To forget two embarrassing losses that closed the 2002 season, including a 51-7 rout by Georgia. To forget the academic problems that knocked three starters and seven other players off the team. To forget a season-opening loss at BYU.
"We've had a lot of bad luck," defensive tackle Travis Parker said after the Yellow Jackets stunned then-No. 17 Auburn 17-3 on Saturday. "But a win like this ... you almost forget about all that stuff. It's gone now."
This was truly a triumphant moment for Georgia Tech (1-1) and its embattled coach, Chan Gailey, who needed a vote of confidence after his first season ended with a disappointing 7-6 record.
Gailey asked reporters how many of them truly thought the Yellow Jackets would beat the heavily favored Tigers. Not one hand went up.
"The only guys who thought they would win are the guys in that locker room," he said. "That's what makes this win special."
Auburn (0-2) began the season ranked sixth by The Associated Press, and at least one magazine tabbed the Tigers as the best team in the land. On Saturday, they weren't even the best team in Atlanta, failing to score a touchdown for the second week in a row.
Georgia Tech had too much speed on its undersized defense and a big advantage at quarterback, where freshman Reggie Ball thoroughly outplayed Auburn's more experienced starter, Jason Campbell.
Ball was "one phone call away" from committing to the Tigers after a stellar high school career at suburban Stevenson High School. Now, he's glad Auburn backed off and Georgia Tech jumped in with a scholarship offer.
"I wouldn't even go to Auburn right now," he said.
Ball set the tone with a 54-yard pass to Nate Curry on Tech's first offensive play, leading to an early field goal. The quarterback also had a 12-yard run that set up P.J. Daniels' 1-yard touchdown dive. Finally, Ball threw a 26-yard scoring pass to Mark Logan late in the third quarter to put the Yellow Jackets up by two touchdowns.
Game. Set. Match.
"I pretty much felt like it was over after that touchdown," Logan said. "The way our defense was playing, I couldn't help but think that."
Georgia Tech, with a relatively small, inexperienced line, countered by using plenty of blitzes and stunts. The Tigers never figured out where all those defenders were coming from. Campbell was sacked seven times and hit on nearly every other pass attempt. Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown combined for just 84 yards rushing.
"We were a lot faster than them," Parker said. "We were hitting them harder than they were hitting us."
Fox was in on 15 tackles. Eric Henderson was part of three sacks. In all, the Yellow Jackets made 13 stops in the Auburn backfield.
"I thought that was the best plan and execution of a plan that I've ever been around," Gailey said Sunday. "It was really super. We played well, we played hard and we stayed after them. That's probably the fewest missed tackles we've had in a long time."
After Ball took a knee on the final play of the game, thousands of Georgia Tech fans stormed the field for a raucous celebration. Both goal posts were yanked down. Ball bodysurfed atop the throng.
"Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!" the fans chanted.
"He's doing great," said Logan, a quarterback-turned-receiver. "You usually don't see a freshman come in and make the impact at quarterback that he has."
Georgia Tech faces a daunting task next Saturday, traveling to Tallahassee to take on No. 10 Florida State. The Seminoles (2-0) have an 11-game winning streak in the series, but the Yellow Jackets are feeling better about themselves.
They needed this victory.
"It gives us a huge boost," receiver Jonathan Smith said. "Now we know we can play with the top teams, and that gives us confidence heading to Florida State."
NOTES: Making the victory even more satisfying, the Yellow Jackets got through the game without any major injuries. Backup linebacker Tabugbo Anyansi is the only player who might miss the Florida State game. ... Former No. 1 quarterback Damarius Bilbo made his first appearance of the season. He lined up at both fullback and receiver.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/9/173199