AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > September > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWheeler 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) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
Comments
By curtrob2000
September 13, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this
I am pleased to say that i have been around Phillip a number of times, he is one of my cousins best friends. i have talked to him several times and all he wants to do is win. he’s a very smart kid and loves the Ga Tech program. i get the feeling that Phillip along with a number of tech players especially the seniors that there is si=ome unfinished business to take care of this year. i dont think they miss Calvin as much as outsiders may feel they do. and they have complete confidence in the players around them. that defense is a very talented group, and so far Tashard has put his stamp as the best single back in the ACC. this is the year to do it, there are a number of seniors on this team and they dont want to leave feeling as though they werent an accomplished football class. they want to win the coastal division, beat Ga, win the ACC, and play in a BCS bowl. all of these goals are in reach and saturday is clearly the first step. will you be there. I know I will…
GO JACKETS!!!
By DecaturTechFan
September 13, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this
It;s been a great week to be a Jacket Fan. Dawgs lose. Spurrier piles on the smack and the Jackets romp. Saturday nite is put up or shut up time for the boyz from North Ave. Go Jackets!!
By jacketfan
September 13, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
Let’s go Tech - focus on the now. Get the job done against a good BC team. Don’t worry about anything else. You can do it. Make us all proud. GO TECH!!
By Don Tompkins
September 13, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
GO JACKETS——TURN UP THE HEAT ON SATURDAY NIGHT——GO JACKETS!!!!
By wes
September 13, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
Matt Ryan is going down.
By da big bee
September 13, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
Wheeler is a BEAST!! Can’t wait until Sat night. Go Jackets! The road to the ACC Championship starts with BC. Just win baybee.
By Tech's in the Ghetto
September 13, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this
Wasn’t Tech having a “good” year last season before the Dawgs beat them for the 6th time in a row?
By The Murf
September 13, 2007 11:03 PM | Link to this
THWG
By Tech Man
September 13, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this
This is the best Tech team since 1990. Maybe since 1954.
We may or may not play BC twice this year but we will definitely be making two trips to Miami.
By Slacker
September 13, 2007 11:06 PM | Link to this
Wheeler is the real deal. Go cuz and don’t let up until the final whistle blows and Matt Ryan is blowing snot bubbles into the ground. I am especially anxious to see our passing game develop when we finally see a defense worthy of testing one of the country’s best run games.
By the way, I’m very pleased that the media and the players are looking at this season one game at a time. No mention of “possibly” or “down the road” in many of the well written articles by the AJC. So I’ll be the first to go against my principal and say that this isn’t the breakthrough game. Clemson will tell the tale when they roll into ATL. Our first division game and they should be undefeated as well.
By LongBeachJacket
September 13, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this
Nice commentary, Mark. Also, nice to feature Phillip Wheeler. This team has strong senior leadership, including Phillip. It’s also nice to hear a strong compliment for Phillip from someone with a personal connection.
Saturday’s game will reveal more about this team than we already know.
BC is a very, very good team. Tech wants to prove it is a better team.
It should be fun to watch.
GO JACKETS!!!!!
By JJacket
September 13, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this
6’2 230 is smallish?
We are going to dominate BC.
By Reid Taylor
September 13, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this
Screw you Mark and your squirrelly attempt to convince Tech fans that you really are an unbiased reporter at the AJC. As soon as your classless mutts regain their composer, or should Tech falter, you will be right back to demeaning our fine institution. We have a couple good guys at the AJC and have no desire to lower ourselves by responding to your sophomoric and negative analysis of our program. Go away a hole!
By inveniodavid
September 14, 2007 12:02 AM | Link to this
Slacker…Clemson is not a division game for Tech. They are in the Atlantic with BC. Our first divisional test is the week before Clemson against UVA.
By Tech Man
September 14, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this
Hey Reid. MB isn’t a Dawg, he’s a wildcat.
Its Tech fans like you that create the media perception problems you blame on the writers.
Just go away.
By surfrider
September 14, 2007 1:16 AM | Link to this
Wheeler reminds me of some of the Black Watch players recruited by Curry and Lindsey who grew into excellent players. Mark Pike being one along with Cleve Pounds, Roof, Parker, etc…The key for this group of Jackets is take them one game at a time. The potential is there compared to past years because we now have an offensive mindset, however the track record of 7 wins is there as well. It’s not over till it’s over. BC is an excellent team.
By TC for Heisman
September 14, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this
Nice read Mark. Thanks for the good pub.
Big one Saturday night boys. Let’s show the country what we are all about.
By Mike
September 14, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this
Calling Arthur Blank: Arthur you better get a ticket to the game Saturday night and watch Philip Wheeler. He will be a star in the NFL and he won’t cause problems.
By shivas
September 14, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
One game at a time. I think BC presents a bigger challenge than Clemson, Miami and VT. They are a very balanced team that can run and throw, with a very solid Defense. We need to stay in short yardage situations all night so we have some options. BC will score some points,so we should expect that, and be patient. Ultimately our D will force mistakes, and our ground game will take over. I would not be surprised if we go into haltime down 10-7, and then explode in the 2nd half. This game is going into the 4th quarter, so get ready for some anxiety. This team has the character and will to win that 4th, which is the theme of the GT players. Notice when they entered ND stadium, they were holding up four fingers to represent playing hard for all 4 quarters; no let down.
By MisterT
September 14, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
Tech Man, while I am not quite the extreme of Reid, I do remember reading Mark’s early articles comparing Tech to UGA. While MB may not be a UGA homer, he does seem to be a bit of a bandwagon jumper.
I have really appreciated MW this year. I think his accessment of Tech having been a bit closed to the media may have been spot on. I am still a bit reserved toward MB though.
Go Jackets! THWG
By WolfnATL
September 14, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
BC’s run defense is good, but their pass defense is weak. Taylor can exploit their corners and will need to for Tech to win. The ACC needs one team to step up and go undefeated this year and I think Tech can be that team.
By Joshua Barlowe
September 14, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
Great column, Mark. Thanks for giving credit where it’s due.
GO JACKETS!
By bubbac
September 14, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this
Wheeler, Michael Johnson, and J. Lewis will be looking good Saturday nite in B.D. stadium. Defense will win this game.
By Jared
September 14, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
Keep running the football. Keep Matt Ryan off the field. Convert well on 3rd down to keep drives alive. Don’t turn the ball over. If we do those things then we’ll be in good shape.
Or as Loran Smith would say, “Larry, if we can just score more points than the other team today Coach Richt thinks we can win.”
By Reid Taylor
September 14, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
What’s wrong “Tech man”, you limp-wrested little throne sniffer! Have you already forgotten Bark’s last column, “Gaily will hit the number”, condemning us to a 7 and 5 season and a loss at the Continental Tire Bowl. How about the hundreds of other columns over the years that have EARNED him the name Bark Madly? I did not coin this namesake. Either you are a dog fan, Bark’s gay lover or a complete idiot.
By reebok
September 14, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Good column. Tomorrow is the test. Let’s fill up the stadium. BC is good, but Tech should win. GO JACKETS.
By wes
September 14, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
Wheeler hasn’t even had a big game yet. He hasn’t had to, either.
It really has been a team effort on the defensive side of the ball.
Credit Wheeler for making the right calls and the rest of Mad Johnny T’s Defense for perfect execution.
BC is about to run into a buzzsaw Saturday night!
By North Ave Pimp
September 14, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
LETS GO JACKETS!! LAY SOME DAAAMN WOOD ON THESE CLOWNS!!
By DirtDobber
September 14, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Looking forward to a good game vs BC.
The UGAys have their fill of sour grapes right now - just ignore them. They are unworthy of attention/discussion until after the 17 November game vs NC. You guys gotta get your focus and quit encouraging the distractions. GT has plenty to prepare for until then.
Goooooooooooo Tech !!! Sting ‘em.
By Big Coot
September 14, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
This team belives in what they are doing and when you belive you seem to execute! BC is tough but not tough enouph. TECH rolls! Wheeler is a stud! Buy tickets if you cant come anyway there are always plenty around. We need a sell out to show these guys we belive! Bobby Dodd can get loud and i think it will be. I plan to loose my voice out there tomorrow night and i hope you do to!
By my vick in a box
September 14, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
The best part will be when Tech is favored by 10 even though UGA has beat them 6 years in a row, they will get no respect (except from this joke of a newspaper)
By GT78
September 14, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
Without fail the Jackets get their butts handed to them every single time that they start thinking they are good. Inevitably that is going to happen this year. The key is will this team roll over and quit like some of the past teams have done, or will they suck it up and turn a negative into a positive like that school in Athens seems to do when the going gets tough.
By TechFan4Life
September 14, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Friday’s are the worst day of the week during football season! So close yet so far away. The Jackets are rollin! Lets keep it up guys! I’ll see you on the flats!
Fight! Win! Drink! Get Naked!
By jonathan
September 14, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this
GO JACKETS
By Thorpe
September 14, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Go BC. Beat Tech.