Archive for December, 2010

Quotes after Georgia Tech’s win over Mercer, courtesy of Georgia Tech’s sports information department:

Paul Hewitt

Opening statement

On making free throws at the end of the game
“It is nice to know that we have the right guys on the foul line. But I don’t want to say anything. It is like a no-hitter you don’t want to talk about it.”

On Kammeon Holsey’s contribution
“His knee is getting there. He still has some days where he has to step out of practice because it is just so sore. But Richard Stewart has done a great job with him and he still is faithful and comes to get treatment. We felt like we needed someone to give us more of a scoring punch around the basket and he did that today. There are still some times defensively where he does some inexplicable things. He will just stop, run and go chase the ball and trap but he is going to be a good player he just needs to get healthy, understand what we need to do defensively and the rest will be easy for him.”

Kammeon Holsey on …

Continue reading Quotes after Tech’s win against Mercer »

Yesterday, we looked at the plays that defined Georgia Tech’s season.

Today, let’s discuss the player of the season. Since I’m making up the awards, I’ll also make up the criteria. The player needed to play most of the season and can come from either side of the ball.

Had Joshua Nesbitt not suffered a broken arm, this would likely be a much livelier discussion.

As it stands, I’m not sure that anyone other than Anthony Allen, or perhaps Julian Burnett, would, or should, win.

Allen’s stats:

240 carries

1,316 yards

5.5 yards per carry

7 touchdowns

101.2 rushing yards per game

He also had three receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.

If you’ll remember, Allen got off to a slow start. He had 330 yards after five games. He also didn’t have a touchdown.

Coach Paul Johnson said after the win against Wake Forestin which Allen carried 10 times for 63 yards, that Allen needed to be a more punishing ball-carrier.

“He’s broken through the line three or four times. He’s got to finish …

Continue reading Player of the year (and other made-up awards) »

With the season now done, it seemed an appropriate time to look back at the plays the defined what most would consider a disappointing past few months for Georgia Tech’s football team.

During the 2009 ACC championship season there were so many exciting plays to choose from it was hard to whittle down the list.

This year … not so much. It seems most of the big plays went against the Yellow Jackets.

Before we continue, here’s a video of a nice act of sportsmanship by Tech’s players after the Independence Bowl loss to Air Force.

I present to you three plays, that I think best epitomized the season, along with a poll that will allow you to vote on the play of the year.

The interception

Trying to defeat Virginia Tech in Blacksburg is never easy. Trying to do so on a cold November night, with a chill so biting you could swear you heard it say “Just thermals, not too smart, are you?”

Nevertheless, Georgia Tech arrived in western Virginia with a lot to play for: the game with the …

Continue reading The plays of the year »

SHREVEPORT, La. — Quotes from Georgia Tech’s 14-7 loss to Air Force in the Independence Bowl, courtesy of bowl organizers:

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson

“Air Force played a very good game. I said before the game started that the team that won the turnover battle is going to win the game and that is what happened. The way the game was going I knew both teams were not going to have the ball many times and I knew that.”

“We started the second half and we put together a great drive and then we fumbled the ball on the 3-yard line. It was kind of a microcosm of our season. Then we come in and have a defensive series and hold them, fumble again, go out and hold them. Then fumble again. It is hard to overcome all of those mistakes.”

“It is very disappointing. At the start of the third quarter I thought we had the game right where we wanted it. They got a touchdown and go up 14-7, but to their credit we didn’t get it in. We fumbled the ball.”

“We had to go to our back up returner, …

Continue reading Quotes from Tech’s loss »

Georgia Tech will play Air Force in tonight’s Independence Bowl here in lovely Shreveport, La.

With the single game left, it’s time to start looking ahead. Let’s do a mailbag that I’ll publish in the blog next Monday. Post your questions in the comments section below about the team, the players or the coaches by Friday and I’ll do my best to answer.

If you’d prefer, email me your question(s) at droberson@ajc.com.

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading Season-ending Georgia Tech mailbag »

The snowy weather in the Northeast has forced the cancellation of Monday’s basketball game between Georgia Tech and Fordham at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Rams were unable to fly to Atlanta.

The game won’t be rescheduled. Those who have purchased tickets can exchange them for tickets to Friday’s 1 p.m. game against Mercer or Sunday’s 6 p.m. game against Charlotte. The tickets can be exchanged at Gate 1 before the game starts.

Continue reading Snow forces Tech hoops cancellation »

SHREVEPORT, La. — Three Georgia Tech players, including starting outside linebacker Anthony Egbuniwe, were suspended from the first half of Monday’s Independence Bowl against Air Force because they missed Friday night’s curfew.

The other two players are reserve defensive backs Michael Peterson and Louis Young.

The temporary suspension will further weaken a defense that will already be missing a starter and two reserves for the game due to various academic suspensions. Starting safety Mario Edwards was ruled ineligible earlier this week after failing to meet Tech’s academic standards. He was joined by reserve outside linebacker Anthony Barnes and reserve defensive end Robert Hall, both of whom failed to meet the NCAA’s academic standards.

In addition, starting wide receiver Stephen Hill was ruled out, also for failing to meet Tech’s academic standards.

Egbuniwe, a redshirt senior from Greenville, S.C., started 12 games this season. He is fifth on the team in tackles (59). The …

Continue reading Three Tech players suspended for first half »

Continue reading Four Georgia Tech players will miss Independence Bowl »

Georgia Tech wide receiver Quentin Sims has decided to transfer. Sims, a redshirt sophomore, will not travel with the team to the Independence Bowl.

The reasons for Sims’ decision were not immediately available, but he has not seen the field much in his two seasons with the Jackets. As a backup wide receiver, he did not have a catch in two years and mostly played special teams.

After playing quarterback at Colerain High in Cincinnati, Sims was recruited to Tech as a wide receiver. However, he worked at quarterback in a few instances to provide depth. Safety Cooper Taylor, A-back Chris Jackson and quarterback Jordan Luallen also left the team earlier in the season.

- Ken Sugiura, AJC

Continue reading WR Sims to transfer »

Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington said he has been preparing as if he will start against Air Force in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27 in Shreveport, La.

Coach Paul Johnson practically put to rest on Thursday any chance that Joshua Nesbitt had of returning from his broken arm to play in the Dec. 27 bowl game.

“I hoped that he would get a chance to play,” Washington said. “That was a hard way to go down as a senior. But I have to prepare the same way.”

Washington, a redshirt sophomore, has played well since Nesbitt’s injury in the Nov. 4 game at Virginia Tech. He is averaging 54.7 rushing yards and 53.7 passing yards per game. But in games he has started, he is averaging 96.3 rushing yards and 97.3 passing yards.

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading Washington ready for Independence Bowl »