Archive for March, 2010

Slimmer, stronger and more confident, David Sims is already doing everything he can to stake his claim to be Georgia Tech’s No. 2 quarterback behind Josh Nesbitt.

Sims, Tevin Washington and Jordan Luallen went through their second spring practice on Wednesday. Nesbitt will miss the spring after having minor ankle surgery. But Sims is competing as if the No. 1 job is at stake.

“I’m just learning as much as I can,” Sims said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to play this year.”

To get on the field, Sims has worked hard off of it.

He weighed 230 pounds at the beginning of last season’s practices in August and looked heavy. He’s down to 215 and looks quicker. He also spent the short offseason studying film and talking to the wide receivers to learn more about where they liked certain passes.

It’s a far cry from last August, when coach Paul Johnson called Sims out when he appeared to drop out of a conditioning drill.

“His attitude has done a 180,” Johnson said. “He’s working hard and trying …

Continue reading Wednesday practice review: Sims, Walls, Johnson, Groh happy »

Greetings, all-

Ken Sugiura subbing for Doug Roberson at spring practice. Some notes and quotes, forthwith:

1) A lot of learning going on with the defense. Anthony Egbuniwe, who was working at outside linebacker in the new 3-4: “(I was) both nervous and excited, but mainly excited. I’m just ready to see what we can do as a defense. A lot of people are doubting us because we had a lot of people leave us, but I just see it as a better oppportunity for us to show what we can do.”

2) Among other position switches. Dominique Reese is working at corner, Jerrard Tarrant at safety. Didn’t get to talk to Tarrant. Reese, who came in as a corner, said coach Al Groh “felt like I had good hips.”

3) The offense did a little bit of work out of the shotgun. I saw it in some 1-on-1 passing drills.

4) Quarterbacks looked a little shaky in passing drills, as did receivers.

5) Anthony Allen at B-back, as was grayshirt freshman Charles Perkins, wearing Jonathan Dwyer’s No. 21. Perkins looked …

Continue reading Spring (practice) fever! »

Nick Claytor shakes hands with Jacksonville State players.

Nick Claytor with a special guest blog ahead of today’s spring-opener:

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 Spring break is coming to a close and it’s time to strap on the pads. There are many questions to be answered. How will we replace key pieces in an ACC Championship run? How will we adjust to our two-deep at quarterback being gone for the spring? The answer is one practice at a time. Just like our previous springs the learning curve will be steep and the foundation for the upcoming season will be established.

There are many plot lines for the upcoming spring. Excitement surrounds installation of the 3-4 defense along with new wrinkles in the offense. The race for the number 2 QB position is wide open between Tevin …

Continue reading Nick Claytor previews spring practice »

Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich sent this letter to fans on Thursday in The Good Word, the weekly email that goes to Tech fans. It’s also published on ramblinwreck.com. Here is the link: http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/geot-good-word.html

Here is the letter:

TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics

This, Tech fans, is an important edition of The Good Word, so heads up!

You have all followed the story this week as Coach Hewitt was courted by a University in his home town, where he has had and continues to have many friends and close connections. It is a school that has solicited his services as head basketball coach before – it did in 2004 when Georgia Tech made a long-term commitment to Paul. As he did in 2004, Coach Hewitt today withdrew his name from consideration at that school. But this time the circumstances are much different, and I think some honest and thoughtful reflection on …

Continue reading Radakovich’s letter to fans »

Paul Hewitt has withdrawn from consideration to be St. John’s next basketball coach.

Hewitt is out of town on a recruiting trip and has not returned a message left on his cell phone at 10:33 a.m.

“My family and I have developed deep ties to Georgia Tech and the city of Atlanta,” Hewitt said in a statement released by Georgia Tech. “I strongly believe in what Georgia Tech can do for young people, and I am committed to returning the Tech basketball program to the level of success our fans have come to expect. We took a step in that direction this past season, and I fully intend to continue on that path.”

He is scheduled to meet with the media at 9:30 p.m. tonight.

“I think what has transpired over the last few days speaks volumes about Paul Hewitt and about Georgia Tech,” Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich said in a statement. “Paul’s credentials as a human being, a family man, a leader and a builder of character are impeccable. All of us at Georgia Tech are …

Continue reading Tech’s Hewitt says no to St. John’s — updated at 2:39 p.m. »

A New York paper yesterday quoted Georgia Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich as telling 790AM the Zone that basketball coach Paul Hewitt had a “golden contract.” It also paraphrased him saying that if Hewitt were to leave for St. John’s, Tech’s next coach would come from a mid-major college because of the Institute’s financial constraints.

The issue is Radakovich didn’t appear on 790AM, nor did he say those things.

Hewitt did meet with St. John’s athletic director Tuesday evening, a few hours after Radakovich gave the Storm permission to talk to Hewitt, but no details have been made available. Hewitt is not in his office at Georgia Tech and the voice mailbox on his cell phone is full. A spokesman for St. John’s declined to comment Wednesday morning.

The same New York paper reported earlier this week that Hewitt, Florida’s Billy Donovan and Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg were the Storm’s leading candidates. Donovan reportedly turned down an offer of $3 million a …

Continue reading Updates on Hewitt; updates on spring football »

Paul Hewitt said Tuesday afternoon he did not expect he’d be leaving Georgia Tech, but he’s not ruling out talking to St. John’s about its head coach opening.

“I would say it’s highly unlikely I’d go anywhere,” Hewitt said.

Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich has been contacted by St. John’s but Hewitt said he hadn’t been contacted directly by Red Storm athletic director Chris Monasch.

As for what he’ll say, if, and more likely when he is, Hewitt said: “I don’t know. I’ll make a decision from there.”

Hewitt grew up in New York but said when asked if those ties might sway him toward St. John’s, Hewitt said no and pointed out how happy he’s been in Atlanta.

“We’ve got firm roots here,” Hewitt said. “My wife is happy here. My parents moved down here two years ago. My younger brother is here. We’ve got a pretty solid foundation here.”

Hewitt received calls from recruits on Tuesday, when reports surfaced about St. John’s’ interest in him. When asked what he told them, …

Continue reading Hewitt said unlikely but leaving the door open for St. John’s »

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said it’s highly unlikely that he would leave Georgia Tech for St. John’s.

Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has given the Storm permission to speak to Hewitt about its vacant men’s basketball coaching job. Hewitt grew up in New York, and is one of the Storm’s top targets for the job, according to several New York newspapers. St. John’s declined to comment about its search until it is concluded.

When reached on Tuesday, Hewitt said he wouldn’t rule out talking to St. John’s if athletics director Chris Monasch called.

The Storm tried to woo Hewitt  in 2004 after he led Tech to the Final Four, but former athletic director Dave Braine countered with a contract with a unique automatic annual buyout of $7.1 million. Hewitt recently said that he actually had two other college job offers at the time of the negotiations. Should Hewitt resign, the contract also stipulates that he would owe the Georgia Tech Athletic Association one-half of the …

Continue reading Hewitt says it’s highly unlikely he’d leave Tech for St. John’s »

Georgia Tech guard/forward  D’Andre Bell is one of 10 finalists for the2010 V Foundation Comeback Award.

The winner will be announced March 30.

The award is named after former N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano and is given to a player who has overcome adversity. Players are nominated by their athletics department.

The finalists are: D’Andre Bell, Georgia Tech; Dallas Blocker, Youngstown State; Brianna Culberson, Denver; Kelvin Davis, San Diego State; Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska; Sanchez Hughley, Florida Atlantic; Thomas Kleinschnitz, Franciscan University of Steubenville; Kristen Lucci, Waynesburg; and Dana Pernell Smith II, Longwood.

Bell, a senior, was diagnosed with spinal stegnosis before the 2008 season. He underwent surgery to correct the condition and prevent possible paralysis. He returned to Tech in January and rejoined the team. He averaged 6.1 points and 2.5 rebounds for Tech (23-13), which made it to the second round of NCAA tournament.

He graduated with a …

Continue reading Bell finalist for Valvano comeback award »

Alright party people.

Basketball games played on the court are now done for Georgia Tech. As we  endeavor to report the other basketball games — what decisions Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors will make regarding their futures — let’s look to spring football, which will start on Monday.

As you may remember from the mailbag two weeks ago, http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=1529, I attempted to address your questions about the football team.

I did my best, but there’s only one person who knows everything that’s going on at Tech and I don’t think he’s going to blog for me.

So, here are the storylines I’m most interested in following:

1. Who will win the outside linebacker jobs?

2. Who  will win the nosetackle job?

3. Is Tevin Washington locked into the No. 2 quarterback  job, or will he be significantly pushed by David Sims and Jordan Luallen?

4. Who will the competition between Quentin Sims, Kevin Cone, Stephen Hill and Tyler Melton for …

Continue reading A week away from Tech’s spring practice starting »