Georgia Tech’s loss to Virginia on Saturday ensured that the Yellow Jackets will not go to a bowl game. It was a disappointment for safety Christian Campbell, a senior, and certainly others.
“I care about it, because if we go to a bowl game, we’re winning games,” Campbell said Wednesday. “It bothers me. I wish my last year we were going to a bowl game, but I’ll just make the most out of the rest of the games left.”
Tech plays Virginia Tech Saturday, N.C. State next Thursday and No. 4 Georgia Nov. 30. All three are at home.
Non-seniors are feeling the end, too. Running back Jordan Mason spoke of how he wasn’t ready for next year because of his closeness with senior running back Nathan Cottrell, and how he has been pained to see Cottrell’s face after losses.
“That’s my dawg,” Mason said. “If anything, just get these (wins) for him.”
The seniors will end their careers with two bowl trips, to the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2016 and to the QuickLane Bowl in Detroit last season. Campbell and his fellow seniors can leave with the knowledge that they helped establish a foundation for coach Geoff Collins’ tenure.
“I’m glad I could be a part of the beginning process of it and starting the foundation,” Campbell said. “Somebody has to do the groundwork, so we probably didn’t get the result that we wanted, but at the end of the day, it’s fun to be a part of.”
Campbell is second on the team with 42 games played, including the past 35. Only Cottrell has played more games, at 44. Campbell has gotten his most significant playing time this season, starting four games and rotating at safety. His 35 tackles are sixth most on the team.
Campbell’s mission for the final three games: “Just go out and play like every play is your last.”