Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins said his team will not concern itself with the chance to play spoiler this week. While causing opponents misery is part of the tradition of rivalries — the Tech fight song includes the line “To hell with Georgia” — Collins said that his team won’t take inspiration from the chance to dash No. 4 Georgia’s national championship hopes when the teams meet Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

“We’re completely focused on ourselves,” Collins said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “We understand the program that we’re going against — great players, great coaches and a great venue — but it’s all about us and getting ourselves wired and ready to go.”

Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins talks about the importance of the cross-state rivalry with the Bulldogs. (Video courtesy of Georgia Tech Athletics)

The statement was consistent with Collins’ approach through his first season, to keep the attention on his own team’s preparation and development and not on the opponent’s schemes or personnel.

“Because the second you start letting external things affect you, then you set yourself up to be up and down and here and there instead of, every single day, focusing on yourself and how you can get better and how you can play at your highest level and perform at your highest level every single day,” he said. “That’s all we’re worried about.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King runs with a ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

The renovation of Jekyll Island's Great Dunes golf course includes nine holes designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s for the members of the Jekyll Island Club. Several holes that were part of the original layout where located along the beach and were bulldozed in the 1950s.(Photo by Austin Kaseman)

Credit: Photo by Austin Kaseman