Notes: Tech faces age-gap challenge vs. BYU
By eligibility, Georgia Tech center Jay Finch is a junior, and the opponent he’ll line up against Saturday, BYU nose tackle Romney Fuga, is a senior. So they’re a year apart in age, right?
Not quite. Finch turned 21 in January. The BYU media guide doesn’t list players’ birthdates, but Fuga’s first season at BYU was in 2006. He is an example of the age advantage that the Cougars typically have because several players leave school for two seasons to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints without losing years of eligibility.
“It makes a big difference,” said Tech offensive line coach Mike Sewak, who coached against BYU when he was an assistant at Hawaii. “If you imagine (redshirt senior guard) Omoregie Uzzi still having two more years, that’s what it is. It’s guys that are bigger, more mature, their bodies have already gone through the adolescent stage and they’ve gotten themselves up in there.”
Said coach Paul Johnson, who coached with Sewak at Hawaii, “They’ll pass the look test, I promise you.”
Fuga, who was named after his father, who was named after a Mormon church leader related to presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has had an extra year because he received a medical redshirt after tearing his ACL in 2010. He played for BYU in 2006 then went on a mission to Madagascar. He is the anchor of the Cougars’ 3-4 defense, ranked No. 4 in the country in total defense.
Finch, who was a high school sophomore in 2006, is OK with it. He saw matching up with Fuga (who is 6-foot-2 and 318 pounds) as an opportunity to prove himself against bigger players.
“It’s just preparing for competition to the best of your ability, and that’s all you can hope to do, regardless of if he’s 26 or 21,” said Finch, who is 6-3 and 285 pounds.
2. Johnson gave the team a break Tuesday with a practice in shells — shoulder pads, helmets and shorts. Typically, Tuesday practices are conducted in full pads and are full contact. Johnson also has shortened the length of the practices as the season has gone on.
“I think (players needed the break),” A-back Orwin Smith said. “I felt like I did.”
Smith said players responded with a more energetic practice than usual. Finch called it “an astronomical difference” between practice in shells and full pads. The linemen, for instance, don’t go to the ground to practice blocks.
“It was a nice surprise,” Finch said.
3. At his Tuesday news conference, Johnson said that there was no specific plan to play backup quarterback Vad Lee on Saturday, but that he wants to see the week’s practice before deciding on a plan.
Johnson said that his potential is obvious, but that he needs to work on his reads. Still, “he’s an exciting player and he kind of gives you a boost when he gets out there,” he said.
4. Johnson said that A-back Synjyn Days’ playing time was limited Saturday against Boston College because “he and I weren’t on the same page.” Johnson didn’t go into detail, but suggested it was an off-the-field matter relating to Days’ accountability. Days has played a backup role this season at A-back since moving from quarterback.
“He’s practicing better, and if he has a good week of practice this week, he’ll play some,” Johnson said.
5. Offensive tackle Will Jackson and quarterback Tevin Washington were among those not practicing Tuesday. Jackson, who suffered a shoulder injury Saturday, was in a sling. Washington was resting bumps and bruises and is expected to return to practice Wednesday. … A-back B.J. Bostic, safety Isaiah Johnson and long snapper Tyler Morgan were named the players of the week for their roles in the win over Boston College. Bostic ran five times for 28 yards and made clutch catches of 39 and 27 yards that both converted third downs. Johnson tied for the team lead in tackles with four and forced a fumble that the Jackets recovered. Morgan made 11 mistake-free long snaps.
In case you missed it…
Notes: Johnson’s concerns about BYU
Notes: Field-goal unit needing repair
Tech vs. highly ranked run defenses
With BYU next, no-huddle issues loom for Tech
Thanks for reading.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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118 comments Add your comment
Ryan
October 25th, 2012
9:01 am
I served an LDS mission for two years. I wasn’t an amazing athlete, but I was good when I left. I came back (like most returned missionaries) in terrible shape. Yes, the players are two years older, but they haven’t been lifting, running, or even stretching for two years. They aren’t studying playbooks or even keeping up with sporting news. They can’t even watch TV. Don’t run away with the idea that there is some physical advantage to serving a mission; it’s a sacrifice. I don’t regret it, and I doubt any of the players do either, but that’s because we come back with a different perspective on life– one that isn’t centered on sports anymore (also a disadvantage).
Al Bundy
October 25th, 2012
9:02 am
Who cares if the BYU guys are older than ours and so what if it does give them a physical advantage. There is nothing we can do about it so lets line up and play football. And while I’m on my soap box… Get over the name theif crybaby stuff. Most of us including me, have been a victim of the name theif. The more people whin about it the more he/she is going to do it. As Sgt. Hulka said in the movie Stripes “Lighten up Francis”!!!
wreckbone
October 25th, 2012
9:15 am
I like our chancces with teams that have problems scoring on offense. Offense has not been our prblem this year. The problems on offense are 3rd and short 4th and short. We used to get those with bigger more explosive runners at the QB and B Back positions. So, if we have some big plays that make it to the end Zone I really like our chances. If we are driving all day and get stopped inside the 20 for a first down when we get close to scoring, it could be tough. Hopefully CPJ will scheme some drive finishes for those short situations.
What I see is in a couple of years QBs playing as consistent as Tevin with better running and passing skills. If we get some large B backs to go with that, I think we can be better than competitive. That is what i am hoping for out of CPJ. And I think that is what he is waiting for also. He even mentinoed how Joe Hamilton played them when he was young and had a bad day. Then became “the best QB we ever had” Give CPJ a chance to get his QBs developed then, tell me the TO doesn’t work. I don’t think it will play out that way. I think if Chalres Perkins would have been able to produce like Dwyer we would not ahve this conversation. I think that was the back with the most potential who’s time it is to really shine. But that did not happen this year. LAskey has been hurt twice this year so I do not think he has the toughness Allen or Dwyer had. We get one of those in the middle with these new QBS and we will be able to outscore teams like we did a few years ago. We stll ahve a really good points/game average even with our shrot yardage woes.
BIrmingham Jacket
October 25th, 2012
9:16 am
MARK MY WORDS:
This game will underscore my opinions, and other astute opinions over the past 3-4 years regarding recruiting.
GT=Relatively small and weak.
BYU=Relatively BIG, STRONG.
BYU will THUMP THE CRAP OUT OF OUR BOYS SAT!!!!!!
Poor recruiting.
Whose in charge of recruiting, anyway?
Paul Johnson?
1 4 GT
October 25th, 2012
11:34 am
Al Bundy. You can tolerate & ignore (you even offered words of praise & encouragement) the creep all you want. You obviously don’t mind be called an alcoholic & a homosexual by strong inference. I DO!!!! I WILL NOT REMAIN SILENT TO IT!!!! You & anyone else that agrees with you can if you want.
1 4 GT
October 25th, 2012
11:37 am
the word g a y is prohibited. We can no longer be happy or g a y on the blogs!!!???
1 4 GT
October 25th, 2012
11:38 am
Does that mean we can’t express any gaiety on the blogs??
1 4 GT
October 25th, 2012
11:40 am
How silly! I wonder if the AJC prefers the word fag?
1 4 GT
October 25th, 2012
11:41 am
LOLROTFLMFAOLOL I can call someone a fag but not g a y. How stupid. What fool makes these decisions?
gt4ever
October 25th, 2012
11:42 am
@ Birmingham Jacket
Funny but sad…. We have a chance, a small one, but a chance….
1 4 GT
October 25th, 2012
11:43 am
G A Y is the PC non offensive word. Fag & others are non PC offensive words in today’s world. SHEEESH!!
BYUTHOMAS
October 25th, 2012
12:04 pm
I am a BYU Grad and Georgia native. I’m also a huge UGA fan, so I don’t like Tech one bit. But I expect Tech to roll my alma mater this Saturday. I think Johnson’s offense will be crisp and BYU’s D, which is good but overrated at #4 (remember, I’m a DAWG fan, so I’m an expert on overrated defenses), will not keep the Jackets under 30 points. And I know Tech’s defense is awful, but BYU”s offense can match you step-for-step on awfulness. And as a returned missionary who played college athletics pre-mission, I promise you there is nothing but athletic deterioration during the two years. There are lots of great reasons for LDS men to serve missions, but athletic advantage isn’t one of them.
gt4ever
October 25th, 2012
12:11 pm
here is hoping your right BYUTHOMAS….
MGT
October 25th, 2012
1:02 pm
“Head Coach” pj’s offense and defense are now fully installed.
Terrible product = empty seats in stadium regardless of win/loss Saturday.
But stuck with him through 2016 due to excellent management of Athletic Department including the AD in violation of NCAA to the tune of scholarships and ACC Championship, and no apology, just arrogance.
Working out pretty good eh?
Al Bundy
October 25th, 2012
1:36 pm
1 4 GT, You seem to take everything I say personally like it’s I’m attacking you. I don’t blame you for not liking it because it’s happened to me too. My point is by posting your anger about it on this blog for “the name theif” and everyone else to see it just adds fuel to the fire. That’s why he/she is picking on you, SS and other regulars so much. I do agree the AJC should do something to stop them if they can. I can assure (and I do know a little about which I speak) it ain’t easy to stop someone like the “name thief”. I appologize if I contributed to your anger.
old dog
October 25th, 2012
2:36 pm
Ya’ll may have stopped the bleeding. Remember Teckies…..crowd that po-dunk o-line we have and slap ‘em around. Maybe then we will learn that WE NEED TO GET LINEMEN!!!
Congrats on at least trying to address a problem. We won’t TRY to address our o-line………
Starrs Mill Jacket
October 25th, 2012
6:08 pm
@Wreckbone — 37 is one of the toughest kids I have ever been around. plays hurt, NEVER complains, and would suit up at ANY position to help the team. He is more a natural A than a B, trust me…. seen him slice up the field and outrun a lot of defensive backfields that thought he couldn’t move fast…you’ll see …
Smyrna Gold
October 25th, 2012
9:12 pm
Pathetic program, pathetic fans. And a pathetic coach that cannot recruit enough talent to be competitive in the ACC. The apathy of GT fans is really disheartening. This program has fallen behind Duke, Vanderbilt, MTSU, Wake Forest, etal. And we have the audacity to think Tech can beat BYU. One more victory this year. (maybe)