Published: November 30, 2008 10:17 pm            

Column: Tech not motivated to win, just better coached

Word on the street is that on the morning of Oct. 26, Mark Richt – head motivator of the Georgia Bulldogs football team – was in his living room, listening to the Carpets of Dalton theme song and relaxing with a cup of coffee as part of his daily routine. With a copy of The Daily Citizen in hand, Richt nearly fell out of his complimentary recliner upon reading my column predicting a Nov. 29 Georgia Tech victory in Athens.

As head motivator of the Bulldogs, Richt realized a column predicting Georgia’s fate would surely make for great bulletin board material. So he gathered his assistant motivators for a meeting to discuss the column and other important factors for the Georgia Tech affair, like which color jersey the team should wear and how it should celebrate its first touchdown of the game. After the meeting, the motivators and players hit the film room to study Richt’s Carpets of Dalton commercial.

Meanwhile in Atlanta, poor old Georgia Tech‘s football program doesn’t even have a motivator. All they have is a coach. The Jackets are missing out on all of the fun with head coach Paul Johnson at the helm. Instead of picking their favorite jersey color, the Jackets had to learn the stupid triple-option offense. How boring.

And they’re supposed to execute this offense with a sophomore quarterback, a sophomore running back and a freshman running back? How was that supposed to work? Are you telling me a coach is going to teach them how to play? Even if this crazy plan were to work, how would the Jackets get motivated to play?

Somehow, the Jackets adapted to Johnson’s offense and marched into Athens with an 8-3 record. But they were still missing a motivator. Heading into the Georgia game, they were in trouble because Richt was mastering his motivational ways by coaching less, even saying so in an Associated Press story that ran on game day.

“When I called the game, I had to stay calm so I could think straight and make the best decisions for my team,” Richt said. “Now that I’m not making as many decisions throughout the game, I have more time to be outwardly emotional and still keep my head in the game for the decisions I do need to make.”

Decisions like whether to wear his Ray-Ban sunglasses, or bring an umbrella.

Nonetheless, Richt’s Dawgs were 9-2.

And there Richt was, before the big game kicked off, jumping and giggling with his team in a huddle during the pre-game rally, motivating his troupes for the in-state showdown. It worked. By halftime, Georgia was ahead of Georgia Tech by a score of 26-12.

In the Georgia locker room at halftime, Richt and his team celebrated. By leading the Jackets at halftime, the Dawgs had just accomplished both of their season goals. The first was to be 2008 Preseason National Champions. Richt then gave his players a group hug.

In the Georgia Tech locker room, Paul Johnson told his players that their families would be missing by sundown if they didn’t outscore Georgia 26-0 third quarter, compile 409 rushing yards and get a victory. Johnson then gave his players a game plan.

Surely enough, In the second half the Jackets outscored Georgia 26-0 in the third quarter, compiled 409 rushing yards and got a 45-42 victory.

And just like that, Round 1 of the motivator-coach rivalry went to the coach.

Now the Dawgs look like the ones who are in trouble in this series. Their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, will likely forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft. He has Detroit Lions written all over him, but that’s OK because at least he’ll have Calvin Johnson to throw to. Plus, he has a great arm (funny, experts thought Ryan Leaf had a great arm). Knowshon Moreno might be gone as well and Mohamed Massaquoi graduates.

And with Josh Nesbitt, Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones available for Rounds 2 and 3 of the rivalry, the Jackets are now poised to begin a series win-streak of their own.

With factors such as these working against the Dawgs, one has to wonder if they can get motivated for next year’s big showdown. One thing is for sure: Georgia Tech will have a game plan.

Adam Krohn is a sports writer for The Daily Citizen.

        

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