Full steam ahead (figuratively and literally)
by BirdGT on Dec 7, 2009 10:00 AM EST
61 comments
Then, The Lady friend suggested Amtrak. And sure enough tickets to Tampa were around 105 bucks round trip. My weekend was saved. (Disclaimer: I am notoriously cheap unless it's for my female or my car)
The train ride was really not too bad of an experience. If you want to see the most Godforsaken country on the Eastern seaboard, ride a train. There are some desolate areas along the Amtrak lines. For the most part, it's about as smooth as a plane in mild turbulence. There's really no formality or super rigid protocol like flying, which is why I can see trains as a possible terrorist target. You just show your ticket and get on. No metal detectors or baggage check. But really, the only contraband on the train was hard liquor and beer.
Most of the people were traveling for the holidays from the concrete jungles of the Northeast to South Florida. Or they were going to Disney World. I'd say my return train had about 5 or 6 Tech fans and a hand full of Clemson fans going back to Charleston. Most of the passengers didn't appear to be that bad off. The first guy that sat next to me on the way down, however, was desperately unemployed and looking for work in Florida. He had all of his personal belongings in a couple suitcases. Pretty ballsy to pick up and move like that. I think he was kinda the exception but probably not too rare for Amtrak seeing as it costs nothing to go from NYC to Miami on a train versus flying that same distance (especially if you have a lot of spare time).
Now, the sacrifice made on a train ride to Tampa really is time. I rode the train to Orlando, picked up a thruway bus to Tampa, and took a cab to the stadium. I used the same three modes of transportation to get home. Here's a chart of how my weekend's time was spent (on foot = time actually in Tampa):
So if you're sad that there was no content or local newspaper linkage on Sunday, I'm sorry. I was still on the train at that point. Concerning the game, GT and Clemson played an epic game. This was the best ACCCG thus far. It makes up for Pat Nix's failures ten fold. I'm really sorry to hear about Phil Smith breaking his leg in front of his home crowd. Hope he gets well. Also, I felt like the game would've had a few more thousand fans in Jax this year and would've definitely sold out in Charlotte. The travel time was pretty difficult for any fan just because Tampa isn't a major air hub and is just out of normal-person driving range from ATL/South Carolina.
GT and Clemson's offenses played like it was their last game left on Earth. The only miscues were caused by the 3 or 4 plays that the respective defenses decided to play big. But really, who prefers a 9-6 Mud Bowl over what we got Saturday night? It was the best game on television. UT-UNL was won by field goal kickers and defensive tackles. Bama steam rolled UF. Cincy-Pitt was probably similar to an unbiased viewer except for the lack of star power. GT-Clemson had a heckuva lot more NFL draft picks in it than the Big East game of the Year so maybe the NFL fans out there enjoyed the ACCCG just a little bit more as they drooled over the hopes of drafting C.J. or J-Diesel. All in all an epic game.
I'm just happy we're not playing Boise State or TCU. For them, it's a lose-lose to play eachother obviously. Nothing is gained beating a non-BCS team. They've both already done that 10+ times this season. They want to dance with the hot East Coast women not the average lookin' Midwesterners. For GT, it would've been a lose-lose to play either of the BCS busters 'cause we get no respect for winning or losing the game. Iowa is a win-win for the Big 10 and ACC (the two major conferences with the most damaged rep of the season). Iowa and GT will sell out the Orange Bowl and avoid the David meets Goliath action. GT knows this feeling all too well...
I bet the biggest issue the OB had with TCU was ticket sales. TCU couldn't sell out their last home game against New Mexico in arguably their best season ever. How can a bowl game expect them to travel with 30,000+ across the country? How can anyone hate the OB for choosing Iowa? The OB really needed some legit ticket sales after last year's disaster.
Other sports topics I'd like to cover real quick are men's bball and C.J. Spiller. Hoops destroyed the Trojans on Saturday night. We're talking 2003-2004 romp-style. Tech opened the game on a 19-0 run. We've got legit three point shooters and dominant big men. The ACC season should be incredibly fun.
C.J. Spiller should win the Heisman. The guy is unstoppable. He has a nose for the end zone, has break away speed, and plays tough despite lingering injuries. His career numbers are amazing let alone his season numbers. I think it'll come down to him and Mark Ingram and Ingram will probably win but I just kinda think the nod should be given to the senior that's done it for four years on a less talented team over the guy that's had a great season on a great team.
Finally, the Hewitt meter:
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that's just
walking around Tampa, I didn’t have a car
This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedevere. Explain again how sheep's bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.
I vote yes on Hewitt
though I still really wish that Gani and Favors spent more time on the court together…it’s going to be a challenging without Shump the next few weeks…
on an unrelated note, can we find a picture where it looks like Josh Nesbitt has teeth. I know he’s taken a beating this year but damn
Are you a LION or a GAZELLE?
Star power
I think Tony Pike, Mardy Gilyard, and Dion Lewis are pretty similar in terms of national reputation as Josh Nesbitt, Jonathan Dwyer, and CJ Spiller.
Fun post – I like the graph.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
Not that happy with Iowa
Iowa was one of the worst possibilities for GT. The only one that would be worse is Boise State. Cincinnati and TCU victories would mean more – a LOT more.
Does anyone really think that Iowa is more respected than Cincinnati or TCU? Remember that when Iowa was the least respected undefeated team, everyone was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it did to a Northwestern team that lost to Syracuse and finished fourth in the Big 10. The one impressive win Iowa had was against Penn State. It’s not like the Big 10 looks good this year.
The other thing is: The Orange Bowl had first choice after the Championship! You are telling me that they took Iowa over 3 undefeated teams? Some serious rigging occurred. When you look at any of the Bowl Projections, it had GT vs. Cincy/TCU. And you are telling me they chose Iowa? It is only possible considering the Big 10 travels well. Still shady though.
Now we will be favored against the second best team in an incredibly bad year for the Big 10. A win against an undefeated team would mean a lot more, with the exception of Boise State. TCU beat Clemson and Virginia about as well as we did earlier in the year and looked downright unbeatable against everyone else.
But saying all of this, it is what we deserve after losing to UGA.
I never, once, heard a discussion of the National Championship
and Ga. Tech’s name in the same sentence. So to suggest Iowa is a bad opponent for you is nothing short of hilarious. We were the talk of the nation outside of Texas, Alabama and Florida and ranked #4 in BCS before we lost our QB to a freak play injury. You should respect the value of losing a QB as it cost you a game too. Then we went to Ohio State with a freshman QB who had played a little overf one half of football in his college career and took them to overtime.
Also, Boise and TCU are so relevant that the BCS put them at the kids table for the after-Christmas dinner. Get a clue numbskull. The best favor the BCS did for you was not have you face an irrelevant non-AQ team and then get beat by them. You get yourself into your school’s first ever major bowl and you suddenly think the world revolves around you.
Funny.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Stoopsmyass, lets be for real, no one outside of Iowa thought you guys had a snowballs chance in hell of a national title.
I guess if I too didn't read papers or visit CF internet sites
I’d assume the same. By the way, link me up to the conversations of GTech as National Champs.
Read it and weep…one of many.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Getting facts straight
Easy there, cupcake! It’s football! Don’t take it so personally.
Wow, where do I start? How about “your school’s first ever major bowl.” Remember, Wikipedia is not a fact checker! The reference to that incorrect statement no longer exists. What IS a fact, we were the first school to win all of the major bowls. And we have 3 more National Titles than your school. And the MVP trophy of college football is named after one of our coaches.
Next, no, we shouldn’t be in the discussion of a national title. We didn’t earn it this year. But to say that at one point this year you were in the discussion is disingenuous. At the same time and the same link – Southern Cal, LSU, and Oregon were relevant too. Does that mean it should affect our thinking on the teams now? The funny part is that the link you gave me calls your team a “cute novelty act” at one point in the season.
And Cincinnati, TCU, and Boise State are still “in the discussion.” Because they didn’t lose to anyone, even the weak teams. You lost to Northwestern. Northwestern!!! Perennial Big 10 whipping boy. Northwestern lost to Syracuse for goodness sake.
Both of our schools have a rich football history. But THIS year, I wanted better for GT than Iowa. And Cincinatti and TCU are better this year due to their records. Weak conferences? Sure. But they won. The ACC and Big 10 are pretty weak this year too.
Northwestern received more votes in coaches poll than did Georgia
and in the Harris poll and is playing a better bowl than GA. So get a clue about that. We beat three teams in the BCS top 25 (Penn State, Arizona and Wisky), you beat one. We are an upgrade for you big time. You wanted Cinncy? Who beat….let’s see….Oregon State and PIttsburgh…and Pitt is the first team they have beaten under Kelly who was ranked in the Top 20 when they beat them. The Big East is such a juggernaut of a conference that they have NO BOWL TIE-IN. You can have them…but the Orange Bowl who had Cinncy and Boise to pick from could not wait to AVOID them. And for the record, Boise played 5 teams ranked 99 or worse and outside of Oregon played not a single team in the Top 40. You can have them too. Every BCS team would destroy them….they are a novelty act.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
By the way
you will not hear me bashing the ACC like everyone else does. That kind of arrogance is a waste of time. I think this will be a tough game for each team and I expect the winner to get plenty of respect for the win.
I can’t believe you think beating CInncy would help your profile. Go visit the Florida blogs, they’re furious.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
This year
um, no, it’s not ridiculous. Believe me when I say it kills me to write the following: but jNWU was a better team than UGA this year (an admittedly low hurdle to clear).
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
No, no they weren't
In fact, looking at overall efficiency, uga was twice as good as NW, ranking 27th overall to NW’s 50th ranking heading into last weekend Georgia’s SOS was ranked 13th compared to NW’s 68th. Georgia’s Offensive Efficiency was ranked 17th whereas NW’s was 39th. Defensively, Georgia was 26th and NW’s was 45th. So on every level Georgia was a much better team. See here.
Georgia has the 30th ranked Offense in YPP whereas NW is 96th. Their defense is ranked 38th and NW’s is 57th. See here and here respectively.
I could keep going, but I’m sure I’ll find the same results regardless of the metric used to compare the two.
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
by Jesse28 on Dec 8, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
New Iowa team nickname? "Cute novelty act"
So you’re saying that it’s ok you lost to northwestern, because they are actually really good. Well…. that could be the first time that argument was ever made. I have to agree with Yakub on that.
The best point I can make is this: Every team, even wholly undeserving Boise State, won their conference. Except Iowa. And we got Iowa.
Do I think a possible victory over Cincy would help our profile? Not by much, we would probably jump a few spots in polls. But it would sure be better than the possibility of beating Iowa this year.
And the Florida blogs are totally unreasonable anyway. I was in Gainesville when they lost to Bama. Florida fans are spoiled. You would think the world was ending instead of a closing of one the best runs in modern college football history.
By the way, Sagarin rates the Big East above the Big 12 and the Big 10 this year:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc09.htm
Remember this before you huff and puff about some other irrelevant point: Every team in the BCS wins their conference this year but one. Your team is that one. YOU should be lucky you are in a BCS bowl.
You, sir
are a terrible officiator.
/O'keefe'd
by Smokin Herb Grigsby on Dec 7, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions
Florida
dickwad…back to the drawing board.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
No, the Orange Bowl didn't have first pick. TCU was already gone.
Here are the picks in order:
1. Sugar, because they lost the #1 team in the championship. They took Florida. No surprise there.
2. Fiesta, because they lost the #2 team in the championship. They took TCU.
3. Orange. They took Iowa over Penn State, Boise State, Cincinnati, and maybe BYU.
4. Fiesta. They took Boise State over Boise State, Cincinnati, and BYU.
5. Sugar. They took Cincinnati because they had to. Cincinnati was an automatic qualifier.
TCU is playing Boise State because the Fiesta Bowl wanted that matchup.
I mean 4. Fiesta took Boise State over Cincinnati
Nobody wanted Cincinnati.
The Orange Bowl had Cincinnati last year and knew they wouldn’t travel well. Boise State is a LONG way away, is a relatively young program, and lacks a national fan base. The odds of them traveling all the way to Miami and drawing a big television audience are in doubt.
There’s no doubt that Iowa will travel well, and the people making the decisions probably feel this game will have a better television audience. That’s really ALL they care about.
The only way TCU would have been eligible for the Orange Bowl was for the Fiesta to take Iowa or Penn State first. And they probably would have been taken.
Had Texas not gotten that extra second, then TCU would probably have gone to the championship game, Nebraska would have played in the Fiesta Bowl, and probably Texas in the Orange. That would put Boise State in the Fiesta, Cincinnati in the Sugar, and Iowa staying home.
Now THAT makes sense
Thank you Craig. I knew that they picked Iowa mostly because they travel well, like just about every Big 10 team, but I didn’t know why.
GT vs. Cute Novelty Act will probably be a good game.
Mark this down as another reason there should be a playoff…
Cinncy would have played in the NC game if the Texas FG was no good
the BCS standings are out if you care to look at them. Bama, Texas, Cinncy, TCU.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Uh, there are 10 teams in the BCS bowls
Iowa is in the Top 10. It was pretty simple. Again, the BCS standings are out if you care to look.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Uh, you are forgetting about Nebraska
If Nebraska had beaten Texas, which is the scenario I was discussing, then they would have gotten the automatic bid to the Fiesta Bowl as Big 12 champions. That means only nine of the top ten teams would make it, since an at-large spot would be lost (Fiesta Bowl), and Texas would become an at-large team.
It’s pretty simple, but I can try to simplify more if it would help you understand it.
my response was to Drewski
you do know how a thread works? No?
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Your response about Texas losing was also to Drewski
How was I to know that you suddenly figured the indented nature of the conversation in the minute between those posts?
You did go to Georgia Tech, right?
or just a fan of the college boys?
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
as Craig pointed out, Iowa or Boise State would NOT have made a BCS bowl with an upset by Nebraska. Most likely I would say Iowa doesn’t make a BCS bowl. An undefeated Boise team that was undefeated last year and wasnt selected is much more likely scenario. And I’m not going to comment on the matter again but you just sound like an ass and you two are startiing to get a little over the top and need to drop it
Boise was last optional picked team.
it was in the news, if you care to read.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Drewkski, its all about national perception. Beating a Big10 opponent looks more respectable as opposed to a Big East or non-BCS team.
+1
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Dec 7, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Stoops
I’m not touching the ‘We were considered for the NC argument more than you’ thread, because I happen to agree with you…but…
You gotta learn your facts a little more- “schools first major bowl” is grossly incorrect.
Try 4 National Championships and the first school to win the Four Major bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, and Cotton)
C’mon, man…dont come in here with the ‘new guy on the block’ weak shit…
Maker's Mark--nectar of the gods...
Correct
I should have said in years. You last went to a major bowl in 1967. My bad. I look at your program as having three historical phases…the SEC year, the lost years, the ACC years. In the ACC years you have not visited a major bowl. Yes, you went to the Citrus and picked up a share the NC and kudos for that. But I think the point that you have not seen this sort of stage in years, is valid. Your buddy riled me up with his ignorance.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
I deleted what I originally was going to post
due to being redundant with what SMA said, but referring to the 4 national championships and “major bowl” appearances in a discussion about recent bowl appearances is a little faulty. I’m all for tradition, don’t get me wrong, but it’s been awhile since y’all have been chewing on Oranges, that we can agree on.
/O'keefe'd
by Smokin Herb Grigsby on Dec 7, 2009 5:42 PM EST up reply actions
I agree that it has been
I’m just going off what the guy said….‘your school’s first ever major bowl’ implies that we’re like Central Florida and have no history at all.
Just stating a fact.
Maker's Mark--nectar of the gods...
Speaking of which, if we win, we’ll have 23 bowl wins, which ties the number of bowl appearances Iowa has in their history.
LBJ was in office
the last time you were in a major bowl…impressive history. Congrats.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
And here I was thinking
The Iowa peeps were better than UGA fans. What was I thinking?
Maker's Mark--nectar of the gods...
by chrisinindy on Dec 7, 2009 7:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah and Tech had its first bowl game roughly 50 years before Iowa did, what’s your point? That we have an extensive history while your program is fighting for MAYBE the 4th relevant program in Big Ten’s RECENT history. I get it, you have to feel special, which has to be tough when you’re from the state of Iowa. You have a lot of corn and uniforms that are ripped off from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ah, the corn jokes.
So original and of course it hurts really bad to be stereotyped like that. Ouch.
You’ll notice that this all started when your buddy suggested Iowa as a poser and a let down as an opponent. Coming from a school that is only now finding its way into a BCS Bowl…pretty humorous.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
And here I was thinking Technical Institute students did their homework...
Extensive history… I think we can all agree when we’re not focusing on being assholes that both of these programs have extensive histories… but if you’re going to attempt to blackball us for being what you call the 4th most relevant program in our conference’s recent history, I would try looking in the mirror first. We’re not pretending to be more relevant than tOSU, Michigan or Penn State, but you seem to forget about the Florida State’s, Virginia Tech’s and Miami’s ahead of you. And if you’re going to argue that FSU or Miamia sucks now, well so does Michigan.
And while we’re stereotyping, I’m assuming your a sweet tea drinking white supremacist, correct? (By the way, we grow just as much soy anymore as we do corn…)
/O'keefe'd
by Smokin Herb Grigsby on Dec 7, 2009 8:38 PM EST up reply actions
soy is boring
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Dec 7, 2009 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
again, misinformed
GT is in downtown ATL…no hoods here. You are obviously thinking of the Cesspool of the South.
Besides, you all know that you readily partake in sweet tea every time you take your cigarette-inhaling, Waffle House working old lady to Golden Corral for Friday date night….just before you attempt to add to your tax write offs for the year.
Maker's Mark--nectar of the gods...
by chrisinindy on Dec 7, 2009 11:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You need to check your sources, sir,
we have IHOP’s and Happy Chefs in our parts.
/O'keefe'd
by Smokin Herb Grigsby on Dec 8, 2009 12:44 AM EST up reply actions
My bad....
Maker's Mark--nectar of the gods...
by chrisinindy on Dec 8, 2009 7:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I guess in MacMasion land
they don’t do chain restaurants…get your pancake houses in order sir!
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Oh, come on.
Are you really saying there’s a time when StoopsMyAss is not focusing on being an asshole? Do you have any examples?
There is also the little fact
That until 1975, Big Ten teams were barred by the conference from any bowl but the Rose Bowl, and generally barred from going to the Rose Bowl in consecutive seasons even if they won the title. Granted, for a long stretch of this time (from 1960 on), Iowa wasn’t a threat to go to the Rose Bowl anyway, but almost ALL Big Ten teams have a much lower number of bowl appearances than their historical performance would tend to indicate.
Besides, when you start bringing up bowl games from 1952, my only response is “I have a goldfish. Oh wait, I thought we were talking about shit that doesn’t matter.” Not sure when the “modern” bowl era began, but safe to say most of GT’s bowl history falls outside of it.
But you do have the 222-0 win over Cumberland. Which may be the greatest game ever.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
You guys have some recent success, congratulations. Comparing bowl games is meaningless. Utah beat Alabama last year, does that mean anything? Florida lost to a crappy Michigan team in Carr’s last season. The X factor in bowl games is how bad the team wants to be there. Motivation plays a big role.
That said, I think we win. You guys will put up some points on us, because that’s how bowl games work. Teams have nothing to lose, so they throw out everything they have. Iowa won’t be able to score at the same pace as Tech, plain and simple.
Bowl Picks
Ok I attend TCU but have a family tradition at Tech so there is my background. I have pulled for tech for all my life and so I know about tech sports main football and basketball but anyways.
the Fiesta bowl had the 1st pick and picked TCU
the Orange Bowl had the 2nd pick and choose Iowa over Cinn Boise State VT PEnn State and BYU
the fiesta bowl choose boise state over Cinn VT and BYU
the Sugar bowl had to accept cinn because they had auto bid
To reach a BCS bowl you must finish in the top 14 and have 9 wins.
Out of the teams that the FB and OB had to pick I think Iowa is the team that everyone wanted to play because the Big Ten gets the most respect. Even though undeservingly in my opinion. TCU didnt sell out its last home game on Thanksgiving weekend against a 1-11 New Mexico squad……. Not to mention TCU has 8000 students and roughly 75000 living alum and hasnt been in national spotlight till recently so its not like we have bandwagon fans as other schools like UGA and Texas have. It sucks for TCU to play Boise because its a rematch of last years poinsettia bowl. However, im glad that TCU and tech arent playing cuz i dont know what I would have done.
Well said TCU fan. As much as I would’ve absolutely loved to see the Wreckbone go up against TCU’s 4-2-5, at least we don’t have a game where I’m a fan of both teams.
We really have 75k living alumni? I find that hard to believe, I would’ve put it more at 55-60k considering how many really really old alumni were attending games with me when I was a tyke.
In all seriousness
I find it ironic that GT has no winners of the trophy named after their own legendary coach. Almost as unbelivable that Alabama has never had a winner.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Screw you Ron Dayne!
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Dec 8, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
Don't remind me
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
He only got it because he had been hyped all year.
On the other hand, I think Eddie Lee could have won it had the school starting hyping him before the season started. That Air Force game would have sealed the deal had he even been in the conversation before then.
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