The Last Time Tech Played Temple....

Georgia Tech raised eyebrows – and expectations--across the country last week with their gutsy last-second upset win over #12 Clemson.

In his commentary during the week of the Clemson game, Tech Coach Brent Key recalled that not quite five years earlier, Clemson had bested Georgia Tech 73-7. In that game Clemson outgained Tech in total yards by a 671-204 count. Total domination.

It is difficult to fully fathom the breadth of the progress that Tech football has made since that miserable night. With that game in 2020 , Georgia Tech's record fell to 2-3 , in a season they would finish at 3-7.

That 2020 season followed a three–win 2019 campaign , and preceded another three-win season in 2021. The progress touted by Tech's then-head coach was the type that did not translate into victories. Few could see that progress.

Since Brent Key took over mid- 2022, the team has jumped into a higher gear, playing with determination and focus, and developing a knack for knocking off ranked teams. Along the way, Key has continued to build talent and roster depth, and he has emphasized– actually required--mental as well as physical toughness of his players.

All of those factors were in play when Tech played Clemson last week. The Yellow Jackets got in the first punch, a 40 -yard first quarter field goal by Aidan Birr. Tech grew their lead to 13-0 before Clemson's late first half touchdown cut the margin to six.

When the Tigers managed to score again in the third quarter to take a narrow lead, Tech had the talent, the depth and the moxie to score in return, including hitting on a two- point conversion. They were up by seven.

A similar sequence then played out once again with another Tiger touchdown, to tie it at 21.

Then came Tech's game-ending drive to the Clemson 38 where Aidan Birr put the final nail in the coffin with his 55- yard field goal to win it for Tech.

That sequence, and that outcome, juxtaposed to the 73-7 drubbing from 2020, show a dramatic and sustained improvement in Georgia Tech football in a relatively short period of time.

Credit to many, starting with head coach Brent Key, who reminds everyone that his team's goals are still in front of them and continued focus is a mandate. For Tech fans everywhere, it's an invigorating change from not too long ago.

HISTORY of Tech v Temple

The last time Tech played Temple,

Things didn't go so well.

Our score was stuck on zero

While theirs began to swell.

Down 14- zip at halftime,

Tech looked a little ill..

A Charlie Thomas safety

Saved us from having nil.

The final score was humbling,

At 24 to 2.

Then our coach's post- game comments..

Saluted his OLD crew.

He said the Owls were mighty,

With skill beyond reproach.

And that whoever'd built their roster

was quite the master coach.

His words gave us confusion

with nary any hope.

And hardly 3 years later

He'd used up all his rope.

His final GT record

Wasn't close to great

Nor even mediocre

At 10 and 28.

In the five years since then,

much progress has been made.

The fans can see the changes,

there's no need to persuade.

The coaches share a vision,

the players have bought in...

Now progress is apparent ,

It looks just like a WIN.

Patrick Conarro

RamblinSports