GEORGIA TECH REPORT: Win over Dogs leads to rings

Georgia Tech has figured out another way to remember its win over Georgia.

As part of its bowl bounty, Tech is giving each player a ring. Coach Paul Johnson left the design of ring to the team’s seniors. He said the seniors decided to include the score of the Georgia game, 45-42, in the ring’s design. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs.

“We could give them $180 or something like that and then they’d spend it,” Johnson said. “Or you could give them that ring and they’ll have it 10 years from now.”

Bowls are allowed to give players $500 worth of gifts. The schools are allowed to also give gifts worth up to $350. Tech is giving players the ring and a $170 gift card.

The Chick-fil-A bowl gave each player a watch and a $300 Best Buy gift card.

Linebacker Kyle Jackson had already used his gift card to buy an iPod Touch and headphones. Center Dan Voss and A-back Roddy Jones said they planned to buy video game systems. Linebacker Travis Chambers bought a GPS navigation system for his mother, Jackson said.

Decisions

One of LSU’s co-defensive coordinators is coaching his final game for the Tigers. The other may be doing so also.

Bradley Dale Peveto has taken the head coach position at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La. He will start following the bowl game.

Doug Mallory has reportedly been offered the defensive coordinator job at New Mexico but has not accepted it. He said Monday that he would not make a decision until after the game.

That could change, because ESPN was reporting that LSU coach Les Miles had hired former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis.

Both coaches said their focus was the bowl game. Peveto, whose unit ranked 11th in the SEC in scoring defense and ninth in total defense, said he owed that to the school, coaching staff and players. While saying there is a fine line between winning a national championship, as LSU did last year, and a 7-5 season, Peveto accepted responsibility for the defense’s play.

“Our job as a defensive staff and a defense is to stop the other team, period, and keep them out of the end zone,” he said. “We should have done a better job of that. I take full responsibility for that.”

Why not?

Given the success of the triple option, Johnson was asked this week, why don’t more teams try it?

“Honestly I don’t think very many people understand it,” Johnson said. “I think there’s a perception out there and a lot of times it’s perpetuated by the media and other people that it’s three yards and a cloud of dust, and fans don’t enjoy watching it, and it’s boring and guys can’t get to the next level if they play in it, and guys can’t do this and that.

“And I think most of that has been proven wrong and I think as we get more into it here, all of it will be proven wrong. … I know how many big plays we can have, I know how exciting it is. Everywhere that we’ve been that we ran the offense, if you polled the fan base, I bet you they would all want to have it back.”

All-stars

The all-star bowl destinations for three Tech seniors are set. Defensive end Michael Johnson and defensive tackle Vance Walker will play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels will play in the East-West Shrine Game in Houston if his hamstring heals in time.

Five LSU players —- linebacker Larry Beckwith, wide receiver Demetrius Byrd, guard Herman Johnson, defensive end Tyson Jackson and fullback Quinn Johnson —- will also play in the Senior Bowl.