It was August, and Georgia Tech brimmed with hope. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof shared some kind words about his many seniors, how they were taking on coaching roles with younger players.
“When your kids are doing that, it’s a good thing, but you know what?” Roof asked. “The true test of buy-in and leadership comes when adversity strikes.”
It looks like a good week for a test. The Yellow Jackets will begin preparations Monday for a road trip to BYU, which boasts one of the most favorable home-field advantages in FBS. Tech, which dropped to 3-2 with its second consecutive defeat, will have to answer problems on both sides of the ball – quarterback Vad Lee continued to have turnover challenges Saturday and Miami set an ACC record Saturday with a 10.4 yards-per-play average.
Further, the Cougars are tied for No. 18 in scoring defense in FBS and last year held the Tech offense to a single field goal in their 41-17 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium a year ago (Tech scored touchdowns on defense and special teams).
“Our demeanor in moments like this adversity is important,” defensive end and team captain Jeremiah Attaochu said after Saturday’s game. “We can’t hang our heads. We have to push through. It’s a long season.”
BYU, which is 43-9 at home under coach Bronco Mendenhall, was a 6.5-point favorite on many betting websites Sunday.
Tailback J.J. Green said he can’t say for sure how many times he has heard “you’re one play away from playing” from Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and running backs coach Bryan McClendon.
Here is a clue that your trip to sunny south Florida may not be a carefree vacation: You’re a football team, and you lose one of your starters during warm-ups.
If nothing else, Georgia has ensured at least one thing about its season. Regardless of where the rest of the schedule takes them, whether its to an SEC championship, a BCS bowl bid or a national title, there will be no claims from outsiders that this team received too many breaks and escaped health issues, no suggestions that the road to success was lined with lollipops and unicorns.
Having been at Georgia four seasons now, soccer coach Steve Holeman doesn’t weird out nearly as much as he once did about playing Ole Miss, where he coached for 15 years.
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