Tech turns attention to Virginia

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Though he didn’t put much stock in breaking one streak after Saturday’s 28-23 victory against then-No. 4 Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson quickly mentioned the possibility of breaking another streak against Virginia in his teleconference on Sunday.

The Yellow Jackets haven’t won in Charlottesville since 1990. Tech needs to defeat the Cavaliers, who are atop the ACC’s Coastal Division with a 2-0 record, to keep alive its hopes of playing for the ACC championship. Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia Tech and Duke are tied for second with one loss each.

Johnson said there were no worries about keeping his players grounded after such a big win when there’s such a high hurdle ahead.

“Georgia Tech hasn’t won up there since Methuselah was a boy,” he said.

After beating the Hokies to snap a 0-17-1 streak at home against top-five teams, Johnson said afterward that he told his players during the week that it didn’t matter because history doesn’t provide points and it doesn’t block and tackle.

The difference between that and the streak against Virginia is that the Jackets are playing the Cavaliers this week.

“Anything we can use to motivate the players,” Johnson said. “You throw enough against the wall to see what sticks. It may work for some guys.”

Virginia rising

Though Virginia lost to Division I-AA team William and Mary to open the season, the Cavaliers (3-3, 2-0) have turned things around and are on a three-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s noon kickoff.

Johnson said the biggest difference is that the Cavs aren’t turning over the ball as frequently. Virginia has one turnover in its three-game winning streak, compared to 10 during its season-opening three-game losing streak.

Where’d it go?

After being torn down during the mayhem Saturday night, the goalpost was taken to Institute President Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson’s house, where it was cut into pieces by students using hacksaws. The bits were given away as souvenirs.

Several videos of the dismantling were posted on You Tube, as well as on AJC’s Georgia Tech fans page on Facebook .

Johnson said he didn’t get a piece of the posts.

Georgia Tech’s next home game will be against Wake Forest on Nov. 7

Injury update

Linebacker Julian Burnett (knee), who was hurt tackling Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor, will be evaluated this week. Johnson said defensive end Anthony Egbuniwe, who has missed the past two games with an undescribed ailment, and safety Cooper Taylor, who has missed the past four games because of a heart condition, will return this week.

Crowd factor

Though he said he often zones out and doesn’t hear a lot of things, Johnson said the players were talking about how much the 54,000-plus fans at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday kept them pumped up. It was the largest crowd of the season.

Bowling

This is the 13th consecutive year that Tech is bowl eligible. It’s also the 15th consecutive season that Tech is assured of finishing .500 or better. Florida is the only other team that has a longer streak (23 seasons).