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Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wheeler has seen Jackets’ potential
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Florida State has lost already. Virginia Tech and Miami have lost badly and are changing quarterbacks to boot. The reigning league champ — Wake Forest, in case you’ve forgotten — has lost twice. The path is clear for a new ACC power to emerge, and that emergence could well occur here Saturday night.
Georgia Tech plays Boston College in what could be the first of two meetings. They could see one another again in Jacksonville on Dec. 1, the Jackets as repeat winners of the Coastal Division, BC as Atlantic champ. But Philip Wheeler isn’t thinking that far ahead. Having been at Tech since 2003, he knows not to count on anything.
Wheeler was a member of the two teams that beat Auburn and a part of famous victories at Miami and Virginia Tech. He was also on hand when the Jackets lost at Duke, and last season he saw his team rise to 9-2 only to lose the final three games. Even now, with the Jackets a rousing 2-0 and ranked No. 15 in the land, Wheeler regards that unraveling as a touchstone.
“It’s a motivational thing,” he says. “It seemed to make us work harder. We didn’t ever want to feel the way we felt after those three games, to have no shot at redemption.”
When the new season commenced, the Jackets went to Notre Dame with the mind-set, Wheeler says, “that we didn’t want them to move one inch.” Indeed, there were times that dominating day when the Irish would have viewed a one-inch gain as an achievement. The 2007 Tech defense looks as unyielding as its immediate predecessor, which is saying something, and Wheeler himself appears exactly as he did a year ago, which is to say one of the best linebackers on any campus.
He’s smallish and fast, ideal for Jon Tenuta’s blitzing blueprint, and he has, as the football argot goes, a big motor. He also has an extravagant amount of hair. He isn’t a big talker, but he believes this year’s team can be better than the 2006 version. “The young guys,” he says, “have a tradition to live up to.”
And that’s true. In its unassuming way, Tech has built nicely. The Jackets haven’t won as many as 10 games in any of Chan Gailey’s five seasons, but neither have they finished with a losing record. The national consensus is that this program is a robust entity lacking only the proper follow-through to be considered among the elite.
Which is where Boston College comes in. Win Saturday night and the Jackets would be 3-0 for only the second time under Gailey — the first time, in 2005, they lost their fourth game by 44 points — and would stand a fighting chance of being undefeated and ranked in the top 10 when Virginia Tech comes to town on Nov. 1.
The time is past, Wheeler says, when Tech will be satisfied to bleed out seven victories. Last year’s team fell four excruciating points short of the Orange Bowl. “That stayed in our mind. The ACC championship — people play for one of those.”
Wheeler signed with Tech out of Columbus Shaw at a time when nobody knew what to make of the Jackets. They’d just lost to Georgia 51-7 and to Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic, now defunct. And Wheeler’s commitment wasn’t one to make the recruiting mavens gush. “I knew I had talent,” he says, “and I was ranked nationally, but I wasn’t one of the very top players.”
He is now. He’s on the watch list for three awards — the Lombardi, Bednarik and Nagurski — and he’s as old-school as any of those famous names. He doesn’t take the field doing a Ray Lewis dance (though he considers Lewis, along with Takeo Spikes, his playing model). He readies himself thusly: “I sit back and watch everything that’s going on. I like to be tuned into everything.”
Tune in Saturday night, and you’ll see him at work. You’ll see Philip Wheeler and his team attempt to plant a gold-and-white flag atop the ACC.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
Takes more than spies to save these Falcons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Know what Bill Belichick really needs? A good nickname. B-chick. Crazy Eyes. Agent 86.
Because even if you don’t consider the NFL’s most covert and paranoid coach videotaping another team’s hand signals particularly felonious, the man should be indicted for sheer stupidity.
How does the highest-profile coach on the highest-profile team not only ignore a commissioner’s directive but has his team official cheat-o-grapher stand on the field in New England sweats with the camera?
“You did what, Max?”
“Sorry Chief, but my shoe phone’s …”
“Max, you can’t bring a video camera on the field.”
“But chief, it’s not a real video camera. See, I keep my jewelry in here.”
“No Max, that’s the water bottle.”
“Oh yeah.”
The Falcons haven’t been caught cheating yet. That’s comforting. They’re kind of like that old joke about Rice in the 1980s when every other school in the old Southwest Conference was on probation: If they are cheating, nobody cares.
Give them a video camera.
The signals.
The playbook.
Twelve receivers.
Would it make a difference?
Sunday, the Falcons are 10-point dogs to a team (Jacksonville) that opened the season with a home loss to Tennessee. That’s what happens when you make the Vikings’ defense look like the ‘62 Packers.
I saw Bobby Petrino smile this week. Can’t figure out if he knows something we don’t, or he’s just two weeks from rooming with Cheswick, Martini and Randall P. McMurphy.
But if I read the signals correctly: Jags win. But won’t cover the 10.
Semi-Pros
— Boston College at Buzz: The Yellow Jackets have outscored their first two opponents (Division I-AA Samford and Division II Notre Dame), 102-17. A win over Boston College also would move them to 2-0 over Catholic schools, further indication that the Vatican’s recruiting has really fallen off. Tech covers seven.
— Western Carolina at Georgia: The Dogs have devolved again, this time from No. 11 back to Trembling Chihuahas. Now they get a chance to punch a I-AA team in the mouth. The Catamounts have allowed 97 points in two games. If they put up more of a fight than a two-inch rawhide stick, something’s wrong. Unofficial line: 29 1/2. Officially: covered.
— Tennessee at Florida: The difference between the Gators losing a receiver and the Volunteers losing a cornerback is the Gators can still pass, while Tennessee’s defense — feh. Loser’s tied with Georgia. Winner’s tied with South Carolina. That still doesn’t sound right. Florida covers 7 1/2.
— Arkansas at Alabama: Nick Saban’s return has seen him step on Western Carolina and Vanderbilt. This might be a good time to ask for the check. (Sneak preview: Darren McFadden had a 70-yard touchdown run against the Tide as a freshman.) Take the gift three. But Arkansas wins this in an upset.
— 0-2 at 0-2: The only difference between Charlie Weis and Lloyd Carr is one still works for a brainwashed fanbase. Les Miles, your table is waiting. But until then: Michigan wins the Battle of the Busts (and the 7 1/2 is covered).
Pros and Cons
— Bengals at Browns: The Browns played their starting quarterback (Charlie Frye) one half, and then traded him. If nothing else, they move past the Falcons in the Proactive Power Rankings. But they still stink. Cincy covers 6 1/2.
— Packers at Giants: Tom Coughlin says Eli Manning’s shoulder injury isn’t as bad as first feared. Was that the good news or the bad news? Pack in a pick ‘em.
— Chargers at Patriots: Hey, here’s an idea for Roger Goodell: Make Tom Brady wear a microphone and announce the play before each snap. On second thought, he’d still win. Pats cover the 3 1/2.
— Texans at Panthers: Matt Schaub won last week to become 1-2 all-time as an NFL starter, except in certain parts of Georgia, where Sasquatch roams and he’s already won three Super Bowls. Punt the 6 1/2. Going with Carolina in my mind.
— Vikings at Lions: You’re about to find out how bad a team the Falcons lost to last week. Detroit covers three.
Financial report
— Last week: 8-3 straight up, 6-4-1 against the line.
— So far, so good: 14-4 straight up, 11-6-1 against the line.
— Lock of the week: Sunrise, 7:20.
— Early Fall Special: Buy any three selections and win a copy of Weekend Predictions’ new software, “G.M. Translator.” For example, we type in: “Our future is still incredibly bright!” (from Portland’s Kevin Pritchard after Greg Oden had season-ending knee surgery). “GM Translator” says: “Refund? I’m sorry, you must be in a bad cell. Hello? Hello …”
Permalink | Comments (111) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
‘Boo’ to bland monikers, sport
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
It’s not that I’d planned it this way, but since the Tour Championship developed a serious weather hiccup opening day, I’ve reached into my pantry of backups. You’ll get enough of the warfare at East Lake elsewhere, anyway, now that the required thunderstorm has appeared. Besides I’ve had this thing bouncing around in my head since Boo and Bubba came aboard the PGA Tour. You see, golf just isn’t big on nicknames in these times. You know, like baseball. Now, there’s a game for names, but, alas, time and manners and propriety have imposed restrictions on some of them: Shanty Hogan, Moose Solters, Dummy Hoy, Schnozz Lombardi and the most horrid of them all, Mule Haas.
“Mule” was asked one day why that was his nickname. “Because I look like one,” the old outfielder said.
Some nicknames have disappeared from print out of presumed propriety, but not from the dugout. Bill Nicholson was known as “Swish” because he struck out so often, Charley Wagner was called “Broadway” because of his lust for the night life. Any kid who looked as if he had walked a few rows behind a plow became “Rube.” A paunchy one became “Jellybelly.” The pitcher, Van Lingle Mungo, had such a melodic name it required no embellishment. Some songwriter published a lilting little tune about him. The title, “Van Lingle Mungo,” just rolls off the tongue.
Once upon a time golf was a ripe field for nicknames. Cary Middlecoff was “Doc,” because he had practiced dentistry in the service. “Wild Bill” Mehlhorn earned his title the hard way, climbing a tree near the 18th green of a tournament he was leading, aimed at disturbing the player challenging him. In spite of the interference, the challenger won. “Wild Bill” deserved to fall from the tree and break a leg, but he didn’t.
Snead was “Slammin’ Sam,” Hogan was “Bantam Ben,” Walter Hagen was “The Haig,” Lee Trevino was “Merry Mex,” and Clayton Heafner was known as “Candy Man” because he drove a candy truck. Jim Barnes was never addressed as anything but “Long Jim,” except by a few pros who didn’t hold him in warm regard. He was both tall and long off the tee. And I don’t know but what “Wiffy” may have been Wiffy Cox’s real name.
Nicknames just naturally go with games that boys play on into manhood, but somehow or another tour players have moved away from it, distracted by things of a more serious nature, such as money and public image. A sort of classical trend has developed in some latter-day names. We have among us Heath, Camilo, Geoff, Brett, Henrik and of course, Eldrick, which leads to the one nickname that rises above all. Eldrick was endowed as “Tiger” by his dad, and there is no name more recognizable in sport today. (And in case you’ve wondered what K.J. Choi’s initials stand for, it’s Kyung-Ju.)
Boo Weekley and Bubba Watson came from the same neck of the woods in Florida, and each has carved his own niche on the tour. Bubba led the PGA Tour in driving distance last year, and he’s in the lead again, but on the sideline as they play into the FedEx Cup finale this week, but not Boo. Weekley came into East Lake ranked 21st in this field, and to make it all the sweeter, he played his way out of the back of the tour guide.
Heath Slocum, referred to above, Weekley and Watson all developed their games in the panhandle neck of Florida, the towns of Milton and Bagdad, surrounded by military bases. Naturally, both were prime targets for the nicknames they bear. Boo speaks pure Panhandle Floridian, but as he proved at the PGA Championship, you wouldn’t want him keeping score for you. Sergio Garcia is our witness here.
There is a Bo on the tour, but that’s Van Pelt’s real name. And there’s a Briny, but that’s Baird’s real name. And there’s a J-Byrd, which is what some pals call Jonathan Byrd. But when it comes to creative nicknames, don’t look to the PGA Tour for originality, except perhaps in the privacy of the locker room.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Furman Bisher
