ICYMI: Navy Wins A Dirty Bowl, Ole Miss Wins An Ugly One.

Admittedly, looking at the Twitter-sphere, the Bell Helicopters Armed Service Bowl seems to be one of the dirtiest games played this bowl season- gouging, poking, cheap shots... all that stuff...

Which means it must have been great television...

And the HQ will admit that the idea of having teams like these make it to a game where, hopefully, they get to turn a little profit is a good thing...

Here's how Navy QB Keenan Reynolds became the fourth player in Division I history to rush for 30 or more touchdowns in a season.
((HT: ESPN))


And, then, the Georgia Tech-Ole Miss game in Nashville was just plain weird in the fourth quarter. Vad Lee surprised the entire planet with a 72-yard TD pass to get the Rebels lead trimmed to 23-17, but with all the momentum in the world as the Yellow Jackets stopped Ole Miss' offense...

This happened...
((HT: ACCDN))


The HQ would LOVE to know who called that last play...

Army Hires Jeff Monken as Football Coach

---Sigh---

And we sigh because as a Georgia Southern Grad, we're losing a pretty good football coach.

Army has a new football commander. The Military Academy announced Tuesday morning Jeff Monken, the now former football coach at Georgia Southern will take over the program.

Monken, who's been pretty successful in Statesboro going 31-12 in 4 seasons, will succeed Rich Ellerson who was let go after a 3-9 season. He had success with Georgia Southern, who will be moving this season to the FBS level Sun Belt Conference, after a 7-5 season highlighted by a rousing win over the University of Florida.

He's a disciple of the Paul Johnson school of option football, much like Navy coach Ken Niamulatolo and is expected to get paid somewhere in the ballpark of the $1 million plus salary Niamulatolo is pulling in.

It leaves the Eagles in a lurch as they now take their turn on the Coaching Carousel.

Virginia Tech's Hokie-Stone Helmets Work So To Speak In Stonewalling Georgia Tech

[HT: hokiesports.com]

Say what you want about Virginia Tech's Hokie-stone helmets worn Thursday night at Georgia Tech, you may see more of that headgear.

Virginia Tech got a confidence boosting win over Georgia Tech 17-10 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Logan Thomas was suffering during the game with an abdominal injury but despite that had his best game of the 2013 season going 19 of 25 passing for 221 yards and the touchdown.

“I thought he was excellent,” Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. “I thought his leadership, his toughness, his being in control … I think he’s a quality, quality quarterback. He’s physically tough and mentally tough.”

"I think this will give us a lot of confidence going into the rest of the year," Thomas said. "We played hard, and we played tough."

"He pulled a little something in his stomach, but he fought through that. He was going to play in this game.”



The Virginia Tech defense had three days to prepare for Georgia Tech's option offense and was brilliant.

Hokie defenders seemed to be in every gap disrupting the Yellow Jackets timing on the option.

It's another example as the way Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster is arguably the best in the business.

“The coaches and players deserve a lot of credit on this one." Beamer said.  "This was a special win.”

“The scheme is not any different then what most people play against us." Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said.  "The players are pretty good, but for whatever reason, it seems like we self-destruct."

Fumbles and penalties, you probably lost count as to how many false start penalties the Yellow Jackets committed, hurt Georgia Tech.

Virginia Tech's win Thursday night left a very positive impression with head coach Frank Beamer.

 “I think we have a mentally tough football team, a physically tough football team." Beamer said.  "What we’ve done over the last 12 days, three games, two of them away from Blacksburg, against three good teams … this team here tonight is really good … and to come in here on a short week and not much rest, the kids said we don’t want any excuses. We’re going to go down there and get it done, and that’s what they did."

Virginia Tech has 12 days off now before hosting North Carolina and it's a while before the Hokies hit the road again.  

After the Tar Heels the Hokies have the next two at home too against Pittsburgh and Duke.

We might be hearing more from Beamer's Boys and seeing more of those Hokie-stone helmets.

The Ga.Tech Student Manager Workout

The team may not have exactly been successful on the field in 2012, but Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson wants to make sure his football team managers are ready for 2013.

Take a look at this somewhat poorly shot video the Coach posted on Twitter and then eventually the athletic department posted on their YouTube page.

**Note**--We were stunned the media averse, not known for being affable coach actually had a Twitter account (2-weeks old), never mind being mildly funny.

It's the team's managers running through early morning conditioning drills.

No word if the football team actually had to do conditioning drills, but this does make for some fun video. (Sort of)

Former Georgia Tech Defensive Coordinator Al Groh Says GT "Unprofessional, Negative"

HT: The Roanoke Times

When last we heard from Al Groh he was the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and he was being pink slipped.

When Groh was fired or “relieved of his duties” on October 8^th the Yellow Jackets were 2-4 and coming off their third straight loss and third straight game giving up 40 or more points.

Those results will get you canned however Groh spoke to the Roanoke Times and Groh spoke rather candidly about his brief Georgia Tech tenure.

"Just to say it briefly, this circumstance here was the most unprofessional, divisive and negative environment in which I've ever been," Groh said. "To say more would be unprofessional of myself.

"It was just a bad cultural match."

In other words it was a bad marriage and an even worse break up.

What Was Mike London Thinking...??? And The Rest Of The Day In The A-Cee-Cee

((HT: ACC Digital Network))

With a minute or so left in regulation, the HQ was wondering out loud why Virginia head coach Mike London wasn't calling time out to force Virginia tech to kick the game-leading field goal a lot earlier than five seconds left in regulation...

Which Beamer did... and turned the game-leading field goal into the game-winning field goal...
The HQ is still scratching our head over that one...
And Vah Tech is now bowl-eligible for the 20th year in a row...


What was Mike London thinking...???

Any ideas...???

In other news, Georgia toyed with Georgia Tech 42-10 in getting ready for Alabama in the Ess-E-Cee... shocking no one...


Apparently, and for good reason, CPJ was berating his team and could be heard through the metal doors separating his team from the civilized world after the game.

Also, Duke and Miami combined for more than 1,200 yards and 97 points and had three straight possessions end in one play scoring drives- one for Duke that was the length of the field...

So, How Much Time Does Paul Johnson Have Left On The Flats...???

((HT: KSL-TV/SportSouth))

Some Georgia tech fans thought that things were looking up when "Groh Must Go" turned into "Al-Gone, Take Me Away..."

Not so fast... apparently...

Jamaal Williams rushed for four scores and the Cougars defense held Tech without a rushing touchdown for the first time in two years. It was also the first time Tech didn't score an offensive TD since 2008.

How's that for reasons of optimism...???

Georgia Tech (now 3-5) has lost four of their last five- including games to Miami and Middle Tennessee. They didn't convert on any of their 3rd-down chances...

And if you thought that getting rid if Al Groh has helped... not really...
The defense gave up 411 yards...

Here's the highlights, if you're a BYU fan...


So, the HQ begs to ask the question...
Does CPJ go as well...???

And who does Tech get as their new boss...??? Someone who can run the system with the athletes Paul Johnson has already recruited or someone entirely different trying to put square pegs into round holes...

Faithful reader, we ask...

Groh Gone... CPJ "Relieves" Groh Of DC Duties

There were a lot of questions brought forth by the porous (and that's being kind) defense that Georgia Tech has shown its last few opponents...

So, as a result...
Groh...???
Gone...

From the Institute their own selves...

"The Institute has decided to go in a different direction, which I respect," Groh said in a statement released by Tech. "I appreciate all the help and input from (assistant defensive coaches) Charles Kelly, Joe Speed and Andy McCollum, and the effort of all the players.

#“I aimed to give the best that I had every day. It’s been an honor to be a part of the legacy of Georgia Tech football. I feel positive that this is a good time in life to move on to a new situation.”

Tech is 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. And that is the team's worst start since going 1-10 in 1994. The Yellow Jackets gave up 47 points to Clemson a week after surrendering 49 in a home loss to Middle Tennessee and losing to Miami in overtime the week before that.

Clemson was the third straight team to top the 500-yard mark and 40-point mark against Tech.

And the HQ thinks the house cleaning isn't over if things continue the way they are...

FOSG Bill Shanks of FoxSports 1670 in Macon, Georgia interviewed Paul Johnson Monday following the firing of Al Groh.

"Groh Must Go: Week 2" As Clemson Beats Ga Tech

((HT: ACC Digital Network))

This, really, shouldn't be the most difficult decision on The Flats...

And it's one that the folks in Charlottesville had to endure before bringing in Mike London...

Al Groh, for one reason or another- whether it's scheme, personnel, or both- has given up 1,720 yards of offense in the last three weeks in games that Georgia Tech has (allegedly) participated in...

And we're talking about losses against Miami and Middle Tennessee in Atlanta, and now Clemson in Death Valley. The HQ wonders aloud just how much time he has left as Paul Johnson's DC...

Now don't misunderstand... the Clemson defense is no "Monsters of the Midway," either. The Tigers have given up 1,087 yards on their own going into this game.

But, hey, you only gave up 483 to Tech on this day, right...??? For a 1,570 total...
And you still won...

The conference has the long version of the highlights...
Proibably, too long for Al Groh...

For the record, Clemson QB Tajh Boyd threw for a career high 397 yards and DeAndre Hopkins caught enough passes to total 173 yards receiving as No. 15 Clemson beat Georgia Tech 47-31.

Both teams get a week off to figure out what to do...
Boston College heads to Grant Field for the next Tech home game and Virginia Tech goes to Clemson in two weeks...

The End is Near: MTSU beats Ga.Tech in Atlanta

So goes the mighty ACC. Georgia Tech, one of the supposed better teams in the conference hastened their tumble to the back of the pack after not just being beaten, but rather, pummeled by Middle Tennessee State.

The final score: 49-28.

This isn't to discount the Blue Raiders who have made strides under coach Rick Stockstill, but they shouldn't be able to do this to an "Alleged" top level ACC team.

And yet they did.

Benny Cunningham ran for 216 yards and 5 Touchdowns (yes, 5 of them) and Logan Kilgore threw for 2 more, including a spectacular catch by Anthony Amos, while the defense kept Tech's "Option" attack under control.

The loss is certainly going to make the voices louder in Atlanta, calling for Coach Paul Johnson's head. The Jackets have regressed every year under Johnson's control. His last dominant team came his first year, when he had Chan Gailey's players.

As for MTSU, there is no doubt celebrating in the street in Murfreesboro. The Blue Raiders have gotten some decent wins over the years, but none over a team that was ranked in the Top 25 as recently as 3 weeks ago.

We will keep an eye out for postgame and more highlights, in the meantime, we again will show you young Mr. Amos's incredible catch.

DEVELOPING: Ga Tech Fined $100k, Lose ACC Title

The NCAA has put Georgia Tech on four years of probation and fined the school $100,000 for violations in the football and men's basketball programs.

Tech did not lose scholarships and was not ruled ineligible for postseason games in either sport. But the NCAA vacated the football team's final three games in 2009, including the ACC title game win over Clemson. The basketball team had its recruiting days and official visits reduced over the next two seasons.

The football team was cited for lack of cooperation with the NCAA investigation. The NCAA said Tech also should have declared WR Demaryius Thomas ineligible after he allegedly accepted $312 worth of clothing from a friend of a sports agency employee.

From Doug Roberson's piece in the AJC:

(it) grew to Morgan Burnett allegedly taking gifts and misleading NCAA investigators. Both have denied taking improper benefits.

In addition, more penalties were self-imposed and accepted by the NCAA:

Public reprimand and censure.

Four years of probation from July 14, 2011 through July 13, 2015. The public report further details the conditions of this probation.

A reduction of two men’s basketball recruiting days during the 2011 summer evaluation period (self-imposed by the university).

A limit of 10 official visits for men’s basketball for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 academic years.

Here's the highlights of that title game... which isn't a title game anymore...
((HT: ESPN on ABC/ACC/youtube))


More when we know more...

1930 UPDATE: We know more...
Here's the 5:00 live shot from out friends at MyFoxAtlanta
FOSG Ken Rodriguez is outside in the heat...

Ga. Tech Loses '09 ACC Title, Fined $100K for NCAA Violations: MyFoxATLANTA.com