Aug. 24, 2007
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Georgia Tech
Yellow Jackets (0-0)
at
Notre Dame
Fighting Irish (0-0)
September 1, 2007 / 3:30 p.m. (ET) / NBC
Notre Dame Stadium (80,795) / South Bend, Ind.
Georgia Tech ramblinwreck.com
Record: 0-0 overall, 0-0 in the ACC
National Ranking: Receiving votes for the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll
Head Coach: Chan Gailey
Alma Mater: Florida (1974)
Gailey’s Record at Georgia Tech: 37-27 (5 seasons)
Gailey’s Career Record: 61-38 (8 seasons)
Media Contact: Dean Buchan
Office: (404) 894-6283 / Cell: (404) 295-8703
E-Mail: dbuchan@athletics.gatech.edu
Notre Dame und.com
Record: 0-0
National Ranking: Receiving votes for the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll
Head Coach: Charlie Weis
Alma Mater: Notre Dame (1978)
Weis’ Record at ND: 19-6 (2 seasons)
Weis’ Record Overall: 19-6 (2 seasons)
Media Contact: Brian Hardin
Office: (574) 631-9471 / Cell: (574) 532-4134
E-Mail: bhardin2@nd.edu
Television: NBC. Bob Papa (play-by-play), Pat Haden (color) and Alex Flanagan (sidelines) call the action. David Gibson is the producer and John Gonzalez is the director.
Television: Tape delay on Comcast Sports South. Joe Block (play-by-play) and Dorsey Levens (color) call the action.
Radio: Georgia Tech ISP Network, including Atlanta flagship WQXI-AM 790 The Zone. Wes Durham is in his 13th season as play-by-play voice. Former Atlanta Falcons great Jeff Van Note is the color analyst, while former Tech and NFL quarterback Rick Strom reports from the sideline. XM Channels 191-194.
Live Statistics: Gametracker on RamblinWreck.com.
Series History: Notre Dame leads 27-5-1
Officials: Announced on game day.
Tickets: Sold out.
Experienced Yellow Jackets Open Season At Notre Dame
Georgia Tech, which returns 17 starters from a team that won the ACC Coastal Division last fall, kicks off the 2007 season Sept. 1 at Notre Dame (3:30 p.m. ET/NBC).
Both teams played — and lost — in January bowl games and both the Yellow Jackets and Irish lost NFL first-round draft picks.
The Yellow Jackets, who finished 9-5 in 2006 and appeared in their 10th consecutive bowl game, lost 38-35 to West Virginia in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Notre Dame returns 10 starters from a team that finished 10-3 and lost to LSU Jan. 3 in the Sugar Bowl.
The two teams met in the 2006 season opener in Atlanta with Notre Dame coming away with a 14-10 victory. The Irish lead the all-time series, 27-5-1. (More on the series history on page 3)
Georgia Tech, beginning its 115th season of football, is 78-32-4 all-time in season openers and has won six out of its last eight openers.
Tech, Notre Dame Share Some Similarities
Besides the gold helmets, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame share other similarities:
– Both teams lost high-profile players drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson was the No. 2 pick by the Detroit Lions. Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn went No. 22 to the Cleveland Browns.
– Both teams have new coordinators. John Bond directs the Yellow Jacket offense and Corwin Brown the Fighting Irish defense.
– Tech and Notre Dame both have head coaches with NFL backgrounds. Georgia Tech’s Chan Gailey, in his fifth year with the Yellow Jackets, coached 16 years in the professional ranks including two as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis, in his third season with the Irish, was an assistant coach, and later coordinator, in the NFL from 1990 to 2004.
What’s Back In 2007
Georgia Tech returns 17 starters, including kicker Travis Bell and punter Durant Brooks.
Gone is All-American wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who last year caught 76 passes for 1,202 yards and 15 touchdowns. Also gone is quarterback Reggie Ball, a four-year starter. The Jackets also took hits at tight end and cornerback.
The strength of the Yellow Jackets is its defense, which returns eight starters including All-ACC performers Adamm Oliver (DT), Philip Wheeler (LB) and Jamal Lewis (DB).
The offense is led by senior running back Tashard Choice, who led the ACC in rushing last season with 1,473 yards. Junior Taylor Bennett, who started in the Gator Bowl, is at quarterback.
