Sept. 21, 2005
ATLANTA-Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball remains questionable for the 15th-ranked Yellow Jackets’ (3-0, 1-0 ACC) game at No. 4 Virginia Tech (3-0, 2-0), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ABC-TV) at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va.
Ball, who is recovering from a bout with viral meningitis, again participated in practice Wednesday with limited reps.
“Reggie did the same thing on the field today that he did yesterday,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey. “He did not do more today.
“I think we are still wait-and-see. I can still see both guys (Ball and backup Taylor Bennett) playing in the ballgame.
:I think we’re still at 50-50. I don’t think it’s gone up.”
Gailey did not speculate at this point on how much Ball might be able to play, if he is able to play at all.
“Let’s see how he feels after practice today and let’s see if he can do more tomorrow,” Gailey said. “They tell us he’ll get stronger every day, so I think we have to wait and see if he’s going to be able to play a majority of the game, or any of the game.”
Ball’s backup is the redshirt freshman lefthander Bennett, who threw a touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson on his first collegiate snap in Tech’s 28-13 win over Connecticut last Saturday.
“I’ve told the team, Hey, it doesn’t matter who walks on the field,” said Gailey. “You have to get ready to play; it does not matter who’s in the game and who’s not in the game.”
Bennett is getting the majority of the work with the first team, unlike last week when he only found out he would be starting hours before the game.
“He feels tremendously more comfortable,” said Gailey of Bennett. “If you practice with those guys, they become accustomed to you and you become accustomed to them.”
Defensive end Eric Henderson and starting tight end Mike Matthews are also questionable for the Yellow Jackets.
“Eric had limited drill work today as well,” said Gailey. “Mike Matthews is probably getting better faster than anybody.”
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