Georgia Tech-Utah game thread

Greetings-

Just about an hour from kickoff (now 2:21 p.m. EST). I’m getting pretty intrigued to see how this game unfolds. Not having seen Utah, it’s kind of hard to get a grasp, but I think a lot of it comes down to two things. First, can Georgia Tech move the ball on Utah’s run defense, especially without Omoregie Uzzi not starting (as has been announced). Shaquille Mason will start; it’s undetermined if Uzzi will get snaps. B-back David Sims will play some, but how much is also not clear. Expect Preston Lyons to get plenty of snaps in his final game.

Second, can Tech stop John White? I imagine Utah will be more than content to pound the Jackets with Smith it’s the Utes are able. Worth watching – the sledgehammer blocking of fullback Shawn Asiata.

Other items of interest:

1. Wind is blowing pretty briskly towards the open end zone. I’m not sure of direction; if you’re watching on television, it’ll be the end zone on the right.

2. Steven Sylvester’s parents Roderick and Barbara are at the game with their other son Roderick Jr., completing a pretty remarkable feat. They have attended every one of their son’s Tech games in his career, home, away and bowl. They drove to this one with the families of Tevin Washington and Jamal Golden. Mr. Sylvester reports it took about 22 hours from the family’s home in McDonough, a pretty quick clip.

“I told Tevin’s dad he missed his calling,” Roderick Sylvester said. “He should have been a truck driver or something.”

The Sylvesters’ motivation to attend every game came from Roderick’s military service, from which he retired in 2006, which kept him from attending many of Steven’s games.

“You can’t make up for lost time, but I promised Steven as long as I’m healthy, you can look up (in the stands) and know we will be there,” he said.

3. Utah will be short two starters, left guard Miles Mason and and defensive tackle Dave Kruger. The Utes rotate a lot of defensive linemen, so that shouldn’t be as big a factor, but Mason’s injury may.

That’s about all I’ve got for now. I can’t say I’ve been to a wide variety of stadiums, but this is one of the more memorable settings. It’s set in the Franklin Mountains, which overlook the stadium beyond one end zone, and the visiting stands are carved into the side of a rocky hill.