Georgia Tech fills in open date with Division II Florida Tech

It is time once again for a staple of Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner’s program – the midseason game against a Division II opponent. On Saturday, the Yellow Jackets will fill in the open date in their ACC schedule with a home game against Florida Tech.

It has been Pastner’s belief that his teams, rather than resting during the open date in the ACC schedule, are better off playing a team to keep their rhythm. However, it is highly difficult to find another Division I opponent that has an open date in January or February that corresponds with Tech’s and is willing to give it up to play a non-conference game. Hence, the Jackets generally have had to go to Division II to find a team eager to accommodate Tech and give its players the chance to play an ACC opponent (and also accept a payout). It is not the convention. The Jackets are the only ACC team this season that filled its open date with a non-conference game and the only team in the league to play a Division II team.

Pastner’s philosophy would seem to have particular logic this season. Tech (10-16) has won two of its past three games after losing the previous nine and might benefit from continuing to play rather than wait until Tuesday to play again at Pittsburgh.