Georgia Tech team members know at least something about Ireland. It’s the home of mixed martial artist Conor McGregor, the reigning featherweight champion of the Ultimate Fight Championship.
As such, Yellow Jackets players undertook a vigorous Twitter campaign last week to invite him to support Tech in its season opener Saturday against Boston College in Dublin.
Linebacker Brant Mitchell was one of many players who tweeted at McGregor, writing "Hope to see @TheNotoriousMMA supporting @GeorgiaTechFB in Dublin next Saturday. #TogetherWeSwarm #McGregorforJackets."
As of Tuesday afternoon, McGregor had yet to respond to the Jackets’ entreaties. Were he to grace them with a visit, though, it would likely be the most memorable part of their visit, Saturday’s game aside. The Jackets, scheduled to leave Atlanta on a Delta charter Wednesday evening and arrive in Dublin Thursday morning, won’t have time to absorb the splendor of the Cliffs of Moher, kiss the Blarney Stone or even scan the horizon for a glimpse of their hero.
After arriving Thursday, the team will check in at its hotel, have lunch, practice near Aviva Stadium and then take part in an Irish sports demonstration. After that, team members and staff will travel to a nearby fishing village, where they’ll have dinner with an Irish dancing and music performance.
“I’m thinking by that time, they’re going to be zoned out,” coach Paul Johnson said.
Friday, players will go to a movie and take a bus tour of Dublin (they’ll stay on the bus in order to keep off their feet). That’ll be it as far as seeing Ireland. The Jackets will return to Atlanta immediately following the game.
As various Jackets have repeated, they’re excited for the trip – for most, it’s their first time out of the country – but are treating it as a business trip.. Perhaps as such, players have evidently not been flipping through travel guides or doing a Google search on “best ways to experience Dublin from inside a bus.”
A sampling of the Jackets’ knowledge of Ireland:
Linebacker P.J. Davis: “I haven’t really read up too much about it. But I’m very excited; I’ve never been out of the country.”
Center Freddie Burden: “There’s a lot of sheep.”
Offensive tackle Trey Klock: “Not too much. I know there’s some really good golf courses out there. My grandparents (who are taking part in a tour tied to the game) have been talking about that for a year.”
Quarterback Justin Thomas: “I don’t know much about it. I guess I’ll figure it out when I get there.”
Defensive tackle Francis Kallon (who grew up in London): “In Ireland, they speak Gaelic. My favorite music teacher was from Ireland. A lot of my friends from London are from Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day. Beer. The pub. Things of that nature.”
Offensive tackle Jake Stickler: ”I know I’ve never been out of the country before and it’s going to be a long flight and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Wide receiver Mikell Lands-Davis: “I know there’s a lot of redheads.”
Mitchell: “I’ve heard it’s pretty over there.”
Defensive back Lawrence Austin: “It’s far away.”
Defensive end KeShun Freeman: “What do I know about Ireland? I know that we have a few guys on our team that are of Irish descent. But besides that, I don’t know too much. Conor McGregor.”
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