No shock here. Tech's debut at Tech is a scathing defeat

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CLEMSON, S.C. –

Dan Radakovich was worried, so to speak. His current team was about to play against his former team and the Clemson Sports Director was thinking about what could go wrong. It's installed the day of the week.

"We do not like to play on Thursday," he said. "Our fans have to come two or three hours, and it's hard for them."

Yes, there were some empty seats in Death Valley when the game started. And the Tigers worked a first half distracted, committing three turnovers and starting four orders with penalties. The reigning national champions were not alive, and Trevor Lawrence, considered in some circles as the best possible quarterback, made two interceptions and had the chance not to have more. Against a decent midway opponent, Clemson could have been in trouble.

Halftime score: Clemson 28, Georgia Tech 0.

Final score: Clemson 52, Georgia Tech 14.

This told us two things, none of which was a shock. First of all, the Tigers are so gifted that they can have fun and get away with it. Second, these Yellow Jackets, under-led by a new management, are far from being half decent.

About this new direction: For a very long time, Tech looked like what it had under Paul Johnson – the same thing, but worse. Remember how these men of Geoff Collins of the 21st century were supposed to throw the ball? They launched it nine times in the first period. They completed two passes for 11 yards.

Collins did not say which quarterback would start, but it was a slight surprise from Tobias Oliver. As a substitute for TaQuon Marshall last season, Oliver racked up 876 yards. He has only 16 assists, including seven. He has the double threat, but he has not proven that he can hurt anyone by air. Clemson was quick, as we saw in a dismal sequence of goals.

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With Clemson leading 21-0, Lawrence launched a terrible interception. Tre Swilling took the gift and returned it to 2, Lawrence making the tackle. The hilarity ensues. Oliver has earned a penis on a fake type of swing door. He did not win anything in the blink of an eye. Back Jordan Mason did not win anything in the blink of an eye.

Fourth and-1. What to do? Tech's choice was to let Oliver ride properly. His pass was diverted and intercepted. Somewhere, Paul Johnson ridiculed himself.

Let's be clear: Tech was never going to win this game. That's one of the reasons he was chosen for the last time in the CCA coastal circuit, which is why he became an outsider with 37 points. But Clemson built a 35-0 lead, not by scrupulous execution, but by playing big games – Travis Etienne scored 90 yards after the Tigers were called to hold – and grabbing Tech's numerous failures.

Photos: the jackets lose the opening of the season

The first possession of Clemson went nowhere. But before you can say, "That's where Tech drops, scores a goal and takes a picture of the scorecard," said Juanyeh Thomas. Clemson made 7-0. There would be no advance, even momentary, for Collins in the first game of the first year.

That said, what did you expect? In general, Collins trains Johnson's recruits and they have never been better. Less the great equalizer – Johnson's stylized offensive – what did this technical team do? His sunny personality? His skill in calculating?

Collins then: "I am really proud of the effort. We attacked well.

(Note: Clemson finished with 632 yards.)

Also: "The story of the game has been a huge game. Tre did an excellent interception. We could not benefit from it. "

Then, about Tech's 294-yard attack, "We're figuring out who we are and what our staff can do."

Then, in a rather optimistic synthesis: "We continued to compete throughout the competition. When you have something like that, you have something to build on. "

The wins on / under the Tech this season are 3-1 / 2. (Do not blame the messenger.) Optimistic Beard Madley chose the Jackets to go 6-6.) It could be a very long season.

However, the Jackets have already played against the best team they will see. (Yes, that includes Georgia.) If they manage to recover over the next nine days and beat south Florida, Collins will have built a bit of a platform. If they can win at Temple next week, they will be 2-1 with six games against relegated teams on the shoreline. If there is some sort of smuggler on this list, there are victories on this schedule.

It's one of Tech's biggest annals, and it was worse. There was a time when Johnson's Jackets could handle Dabo Swinney's Tigers. This time is over. Clemson's is elevated to a high level. Johnson trains more tech. These Jackets could have done their best on a night when the Tigers played their worst game, and the result would not have been different. The margin, maybe, but not the result.

From a technology point of view, the best thing about this first game is that it was broadcast on the recently unveiled VAC network, which many cable companies have not added yet. Meaning: Fewer eyeballs were seen by the Tigers who managed to cover this massive spread, which worried many people.

Before the kickoff, Tech's president, Bud Peterson, asked this correspondent to make a prediction. Then he said, "Please do not say 36."

At the end, the dashboard indicated 38. But there will be better days. It would be difficult to imagine the worst.