Georgia Tech bowl practice continues
Greetings-
Sorry for the absence. I was taking a short breather and recovering from sort of virus. I’ll be here the rest of this week, be in and out next week and then start it up heading into the Sun Bowl starting the 26th. Onward.
Georgia Tech had its seventh bowl practice Monday. They’ll have three more this week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, taking off for finals Thursday and Friday. Then two more next week Monday and Tuesday and then three more in El Paso.
Players and coaches seemed to be genuine in their excitement about playing in the game, despite the fact that it doesn’t mean a whole lot by itself.
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1. Guard Omoregie Uzzi, who on Monday was named a third-team All-American by Rivals.com and who will receive his degree Saturday in 3 ½ years, said he is “very motivated” to end the bowl losing streak. “I know the last guy that told me he won a bowl game was (former offensive tackle) Andrew Gardner (in his) freshman year (2004). It’d be a great compliment to send these seniors out with a ‘W,’ something that hasn’t been done here in a long time.”
2. Some notes from Paul Johnson’s post-practice interview:
The team is well into bowl-game prep after spending time early last week giving younger players more repetitions.
There were players who’d caught his eye, but none he wanted to name and put a target on their back. What these practices accomplish for younger players, he said, was to give them a base to help them compete in spring practice. “You have your ideas on what people are anyway,” he said. “You’ve watched them all fall, even if they’re on the scout team, so you kind of know what they are.”
The speed will be a bigger adjustment for players who’ve been on the offensive scout team, since they haven’t been going full speed like the scout-team defense has.
I asked Johnson if any loss from the season would eat at him in particular, and he said they all do, but mentioned that the “Virginia Tech game here, we were a couple plays from being in Charlotte. But they all eat at you anytime you lose.”
On what ending the bowl losing streak would mean to him and the program: “Me, personally, that’s something that we’ve got to do here to put an end on the season. I think I was 2-2 in bowl games at Navy. That wasn’t great, either, but you want to win every time you play. We’ve drawn a couple really good teams (in bowl games). We should have won the game last year and didn’t. The first two years, I’m not sure the better team didn’t win.”
(2008 was LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and 2009, of course, was the Orange Bowl loss to Iowa. Last year’s loss was to Air Force. Interesting answer, I thought.)
3. Bowl ticket sales are predictably slow. As of Friday, the school had sold about 2,000 of its 8,000-ticket allotment. About half of the tickets purchased are being donated to soldiers stationed at Fort Bliss, located outside of El Paso. It’s one of the largest military installations in the country, with more than 30,000 troops stationed.
The team will visit Fort Bliss during its bowl trip and the school is encouraging fans to purchase tickets to donate to the troops that will be presented during the visit. Link here.
(Of some degree of interest to the department also is having fewer tickets to eat.)
Thanks for reading. I’ll have something up Wednesday morning.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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186 comments Add your comment
Oz
December 13th, 2011
8:08 pm
1-10 versus Dawgs last 11 years
Oz
December 13th, 2011
8:09 pm
Richt 3 Johnson 1
Ramblin Man
December 13th, 2011
8:27 pm
Hate to break it to you but I am not completely wrong. I have a friend who sits on a bowl committe and yes they do like to help the local economy in the areas that you speak of, but only because most make 40% profit on things like hotel room sales. Answer this old blind one why would the chick bowl take GT knowing what GT normally brings to it’s own stadium in 08 and looked at them again this year and would have taken them if they had beaten UVA? Record and interest in the match up as far as TV holds way more value than attendence. Look at some of the bowl and tell me if you honestly think fans are coming in large numbers to those games. Take the liberty bowl for example, do you really think Vandy and Cincy are going to flood Memphis, TN on news years eve?
1 4 GT
December 13th, 2011
8:39 pm
I know this comment is way behind the subject post–by Ken in response to praise–I add mine as well & a hearty thank you for your good work, I hope Ken sees this. I am pleased to see that he has gotten into the “clean old fashioned hate” spirit of things and popped off to headless with his own sarcastic, smart but retort. LMAO! Congratulations!
ajc=uga
December 13th, 2011
8:46 pm
Technically Correct actually is TOTALLY CORRECT. Carvell is biased as hell. His recruiting articles run at least 5:1 for UGA, and the few Tech reports are very brief and usually incomplete (as opposed to the UGA reports which are astonishingly detailed). Just call it what it is: “Carvell’s UGA Recruiting Column.” I like the idea of Ken having his own Tech Recruiting Column. Then, maybe the ajc won’t be uga – as they basically are now. How about it Ken?
1 4 GT
December 13th, 2011
8:58 pm
@heysupersize—-that incident whrn the guy was murdered while riding a waverunner was hundreds of miles from El Paso on a lake NW of Del Rio, Tx. get your story staight mutt agitator.
1 4 GT
December 13th, 2011
8:59 pm
“straight not staight”
Paul in RDU
December 13th, 2011
9:42 pm
“Tech is overall 14 – 11 over the last two years in one of the easiest conferences to win in.”
Pretty difficult to do that when you only play 8 conference games a year.
GT 94
December 13th, 2011
9:47 pm
DAWGFAN….
42 TO WHAT???
Dream Team= blowout losses to SEC elite teams!!!! Maybe you guys should move over to the ACC where you have some success! Lmao
Tuned In
December 13th, 2011
11:12 pm
Proposed cell phone ban stirs debate
Would someone please send a roll of Charmin to Washington? Them using the constitution for toilet paper is getting old.
1 4 GT
December 13th, 2011
11:35 pm
Dummy, it’s not a cell phone ban, It’s a texting while driving ban, which makes good sense to most folks with a functioning brain. You need to take this to tech blogs anyway.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 13th, 2011
11:38 pm
1 4 GT, actually the new proposal is for banning ALL use of cell phones while driving, including hands-free phones. I don’t understand the problem with the hands-free ones, but I am all for a ban on using them. I’m sick of seeing women talking on their phones while driving, and not having a clue what’s happening on the road.
feliza
December 13th, 2011
11:47 pm
Baby boomer, you should notify people which usually youre travelling to publish extra. We detect people havent created one more site for a few years (Im solely getting upward myself). Your current site is as clearly important to turn out to be skipped. Youve gained thus very much to speak about such is vital it subject it may be a good feel bad for to check out this site be completely removed. Online preferences people, gentleman!
nasbisco
December 14th, 2011
12:09 am
to the GT homer who says everyone should cheer for Ga Southern on the Vent. Not me pal nor could you ever get me to. I do not give a rats behind about that school.
Furthermore, it is just a matter of time before Monken sneaks up here to take Synjyn Days for his QB. Classless
NorthAveKillerBeez
December 14th, 2011
12:13 am
Look at the schedule “you guys who think” Me or half the bloggers could have looked good against those bozo’s The fact is Tevin looked bad against the better defenses. Miami, Virginia, VaTech and Dawgs. It’s simple to see that VAD LEE or DAYS will be the starter.
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
12:17 am
For Tech Fans Only: Tech just got a commitment from a Four Star QB that was previously committed to Alabama. Justin Thomas was to be a WR at Alabama , but left to play QB at GT
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
12:23 am
ccrider, so he DID commit to Tech?
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
12:32 am
Supersize: YES HE DID!
Dawg48
December 14th, 2011
12:32 am
SS
Got you a link to scout they have it posted he did it’s at the bottom…
http://recruiting.scout.com/
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
12:34 am
thanks, 48. awesome
Dawg48
December 14th, 2011
12:35 am
Ccrider
Glad to see some of these kids not going to bama!
All they do is over sign and grey shirt and send the kids they don’t want to D2 schools.
Dawg48
December 14th, 2011
12:38 am
SS
From what I saw he wanted to play QB at bama they wanted to grey shirt him or have him play WR…
So he decommited…..
Also saw that Gus malhzon left auburn and tech and uga have been opening up recruiting again to some of there committed players…
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
12:41 am
Dawg48: Bama and LSU both are abusing these kids in that manner. So, many never get to prove themselves. But, I guess its always been that way for the Top schools in the Country
Ohio state, Notre Dame, S.Cal, , but it never lasts for 2 long and the Furor over the Grey shirting should hurt Bama and LSU soon!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
12:43 am
48, as much as I hate UGA, I will give them credit for not engaging in that oversigning scam
Dawg48
December 14th, 2011
12:49 am
What did Paul Bryant always say?
I recruited the kid so I didn’t have to play against him……
Lol
Sad it stills goes on, that’s why I’m a fan of coach richt, people say what they want but he is a stand up guy.
I just wish GT and UGA could put a wall up around the state of GA and keep the Ga boys at home.
Plenty enough talent to go around and keep both schools stocked.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
12:50 am
that oversigning in the 60s was one of the reasons Dodd left the SEC
Dawg48
December 14th, 2011
12:51 am
ccrider
I wish the SEC or NCAA for that matter would cut out grey shirting.
Dawg48
December 14th, 2011
12:54 am
SS
I’m not old enough to remember , but schools use to could not play freshmen,
They should put that rule back into effect also.
Never got to see the old GT, UGA, JV game’s on thanksgiving in ATL but it would be cool to bring it back.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
12:55 am
I agree on that. I never saw one either, but they were often bigger than the varsity game
Dawg48
December 14th, 2011
12:56 am
I’m out talk to y’all later.
Go dawgs
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
12:59 am
Dawg48: I agree completely. But, Lets face it, the powers that be want to be sure the traditional powers remain strong, much like Bud Selig has done in baseball. Keep the big city teams like NY, Boston, Philly , LA in the playoff mix for TV ratings
THe NCAA doesn’t what Boise State and OK St. in the national championship game , not enough National interest from TV ratings
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:09 am
Supersize: i went to many GA/TECH freshman games. They were fantastic! They were played without the same level of animosity. Both Fan bases, just pulling for their young ,hopefully star players. A Blast!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:12 am
yeah, cc, and doing it all for the Scottish Rite hospital too
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:17 am
It was some of the best memories of my childhood, unlike the bitterness of the current Tech/Ga. Games.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:21 am
I went to Tech, but I came home every year for Thanksgiving. I would go back to either Atlanta or Athens for the varsity game, but I never went to the JV game
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:24 am
My Brother went to Tech, I went to Ga. State. I use to in the winter take a transistor radio to bed at night and listen to the Tech Basketball games being played on the west coast, with Al Ciraldo to the call. Good Memories
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:26 am
yeah, couldn’t beat Ciraldo’s basketball play by play
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:27 am
cc you in Atlanta now?
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:32 am
Henry County
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:33 am
ok. I am in Augusta.
You going to El Paso?
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:36 am
I wish, but my daughter is an actress in college and she has a play she is performing into near to make the trip. Are You Going?
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:40 am
yeah, I’m going. GT1971 and his wife and 1 4 GT and I are all meeting out there. I have met GT1971 and his wife before but not 1 4 GT. Should be fun
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:45 am
Supersize: I would greatly appreciate you making sure the bowl drought is ended.
Tech use to have the best bowl record in College Football, but it has sure taken a beating lately!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:47 am
I will definitely do my best. I want that old record back again too
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:53 am
It could get REAL interesting in the next few years with so many QB’s in the mix: Washington, Days, Lee, Thomas, Andrews.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:55 am
hell yeah
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
1:57 am
Maybe out of all of those guys, we can finally find one who can handle the offense , run and PASS!
By the way , did you know Thomas has 4.35 speed?
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
1:58 am
sooner or later one is going to be able to pass consistently.
GREAT speed
ccrider
December 14th, 2011
2:03 am
Now we need Dalvin Tomlinson, Elijah Shumate, Darion Monroe and a few more defensive studs to sign on
Supersize that order, mutt
December 14th, 2011
2:04 am
ok, cc, I’m calling it a night. Good chatting with you. Have a good one