Georgia Tech's primary goal was scuttled by its loss to Virginia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets can still make a notable piece of history.
Coach Paul Johnson reminded the team this week that a 10-win season is still a possibility. Were they to finish with wins against Duke, Georgia and their bowl opponent, the Jackets would finish 10-3 and become just the fourth Tech team to win 10 games since 1956.
"These guys have got a chance to do something that doesn't happen every week," Johnson said.
Johnson made a point to say the immediate goal is an eighth win musts come against Duke, Tech's opponent Saturday in Durham.
"The focus needs to be Duke, otherwise it won't be pretty," he said.
Since the 1956 Jackets went 10-1, only the 1990 national championship team, the 1998 ACC co-championship team and the 2009 ACC championship team have won 10 or more games.
"A lot of people were predicting we wouldn't even make a bowl," B-back David Sims said. "For us to accomplish something like that would be a good ending to a year that could have been a lot more."
Changing it up
At his Tuesday news conference, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said he has a different system and playbook for when the Blue Devils play option teams like Tech. Like many Tech opponents, Duke devotes time in spring practice and in the preseason to preparing for the Jackets offense.
"We're going to do some different things this year, but it's all based out of the same concept," Cutcliffe said.
A year ago, Duke held Tech to six points and 125 rushing yards in the first half but ended up losing 30-20 and allowing 320 rushing yards.
"They do a great job," Jackets quarterbacks and B-backs coach Brian Bohannon said. "They're going to know what to do and know how to line up and they're sound. They're going to make you have to block 'em and do the things you're supposed to do to move the ball."
Quarterbacks and B-backs coach
News that former Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt had been signed to the Buffalo Bills active roster from the practice squad was well received.
"That is awesome," Bohannon said. "I'll have to shoot him a text and congratulate him."
