Sisson Kick vs. UVA - 1990

[dirac33]

It's great - to be - a FUZZY BEE

[adgw1423]

Colorado beat Texas, Washington, Nebraska (all of who won their respective conferences that year) along with Oklahoma and Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. There is no question CU was the best team that year. ACC pre-FSU = shit.

[dime138]

@adgw1423 You're right that Colorado probably had a harder schedule, but Georgia Tech also crushed Nebraska, beat #1 Virginia in this clip and beat a Clemson team that finished ranked higher than Texas or Oklahoma. That Clemson team also destroyed a certain Illinois team who defeated Colorado earlier in the year. Georgia Tech, meanwhile lost to NO ONE...and didn't need a 5th down, or a mysterious clipping call to do it either.

[cpayne2133]

That's me dancing on the wall at the end of the clip :)

[blake102584]

Tech didn't win the national championship that year, Colorado did.

[gtcu17]

both were recognized championships. that was back before the bcs determined an absolute winner, so often two or more teams were chosen as national champions. in 1990, CU won in the AP poll while Tech won in the UPI poll, both being prestigious and recognized determinants of the national championship :)

[Segasmith]

Tech should have had the title all to themselves that year, considering Colorado got some fraudulent breaks (5th down, anyone?) and that Tech didn't lose a game like CU did.

And that was a great game both squads played, probably the best conference game in ACC football history if you asked me, told from a BC fan. =D

[radio187]

I'm not an ACC fan, but that was one of the greatest football games I've ever seen. It had hype, drama, awesome plays, a last-second win, etc.

[jla3490]

All of the teams on GT's schedule ended up unranked. Heck of an easy schedule when comparing it to Colorado. GT would be the equivalent to Hawaii in BCS and Colorado would be LSU. Since they did have more losses, but they did not play a cupcake schedule.

[KaraLarson26]

Not True. Georgia Tech beat Clemson 21-19 at home that year. Clemson went 10-2 in 1990 and finished #9 in the final polls. Also Nebraska(9-3)and Virginia(8-4), 2 other teams Georgia Tech beat that year also finished ranked in the top 25. Georgia Tech also beat South Carolina and Virginia Tech, 2 teams with winning records although they didn't finish in the top 25 that year. Georgia Tech tied North Carolina who finished with a winning record and they also beat Maryland, a bowl team that year.

[jla3490]

1 ranked team at the end of the schedule is still a joke of a schedule, especially in a "power" conference like the ACC.

[calvinjohnson4god]

What's the point of just making stuff up like that? Did you think it was impossible for people to look up the real results? GT beat 4 ranked teams that year. And Clemson finished #9.

[travis2x]

anybody with common sense would know that georgia tech was the outright national champion in 1990... they had no losses the only team in the country to do so

thats a no brainer

[calvinjohnson4god]

Of course they do. They were awarded the NC from the coaches poll, just as Colorado was awarded it by the AP. It's a split like when USC and LSU split in 2003.

[jla3490]

GT had a gimme schedule compared to Colorado.

[cbaldwinjr]

As in gimme a 5th down, like in Missouri? Or gimme a phantom block in the back, like in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame. Tech didn't lose to anyone. Colorado should have lost three times. Georgia Tech deserved its share of the title and many people believe they deserved an outright claim to the title in 1990.

On another note, it's so ironic to see the guy known in the NFL as Scott "Missin" Sisson because he was such a lousy kicker be so money to beat the #1 team in the country

[redmustang03]

What I was trying to say is that Georgia Tech should have been the outright National Champions that year since they had no losses and a tie and beat up on Nebraska and beat #1 Virginia not a split champsionship with Colorado.

[redmustang03]

So lets break it down. Georgia Tech had NO LOSSES, one tie and beat #1 Virginia and trounced Nebraska. On the other side, Colorado had one loss, should been two if the mf officials knew what down it was, and a one win against Notre Dame because if that touchdown stood, Colorado would have loss. Enough said those voters back then were morons.I may have been 6 at the time, but I still remember my Dad getting angry and talking about it everyday for a month for Georgia Tech not winning out right.

[redmustang03]

Boy you weren't alive then and don't understand what happened that season. Georgia Tech won by beating Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl with an undefeated record with one tie. Yes there was no overtime back then. On the other side, Colorado had one loss and a win which they shouldn't had with the fifth down against Missouri. Then, got lucky when against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl when a Raghib Ismail punt return got called back for a clipping penalty and Colorado won 10-9. continue.

[gymman1031]

I don't know if Grobe is going to leave Wake Forest. He has built that program from scratch and, if he keeps winning, he will have the special feeling of that forever. And, if you think about it, UVA is a bigger school, but it shouldn't be a much easier sell for talent than Wake:

1. UVA's stadium is bigger, but it is not huge.

2. Just like at Wake, academics are tough.

3. Both UVA and Wake are in the same conference, so he wouldn't be playing a tougher schedule.

[gymman1031]

Don't be so sure! He already has turned down Miami and Michigan. Yes, he could go to Penn State. But he is recruiting great players to go to Rutgers, Rutgers has a stadium expansion, Schiano has an enormous house near the stadium, and, if he stays at Rutgers, Rutgers could get even better. Besides, he has young kids, and, if he is a family man, he will at least consider how hard it would be for his kids to leave their friends. Hey, Frank Beamer could have moved up, but he didn't. So let's wait!

[cpayne2133]

Ha. That was me dancing on the wall in the cowboy hat. What a great day that was!

[SFFOOL76]

The best team of 1990, enough said.

[NosferatusCoffin]

I agree with gymman1031,

To this day, that is the greatest game in ACC history and one of the best ever in DIV-I history. Being a long-time UVA fan, is hurts, but GT won and it was fair.

[IRONSEAN7]

missin sissin

[redmustang03]

Georgia Tech should had that national championship all to itself. Colorado got lucky that they won on fifth down against Missouri and that they lucked out in the Orange Bowl on that Ismail clipping penalty 10-9. Tech had a better record, they didn't lose only tied while Colorado had one loss.

[stingemjackets]

That makes me so mad every time someone says something about it.

[gymman1031]

Bobby Ross' coaching job throughout this season may have been the best ever in College Football. If you think about it, Georgia Tech was good, but they were not THAT great. Along the way, Georgia Tech beat an awesome UVA team and a great Nebraska team in their bowl game. Boy, that UVA, IMHO, was the best game in ACC history! If Bobby had stayed at Tech for a much longer time, he would have made the College Football Hall Of Fame! Anyone agree with me?

[melvoin]

The 1998 game in Atlanta is up there in magnitude as well. I believe UVA was #6 coming into the '98 game, and it proceeded much the same way, and finished with the same score-- 41-38. Tech went on to a top 10 finish and a share of the ACC title.

I miss George Welsh and the "swagger" UVA once had. UVA was a team I always looked forward to playing as a young Tech fan. Al Groh seems like a real knucklehead unfortunately.

[melvoin]

Yes, this game is the greatest in modern Tech football history, unquestionably. Incidentally, Tech hasn't beaten UVA in Charlottesville since.

[gymman1031]

This game was actually for the national title. Georgia Tech won and got a share. Had UVA won, they very possibly would have gone all the way, too.

[gymman1031]

Although George Welsh never won a national title and got outcoached in this game, there is no doubt that he did a super job at UVA! Before George got to UVA in the early-80s, UVA was terrible in football and had almost no tradition. In fact, people called them the Virginia Cadavaliers. He did a great job making them a contender.

[gymman1031]

Come to think of it, Georgia Tech had more than just Bobby Ross on the coaching staff. They had Ralph Friedgen, the current Maryland head coach, as offensive coordinator. Friedgen is as big an Xs and Os mastermind as you can find. Talk about an awesome coaching staff! Who agrees?

[gymman1031]

I think that the main difference in the second half was that Bobby Ross outcoached George Welsh. Virginia had the talent edge by far, but Tech had Bobby Ross!

[peanutbutterjelly76]

I was only 2 at the time of this game, but I can vaguely remember my dad pacing the floor, wondering if we would get that last second upset. This kick rivals Brad Chambers game winner and drought-breaker against UGA in '98 for the most important kick in Tech history, and it is probably one of the most important plays in ACC and Tech history.

[gymman1031]

Bobby Ross retired from Army in January of 2007. I doubt he will make the College Football Hall Of Fame. I think that, if he had stayed at Maryland and/or Georgia Tech for a longer period of time, he could have accomplished enough to make it. However, the job he did at Georgia Tech in 1990 was probably the best coaching job a college coach has ever done. That Georgia Tech team was not that loaded!

[gymman1031]

Don't forget that Georgia Tech split the national title that season with Colorado. Had Colorado not been given that infamous "5th Down" against Missouri, Georgia Tech would have won the national title outright. Congratulations on a great coaching career, Bobby Ross! In our minds, you are a Hall of Famer, no matter what happens! What you accomplished was amazing!!

[espnfanatic2906]

Or if the Rocket Ismail return in the Orange Bowl had counted, the championship would have gone to Georgia Tech, probably.

[gymman1031]

The biggest game in ACC history and the best game as well! Virginia was up 28-14 at halftime. Shawn Moore, Herman Moore, and Terry Kirby were dominating on offense for the Cavaliers. In fact, television announcer Mike Francesca said at halftime that he thought Virginia would "blow it open in the second half." I don't want to single him out, though. The majority of people thought that would happen. Boy, they were in for a surprise! Who agrees?

[peanutbutterjelly76]

I agree. We outscored them 27-10 in the second half. So it looks like Tech was the one who blew it open in the 2nd half!

[JohnnyHads]

George Welsh was notorious for blowing big leads, ala 1998 vs GT. He had so much talent that year, but completely blew it in the 2nd half of the "brawl for it all." Its a shame too, because had he decided in the 2nd half to keep pushing the ball and be aggresive, Francesca might not have sounded so stupid.

[gymman1031]

So, in other words, George Welsh played more not-to-lose than to win in the 2nd Half.

[JohnnyHads]

Yep, exactly. He was infamous for doing it too, never learning his lesson. I can remember countless games we had HUGE halftime leads in big time games, only to give it up in the 2nd half and either pull out a nailbiter or lose. ie- 1990 GT, I cried.

[gymman1031]

And, against a VERY mediocre Clemson team in 1992. Virginia was highly ranked, undefeated, and Terry Kirby was a sleeper for the Heisman Trophy. UVA was up 28-0, and looking great. They ended up losing 29-28 on a last minute field goal. Do you remember that? And, 2 weeks after the 1990 Tech game, UVA lost to Maryland after being up 21-7. However, we have to give Welsh some credit. He made them from nothing to a contender.

[gymman1031]

He led Virginia to an upset of an awesome Florida State team in 1995. That was the first time FSU had been beaten in the ACC. And, I was at the game at Penn State in 1989 when UVA upset the Nittany Lions. At that point, that was probably the biggest win in school history. It announced to the world that Virginia Football was for real. All together, George Welsh was one of those coaches who was much better as the underdog than as the favorite.

[gymman1031]

Right now, those George Welsh days seem like glory days for many people. Al Groh is on the hot seat this season. If he doesn't make it, who would you like to see as head coach? I think they should go after Navy's Paul Johnson. If Johnson went to UVA, it would be deja vu! Don't forget that Welsh went to UVA from Navy.

[JohnnyHads]

True, I loved Welsh and the swagger he instilled at UVa. However, the constant 2nd half collapses were just too intolerable, even though we were thankful for his single handed revival. If/when Groh leaves, I hope we can lure Schiano from Rutgers. Hes amazing, and creates the attitude UVa needs

[gymman1031]

Schiano would be great! However, he is from New Jersey, and building a great program in his home state has to be pretty special for him. Don't forget that New Jersey has some awesome high school football, too, so he probably would be able to get some of those at Rutgers every year. However, if UVA offers him a fat deal, maybe he would take it.

[gymman1031]

There is a website called coacheshotseat, which profiles the top coaches on the hot seat and some of the known possible replacements. For Al Groh, if he gets let go, here is a list:

[gymman1031]

Bobby Johnson-Vanderbilt Head Coach, Ron Prince-Kansas State Head Coach, Jim Grobe-Wake Forest Head Coach, Skip Holtz-East Carolina Head Coach, Derek Dooley-Louisiana Tech Head Coach, Dan Mullen-Florida Offensive Coordinator, Charlie Strong-Florida Defensive Coordinator What do you all think about those possibilities? Like I said earlier, I would think about Navy Head Coach Paul Johnson, too.

[JohnnyHads]

Ron Prince is AWFUL - he had arguably the most athletic QB in the country and NEVER once attempted the option that year. Instead? Slow developing stretch runs, quick passes and zero shotgun formations. UNREAL

[gymman1031]

Wow! That is not good! So, if you had your choice of any coach to replace Groh should he get fired, would Schiano be your 1st choice? Who would some of your other top choices be? Anyone on that list I gave that coachesonthehotseat came up with?

[gymman1031]

I think that Greg Schiano will be offered many head coaching jobs at much bigger time schools and programs than Rutgers. Think about the schools who might need new coaches in time. I bet that at least a few would contact Schiano:

UVA

Clemson

Florida State

Tennessee

Michigan

That is just a short list. The question is, once again, would Schiano want to leave a program he built in his home state?

[Ariamaluum]

I remember my subsitute teacher in Atlanta (UVA alumni)said that the Cavs were going to kick GT's ass. Scott Sisson, I know you got a lot of degrees at TEch but this kick will get you in the papers for life.