David Scully wins Tech kicking job

1. His girlfriend transferred to Georgia Tech from Georgia over the summer. He was put on scholarship at the start of the preseason. Tuesday, kicker David Scully’s run continued. He’ll be the starting kicker in the season opener against Virginia Tech Sept. 3, coach Paul Johnson said.

“I guess karma,” Scully said. “Hard work pays off. God’s smiling on me, I guess.”

Scully beat out Justin Moore, who handled field goals and extra points last year while Scully took most of the kickoffs. That playing experience guided Scully’s improvement since last season.

“Just becoming comfortable with my body, with my leg, what I can do just kind of made the offseason completely different,” he said.

Last season, Moore made all 56 of his extra-point tries –setting school single-season records for most extra points and most consecutive extra points – but was 11-for-17 on field goals. Scully said he was never told that he’ll start, but has been anticipating it since he has been working with the first-team kicking unit. He didn’t hide his excitement about the possibility of literally kicking off the season against the Hokies in Blacksburg, Va.

“All summer, that’s how I’ve been planning it,” Scully said. “That’s how I’ve been seeing it. That’s what I want.”

Scully said that he’s been able to place his kickoffs consistently, but declined to offer information on his distance.

“I’m going to let Virginia Tech wait till Monday night to figure that one out,’ he said.

2. A day after finding the team’s practice performance “unacceptable,” Johnson said Tuesday’s practice was “a lot better. The tempo was better, the intensity was better. We got some things done.”

B-back David Sims participated for the second consecutive day. Johnson called it his best practice of the preseason, though Sims has only practiced a handful of times in his return from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his shin. Offensive tackle Morgan Bailey was in a walking boot Tuesday. Bailey, pegged to start at right tackle, suffered a concussion in the first full week of camp and then returned Monday only to leave practice with a different injury. Also held out was B-back Zach Laskey, who has strep throat. Johnson didn’t know when he might be expected back. Laskey was one of the stars of fall camp, moving up to No. 2 on the depth chart with his playmaking.

3. Aside from Scully, Johnson offered some insights into a couple other lineup decisions for Virginia Tech.  He said that punter Sean Poole will probably start ahead of freshman Ryan Rodwell and inside linebacker Jabari Hunt-Days will probably fill in for Daniel Drummond, who will miss the game as part of a 1 ½-game suspension. Anthony Harrell would be the other possibility. Both Hunt-Days and Harrell are redshirt freshmen who will be playing their first career games. Poole was the starter last season and part of the 2010 season.

Cornerback Jamal Golden figures to be the third cornerback behind Rod Sweeting and Jemea Thomas with cornerback Louis Young out because of a suspension. Defensive coordinator Al Groh praised Golden’s facility in understanding defensive concepts and mentioned that he worked at three different positions in Tuesday’s practice.

“I’m sure he’ll see the most plays from scrimmage that he has since he’s been here,” Groh said of Golden, a sophomore.

4. Quarterback Tevin Washington will hold a live question-and-answer session on Twitter Wednesday for 30 minutes starting at 6:45 p.m. He’ll take questions on the Tech Twitter account @GTAthletics. … The team will hold its annual kickoff luncheon Friday at the Cobb Galleria. Tech grad and NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough will be the keynote speaker. Information is available at ramblinwreck.com and by calling 1-888-832-4849.

Monday’s practice report

Former UGA cheerleader transfers to Tech

Sims gaining confidence at B-back (from the spring)

Thanks for reading.

Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog

91 comments Add your comment

Al Bundy

August 22nd, 2012
1:29 pm

1 4 GT

August 21st, 2012
10:34 pm
I like that CPJ puts ethics & integrity first. I know it hurts Young & Drummond to miss the opener on national TV. But they learned a valuable life lesson & will be better men for it

I don’t think anyone on the blog knows if they learned “a valuable life lesson”, we can only hope they did. Time will tell if they learned anything or not.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
1:58 pm

“Carnack” posted this on the “Unacceptable” practices blog. If they are killing Careers explain that to the estimated 9-10 guys off of this yrs. Defense that are expected to eventually make the NFL, they even have another 5-6 back-ups on this yrs. Defense that have a good chance to make the NFL.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
2:00 pm

MY GOODNESS!! “Carnack” thinks Georgie could have as many as 16 NFL draftees next April. Positively unheard off. GT might as well cancel this year’s game in Athens. 16 NFL DRAFTEES! In one draft. WOW!!! Well, he is all knowing and has such an analytical CFB brain, it must be true.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
2:01 pm

And oh, BTW!! All of those 16 NFL draftees at Georgie play defense too. Lordy me!! They will likely pitch a shut out in every game this upcoming season. Even the MNC game next January.

just the truth

August 22nd, 2012
2:04 pm

dawgfan, I know we’ve seen your ignorance way more than twice.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
2:10 pm

Al B—-I prefer looking at life with a bit more optimism than you apparently do. I prefer thinking teaching moments work. And seeing the better side of people, unless they don’t show one. Not arguing with you. Just a different outlook on life than what I see in your comment.

OkieDawg

August 22nd, 2012
2:30 pm

Scully’s girfriend goes to GT. He is the #1 kicker for the GT football team. I don’t see any wins in those two statements. In my view, the poor kid is stuck on the GT campus, plays on a team that runs an embarrasing prototypical high school offense, plays in pathetic little BD Stadium in front of mostly empty seats. And he calls that karma…SAD.

Tech dropout

August 22nd, 2012
2:39 pm

UGA blowhard trolls are all mad because their UGA chearleader transfers to Tech to be with her Tech boyfriend.

When I was a student at Tech I dipped my toes in the UGA talent pool also, so I can relate.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
3:24 pm

I reckon I made a mistake. I own up to mine, unlike some others on here. “Carnack” did not say all 14, 15 or 16 Georgie guys would be drafted into the NFL next April. He said “eventually”, they will likely have a real good chance of playing in the NFL. That’s still a bunch of guys from one school from just the defensive side of the game. I am still not too sure they give many points to anybody.

WnE

August 22nd, 2012
3:33 pm

re:
1 4 GT
August 22nd, 2012
12:48 pm

MY GOODNESS!! “Carnack” thinks Georgie could have as many as 16 NFL draftees next April. Positively unheard off. GT might as well cancel this year’s game in Athens. 16 NFL DRAFTEES! In one draft. WOW!!! Well, he is all knowing and has such an analytical CFB brain, it must be true.

______________

Geez!

How STUPID can you be, no one said that 16 guys will make the NFL next April.

I said that they would eventually make the NFL as some of the Sophs. , RS-Fr, T-Fr. will make the NFL in a different yr. than next yr.

Are you that big of idiot that you can’t talk CFB w/o making stupid assumptions?

Stupid comments like yours above is why other fanbases laugh at GT fans all the time!

GT Lee

August 22nd, 2012
4:01 pm

Gollum, you have some gumption calling ANYONE stupid or an idiot. We have proven time after time that you are a LIAR, a HYPOCRITE, a COWARD, and YOU STALK TEENAGE BOYS ON TWITTER.
Stupid comments like yours are why we hate trolls.

THEsidewalkfan

August 22nd, 2012
4:35 pm

I think the dwag trolls might be driving Ken to become a bona fide Tech fan.

GTVegas

August 22nd, 2012
5:00 pm

Wheenie – 1 4 GT beat you to the punch and admitted his mistake, which gives him some integrity. You, however, have no integrity as proven by your propensity to stalk underage boys on Twitter.

Nevertheless, good try.

GTVegas

August 22nd, 2012
5:00 pm

As for the “UGA talent pool”, married one myself over 20 years ago.

GTfan2012

August 22nd, 2012
5:24 pm

Just so we are clear, WnE believes that the UGA defense is one of the greatest ever put together… because that’s what they should be if they have 16 potential NFL draftees. They have to live up to that now!

GTfan2012

August 22nd, 2012
5:32 pm

Just for reference, Alabama has had 13 defensive players drafted in the last four years. So WnE is claiming that UGA’s defense is better than Alabama’s defense has been.

headley lamar

August 22nd, 2012
5:47 pm

So WnE is claiming that UGA’s defense is better than Alabama’s defense has been.

Not as good no.

But the difference isn’t as much as most would think.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
6:11 pm

The difference is—–watch out now headless. The difference is, drumroll please. Alabama actually played somebody that had a reasonable chance of beating them. And while Georgie had a high ranked defense, their competition was much, much easier. And when Georgie actually played someone with a reasonable chance of beating them, that is exactly what happened. Boise State, South Carolina, LSU & Mich State. All pretty good top 25 CFB teams. They beat Georgie’s vaunted defense. No sane, reasonably intelligent CFB fan would dare compare the defenses of Alabama & Georgie. Georgie’s impressive defensive stats were an illusion created against mediocre to bad competition. Case closed. Selah!!

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
6:13 pm

THE DIFFERENCE IN BAMA’s DEFENSE & GEORGIE’s DEFENSE LAST YEAR WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY BIG!!!!!

Orwin Smith Fan

August 22nd, 2012
6:19 pm

Kick the hokies real hard.

GTEnvE12'13'

August 22nd, 2012
6:21 pm

Just for fun: What difference do you think the dedicated special teams coach will make this season? I’m thinking with all the blunders in ST we’ve seen in the past few years, the move is probably worth about 2 wins.

OkieDawg

August 22nd, 2012
6:25 pm

1 4 GT…”And when Georgie actually played someone with a reasonable chance of beating them, that is exactly what happened.” I’m actually impressed with your analysis. I see you are a realist and realize that the football team at Tech never had a reasonable chance. Same with this year’s addition of Georgie Tech Yellow Jackets? (And the color yellow is very appropriate).
.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
6:30 pm

Okie Dwag….We’ll see come game day. I have high hopes as well as high expectations. We are coming & you would be foolish to think things will forever favor your dwags. I will not argue the case here, except to say—enjoy it while you can. When things turn around, all you dwag blowhards will not be man enough to show your feces.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
6:32 pm

OOPS! A Freudian slip there. Should read “faces”.

ole yeller

August 22nd, 2012
6:42 pm

Yeller Bug

August 22nd, 2012
7:06 pm

Thanks, Ken. We all got a kick out of your article.

I hope Scully can get his KOs to at least inside the 5 yd line and keep it inbounds—even that low goal would be an improvement over last year.

Next task is to kick VT’s a**!

230gr Full Metal Jacket

August 22nd, 2012
7:33 pm

Bite me filters!!!

BLT

August 22nd, 2012
8:05 pm

13 days left! Go Jackets!

BLT

August 22nd, 2012
8:06 pm

1 4 GT, they are always showing their feces. Oh, sorry faces.

Gr8 2B aFuzzyB

August 22nd, 2012
8:41 pm

Go Scully! Sting ‘em Jackets! Let’s beat Beamer ball at his own game.

WnE

August 22nd, 2012
9:04 pm

re:
GTfan2012
August 22nd, 2012
5:32 pm

Just for reference, Alabama has had 13 defensive players drafted in the last four years. So WnE is claiming that UGA’s defense is better than Alabama’s defense has been.
_____________

As a GT Alum the one thing I hated more than anything else was going to school with loser-band-geeks like yourself ( I really enjoyed my professors and the Academics BTW) that never played a sport in your life and always try to break sports down into some sort of cut-and-dried “formula”.

If you actually knew anything about CFB you wouldn’t make such stupid statements like you made above.

Bama’s defense has/had more Game changers that are 1st Round to 3rd round caliber that a uber dominant on the College Level.

Georgia’s Defense probably won’t have as many 1st to 3rd round guys that are uber dominant, but they will be good enough to dominant GT and most BCS level teams.

So while UGA’s Defense could have more NFL Guys, Bama ’s defense would be better due the “star power” of their NFL level guys.

People that understand CFB can easily recognize the slight nuances of the Game and avoid making statements like you made above that make it seem as if you know nothing about CFB.

Not a nice try, and once again………..no cigar!

HighTech

August 22nd, 2012
9:31 pm

Do not question Gollum’s credentials. He WAS a volunteer high school coach. I wonder why he no longer volunteers his expertise?

WnE

August 12th, 2012
10:01 am
re:
BLT
August 12th, 2012
9:43 am

Georgia Tech is the only team in the country to close it’s practices to the public. Got it!
______________

He started closing practices a lot more after he dipped to 15-14 after 19-5 start.

BTW, GT does close their practices more than most BCS level schools, even Media guys will admit this, because CPJ doesn’t just lock out fans, he also locks out the Media.

I use to volunteer coach on the HS level and still have many friends that coach HS FB, I support HS sports.

WnE

August 22nd, 2012
9:34 pm

re: HT

If you hadn’t edited my comments you could read where I wrote that my schedule no longer allows me the time.

HighTech

August 22nd, 2012
9:40 pm

Are you sure it wasn’t a restraining order?

WnE

August 22nd, 2012
9:54 pm

re:
HighTech
August 22nd, 2012
9:40 pm

Are you sure it wasn’t a restraining order?
____________

I’m pretty sure it was not.

Community coaches that are certified by the GHSA have to go through a criminal background check.

http://www.ghsa.net/lay-coach-certification

I can see why walk-up fans & sidewalk alums want no part of GT FB with fans that have attitudes like yours.

1 4 GT

August 22nd, 2012
9:57 pm

I will give “Carnack” credit for two things. He/she has an agile mind and nimble, quick fingers. I would have tripped over myself so many times, my brain would be in lockdown mode.

Not Disappointed!

August 23rd, 2012
1:37 am

Love the Jackets!

GTfan2012

August 23rd, 2012
9:29 am

WnE,
Does anyone else notice WnE getting really defensive when I merely provided a FACT? Alabama has had 13 players drafted in the last four years. Yes several of them have been drafted in the 1st round AND several were drafted in late rounds. But no one would know that from your post, because unlike mine, your post is devoid of facts, but rather has YOUR OPINION!! And strangely your opinions are always Pro-UGA and Anti-GT…. weird for a “GT fan”.
Prove what you said about UGA and Alabama. If you claim that 16 on the current roster will be drafted, then show me why that isn’t the best defense in history, like I’ve pointed out. I’ve got you on record on this. Its just another BS claim from WnE that I have to debunk, like your claim that our current DL is undersized – DEBUNKED; or your claim that our DL recruits are undersized – DEBUNKED; or your claim that UGA was recruiting Stephen Hill before they recruited Marlon Brown – DEBUNKED; or your claim the GT left the SEC solely because they believed they’d be the ND of the South – DEBUNKED, And believe me, I could keep going and going with this list.

GTfan2012

August 23rd, 2012
9:37 am

WnE
August 22nd, 2012
9:34 pm
re: HT

If you hadn’t edited my comments you could read where I wrote that my schedule no longer allows me the time.
___________________________________________

HT,
I takes a lot of time out of WnE’s busy schedule to pretend to be a GT fan. You are right, its a lot of work to keep the stories straight, and he does a decent job most of the time. But the whole 16 UGA draft picks thing and claiming that Orson Charles ran a slow 40 time at his pro day and that he would be faster… that’s pretty much two major slip ups right there for a UGA fan… so he doesn’t have a perfect record of keeping the story straight.

WnE

August 23rd, 2012
9:41 am

re:
1 4 GT
August 22nd, 2012
9:57 pm

I will give “Carnack” credit for two things. He/she has an agile mind and nimble, quick fingers. I would have tripped over myself so many times, my brain would be in lockdown mode.
____________

Those things aren’t necessary when you’re always telling the truth like I always try to do.

GTVegas

August 23rd, 2012
10:05 am

Now that deserved a laugh.