rv/rv Georgia Tech (0-1) vs. Presbyterian(1-0) Game 2 (Home 1) Saturday, September 8, 7 p.m. ET Location Atlanta, Ga. | BobbyDodd Stadium | Weather Radio 790AM | 106.7FM | SiriusCh. 106 | GeorgiaTech IMG Sports Network affiliates LiveStats Gametracker Television ESPN3 Game Information GeorgiaTech Notes | Presbyterian Notes | ACC Notes Season Information 2012Football Media Guide | GT NotesArchive | NewsClippings | Depth Chart Social Media Twitter(Hashtag: #GTPC12) | Facebook | YouTube
YELLOW JACKETS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK ON QUICK TURNAROUND
With just five days to shake the sting of Monday night’s season-opening setback in overtime at Virginia Tech, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets host Presbyterian College Saturday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium in the 2012 home opener.The Jackets and the Blue Hose are meeting for the fourth time on the gridiron, but the first time since 1937. Tech is 3-0 all-time versus PC.
In home openers, Georgia Tech owns an 88-25-4 all-time record, and has won five straight and 12 of its last 13 to open the home schedule.
Saturday’s game marks the first of four straight home games in September for the Yellow Jackets, which includes two consecutive ACC Coastal Division tilts versus Virginia and Miami.
The Jackets, who may not practice in pads this week, are playing on a five-day turnaround for the second time in four seasons. In 2009, Tech opened on a Saturday versus Jacksonville State (a 37-17 win) and took down Clemson, 30-27, the following Thursday night on the Flats.
In his fifth season at the helm, head coach Paul Johnson returns 13 starters, both kicking specialists and 48 letterwinners from a 2011 team that exceeded all expectations. Last year’s team, predicted by most to hover at .500, won eight games, beat eventual ACC champion Clemson and advanced to a bowl game for the 15th consecutive season.
TECH-PRESBYTERIAN SERIES NOTES
• Georgia Tech will meet Presbyterian for the first time since 1937.
• The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 3-0.
• Tech beat the Blue Hose three consecutive years — 1935, 1936, 1937 — by a combined score of 147-0. The biggest blowout came in 1937, a 59-0 Yellow Jacket victory.
• Georgia Tech is 18-1 all-time against teams currently in the Big South Conference.
• The last time the Yellow Jackets played a Big South team — on Oct. 11, 2008 — Tech got a real scare from Gardner-Webb. The Jackets won the game 10-7 but only after blocking a Bulldog field goal attempt late in the game.
• Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson has never previously coached against Presbyterian.
• The Yellow Jackets are 87-35-2 all-time against teams from the Palmetto State.
TECH-PC CONNECTIONS
• Georgia Tech has just one player on its roster from the state of South Carolina — junior B-back David Sims (St. Matthews).
• Presbyterian has 31 players on its roster from the state of Georgia.
• Georgia Tech’s Sam McNearney, Justin Moore and Matt Connors, and Presbyterian’s Mitchell Anderson all attended the Marist School in Atlanta.
• Yellow Jacket WR Marty Alcala and Blue Hose brothers Garret Atnolik and Justin Antolik all graduated from Milton High School.
• Tech Jr. S Isaiah Johnson and Presbyterian Jr. S Cedric Byrd were teammates at Sandy Creek High.
• Jackets Robert Godhigh and Ryan Sparlin, and Blue Hose Curry Glass all attended Harrison High.
• Georgia Tech’s Izaan Cross and Daniel Drummond, along with Presbyterian’s Greg Palmer, all graduated from Flowery Branch High School.
• Yellow Jacket Sr. OG Omoregie Uzzi and Blue Hose DT Bryan Shepherd both attended Chamblee High.
• Tech’s Chase Roberts and Presbyterian’s George Thomas both played previously at Greater Atlanta Christian.
• Presbyterian assistant coach Brandon Sarver is a 2003 University of Georgia graduate.
TIES TO GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and Presbyterian coach Harold Nichols both have ties to Georgia Southern — although not concurrently. Johnson was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator with the Eagles from 1983-86.
Nichols began his coaching career as an assistant at GSU from 1992-96. Johnson returned to Southern in 1997, a year after Nichols left, as GSU’s head coach until 2001.
NIGHT MOVES
Presbyterian plays a role in Georgia Tech’s football history. The Blue Hose were the opponents when the Yellow Jackets played their first ever night game, on Sept. 26, 1936.
This Saturday’s game is also under the bright lights at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
HONORING BURNETT
Georgia Tech will pay tribute to former linebacker Julian Burnett this season by rotating Burnett’s jersey No. 40 among senior players each game this season.
Burnett was star linebacker for the Jackets, a leader on and off the field, before suffering a career-ending injury last season.
Senior DT T.J. Barnes, normally No. 90, wore No. 40 during Monday’s season opener.
