. I believe Johnson has changed that. Every year since he's been here with one exception (2012, their best team in 35 years), the vomit eaters have had to fight for their lives with us. Sort of like splitting live oak wood with a maul, he's been hitting uga with a TO maul over and over, and last year they cracked. I can see some parallels between COFH and the Navy/ND rivalry. At Navy, Johnson banged on that much thicker wall until it cracked, and suddenly Navy started winning against them. We are 8 years deep into the TO now. It's is second even third nature to every offensive player on our team, and they came here to be cogs in that machine. Johnson is bringing that same maul to Thanksgiving this year, next year, and the year after that. The fleabags know it, and in their tiny little intellects, they know they haven't ever really stopped it. In the back of their stunted minds they hear "Listen, and understand! That Terminator Option is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead."
But that's only half the story. We and they will no doubt have different teams this year, as you say, Boomer. But some things in football transcend seasons, even coaching regimes. Clemson always Clemsons. NC State always plays like demons against FSUA. Always take Boston College and the points against Notre Dame. Since he set foot on campus in 1982, when Ted Roof is on the Tech sideline we are over .500 against uga. And he was there for all three of what I would call our miracle wins: 85, 99, and 14. How can that be explained given our history with them? I don't know. I do think that last year's defense will be the worst one that we have for as long as Roof is the DC. The days of uga strolling into BDS and stealing wins is over. They will have to earn everything they get from now on.[/QU
Said perfectly. Those days are over. The game used to scare me to death. Not knowing what bs would transpire that seal Tech another loss. Not anymore, after what happened last year, I believe the tide turned in Tech's favor. Justin is setting the foundation of a run Tech has never seen.