Georgia loses ball, Thomas and all hope

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. —

Less than a year after Georgia Tech walked off this same field with an impressive victory over seventh-ranked Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl and finished the season 11-3, adding some gloss to that chip on Paul Johnson’s shoulder, the Jackets continued to flop around in a swamp of misery Saturday.

Four turnovers. Nine fumbles. One more and they would have won a free set of oven mitts.

+Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas walks on the sideline during the first half of a game against Miami Saturday. Thomas left“We don’t value the ball very much,” Johnson said.

Have you ever …?

“No. I never,” Johnson said.

(The truth is, I was still forming the question. But it probably…