Archive for October, 2009

From esteemed colleague Matt Dempsey:

[First, don't forget to join the AJC's Georgia Tech page on facebook at http://bit.ly/T16am for breaking news about the Yellow Jackets, and other observations]

A big win over Virginia keeps Tech in the race for the ACC Coastal Division title. Plus big numbers from the big guns keeps them on the march to the record books. Let’s see how they stand with four more games to go.

Rushing Records

Most rushes in a season
Name Rushes Year
1. Tashard Choice 297 2006
2. P.J. Daniels 283 2003
3. Joe Burns 282 2001
4. Robert Lavette 280 1982
5. Eddie Lee Ivery 267 1978
6. Tashard Choice 261 2007
7. Robert Lavette 260 1984
8. Jerry Mays 249 1989
9. C.J. Williams 245 1995
10. Lenny Snow 202 1966
NR Josh Nesbitt 172 2009

With four games left to go, it’s hard to see how Nesbitt won’t end up in the top 10 for most rushes in a season. If he averages 24 carries a game the rest of the way, he’ll end up in the top five.

Most …

Continue reading Weekly records watch »

Courtesy of Georgia Tech’s sports information department, a transcript of Paul Johnson’s press conference on Tuesday:

Opening Statement:

“I was proud of our guys after the Virginia game. It’s another streak that people liked to talk about that our team put an end to. I don’t know if we played our best game of the year. You have to give the kids from Virginia a lot of credit, they played hard. But, we did enough to find a way to win the game. Once we got deep into the third quarter, we felt good about where we were. It was a concern that for the second week in a row we started out committing penalties on offense and hurting ourselves by stopping drives. On the first drive, we had a fourth and short that we were getting ready to go for and we jumped offside’s. Then, we take it into the end zone and have a chop block that wiped four points off the scoreboard. That’s a concern. On the flip side, I thought we did a good job defensively, especially in the first half. We held them …

Continue reading Paul Johnson transcript »

Since there has been much ado about the blocks made by Georgia Tech against Virginia Tech in their game two weeks ago, I thought I’d let you see a couple of clips that a Hokies fan posted on youtube.com
The first:
Chop block?

As you can see, at first it appears that the Virginia Tech defensive lineman is being chop blocked, an illegal block in which one player engages a defender high while another defender engages him low.
But, if you watch closely, Georgia Tech’s guard actually doesn’t engage the defender, he simply runs by and he two players briefly collide. It is then that Georgia Tech’s tackle goes low and hits him. It’s a fine line, but it is the line.
I have no idea if I’m correct, but that’s what it looks like to me.

The second:
Crackback block?

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said this was one of several plays in which safety Kam Chancellor was illegally blocked.
I’m sorry, but I don’t see it. Chancellor is cleanly blocked.
So, there are likely other plays, but at …

Continue reading You be the judge »

First, I think Georgia Tech is still on that never-ending drive that started against Virginia on Saturday. Last I heard they were at the Eastern Shore. A little tired, but still moving the ball.

I wrote yesterday, and have thought (as I’m sure y’all have, as well) that Tech is pretty close to being guaranteed a spot in the ACC championship game now that Miami lost again.
Switching to my Al Groh manner of speaking: to quote someone who works at a multi-faceted, multi-platformed sports and entertainment network, that circumstance may not be necessarily true.
Yes, the Jackets need to beat Wake Forest and Duke, which wouldn’t seem to be that difficult a thing to do considering past history and recent results.
But, the Deacons and the Devils have something in common that has given the Jackets some issues this season.
You know what I’m talking about.
Good quarterbacks.
Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis and Wake’s Riley Skinner are arguably two of the top four passing QBs in the ACC, behind …

Continue reading The remaining games »

Earlier in the day, I posted a bunch of game-after quotes, the lazy-man’s blog.

However, that was before Clemson defeated Miami in Miami. Now,  Georgia Tech needs to only win its two remaining ACC games, against Wake Forest and Duke, no less, and it’s headed to Tampa to play for the ACC title.

Who would they play, you ask? Right now, it would be a rematch against the Tigers. Clemson and BC are tied atop the Atlantic, but the Tigers have the tie-breaker thanks to the beatdown they administered to the Eagles earlier this year. Remember that one? BC had 54 yards, I think, in the game.

I think of all the teams from the Atlantic that Tech would not want to play, Clemson would be at the top of that list. The Tigers seem to have gotten things figured out on offense now, and freshman quarterback Kyle Parker, for all the mistakes he made against Miami, still led the the Tigers to the win in a tough place to play.

Plus, the Tigers have the experience of already playing Tech’s offense …

Continue reading GT’s path to the ACC title game wide open »

I’m about 20 minutes outside of Charlottesville, riding with former esteemed colleague Dave Fairbank of the Newport News Daily Press.
We’ve passed the time talking about Chairman Groh, the fun of Paul Johnson, etc.
When I get to the press box, I’ll start posting some notes.
In the meantime, tell me about your favorite places to go on the road, stadiums, cities, eateries, etc.

Continue reading Georgia Tech vs. Virginia »

This comes courtesy of Matt Dempsey from the AJC:
Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt are etching their names in the Ga. Tech record book this year but they’re not the only one. With five games left to go, records are falling, ensuring that Paul Johnson’s second squad as head coach of the Ramblin’ Wreck will be well remembered.

{Before you get started, please the AJC’s Georgia Tech facebook fan’s page at: http://bit.ly/lZNpt

Rushing Records

Most rushes in a season

Name Rushes Year

1. Tashard Choice 297 2006

2. P.J. Daniels 283 2003

3. Joe Burns 282 2001

4. Robert Lavette 280 1982

5. Eddie Lee Ivery 267 1978

6. Tashard Choice 261 2007

7. Robert Lavette 260 …

Continue reading Records are made to be broken »

It’s been a slow week on campus, as odd as that sounds with what’s at stake on Saturday.
Coach Paul Johnson said it’s questionable that Cooper Taylor will play on Saturday. Julian Burnett likely won’t play, as well.
That was the big news from today’s practice.
With that, I thought it might be fun to take a look back at 1990, the year GT won the UPI national championship, and the last year that Georgia Tech won in Charlottesville. This is from the web site www.thepeopleshistory.com.

Cost of Living 1990
How Much things cost in 1990
Yearly Inflation Rate USA5.39%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 2633
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 10.00%
Average Cost of new house $123,000.00
Average Income per year $28,960.00
Average Monthly Rent $465.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.34
Price for a new Isuzu Rodeo $12,4900.00
IBM PS1 Computer From $999.00 – $1,999.00

What Events Happened in 1990

* Saddam Hussein orders Iraq invasion of Neighboring Kuwait

* Operation …

Continue reading Yes, it’s been that long »

Courtesy of the fine folks at Georgia Tech’s sports information department, here’s a transcript of Paul Johnson’s press conference on Tuesday. Also, please join my Georgia Tech page on Facebook: http://bit.ly/lZNpt
Opening Statement:

“I was proud of our football team Saturday. I thought they competed hard and found a way to win. We came out in the second half and did what we had to do to win the game. I thought our defense played well in the first half especially, and gave us enough of a chance to get our feet under us and win the game. Having said that, winning that game makes this game the biggest of the year. I told the team in the locker room, we have to go to Charlottesville and play a team that is on top of our division right now. It’s an elimination game for us, if we go up and don’t win the game our chances of winning the Coastal Division are not very good. We stayed alive for another week and we have the same opportunity we had a week ago to play one more time and see …

Continue reading Paul Johnson transcript »

There seems to be neither rhyme nor reason to why Georgia Tech hasn’t won in Charlottesville since 1990.
But, it hasn’t.
It’s lost by one point (2001). It’s lost by 31 (1992).
Tech coach Paul Johnson hasn’t put too much stock into history. As I wrote in Monday’s paper, he said it doesn’t help you block and tackle, and it doesn’t give you any points.
So, this may be one time when the team’s general lack of experience may prove a benefit.
There are only seven fifth-year seniors (and five on scholarship) who could be familiar with the house of horrors that has been Charlottesville.
————-
Johnson wasn’t able to speak to us after practice today because of a speaking engagement in Macon. So, I don’t have a lot of news for you.
I would like to know what you thought of the new videos on MegaJackeTron that played during Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech. I wrote about them in the notebook in Tuesday’s paper. That story should be posted …

Continue reading How have they done it? »