Nothing has the ability to make me feel hollow quite like a Georgia Tech football win.
Game Recap in Three Sentences
Wake got up big in the first half as Tech looked sluggish, sleepy, and thoroughly outplayed.
A strong third quarter
brought the Jackets back into it, largely on the back of Haynes King once again.
Wake boldly chose to end the game on a two-point conversion attempt in OT that Tech snuffed out beautifully.
Above The Line of the Week
- Haynes King. We are dust without this man. Three total TDs with 243 through the air and 106 on the ground, we needed every last yard he gave us.
- Temperate weather. A few more afternoons at 75 instead of 95 has me feeling blessed.
- Eric Rivers. In his best game so far he pulled in eight catches for 77 yards and a TD. It feels like we’re still looking for King’s go-to outlet and this performance should throw Rivers’ hat in the ring. Also my wife says you have a “cool name”, so congrats for that I guess.
Unformed Thought of the Week
Do coaches watch film on themselves after the game? Obviously the players will be scrutinized, but does anyone put together the tape and say “why did you choose to punt here” or “why did you call five straight passes” or “what’s up with your timeout usage”? Is there someone out there doing PFF grades but for coaches? I bet you could make a killing by opening a consulting agency that charges obscene amounts of money to do this. Business people, DM me.
5 Star (7 Star, 5 Star) Developmental Program Haiku of the Week
Escaping like smoke
Sighs deeper than just relief
When will the dumb end
Survive and Sigh
One of the most undeserved wins I’ve ever seen, I will not be celebrating this one. Does that make me a curmudgeon? Fine, I grumpily accept!
I guess a win is a win but GOD could we at least try to do it the normal way for once? What if we didn’t step on every possible rake presented to us? What if we didn’t need to play hero ball just to earn the chance for the refs to miss a big penalty? What if we didn’t put the fate of the universe into the hands of the Wake Forest offense on a two point conversion? What if, and hear me out please, we just won the dang game by a comfortable margin and went home? Why does everything have to be the dumbest thing possible?
I’ve been begging for consistency for years and the only kind I’ve gotten is consistent inconsistency. This Wake game was the epitome of that; at times the offense looked dominant and unstoppable, at others it looked like getting a first down was impossible. At times the defense could secure a huge TFL, at others it was like watching a flag football team play tackle for the first time. It’s downright shocking to say, but special teams might be the thing we do well with the most consistency.
Someone’s gotta do something, because doing this at least seven more times this season might kill me. It feels like we’re constantly in these types of games every year; in the Key era we’ve played 19 one-score games – nearly half of the 39 total! There were seven in 2024 alone (including four in a row to close the season). In games decided by three or fewer points, Key is a miraculous 6-2. There’s certainly magic here, but I think I’m very ready for some dull wins.
Every game shouldn’t require some insane, twisted deal with the dark overlord where the payment doesn’t come in money. Haynes King should just be a regular dude instead of an adversity-triggered werewolf saying “oh God, I’ve killed again” as he wakes up as a human after the game. Just let that man have fun playing sports instead of asking him to become the fugue state Bloody Nine every weekend.
Look Ahead
Up next is a much-needed bye week. King and Haynes clearly need to rest up and nurse some injuries, and everyone could use some practice.
