Live (but not so well) from Chapel Hill: Tech needs this one
What every pretty stadium needs: More construction! More luxury suites! (Photo by M. Bradley)
Chapel Hill, N.C. — At the risk of conveying a tad too much information, I can tell you that, as of 8 a.m., I’d decided I wouldn’t be covering this game. I’d fallen ill during the night, and the morning brought no relief. But I finally fell asleep for an hour or so, and I awoke feeling, if not refreshed, then at least able to walk without it hurting.
So here I am, ensconced in the press box atop lovely Kenan Stadium, which is a tad less lovelier this visit. The old fieldhouse that sat behind the South end zone has been razed, replaced by trailers and scaffolding and, unless my eyes deceive me, a green Port-a-Potty. The idea is to build new end-zone luxury suites, which will push Kenan’s capacity to 63,000.
About the game: Georgia Tech needs this one. It stunk out the joint at Kansas, which just lost again. (The KU season to date: Lost to North Dakota State, beat Tech, lost to Southern Miss.) But nobody knows what to make of North Carolina, which nearly ran down LSU in the Dome without 13 players and will function down 12 this week.
Beat Carolina and Tech will be 1-0 in the ACC and, more important, 1-0 in the Coastal Division. Beat Carolina and Al Groh will be happier, if not to say happy. Beat Carolina and Tech — its misadventure at Lawrence notwithstanding — will have given itself a shot at defending its conference title.
And I hope to be here to watch and report. Join me for a day of high-level ACC football — that’s not an oxymoron, is it? — and I’ll do my darnedest to muddle through. I thank you, as ever, in advance.
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715 comments Add your comment
2BT
September 18th, 2010
11:46 am
Let’s get it! Bring home a ‘W’ Mark!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 18th, 2010
11:46 am
not feeling good mark?
2BT
September 18th, 2010
11:46 am
Have they played ‘Hell’s Bells’ yet?
Russell0931
September 18th, 2010
11:48 am
Go Jackets!
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
11:48 am
Mark, you drew the short straw on assignments this weekend, huh?
2BT
September 18th, 2010
11:48 am
We gotta smack Yates in the mouth a couple of times early in the game. Nothing would be better than to win the toss, defer to the 2nd half, and force them on a 3 and out.
2BT
September 18th, 2010
11:49 am
todd, just worry about keeping ARK from throwing over 500 yds ok Tonto?
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
11:51 am
2BT, dont tell me how to do my job, son
5150 P.O.A.D
September 18th, 2010
11:51 am
Tech in the Coastal? I know I can see the Sea and the beach from my back porch. Well, the Sea of concrete and Steel and a bunch of Some Beaches on the Hightway.
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
11:52 am
Mark, all this traveling for a 55 year old, one kneed man must be catching up with you.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 18th, 2010
11:52 am
Todd you don’t know how to do your job and that is why you have to keep finding new ones every year or so.
2BT
September 18th, 2010
11:54 am
dad? Really? Sure thing Tonto.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
11:54 am
It is, todd.
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
11:55 am
5150, not at all. the money gets better with each stop. best, todd
louisville slugger
September 18th, 2010
11:56 am
MB. have you gotten a sense of the mood of the team?
mountain_jim
September 18th, 2010
11:58 am
Page views for Mark! (and go GT! Show me something to get enthused about this week how ’bout it?)
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:01 pm
Honesty compels me to note that I was later than usual to the stadium, louisville slugger, and haven’t been around the coaches or the players.
louisville slugger
September 18th, 2010
12:02 pm
And to answer your question from an earlier blog, I do like the Braves chances for the wild card, but not the division. Braves vs. Phillies in the LCS, and I wouldn’t bet against the Phils, too much starting pitching.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:05 pm
I wouldn’t beat against the Phils, either, louisville slugger.
Jesse Stone
September 18th, 2010
12:06 pm
Phils are due for a slump……aren’t they?
Jesse Stone
September 18th, 2010
12:06 pm
TD ARKANSAS!!!
mtraininjax
September 18th, 2010
12:09 pm
Mark, look forward to your info, ESPN3, formerly ESPN360 has the game blacked out here in Florida, like we all want to watch the Canes, Gators or Noles. Hope you feel better.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:09 pm
Phils have been due for a slump for about three months, Jesse
Jesse Stone
September 18th, 2010
12:10 pm
mtraininjax- the game was not listed here in Jupiter, Fl, but raycom has it. Check and make sure
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
12:10 pm
Georgia already behind 7-0 on a 57 yard td pass. good grief
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:11 pm
Thanks, mtraininjax.
Tech kicks off to the Heels. We’re underway.
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:11 pm
one
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:12 pm
two
Jesse Stone
September 18th, 2010
12:12 pm
would like to see an old student of mine, Julian Burnett get more snaps on defense.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:13 pm
Third down for UNC. It converts. Yates scrambles and hits an open man
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:13 pm
Doh! No 3 and out.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:14 pm
Another third down.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:15 pm
And another conversion. Yates tossing darts.
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:15 pm
Dangit! 2 of 2 on 3rd down conversions and BOTH were 5+ yards!
Jesse Stone
September 18th, 2010
12:15 pm
pass rush is non-existent
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:15 pm
Carolina inside the Tech 40
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:17 pm
Heels looking strong for a team minus a dozen.
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:17 pm
Agree Jesse. Bring some heat with the Sandy Creek phenom (I. Johnson). He was impressive during the summer.
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
12:17 pm
Dogs tied it on a beautiful drive. Murray scored on a keeper.
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:18 pm
Illegal substitution on GT. Carolina’s quick snap caught the Jackets in a change.
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
12:19 pm
Richt’s actually letting Murray throw the ball down the field
Jesse Stone
September 18th, 2010
12:20 pm
Can’t shed blocks + poor tackling = bad defense
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:20 pm
Third and three at the 5
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:20 pm
and we care, Tonto, because………….!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:20 pm
Nice stand!
Mark Bradley
September 18th, 2010
12:21 pm
Tech stops Carolina, forces a field goal. Long drive — more than 7 1/2 minutes — for only three pts.
2BT
September 18th, 2010
12:21 pm
They want a shootout, let’s give em one.
louisville slugger
September 18th, 2010
12:22 pm
Still too many yards after contact, but a good stop nonetheless…
Paul's Johnson
September 18th, 2010
12:23 pm
Mark, miss you here in Athens today.
Joe Schmoe
September 18th, 2010
12:23 pm
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PLEASE KEEP WALL OUT OF THE GAME…. Leave TJ in… He is a diffrence maker.