In the eyes of the national college football landscape, a Sun Bowl victory for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets would not have meant much. In the eyes of the national college football landscape, a Sun Bowl loss doesn't mean much either. But to a Georgia Tech fan a 7th straight bowl loss is disappointing, sad, frustrating, and has the potential to make all of us think irrational thoughts. Which is why we're here to remind you about the facts. We consider this discussion our "Georgia Tech therapists" role.
The 2011 football season was successful because:
1. Georgia Tech was not supposed to win more than 6 games this season. Instead, the Yellow Jackets reached 8 wins and improved by 2 games from 2010.
2. Tech beat the then-#5, undefeated Clemson Tigers on national television.
3. Tech loses only two starters on the entire offensive unit: Roddy Jones (deepest position on offense) and Tyler Melton (good blocker but only 17 catches in 2011).
4. 2012 will see virtually the entire secondary defense return after 2010 saw all four starters leave. Rashaad Reid is the lone senior but Jemea Thomas played a lot at nickel and utility corner. He also started the bowl game.
Dabo: "That sounds like a freight train."
CPJ: "No, that's the sound of five veteran linemen punching holes in Kevin Steele's defense AGAIN."