The direction of Georgia Tech Football moving forward this season

Following a 38-27 home loss to Bowling Green, what’s left for GT this year?

Matthew Kistner | Oct 2, 2023

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Driving at a smooth, fast pace along I-75, a bright golden car zooms by the tall, triumphant Atlanta skyline. Not another car in sight, the driver takes his eyes off the road for a split second, but in that second an orange bird flies right into the path of the car, striking the windshield with the force to crack the glass. The driver quickly reaches for the wheel to restabilize the car but the vehicle swerves into other lanes as the driver frantically slams on break. The driver finally repossesses control of the vehicle, recovering from the bird’s strike, but finds themself stuck in the typical I-75 traffic jam.

Georgia Tech’s season so far can be seen as such an allegory as the Jackets have received praise after all four of their initial games, even in losses. The team has shown fight, toughness, effort and grit in all phases of their game thus far. That was until this weekend in their 3:30 p.m. showdown with Bowling Green. The Jackets looked anything but strong in their showing this weekend. Tech paid $1.1 million to the Falcons just to receive a double-digit loss and lopsided game in favor of the paid team.

Gabe Fortson, Benjamin Galloway, Jakiah Leftwich, Anthony Minella — Tech runs onto the field for their matchup against Bowling Green this past Saturday / Nathaniel Caudell

To sit and analyze every aspect of a game that carried this heavy of disappointment would be a disservice to all stakeholders. It also would make for a depressing time while I write, but rather I want to focus on what’s left for Georgia Tech following this heavy of a loss. I, among most Tech fans coming into this season, held high hopes for the team’s first bowl berth since 2018. That hope just might be gone looking at the remaining teams on the schedule.

However, Tech is 2-3 following the first five games of the year with one solid win over an ACC opponent on the road. Georgia Tech now is 4-1 in their last five ACC road games. Tech’s next game comes as an ACC road game, traveling down to face the Miami Hurricanes. Tech’s last three trips to Miami have been decided by one score with the Jackets coming out victorious in just one of those: a 28-21 overtime battle in 2019. I am an optimist when it comes to Tech football and do not often let myself get too unhopeful about what is to come. This game is the perfect time for us to bounce back, and dare I say, the wind is in our favor: a night game in a road atmosphere we are used to as we prepare to go into a bye week.

I want to be deflated about this season already, but it is far too early to call it quits. Our players have put in too much work, too much time and way too much talking for this game to be the end for them; I along with all Tech fans have got to believe in them, they are playing for our school and want to represent us. These are the players that put on the iconic interlocking GT and step onto that field every week for this school. I know, and so does everyone that has read the press and watched the games, that these guys are far too talented for this one game to be representative of them. This had to be a fluke, and I will argue that until I see otherwise; perhaps that is this weekend or another, but until that comes, I stand by my thoughts.

With some fans comparing Brent Key to Geoff Collins 2.0, Key has made a move that his predecessor would never. The demotion of Andrew Thacker to safeties coach and promotion of Kevin Sherrer instills a new look to a defense that has looked unable to defend the run against some of Tech’s weakest opponents this season. Perhaps we will see a switch against Miami with a new play caller at the helm; however, it is doubtful to see any sudden change, but to see some effective adjustments should reassure those that watch.

A bowl game may seem unreachable at this point but there was once a time we muttered the same things last season. We sit at 2-3 again this year after five games, faced with a similar concern of the direction of Georgia Tech football. However, this year we are supposed to feel more sure and secure in our odds, but wouldn’t that take the fun out of everything? I believe in this team. Why would I set myself up to be disappointed like this? Well let’s take a glance at the rest of the schedule:

at No. 17 Miami: the Hurricanes are undefeated and coming out of a bye week. Miami has been tested once this season in a home game against a mediocre Texas A&M team and besides that, it has been cupcakes. This is just like us going to play No. 13 UNC in Chapel Hill last year. I expect Key to have the guys mad and ready for a business trip. Do not count us out of this one.

vs. Boston College: the Eagles have done positively nothing this season and sit similarly to us record wise at 2-3 with one ACC win. This game being in Bobby Dodd on parents weekend will have our players amped up and ready to go. I look for this to be close as both teams want a win but a supportive, loud home crowd could get this one for us.

vs. No. 14 UNC: the Tar Heels want revenge after our two straight upsets over them, but this game is on Homecoming and the Jackets will be ready to play. Key knows the importance of this game like no other coach could. This will be closer than most estimate, but our defense has got to be ready for the Heels aggressive offensive attack or it will not be a contest.

Georgia Tech vs North Carolina — Tech has upset UNC the past two years, including a 21-17 victory over No. 13 UNC last season / Georgia Tech Athletics

at Virginia: the Cavaliers look abysmal this season as they sit at 0-5 on the year; however, Charlottesville has been an unsuccessful trip for Tech in recent years. The Jackets will turn that narrative around on this trip and should dominate in every facet of the game.

at Clemson: the Tigers are having a down year and are better than their record will let on; however, the Jackets have given them trouble the past two years and Tech’s last visit to Death Valley was a 14-8 hard fought loss. Moral victories do nothing for us here. Laugh all you want, this is a winnable game.

vs. Syracuse: the Orange are also a deceivingly good team this season and this being a home game should give us the edge. The Jackets are evenly matched in this game, but the Orange’s head man, Dino Babers, is an underrated coaching mind in football. This will be an opportunity for Key to show his coaching prowess and beat a team that most do not give enough credit.

vs. No. 1 Georgia: I have been calling this upset since the Tech schedule was released. I will leave my comments at that.

There is much to be hopeful for. Yes, it is easy to find four losses in there, effectively taking us out of bowl conversations, but we are one upset away from finding the wins we need to get there and the last two seasons, we have pulled some upsets. Key pulled two big upsets in his interim games. Heads up Jackets, it is not over yet.

The direction of Georgia Tech Football moving forward this season

Matthew Kistner | Oct 2, 2023

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