AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April
April 2007
What happened to Kenny Scott?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Somewhere on high, there must be an author with an odd sense of humor or coincidence. Reggie Ball will be running routes in mini-camp this week alongside Calvin Johnson in Detroit? How’s that for Motor City Madness? You can’t script that.
Surely few are surprised that Ball did not sign a free agent contract, that he has to try out as a “non-roster invitee” of the Lions to win one. He’s a man without a position, just like Marcus Vick last year.
But Kenny Scott? Talk about plummeting stock. At one point, months ago, he was thought to be a late-second round/third round guy. Then he goes undrafted and doesn’t sign a free agent contract only to end up trying out in Tampa Bay? You can’t foresee that kind of thing unless you were in NFL war rooms the past few months.
Nobody is saying it on the record, but at least after the fact there are whispers that give some indication as to what happened. Apparently, several teams have questions about Kenny’s “character,” which has become a giant catch basin of a word to encompass all kinds of potential issues. Where usually people associate that word with someone who is inclined to end up in trouble, stomp on a fallen player (Marcus Vick), or allegedly pull a gun at a McDonalds (Marcus Vick), or run afoul of drug laws (Marcus Vick), Scott’s legal record is not at issue.
The fact he flamed out of school right before the last game of his career, however, raised red flags. Same goes for Reggie Ball, although his predicament is less about this and more about the fact the former quarterback is now a man without a position.
When I asked Kenny last week what questions surprised him the most in interviews with NFL officials at the combine and since he said, “They tend to ask you about women a lot; they want to see how you respond to that situation. That might be the strangest thing.”
Call me crazy, but I also consider this another argument for staying in school, or at least withdrawing properly (or not signing up for any second-semester classes) to get ready for the draft rather than flunking out or opting to just quit showing up.
NFL officials don’t care as much about whether a potential player graduates as they do that he might let teammates and coaches down by flaming out academically before the final game of his career. That’s not exactly a case of tending to detail by a player, but rather an ominous sign that he might not be dependable enough to invest in.
KaMichael Hall is a fine football player, but his size (6-0, 220) doesn’t help.
Joe Anoai? Search me. I don’t know. Good size, great motor, huge hustler, very level-headed guy. Maybe not a superb athlete, but a pretty darned good football player.
Mansfield Wrotto will have a shot to get in the mix in Seattle, and sooner than later, I think. Great guy, much better fit inside that at tackle in the NFL.
Baseball team lost two of three at Clemson, making their situation a little more dire but not yet critical.
In the Coastal Division, Virginia is 16-7, North Carolina 16-8 and Tech 14-9. Remember, the third and final game of the GT-Virginia series was rained out two weeks ago. Remember this, too: Tech won the first game, and was up 2-0 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in the second game. Then, Danny Payne walked a batter, hit a batter, and gave up a walk-off three-run HR. Think the Jackets would like to have that one back?
Tech still plays two ACC series, against North Carolina and Florida State (17-4 in the Atlantic division). Plus, a non-conference series.
Better hope for Calvin Johnson’s sake the Lions have a better idea what they’re doing these days than in the past five or six years. They’ve been worse than dreadful, and it has started at the top, with Matt Millen.
Money can buy you a nice house and a nice car, but Calvin will find life in Detroit to be much different than in Atlanta. Doesn’t mean it can’t work out, but the Lions need more pieces and, most importantly, an attitude makeover from top to bottom.
Permalink | Comments (40) | Post your comment |
Calvin’s PR tour, Day 2
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New York — Calvin Johnson made another network morning show appearance today, and this time he got to say something.
Georgia Tech’s All-America receiver and four other players expected to be among the first picks in Saturday’s NFL draft appeared on The Early Show on CBS. David Price asked each player a question during the four-minute segment. Johnson went third, behind LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson; Price asked him about the major influences in his life that made him who he is.
“My parents and my coaches,” Johnson said, and added that God was most reponsible for all that he is. “My character and everything, that’s straight from my parents,” Johnson said.
Thursday, the players appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, where Russell and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn did the talking.
Johnson’s schedule for the rest of Friday includes a tour of the NFL offices, a public event at The World Financial Center and a visit to Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment |
Calvin does Manhattan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Highlights from Day One of Calvin Johnson’s two-day NFL-coordinated pre-draft PR tour of Manhattan:
7 a.m. — A bunch of burly guys who might once have been offensive linemen huddle in the lobby and by the entrance of the W Hotel on Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. A camera crew from NFL.com waits outside. Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson and four other top NFL draft prospects are about to start a pr tour of the Big Apple, and the entourage is ready.
7:35 — Johnson, dressed in khakis, striped shirt, blue sports coat and brown shoes, walks through the lobby and immediately gets approached by an autograph seeker, who is instantly brushed away by a member of the entourage.
7:38 — LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, in white shoes with no socks, boards a white Hummer H2 with an NFL draft logo on the side. He has been driven around in the Hummer all week, while Brady Quinn rode around in another Hummer, but today they are part of a five-player group and the rules have changed. An NFL official tells Russell to get in the black “chauffeured services” bus with Johnson and the other draft prospects.
7:55 — The bus, the Hummer and a couple of cabs arrive at Times Square Studios at 44th Street and 7th Avenue, site of ABC’s Good Morning America.
8:24 — Russell and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn walk onto the set. “Who’s that?” a man staring in from the sidewalk asks about Russell, “Michael Jordan?” The others eventually join them, but they’ve got a long time to wait. Only after segments on Tyra Banks, “Dancing With the Stars,” stain removal and “the happiest place on Earth” (it’s Denmark, by the way) does Good Morning America devote its final 10 minutes to what Diane Sawyer introduces as “the ultimate fantasy football.” Chris Cuomo comments on how small the players make him look and says of Johnson’s athleticism, “He scared me. He jumped so high that he jumped far, as well.” But Johnson doesn’t say anything and gets only a few seconds of air time.
9:34 — About 150 Central Park East Middle School kids, all wearing new white T-shirts with the NFL logo on the front, roar as the players enter gymnasium. Adrian Peterson and Brady Quinn talk to the kids about the importance of staying fit. Soon, the kids head to workout stations, where the players are supposed to lead them in exercises. Johnson appears to have drawn the short straw, the exercise balls. A phys ed instructor tells the kids to sit on the balls, put their arms across their chests and do sit-ups. Then she asks Johnson to do it. He self-consciously does two, then gets up and walks around encouraging the kids. “How many have y’all done? Y’all quit counting, huh?” Johnson says, smiling. Then, a breakthrough. Johnson shows the kids an exercise he knows, lying on his back on the floor, propping his feet atop the exercise ball, raising his hips off the floor and then using his feet to roll the ball toward his body and back. The kids love it. Johnson relaxes. Felicia Walker, 13, gives him a big waist-high hug. “He’s so cute,” Felicia says. “He’s so talented. You get to meet such a professional and smart person.” A teacher looks on, admiringly, as Johnson captivates the kids. “It’s a great exercise, it’s great for the abs and it’s different for the kids,” says Alan Semel of the New York City department of education after school program. “Now, they’re doing an exercise NFL players do.” Other kids hug Johnson, who is suddenly the king of the gym.
12:03 p.m. — Johnson and the four other players each sit at their own tables on elevated platforms and field questions from newspaper, TV, magazine and Internet reporters below. It’s the media luncheon at Chelsea Pier (roast beef, green beans, a pasta dish, various desserts). Johnson refuses to get baited into naming the team he wants to pick him, the team he thinks will pick him or which selection he will be in the draft, though he admits to wanting to be first and considering himself the best available player. “I don’t have a clue right now [what will happen in the draft,” he says. Few if any of the questions could be construed as hard-hitting. Typical: A reporter who asks whether it’s tough to live up to the reputation of being perfect. “Nobody’s perfect,” Johnson says. “I have certain things I work harder on. … I’m going to work hard, I’m going to do all I can, to live up to all the hype that’s out here.” He says he is enjoying himself on the trip (though as usual he looks as if there are other things he’d rather be doing than interviews about himself). “It’s all good,” he says of his third trip to New York, but he calls the visits to schools his favorite part. After 42 minutes of answering questions, he poses for photos with the Hudson River as a backdrop and the Statue of Liberty far in the distance. Then he gets to see his parents and siblings and eat lunch.
2:25 — The five draft prospects pose atop the marquee of the Radio City Music Hall at 50th Street and 6th Avenue. Ten professional photographers shoot the picture from across the street, amid about 15 amateurs and 60 or 70 gawkers. “That kid is Calvin Johnson,” a Rockefeller Center doorman says, then declines to give his name because he’s supposed to be on duty. After the photo shoot, the players are off-duty. Johnson looks forward to attending a performance of the Broadway musical The Color Purple. There’s another PR tour on Friday.
Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment |
Big question from Tuesday: Goodman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Danny Hall looked disgusted. Jeff Ussery looked surprised. And Georgia Tech’s baseball team looked forward to the next time it plays Georgia, when it hopes the result is different than it was Tuesday night at Turner field.
When I spoke with Hall after the 10-7 loss his focus was where I expected it to be, on the pitching in the first two innings. John Goodman walked the first three batters, all of whom scored, and two doubles and a couple of wild pitches brought Georgia two more runs in the second, one off Goodman and one off Tim Ladd.
“When you spot somebody three runs and then two more to make it 5-0, it’s hard to beat anybody,” Hall said.
Tech tied a school record with three triples, two by Ussery, a freshman infielder who had nothing more powerful than his five doubles before Tuesday night. His performance might have been expected on a night when a 14-26 team beat a 26-14 team.
“Baseball’s a funny game,” Ussery said. “They played well. Hopefully [May 9 at Athens], it will be a good game again.”
The bigger question for Tech is when Goodman will be Goodman again. He was an ACC starter in March before shoulder tendinitis sidelined him for three weeks. Tuesday was his first game back since allowing five run in 4 2/3 innings March 31 against Maryland. Goodman missed all of 2005 with an elbow surgery and was hurt in 2006, too. When he’s on, as he was against Boston College and Duke this season, he can be one of the league’s top pitchers. Even a team with Tech’s substantial pitching strength can use a guy like that.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment |
Young, Crittenton need more seasoning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ll be honest and say at first I was surprised to learn that Thaddeus Young has declared for the NBA draft. I didn’t think he or Javaris Crittenton would.
But I’ve learned more about the process today, and now I’m not surprised. I knew that players could not participate in the NBA’s pre-draft camp in Orlando next month if they weren’t draft eligible.
I did not know that they weren’t allowed to even speak with NBA officials about their draft prospects unless they were in the draft pool (actually, it’s the teams that aren’t allowed to chat; the NBA will fine teams for violations). Translation, Young and Crittenton could not go to the horses’ mouths, so to speak, for information unless they enter the draft. I’m going to assume both submitted their names to the NBA’s committee for underclassmen, and in Young’s case, or perhaps the case of one of his parents, the feedback was not enough to appease all parties. Somebody wants more info. Now, they can get it easily enough.
That said, I won’t be surprised if Crittenton does the same thing.
I’ll still be surprised if either of them are in the draft after the withdrawal date of June 18.
With all the other early entries, Young’s not going to be selected as highly as he would have last year if the one-year rule weren’t in effect. He didn’t have a bad freshman season, but he certainly didn’t dominate, either, other than in a handful of games.
Crittenton, on the other hand, happens to be a point guard in a year where there aren’t a lot of them. I still can’t see him being drafted before the early to mid-20s, but I’m no NBA draft expert. Next year’s NBA draft figures to be deeper in PGs, but then Crittenton would probably be a lot better if he played one more season in college. I think both players can make quantum leaps next season.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball
A baseball resurrection
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you were among those writing early obituaries for Georgia Tech’s baseball team, it might be a good idea to cap your pen. As Mark Twain allegedly once said, “Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.”
The Yellow Jackets are far from dead.
Since starting the season 9-9 with several disappointing losses (including a sweep at Georgia Southern and losses to Kennesaw State and Georgia State), Tech has won 17 of 22, and 13 of 16. The only losses in the last 16 games were two heart-breakers at Miami and another at Virginia when the home teams walked off the field with victories.
They’re very much in the thick of the ACC, although their remaining series are all against the teams with better conference records (Clemson, North Carolina and Florida State) with a weekend series at South Florida mixed in. They play Georgia at Turner Field tomorrow, and then 10 straight on the road.
Anyway, pitching has been the bedrock. Tech’s hitting .280 in those 22 games, but allowing opponents to hit just .243. More importantly, the Jackets’ ERA in that span is just 2.98. In college ball, with alumnium bats and all, that’s studly.
SS Michael Fisher has an 18-game hitting streak, with a .423 BA in that stretch.
C Matt Wieters has hit in 11 of his past 12 games, with a .465 BA.
CF Danny Payne has a seven-game hitting streak, and a .429 BA in that span. He’s up to .391, and among national leaders in walks per game. His on-base percentage is something like .519, which is absurd.
In the weekend sweep of N.C. State, Payne and Wieters both hit .545, going 6 for 11.
Freshman OF Chris House has a 12-game hitting streak, too.
It appears the young players are settling into their roles. Tony Plagman — a freshman — continues to offer production at first base. Even though sophomore Luke Murton is hitting .244, he’s driving in runs and hitting for power.
If Tech keeps this up, the Jackets may host yet another NCAA regional. They moved back into the national rankings this week, at No. 24.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment |
Trying to make the pieces fit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I remember saying to former Georgia Tech loyalist-turned-traitor Chris Capo last June, as one underclass Yellow Jacket after another opted for the Major League draft, “Jeepers, Bat Man, the gun’s losing all its bullets.”
Or something like that.
Capo, Tech’s SID for baseball at the time, left like so many players left for greener pastures, but before departing suggested it was the norm.
My rump! I was newly returned to the ranks of college writers, yet well aware that top programs routinely lose underclassmen to the pros, but that was ridiculous. Out the door were starting outfielders Steven Blackwood (senior) and Jeff Kindel, starting infielders Wes Hodges, Mike Trapani (senior) and Whit Robbins. Gone, too, were pitchers Blake Wood, Lee Hyde and Tim Gustafson, although he was hurt most of last season.
Uh, no need to check a pulse at that point. That’s five of eight position starters plus the top two starting pitchers out the door. Then, at least one top Tech recruit opted to go pro out of high school. No need for triage; just grab the tourniquet.
But before trying to explain away everything that’s happened to Tech (which has lost twice to Georgia Southern, and once each to Georgia State, Kennesaw State, Illinois-Chicago and Western Carolina) not to mention three last-inning losses (two at Miami and one at Virginia) in the past four games by saying they’re young, I’ll stop.
Well, not stop, but change course.
It’s one thing not to have as much seasoned talent on hand, and another still with that shortage hurts you at those positions but others as well. To the point, without sufficient depth at catcher behind Matt Wieters, coach Danny Hall’s been using him less out of the bullpen than he’d probably like. Basically, Matt is used in relief in mid-week games because the weekend games by this time of the season are ACC, and he’s essential behind the plate.
Hall’s still trying to make all the pieces fit.
“We started out at the beginning of the year, and definitely did not pitch it well. Then we turned that around and hit a stretch where we pitched it outstanding,” he said. “We hit a stretch where we pitched well, but where we didn’t hit at all. That has picked up better of late. I think we’re still getting better, but we’ve got to do a better job of finishing games.”
Wieters is just one example, but a good one, of what Hall is coping with.
I don’t see fault or blame to be placed, I see reasons or explanations.
For my two cents, this is not about failure or “choking.” It’s been about growing. The Jackets are in the mix in their division in the ACC, and the ACC tournament should afford opportunity to remedy much of what’s ailed Tech. By about this point in the season, accountability becomes more essential. There has been time to figure it out. The bullpen needs to be more dependable, I will say that.
Looking forward to tonight’s game against Georgia.
Tech Fund: What did you choose?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday was the deadline for Tech football season ticketholders to decide whether to move up, stay in the same location, move down or not renew at all in light of the new Tech Fund donation requirements for choice seats at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
I touched base with Tech on Tuesday to ask about the numbers. No info yet, I was told, as a lot of people waited until the last minute to make a decision (or at least to send it in).
So, what did you choose to do, and why? Or, if you don’t have season tickets, what do you think of the Tech Fund policy, and do you think it will make good tickets harder or easier to find for individual games? Will enough people be willing to make the required donations for Tech to continue to sell out its best seats to season ticketholders?
Keys for Tech in 2007
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here are some impressions about three things that will determine Georgia Tech’s success this season, based on spring football practice:
Keeping the offensive line healthy. The No. 1 line looks great. The No. 2s? Not so much.
Getting dependable play from Anthony Barnes or Shane Bowen. Tech might have more depth at linebacker than it did last season, but there’s a significant dropoff now between Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton, who both look excellent, and the third starter. Guyton could be ready for a big year, and Wheeler should be better than ever.
Keeping the quarterback healthy. I think Taylor Bennett is going to have a strong year. Neither Steven Threet nor Calvin Booker is ready to step in and start, though. That’s no knock on them; they’ve had just one spring of practice at Tech.
Receivers? I think Tech will be fine with Demaryius Thomas, James Johnson, tailback Tashard Choice and tight end Colin Peek or fullback Mike Cox as starting pass-catchers. (John Bond does seem to believe in throwing to the tight end and the backs.)
Defensive backs? I can’t tell you who will play where, but with what Tech has coming back the Yellow Jackets should be at least as good there as they were last season, and possibly better.
What say you?
Permalink | Comments (55) | Categories: Football
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
