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DEL.ICIO.USDL Garrison Smith still considering Georgia Tech despite brother’s departure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Garrison Smith, who is considered the state’s top 2010 prospect at defensive line, said his brother’s decision to leave Georgia Tech won’t prevent him from considering the Yellow Jackets.
Greg Smith, who played A-back, left Georgia Tech’s football team and will likely transfer and use his final season of eligibility elsewhere.
“My brother never told me anything negative about Georgia Tech,” Garrison said. “He always told me great things, especially about coach Paul Johnson. My brother said Georgia Tech was still going to be a great choice for me for football … there’s no bad blood.”
The younger Smith is a junior at Douglass High and is one of the state’s leaders in early offers with 17, including both Tech and UGA. He was offered by LSU on Thursday. He politely declined to go into specifics about his brother’s situation with Georgia Tech, but said, “I think my brother had to make a hard decision about graduating. He’s already told them that education is first, before football, because there’s always life after football. I’m proud of my brother. He’s graduating on May 2 with a business degree from [Tech].”
Smith was also asked what his brother told him about archrival UGA. “He says real good things about Georgia, too. He went to school with [UGA defensive end] Rod Battle. He knows [safety] Reshad Jones. All those boys are products of Atlanta Public Schools.”
Smith said he hasn’t had any recent contact with Tech, but talked UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner last Saturday while he was driving back from Junior Day at Tennessee. “Georgia was one of the first schools that offered me.”
“I really liked what [Mark Richt] said about using prayer for his recruiting. I liked it, as did my family. The reason is that I think it’s very, very important for a coach to have a great spiritual background. It means a lot to me because you spend so much time with your coach, practicing and playing football. The gifts and talents I have been blessed with, none of it would’ve been possible if not for God.”
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Permalink | Comments (30) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech
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By Techy
March 6, 2009 12:35 AM | Link to this
Sounds like a kid with great character. Hope he signs with Tech.
By Tokyo jacket
March 6, 2009 2:37 AM | Link to this
It does sound like he has a great attitude…way to go to the parents of these two young men. It sounds like they were raised well.
That said, come to Tech, THWG!
By Pi$$onaDawg
March 6, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this
Greg and Garrison’s grandma is raising 5 of her grand children. She is very educated as well as her kids and now her grand children. I like Greg a lot and wish him only the Best. Bryce was never going to be a pro but he did what he needed to do to get that degree. Jake Blackwood is the son of one of the BRUISE BROTHERS from the 70’s Tech teams of Curry. Thanks to all you guys for your time at TECH and I enjoyed my 3 or so hours on Saturdays and Thursdays watching you guy play.
By G-T George
March 6, 2009 9:28 AM | Link to this
I’m worried about the state of our athletics if 3 guys are bolting. We finally beat Georgia after 7 years and these guys want off the team? It does not bode well for the future of our program if CPJ can’t instill unity amoungst our players. They should be excited and envigorated, after all we did beat Georgia last year, didn’t we? I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to head over to the Ga site and see if I can stir up some trouble there. We did beat Georgia last year, right?
By Melinda
March 6, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Players leave teams all the time for a variety of reasons. Some don’t realize how hard it is to balance athletics and school, some think the hard work vs. limited playing time isn’t worth it, some have personality conflicts with other players and coaches. I don’t think too much should be read into it in terms of the state of the program.
By jacketbacker
March 6, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
they’re garduating and moving on with their lives….where’s the story here??? none of them played much and so they decided to go…..i wish them all the best……
45-42!!!!!!!!
THWG
By Shane
March 6, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this
Get used to this Tech fans. with a “gimmick” offense this story is going to get repeated over and over
By PreacherRicht
March 6, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this
Shane-
How embarrassing is it that our gimmick offense rolled over you? are you too dumb to know when your supposed jabs poke yourself in the eye?
I love how Preacher Richt uses prayer to sway kids to come to georgie where they go uncontrolled and have more legal issues off the field and penalties on the field than any other school in a BCS conference. What a joke.
As a tech fan I love Richt though. He got exposed this year in his 3 biggest games and squatted down on the sideline and took a big doggy turd. Maybe he needs a doggie daiper?
By Ga Tech Insider
March 6, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this
Garrison, I know your family is disappointed that things didn’t work on better for Greg @ GT. Because of what happened and how it went down, I know there’s only a slim chance that you’ll be going to GT. With Greg, it was just one of those things. It’s all good, though. It will be a fresh start for Greg somewhere else next year. We’ll be cheering for him, and he’ll always be GT at heart. Garrison, I know you and your family need time to think things out. I just hope you will come back and talk to the GT coaches this summer. Best wishes with your college decision.
By carober
March 6, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this
GT-George, Shane,
Try to read the articles. You sound uneducated and ridiculous.
By Earl Johnson
March 6, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this
Could be Coach Johnson is just raising the bar for commitment to the team.
Also, balancing Tech academics with limited playing time is right on the money.
Coach Richt should pray a little harder about getting his kids to behave on and off the field.
I’ll take a rabid Coach Johnson grabbing a face mask over Cardinal Richt any day. Have any of you guys ever actually dealt with young football players?
By ButtCutMutt
March 6, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this
carober-
GT-George is really a pulldog fan posing as a techie.
He is being silly.
The same kind of silly he was in the tickle pile he and his georgie friends had this year to celebrate their cover of SI.
Wuff Wuff
By brick
March 6, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
I have dealt with young football players and no matter who it is, grabbing the face mask of a young football player will get you in a mess of trouble today. 30 years ago it was an accepted tactic, but with so many people wanting something for nothing it is a not a good idea and adminsrations discourage it.
By ButtCutMutt
March 6, 2009 2:42 PM | Link to this
carober-
GT-George is really a pulldog fan posing as a techie.
He is being silly.
The same kind of silly he was in the tickle pile he and his georgie friends had this year to celebrate their cover of SI.
Wuff Wuff
By Chris is a tool
March 6, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this
Did Smith actually leave, or did he get his scholarship “pulled”?
By Socrates
March 6, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this
The Pope should have some of the grueling workouts PJ has and see how many 4th & 5th stringers who are graduating this year with no chance to play bail on him.
They’ll probably complete their Ph.D in basket weaving though.
By Welcome to the Hood
March 6, 2009 8:05 PM | Link to this
Come on Garrison! We need you in The Ghetto.
By Hott1
March 6, 2009 11:29 PM | Link to this
why is greg smith leaving does anyone know
By BIG bee
March 7, 2009 9:59 AM | Link to this
Greg is graduating in May, Jake soon after and Dykes is a walk on with no chance of playing. Greg is only one transfering, but not until after he gets his degree in May. Don’t see anything wrong with these decisions.
By RealityYech
March 7, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this
This kid will wise up and see the light soon enough. The proof is in the pudding. Look at how pathetic Yech’s recruiting class is this year, following their best season since their shared title with a better team in 1990. Johnson clearly can’t recruit and is apparently running loyal players off the team.
3 years, tops! BAWHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
By Not Disappointed
March 7, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this
Garrison, appears to be grounded. Good Luck to him in the future. Go Jackets!!!
By knoxdawg
March 7, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this
Garrison:
If you do read this my advice to you is go where your heart tells you to go. You can get a good education at any school if you put your mind to it. Glad to see your brother got his degree. Get your education first, play football second and you will do ok in life.
By Unanswered Question
March 7, 2009 7:40 PM | Link to this
Why do so many of the Tech fans on this blog hate Mark Richt so bad? Can anyone answer that?
By NewYorkJacket
March 7, 2009 10:07 PM | Link to this
From what I have read, Greg is a great kid who achieved much at Tech. He is graduating and wants to go somewhere where he can get some quality minutes on the field. This tells me he also loves the game and knows that it will end soon.
Those of us who have played know the feeling that is experienced when the reality of the playing days are over.
Garrison, Georgia Tech prepared your brother for life and it will do the same for you.
But, whatever you decide, good luch to you.
By BIG bee
March 7, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
Unanswered Questions, Tech Fans don’t hate CMR. If you will read the blogs of UGA fans, you can tell why they react as the do. UGA bloggers are stupid and arrogant, and can not stand the thoughts of loosing to Tech. Even if UGA win the next ten in a row, they will keep refering to this last game, and if they loose the next ten in a row, they will still poke fun at “that high school offense”. Sorry I cannot help you any more, but you will have to try and understand the UGA IQ. Pretty low, and football is all they think about.
By Football comes first at Georgia Tech
March 8, 2009 4:44 AM | Link to this
Does anybody read the articles before posting? Greg Smith had to tell the Georgia Tech coaches that academics came first, before football. No, that would never happen at such a pristine place of higher education as Georgia Tech. Never.
By Hott1
March 8, 2009 9:53 PM | Link to this
where is that article?
By Maddog
March 9, 2009 8:29 AM | Link to this
BIG Bee, as one of what you call “stupid and arrogant” UGA fans, I don’t care about loosing to Tech as you mentioned. I do, however, hate losing to Tech. Talk about stupid and arrogant! BIG Bee, perhaps you should spend some time preparing for a SPELLING Bee before you show your ignorance to the world.
By NerdsRLosers
March 9, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this
Typical arrogant trade school (aka plumbers U) fans. ONE good, year and now all of a sudden the trade school is a world beater, lol. Is the trade school better than it was two years ago, undeniable YES. Has the talent level on the flats gone up from last year, Nope. The experience has but, the entire Div your in has now seen CPJ offence. LSU exposed the weaknesses of CPJ’s “System” as did UGA for a half, say what you will but the fact is UGA let GT back into the game and ultimately the win. Remember though that for two full quarters GT did squat against UGA’s D. enjoy the win, but I seriously doubt that 09 will be as successful for GT as 08.
By The Truth
March 9, 2009 5:26 PM | Link to this
Greg Smith looked horrible running the rock, plain and simple. He has a WR body with WR moves and was playing out of position this year. I watched him early in the season and swore to everyone around me that we won’t see him much longer unless he moves back to WR.(he ran straight up) I’m not sure why he didn’t get reps at WR, its not like we were stacked at that position last year. But with Demaryius Thomas back and Stephen Hill coming in next year, he would have a hard time getting touches.
Regardless, best of luck to Greg in the future. But all of these negative nellies on this blog need to wake up and realize who we lost and why we lost them. Most of them weren’t going to be contributors anyway.. Or got caught up in the wrong position in an offense they weren’t recruited for.