AUBURN, Ala. - Considering who Georgia Tech had just beaten and the circumstances surrounding it, the Yellow Jackets' celebration sounded tame after Saturday's 23-14 victory over Auburn.
They'd just defeated a team many consider to be the defending national champion - or at least co-champion - and they did it on the road. They had every right to scream and shout and make enough noise to shake their locker-room door off its hinges.
"Our guys fully expected to win this ball game," Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey said. "We shouldn't be acting like giddy schoolchildren."
To Georgia Tech's players, the victory over Auburn was no upset. It will mean nothing to them if the Jackets can't back it up with a win against North Carolina on Saturday.
"We learned our lesson last year," defensive tackle Joe Anoai said. "We had a big win on Clemson, and it just so happens we're facing the same team in North Carolina. We have to take these guys seriously and continue to get those Ws on the board."
Georgia Tech beat Clemson in Death Valley last September in what amounted to the season opener (the Jackets played Division I-AA Samford the week before). The next week they were embarrassed by North Carolina, 34-14.
The loss marked the third consecutive season Georgia Tech had lost to a team it was favored to beat the week after a big upset. The Yellow Jackets thrive as underdogs but struggle as favorites. It's become a mantra for fans in the Gailey era.
That history is a sore spot with Georgia Tech's veterans, who said their focus shifted to next week's game the moment they walked back into the visitor's locker room of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"This is a tone-setter, man," said tailback P.J. Daniels, who rushed for 111 yards. "We truly expect greatness out of ourselves. We need to continue this next week."
The Yellow Jackets' enthusiasm was further tempered by a lackluster second half. The offense managed 111 yards after halftime - compared with 202 in the first half - and settled for two field goals on drives started inside the red zone.
The defense, meanwhile, allowed 218 yards in the second half but forced five Auburn turnovers and stopped the Tigers on downs on another possession. Tiger quarterback Brandon Cox, making his first start, threw interceptions on four straight possessions and fumbled on a fifth.
Several other positives came out of Saturday's win as well:
- Quarterback Reggie Ball avoided costly mistakes. He completed 17 of 36 passes for 174 yards and an interception, but he hit on eight of his first 11.
- Wide receivers Patrick Clark and Damarius Bilbo showed defenses can't focus entirely on Calvin Johnson. They made eight catches, including a team-high six by Clark, a sophomore.
- Their inexperienced offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage against one of the nation's premier defensive fronts.
- Kicker Travis Bell continued his consistency from a year ago, when he set a school record with 15 consecutive made field goals.
- The defense held Auburn to 50 yards rushing on 23 carries.
Reach Adam Van Brimmer at (404) 589-8424 or adam.vanbrimmer@morris.com.
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