Why behind the whites, and records watch

The No. 10 Yellow Jackets have worn white jerseys for every one of their home games since Paul Johnson was hired, but Wake Forest declined Tech’s request to be allowed to wear white for this weekend’s game. (NCAA rules say that the visiting team is supposed to wear white, unless it grants the home team permission to do so.)

Deacons coach Jim Grobe said there were two reasons behind that decision:

No. 1, Grobe said he prefers his team not wear black because of the higher temperatures in the South. That’s carried over to this game. Temperature at kickoff is predicted to be 66 degrees.

No. 2, he said he usually leaves it up to the team to decide which jersey they will wear. The players wanted to wear white.

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The weekly records watch from colleague Matt Dempsey:

Things were a little tighter than people wanted against Vanderbilt but I think fans are pretty happy about a solid win against an SEC opponent. A huge game for Jonathan Dwyer on the ground led the way. Let’s see how it affected the records chase

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                    188                  2009

With three games left to go in the regular season, Nesbitt just needs 15 carries to land in the top ten for most rushes in a season. He’ll have to crank out some high carry days to get in the top 5 before bowl or ACC title games.

Most rushes, Career

Name                                                    Rushes                 Career

1. Robert Lavette                              914                         1981-84

2. P.J. Daniels                                    707                         2002-05

3. Jerry Mays                                      695                         1985-89

4. Tashard Choice                            675                         2005-07

5. Joe Burns                                        614                         1998-01

6. Eddie Lee Ivery                            609                         1975-78

7. C.J. Williams                                  539                         1994-95

8. Joe Hamilton                                 501                         1996-99

9. Reggie Ball                                    495                         2003-06

10. Lenny Snow                                 445                         1965-67

12. Jonathan Dwyer               428                  2007-

13. Josh Nesbitt                     413                  2007-

Nesbitt and Dwyer are still on pace for being in the top 10 on the career rushes list.

Dwyer needs 33 rushes in the next three games to unseat Lenny Snow from the top ten. Twenty two carries in the next four games will push Dwyer past Reggie Ball.

Rushing Yards, Season

Name                                    Yards                    Year

1. Eddie Lee Ivery            1562                       1978

2. Tashard Choice            1473                       2006

3. P.J. Daniels                    1447                       2003

4. Jonathan Dwyer     1395                2008

5. Tashard Choice            1379                       2007

6. Jerry Mays                      1349                       1989

7. Robert Lavette              1208                       1982

8. Robert Lavette              1189                       1984

9. Joe Burns                        1165                       2001

10. C.J. Williams                1138                       2009

NR Jonathan Dwyer  904                  2009

NR Josh Nesbitt        763                  2009

A second huge game in a row for Dwyer makes it much easier for him to land a second season in the top ten for rushing. He needs to average 78 yards a game to finish the regular season past C.J. Williams.

Nesbitt had a great game for Tech but his rushing numbers were under what he needed to crack into the top ten. He now needs 125 yards a game to round out the regular season in the top ten.

Rushing Yards, Career

Name                                    Yards                    Career

1. Robert Lavette              4066                       1981-84

2. Jerry Mays                      3699                       1985-89

3. Eddie Lee Ivery            3517                       1975-78

4. Tashard Choice            3365                       20005-07

5. P.J. Daniels                    3346                       2002-05

6. Jonathan Dwyer     2735                2007-

7. Joe Burns                        2634                       1998-01

8. C.J. Williams                  2365                       1994-96

9. David Sims                     2274                       1974-76

10. Wililam Bell                  2026                       1989-93

15. Josh Nesbitt         1796                2007-

Dwyer blew past Joe Burns with his big day against Vandy. Top five is there for the taking but likely due to the post season. He’d have to ring up 200+ rushing in the next three games to get it before then.

It’s going to be a close shave for Nesbitt to get on the top ten career rushing list. He’d have to average 160 yards a game to get in by the end of the regular season. Add in two postseason games and it is a slightly more manageable 96 yards.

Most rushing touchdowns, season

Name                                    TD                          Year

1. Robert Lavette              19                           1982

2. Robert Lavette              14                           1984

2. Joe Burns                        14                           2001

4. Sean Gregory                13                           1999

4. Josh Nesbitt                       13                    2009

6. Jonathan Dwyer     12                    2008

6. Tashard Choice            12                           2006

6. Joe Burns                        12                           2000

6. C.J. Williams                  12                           1995

6. Lenny Snow                    12                           1966

10. Tony Hollings              11                           2002

Nesbitt’s two trips to the end zone moved him into the top five and past his teammate Dwyer. It seems quite likely Nesbitt will get at least one more touchdown in the next three games. It’s easy to imagine Nesbitt getting seven more TDs and having more rushing touchdowns in a season than anyone in Tech history by the time the postseason wraps up.

Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career

Name                                    TD                          Year

1. Robert Lavette              45                           1981-84

2. Joe Burns                        31                           1998-01

3. Jonathan Dwyer     29                    2007-

4. Tashard Choice            28                           2005-07

5. P.J. Daniels                    23                           2002-05

6. Eddie Lee Ivery            22                           1975-78

6. Leon Hardeman           22                           1951-53

8. David Sims                     21                           1974-76

9. Josh Nesbitt                       20                    2007-

9. C.J. Williams                  20                           1994-96

11. Shawn Jones               19                           1989-92

Dwyer’s three touchdowns pushed him into the top three for career rushing touchdowns. It’s likely he’ll end in the number two spot by the end of the year.

Nesbitt jumped into the top ten last week. He just needs three more in three games to be in the top five by the end of the regular season.

Receiving Records

Pass Receptions, Career

Name                                                    Number                                Career

1. Kelly Campbell                              195                         1998-01

2. Calvin Johnson                             178                         2004-06

3. Jonathan Smith                             174                         2000-03

4. Kerry Watkins                                171                         1999-02

5. Harvey Middleton                        165                         1994-97

6. Will Glover                                      122                         1999-02

7. Bobby Rodriguez                         115                         1989-92

7. Jerry Mays                                      115                         1985-89

9. Robert Lavette                              114                         1981-84

10. John Sias                                      110                         1966-68

11. Demaryius Thomas         108                  2007-

Thomas needs two more catches to be in the top ten for receptions in a career. It should happen within the next three to five games for sure.

Yards gained, Season

Name                                                    Yards                    Season

1. Calvin Johnson                             1202                       2006

2. Jonathan Smith                             1138                       2003

3. Kelly Campbell                              1105                       1999

4. Kerry Watkins                                1050                       2002

5. Dez White                                       973                         1998

6. Kelly Campbell                              963                         2000

7. John Sias                                        902                         1968

8. Calvin Johnson                             888                         2005

9. Dez White                                       860                         1999

10. Harvey Middleton                      839                         1997

12 Demaryius Thomas                      823                  2009

Thomas moved up two more spots this week with his performance against Vanderbilt.

If Thomas averages 22 yards a game the rest of the way, he’ll also end up in the top ten for most receiving yards in a season.

Yards gained, career

Name                                    Yards                    Career

1. Calvin Johnson             2927                       2004-06

2. Kelly Campbell              2907                       1998-01

3. Kerry Watkins                2680                       1999-02

4. Harvey Middleton        2291                       1994-96

5. Jonathan Smith             2238                       2000-03

6. Demaryius Thomas           2008                2007-

Thomas eclipsed 2,000 yards receiving in his career last week.

With three games to go, Thomas will need 58 yards a game the rest of the way to move up the Career Receiving Yards record and into the top five.  That’s not even counting the post season. Considering how run-heavy the offense is, that’s pretty impressive.

Defense Records

No sacks for Morgan and no interceptions Burnett means nothing new to report on defensive records.