Orange Bowl Notes

Thoughts & observations while watching the Orange Bowl, in chronological order...Typical Fox pregame show…topical subjects profiled…just not very deep. Nice into by Tech alum Jimmy Carter, though.Predictions…35-31 Iowa…Eddie George28-14 Tech…Jimmy Johnson

Appears Tech is wearing a new style jersey. Didn’t they learn last year when they wore different jerseys in the bowl game? New pants as well. As usual, Russell Athletics’ designs are years behind Nike. Iowa wins the best uniform prize, in their classic black and yellow. Whatever happened to Tech's gold pants?

The end result is all that matters…winning the game. But winning the war is made easier by winning the most battles. Like the previous two games, Tech’s weak defense means their offense and special teams will have to play an almost flawless game to win.

I like announcer Dick Stockton. Charles Davis provides good, timely analysis...BEFORE the play. Fox buys up all the BCS games, then has guys who haven’t called a college game all year. Give me the ABC/ESPN bunch…Brent, Kirk, Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, etc. Or Vern from CBS.

Coldest Orange Bowl ever…49 degrees at kickoff. Shouldn’t be a problem for either team. Coin toss is meaningless…Iowa would’ve taken the ball, Tech would’ve deferred. Kickoff was after 8:15 EST. Why? TV.

Tech’s keys…Johnson’s play-calling and Nesbitt’s execution. If he has a good game passing, making his reads and good pitches, and protecting the ball, Tech’s offense will be unstoppable. I hope Johnson keeps the ball on the ground…especially on first down. Hard to have long drives when faced with second and tens.

FUMBLE…Tech ball! Penalty…looked like Dwyer would’ve broken that one. Nesbitt gains five…good start. First pass…Nesbitt only looked to one receiver, who was covered. Tony Barnhart said that whichever offense stayed away from the third and longs would fare the best.

Looks like Iowa is going to pick of Tech’s pass defense, with quick passes. Tech will need more big plays on defense...like an interception or two. IOWA BIG PLAY. Right now I'll take a tackle! Touchdown. No big deal, as long as Johnson doesn't panic and start throwing.

BTW…Fox jinxed Tech, talking about how Tech hadn’t punted the last 2 games / 22 possessions. Now two punts in two possessions. At least we’re sticking to our bread and butter…the running game. Time out…so we’ll have commercials, a punt, and more commercials. The two punt snaps sailed left. Hopefully Tech won’t have a special teams miss-step.

Penalty…holding on Tech. Tech struggles with teams who can pass and run. UGA’s running game set up the pass. Big gain! Iowa certainly looked at that game film. Completion. Tech’s offense has got to string together some first downs. Touchdown. Please no replay of last year’s bowl game!

Jim points out that Nesbitt has all the carries so far. Chop block penalty. Dwyer is stopped…third & 22. Josh is sacked. Punt number three. Poor punt, but a good roll. At some point soon, Tech’s got to stop Iowa, and get some first downs.

Interception...TOUCHDOWN! Pick six...just what we needed! 14-7 Iowa near the end of the first quarter. Two of the biggest Tech fans I know, Fred O and Wayne Price, are at the game. Both took their sons, I think. Tech defense holds...finally, a punt. Of course, it bounces out of bounds outside the ten. Third down, and again, Nesbitt panics when his primary receiver is covered. Punt number four. Don’t know what could be the problem…today I wore the same long-johns that I wore when Tech beat Miami in 2008.

No catch, in my book. The Iowa receiver had possession, but didn't take it to the ground. Analyst is correct. BLITZ...SACK! Defense holds again...another punt!

Commercials...Taco Bell employees don't look like that. Taco Bell CUSTOMERS don't look like that...present company excluded. And the drive-through diet? Guess it worked for Subway. The funniest commercials come from FedEx, the bowl sponsor. Loved the guy who came out of the long coma, to learn Pluto is no longer a planet...and the Culture Club broke up.

The teams swap punts. Nesbitt can't bring Tech back by himself. Another good roll on the Tech punt, after another snap wide left. That's gotta throw off Anderson's timing. Time out TECH? Iowa promptly reels off two first downs. Hope that doesn't bite us.

The offense AND defense aren't executing, but the play-calling has been good. Iowa is taking away the dive and pitch and making Nesbitt run the ball. Not Johnson's fault. Hard to nit-pick the sack to end the first quarter, but why can't Nesbitt take the hail mary snap from the shotgun? By the time he drops back the Iowa defenders are on him. Josh scrambled left, but the three receivers were on the other side of the field. It's not the zero first half completions/passing yards...but down seven, Tech doesn't need to pass much.

Halftime score still 14-7 Iowa. Kool & the Gang rock. Can Paul Johnson make enough halftime adjustments to turn the game around? Tech comes out and picks up a first down. They didn't run their patented quick pitch toss sweep the entire first half. Dwyer picks up 15. Nesbitt picks up the first down, and goes over 1000 yards. Another penalty.

I understand why Tech runs outside to the short side of the field (fewer defenders to block, for one), but they run out of room fast. I would've kicked the field goal as well. Scott Blair has been streaky, and in this game against a tough opponent, this miss can be a killer.

Stockton & Davis correctly point out how the Iowa line is dominating on both offense and defense. Iowa reels off large chunks of yards, but Tech holds on third down. The Iowa field goal puts the Hawkeyes up 17-7, late in the third quarter.

TOUCHDOWN! Tech trails 17-14 after a long drive, early in the 4th quarter. Good play calling.

Iowa answers, again driving into Tech territory. SACK! Tarrant fields the punt on the three, and slips on the ten. Davis correctly calls him out, for not letting the punt hit and bounce into the end zone. With less than ten minutes left, Tech won't have many more chances. Can they drive 90 yards?

No factor as a passer, says Stockton. Davis is correct, that all Nesbitt has to do is hit a couple of big plays. But the interception and roughing the passer penalty are nails in the coffin. Also the poor tackling, not just on this Iowa "drive", but the whole game. DBs duck their heads, allowing RBs to make a move past them.

Tech foils the fake field goal, so the INT yields no damage. Is the Iowa kicker hurt? Paul Johnson teams win...but usually they are ugly wins. As Tech fans, we can take this. Speaking of ugly, Dwyer loses eleven, and almost causes a safety. Dwyer is great, but runs standing up. Unfortunately for us Tech fans, it's in his best interest to head on to the NFL.

Dropped pass, and another so-so punt with a great roll. Can the defense hold Iowa one more time? Iowa first down. Clock ticks...under three minutes. Time out, Tech. Long run...another nail in the coffin. 2:03 left...basically Tech's only chance is to hold right now.

Down three to a strong team, you've got to be proud of the Jackets. As I type, Wegher breaks away for the game-clinching touchdown. 24-17.

Wait til next year? Tech needs a much stronger defense to be able to compete on the national stage. Can the offense be as potent without Dwyer and WR Thomas? Paul Johnson's offense will really be hard to stop when they get a QB who can pass. Nesbitt is a warrior who should take his place amount the all-time Tech greats, but a passer he ain't.

Game ends at 11:39 pm...much too late. Will has been outside shooting baskets for the last 30 minutes, in 25 degree weather...in his new white cords. I love the Yellow Jackets, how 'bout you?