AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October
October 2007
Army stiff-arms Tech, etc.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s kind of hard to know what to think about Army opting to cancel its game with Georgia Tech next year — AT ARMY! I was looking forward to that trip, and I imagine quite a few fans were as well. West Point is supposed to be one of the great venues in college football.
Apparently, Army officials have decided that consecutive games against schools from major conferences (the Black Knights were to play at Texas A&M the game before Tech; two weeks earlier) has left them with a high number of injuries that are damaging to the “athletic and military careers” of the cadets, according to a letter from the Army AD to Dan Radakovich.
Hmmm. I wonder if Army had a similar option to cancel out of its trip to Texas A&M instead? Or maybe the Black Knights actually stand to make more money from that trip than from a visit by Tech? I dunno at this point. Strange, though.
Army routinely schedules BCS schools. They have the Texas A&M game, a game with Vanderbilt, a home and away with Ohio State, games against Notre Dame, and others in coming years. I don’t know if other games are in danger or not.
Scheduling is a strange thing. Ohio State is/was to play Army in 2009 and 2010, and Southern Cal in ‘08 and ‘09. Why Ohio State would go to Army I don’t know.
Moving on, Tech may learn good news on a few recruits in the next few weeks, and they will have a slew of prospects on campus for the Georgia game.
I think Jamaal Evans is going to be better than a lot of folks might expect Thursday night against Virginia Tech. Dwyer, too. I just have a hunch, no great insight.
If I were a betting man, I’d suggest that the game will come down to special teams and/or defensive scores. I don’t think either offense is going to get rich against the opposing defense.
Now, as for graduation rates … some folks suggested a few weeks ago that a better measure of student-atheltes’ progress would be to measure their graduation rates against the student body at large. Now that information is available, and it’s not very good news. I was surprised to learn that 77 percent of the 2000 freshmen at Tech went on to graduate in six years. That number is high, considerably higher than several ACC and SEC schools, which given the difficulty of Tech caught my eye.
The gap backward to student-athletes graduating in six years, 55 percent picked up their degrees, was large, the largest in the ACC. That surprises me, too. I figured Tech would have a lower overall graduation rate because it’s so tough, and the gap between athletes would therefore not be so large.
I wonder how this will impact academic support systems at Tech?
Matt
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A bad break for a team-first guy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Several weeks ago, I interviewed Rashaun Grant after a Georgia Tech practice, and he surprised the heck out of me. I asked him his favorite moment of his Tech career, and he I expected him to talk about his 122-yard game at N.C. State, or his first touchdown. Instead, his eyes lit up as he recalled what it was like at the Clemson game in 2004.
You probably remember it: Calvin Johnson’s coming out party, with three touchdown catches, including the game-winner with 11 seconds left to cap Tech’s extraordinary comeback. Grant’s statistics in that game: one carry for zero yards, and one catch for 5 yards.
How many other players would pick a game like that as their favorite moment?
A week ago, when it looked as if Grant would finally get a chance to start for the first time since 2004, quarterback Taylor Bennett said it was great to see it happen for such a “non-selfish” player.
So it was no fun to report the news last week that Grant’s lower leg injury will keep him out of Tech’s last four regular-season games. Neck and hamstring injuries limited what Grant achieved in his first three seasons, and now this.
The news got worse Monday night when I had to write about another senior, guard Nate McManus, who will be out for the rest of his final season. At least he got to start 32 consecutive games and be recognized as part of an offensive line that cleared the way for an ACC rushing leader.
Grant might return if the Yellow Jackets play in a bowl game. I hope he gets the chance and that something good happens for him. He deserves it.
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With/without Choice, Jackets must buckle up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chan Gailey left open, if only slightly, the door for Tashard Choice to play Thursday night against Virginia Tech, suggesting again that he’s recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery quickly, jogging, and, well, being Tashard.
If the decision were left entirely up to Choice, you know he’d play Thursday. Gailey jokingly said Tuesday that, “you know he’ll lie,” a reference to Choice saying before the Virginia game that his hamstring was good to go only to last four carries or so.
Whether Choice plays or not, the Yellow Jackets probably can’t afford to give up uncommon points, like by special team return, or turnover return, and Virginia Tech is very good at that. Ask Clemson.
The odds of scoring a lot of points offensively against Va. Tech are not very good, although LSU put a major whipping on them way, way back in September. But the Hokies clamped down on Boston College for 57 or so minutes Thursday night before Matt Ryan amped up his Heisman campaign. And BC may be the No. 1 team in the nation, as Matt Rhodes suggested Thursday. (Odd stat: Va. Tech is 13-3 in ESPN Thursday night games, all three losses — and three wins — coming against BC).
If the defense clamps Va. Tech down (and the Hokies’ offense is uncommonly pedestrian, as even their running game is well off its annual pace), but the Hokies get points on special teams or off turnovers, then Ga. Tech’s odds decrease big time.
It could be that whichever team gets the most points from special teams, or perhaps defense, wins this game.
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Feathers a flyin’; world seems ablaze
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kind of interesting that some Tech fans seem to think I must be a “booster” for another school because surely I graduated from some where, and I must have donated some money, and that by extrapolation if I qualify as a booster for another school, and I’ve affected Tech recruiting with my writing, there is, what … a lawsuit pending or something? An NCAA violation?
Really, I’ve seen suggestions that Tech should file a complaint about me with the NCAA, that legal action should be taken, that someone should send a goon squad after me.
Lighten up, Francis! You folks are acting like Georgia fans.
Anyway, since the story isn’t running until tomorrow’s paper, and not going on-line until this evening (or a full 24 hours after it was originally supposed to, which is why I blogged on the topic yesterday), I’ll include a few excerpts later in this blog.
It qualifies as a story because A.J. Jenkins said part of the reason he broke his committment to Tech was the Gailey rumor - whether true or not. Likewise, I’m not writing about the validity of the rumor (Knobler talked to D. Radakovich and C. Gailey last Saturday), and when the paper reached Dennis Dodd via e-mail, he offered nothing about the nature of his source, and said only that “it did not rise to the level of a news story.”
Whether Dodd’s blog has legs or not is not my story. My story raises a question: has his blog had an effect? The partial answer is a little. It was one of the final straws for Jenkins.
“I re-opened my commitment,” Jenkins said to the AJC. “I just want to make sure I make the right decision. [The blog] didn’t change my mind, but it did make me sit down and have a discussion with my parents about it. I don’t want to deal with a coaching change.”
Without Jenkins, Scout.com consider Tech’s current class of 14 committed players to rank No. 17 nationally. Rivals.com ranks Tech No. 31.
“I hadn’t heard about it. It would not change what I’m going to do,” said Blountstown, Fla., defensive back Jon Lockhart, who committed to Tech last summer. “They have a good program, and I really like the academics. I may ask about it, but maybe not.”
“We’ll tell the kids you’re talking about a coach [Gailey] who’s coming off playing for the ACC championship, who has a number of years [three] left on his contract, and is as secure as anybody in the business,” said Tech recruiting coordinator Giff Smith.
Jenkins said he has received offers from Tech, Florida, South Carolina and Illinois, and that the blog was not his deciding factor. But it came into play. He has not scheduled official visits, saying he wants to make one to Tech.
“Definitely,” Jenkins said. “And Florida, most likely. It’s close to home. I might look at FSU, Miami, South Florida. [The blog] kind of caught me off guard, but I wanted to de-commit anyway to make sure I don’t make the wrong decision.”
The sky is not falling people.
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Is Tech recruiting going to suffer?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did that internet blog last week suggesting that Chan Gailey is going to be fired after the season hurt Tech’s recruiting?
Jacksonville wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, who de-committed to Tech, told me that the blog was not his deciding factor, that he wanted to back up and make sure he made the right decision. But he also said the blog made him sit down with his parents and talk about it further. “I don’t want to deal with a coaching change,” he said.
Three other out of state commitments I reached all said they were unaware of it as of Wednesday evening.
Hmmm.
It’s certainly possible other coaches could use this against Tech in direct recruiting. Me, I don’t think there’s enough smoke at this point to spook of many of the kids Tech is recruiting. Now, the smoke at Nebraska on the other hand? I can see why kids are running from that. At Tech, it was a match. At Nebraska, it’s like the wildfires of southern California.
Matt
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Tech can beat Hokies without Choice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Realistically, the news could hardly have been better yesterday on Tashard Choice. I write that while acknowledging that yes, they could have found no ligament damage and that would have been better, but that wasn’t realistic considering the pre-surgery signs. Doctors clearly feared some damage, and it could have been worse.
Tashard has said to Chan Gailey that he might play against Virginia Tech. I wouldn’t put it past him, but I wouldn’t bet on it, either.
I think Tech can beat the Hokies without Tashard, although even with him it will likely take an offensive output that would go beyond reasonable prediction. The Hokies are very tough to run against. Then again, their offense is not very impressive at all.
Oddly, I’d say this: if the Hokies upset Boston College tomorrow night in Blacksburg, Georgia Tech’s chances of winning may actually improve. If Va. Tech loses, I think the Hokies come in here double focused.
As for Rashaun Grant, I think he’s most successful running in open field. Opening the field against Va. Tech may be risky, though, because of their speed on defense. You open lanes for their playmakers. It’s not like spreading the field against Army.
Sometimes, though, we get too scientific in analysis. So what do I know?
Practice today, then briefly tomorrow. Apparently, they’re going Sunday as well.
Later,
Matt
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Wondering about T. Choice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m no doctor, and I’ve never played one on TV, but I have some theories about Tashard Choice’s knee. I have to preface them by saying a lot of my postulates are based on seven seasons covering the Falcons, and the signs given off when a player first suffers a knee injury, and the timeline afterward. Also, I’ve had three knee scopes, all for cartilage damage, though one time I suffered “laxity” in my ACL in conjunction with the additional cartilage damage. Basically, the ACL was stretched.
So it’s entirely possible the signs given off by Tech — and so far they’ve been little more than signs — are different that what I saw with the Falcons (and other NFL teams) because Tech officials have different protocols. I can’t be sure.
Anyway …
Never in seven seasons covering the Falcons, and another year covering the NFL, do I recall a situation where a torn ACL was not properly diagnosed in the field, or in the lockerroom soon after it happened. This means without MRI, etc. The on-site assessments are never the final word; they’re just about always followed up with MRI evaluation or surgery. But again, doctors ALWAYS got the ACL diagnosis within an hour. I think they twist the knee around and so forth. Don’t know for sure.
I’ve seen very different outcomes with regards to posterior cruciate ligaments, medial collateral ligaments and the rarely-torn (as I remember) lateral collateral ligaments.
My experience is that doctors are also very good at determining that knee damage is not likely an ACL only to then suspect other ligament damage, which often runs parallel with cartilage damage. In these situations, they generally wait on the MRI for complete assessment.
There are many possibilities here. Perhaps doctors suspect ACL damage to Tashard’s right knee, but Gailey, et al, want to wait until further examination — in this case today’s surgery as an MRI has already been performed, and we’ve been told nothing other than it suggested the need for surgery — to confirm it publicly.
If their protocol is more in line with what I experienced in the NFL, they know there is damage, but they don’t suspect the ACL (or we’d know it already), and they may suspect other ligament damage but need this surgery to determine its extent.
And possibly repair it.
Many NFL players missed one game, or none, with PCL damage. No surgery required most of the time. By saying Tashard won’t play Nov. 1, I’d bet they’re not ruling out PCL damage, but fear that may not be the worst of the problem.
With the MCL, surgery again was usually not required — at least not for sake of repair — but I can’t remember a player ever playing the very next week. I remember several missing just one game. Tech has already said Choice won’t play Nov. 1 against Virginia Tech, which would lead me to believe they suspect MCL damage as part of the problem.
Cartilage damage frequently accompanies ligament damage, and I would be surprised if in today’s surgery that’s not cleaned up if there is indeed some meniscus damage.
In the worst of my three surgeries, I was told doctors were fairly certain I had cartilage damage (this was in 1981, a long, long time ago), and that I might have more damage. The plan was to go in and, since I had city high school wrestling championships in 13 days, repair the cartilage and assess the other damage. Beyond that, the plan was to repair it if it was so bad that I wouldn’t be able to wrestle anyway. If the damage to ligaments was minor, and I could wrestle with it but not if they repaired it, they were going to clean the cartilage and leave the ligament damage until later. Turned out, there was no ligament damage. Just a mess made of cartilage. Oh, how I’d like to have some cartilage back.
I could have sure used the conditioning I lost that week, too. Tied 2-2 going to the final period of my first match (with a guy much stronger than me, but whom I crushed 9-2 earlier in the season), I got winded, fell behind, tried a desperation move (hip-toss) that was not among my best, caught my trip ankle under both of us, and broke the damned thing as we both flopped down onto it.
All this mumbo-jumbo said …
My guess is that Tashard has some ligament damage, but not to the ACL (which to my knowledge usually tears completely free of its attachment and rarely in half, although it can fray severely in pulling loose; I think it’s easier to diagnose via external exam because once it’s gone, the knee is wildly de-stabilized, or loose).
By saying he’s already out for the Va. Tech game, I bet they suspect MCL damage. Were it PCL damage ALONE, it wouldn’t be uncommon, from my NFL experience at least, to be able to play 12 days later.
It’s a good bet that there’s cartilage damage as well.
Either way, what a shame. I know some people were still not convinced that Tashard was going to be a high draft choice next spring, as his is not a flashy style. Not me. I’ve seen enough running backs to know that knowing how to run is often more valuable than being able to run super fast. Tashard’s not slow, but no blazer. He reads blocks, though, and is patient beyond belief sometimes in letting a play develop. And he runs hard, and behind his pads. Plus, he got guts aplenty. Good luck teaching all that. He can flat-out play.
If he does have ACL damage, the draft changes for him, although dramatic improvements in surgery/rehab suggest that he could be ready to go next summer unless the knee is catastrophically damaged. If it’s something less, and particularly if he plays late this season and plays well, he could end up right back on track.
I’ve said I typically don’t have a rooting interest in my job. I’m rooting for Choice. Great, great guy. Wonderful teammate, and the epitome of what hard work and attitude can mean not only to one player maximizing his potential, but in helping bond a team and lend it purpose.
We’ll let everybody know something more when we know something more.
Matt
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Thoughts on ACC & Tech hoops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Still don’t know any more about Tashard Choice’s knee, and as there is no football game this week, and I’m back from the ACC basketball media festival, how about some hoops?
I think the ACC is going to be up this year. It seems like most years, people are saying the ACC is down, and with Duke definitely down last year it was easy to have that impression. Virginia Tech was up, though, and so were Virginia and Boston College. North Carolina was its usual strong self. In the NCAA tournament, it was definitely not a standard year for the ACC.
But Duke loses just one starter, and added three McD’s All-Americans, North Carolina lost Reyshawn Terry and Brandan Wright but has a pile of talent back, and Clemson and N.C. State each have four starters back (N.C. State needs to replace PG Engin Atsur, though) and the Wolfpack added a McD’s AA (not a PG).
BC will be down, and so will Va. Tech. I think Virginia can again be good, even without Reynolds.
As for Tech, it’ll come down to PG play and defense. They have enough bodies at every position to do more than compete, as long as the guys running the team (Matt Causey, Maurice Miller, and Paul Hewitt hinted again yesterday at D’Andre Bell may have a shot at minutes there, probably mostly because of his defense) play solid, even if not spectacularly.
Jeremis Smith and Anthony Morrow are said — by themselves and Hewitt — to be in the best shape of their lives, and are expected to be leaders.
Smith said, “You rarely see Anthony bending over grabbing his knees. I think the reason why his shot is so impeccable this year is because of his conditioning. You never see his shot falling short.”
That’s good for Tech. Morrow was in awful shape when he started playing last season, slowed by a back injury, and weighed about 220. He said he’s around 208 now.
“Last year really showed my you have to be in tip-top shape to play this game,” he said. “I’ve been eating a lot better, drinking a lot of fluids. The main thing is probably [eliminating] Sprite. I don’t drink any soda any more. Water and juice, stay away from the acids and stuff.”
Tech should be able to shoot pretty well. Even some of the inside guys, particularly Zack Peacock, can stroke it, and Lewis Clinch’s return will help on the perimeter.
In the scrimmage Saturday, freshman win Lance Storrs of Columbia, whom some have penciled in for a redshirt, lit it up.
“They’re all kind of struggling with the level of intensity,” Hewitt said of his three freshmen. “Gani [Lawal] looked great. He’s surprised me with his range out to about 16 feet. Lance Storrs hit six 3s in our scrimmage. “There wasn’t as much defense played as I would have liked, but I don’t care if you open the gym and you’re by yourself if you hit six of 10 three-pointers after you had an early-morning practice. Mo [Maurice Miller] was good; could have been better.”
Hewitt told reporters he thought Lawal would have more of an impact on Tech’s team early in the season than Thaddeus Young did last season (but not as much as Crittenton early) because he’s playing his normal position (4-5), and Young was moving from the post in high school to wing at Tech. Paul also said Thaddeus was taking off late in the season. (Not in the NCAA game, he didn’t, but in that ACC tourney game against Wake he was on fire).
The league plans to more strictly enforce sideline behavior guidelines this season, including profane language and coaches straying from their “box.”
“In no case should a coach be using abusive language. If it’s in the direction of an official, that’s ABC, a no-brainer [a technical foul],” said ACC director of officiating John Clougherty. “If he wants to deal with his players, he needs to be careful. Abusive language is not acceptable in any situation. “It’s more stringent enforcement of bench decorum. It not a new rule … it’s just how strictly it’s going to be enforced.”
We’ll see just how much enforcement goes on. Coach K responded to questions about this by griping about officials stationing themselves right in front of where coaches sit/stand on the sideline, making it tough on coaches. Hmmmm.
First exhibition is 11 days away, the first game 18 days out. Ton of travel in November. Two trips to Nashville, one to the Virgin Islands, a trip to Indiana. Different story in December, as Hewitt has worked to keep the kids near campus (they have a game at Ga. State).
Brutal schedule, including pile of road games late in the ACC season, and trips to Georgia and UConn after the holidays. Tough, tough schedule.
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Tech rolls; will Choice & Gailey?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It took a while after Tech took a 10-0 lead, then was tied 10-10, but the Yellow Jackets did what they needed to do Saturday at Bobby Dodd. The biggest questions after a 34-10 win were: How bad is Tashard Choice’s knee injury, and what’s this about Chan Gailey being fired?
Choice went down early, and was taken from the field in a wheelchair. He did not return to the sideline, where he spent considerable time in earlier games when his strained right hamstring kept him out of action.
All we’ve heard to date is that he will be evaluated during the week.
Next week is a good week for a bye, and not just because of Tashard’s injury. His chief backup, Rashaun Grant, did not return after suffering an ankle injury late in the second half — after rushing for 119 yards (I think; final stats not yet available).
Tech ran the ball very well today. Mike Cox tied his career high with four carries, good for a career-high 38 yards. Josh Nesbitt ran for more than 40 yards. Dwyer scored a touchdown, and so did fourth-string backup Jamaal Evans.
Again, you wonder about the passing game. Taylor Bennett connected on his first three passes, and five of his first seven. Not so good after that. From my vantage point, Tech’s best chances in the passing game come when he throws to Colin Peek. Not only do I not remember Colin dropping passes this season (although he may have), Taylor’s passes rarely seem to be overthrown or underthrown when he’s aiming for Peek. What’s that about? Or am I crazy?
Don’t know what to make of the CBSportsline blog last night by Dennis Dodd suggesting that Chan Gailey already knows that he’s going to be fired no matter what happens over the rest of the season. Hard to imagine that decision’s been made. Even if it had been made, would the AD tell the coach, and thereby potentially scuttle the season? As you might imagine, Dan Radakovich balked at the whole thing, remarking at what a strange species the internet is. He’s right about that. For more, read Mike Knobler’s work later on-line, and in tomorrow’s paper.
Don’t know Dodd, but some of his suggestions in that same blog were pretty far out there. Hope he has some serious sources, or he’ll look like a goober — if anybody remembers at the end of the season, when all of his premontions/predictions will or won’t come into play.
I’m outta here, getting ready to interview folks, write, and head home. Got an early flight tomorrow for the ACC basketball preseason bonanza in Greensboro, N.C.
Later,
Matt
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Multi-skilled Ty Taylor on Tech radar
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got to clear up something regarding Georgia Tech’s basketball recruiting plan.
I wrote a couple days ago after PG Iman Shumpert of Chicago committed to the Jackets that Tech is recruiting, among others, 6-11 Ralph Sampson of Duluth and Tyshawn Taylor of Jersey City.
I wrote that Taylor is a point guard. Well, he may play some point guard for his very accomplished coach — Bob Hurley Sr. — but he’s quite a scorer, apparently, with keen driving skills. And the Jackets tell him they see him as a wing player, a shooting guard, an off-guard, moreso than a point man.
At first glance, that might seem a bit odd as Taylor is generally listed as 6-feet-2, 170 pounds. But look further at the various recruiting sites, and sometimes he’s listed as big as 6-4, 180.
In sum, and Shumpert should be aware of this as Tech coaches keep their recruits in the loop with regards to their big-picture plans, the Jackets are recruiting Taylor as a guard, mostly to play off the ball and score.
More later from today’s football game. Great weather, and very cool watching those paratroopers plop into Bobby Dodd before the game.
Matt
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Hard not to think about hoops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
From what I know, and that’s relatively limited compared to the recruiting mavens out there, Tech fans should be quite happy about Chicago’s Iman Shumpert committing to the Jackets.
Hewitt likes big guards, of course, and this guy is built somewhat like Javaris Crittenton. I don’t think he’s as inclined to drive, but capable of it, and his ball-handling skills may be behind Critt’s at the same stage. But apparently, he’s a solid shooter, and a very nice all-around player.
He won’t play at Tech until this time next year, but while he’s played mostly SG the consensus opinion is that he’ll play PG and SG at Tech. Barring strange events, Clinch will be the starting SG next season (as a senior), and Storrs figures to be in line for time there as well. Morrow will be gone, of course. Matt Causey will be gone from the PG lineup, and Maurice Miller is the leader to be the starter at that position. Then, Shumpert.
But who knows? What if he grows two inches this season to 6 6 1/2? I’m not saying he will, but it’s happened. Then, he might work at the 3 spot. Pure speculation on my part.
With Smith and Dickey departing after this season, one could argue that the Jackets will have some space inside. On the roster, that’s true. But Aminu, Lawal, Peacock, Sheehan and even Faye - although Paul said his hope is that with Mouhammad’s quick feet and length he can become chiefly a perimeter guy - the Jackets have a head start in the size department. Of course, the jury is most out on Sheehan in this group, but that’s true of all of them to some degree.
If even one of those four doesn’t measure up, or washes out, Tech’s recruitment of Ralph Sampson of Duluth becomes that much more important. He’s 6-11, the son of a hell of a college basketball player (and not a bad pro).
The other guy in the Jackets’ crosshairs is 6-2 point guard Ty Taylor of Jersey City.
I won’t be shocked if a name heretofore on the margins creeps into Tech’s recruiting picture. They’re losing (at least) four scholarship players in Morrow, Dickey, Smith and Causey. I bet Paul wants to fill all four spots.
By the way, anybody know where Paco Diaw ended up? The San Diego thing didn’t work out, and I think he might be in the state of Tennessee, but I’m not sure.
On to football, since we must go there …
Tech wins about 34-13 Saturday over Army (by the way, I’m really looking forward to the trip to Army next year; it’s supposed to be one of the great venues in all of college football). Hope the weather cooperates for Homecoming.
Tashard needs 160 yards to become the first Tech player ever to reach 1,000 in eight games. I don’t think it’ll happen. He won’t play long enough, in my opinion.
Eddie Lee Ivery hit 1,000 in the first quarter of the ninth game one year.
I agree with Tony Barnhart’s suggestion: Have Taylor throw a lot in the first half. I didn’t agree with that concept last week, not that it matters, right? But Tech needs work in the passing game, obviously, and Army is a good chance.
Who would like to see Nesbitt play about four possessions tomorrow? About six throws to Donley from any and all QBs? Dwyer run substantially for the first time in weeks? A few interceptions by the defense (which has just two)?
On an unrelated note, should strength of schedule play a bigger part in the BCS standings? I have mixed feelings on that one. Clear ‘em up for me.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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Good to see Lewis Clinch again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I saw on Tech’s website that Kenny Anderson has a blog, and it will continue. Without even reading it, I starting thinking that I have more on my mind regarding basketball than football today, so …
If you’re a Tech fan, you should be glad that Lewis Clinch is back. Not just because he can score in more ways than any other player on the team (and that was true last year, before he was shut down), but because I think he’s a good guy.
When he was ruled ineligible for the second semester for violating the school’s honor code (I still don’t know what exactly he did), Tech missed him. Paul Hewitt for quite some time charged onward, and every time he was asked about missing Clinch’s offense, he suggested something to the effect that Tech had quite a few offensive options. And prior to Lewis going down, the coach and player both conceded that Lewis had defensive liabilities anyway.
Paul kind of had to handle it that way; otherwise he’d have looked like he’s leaning on an excuse every time Tech lost. Only after the season did Paul really talk about the hole that Clinch left.
I don’t take a rooting interest in players often, and I wouldn’t call my stance on Clinch a rooting interest, either.
But I like the way he handles himself. He’s mature, level-headed, doesn’t seem to get nervous about questions, or suspicious. He has a sense of humor, doesn’t get too excited or too upset about things — at least in my dealings with him.
He seems to truly enjoy his station as a student-athlete, doesn’t seem to think he’s above others, or fret that he’s not being given a fair shake at this or that. I would root for all players to be like that, not that Tech has a bunch of problem kids otherwise, if I thought my attitude made a difference.
Having thought about it, I think Tech officials handled that situation well, although I already admitted I’m still not sure what exactly Lewis did. That’s a substantial asterisk. There was some very real thought that he was going to be kicked completely out of school and have to wait out a semester or something to re-apply. When he wasn’t, that was a good thing. School officials could’ve imposed a more harsh judgement, I suspect.
I’d like to think some common sense prevailed, although I’m sure Hewitt lobbied to help that process along. That’s a good thing, too.
Some folks point out that Paul tends to get on a soap box (see recent entries on The Hive, which I do check for ideas from time to time), and wonder about his agenda with regards to a recent story about the hiring rate of African-American college football coaches.
I’m not talking here about Paul’s big-picture social agendas, for lack of another phrase. But I truly believe he has his student-athletes’ best interests at heart — not just because they might help him win more games, but because he pulls for them to succeed, and better themselves all the way around. I know he stays in touch with a lot of former players, and they come to him for advice from time to time.
That’s got to be a good thing, too.
Matt
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What to make of Tech’s scheduling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a rush today, but wondering what folks think about Tech’s scheduling policy moving forward?
I understand Dan Radakovich’s reasons for wanting games that are within driving distance so that Tech fans can go, or visiting fans can come. I understand the idea of trying to schedule games in Bobby Dodd for teams that have reasonably-sized alumni bases in the metro area. That’s a good idea considering how Tech’s fan base is undersized relative to some of college football’s big boys, and very, very spread out to boot.
After the atmosphere surrounding that trip to Notre Dame, though, where Tech traveled with a very impressive No. of fans, I’m not sure I get the idea of giving up trips outside the region. I don’t mean every year. But how about a home and away series with someone outside the region in back-to-back years, then skip the next two years of that, then back on two years? Basically, every fourth year there would be a trip to, I don’t know, Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Texas A & M, etc.
Very interested in thoughts.
By the way, a friend who knows I’m an Ohio State fan was harassing me about the Buckeyes’ schedule this year, and rightfully so. Their non-conference games were Akron, Youngstown State, Kent State and then Washington on the road. Not good.
But Ohio State doesn’t have a habit of running from everybody. They’ve played a lot of Pac 10 schools home and away over the years, just finished a home and away with Texas, and have home and away matchups over the next six years or so with Southern Cal, Miami and Oklahoma. Let’s see somebody else buck up with that kind of non-conference run six years in a row. In my life, I remember home and away games with LSU, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and a visit to Columbus by Florida State long, long ago.
Anyway, let your thoughts fly on Tech’s scheduling.
Matt
Richard & Jackets cross fingers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, we’ve officially reached the point where Tech’s season is not solely about Tech’s season. What’s that I say? It’s a very longshot for the Jackets to reach the ACC title game again, but not impossible.
This week, since they’re playing a non-conference game, what happens elsewhere in the ACC will be most important for Tech. They’re sure not giving up on their chances.
“I’m one of those eternal optimists so I definitely feel we have a chance until we are mathematically eliminated,” said defensive tackle Darryl Richard. “Georgia Tech has a chance! That’s our approach going into film everyday and going into practice everyday trying to get better.”
Virginia (3-0 ACC), one of two teams ahead of the Jackets (2-3) in the Coastal, plays at Maryland Saturday. The other, Virginia Tech (3-0), is off. Next Thursday, Va. Tech is at home with Boston College, the first of consecutive Thursday games for the Hokies. They come to Tech the following week.
Say Virginia and Tech both lose. That’s one loss each. Two days after Tech and Tech play, Wake Forest is at Virginia. That’s going to be tough for the Cavs. The following Saturday, Virginia is at Miami, and Va. Tech plays host to Fla. State while Virginia goes to Miami (1-2), which is right behind the Jackets.
The next Saturday, Miami goes to Va. Tech, and Virginia is off. The last week of the season, Miami is at Boston College, and Virginia Tech is at Virginia.
It’s possible, but it won’t matter unless Tech’s wins against Va. Tech, North Carolina and at Duke.
Me, I’m not going to be shocked if Tech wins out, or if they go 3-2. I’m past the surprisable point.
Tech’s passing, catching, far from fancy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I wrote a story a little while ago about dropped passes, topic of hot discussion Sunday on The Hive.
I don’t know exactly how to define them, which was a key question in the cyber-chat. But I can say with confidence that Tech is dropping too many.
No, Taylor Bennett is not throwing the ball superbly this season, not by a long shot. But way too many catchable balls are not being caught. How many superb catches re being made? Hardly any.
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but the passing game has to improve significantly.
Looking way ahead, I’ve thought about Tech’s offensive line for the future. Obviously, LT Andrew Gardner may be a preseason All-America candidate next season. From there, they’ll return some pretty impressive experience even though they’ll lose Kevin Tuminello, Matt Rhodes and Nate McManus in the middle.
Cord Howard and A.J. Smith have gained valuable experience at RT. Howard played some guard last year. He needs to stay eligible.
Trey Dunmon almost certainly will start at center, and Dan Voss may be a starting guard. Howard could be the other guard, and A.J. the tackle, although Clyde Yandell may get a shot at right tackle next season as a redshirt freshman. Nick Claytor will be a prime backup at minimum, and if Jacob Lonowski’s shoulder heals up, he’ll be in consideration.
Funny, but a lot of Tech fans have worried for quite some time about Tech’s offensive line depth, and whether they’ve recruited enough there. I don’t see that as a problem area.
Does T. Choice qualify for savior status?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Where would Georgia Tech be without Tashard Choice?
Choice had 37 rushes for 204 yards, a career high, in Tech’s 17-14 victory over Miami.
Without Choice, the Jackets are about 2-5, that’s where. So maybe he’s not a savior, or Tech would be 7-0. But maybe you get my drift.
Once again, he was a gravy train here Saturday in the Orange Bowl, where questions aplenty arose in the first half. Like:
OK, I know Miami’s pass defense is statistically very poor, but when building a game plan do you worry more about what your opponent does poorly, or what you do well?
Why have Taylor Bennett pass 20 times in the first half? He completed seven, although the Jackets dropped at least two, and maybe four in the first two quarters. How did Greg Smith not hang onto that touchdown pass?
Why pass more than run in the first half? Tashard was getting it done then, too, rushing 13 times for 52 yards.
Why take that timeout on fourth down late in the second quarter, with less than 20 seconds left? Why not let the clock run out, or at least make Miami use its last timeout? Why give the Hurricanes a chance to block a punt, or return one?
Moving on, who’d thunk Tech would win because Bennett scored two touchdowns? Not me.
Good to see Josh Nesbitt get more playing time, although I’d like to see him get more pass attempts. His big possession in the first half was thwarted by double penalties on Tech after he ran for about 18 yards. A hold, and what was Matt Rhodes doing to get a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty — after the play?
So Tech plays four of its last five games at home, the only road game being a trip to Duke. On paper, it looks good. But we’ve seen that “paper” mislead this season.
Sorry I missed my son’s game this morning. We lost 14-2, had a player kicked out for yelling at and pushing a teammate, and one of our two best players - a very good running back/cornerback - and his father (an assistant coach) didn’t show up. The father sent an e-mail to the head coach saying he was sorry, but the wouldn’t be able to attend. No explanation. And the e-mail dropped in the coach’s box AFTER KICKOFF. WTH? Coach didn’t get the e-mail until he got home.
Rumor is the kid went to an AAU basketball game instead. How do you handle that situation?
Anyway, Tech’s season still has life after an ugly first half.
Matt
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Jamaal Evans to miss today’s game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Miami — Georgia Tech kick returner and backup running back Jamaal Evans will miss today’s game so he can be with his sister, who was in an auto accident. Evans, a sophomore, returned home to the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas, Tech spokesman Dean Buchan said.
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Patrick lost, Tech will win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m 3-3 at these predictions. That stinks.
So, I’ll digress again.
I’ve received a request, via my wife from somebody out there, not to blog about my son’s football team. Ultimately, maybe I will, maybe I won’t. But today, to honor that request for at least the short term, I’ll blog instead about his political aspirations.
He’s a fifth grader, and was tabbed student council representative for his home room. I don’t know how; I don’t think I’ll ask, either.
He’s very excited about all of this, which comes as a mild surprise, but nothing like the shock I experienced when he said he wanted to run for class secretary. Patrick is equipped to be class secretary about like Michael Brown was to run FEMA. Yes, he can write. No, he’s not overly organized or one to separate the wheat from the chaff (sp?) and therefore take copious and relevant notes. I don’t think. Maybe he would have surprised me.
Anyway, he lost the election to a girl he said, “Had four paragraphs in her [campaign] speech,” to the fourth and fifth grade classes.
Naturally, this prompted a question. How big was your speech?
“Three sentences. I said, ‘Please vote for me. I’ll do a good job. If you vote for me, all your wildest dreams will come true.’ “
Man, I knew I shouldn’t have let him watch that movie. My son’s drawing inspiration from Napolean Dynamite! I wonder if this is a bad sign? One of his friends even made a sign that read, “Vote for Patro.”
Enough frivolity. Back to this prediction stuff.
I’m terrible at this. That, or Tech is stiffing me.
Tech 20, Miami 17. Jackets get points from defense, or a strange special teams play. This is the way this team seems to roll.
Have a nice weekend.
Matt
Who decides what’s funny, what’s not?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m told this was funny, but it didn’t feel that way to me.
Last Saturday at Maryland, about 15 minutes before the game, I’m in the press box listening to my iPod. Only about the fifth time I’ve used it since it was given to me as a gift last year. Same time, I’m scrolling the internet. I read about Manny Ramirez bashing that walk-off homer against the Angels, and decide to go look for the video.
I find it, click on it, and I’m watching while still listening to the iPod. In my own world, I guess you could say. Having read the story already, and Ramirez’s comment to the affect of, “I haven’t been right all year (because of injuries), and I’m still not right, but when a guy in my condition hits a ball like that, you know you’re a bad man.”
Then, I see the home run. He absolutely crushed it, and I mutter, “You are a bad man.”
Problem was, the national anthem was being performed, and was in fact nearly over. And I realized I was the only person in the press box not standing for it. In fact, everyone within about, oh, 10 yards of me had to listen to the ESPN audio while it was playing, completely unbeknownst to yours truly, El Dumkopf. To make it worse, in an otherwise silent press box, I muttered that stupid comment, whatever it was.
Then, I look over at a colleague. He’s laughing. I’m turning red, hammering on the volume button to try to turn it down while clumsily standing up.
What a train wreck!
But I digress, yet again.
Then again, as Tech’s football season has gone the wrong direction, interest in this blog seems to have digressed as well so maybe I’m in line after all.
I read on The Hive an opinion that if not for the late fumbled punt at Virginia, and the missed late field goal at Maryland, Tech would be 5-1. Uh, not so fast. There’s no way to be sure how those games would have played out if those plays were different. By that logic, if D.J. Donley didn’t block that punt against Clemson, who knows if Tech would’ve won that game.
That’s not how it works. That may be how the minds of fans sometimes work, and I know mine has worked (if that’s what you call it) that way before as a fan. But that’s not going to cut it in the real world.
Tech is 3-3, and yes, has been whipped just once. But they’ve lost three times, and there’s no going back.
What happens going forward? If Tech goes 5-1 from here on out, a decent season. Not up to expectations, but decent, especially if the Jackets were to win a decent bowl game.
But man, is all of that a long way off. The season’s half over, but it seems like it started forever ago. And here comes basketball. My frame of time reference is all out of whack right now. I guess that fits.
Matt
1990’s real national champion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As if things weren’t going badly enough for Georgia Tech football these days, along comes an assault on the Yellow Jackets’ 1990 national championship team.
Colorado sports publicist David Plati, in his blog on the school’s athletics Web site, takes this shot at Tech: “By the way, once again, we were consensus national champions and played the nation’s toughest schedule. The other ‘champion’ came nowhere close to beating who we had to in earning its share of the crown.”
Ahem. If any team ought to put quotation marks on its claim to the 1990 title, it ought to be Colorado. Colorado went 11-1-1. Tech went 11-0-1. That “nation’s toughest schedule” included six games against teams that finished with losing records. Tech played only three games against teams that finished with losing records (though it did play a Division I-AA team, Tennessee-Chattanooga). Tech and Colorado had one common opponent: Tech 45, Nebraska 21. Colorado 27, Nebraska 12.
And Tech had to play all season with only four downs for every first down it gained. Officials gave Colorado a fifth down against Missouri, or the Buffaloes would have been 10-2-1.
Yes, Colorado deserved credit for playing nine-win Tennessee, 10-win Texas, 10-win Washington and nine-win Notre Dame. But Tech beat 10-win Clemson and won a November game at then-No. 1 Virginia. Most important of all, Tech never lost.
The coaches got it right that year when they voted Tech No. 1.
Here’s a link to Plati’s blog: http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3843&SPID=255&DBOEMID=600&KEY=&ATCLID=1148545
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Tech vs. Nix; what’s the story?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s weird a lot of times when a team gets ready to play a former coach, as Tech will this week when they’re at Miami, new home of offensive coordinator Patrick Nix. Sometimes, particularly if it’s a position coach, it’s no big deal. But if it’s a former coordinator, head coach, or even recruiting coordinator, it usually serves as a backstory of varying import.
I think it is quite possible the most interesting element of this matchup has already taken place, and we may not know the whole story about it. Why did Nix leave?
For my two cents, the comments from Nix and Chan Gailey in Mike Knobler’s story were fairly benign, although some read Nix’s summer comments about knowing he had to break free from Gailey was in the best interests of his career as pointed. I don’t think Chan’s response that Patrick’s comments don’t bother him were either a big deal, or completely transparent. Even if it irked the stuffing out of Gailey, what do you expect him to say?
Me, I think that was probably an accurate statement on Nix’s part, that he needed to leave to grow his career. Many had, and have, the impression that Chan’s offensive coordinator works under the head coach’s thumb. Determining the accuracy of that is no easy feat. Almost every head coach who doesn’t call plays has offensive input, although Bobby Bowden might not bother. But I’m definitely of the opinion that this impression was wide spread in the case of Nix-Gailey, and of no benefit to Nix. Ultimately, it probably didn’t help Chan and Tech, either.
I can’t help but also wonder, based on a mix of common sense and grapevine comments, if there wasn’t more to Nix’s departure. I don’t know if he was pushed, by the head coach or anyone else. I truly don’t.
Was there friction between Patrick and other coaches? Between their families? This happens in college football, for sure, but it’s difficult to document. Was it a factor here? I don’t have an answer. I’m not the only one with suspicions, though, not that anybody in the program has confirmed them.
Matt
Say, is that a basketball I hear bouncing?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It doesn’t happen often, or at least I’d like to think that it doesn’t, but I swear I feel like I’m about out of original ideas about what’s wrong with Tech’s football team.
So, how about some hoop?
Practice starts Friday, and I’m interested in how the point guard position will play out. Will it be Matt Causey, the senior transfer/walk-on (who may now be on scholarship; I’ll check to see), or freshman Maurice Miller? Dunno the answer, but I bet they both play quite a bit.
Tech’s going to have more options among bigs than in a few years, but will it be too many options? Will Hewitt try too hard to play too many people? That won’t be an issue as much early in the schedule even if he does, but after the Jackets settle into the meat of their schedule, might it be?
Who will the breakout player be? Will there be more than one? Did the late-season performance of Alade Aminu (who has battled a disc problem in his back this fall) translate into better things this season?
I know this much, they have a nice looking schedule.
Now, onto football …
Tech was the better team last Saturday. I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, manpower is not the issue. They have the skill to be 4-2 at worst right now, probably 5-1. B.C. was just plain better, and not just on that night.
If Bennett plays more along the lines of the way he did in the second half at Maryland, the Jackets’ chances improve. But they’ve shown a tendency to do just enough things to lose in two games (Virginia and Maryland), and that went well beyond Taylor.
Think Jon Tenuta has more of an edge in knowing about Patrick Nix, or vice-versa, this Saturday?
Hey, my son’s team won 7-6 Friday night to break a third-place tie. We’re 3-2. He threw a touchdown pass, and completed three of four passes. Played well on defense. We nearly got a shutout; the other team scored as time expired in the first half. I’m still not sure the kid crossed the goalline, and the clock (run by parents of the team we played) did not start correctly about three plays before that. Nothing you can do.
I’ll miss Saturday morning’s game, and my son might. If my wife has her way, Patrick will travel with her and our daugthers and my mother-in-law to a family reunion in Virginia this weekend. I’m opposed, largely because our 15-boy team will already be missing at least one and possibly three other players this weekend. One of the iffy kids is the other quarterback (he has a virus again). Who’ll play quarterback?
I know it’s youth sports, but it’s also a commitment, and an obligation to teammates and coaches, and that reunion came out of nowhere (why this time of year, rather than during the summer when schedules are more relaxed?) about five weeks ago. He’s never met the majority of the people who will be at the reunion. I’ve met them once, 15 years ago. I don’t think it will register with him anyway. But what do I know? I know my wife and mother-in-law are taking a hard line on the other side.
Later,
Matt
Bad records in classroom and on field
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week was a rotten one for Georgia Tech. And the 28-26 loss at Maryland, with another bad start by the defense, and a miserable first half for the offense, and some second-guessable decisions at the end, was only part of it.
Yes, it’s not good to have a football team that’s 3-3, 1-3 in the ACC, the worst combination of overall and ACC record at this point of the season since 1994. (The 2003 team started 3-3 overall. The 2002 team started 1-3 in the ACC.)
But first came the annual release of Division I teams’ graduation rates, and the Yellow Jackets ranked last in the ACC. I’ve heard and read all the arguments about graduation rates, that Tech doesn’t have an easy major in which to hide athletes, that Tech is a difficult school for all students, that Player X went on to make a lot of money in the pros so who cares if he graduated? Frankly, none of those arguments hold water.
If Tech doesn’t have an easy major in which to hide athletes, it still has the responsibility to recruit athletes who can compete in the classroom. If that leads to more of a competitive disadvantage on the field, so what? Are you willing to buy victories at the price of your academic mission?
Sure, Tech is a difficult school for students at large, not just athletes. But if Darryl Richard can graduate in three years, is it asking too much that Tech find other athletes who can graduate in six? And it’s a myth that athletes are doing poorly but doing a lot like other students.
Here’s a chart we published last November, comparing athletes’ graduation rates with graduation rates for the student body as a whole. (We’ll be printing another one in a month or so when we get this year’s figures. The reason last week’s story didn’t include such a comparison is that I was writing about the NCAA graduation success rate, a formula different from the one used to calculate graduation rates for the overall student body.)
Graduation rates for the 1999 freshman classes, using the federal government’s formula (graduation rate equals number who have graduated from that school within six years of enrollment divided by number of freshmen who enrolled):
ACC
School …………….All……..Athletes……..Diff.
Boston College …91…………90……………..1
Clemson ………….75…………63 …………..12
Duke ………………93………….91…………….2
Florida State………66…………57…………….9
Georgia Tech …….76…………54 …………..22
Maryland ………….77………….76…………….1
Miami ………………71………….68…………….3
N. Carolina ……….84 …………73 …………..11
N.C. State …………71 ………..56 …………..15
Virginia …………….93………….74 …………..19
Virginia Tech ……..76………….63 …………..13
Wake Forest ……….88 …………74 …………..14
As you can see, Tech’s athletes performed less like their fellow students than any other group in the ACC.
The anecdotal arguments that say grad rates aren’t important because some pro players make a lot of money without earning a degree has two serious flaws. First, a very small percentage of Tech’s non-graduates go on to pro careers. Second, and I know some of you will disagree with me on this, college isn’t about helping people make money, it’s about helping people get educated. Tech isn’t supposed to be like those guys on TV telling me how I can make millions in real estate buying houses with no money down. It’s supposed to have a higher purpose than that.
The good news is that the academic progress rate data (showing how well Tech retains players and keeps them eligible) suggest current athletes will graduate at higher rates than those who enrolled in the late 1990s. (Graduation rates will dip because of the so-called flunk-gate of the early 2000s, but they should rise after that.)
(The APR, not graduation rates, can trigger sanctions such as scholarship cuts and bans on postseason competition. Apparently, I confused some people when I wrote the NCAA’s graduation success rate doesn’t “penalize” schools for players who leave with good academic standing and eligibility remaining. What I meant to say is those players are omitted from the calculation in the NCAA’s formula, and thus the team’s graduation success rate isn’t lower — the schools aren’t penalized under the formula — when players transfer if they would have been eligible had they stayed. That makes it different from the federal government’s graduation rate formula.)
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Jackets fall to Terps
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech rallied back from an 11-point deficit in the first half, but still came up short in a loss to Maryland Saturday.
What are your thoughts on the game?
What kind of season can the Jackets salvage now?
Big call goes bad
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Taylor Bennett had had a huge second half, finally looking like the quarterback who played in the Gator Bowl. Georgia Tech, down two, faced third-and-20 at the 35. And a draw to Rashaun Grant gained nothing, and Travis Bell missed wide right on a 52-yard field goal, which would have been a career long.
Georgia Tech lost 28-26.
The draw to Grant would have been a great move if he got enough yards to get Tech back into field goal range. He didn’t. Is that just the luck of the draw?
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Tech wins, but spare me excuses
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry to be late .
I don’t think this game is going to be as tight as some believe. The matchup of Maryland’s big offensive line vs. Tech’s average-sized front might scare some on paper, but I think the Yellow Jackets got more than enough of the power running game in their faces at Virginia a couple weeks ago to learn a thing or two.
I don’t see them getting rumped again, and I think they’re going to rattle the heck out of the quarterback, whomever it is.
Offensively, as long as Choice is healthy, Tech has a fighting chance against anybody in the ACC, but sure would benefit if Taylor Bennett picks up the pace. Me, I’d like to see Josh Nesbitt take at least half a dozen snaps, perhaps more. A different look, for sure.
Tech wins 24-17.
Moving on, some have suggested that I took a shot in yesterday’s blog at the notion that it is more difficult to get a degree from Tech than it is from many places. Uh, no, that’s wrong. That had NOTHING to do with what I wrote.
I’ll boil down my thoughts as simply as possible: I fully believe that staying in school at Tech is difficult, and getting a degree is tough, too, but — here’s the key — for purposes of the NCAA’s tracking of graduation rates, WHO CARES? The NCAA is going to measure graduation rates, and they’re NOT going to do it on a curve based on degree of difficulty to obtain degrees. So get used to it.
The best suggestion I’ve seen is that graduation rates at each school be cross-referenced to the student body at large. Beyond that, no free passes no matter how difficult the school, nor penalties for schools that are easy — however you would possibly determine that? But here’s the trick: I doubt seriously the NCAA would consider amending its way on this matter.
Here are a few other thoughts about all of this: Some schools with much more impressive graduation rates are regarded as very fine schools, and please don’t lay the liberal arts argument on me.
It’s a reality that at almost all schools, student-athletes in general tend to land in majors that are less demanding many others. Not all of them, mind you, and I believe Tech’s easier majors are still difficult, but that’s irrelevant. The NCAA is not going to change it’s measuring system (again, I don’t think they are anyway).
Plus, Tech’s admissions standards, which are not so infrequently mentioned as a reason that recruiting is more difficult for coaches at The I, weed out many mediocre students. In short, there aren’t many — if any — rockheads getting into Tech.
Add that to the fact that every athletics department has an academic monitoring program, and for my two cents, a 51 percent graduation rate for football players given six years is not good enough. Period. And remember, that doesn’t count players who leave early or transfer so long as they are in good academic standing when they do (like Calvin Johnson). Tech doesn’t get penalized for that (not that these numbers were reflective of Calvin’s time at Tech anyway).
As for student-athletes who leave without being in good academic standing, and I can think of three in the past 10 months or so whom I believe may fit this category (but also wouldn’t count in the numbers just published because of the timeline), the question is … how do they slip through the cracks?
So, in sum, no dunderheads get into Tech in the first place, there is an academic monitoring system to aid and track student-athletes once they’re there, everybody knows what needs to be done, and that’s that. Fifty-one percent is not good enough. A “football factory” should bring up the rear of the ACC in this category. Not Georgia Tech, no matter how difficult school is on The Flats.
Matt
Of grad rates, and kids’ games
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I don’t have a lot of depth to add to the story about Tech’s student-athlete graduation rates, as I’ve never written a story about them. Mike Knobler handles that material on a regular basis, as he has knowledge in how it works. My knowledge on the topic is limited.
I have, however, received a few e-mails suggesting that the ranking system is unfair to Tech because it doesn’t take into account how difficult it is to get a degree there whether you’re an athlete or not.
I’m not going to argue that the system doesn’t take such things into account (how could it?), but I will say that the idea of creating a sliding scale to evaluate something like graduation rates, and base it on the difficulty of earning degrees at different schools is preposterous. Little in life is uniform in application from case to case, and so it is here. That’s the way, period.
I do like that the current system does not penalize athletes who leave school in good academic standing (either to turn pro, transfer, or, I presume, drop out). That seems fair, but again my knowledge of the system is limited.
Bottom line, Tech has to improve. No way around that. Mr. Radakovich and others at Tech say as much. That’s not lip service, I don’t think, but I wonder about Radakovich’s feeling — and the feelings of several coaches — on the system. It does allow a six-year period for student-athletes to graduate for purposes of this evaluation, and that seems fair to me as well. Again, if a player goes pro early, or transfers, that doesn’t hurt that school’s rating.
Moving on, it’s impossible not to notice how Tech’s doing so well in virtually every special teams category. No. 1 in the nation in both net punting and kickoff return yardage allowed, and No. 7 in kickoff return average. Travis Bell’s missed just one FG, and Tech’s blocked a punt. The list goes on.
To some degree, it goes to show how much a coach, Charles Kelly, can improve in his second year on the job. Last season was his first as a full-time special teams coach. Of course, it helps to have Durant Brooks punting, a kickoff guy (Scott Blair) who does a nice job and then, as everywhere, you need to have the right kind of players to plug in. Tech has a good group there.
Last year, Maryland returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Tech. This year? I bet not.
Big game tomorrow night for my son’s team. We’re 2-2, having allowed one offensive touchdown in each game. The first time, the opponent returned an interception to make the difference. The other loss, we fell 6-0. Offense is struggling. The team we play Friday, the Browns, passes more than any other team by far. They’re also 2-2.
My little man is splitting time now at QB, since the original QB returned last week. He seems OK with that, even said last night that Matt Andersen is a better QB than him. In truth, Matt’s definitely quicker, and runs better. He’s a bit smaller, throws about like my Patrick, perhaps a little more accurately on short passes. Their arm strength is the same, although that doesn’t matter in our passing game much.
Wife’s trying very hard to get me to let Patrick skip next Saturday morning’s game so she can take him with our daughters and my mother-in-law to a reunion in Virginia. We’re already going to be missing one player, though, leaving us with just 14 if Patrick is there, 13 if he’s not. It’s more difficult for me to make a case because I have to get on a plane that morning shortly before Patrick’s team is to kick off so that I can get to Miami for that NOON game. I’m trying to make arrangements for the little man (grandpa’s going out of town for a wedding, uncle has to go to a different wedding late that day, and his other grandmother works until 3). His game will be over about 10:15. What a pickle; ain’t life grand?
Enough babbling.
Later,
Matt
Over and under
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I don’t bet. It’s not legal, you know. But I love to look at betting lines. They give sports fans one more thing to argue about.
So here are one man’s over-and-under numbers for Saturday’s game between Georgia Tech and Maryland.
Sacks for Tech’s defense: 4. Over could spell a whole lot of trouble for Maryland, which has been one of the worst teams in the ACC in pass protection. Under means Tech isn’t shutting down the run enough to get a consistently strong pass rush.
Completion percentage for Tech: 48. Over means the Yellow Jackets have a chance to win, because they really don’t need a great passing game, just a credible one. Under means Tech’s offensive hopes rest entirely on the shoulders of Tashard Choice and the offensive line and fullback.
Yards per carry for Keon Lattimore: 4. Lattimore gets a lot of yards in part because he gets a lot of carries, more than any other rusher in the ACC’s top 10. If Tech holds him under 4 yards per carry (he averages 4.4), Maryland’s offense will struggle to sustain drives. If Tech doesn’t hold him under 4 yards a carry, the Terps set too high a mark for the Jackets’ offense.
Yards per carry for Tech: 4.4. N.C. State is the only ACC that is allowing more yards per carry than Maryland’s 4.4 (but remember who Maryland has played, including Rutgers and West Virginia). Similarly, Tech’s league-best 5.0 per carry is a very misleading statistic; the Jackets’ best yards-per-carry in ACC games was 4.1 against Clemson.
What over and unders would you set for this game, and why?
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How do you pump up the Jackets?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A strange thing happened last week, and I don’t mean Tech beating Clemson.
In practice, the No. 1 offense worked against the No. 1 defense (no tackling) more than a little.
That’s not typical during the season, although it happens some times. Chan Gailey’s idea with that was to pick up tempo, to get each side more accustomed to the game speed they’ll face in the upcoming game.
He downplayed it somewhat today, but a few players suggested it had quite a positive effect (which Mike Knobler will write a full story about later).
All I know is Tech appeared to play with greater purpose against Clemson than against Virginia or Boston College. The trick is doing that week in and week out, especially with two straight road games coming up at Maryland and Miami.
So how do you maintain that intensity? Gailey said (and has said before) he’s not the type to rah-rah the troops to no end before games, that they have to have the maturity to recognize the importance of what’s at hand on their own. Players, though, help. Tashard Choice is the chief motivator, and Gary Guyton and Jamal Lewis are among the most vocal players on defense. In this regard, Tech misses Joe Anoai, who was very good in that role last year.
Moving on, but not to the point of belaboring this point, the passing game has to improve, and signicantly, for Tech to compete week in a week out. Me, I’d try Josh Nesbitt for more than two plays to see what he’s got. And I’m not saying that’s the only way to improve the passing game. There were a bunch of dropped passes last Saturday.
Later,
Matt
Gailey vs. Friedgen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I arrived in Atlanta in 2002, post-George O’Leary and a year after Ralph Friedgen won the ACC title in his first season at Maryland. So I wasn’t here for the Friedgen offenses at Georgia Tech.
But I’ve been fascinated by the love many Tech fans have for Friedgen vs. the coach they’ve got, Chan Gailey. In my eyes, they’ve both been pretty successful. Let’s look at the numbers.
Friedgen has the better record, 53-26 vs. 40-29. But Gailey has the better record in the past three-plus seasons, 26-17 vs. 22-18.
Gailey leads head-to-head 3-1 and has a three-game winning streak against Friedgen.
Friedgen won an ACC championship. Gailey won a division championship.
Friedgen has had two losing seasons. Gailey has had none.
Gailey has never had a losing record in ACC play. Friedgen has, twice.
Friedgen has had three 10-win seasons. Gailey has had none.
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