Aug. 19, 2008
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech continued its preparation for next Thursday’s football season-opener against Jacksonville State by practicing for two hours Tuesday afternoon in full pads. The Jackets spent time focusing on Jacksonville State, and closed the session working on the two-minute drill and conditioning.
“I think we had a much better tempo today,” head coach Paul Johnson said. “We were more focused than yesterday with it being the first day of class. Everything is in place now; it’s just a matter of execution. All I can do is coach them hard and do what it takes to win. We will practice again in pads tomorrow, have a scrimmage on Thursday and then refine things on Friday.”
The Jackets are nine days away from the season-opener August 28 against Jacksonville State. Kick-off at Bobby Dodd Stadium will be 7:30 p.m. and the Jackets continue to work their game plan into practice.
“We got a better look at the scout team today,” Johnson continued. “We need them to play hard. We can’t accomplish anything if they are just standing there. They’re a big part of what it takes to win a football game and I saw a much better effort today.”
Paul Johnson RADIO SHOW DEBUTS WEDNESDAY
The first-ever Paul Johnson Radio Show hits the airwaves Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The one-hour show, co-hosted by Wes Durham, will be carried in Atlanta on the Georgia Tech flagship station, 790 The Zone, as well as selected affiliates throughout the state.
The first two shows – August 20 and August 26 – will originate from the studio. Beginning September 3rd, the show will air live from Fox Sports Grill in Atlantic Station and fans are welcomed to attend. Each show airs from 7-8 p.m.
TIME FOR THE SWARM
About 1,000 students are expected to line-up on Calloway Plaza Wednesday at 5 p.m. to join the SWARM – Georgia Tech’s student fan group.
TECH TRIVIA QUESTION (answer below)
Under first-year head coach Paul Johnson, quarterbacks running the ball are a big part of the offense. Which former Yellow Jacket signal caller holds the record for most rushing yards in a game?
WHAT THE JACKETS ARE SAYING
We know that the Jackets are talented on the field, but how about off of it? Here are some of the things that Georgia Tech players consider their best non-athletic talent:
Playing the guitar Clyde Yandell
Investing money Mohamed Yahiaoui
Chess Jahi Word-Daniels
X-box 360 Logan Walls
Speaking Spanish Levi Walls
Arm-wrestling Lance Walls
Spades Vance Walker
Arguing Alex Walker
Karaoke Dan Voss
Singing Demaryius Thomas Comedy Michael St. Denis
Video games Luke Snider
Tenor sax Andrew Smith
Sleeping and eating A.J. Smith
Playing Guitar Hero Brad Sellers
Working with kids Albert Rocker
Playing music Darryl Richard
Playing spades Dominique Reese
The violin Michael Ray
The guitar Steven Powers
Sewing and drawing Michael Peterson
Driving Josh Nesbitt
Making a ridiculous squeaking noise with my mouth James Liipfert
Calculus Zach Krish
Math Matt Kamp
Playing the harmonica Roddy Jones
Ability to sleep upright Michael Johnson
Checkers Brad Jefferson
Presentations Kyle Jackson
Singing Cord Howard
Trivia Jim Henry
Checkers Robert Hall
Drawing Sedric Griffin
Tetris Joseph Gilbert
Math Troy Garside
Video games Andrew Gardner
Video games Martin Frierson
Cooking Tyler Evans
Singing Anthony Egbuniwe
Juggling Correy Earls
Sleeping with my eyes open Jonathan Dwyer
Eating Tyler Davis
Public speaking Jason Davis
Blowing bubbles off my tongue Lucas Cox
Playing Madden football Doc Coppage
Freestyling Nick Claytor
Air hockey Travis Chambers
Rapping Morgan Burnett
Singing Matt Braman
Playing guitar Shane Bowen
Math Calvin Booker
Playing guitar Jake Blackwood
Grilling Sean Bedford
Video games Austin Barrick
Playing the drums and guitar Tyler Barrett
Patience Anthony Barnes
Sleeping Elris Anyaibe
Studying Chandler Anderson
Fishing Ben Anderson
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION
Reggie Ball…Ball rushed for 130 yards against Troy on Sept. 16, 2006.
Correction To Yesterday’s Trivia Question
David Friedlander of the Gwinnett Daily Post pointed out a technical error in yesterday’s trivia question
Yesterday’s question:
Who was the last coach to lose in his first game as Georgia Tech’s football coach? Extra credit: Who was the opponent and what was the score?
Yesterday’s answer:
Bill Curry, vs. No. 2 Alabama, 26-3. However, as David pointed out, George O’Leary actually lost his first game when he took over as interim head coach on Nov. 12, 1994 vs. Clemson.
