Georgia Tech Football: Jackets vs. Vols Is A Big Deal
By W. M. Lawson
Georgia Tech Football is due to kick off Monday night at “The Benz” vs. The Tennessee Vols. While other games are getting more publicity, this game means much.
There is a massive college football game about to go down in Atlanta in a few days. And I’m not talking Bama and FSU. Although, that game is a big one. I’m talking about Georgia Tech and Tennessee. The Ramblin’ Wreck vs. Big Orange. That will be a massive game for UT. And maybe as big for Georgia Tech Football.
Yes, I wrote about this a few weeks ago. But it bares repeating. This game is getting short shrift. It is understandable, as there are 8 to10 truly tasty CFB games this weekend (and after). But it doesn’t make it acceptable. There is a difference.
Allow me to offer something that is entirely apocryphal or anecdotal. Last week, while enjoying frothy food and beverage at a local 3-lettered wings joint, my homeboy and radio partner, Big Country, and I were talking football. It happens.
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A dude and his lady friend were sitting next to us. Said dude was wearing an Atlanta Falcons lid. Conversation ensued. It happens.
Said conversation quickly turned to GT and UT. You see, Big Country is a huge Tennessee fan. This guy was a big Georgia Tech fan. Claims he went to school there.
From this conversation, it became quickly clear that whichever coach loses this game, lots and lots of fans will amp up the chopping block chatter. If the seat is warm now, it will be scorching hot for either Paul Johnson or Butch Jones, were their respective teams to lose on Monday night. And one of those teams will leave that pristine palace 0-1. That’s a fact.
So, maybe this game doesn’t have the “national” implications that a Bama/FSU, TAMU/UCLA (same reason as the GT game), LSU/BYU, or UF/Michigan, but it means much of something.
Trust me. I do sports talk radio in Tennessee. If Butch Jones loses this game, my job gets a whole lot more interesting. And I don’t think the Yellow Jacket fan in the Falcons hat was bluffing either.
There is a healthy contingent of Yellow Jacket Nation that has never “taken” to Johnson and his strange offense. Some folks are just pure ready to change altogether even before this game.
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It’s an old school “loser leaves town” match at “The Benz”. Just like they used to have at The Omni. The Tennessee fans will get that reference. Tech fans? Not so much.