Aug. 19, 2006
ATLANTA–Now just two weeks from the start of the season, the Georgia Tech football team concluded preseason camp with Tech’s annual Fan Day, followed by a final scrimmage Saturday afternoon.
The Yellow Jackets open the 2006 season two weeks from today, hosting second-ranked Notre Dame Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field (8 p.m., ABC-TV). Tech takes a much-needed day off Sunday before beginning fall semester classes, as well as game preparations for the Fighting Irish, on Monday.
Please note: Georgia Tech’s practices are now closed to the media and the public.
The Jackets welcomed a record crowd to Fan Day Saturday morning at Bobby Dodd Stadium as the Tech players signed autographs for nearly three hours.
One of the highlight’s of Tech’s brief scrimmage was a catch by redshirt freshman wide receiver Greg Smith, battling for a spot in the Jackets’ regular rotation.
On fourth-down-and-11, Smith took a short pass from Taylor Bennett over the middle and cut outside and down the sideline, making several defenders miss as he turned the play into a 14-yard gain and a first down.
“He’s made a really big jump,” Tech head coach Chan Gailey said of Smith. “If he keeps getting reps out there, he’s going to play a lot. He could be in the first three [receivers] before it’s over with.”
The scrimmage concluded with a red zone segment in which tight end Michael Matthews caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Reggie Ball and freshman Demaryius Thomas hauled in a 19-yard scoring pass from Bennett.
Tech tailbacks Tashard Choice and Jamaal Evans ran well in limited duty, drawing praise from the head coach
“I’m very pleased with where we are at tailback right now,” said Gailey.
“And Rashaun [Grant] has been really running well, too. He’s got a bruise so we just kept him out today.”
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