AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 04
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Ups, downs and all-arounds at Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Scattershooting today with some looks back, some forward and who knows what else?
— Good trip to Notre Dame for the Techsters. My most memorable moments came after the game, seeing how pleased defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta was, and then after that, as players, family and friends milled just outside the stadium waiting to board buses. Many of them posed together for pictures, with Touchdown, er, Field goal Jesus in the background. Genuine excitement to be sure. Then, when Chan Gailey came out, players, parents, etc. clapped. A moment to note.
— If I had it to do again, I’d look into flying into South Bend sted Chicago. Or going the night before and staying in a hotel in SB. That drive wasn’t pleasant to or fro, although being in a packed car had something to do with it. At the roadside rest where we stopped about 30 miles outside of SB on the way in, there were Tech people everywhere. Again, quite a snapshot.
— Irish fans were high-class, and loyal. But not very noisy.
— Notre Dame will struggle to win six this season, maybe five. Where are they going to pick up two wins in the first half of the schedule? They’re shockingly slow.
— If I were Charlie Weis, I’d start Sharpley at Penn State, not Clausen, but what do I know?
— Tech’s freshman class has been much ballyhooed, and early returns were beaucoup. Morgan Burnett and Dwyer are the real deal. Donley will be. Many others will make quite a bit of noise before they’re finished at Tech.
— Doubt James Johnson plays against Samford. Gailey said today that Gaston, Word-Daniels, A.J. Smith and Rashaun Grant are all in a questionable class.
— About Taylor Bennett, Gailey agreed that he didn’t look right. Disagreed with my question about whether or not Taylor was comfortable. He said a better way of putting it was he thought he had to rush on several occasions when in fact he didn’t. Translation: Taylor’s timing was out of whack. I agree wholeheartedly, not that it matters. Much better way of putting it. He was rarely in sync with passing plays. Way too early to worry about that, though.
— Nevermind the idea of getting Bennett off to a scorching start against Samford, and then sitting him. Play to win, period. Let the game run its natural course. That will include plenty of passing plays for Taylor.
— Don’t forget about Mike Cox. He had a great blocking game at ND, and made a fabulous one-handed catch at the Tech sideline. They call him Bull, but he strikes me as the second coming of Moose, former Dallas Cowboys FB Darryl Johnston. A first-day pick in next year’s draft for my two cents.
— Pay close attention Saturday to the way the entire Tech defense runs. They can all haul. That’s a very good thing.
— Nervous about my son’s first game Saturday, which I’ll miss because of the Tech game. The Rams, our opponent, have speed. We have size and in a few spots excellent speed. Hmmm.
— Wonder how much the nature of Saturday’s win will impact ticket sales this week?
— What about Florida State?
