Sports

Will UGA game define Jackets’ season?

Scott Chancey

Georgia Tech defensive tackle Vance Walker thought at first he would be answering the usual preseason questions that come with media day.

Nothing too hard or analytical. Just a few good quotes sports writers could splash onto the front page.

After talking about such nuances as having a new defensive coordinator (Dave Womack, replacing current Notre Dame assistant Jon Tenuta) and how the spotlight on the new offense under new coach Paul Johnson could be a good thing for a defense trying to replace seven starters, one subject changed the 6-foot-2, 293-pounder from a gentle giant to a man of rage.

Georgia.

He simply went silent, appearing to contain himself just enough so the lid of his head did not blow off like some cartoon character.

“I have to (contain myself), it makes me (so) mad,” said Walker, who started last year’s game that the Yellow Jackets lost, 31-17 — marking the seventh defeat in a row to their bitter instate rivals.“We’ve missed opportunities, but the bottom line is people won’t respect us until we beat them.”

The Yellow Jackets have come pretty close since last beating Georgia in 2000 — the year when former Dougherty High School and current Jacksonville Jaguars star Daryl Smith returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown to seal the 27-15 victory.

Those times — at least recently, however — have served more as a painful tease than any previous bliss could provide.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

n 2004: Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball all of a sudden forgets that it’s fourth down instead of third on a crucial late drive and throws the ball out of bounds … FINAL: Georgia 19, Georgia Tech 13.

n 2005: Ball makes another crucial mistake, throwing a late interception that could have tied the game … FINAL: Georgia 14, Georgia Tech 7.

n 2006: Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford throws a touchdown pass with 1:45 left … FINAL: Georgia 15, Georgia Tech 12.

n 2007: Georgia Tech misses out on valuable chances to make a game of it as the Yellow Jackets were unable to recover a couple of Georgia muffed punts in the end zone, and the Bulldogs stretched their dominance to seven games.

Although Georgia Tech has been to 11 consecutive bowl games, its fans want that win against the Bulldogs. And considering UGA could be a possible No. 1 in the preseason polls, the rumblings around Bobby Dodd Stadium could be more noticeable than ever.

“The thing is, those people always talk about Georgia,” Yellow Jackets offensive lineman Andrew Gardner said. “For me, at least, it’s always there.

I don’t know, that’s the way it is. It doesn’t pull away my focus from the other games. It’s not like one year you’re playing Georgia and it’s huge one year, and the other year it isn’t. That Georgia game is always there.”

Maybe so, but Johnson said Tuesday he is actually taking the Bulldogs as just another game.

“I think it’s important for our alumni, but we have 11 other games,” Johnson deadpanned.

Although Jacksonville State is the Yellow Jackets’ first opponent Aug. 28 at Bobby Dodd, thatNov. 29 game against the Bulldogs could define their season.

Or will it?

“No, but it’s a big part,” Walker said. “It’s a big part. Everybody has expectations. The first goal is to win the ACC. But for the most part, Georgia is right there.”

Gardner could not agree more.

“It’d be huge to beat Georgia,” Gardner said. “This is my last year and I’ve never beaten Georgia, so I want to beat them more so than ever now. We’re just focusing on Jacksonville State now, but no doubt it would be huge to beat Georgia.”

It would be even bigger if it happens this year, considering where both programs are. While in a series aptly nicknamed, “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate,” seven losses in a row against any state rival has a way of cutting deep.

Like, right down to the bone.

Walker was right when he brought up how respect was on the line when the two teams meet. After all, the Yellow Jackets seem tired of what they perceive as a lack of that respect, and know that earning it back is just one of the major keys to taking their program to the next level.

And regardless of how the coaches and players look at the Georgia game, the viewpoint from outside will be the same — the Georgia game will define the Yellow Jackets’ season.

Until then, the countdown to Nov. 29 continues.

More Sports>>