Emerald Bowl Blues

After Utah handed Georgia Tech it's worst bowl defeat in it's storied football history, the Utah players told of how the Tech players quit in the game. Comments like 'they went from trash-talking to hanging their heads' and 'I saw no fire in their eyes'. After scoring ten second-quarter points, the scoreless second half tends to agree with the Utah comments.

Even sophomore All-American receiver Calvin Johnson was discouraged, gathering only two receptions against previous opponent Georgia and Utah. He is perhaps the finest athlete to don shoulder pads for the Jackets, one of the finest offensive players in the country. A noted student who's said in the past he's at Tech to get a degree. But with the program unable to properly use such a fine weapon, there are rumors next season will be his last on the flats. Johnson is almost always upbeat, but after the game he wisely chose not to comment on the game.

QB Reggie Ball was not as accommodating. As Reggie goes, so goes the Jackets, and Ball completed less than half his passes and threw two interceptions. After the game, through a Tech official, he declined to speak to the press. Bush (league, not Reggie). But next year we'll be treated to the Reggie Ball show once again. Look for one upset if they're lucky, as well as at least two losses to lesser teams.

Why the poor performance? How can a team that beat Auburn and Miami, who played even with SEC champ Georgia for 59 minutes, play so poorly against a 6 -5 team from a smaller conference, led by a backup quaterback? The fact that the Emerald Bowl came off so shoddy is no excuse. Slippery field, baseball park, both teams on the same side, like when the Vikings played in old Metropolitan Stadium? Didn't Tech get shafted out of a better bowl, as the gtalum's blog accurately recapped? The way Tech played, they got what they deserved.

Is it not the coaching staff's job to get a team up for games like this? Anyone can get fired up to play the big boys, but how can you brag about beating the Canes when you're favored by eight and lose by twenty-eight? Do these guys realize they only have a pecious few fottball games to play in thier lives? Do you not go all out because you're not happy with the opponent or level of the bowl game?

Same old Tech. At least the Sugar Bowl is played Monday. Happy New year, and Go Dawgs.