I am excited that Brent Key has turned things around at Tech. QB Haynes King has been a big part of the Jackets success, that when he graduates his replacement Philo will be just as good. Key is an excellent recruiter and motivator, so the Jackets should continue to improve. They can already compete with any other team in college football.
That said, it is the many obnoxious Tech fans on social media that drive me to not root as much for them as much. Zero humility and a lack of awareness of the college football landscape as a whole. UGA has beaten GT in 18 of the past 23 matchups, but even when Tech was only winning 2 or 3 games a year (and getting beat by Bowling Green) before facing #1 Georgia I’d hear Tech fans say “Yeah, Tech will be Georgia this year”. Sure they might be a fan, but to me that shows a lack of knowledge of football.
UGA and Clemson fans may also be obnoxious, but when up against a tough opponent most fans will exhibit doubt that their team will win the game. This comes from knowing and watching football. Seems like Tech fans only watch Tech games, so they never learn how good other teams are so they can accurately make a comparison.
Sunday when Tech was announced as going to the Birmingham Bowl, instead of expressing excitement or understanding why they weren’t awarded a more prestigious bowl game, Tech fans expressed not disappointment or understanding but instead bitterness and slander. Man Vandy is a formidable opponent. Certainly no slouch. Just because Tech took UGA to overtime doesn’t mean they walk all over Vandy. Sure Key will have the Jackets ready, but this is far from an easy win – especially with Tech’s best receiver in the transfer portal.
Our friend’s son Nathan watches UGA games at the Park Tavern at Piedmont Park, at the corner of 10th and Monroe. There were lots of Tech fans at Park Tavern when 9-2 UGA played 6-5 GT. The Tech fans there were boastful and arrogant, taunting the UGA fans, who didn’t retaliate. I would like to thing that back in the 40’s, 50’s, & 60’s when Bobby Dodd’s Yellow Jackets were one of the dominant teams in college football, Tech fans were gentlemen and not obnoxious. Man have things changed.
Some GT fans had thought the Gator Bowl was considering the Jackets. Not sure. The fans were astounded that Duke got picked insteaded of Tech. Duke was 9-3 and Tech 7-5. Not sure either team has a huge fan following. Tech rarely sells out Grant Field, much less has the fanbase to buy a lot of bowl tickets. Hopefully that will change in the coming years, but right now that affects which team the bowl picks. Better Birmingham that Detroit, though the weather in Birmingham in late December can be cold and rainy.
ERNIE LOMBARDI [SABR Bio] was the visiting catcher in the first night game played at Ebbets Field. This game was the second of Johnny Vander Meer’s consecutive no hitters, 15-Jun-1938. Lombardi was behind the plate for both. Home plate umpire for this second no-hitter was Bill Stewart, who said, “Give some credit to Lombardi,… (his) judgment was just as perfect and just as important as Vander Meer’s pitches”. Lombardi once doubled in four consecutive innings off four different pitchers. On 08-May-1935, after he had singled in the 2nd, Lombardi doubled off PHI’s Syl Johnson in the 6th, off Orville Jorgens in the 7th, off Euel Moore in the 8th, and off Frank Pearce in the 9th. Lombardi is the only National League catcher to win multiple batting titles, in 1938 (.342) & 1942 (.330).
DENISON: could the Syrian conflict lead to WW3 ? Good analysis and backstory.
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