The 10 Worst Losses of the 2000's
by BirdGT on Jul 1, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
26 comments
#10 November 8th, 2003. Duke 41, GT 17.
Why it was so bad: Duke hadn't won an ACC game in 4 years and Georgia Tech obliged them with four Reggie Ball turnovers. Duke was fired up by Tech alum Ted Roof after the emotional termination of Carl Franks. It was a terrible day to be a Tech fan.
#9(a)/(b) November 30th, 2002. Georgia 51, GT 7. November 29th, 2003. Georgia 34, GT 17.
Why they were so bad: Mark Richt broke a 100 year old record for largest margin of victory in a Georgia win over Tech. Then, he followed it up with another decimation of Gailey's unorganized bunch in 2003. Reggie (supposedly) got into a fight with a coach on the Georgia sidelines and was suspended for the second half of the 2003 game. Both games are cited for their epic futility.
#8 September 20th, 2003. Clemson 39, GT 3.
Why it was so bad: Following a tough loss to FSU (the last good game of Chris Rix's career), Reggie Ball vowed that Georgia Tech wouldn't lose another game. Well, we did. We lost this one bad. To top it off, Tommy never pulled Charlie Whitehurst or the starting offense as Whitehurst ran one in against Tech with 3:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.
#7 October 21st, 2006. Clemson 31, GT 7.
Why it was so bad: C.J. Spiller and James Davis racked up over 380 yards in the infamous purple on purple game. This is the loudest game I've ever been to by far. It was also the worst trip home ever.
#6 September 29th, 2001. Clemson 47, GT 44.
Why it was so bad: It was an overtime loss. Everyone in the stadium knew the final play was going to be a quarterback draw except for Ted Roof and the Georgia Tech defense. Woody Dantzler scrambled into the end zone untouched from 11 yards out for the game winner. Tough freakin' break.
#5 November 26th, 2005. Georgia 14, GT 7.
Why it was so bad: Tech had just knocked off Miami. Both teams came into the game ranked for the first time in a few years. We were televised opposite a terrible Stanford-Notre Dame game so basically the whole country was watching Tech-UGA. On the final drive, Reggie scrambled 30 yards to the Georgia 22. The Tech crowd was electric in anticipation of the game tying touchdown. Instead, however, Reggie threw a pass intended for a receiver running a comeback route while his intended receiver, Damarius Bilbo, ran a post pattern. The ball flew straight into Tim Jennings' arms. Game over.
#4 September 2nd, 2006. Notre Dame 14, GT 10.
Why it was so bad: It was bad because the referee decided who won the game (check video at 2:30 mark). Both teams played a pretty epic season opener and sadly a weak sideline call protecting pretty boy Brady Quinn won the Irish their only quality win of Charlie Weis' tenure.
#3 October 6th, 2005. NC State 17, GT 14.
Why it was so bad: With 26 seconds left in the game, Superman was flawed. On a play action slant from the NCSU 2 yard line, Reggie hit Calvin in the hands. Calvin was undercut by the safety and hit high by a cornerback popping the football straight into the air. NC State's Garland Heath picked off the fluttering air ball. NC State celebrates on the field and GT fans (as usual) throw things at them.
#2(a)/(b) November 25th, 2006. Georgia 15, GT 12. November 28th, 2009. Georgia 30, GT 24.
Why they were so bad: Two coordinators held superior GT squads back. Pat Nix decided to crap his pants in 2006. And Dave Wommack had worn out his welcome in 2009. Nix was ready to leave Georgia Tech and most likely had his offer from Miami in the mail as he haphazardly called deep bombs and halfback draws in one of the worst offensive efforts of the 2000's. 2009 was much the same but on the opposite side of the ball. Wommack switched between 3-4, 3-3-5, and 4-3 all game only to have simple stretch plays obliterate his defense. The reason these two games stick out for GT fans is because they both feature Georgia squads on the heels of mediocre seasons defeating GT during epically good seasons. The word "upset" doesn't begin to describe these two games.
#1 December 2nd, 2006. Wake Forest 9, GT 6.
Why it was so bad: Georgia Tech fans realized that Pat Nix had truly fooled them for five years. Nix, in fact, was an agent sent from Auburn University to destroy Georgia Tech's chances at ACC glory. In a rainy, cold Jacksonville crapfest, Tech only scored 2 field goals. The offense averaged almost 27 points per ACC contest. The defense only gave up 3 field goals. Pat Nix is very fortunate he got a job with Miami because he was about to be fired.
What games do you think deserve to be on this list? Should some of the FSU close calls be included?
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Frustration
Ultimate frustration is losing the games you should have won. 2006 was an especially bad year. The three games you list from 2006 represent the only times in my life I have been tempted to throw something at the TV.
by Atlanta's original team on Jul 1, 2010 8:29 AM EDT reply actions
That Urple on Urple Game
I remember seeing them come out of the bus, I was almost sure you could taste grape. One amazing game.
Don't give up, don't ever give up ~ Jim Valvano
#3 NC State v. Tech
Everyone likes to blame Calvin for dropping that ball, but he was triple covered there. It’s Chan Gailey’s fault for running that stupid play. We were only down three with three plays to get it in (I believe we had a time out or two left over). Throwing a pass over the middle in the goal line situation is the most risky play they could have run. Throw a fade, run it, do something other than that stupid play and at least save the tie. That was the last straw for me, and I haven’t like Gailey since.
I blame that game on Travis Bell. He absolutely sucked that year and he missed a crucial kick in that game. That game cost us the Peach Bowl that year.
I think the sad part
is how our wins and losses were ultimately predicated on whether or not Calvin and Reggie had a good game. The offense was so simple and easy to stop. It’s very frustrating to think about all of the pressure put on Reggie and Calvin in such an unimaginative offense.
I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.
The defense was there
The offense was dependent upon Reggie (Calvin could usually pull a couple down even when Reggie was having a bad game), and that guy was not someone you wanted to depend on when the pressure was on.
Also, you don’t like Patrick Nix, but he was better than Chan Gailey at situational coaching (calling the right play in the right situation). He was very inconsistent though, and would have some bad games, which you noted in your story. He got his new job (and big paycheck) because he had some good games against Miami.
FSU Game in 2003
Isn’t this the game where PJ Daniels broke off a long run only to trip on the 20 yard line before he could get in the endzone. We ended up losing that game by just one point.
We missed a huge one
Gary Guyton’s huge hit, huge lead, and just squandered it away in the 4th quarter. We could have made a statement to the conference noobs that year.
by Winfield Featherston on Jul 1, 2010 10:50 AM EDT reply actions
Having played in...
7 of these 10, I think you’re pretty spot on. I’d put the Notre Dame game at (2c) because if we had won that game, we would have gone into Death Valley undefeated and probably a top 5 ranking (I think we were #11 and they were #12). Not saying it would’ve changed the outcome but would’ve given us more of an edge (also would’ve gotten the edge for 1,000,000 yards if we hit Mike Cox in the flats on 3 of the 300,000 play action roll outs nix called that game)…Also the VT game mentioned above. Honorable mention to getting up on WVU in the Gator Bowl and letting Pat White take us to the woodshed in the 2nd half…UGA, Wake and WVU in a row was a terrible end to a decent year.
Are you a LION or a GAZELLE?
Notre Dame Game
That game was bought. Brady Quinn (like the current quarterback for Virginia Tech—-that 2008 game should probably be on this list too) wasn’t out of bounds or giving up. At least the ref got hit with a water bottle.
...
ugh is the only word to describe it….
another note… have yall thought or done the best wins of the 2000s?
by The_GT_LineageX11 on Jul 1, 2010 1:28 PM EDT reply actions
yeah
tomorrow posting at 8AM…Winfield’s working on a side note too: “Worst Wins”
I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.
honorable mention
goes to the game againsT BYU (I think it was balls freshman year)….. that game sucked
by The_GT_LineageX11 on Jul 1, 2010 1:35 PM EDT reply actions
Clemson 2001
Is higher on my list. As a program, we had been improving over the past several years (Joe Hamilton, beating UGA three straight, etc) and we were ranked about #10 in the preseason polls, and there was some talk of running the table. I think we had 16 returning starters from the previous year, including Godsey, Kelly Campbell, Joe Burns, Greg Gathers, etc.
We spent the whole game chasing a missed two-point conversion and couldn’t stop a quarterback draw. After that game, we finished the season 5 and 4, losing the UMD when Joe Burns ran out of bounds, UVA on the hook & ladder and to UGA in Atlanta (Richt’s first season).
Post-season, O’Leary left to ND, Gailey was hired, and we couldn’t find a QB to replace Godsey for 6 years.
Forgot to mention
2003 Georgie game is still the coldest game Tech has played at home since 2003. High of 40 degrees (low of 28).
I write stuff From the Rumble Seat.
peach bowl vs. lsu was pretty rough
i’ve never wanted to stop watching a game before it was even halftime before. Not that it should be in the top ten, but every time we lose to a mediocre virginia team sucks
What about Miami 2009?
We came in on a Thursday night prime time game off a big win over Clemson and just blew it. That drive back could not have been any longer.
Too soon?
Ramblin', Gamblin', HELL OF AN ENGINEER!
Let's not get into the 1980's on this jag...
When the list started and ended at FURMAN.
by DressHerInWhiteAndGold on Jul 1, 2010 9:13 PM EDT reply actions
If we are going historical, let me tell you a story
I was a youngster in 1969. Tech was still trying to figure out how to use Charlie Dudish, the most highly recruited quaterback in history to that point (I think he got something like 250 college offers). As Tech struggled through a difficult season they went on the road to visit undefeated Southern Cal. Charlie played the game of a lifetime and Tech had an 18 to 15 lead in the fourth quarter. Finally with seconds remaining on the clock, Southern Cal had a fourth and long deep in their own territory. Even if they got a first down it was doubtful they would have enough time to drive and set up for a tying field goal. As it was, they had ridiculously long yardage just to get a first down. Al Ciraldo, in his inimitable style said, “Bomb shell brewing on the West Coast as the Yellow Jackets seek to pull off one of the hugest upsets in the nation!”
Just then the Trojans threw a pass, the Tech defender fell down and the receiver raced 80 some odd yards for a touchdown. After the extra point the ensuing kick off was an on side type kick which Tech muffed and which was picked up by Cal and run back for another touchdown. Final score was Southern Cal 29, Tech 18. Southern Cal preserved their undefeated season and Charlie Dudish never fulfilled his full potential as a Tech quarterback.
by Atlanta's original team on Jul 3, 2010 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Woody
My most memorable loss was against Clempson with Woody running up the middle…EVERYONE new what he was going to do…awful.
i was a wee lad at The Crab Trap in St. Simon's Island watching the game
AND I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPPEN!!!!
by Winfield Featherston on Jul 2, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I was @ #5 & #4
My wife got us tickets to the Georgie game and it was her first ‘Clean Ole Fashioned Hate’ game. IIRC, we both scored in the first ten minutes then it was a defensive struggle until right near the end when ugag went up 14-7. We were in the corner of the endzone where reggie’s pass got intercepted and I remember very clearly me, my wife, and damn near everyone around us, regardless of who we were cheering for, all saying, “Where the hell was he throwing that one?” Frustrating to say the least.
The ND game my wife had got us tickets as an anniversary present and she was pregnant with our second child. This is also the game where the Tech pilots flew over extremely low and about gave a ton of old ND fans strokes and heart attacks. There were actually two bad fourth down calls in a row that prolonged the ND drive. That was definitely one that left a very sour taste in my mouth, especially because of the crappy ND fans and their non-stop mouths.
One that I think could make this list is the Thursday Night game against VPI in 2004. The wifey and I had front row seats on the ten yard line, home side of course, and were witnesses to one of Reggie’s biggest mental lapses. Up 20-12 with less than 6 minutes remaining, everyting comes undone as VPI ends up scoring 25 in the fourth quarter alone to win 34-20. That was a long lonely walk back to the Westin that night.
"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.
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