Jackets Hosting 'Canes In Another Key Divisional Game At Bobby Dodd

Sept. 17, 2012

JACKETS, `CANES MEET IN ANOTHER KEY COASTAL GAME ON THE FLATS
Having scored 50 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1936, Georgia Tech looks to stay hot with another key early-season Coastal Division game against Miami Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and the game can be seen live on the Regional Sports Networks.

The Jackets are looking to snap a three-game skid in the series, which Tech leads 10-7 overall and 8-3 in Atlanta.

In convincing fashion last Saturday, the Jackets improved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the ACC with a 56-20 thumping of Virginia on the Flats. The 56 points were Tech’s most in an ACC game under Paul Johnson, were the third-most by Tech all-time in an ACC game and marked the Jackets’ third-largest margin of victory in an ACC game all-time.

Tech is in the midst of playing four consecutive Saturdays at home for the first time since 2006. All-time, the Jackets are 445-184-21 inside Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field having played their 650th game there last Saturday. Bobby Dodd Stadium, which opened in 1913, is the nation’s oldest and winningest college football venue.

FAMILIAR SCRIPT
Georgia Tech, which has rushed for more yards than any FBS team since 2008, brings the nation’s third-leading rushing attack into the Miami game at 374.0 yards per game.
• Tech is the only team in the FBS with four plays of 70 yards or longer — two rushing, two passing — with three going for touchdowns.
• Tech has three players ranked among the ACC’s top 10 in rushing, led by the league’s second-leading rusher, Tevin Washington (84.3 yards per game).
• The Jackets lead the ACC in rushing, are first in pass efficiency (180.6, sixth nationally), second in scoring offense (44.0, 15th nationally), second in total offense (531.3, ) and third in time of possession (31:38).
• Tech is the only team in the ACC with three different individual 100-yard rushing performances.
• The offense has produced eight touchdown scoring plays of 30 yards or longer this season, but also has produced three other scoring drives of five minutes or longer.

TECH-MIAMI SERIES NOTES
• Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 10-7.
• Miami has won the last three meetings, including a 24-7 decision last season. The Hurricanes have outscored the Yellow Jackets 92-34 over the last three games.
• Tech is 8-3 against the Hurricanes at Bobby Dodd Stadium, although Miami won the last meeting in 2010, 35-10.
• The Jackets’ last win in the series came in 2008, a 41-23 victory over the 23rd-ranked `Canes.
• Each of the last four meetings have been decided by 16 points or more.
• Since Miami joined the ACC, the two teams have split eight meetings.
• The Jackets and `Canes met in the postseason following the 1999 season, a 28-13 Miami victory in the Gator Bowl.
• The two teams first met in 1955 — a 14-6 Tech victory.
• Between 1979 and 1999 the Jackets and `Canes went 21 years without meeting on the gridiron.
• Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson is 1-3 all-time vs. Miami.

TECH-MIAMI CONNECTIONS
• Georgia Tech has 14 players on the roster from the state of Florida, including two linebackers from Miami — Nick Menocal and Malcolm Munroe. • Miami has six players on its roster from Georgia — Tyrone Cornileus (Stone Mountain), Eddie Johnson (Atlanta), Shavon Green (Tifton), Raphael Kirby (Stone Mountain), Taylor Gadbois (Dallas), Jontavious Carter (Cordele).
• Georgia Tech WR Jamie Alvarez and Miami’s Hugo Delapenha Jr., both attended Bishop Verot HS.
• Yellow Jacket LB Anthony Harrell and Hurricane Akil Craig both graduated from Tampa’s Jesuit High School.
• Miami head coach Al Golden was the defensive coordinator at Virginia from 2001-05 under head coach Al Groh, who is now Tech’s defensive coordinator.
• Miami defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio was an assistant coach under Groh at Virginia in 2004 and 2005.
• D’Onofrio was a defensive assistant at the University of Georgia in 2000.
• Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich was Miami’s business manager from 1983-85.

TECH-MIAMI NOTEBOOK
Miami is hoping for a fourth straight win over Georgia Tech. The last ACC team to win four straight against the Yellow Jackets was Florida State, which actually won 12 straight against Tech from 1992-2003.

Since Tech joined the ACC, only four teams have won four or more consecutive games against Georgia Tech: Florida State (1992-2003), Clemson (1993-96), Virginia (1992-95) and North Carolina (1980-84).