#10-GEORGIA TECH (1-0) at #1-Florida State (1-0)
Sept. 11, 1999 8 p.m.
Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.
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ALL-TIME RECORD
Now in its 107th season of intercollegiate football, Georgia Tech has an all-time record of 585-397-43 (.591). Entering the 1999 season, Tech ranked 20th among Division I-A teams in all-time victories.
HEAD COACH GEORGE O’LEARY
Now in his fifth full season as Georgia Tech’s head coach, George O’Leary was officially named the Institute’s 10th head coach on Nov. 28, 1994, three weeks after being elevated from defensive coordinator to interim head coach.
The 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, O’Leary originally joined the Tech staff in 1987 and spent five years as defensive coordinator under former head coach Bobby Ross. He then coached two seasons (1992-93) under Ross with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers before returning to Tech as defensive coordinator in January of 1994.
A 30-year veteran of professional, collegiate and high school coaching, O’Leary has a record of 29-21 (.580), including a 21-14 (.600) mark in ACC games.
HIGHEST PRESEASON RANKING SINCE 1991
Georgia Tech’s No. 11 ranking in the preseason AP and ESPN/USA Today coaches’ polls was the Yellow Jackets’ highest preseason ranking since 1991. Following the 1990 national championship, Tech entered 1991 ranked sixth by USA Today and eighth by AP.
SIX IN A ROW, 14 OF LAST 17
Georgia Tech enters the Florida State contest with a six-game winning streak. The last team to beat the Yellow Jackets was the Seminoles, and since the 34-7 loss to then sixth-ranked FSU, Tech has knocked off Maryland, Clemson, Wake Forest, 12th-ranked Georgia, 17th-ranked Notre Dame in the Toyota Gator Bowl, and Navy last week.
Tech has won 11 of its last 12 games and 14 of its last 17.
just GEORGIA TECH, please
Georgia Tech University? It sounds official, but it’s incorrect. Georgia Institute of Technology is the official name, but Georgia Tech works just fine. Georgia Tech is one of only five schools in NCAA Division I-A that do not have the word “University” in their official title. The others are Army, Navy, Air Force and Boston College.
THE SERIES WITH FLORIDA STATE
The series between Georgia Tech and Florida State is tied at 7-7-1, but the Seminoles have won all seven meetings since joining the ACC in 1992. The Jackets have lost all three meetings in Tallahassee, including a 38-0 loss in 1997 on their last trip to Doak Campbell Stadium.
LAST MEETING WITH FLORIDA STATE
In 1998 in Atlanta, Peter Warrick scored three touchdowns, including two in an eight-minute span in the fourth quarter, to lead sixth-ranked Florida State to a 34-7 victory over 19th-ranked Georgia Tech. Tech jumped to an early lead by taking the opening kickoff and driving 80 yards on 18 plays and more than nine minutes, capped by Phillip Rogers’ two-yard dive. Tech trailed just 10-7 after three quarters before Warrick scored on an eight-yard reception and a 16-yard reverse, and Lavernues Coles added a 60-yard scoring run.
GEORGIA TECH VS. NO. 1
Georgia Tech has a 2-8-1 record when playing the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. The Yellow Jackets defeated top-ranked Virginia, 41-38, on Nov. 3, 1990 in Charlottesville, Va., and No. 1 Alabama, 7-6, on Nov. 17, 1962 in Atlanta. In addition, Tech tied top-ranked Notre Dame, 3-3, on Nov. 8, 1980 at Grant Field.
Tech fell to top-ranked Florida State teams in 1995 (42-10) and 1993 (51-0), both times in Tallahassee.
This is the highest ranked Tech team to take on a No. 1 team since 1953, when the fourth-ranked Yellow Jackets fell at No. 1 Notre Dame, 27-14.
SEVEN IN A ROW ON THE ROAD
Georgia Tech’s win at Navy last week was its seventh consecutive road victory, dating back to the 1997 Duke game. Tech’s last road loss was at Virginia, 35-31, on Nov. 8, 1997.
Tech’s seven-game road winning streak is the third-longest in school history. The only longer road winning streaks were an eight-game streak from 1950-52 and an 11-game streak over the 1908-13 seasons.
Including bowl game victories over West Virginia and Notre Dame, the Jackets have won nine consecutive games away from home.
SCORING BIG ON THE ROAD
Georgia Tech’s 49-14 victory at Navy represented the Rambling Wreck’s second-highest scoring output ever in a road game. The only game in which Tech scored more points on the road was a 71-6 win at Chattanooga on Oct. 11, 1913.
IN A RUSH
With six backs gaining at least 35 yards, Georgia Tech rolled up 341 yards rushing in last week’s 49-14 victory over Navy. That was Tech’s best rushing effort since the Jackets gained 411 in a 1993 win over Maryland, when the Tech backfield featured Dorsey Levens and William Bell.
The Navy game was the second time in the last four contests that the Jackets have gained over 300 yards rushing, following a 319-yard outing last season against Wake Forest.
Over the last four games, Tech has averaged 273.8 yards rushing per game.
AWARDS CHECKLIST
Quarterback Joe Hamilton, split end Dez White, free safety Travares Tillman and linebacker Chris Edwards are preseason nominees for the awards at their positions.
Hamilton, Tech’s Heisman Trophy candidate, is one of 16 nominees for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top senior quarterback.
White, a junior from Orange Park, Fla., is a preseason nominee for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s outstanding receiver. Last season, he was one of 10 semifinalists for the honor after catching 46 passes for a school record 976 yards and nine touchdowns.
A senior from Lyons, Ga., Tillman is on the preseason checklist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to college football’s outstanding defensive back. He is Tech’s top returning tackler with 82 hits, and his 180 career tackles rank first in the ACC and eighth in the nation among returning defensive backs.
Edwards was named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. The senior from Warthen, Ga., made 53 tackles last fall.
NATION’S WINNINGEST BOWL TEAM
With its 35-28 victory over Notre Dame in the 1999 Toyota Gator Bowl, Georgia Tech improved the nation’s top record in bowl games to 19-8 for a winning percentage of .704. Penn State is second with a 22-11-2 (.657) record.
Tech ranks sixth all-time in bowl victories with 19 and 13th in appearances with 26.
The Jackets have won five straight bowl games, including the 1997 Carquest Bowl, 1991 Aloha Bowl, 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl and 1985 All-American Bowl. Tech’s last loss in a bowl was a 41-21 defeat by Purdue in the 1978 Peach Bowl.
In 1955, the Jackets became the first team to win each of the four traditional major bowlsRose, Orange, Sugar and Cottonand Tech remains one of only five schools to accomplish this feat. Alabama (1962), Notre Dame (1975), Georgia (1960) and Penn State (1995) are the others.
BEST BOWL WINNING PERCENTAGE 1. GEORGIA TECH 19-8 .704 2. Penn State 22-11-2 .657 3. Southern Cal 25-14 .641 4. Oklahoma 20-11-1 .641 5. Florida State 16-9-2 .630 6. Arizona State 10-6-1 .618 7. Alabama 28-18-3 .602 8. Mississippi 16-11 .593 9. Auburn 14-10-2 .577 10. Notre Dame 13-10 .565
CARMAN EARNS THIRD STRAIGHT LINEMAN OF THE WEEK HONOR
Offensive tackle Jon Carman earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in Tech’s win over Navy. The 6-8, 335-pound senior graded 95 percent with five RBI (great plays) as he paved the way for 341 yards rushing and 487 yards of total offense. Tech’s 341-yard effort was its best rushing output since 1993.
Carman has been the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his last three games. He also earned the honor for the final two weeks of 1998 as he helped Tech to wins over Georgia (241 yards rushing, 411 yards total offense ) and Wake Forest (319 rushing, 524 total offense).
FLORIDA NATIVES
The Georgia Tech roster has more players from Florida17than any state except Georgia. Starters from Florida include split end Dez White (Orange Park), center Noah King (Panama City), tight end Conrad Andrzejewski (Wellington), punter Dan Dyke (Winter Springs) and cornerbacks Jamara Clark (Bradenton) and Selwyn Scott (Boynton Beach). Tech also has two reserves from Tallahassee in cornerback Derrick Dudley (Florida High)) and defensive end Ira Claxton (Godby High).
A MODEL OF EFFICIENCY
Joe Hamilton owns the top pass efficiency rating in school history at 137.7, which is also the sixth-best mark in ACC history. The current school record is 134.6 by Toppy Vann from 1953-56, while the ACC standard is held by Thad Busby of Florida State at 144.89.
Hamilton’s numbers over the last three seasons are even more impressive. Since the beginning of his sophomore season, the Alvin, S.C., native has an efficiency rating of 145.28. During that time, he has averaged 200.8 yards passing and 236.3 yards of total offense per game while completing 60.7 percent of his passes. Hamilton has thrown 31 touchdown passes against just 15 interceptions over the last two-plus seasons.
SCORING POINTS
Over its last 17 contests, including two bowl games, Georgia Tech has averaged 34.2 points per game. Not coincidentally, the Yellow Jackets have won 14 of those 17 games.
Tech, which scored over 40 points in five straight games last season, has been held under 20 points just once in the last 18 games, a 34-7 loss to Florida State last season. The Jackets have failed to score at least 30 points only four times during that stretch.
TRUE FRESHMEN EARN STARTING NODS
Georgia Tech started three true freshmenall on defenseagainst Navy in cornerback Selwyn Scott, defensive end Greg Gathers and linebacker Recardo Wimbush.
The last time Tech started three true freshmen was in 1983, when several different rookies were in the lineup at various times during the season, including cornerback Reginald Rutland, tackle John Davis, tailback Cory Collier, safety Anthony Harrison and flanker Gary Lee.
Seven other true freshmen saw action in safety Jeremy Muyres, flanker Will Glover, defensive end Fred Wright, offensive guard Raymond Roberts-Blake, placekicker Luke Manget, kickoff specialist Philip Newman, and Kelley Rhino on special teams.
GATHERS IMPRESSIVE IN DEBUT
True freshman defensive end Greg Gathers made an impressive debut against Navy. Earning a spot in the starting lineup, Gathers collected nine tackles, including six primary hits. He sacked the Navy quarterback twice for 14 yards, causing and recovering a fumble at the Navy 44-yard line on the second sack. He also had one other tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
FATHERS AND SONS
Georgia Tech’s incoming freshman class includes the sons of two of the greatest players in Rambling Wreck history. Freshman running back Kelley Rhino is the son of Randy Rhino, the only three-time all-America in Tech history. Randy, a defensive back and punt return specialist, earned all-America honors in 1972-73-74. Kelley’s grandfather, Chappell Rhino, and uncle Danny Rhino also starred for the Rambling Wreck. Freshman cornerback Eric Lavette is the son of Robert Lavette, Tech’s all-time leading rusher. Lavette starred for the Jackets from 1981-84, and his 4,066 yards rushing is the third-best total in ACC history.
Some prominent father-son combos in Tech history:
SON FATHEREric Lavette (CB, 1999) Robert Lavette (RB, 1981-84)Kelley Rhino (RB, 1999) Randy Rhino (DB, 1972-74)Randy Rhino (DB, 1972-74) Chappell Rhino (1950-52)Coleman Rudolph(DT, 1989-92) Jack Rudolph (1957-59) Jay Martin (SS, 1986-90) Billy Martin (E, 1961-63)
BROTHERLY LOVE
This year’s team features two sets of brothers in senior running back Philip Rogers and sophomore linebacker Nick Rogers, as well as junior receiver Jon Muyres and freshman safety Jeremy Muyres. Last season, the Rogers became the first pair of brothers to play for the Yellow Jackets at the same time since 1986, when Anthony Harrison was a senior starter at free safety, while his brother Danny was a freshman linebacker.
Phillip and Nick Rogers are the first pair of brothers to start for the Yellow Jackets at the same time since Randy and Danny Rhino in 1974.
Recent brother combinations to play for the Jackets:
Rogers Phillip (TB, 1995-present) Nick (LB, 1998-present)Muyres Jon (SE, 1996-present) Jeremy (FS, 1999-present)Williams Rodney (P, 1995-98) Marlon (OLB, 1990-93)Stallworth Dexter (QB, 1994-96) Cedric (CB, 1985-88)Travis Mike (DB, 1982-85) Scott (LB, 1990-92)Harrison Anthony (DB, 1983-86) Danny (LB, 1987-89)Swilling Pat (OLB, 1982-85) Darrell (LB, 1988-91)Malone Ralph (DT, 1982-85) George (OLB, 1985-88)Rhino Randy (DB, 1972-74) Danny (DB, 1974-76)
O’LEARY TOPS IN ACC WINS
Georgia Tech’s 41-13 win over Duke in 1998 gave head coach George O’Leary more Atlantic Coast Conference victories than any other Tech head coach. O’Leary is now 21-14 (.600) in conference games. He passed his former boss, Bobby Ross, who posted a 15-18-1 ACC record from 1987-91. Bill Curry was 13-8-1 in ACC games from 1983-86 (Tech became eligible for the ACC championship in 1983).
ROGERS ON THE RUN
Tailback Phillip Rogers got his senior season off to a good start as he rushed for a career-best 80 yards and three touchdowns in Tech’s season-opening win over Navy.
Rogers’ big day pushed raised his career rushing total to 1,034 yards. He became the 27th player in Tech historyand the second on this year’s squad, along with quarterback Joe Hamiltonwith 1,000 yards rushing.
WHITE IN SELECT COMPANY Split end Dez White is in select company as one of just three players in Georgia Tech history who have returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. The junior from Orange Park, Fla., had a 100-yard return last season against Maryland and a 95-yarder versus Duke as a freshman, joining Drew Hill and Gary Lee.
White’s 100-yard return equals the second-longest return in Tech history. Drew Hill had a 100-yard return against Georgia in 1978, but the Tech record is 102 by Dewey Scarboro vs. Georgetown in 1919.
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE
Georgia Tech’s Sept. 30 home date with Maryland will be the Jackets’ ninth appearance in an ESPN Thursday night telecast in the 1990s. Tech has a 4-4 record in its ESPN Thursday night games, including last year’s 24-21 victory at Clemson.
In addition to the eight ESPN dates, the Jackets have also played two other Thursday prime-time games in recent years, defeating Virginia, 31-27, in 1983 on TBS and falling to Arizona, 20-19, in 1995 on Prime. Counting Thanksgiving, Tech’s record on Thursday is 26-17-2.
ESPN THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES
Year Opponent Result Att1991 #20 Virginia hW 24-21 42,1921993 #25 Virginia hL 35-14 42,1001994 #7 Arizona hL 19-14 45,1121995 #16 Maryland hW 31-3 44,1371996 Duke hW 48-22 44,1451996 at Maryland aL 13-10 22,5101997 #5 North Carolina hL 16-13 45,1261998 at Clemson aW 24-21 62,0001999 Maryland (home) Sept. 30 8 p.m.
NO ROOM TO RUN
Stopping the run means usually means success for Georgia Tech under head coach George O’Leary. Since O’Leary took over the Tech program in 1995, the Jackets have held 15 opponents under 100 yards rushing, and Tech is 13-2 in those games.
Game Result Yds (Att.)Georgia, 1998 W 21-19 91 (28)Wake Forest, 1998 W 63-35 61 (26)West Virginia, 1997 (Carquest Bowl) W 35-30 56 (22)Maryland, 1997 W 37-18 99 (41)Florida State, 1997 L 38-0 98 (29)Wake Forest, 1997 W 28-26 55 (22)Central Florida, 1996 W 27-20 52 (36)Duke, 1996 W 48-22 83 (31)Wake Forest, 1996 W 30-10 22 (19)Wake Forest, 1995 W 24-23 30 (17)North Carolina, 1995 W 27-25 68 (24)Duke, 1995 W 37-21 72 (24)Maryland, 1995 W 31-3 -30 (24)Arizona, 1995 L 20-19 13 (28)Furman, 1995 W 51-7 47 (35)
O’LEARY RUNS THE SHOW
Of the ten best single-game performances by the Georgia Tech defense against the run, George O’Leary has been involved in five of them, either as head coach or defensive coordinator.
Tech’s school record for rushing yards allowed is minus-30 yards against Maryland in 1995, O’Leary’s first full season as head coach. That performance broke the previous record of minus-20 yards set against Maryland in 1990, when O’Leary was defensive coordinator. Other top games in the O’Leary era include 10 yards by Duke in 1991, 13 by Arizona in 1995 and 22 by Wake Forest in 1996.
SMOKING TOBACCO ROAD
Georgia Tech has won seven of its last eight games in the state of North Carolina. Beginning with the 1995 season, Tech has recorded two wins over Duke (1995 and 1997), Wake Forest (1995 and 1997), and NC State (1996 and 1998) and one against North Carolina (1998). Tech’s lone defeat on Tobacco Road during that stretch was a 16-0 loss at North Carolina in 1996.
WINNING RECORDS VS. SEVEN ACC FOES
Georgia Tech has an even or winning record against every team in the Atlantic Coast Conference except North Carolina. Tech’s all-time records against each ACC school: Clemson, 41-20-2; Duke, 36-29-1; Florida State, 7-7-1; Maryland, 8-3; North Carolina, 15-16-3; NC State, 11-7; Virginia, 11-9-1; Wake Forest, 16-5.
ROOF RETURNS TO FLATS
Ted Roof, one of the top defensive players in Georgia Tech annals, is in his first year as the Rambling Wreck’s defensive coordinator. Roof returned to his alma mater in 1998 as an assistant coach. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native coaches Tech’s linebackers, the position that he played on the Flats from 1982-85. He was a captain of Tech’s 1985 All-American Bowl team and a member of the Black Watch defense. Roof was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
OLDEST, AND WINNINGEST, I-A STADIUM Built in 1913 and now in its 87th season, Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field is the oldest on-campus stadium in NCAA Division I-A. In fact, the only older on-campus facilities in the nation are Harvard Stadium and Penn’s Franklin Field. The next oldest I-A stadium is Mississippi State’s Scott Field, built in 1915. Tech has a record of 389-163-23 (.697) at its home facility.
Not only is Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field the oldest on-campus stadium, but it is also the site of more victories by the home team than any other facility. Since 1913 Georgia Tech has 389 wins at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field, leading Harvard (372) and Tennessee (367).
Oldest Stadiums Division I-A Only
Georgia Tech (Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field) 1913Mississippi State (Scott Field) 1915Cincinnati (Nippert Stadium) 1916Wisconsin (Camp Randall Stadium) 1917Washington (Husky Stadium) 1920All StadiumsPenn (Franklin Field) 1895Harvard (Harvard Stadium) 1903Georgia Tech (Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field) 1913Yale (Yale Bowl) 1914Mississippi State (Scott Field) 1915
O’Leary is Tech’s 10th Head Coach
Even though Georgia Tech has played football for more than 100 years, head coach George O’Leary is just the 10th full-time head coach in Rambling Wreck history.
Only UNLV (7), Houston (8), Florida State (8) and Air Force (8) have had fewer head coaches than Tech, but none began playing football before 1946. By comparison, the Yellow Jackets’ 10 full-time head coaches have spanned a period of 96 years (1904-99). In fact, from 1904 through 1966, Tech employed just three coaches in John Heisman (1904-19), William Alexander (1920-44) and Bobby Dodd (1945-66), all of whom are in the Hall of Fame.
EXPERIENCED COACHING STAFF
Georgia Tech’s coaching staff has eight years of experience in the National Football League, led by Ralph Friedgen’s five years (1992-96) with the San Diego Chargers. Friedgen served as offensive coordinator his final three years in San Diego, including the Super Bowl season of 1994. Head coach George O’Leary spent two years (1992-93) as the Chargers’ defensive line coach. Tight ends coach Eddie Wilson was on the Kansas City Chiefs’ staff in 1974.
SHAW JOINS PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
Former Yellow Jacket Billy Shaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in July of 1999. Shaw was a standout offensive guard with the Buffalo Bills from 1961-69, a five-time all-AFL selection who was named to the AFL’s All-Time Team. The Mississippi native lettered for the Jackets from 1958-60 under legendary head coach Bobby Dodd and earned all-SEC honors in 1959 and 1960.
Tech’s only other member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is Joe Guyon, a consensus all-America for the Jackets in 1918 who is also in the College Football Hall of Fame.
