Football - Jackets Win a Thriller over Pack

The Jackets win in another thriller with NCST 31-23. Funny, I wasn't as hyped up as I normally am during these games. Not sure if I'm just starting to get confident in the Jacket's ability to win. Anyhow, some notes..........................


FIRST HALF QUICK STRIKES
Well, the first half was blindingly fast. That's good and bad. Touchdown drives for the Jackets of 3:32, 1:42 and 1:24 had things looking pretty good. However in between were sandwiched a couple of Pack FG's and and INT "Pick 6". No doubt Patrick Nix was going for the kill with some all-or-nothing type plays. Calvin goes triple digits in receiving yards in the first half, and Tashard Choice almost breaks triple digits in rushing. The offense basically shredded the Pack D......................... The good news, while the halftime score was 21-13, the defense only gave up 2 field goals..................... Tech was helped along by typical Wolfpack penalties as they racked up 7 for 72 yards IN THE HALF !!!


SECOND HALF
The Pack opens the half with a kick-off return for a TD. That hurts. That hurts bad................. So the defense gave up ????? points while the offense gave up 7 and special teams 7 as well...... then the offense absolutely forgets how to move the ball........


GT 3 and out................... defense bend not break
GT 3 and out................... defense bend not break................. NCST missed FG
GT 3 and out................... defense bend not break................. NCST missed FG
GT INT............................ defense bend not break................. NCST FG


Overall the 3rd quarter was quite frustrating..................... however that's when things got good. Going into the 4th quarter the Jackets were down by 3, but again they managed to start moving the ball, going 63 yards and getting a FG to take the lead..................................... then after a great stand by the defense, the Jackets took it down the field and got what they wanted this time - a TD pass to James Johnson. Funny because the entire drive was led by Tashard Choice. I didn't think they were going to throw, but they were baiting the secondardy and it worked. A long pass to Calvin to the 9 yard line setup up the TD.................


Then it was the defenses turn with a little over 2 minutes remaining for the Pack with 3 timeouts............ bend.......... bend............... bend.................. bend............... NO BREAKING!!!!!


The Jackets win on yet another nail-biter with the Pack - but a win is a win is a win.


How about this for some stats:
Reggie Ball - 13/35, 213 yards, 4 TD's, 2 INT's,
Calvin Johnson - 9 catches for 166 yards, 2 TD's
Tashard Choice - 32 rushes, 163 yards


PLAYER OF THE GAME - THE OFFENSIVE LINE !!!


Another gut-check performance. Another 4th quarter comeback. Another W.


GO JACKETS !!!!!!!!!!


Interesting side-note - during the local broadcast of the game in Raleigh on NCST's 4th and 3 play at the end of the game, it was interrupted by an Amber Alert. It was Heidi all over again for the Raleigh bandwagonners.


Look, not to rain on everyone's parade after a victory - but it looks like Jon Tenuta is getting a little love as the possible Michigan State head coach:

You've heard the sexy names in the Michigan State football coaching search.

Butch Davis will probably go to North Carolina or Miami. Norm Chow is a coach who would not mind coaching in the Midwest.

You've heard the local namessuch asCentral Michigan coach Brian Kelly and Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English. And there are the same old names you always hear, like Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach Pat Shurmur.

Now perhaps you might be interested in the right name. Once the Spartans get through the sexy and local and the long shots and no shots, maybe they will turn to a sure shot to replace fired coach John L. Smith.

Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta wants the job. He's been contacted by the Spartans and he'd make an excellent choice to be MSU coach. He is the former defensive coordinator at Ohio State and he has the Yellow Jackets' defense playing like a pack of rabid dogs. They are a no-name defense that shut down Notre Dame and made it sticky for a number of other teams.

But here is the best part -- he'd bring a little bit of Ohio State with him. He is part of a package deal with former Buckeye recruiting coordinator Bill Conley, who has strong ties in Michigan and Ohio.

The Spartans would be in a better position to competewith Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

We might not like Ohio State in this state. The Buckeyes spank Michigan a little bit too often. But they are proven winners. Why not bring people who helped this program win to this state?

The other issue is a lot of people are pretending to want the MSU job and they don't. This guy will win there and he truly wants to be in East Lansing.

He trumps a lot of people I keep hearing are leading candidates for the job.