Oct. 8, 2007
Tech, Miami Attempt To Get Back On Track Saturday
Georgia Tech and Miami, both coming off narrow ACC road losses, meet Saturday at the Orange Bowl and in front of a national-television audience (Noon/ESPN).
The Yellow Jackets, 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the ACC, are searching for a much-needed victory after losing three of their last four. Tech lost at Maryland, 28-26, last Saturday despite dominating the game statistically.
Tashard Choice ran for 135 yards and Taylor Bennett threw for a season-high 309 yards against Maryland, but the Yellow Jackets’ hopes ended when Travis Bell’s 52-yard field goal attempt with less than a minute remaining sailed just right of the goalposts.
Miami, 4-2 and 1-1, dug itself a 27-0 halftime hole against North Carolina last week, then saw a furious second-half rally fall short in a 33-27 loss in Chapel Hill.
Patrick Nix, in his first season as Miami’s offensive coordinator, served as Georgia Tech’s offensive coordinator from 2002-06.
Saturday’s game will be the first Tech-Miami game since 1978 in which at least one of the teams are not nationally ranked.
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 8-4. The Yellow Jackets have won the last two meetings, including a 30-23 victory in Atlanta last season (more series history on page three).
Yellow Jackets To Play In Old Orange Bowl For Final Time
Miami will move its home games to Ft. Lauderdale next season meaning Saturday’s game will be Tech’s final one in old Orange Bowl Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets are 3-3 all-time in the facility, including a 1-1 mark against Miami. Tech went 2-2 in actual Orange Bowl postseason games from 1945 to 1967. The Jackets’ 1940 Orange Bowl game was played at Burdine Stadium.
How The Yellow Jackets Stack Up Against The Hurricanes
– Saturday’s game features two of the top 10 teams in the nation when it comes to sacking the quarterback. Georgia Tech ranks second nationally with 25 sacks. Miami ranks ninth with 22 sacks.
– Miami’s ability to get to the quarterback should test the Yellow Jacket offensive line, which leads the ACC and ranks second nationally with just four sacks allowed on the season.
– Georgia Tech and Miami are two of the ACC’s top-rushing teams. The Yellow Jackets (199.3 ypg) lead the league in rushing, while the Hurricanes (156.2 ypg) rank third.
– Both teams rank in the upper-third of the ACC in total defense. Tech (302.3 ypg allowed) ranks second in the league, while Miami (308.7) ranks fourth.
– Georgia Tech leads the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing less than 16 yards per return. Meanwhile, Miami’s Ryan Hill leads the ACC in kick returns at 26.7 yards per attempt.
– Tech’s Tashard Choice leads the ACC in rushing (106.0 ypg) while Miami’s Graig Cooper (69.7 ypg) and Javarris James (58.2 ypg) are combining for more than 125 yards per contest.
They Lead The Nation
Georgia Tech leads the nation, or is tied for the lead, in five different statistical categories.
The Yellow Jackets rank first in net punting, tackles-for-loss, kickoff return defense, fewest fumbles lost and fewest interceptions thrown.
Georgia Tech-Miami Series History
– Georgia Tech leads, 8-4.
– The Yellow Jackets won the last meeting, 30-23, on Oct. 28, 2006 in Atlanta.
– Georgia Tech also won the last meeting in Miami, 14-10, on Nov. 19, 2005. The Hurricanes entered that game ranked No. 3 nationally.
– Tech has won six out of the last eight meetings, but the two teams have split the last four meetings.
– Four of the last six meetings have been decided by seven points or less.
– Prior to Miami joining the ACC, the Hurricanes beat the Yellow Jackets in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, 2000, 28-13.
– The two teams have split the only two previous meetings in Miami. Tech won the most recent meeting, in 2005. The only other meeting in Miami was a Hurricane victory in 1967.
– Tech and the `Canes will meet on the gridiron for the fourth consecutive season.
– The first meeting between the two teams was a 14-6 Georgia Tech victory on Sept. 17, 1955 in Atlanta.
– Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey is 2-1 all-time vs. Miami.
– Miami coach Randy Shannon is in his first season as a head coach.
Jacket-‘Cane Connections
– Georgia Tech sophomore safety Jake Blackwood and his family have many ties to the city of Miami. Blackwood’s father, Glenn, played with the Miami Dolphins from 1979-87. His uncle, Lyle, played with the Dolphins from 1981-86.
– Georgia Tech’s Philip Wheeler and Miami’s Jerrell Mabry both went to Shaw High School in Columbus, Ga.
– Miami offensive coordinator Patrick Nix served in a similar capacity under Chan Gailey at Georgia Tech from 2002 to 2006.
– Hurricane running backs coach Tommie Robinson coached the Georgia Tech tight ends from 2002 to 2005.
– Nix was head coach at Henderson State in 1999 and 2000. In 2000, Georgia Tech special teams coach Charles Kelly served as Henderson State’s defensive coordinator.
– Nix and Kelly also worked together at Jacksonville State. Nix was Jacksonville State’s passing game coordinator from 1996 to 1998. Kelly was the Gamecocks’ defensive coordinator from 1994 to 1998.
– In 2003, Miami defensive coordinator Tim Walton was coaching the defensive backs at LSU. At that time, current Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich was working at LSU as senior associate athletic director.
– Tech offensive coordinator John Bond and Miami wide receivers coach Marquis Mosely coached together at Northern Illinois in 2004 and 2005. Bond was the Huskies’ offensive coordinator and Mosely coach of the wide receivers.
– Bond and Mosely were also on the same staff at Army in 2002 and 2003.
– In 1998 and 1999, Georgia Tech’s Chan Gailey served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. On his staff were current Miami running backs coach Tommie Robinson and current Yellow Jacket assistant coach Buddy Geis. Also on the staff was Yellow Jacket running backs coach Curtis Modkins, who was serving as an intern for the Cowboys.
– Robinson and Modkins worked together at TCU from 1995 to 1997.
Tech Dominated Statistically, But Lost At Maryland, 28-26
Georgia Tech had twice as many first downs (24-12), more rushing yards (175-88), more passing yards (309-255), committed just one turnover and dominated time of possession (37:19) in last Saturday’s 28-26 loss at Maryland.
