Archive for February, 2011

Here are a few reads about Georgia Tech from this weekend’s ajc.com:

Sean Bedford is enjoying futbol in Spain.

Murton a hit in Japan.

Tech holds a career combine for football players.

I believe the ACC football schedule may be coming out this week. Georgia Tech’s opponents are already known:

2011
ACC Home: Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia Tech
ACC Away: NC State, Virginia, Miami, Duke
Nonconference Home: Kansas, Western Carolina, Georgia
Nonconference Away: Middle Tennessee State

Season-tickets are on sale now.

Follow me on twitter @ajcgatech

– Doug Roberson, ajc

Continue reading Good reads and the 2011 sked may be out this week »

Quotes following Georgia Tech’s 65-56 loss to Clemson on Saturday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, courtesy of the sports information department:

GEORGIA TECH HEAD COACH Paul Hewitt

Opening Statement

“We have had very similar games the past two games. I think that we are playing hard, forcing turnovers and having opportunities we just aren’t ringing the bell, scoring and shooting the ball well. We just have to keep working through that.”

On the Clemson defense

“They are very physical team and very good defensively where they well get in your face and take you out of your comfort zone. I thought we did some things very well, shots just didn’t fall and guys might have had looks but they were making an extra pass when it didn’t need to be made. Give them credit for being a good close out team. For the second game in a row, we did have an unbelievable effort. We forced Clemson to make 20 turnovers and they don’t turn the ball over much. They are known for their half court defense …

Continue reading Quotes after Tech’s loss to Clemson »

Continue reading Video: Georgia Tech’s signing class »

In an attempt to increase attendance, Georgia Tech is offering some tickets at half-price for Saturday’s men’s basketball game against Clemson. The sale was advertised to Tech’s facebook and twitter followers.

Though many ACC teams are struggling to increase attendance, the Yellow Jackets have yet to sell out the 9,191-seat Alexander Memorial Coliseum this season. The tickets are being offered for $20 in what is dubbed a “Thankful Thursday” sale. The seats are located at the ends and corners of the court, as well as some in the middle of the upper bowl. Tech has offered other sales for previous games.

The team is averaging 6,043 attendees this season, the third-fewest in the ACC.

Tech will host the Tigers at 1 p.m.

In a story that appeared in print on Sunday, I reported the economic impact of the apathy toward the team:

Season-ticket sales have decreased from last season by 23.7 percent, to 4,333 this season. The number of people buying tickets has decreased by 32.8 percent, …

Continue reading Tickets half-price for Clemson »

Georgia Tech linebacker Kyle Jackson is pursuing opportunities for law school and has decided to no longer play football, coach Paul Johnson said on Wednesday.

Jackson, a native of McDonough and standout at Union Grove, would have been a redshirt senior in the 2011 season. After redshirting as a true freshman, Jackson impressed in 2008 with 61 tackles in 10 starts. But things took an unfortunate turn for him after that. He suffered a ligament tear in his foot when he tried to pull his leg out from pile during one of the last spring practices in 2009. The injury wouldn’t heal properly, forcing him to miss the 2009 season.

He worked his way back up the depth chart and started two games in 2010, but was eventually beaten for the job by Julian Burnett.

“Some doctors told me that I would be lucky to just walk, but I expected myself to get here,” Jackson said before the 2010 season. “It’s satisfying and gratifying when I think of the amount of work I had to put into rehab, …

Continue reading One Jackson out, another may be back in »

The good folks at Georgia Tech’s sports information department started looking into where Tech’s signees have come from the past few years.

The results are interesting. Some of you may have raised your eyebrows yesterday when you read that Tech signed its first recruits from North Carolina since 1996. I thought it was odd considering that it is a bordering state (albeit a short border).

But it’s true.

Here’s a breakdown of where Tech’s recruits have come from by state and by year since 1992.

Alabama: 2011 (2), 2010 (1), 2009 (1), 2008 (2), 2007 (1), 2006 (2), 2005 (4), 2004 (2), 2000 (1), 1998 (2), 1996 (3), 1995 (2), 1994 (3), 1993 (1).

Arizona: 1999 (1).

California: 2008 (1), 2001 (1), 1994 (1).

Connecticut: 2000 (1).

D.C.: 2010 (2).

Florida: 2011 (4), 2010 (1), 2009 (1), 2008 (6), 2007 (3), 2006 (1), 2005 (4), 2004 (3), 2003 (9), 2002 (2), 2001 (5), 2000 (5), 1999 (4), 1997 (4), 1996 (5), 1995 (3), 1994 (7), 1993 (2).

Georgia: 2011 (10), 2010 (14), 2009 (14), 2008 (8), 2007 …

Continue reading The geography of Tech’s recruiting »

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson sat down with the media Wednesday evening to discuss Signing Day. He also gave his thoughts on what commitment means, as well as how the process can be improved.

Here are some paraphrased quotes from Johnson:

That time of year again where you finish up the recruiting cycle. We felt like it went well. We received 22 letters in this morning. Got them in early, didn’t have to sweat that.

We didn’t get everybody we tried to recruit but we got a good group that will help to propel our football team forward. It’s a relief but you start on next year. It was good that it went kind of like what we thought.

On the abundance of linebackers and offensive linemen:

When we changed defenses you added a position. You’ve got four linebackers now. We felt like there were some good players. A couple of those guys may grow into defensive ends. Our numbers were down at those positions. You want a certain amount at each positions.

We didn’t take a guy because we are …

Continue reading Johnson talks about Signing Day »

Here are a few quotes from Georgia Tech’s Signing Day shindig. Coach Paul Johnson spoke for a few minutes and there’s another press conference planned later this evening.

During the morning session, the assistant coaches who recruited the players would offer their thoughts. Johnson came in last and offered the big-picture view.

“We’re excited about the class,” he said. “Thought our staff did a nice job working this year. A class that we feel really good about it.

“Overall, I think there are some really good athletes and kids with high character and attributes that will serve Georgia Tech well.”

So, here’s a player-by-player snapshot, with paraphrased thoughts from the assistant coaches. Some of the heights and weights may differ from what the coaches said and what you may have read:

Zach Laskey

6-2, 210

Starr’s Mill

Running back

Buzz Preston: He’s fast enough. He has a great frame. He rushed for 1,515 yards and 22 touchdowns and set 11 schools records for Starr’s Mill, …

Continue reading Some quotes about Tech’s signees »

Season tickets for Georgia Tech’s 2011 football campaign increased by an average of $6.67 compared to last season for an average price of $50. The tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at ramblinwreck.com.

The average is the same as the price for tickets in 2009, which featured six home games. The average price for tickets for the six home games in 2010 was $43.33. This year’s schedule includes seven home games: Western Carolina, Kansas, Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Georgia.

The Georgia Tech Athletics Association sent out an e-mail earlier today advertising the sale.

The season-ticket prices start at $280 for seats in the upper level of the North side of the stadium, and increases incrementally to $625. Some seats don’t require a contribution to the TECH fund. However, the better seats do.

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading GT season tickets on sale now »