Aug. 9, 2004
Aug. 7, 2004
Habitat for Humanity Photo Gallery
ATLANTA–Before participating in the third session of preseason practice Saturday afternoon, members of the Georgia Tech football team witnessed the fruits of their labor at the dedication of the Habitat for Humanity home that they built.
Tech head coach Chan Gailey, center Andy Tidwell-Neal, free safety James Butler, fullback Jimmy Dixon and defensive end Travis Parker represented the team at the dedication ceremony for the home that the entire team helped build for the family of Yvonne Scott.
Tech football players and coaches spent seven Saturdays in May and June working on the home in Marietta, doing everything from framing the house to putting on the roof to painting.
Also present for the ceremony were Scott and her family, John Kerwood, President of Cobb Habitat for Humanity, Dr. Ike Reighard, Chief Executive for People and Culture for HomeBanc, Inc, which partnered with Georgia Tech on the project, and several other representative of HomeBanc, and Mike Turner, the site project manager, along with crew leaders who participated in the project.
“Habitat for Humanity started in my hometown of Americus, Georgia, and I know the history of it, so I am doubly pleased to be here today,” said Gailey.
“We put this up to a vote for our football team,” said Gailey, who presented a Bible to Scott. “We asked them, `Do you want to build a house,’ and they voted to come out here each Saturday and work. That just tells me what type of people they are.
“I get to stand up here and talk, but these guys did all the work,” said Gailey, pointing to the Tech players. “It’s just like on Saturdays. I get to stand up and talk after the game, but they do all the work and deserve the credit.”
Tidwell-Neal, a senior from Plymouth, Minn., spoke on behalf of the team and presented the keys to the home to Scott.
“It was a pleasure for us to help build a home for you and your family,” said Tidwell-Neal. “We’d like to thank Habitat for Humanity and HomeBanc for their help, and we’d like to thank you and your family for the great experience that we had.”
The Jackets practiced in shorts and shoulder pads for the first time in their third session of the preseason.
With starting left tackle Kyle Wallace nursing a minor injury, senior Leon Robinson, a former starter at guard, experimented at the left tackle spot.
“We tried Leon at tackle,” said Gailey. “He hasn’t done that much, so we are trying to see if might get a comfort level there. You never know what can happen during the season, and if Leon had to go in, that might be something we would try. Now is the time to experiment with those things.”
Tech continues preseason drills Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
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