AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 01
Monday, December 1, 2008
Awards, bowls and hedges
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech is the ACC’s highest-ranked team (15th in the BCS), so the Jackets should collect some hardware this week.
All-ACC Teams will be announced today, followed by Coach and Rookie of the Year on Tuesday and Players of the Year on Wednesday.
For Coach of the Year, it likely comes down to CPJ, UNC’s Butch Davis and B.C.’s Jeff Jagodzinski. Tech and B.C. each was picked to finish fourth in its division.
For Offensive Player of the Year, it probably comes down to the ACC’s leading rusher, Jonathan Dwyer (1,328 yards, 13 TDs), and its leading receiver, Hakeem Nicks of UNC (60 catches, 1,005 yards, 9 TDs).
Which Jackets do you think deserve ACC honors?
On the bowl front, we might not know until Sunday because everything depends on the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
That bowl gets first pick of ACC teams (after the champion goes to the Orange) and might want Virginia Tech should it lose in Tampa.
The fact that Georgia Tech will be the highest-ranked team available is just one factor. Virginia Tech would be better for downtown hotels.
The Gator Bowl in Jacksonville picks next, followed by the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.
CBS Sportsline projects Tech will play LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. (Also, Boston College to the Orange, FSU to the Gator, and Va. Tech to the Champs Sports).
Scout.com projects Tech will face Minnesota in the Champs Sports Bowl. (B.C. to the Orange, Va. Tech to the Chick-fil-A and FSU to the Gator).
ESPN’s Bruce Feldman and Mark Schlabach have Tech playing Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. Both have B.C. in the Orange, Va. Tech in the Chick-fil-A and FSU in the Champs Sports.
Which of those three bowls do you prefer? And which matchup do you like best: LSU, Minnesota or Nebraska?
Finally, a few readers have written to complain about the Tech players taking branches from the hedges in Sanford Stadium after the 45-42 win.
I had a chance to talk to junior center Dan Voss on Sunday, and here’s what he said:
“I don’t think taking part of those hedges — it’s the last home game, everything is going to grow back by the time they play again. I don’t think it’s disrespecting the field there. I don’t see us grabbing it as any sort of disrespect.
“Georgia played a great game. It wasn’t any slight at Georgia or the players and coaches. Everybody was so happy and wanted a memento of the game. Everybody grabbed themselves a little bit of history to keep.”
