Aug. 10, 2006
ATLANTA–With Georgia Tech now one week into preseason practice, the Yellow Jackets’ workout Thursday ended just before the skies opened up with a summer thunderstorm.
The Jackets continue preseason drills Friday with workouts scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. at Rose Bowl Field. Saturday’s practice at 3:30 p.m. will be at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Fans should enter at Gate 4 on Bobby Dodd Way and sit in the lower West Stands.
Tech head coach Chan Gailey said that placekicker Travis Bell, who slumped last fall after his all-conference rookie season, has looked sharp this summer.
“To me, he’s totally back in the groove of his freshman year,” said Gailey.
Bell earned all-ACC honors in 2004 when he made 15 of 17 field goals, but the Roswell, Ga., native struggled at times last fall, hitting just 11 of 21.
Gailey said that the chances of starting fullback Mike Cox, who sustained a shoulder injury Thursday, being available for Tech’s season opener (Sept. 2 vs. Notre Dame) are “60-40.”
“We’ve got enough tight ends that we could look using at some of them in that role,” said Gailey of overcoming Cox’s potential absence.
“Any time you lose a good football player, it can change what you do. You just try to adjust to the guys you’ve got and use their abilities. When you have enough time like this, it’s much easier than if it happens on Wednesday of game week. That’s when it really bothers you.
“When we get to actual game-planning, we’ll have a much better idea of where Mike is, so we’ll make those adjustments.”
All-America wide receiver Calvin Johnson sustained a minor injury Wednesday, but Gailey said he expects him to return to practice by Monday.
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