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Friday, November 18, 2005
Good hunch about Hewitt’s bunch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Just so you know, this is more than a hunch: Georgia Tech will overcome everything in college basketball this season to shock reality and dribble beyond goodness. In other words, ignore that little matter of the Yellow Jackets functioning without five seniors and a pretty significant junior from last year’s team. It also doesn’t matter that they’ll seek to prosper with a slew of freshmen and sophomores in a conference that has scary Duke and the rest of those ACC monsters.
This is more than a hunch, because here’s the reality: Paul Hewitt knows exactly what he’s doing. You know, not only when it comes to Xs and Os, where he has proved his worth at Tech as recently as two seasons ago with a trip to the Final Two, but when it comes to what it takes to keep the Jackets among the conference elite. What this means is, Hewitt can recruit, and he also can coach. Thus Tech’s four trips to the postseason during his five seasons, and he’s done so with veteran squads, rookie squads and a combination of both. He’ll do so with this bunch, too.
“People said that we were rebuilding, but I told them that we were reloading,” said Tech forward Jeremis Smith on Friday night at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, before he added the Hewitt part. “When we have a bad practice one day, we always come back the next day and concentrate on what we did wrong the day before. We don’t just practice just to be practicing. And during the game, Coach Hewitt allows us do what we want within our offense. We’re never just out there playing for ourselves. We’re always a team and a family out there.”
Let’s just say that, courtesy of that team and that family, the worst week in the history of Georgia Tech athletics got slightly better. Here’s a quick review, but close your eyes if you’re squeamish: You had that Reuben Houston thing, where a court ordered the Jackets to reinstate a defensive back accused of conspiring to distribute marijuana. You had that furor over football coach Chan Gailey getting awarded with a five-year contract for sustaining mediocrity. You also had the NCAA saying that, courtesy of an academic fraud, a slew of Tech’s results on the gridiron don’t exist anymore.
It could have been worse. I mean, the Jackets could have opened their basketball season Friday night before a spirited crowd with a loss to the Bulldogs. The putrid ones from North Carolina (you know, Asheville, not Chapel Hill) instead of the hated ones from Athens. Instead, with little drama, the Jackets did what they needed to do against their overmatched opponent. They used a lot of athleticism combined with discipline to turn the Bulldogs into puppies along the way to an 80-52 victory. It wasn’t flawless for Tech, though. In fact, the first half was a microcosm of how the Jackets will spend much of the time between now and the heart of the ACC slate. After a stifling stretch for the Jackets on defense that forced UNC-Asheville into enough turnovers for nine points inside of a minute, Tech became a fumbling mess for a while.
You can blame much of it on sophomore Zam Fredrick, the first-year point guard, who had four turnovers in 17 minutes. Not good, but not to worry, Tech folks. That’s because the Jackets have Hewitt, a shining light in the midst of their current doom. He gets it, all right. He has since he arrived on campus to take over a frightfully stale program that was evolving from prominent to irrelevant in the ACC.
Later rather than sooner, Hewitt and his assistants will have Fredrick operating fluently enough to distribute the ball to his young but gifted teammates. That is “later,” as in by the stretch drive of the conference schedule, with those tournaments (ACC and NCAA) weeks away.
“I don’t think you can change your goals,” said Hewitt, referring to Tech’s quick slide to inexperience. “The goal is still trying to be one of the top four teams in the ACC, to do well in the ACC tournament and to make it to the NCAAs. We’re not going to short-change these guys. When we recruited them, we didn’t say, ‘Hey, you’re going to come here and be average and be mediocre.’ “
Guess what?
Tech won’t be.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
Weekend Predictions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before ensuring your financial future, we bring you this pre-Thanksgiving alert: Two dozen live turkeys fell off the back of a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike Friday, snarling Newark traffic. “I think we should be investigating this as an escape attempt,” cracked Turnpike spokesman Joseph Orlando, who still has a sense of humor and therefore must not be a Jets fan. The accident was significant, and not just because this was one of those rare highway incidents not involving Rod Coleman. As far as we know, this probably kills Newark’s chances of ever getting a Super Bowl. UNLESS OF COURSE EVERY NFL OWNER IS PROMISED HIS OWN PRIVATE TURNPIKE LEADING TO HIS OWN PRIVATE MARINA WITH HIS OWN PRIVATE YACHT! Sorry. I find typing in all caps therapeutic. A few days ago the NFL tentatively awarded a future Super Bowl to Kansas City, which has an average late January temperature of minus 47 degrees, thereby making it a perfect settlement for polar bears, except that polar bears settled in the Arctic because they found staring at icecaps infinitely less boring than Kansas City. NFL owners twice rejected Atlanta for Super Bowls recently, largely because of an ice storm the last time the game was here. Also, bribes. Wait. Who said that? The NFL wants to reward Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt for living, I think, to the age of 148, and also for never being hit by a stray turkey on the New Jersey Turnpike. The Falcons’ Arthur Blank, wanting to project himself as ever the league man, released a statement that read in part: “Everyone in the Falcons family extends their congratulations to Lamar, the Chiefs and the great state of Missouri.” Right. I’m guessing Blank released a statement so nobody could see him bite through his tongue. Today, the Falcons face the Buccaneers. It’s not quite Atlanta and Tampa Bay city officials facing off, playing can-you-top-my-freebies. But it’ll do. The Falcons are coming off a stinker against Green Bay. Coach Jim Mora ran normal practices this week, except the part about players running drills barefooted on hot coals. I kinda think he got their attention. The Bucs’ defense generally handle Michael Vick better than anybody. But on offense, Carnell Williams has gone from a three-game wonder to an afterthought. The line is 6. Seems like a lot. But I’ll gobble. Falcons cover.
TIGER BEAT • Colts at Bengals: Cincinnati dumped 9-0 Kansas City two years ago. Now the Bengals face 9-0 Indy, and they must be ready again, because Carl Powell body-slammed teammate Reggie Miles in the equipment room. What is this: tough love week? Take Cincy and 6 — and in a straight upset.
FOUR BAGS • Panthers at Bears: So the FBI in Chicago thought it would be cool to invite da Bears over for a little barbecue, booze and shootin’. But two linemen brawled, one got a broken jaw and the other had a five-pound weight slammed against his head. But the FBI assured everybody that all of the drinking took place at the barbecue, not on the shooting range. Everybody feel safe now? Carolina covers 3.
THREE BAGS • Eagles at Giants: Donovan McNabb has been advised to have season-ending hernia surgery. Add a pina colada and I call that a vacation. New York wins and covers 7.
TWO BAGS • Raiders at Redskins: Randy Moss went on ESPN, the network of choice for prima donna wide receivers, and said of coach Norv Turner: “Um, I think his approach, being an offensive-minded coach, is something that I can accept, I like. I mean, he’s the man, uh, and, you know, I’ll leave that at that.” Heartfelt. Skins win but take Oakland and 6. • Lions at Cowboys: Cute move by Bill Parcells this week. He planted mousetraps around the Dallas locker room to warn his players against being “trapped” by overconfidence. On a related note, Drew Bledsoe is suddenly out with a broken toe. Kidding. Cowboys cover 8. • Saints at Patriots: Jim Haslett vs. Bill Belichick. Like I’m going to waste time on research. New England covers 9 1/2. • Seahawks at Phoney Niners: San Francisco hasn’t scored a touchdown in 39 straight possessions. Said quarterback Ken Dorsey, “Hopefully we can get back to having some fun and scoring some points.” So who’s bringing the time machine? Seahawks win but take SanFran and 12 1/2. • Bills at Chargers: The problem with Buffalo is not that they can’t decide between J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb. The problem is that they must decide between J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb. San Diego covers a whopper (11). • Jets at Broncos: Herm Edwards contacted Donovan McNabb’s doctor this week to see if he also could have season-ending hernia surgery. Denver covers 13. • Steelers at Ravens: Pittsburgh is so dented at quarterback that receiver Antwaan Randle El took snaps in practice. Hey, go wishbone. It’s the Ravens. Steelers roll, like, 6-2. • Vikings at Packers: Actual factual: Minnesota is looking to win consecutive outdoor games for the first time since 2000. But I was going to pick the Vikings anyway, just because Brett Favre isn’t going against the Falcons’ secondary again. Take Minny and 41/2 — and in a straight upset. • Jags at Titans: Tennessee has won 11 of the last 14 meetings. Hey, I’m all about the hope for the downtrodden. Take Titans and 4 — and in a straight upset.
DON’T LOOK, YOU’LL GO BLIND Cardinals at Rams: What’s better than players fighting? Coaches fighting! On Wednesday, St. Louis assistants Wilbert Montgomery and Steve Fairchild brawled, infuriating the team’s owner, Broom Hilda. “Very interesting year,” wide receiver Torry Holt said. I’m assuming that won’t make NFL Films. Shams win but take Cards and 9 1/2. Chiefs at Texans: An AP writer this week actually wrote, “Houston is playing to save the job of coach Dom Capers.” Dude, they’re 1-8. I think they’ve spoken. Chiefs win but take Houston and 7. Dolphins at Browns: Cleveland receiver Braylon Edwards is still upset Miami passed on him in the draft and took Ronnie Brown. “They used me as a pawn. They told me one thing and did another. We call that lying.” Here’s what he said in English: “I could’ve been in South Beach. I’m cold!” Take the Dolphins and 2 1/2 — and in an upset.
PROGRESS REPORT • Last week: 9-5 straight up, 7-7 against the line. • Fiscal season: 89-39 straight up, 68-56-4 against the line.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Gracious Andruw proves second to none
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Meeting come to order, y’all, whereupon we shall review the minutes of the past week while your veteran observer was dallying about with grandkids and soaking up the sunshine of the Lowcountry. Let’s see now:
Item A: I’d venture to say that Dave Braine has tied his future at Georgia Tech to Chan Gailey’s coattail. Renewing the coach’s contract as his team stalls at Virginia, with Miami and Georgia still on the menu, was a bold move, of which the athletics director was fully aware, I’m sure. Braine has been under fire by a colony of disgruntled but powerful alumni, but he has President Wayne Clough in his corner.
Item B: Andruw Jones was a gracious runner-up to Albert Pujols in the Most Valuable Player chase, accepting the judgment of the National League voting cast and saying all the right things. It seemed a logical judgment after all the subverted stats are fed into the grist mill. No player has ever won the MVP Award with a batting average as low as .263. “He had a little better season than I did,” Andruw said, and for that the Braves center fielder deserves a bow.
Item C: Oops, what’s this? The Braves are said to be considering a deal with Trevor Hoffman, the hot closer from San Diego? Have they forgotten the Dan Kolb experience? When they dealt with the Brewers for him, they were confident they had successfully filled the bullpen vacancy left by John Smoltz. Kolb’s career as a Brave never got off the ground, and now they’re willing to bite again? Wouldn’t it be a nice idea to develop closers in the farm system rather than dealing for pre-owned pitchers on the shady side of their career? My hunch is that eventually the closer of ‘06 will be Kyle Farnsworth. No guarantee comes with the opinion.
Item D: What an anti-steroid team! McCain, Bunning, Fehr and Selig, rated in the order of their influence. We’re all familiar with McCain, celebrated prisoner of war and senator from Arizona; Fehr, another lawyer, far as I know; Selig, a former car salesman, but none came from as far back as Bunning. He rose from a season of 5-12 as a Little Rock Traveler in the mid-’50s to the top in every field he challenged. Over 100-game winner in both major leagues, pitcher of a perfect game, Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, now senator from Kentucky. The steroid agreement never would have taken place had it not been for pressure from Congress, something that Fehr and his players union didn’t choose to resist. Now let’s see which player will be first to take a fall trying to beat the rap.
Item E: When has it come to pass that some judge assumes the power to determine the makeup of a college football team? This Reuben Houston case is enough to blow your mind. Surely no action should have been taken on his behalf until charges against him had been duly processed. The order to accept him on the Georgia Tech team is one of the most incongruous rulings I’ve ever heard coming down from the bench. Surely none of us has ever heard of such an action before, including the NCAA, which must be scratching its head. Seemingly nice young man, from out Starr’s Mill way, but was he suckered, or was it greed?
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Furman Bisher, Other
