Georgia (Tech) On My Mind

No one wants to say it was more important than any other game. In fact, as far as the standings were concerned, it was less significant. But darned if Georgia's players aren't reminded about that loss to Georgia Tech nearly every day.

"I have a lot of friends who go to Tech, and I'v heard it, but I don't really pay attention to it," offensive lineman Vince Vance said.

"It was very hard at the time and it's still tough to get over now," said defensive end Rod Battle. "I've got an uncle that likes Georgia Tech, and I'd like to shut him up a little bit."

The 45-42 loss to the Yellow Jackets was a first for Bulldogs' head coach Mark Richt, and the defeat stung for a myriad of reasons.

The defense was abysmal in a disastrous third quarter. Big plays abounded for the Yellow Jackets. The Bulldogs blew a big lead on their home field. Tech celebrated by tearing limbs from the famed hedges surrounding Sanford Stadium's field. It was an embarrassment, and one that the players are reminded of often.

And yet, the coaches of both teams aren't fueling the fire.

Before the season, Tech coach Paul Johnson listed beating his in-state rival as a top priority. Now he's backed away from that claim.

"Our players circled that game," he said.

At Bulldog Club meetings, Tech has been as big a topic of consternation as the annually reviled Florida Gators, but Mark Richt isn't acting as if it's any different.

"Our fans have never gotten to the point in my opinion where that games wasn't real meaningful," he said.

Even the future of the rivalry has been downplayed a bit. Richt said things have always been intense between the two schools, no more so now. He even pointed out that, due to their divergent styles of offense, last year's loss won't have much impact on recruiting since the two schools rarely go head-to-head for the same recruits.

Johnson gives the win a bit more significance, but he said it meant more to the fans that it did the team.

"It's the in-state rival, the two biggest schools in the state. It's an important game, and we approach it that way," Johnson said. "It was more important to the fans and the alumni than anything else. We hope we're going to be here for a while, and hopefully that won't be the last time."

But for all the sugar coating, the bottom line remains the same: This offseason has come with a heaping helping of gloating by those in-state rivals, and that's a dose of reality the Bulldogs haven't felt in a long time. So while they may want to downplay the desire for revenge, they're not ignoring it.

"I wouldn't even say it's in the back of my mind," Vance said. "It's there. We ain't forgot."

Johnson: Dome Hurting In-State Recruiting

Mark Richt has said repeatedly this offseason that he'd like to see the Bulldogs play a game in the Georgia Dome soon, but he's not alone in making that request.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson wants the Yellow Jackets to get a shot at a game in the Dome, too, and he's not happy about the recruiting edge competing teams -- namely ACC counterparts Clemson and Virginia Tech -- get from getting the nod instead.

"It helps the teams that are playing, no question," Johnson said. "No use dancing around it. It helps them; doesn't do anything for us or Georgia. And when you bring teams in your own conference in to showcase now in a kickoff game, it's got to help them recruit."

Last season, Clemson and Alabama faced off in their season openers at the Georgia Dome. This year, the Crimson Tide will return to Atlanta to take on Virginia Tech.

It's a move designed, at least in part, to bring some tourism and attention to Atlanta, as designed by the game's hosts, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Committee. Johnson understands the thought process, but he's not happy about the results.

"I learned a long time ago not to worry about things you can't control," Johnson said. "Right now, that's out of my control. They've got a job to do, and I've got a job to do. I understand what they're doing. But if you're asking if it helps us, it doesn't help us. No. And I'd be surprised if Mark (Richt) didn't feel the same way."

Richt hasn't explicitly criticized the committee for snubbing Georgia or giving Alabama an unfair recruiting edge, but he has made clear that he'd like to play at least one game there in the future. Finding that game, however, remains a problem, as Richt is unwilling to lose a home game in exchange.

"We have a neutral site game (against Florida) already, so every other year we're losing a home game," Richt said. "If you have another neutral site situation, you're losing another home game, and I don't think we should trade a home game for a game in the Dome. But if they want to trade a home game to play in Atlanta, that would be great for us."

(* Thanks to the Telegraph's Coley Harvey for providing the Johnson quotes.)

Video Blog: Paul Johnson

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson talks about his school's competition with Georgia.