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Tech Gets Back To Work With Two Monday Practices

Aug. 11, 2008

ATLANTA – After its first day off since preseason drills began in late July, Georgia Tech got back to work Monday with a pair of practices at Rose Bowl Field. The Yellow Jackets wore full pads at the morning practice and shells in the afternoon.

Tech’s season opener Aug. 28 vs. Jacksonville State (7:30 p.m.) is quickly approaching. The Yellow Jackets, who begin classes one week from today, spent a few periods Monday working specifically on the Gamecocks.

Like most teams midway through preseason drills, Georgia Tech has several players nursing nagging injuries. Redshirt freshman A-back Roddy Jones, however, was one of the Yellow Jackets who ditched the red jersey and returned to practice on Monday.

“I play the guys who practice,” head coach Paul Johnson said. “If you are not out there practicing, then you are not going to play. That’s not an indictment against the kids that are hurt.”

After the morning practice, Johnson was asked if he was angered by some of the modest projections for Tech in the media. SI.com, for example, ranks the Jackets 80th out of 119 teams, based mostly on the fact that the Jackets return just eight starters from a year ago.

“That doesn’t bother me,” Johnson said. “That’s their opinion. It’s up to us to go out and prove them wrong. We have so many young guys out here I’d be tempted to ranks us pretty low myself.”

Georgia Tech will practice once on Tuesday (3 p.m.) at Rose Bowl Field.

TRIVIA QUESTION (Answer below) When Georgia Tech opens the 2008 season Aug. 28 vs. Jacksonville State, it will mark the first-ever meeting between the Yellow Jackets and Gamecocks. What team has the Yellow Jackets opened a season against the most often? Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky, Mercer, South Carolina or Vanderbilt?

I WANNA BE LIKE MIKE – OR MAYBE DEION When asked what sports figure they idolized as kids, the Yellow Jackets had a wide variety of answers – from Brett Favre to Eric Lindros to Tiger Woods. Michael Jordan, however, was the clear favorite among these Yellow Jackets.

Interestingly, several Tech players grew up idolizing Atlanta Braves, including Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, David Justice and Javy Lopez. All answers are listed below:

Question: As a kid, who was your sports idol?Shaun Rogers    Clyde YandellPenny Hardaway  Mohamed YahiaouiDeion Sanders   Jahi Word-DanielsDeion Sanders   Willie WhiteLarry Bird      Bret WhiteJulius Peppers  Logan WallsSteve Young     Levi WallsSteve Young     Lance WallsMichael Jordan  Vance WalkerSteve Young     Alex WalkerMichael Jordan and Penny Hardaway       Osahon TongoMy stepfather   Demaryius ThomasReggie White    Michael St. DenisMichael Jordan  Luke SniderJerry Rice and my father        Andrew SmithDerrick Brooks  A.J. SmithMichael Jordan  Brad SellersReggie White    Darryl RichardBrett Favre     Paul ReeseMichael Jordan  Dominique ReeseMark Price and Joe Hamilton  Michael RayBrett Favre     Steven PowersKobe Bryant     Michael PetersonJevon Kearse    Jason PetersNomar Garciaparra       Alex PaquetteMichael Jordan  Derrick MorganMichael Jordan  Tyler MeltonJerry Rice      Jonathan MaloneDeion Sanders   James LiipfertEric Lindros    Jeff LentzMichael Jordan  Quincy KellyDonovan McNabb  Matt KampMuhammad Ali    Roddy JonesRay Lewis       Brad JeffersonShaquille O'Neal        DeRon JasperDavid Justice   Chase HudsonBo Jackson      Cord HowardJoe Hamilton Jim HenryDeion Sanders   Robert HallMichael Jordan  Sedric GriffinJake Long       Joseph GilbertGreg Maddux     Andrew GardnerJerry Rice and Michael Jordan   Martin FriersonReggie White    Andrew FolknerJavy Lopez      Zach FisherEmmitt Smith    Tyler EvansMichael Jordan  Anthony EgbuniweDeion Sanders   Correy EarlsJohn Elway      Bryce DykesWalter Payton   Jonathan DwyerMy dad  Tyler DavisMichael Jordan  Jason DavisDerek Jeter     Kevin CrosbyBarry Sanders   Lucas CoxJohn Elway      Doc CoppageMichael Jordan  Kevin ConeTiger Woods     R.B. ClyburnBarry Sanders   Nick ClaytorMichael Jordan  Tony ClarkRay Lewis       Travis ChambersDeion Sanders   Mario ButlerMy brother      Morgan BurnettMichael Jordan  David BrownMichael Jordan  Drew BrannonDennis Rodman   Matt BramanChipper Jones   Shane BowenDeion Sanders   Calvin BookerMichael Jordan  Scott BlairDan Marino      Jake BlackwoodJevon Kearse    Sean BedfordMichael Jordan  Austin BarrickMichael Jordan  Tyler BarrettMichael Jordan  Anthony BarnesMichael Jordan  Elris AnyaibeJohn Elway      Chandler AndersonJohn Elway      Ben Anderson

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION Tech has played South Carolina more often (nine times) in a season opener than any other team. The Yellow Jackets are 4-5 all-time against the team from Columbia. In second place with seven season-opening meetings is Clemson.

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