Slow Lane Bowl

I hate it when Tech flops. Doesn’t show up for a big game. Maybe this will all change with the new Coach Geoff.

 

First they wear the ridiculous uniforms. All this crap about it being traditional for Tech to wear navy in the postseason. No mention of the Peach Bowl blowout to LSU in blue jerseys, or the ACC Championship Game loss to Wake Forest in blue. Plus they’re 0-2 in blue pants. If the new adidas uniforms were so much better, why did I see a Tech defender wearing underwear with RUSSELL stitched on the waistband? And the goofy looking untucked gold t-shirts underneath. But the kids love ‘em, bless their hearts.

Then the actual game. The defense can’t stop anyone, run or pass. On every play the Golden Gophers have a committee meeting five yards behind the line of scrimmage, and Tech defense just stands there waiting for Minnesota to decide what to do with the ball. Grab both the QB and RB, then toss away the one that doesn’t have the ball. Twice in the first hlf Tech had the QB sacked, but let him get away.

 

Minnesota’s defense is ranked 116th against the run. Tech led the nation in rushing. Movable force against resistible object. Sor so you’d think. Minnesota had two weeks to get ready for the option, and they used the time wisely.

Down 13-0 the Tech players continue to make stupid decisions. Unsportsmanlike conduct. Missed tackles. Pass interference. Delay of game. Run the kickoff out of the end zone and get stuffed on the ten yard line. Field another kickoff on the ten – and fumble the ball. Typical Tech.

 

Like last season’s unsuccessful attempt, Tech once again inexplicably tries to turn second team all-ACC punter Pressley Harvin III into a rugby style punter, and again had disastrous results. Let the kid kick his own way. Don’t mess with him. At least the all-navy unis were slimming on Harvin.

 

Backup QB Tobias Oliver finally got in the game with five minutes to go, and generated a little excitement, but it was too little too late.

Before being named head coach at Minnesota, PJ Fleck had been cast in the role of The Chief in the movie version of Get Smart.

Bowl games are so unpredictable. Stidham played for Auburn. Last year they let UCF beat them, but this year they came to play in Nashville. Vandy played well, but Baylor came to play as well. Both Clemson and Bama will be short three players, and UGA’s job will be tougher without DeAndre Baker.

 

Syracuse is playing well, as I suspected. Lots of fight from West Virginia even without their starting QB. When their experienced defensive back was flagged for an obvious targeting penalty, his teammates saw the replay and knew he’d be thrown out.

Miami didn’t look good. Three interceptions, fumbles, etc. Richt held out his best QB for most of the game as a punishment for inappropriate tweets. Wisconsin has missed two field goals. Badger RB Taylor supposed to be as good as UGA’s Swift.

 

adidas couldn't get Miami's unis right either. Stripes on the throwback pants were wrong - unlike the stripes on the orange pants (below).

Canes did ring the bell at the NY stock exchange Wednesday, and the market rebounded over a thousand points.