Aug. 30, 2005
The 2005 Georgia Tech football season will get underway on Saturday, Sept. 3, in Auburn, Ala., as the Yellow Jackets face No. 16 Auburn at 8:45 p.m. ET in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN and broadcast on Atlanta flagship radio 790 The Zone (WQXI-AM 790).
The Jackets are coming off a 7-5 season, including their eighth straight bowl game appearance where Tech defeated Syracuse 51-14 in the Champ Sports Bowl. The Tigers finished ’04 with a perfect 13-0 record and a Southeastern Conference title. Auburn is No. 16 in the preseason rankings and currently owns the nation’s third longest winning streak at 15 games (Southern California – 22, Utah – 16).
“I’ve never had to convince our guys that they can win a game,” said Gailey. “Three years ago, when we went to North Carolina State, they were 9-0, and we went up to their place, and guess what, we won. I’ve never had to convince our team that they can win.”
The Yellow Jackets ended last season No. 12 in the nation in total defense, and return most of the starters off that defense, including all-conference honorees Eric Henderson (defensive end), Gerris Wilkinson (linebacker) and Chris Reis (safety). Tech will try and shut down an offense that lost three first round draft picks out of its backfield (Ronnie Brown-Miami, Carnell Williams-Tampa Bay, Jason Campbell-Washington).
“You always want to challenge yourself,” said Wilkinson. “But you’re never sad to see three talented players like that move on.”
Even after the vacancy left by those three talented players, coach Gailey feels that the Tigers have talented and experienced players back to fill that gap.
“They lost great players, but they have some very good and potentially great players coming back,” said Gailey.
With mostly juniors and seniors filling up the Tigers’ depth chart this season, only three underclassmen are anticipated to start; Brandon Cox (sophomore quarterback), Eric Brock (sophomore safety) and Patrick Lee (sophomore cornerback). With so many upperclassmen returning for Auburn, the Tigers should be strong again, but with a new quarterback, the offense will have a new look to it.
“They have to function differently,” said Gailey. “Anytime you have a new quarterback, you have to function differently. It doesn’t matter what level you are at, high school, college, or pro. Things will function differently because that guy has certain talents and abilities, and you’re trying to turn things towards that, and you can’t just turn all those things on a dime. It takes time to get everybody on the same page. Jason Campbell had certain abilities, and now Cox has certain abilities, and they’ll try to adjust accordingly.”
With a stout defense returning for the Jackets, in addition to 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year Reggie Ball (QB), 2004 ACC Rookie of the Year Calvin Johnson (WR) and former ACC leading rusher P.J. Daniels (RB), the Yellow Jackets main concern is the offensive line.
“I think the offensive line will be mentally and emotionally ready to line up and play this week,” said Gailey. “It’ll be a great challenge, because Auburn’s front seven is very strong. They’re experienced and physical. I would like it better if we had been healthy all preseason and if everybody had been together, but you can’t have everything you want. I’ll be interested to see how they’ll play and I’m excited to see how they’re going to do.”
The leader for Tech on the O-Line is redshirt senior Brad Honeycutt. Joining Honeycutt on the first unit are redshirt freshman Andrew Gardner (LT), redshirt sophomore Matt Rhodes (LG), redshirt sophomore Kevin Tuminello (C) and sophomore Nate McManus (RG).
“I feel like this group has been together longer in the preseason than last year’s group,” said Honeycutt. “We’ve had fewer injuries this camp than last.”
Another key returner for the Yellow Jackets is sophomore placekicker Travis Bell. Bell finished last season 15-for-17 on field goals and a perfect 31-for-31 on PATs. For his efforts, Bell earned a scholarship this season.
“Well he missed two [field goals] last year so if he makes those two, then that’s how he tops that” laughed Gailey on how Bell could surpass last season’s success. “I’d like to get down there a few more times, but it’s always a double-edged sword. You would like to score touchdowns when you get inside the red zone, but it’s nice to know that you have a guy that if things don’t go according to plan, you can get some points out of it.”
