Jacksonville or bust: Georgia Tech in control of its destiny
By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia Tech players congregated in the north end zone of Bobby Dodd Stadium, raising their helmets in the air as they joined the student body for a rousing rendition of the school's fight song.
Next stop, Jacksonville?
With one of their most significant wins in years, the No. 20 Yellow Jackets put themselves in the best possible position for a trip to the Dec. 2 Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. In fact, it would take a collapse along the lines of the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies to squander this chance.
``We control our own destiny, which is all you can ask for going into the ninth game of the year,'' coach Chan Gailey said after Saturday's 30-23 victory over Miami. ``
Georgia Tech (6-2, 4-1 ACC) has three conference games remaining - all against teams with losing records. Next weekend, there's a trip to North Carolina State (3-5). The following week, it's another road game against woeful North Carolina (1-7), which hasn't beaten a Division I-A team all year and already fired coach John Bunting. Finally, it's back home to face perennial pushover Duke (0-8), which has lost 16 in a row overall - the longest skid among major colleges.
And get this: the Yellow Jackets could even lose one of those games and still claim the Coastal Division championship.
``We're in the driver's seat,'' said quarterback Reggie Ball, who bounced back from a dismal start to lead the Yellow Jackets to 17 straight points in the fourth quarter. ``We've just got to handle our business.''
Georgia Tech won its lone ACC championship in 1990, going undefeated on the way to claiming the coaches' share of the national title. (The Yellow Jackets tied Florida State for the top spot in 1998, but nobody remembers that team as a champion because it lost 34-7 to the Seminoles.)
Much like that improbable season 16 years ago, everything seems to be going Georgia Tech's way. Heck, the Yellow Jackets might not even have to face Clemson in the ACC title game.
This past Thursday, just five days removed from their resounding 31-7 victory over the Jackets, Clemson stumbled 24-7 against Virginia Tech. Boston College, Wake Forest and Maryland are now tied for the Atlantic Division lead, which means the Tigers - generally considered the best team in the ACC - might not even get a chance to play for the championship.
Georgia Tech seemed in danger of its second straight loss when Miami scored on the first play from scrimmage and quickly built a 10-0 lead.
While trying to scramble, Ball was hit from behind and fumbled, the Hurricanes scooping up the ball and returning it 19 yards for a touchdown. Just 26 seconds into the game, the Yellow Jackets were already behind.
They didn't wilt, however, rallying for a 13-13 tie by halftime and dominating the final period. Travis Bell tied it with his third field goal in the opening minute. Ball connected with Calvin Johnson on a tiebreaking, 1-yard TD pass with 6:18 remaining. And, after Adamm Oliver knocked the ball away from Miami quarterback Kyle Wright, Tashard Choice ripped off a 24-yard TD run with 3:49 to go.
``We just had to keep our composure, and we did,'' Johnson said. ``We knew we could come back and win this game.''
There were all sorts of encouraging signs for the Yellow Jackets. They got Johnson involved in the offense (five catches, 68 yards) one week after Clemson held him without a reception for the first time in his career. Ball was 8-of-11 in the second half after going 3-of-16 over the first two quarters, turning a smattering of boos into cheers. Travis Bell may have snapped out of a nearly two-year slump, booting three field goals to scuttle Gailey's thoughts of changing kickers. The opportunistic defense came up with three fumbles and an interception, while keeping Miami from scoring an offensive touchdown until just 2 1/2 minutes remained.
``There was a lot of pressure going into this game,'' Oliver said. ``Are we going to come out and play well after the loss (to Clemson)? How are we going to respond in the ACC? Are we going to play well and make it to the championship game this year?''
It sure looks like it.
