3 storylines
Starting right. In 2010, Georgia Tech pasted South Carolina State in its season opener, but often was sloppy and unfocused, a harbinger of the disappointing season ahead. After an offseason spent vowing improvement, the Yellow Jackets have their first opportunity to show it.
Quarterback play. After starting the final four games of 2010 in place of the injured Joshua Nesbitt, quarterback Tevin Washington will get his first start as the full-time starter. With a strong offseason in the books, Washington will be expected to take care of the ball, make good reads on the option and move the ball.
Experience on defense. The defense goes into its second year with coordinator Al Groh and his 3-4 defense. Thursday will be its first opportunity to demonstrate how much it has improved since last season, when it finished ninth in the ACC in yards allowed. Inside linebackers Julian Burnett and Daniel Drummond bear watching.
A Tech win would ...
Be the Jackets’ fifth consecutive in season-opening games.
Improve its record against current Southern Conference teams to 42-1-3.
A Western Carolina win would ...
Be the Catamounts’ first over an FBS (formerly Division I-A) team and a current ACC school.
End the Catamounts’ six-game losing streak.
Keep an eye on ...
For Tech: Louis Young, Tech’s sophomore cornerback, will make his much anticipated first career start. If the new-look Catamounts go pass-heavy, as Tech coach Paul Johnson expects, Young could have a busy evening.
For Western Carolina: Wide receiver Deja Alexander made the Southern Conference’s all-freshman team last season with 32 catches for 524 yards. Alexander, a transfer from Central Michigan, also will return punts.
The numbers game
1921
The year that the Southern Conference was founded in Atlanta, with Tech and Georgia among the charter members.
5-0
Johnson’s record against Western Carolina, all during his time at Georgia Southern. Johnson graduated from Western Carolina in 1979.
3
Number of players on Tech’s roster from North Carolina. Quarterback Vad Lee (Durham), linebacker Tremayne McNair (Jacksonville) and defensive back Domonique Noble (Mount Ulla). All are freshmen.
The history book
Series record: Tech leads 4-0.
Last meeting: Quarterback Tommy Luginbill led Tech to a 45-26 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium in 1994 with 280 passing yards and four touchdowns. It was the Jackets’ only win of the season, in which coach Bill Lewis was fired and replaced by George O’Leary with three games remaining.
The bottom line: On paper, this is a mismatch. The Catamounts were one of the weakest teams in FCS (formerly Division I-AA) a year ago and will debut its new pistol offense. Tech has experience and depth concerns, but they shouldn’t be a factor Thursday night.
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