Playing In The ChickFilA Classic Would Not Bore Georgia Tech Ticket Holders
by Winfield Featherston on Jun 21, 2011 9:36 AM EDT
in Georgia Tech Football
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PrintStories and ideas have been tossed around lately about Georgia Tech playing in the 2013 Chickfila Kickoff Classic,the same year the College Football Hall of Fame moves to Atlanta. While we love the idea of finally getting in that game, an opinion has been stated by a Steven Godfrey on SBN Atlanta this past week which poses questions about our ability to influence the "big boys" of college football.
Tech is deserving of a notable non-conference opponent -- see Notre Dame -- but one that actually stands to deliver the Yellow Jackets something in return. A neutral site game a mile from their own stadium nulls any potential excitement among ticket buying fans. The only appeal for GT to schedule such a game is the nebulous benefit of national exposure.
First thought is that this dude is completely wrong in "nulling excitement" because we're playing in the Dome. He must really enjoy those games against Jacksonville State and Samford. Woohoo.
Second...maybe he doesn't realize how cash-strapped our Athletic Association is a the moment. The lure of the money brought in by the CFA Classic would surely help the accounting books.
Moving on... is Georgia Tech in enough need for that said benefit of national exposure? While 2013 is two seasons away,the answer is probably a yes regardless. The Jackets are in the situation where they need to share the "mid-major" mentality: Win wherever, win however, and win often. People still remember the Gailey era, and to move past that vanilla time, excitement needs to be generated. If that means playing a national powerhouse one time in Atlanta on a neutral field and then flying across country to win again, so be it. Winning breeds excitement. As long as Tech can take care of business on the field, money, tickets, fans, and recruits will fall into place.
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I think we should play in the game if possible.
You cannot win many championships by tuning up against WCU and Middle Tennessee State. I am happy we have a soft beginning this year because we need it. But, I want us to have the confidence in our team that we can begin the season against anyone and have a good chance to win. Money aside, this is what we should always want.
Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
But if we're going to play it, I want a reason to be confident about it.
I can’t think that I would get up for a game like this if I were confident that a loss by only 3 touchdowns would be grounds for celebration. I keep looking for that time where I can be excited and confident about a CPJ team going into the season, where we really have some playmakers at a number of positions and I feel like we’re in position to win a BCS game….and it just seems like it may never come.
I’m as big of a disciple of Paul as you’ll find and I think he’s a fantastic coach, but I’m just saying.
by LilBroey700 on Jun 21, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I can understand the sentiment
especially with CPJ’s track record. I read a few articles where he admits to having grown complacent and not having the proper team motivation following the 2009 ACC Championship season. I had my worries last year when we didn’t blow out SCSU as much as I’d expected and then proceeded to lose to a less-than-stellar KU. Coming off a season like that hurts. A LOT more when coming back from a conference championship season.
Back to the topic, CPJ is holding the heart of the fanbase in his hands. Since his breakout 2008 season, I’d say the fanbase was about as electrified as it can get without having won the conference, that season. Seeing that level of success on a consistant basis is a pretty good foundation. Once we establish that, we can start scheduling these headliner games. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not all too keen to suffer through a repeat of the 2008 CFA Bowl disaster. National TV, noteworthy opponent, and a humiliating blowout. I was in the second row… and miserable.
THWG!
It doesn’t help when we schedule AWAY games at MTSU, I would always rather replace that with the opening kickoff. If however it takes away a guaranteed home win I don’t think that it would be worth it. Being in Atlanta I would rather have a home-and-away with a strong program (like the almost USC series) than one exhibition at the Dome.
That being said
If we were going to beat a top 10 team, the odds of us doing so would probably be greatly increased by doing it early in the season. Teams get more disciplined as the season progresses, and the early games seem to have more to do with luck then on the more athletic teams. This would favor the underdog, which would be us.
Also, I remember the atmosphere on campus before the season opener vs. Notre Dame a few years back and it was AWESOME. This would definitely get ESPN Gameday. I would find it very hard to pass up that kind of exposure……
They should play
The games are scheduled far out in the future that you really have no way of knowing how good or bad the teams will be. So you schedule the game and hope that when the game comes around, that both teams are good and that your team is ready to play.
I think the 2013 GT team has a chance to be very good. I say that because the team roster is mostly sophomores and freshmen. In 2013, it should be mostly seniors and juniors who have had the benefit of four or five years playing the offense. If Groh is still coaching, it’ll be the start of year four of the 3-4 and there shouldn’t be anymore still-learning-the-defense issues.
On the flip side, it’s possible that you could have a bunch of players leave early for the NFL (assuming its still around) and the 2013 team finds itself short on size and experience on both sides of the ball.
by Dive Keep and Pitch on Jun 21, 2011 1:27 PM EDT reply actions
What?
(assuming its still around)
Did you really just say that???
ha!
Better to have died a small boy than to drop this football - John HeismanFromTheRumbleSeat
by Winfield Featherston on Jun 21, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
just to be clear
The comment about the NFL not being around was a joke. Though it apparently wasn’t as funny as it seemed to be when I wrote it. In retrospect, a comment about the lockout would have been better.
by Dive Keep and Pitch on Jun 22, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm confused???
I thought this was a place where GT fans could share our enthusiasm for the team we love. This talk about Paul Johnson not being good enough to open against a top ten team is nonsense. 2008 and 2009 far exceeded anything we had right to hope for. Last year’s team was a victim of defensive players leaving early for the NFL. Remember, even with Nesbitt on sideline our offense rang up 400+ yards against our hated rivals in Athens. Even with Washington in the lineup, we could have won two of the games we lost with a break that turned differently in the fourth quarter.
Granted, we have a soft schedule this year and I am thankful for it. Going forward, I want our team to be good enough that we have W’s attitude about everyone on the schedule – Bring em on!
This is blunt, but I think the negativism is out of place at this point in the off-season.
Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
This is what separates us from SEC fans
we’re practical and analytical. This is why we’ll never get into the “big time” unless we start winning consistently and can pick up sidewalk fans, we all don’t have blind loyalty to the team till we die like them no matte what.
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
I bold "all"
for a reason. Some of us (atlanta’s original comes to mind) have the loyalty and faith to see it through to then end, but most of us nerd types just start picking it apart and realize its not efficient to put so much emotional investment in the team.
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
Whoa, hold on there pardner
Don’t misunderstand what I have written in the past. I frequently satire the “loyalty and faith to the end” syndrome found in that “other” conference by writing periodic over the top stuff. It’s a joke.
As for my straight up opinion I have said on at least 4 or 5 different posts in the past that I think Tech will have a disappointing season. I have expressed skepticism over the offensive line as well as several skill positions. I said this last year and I say it again this year.
by Atlanta's original team on Jun 22, 2011 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions
GTNate
You should analyze atlanta’s original team’s comments like you did with CPJ’s comments. Then we’ll know if the skepticism about the offensive line and skill positions portends another disappointing season for GT football.
by Dive Keep and Pitch on Jun 22, 2011 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm sorry
I was tired and didn’t realize how insulting comparing you to the HYBC (HELL YEAH BROTHER Conference, my personal name for the SEC) fans sounded. All I meant by that is that you’ve been a Tech fan for many many years, and will continue to be one for a long while.
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
Can't argue with that
I have indeed been a fan a long time. And, as your excellent post suggests, all of us get a little excited this time of year and start hoping and wishing for a better season than the raw facts would suggest.
by Atlanta's original team on Jun 23, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I also feel
that I have jsut made myself the target of much ire.
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
This what I'm talking about
no Ga Tech fan, “loyal” or no, is stupid enough to buy this. That’s what separates us from the redneck conference.
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
That's because
all the good players want people to buy bronze statues of them.
The game would be good with a proper build up.
Vs. Cal Bears. 82nd Anniversary of “Wrong Way”.
I’m surprised that the Atlanta hospitality community, which puts on this pre-season bowl game, would be interested in ANY driving distance team. This is about putting butts in hotel rooms over Labor Day weekend.
LSU, UNC, Notre Dame, UT, Boise, VT, and other Big Travel teams.
by DressHerInWhiteAndGold on Jun 21, 2011 11:20 PM EDT reply actions
On that note,
I can’t imagine us playing in a major-promotion game like this anywhere but Atlanta…..
Us vs. Notre Dame
or UT would be awesome. I would love to play notre lame again espcially, that is pretty much the only game I remember from freshman year
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
Which conference has won the most major college national championships?
Hint: It’s not the SEC
Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
it doesn't matter
the HYBC acts like it, and SECSPN eats it up. But just for fun, I’ll guess the B1G, since its been around the longest.
Paul Johnson: not giving a crap about what you have to say since 1987.
If you count from the very beginning
it’s actually the Ivy League
by Donttouchthewreck on Jun 23, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
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