Georgia Tech Housekeeping: Random Thoughts

(Will Mr. Nesbitt feature prominently in the random thoughts?)

Yellow Jacket land is just abuzz (pun absolutely intended) these days with Georgia Tech perhaps on the brink of a BCS trip, depending on the outcome of the next four or five weeks.

With just a quartet of regular-season games still in front of us, I thought it a pertinent moment to step back and look at a few different things. Consider it an expanded notebook, if you will.

Second Look at Virginia

It was brought to my attention by some of you, and perhaps rightfully so in some respects, that I did not give the Jackets enough credit for their 34-9 win over Virginia.

I had suggested, in this space, that Georgia Tech won what I termed an "ugly" game. While I stand by that assessment—it was 13-6 at halftime, even when Georgia Tech proved, after the break, its superiority—I think I did a bit of injustice to the bees in my final analysis.

So let's look at some applicable statistics, shall we?

• 362 yards rushing against what is now the fourth-best defense in the ACC
  
• 8-of-17 on third downs against what was also one of the conference's best third-down units
  
• no touchdowns allowed
• only one turnover, despite the rain and Tech's general issues holding onto the ball
• time of possession: 42:43 (There's a word for that. It's domination.)

Those, my friends, are among the most crucial equations in the mathematics of victory.

Getting Some National Respect

Analysts Mark Schlabach and Bruce Feldman both have Tech playing in the Orange Bowl in their latest bowl projections, and while they failed to make significant gains in the polls or BCS standings, the Jackets are clearly recognized as the ACC's best team at this point in the season.

Still quite impressive that it took less than two years for Paul Johnson to do that.

Paul Johnson Says Shenanigans to Va. Tech's Illegal Blocks Claim

Johnson against Frank Beamer could be shaping into the ACC's version of Spurrier against Fulmer if this is a sign of things to come.

Essentially, the Hokies sent in tape of a number of blocks Georgia Tech players threw that they felt were illegal to the ACC. Several of these were committed, purportedly, against Kam Chancellor, the "key" to understanding and stopping the option, who was quite often nowhere to be found when the big plays were nigh.

Beamer said at least one block came on Josh Nesbitt's game-sealing touchdown run, and Chancellor said he was blocked below the waist four or more times in the game.

Johnson, who called the accusations a joke, said, "They got out-schemed. So it’s illegal to out-scheme them, I guess."

Them's fightin' words.

You'll recall, perhaps, that Georgia Tech came under extra scrutiny for some of its cut-blocking techniques last year, which prompted Johnson to give a presentation to officials during a spring summit. It's assumed they discussed issues they had with the alleged illegal blocks, and somehow reconciled certain things with Johnson.

Clearly they did not reconcile everything.

I will say that the picture with this story appears to show Chancellor being blocked above the waist, but pretty thoroughly nonetheless. Obviously, that's just one play, but the option is very good at freezing defenders long enough for blockers to get there.

Lastly, Josh Nesbitt for Heisman?

(or just shameless promotion)

Just sayin'.

That's about it for tonight. Time to read the inside of the eyelids. Don't forget about the mailbag: [e-mail].

Until tomorrow, folks.