Sept. 28, 2012
HOW TO FOLLOW IT
It’s the first early start of the season for Georgia Tech, as Middle Tennessee State comes calling Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. and the game can be seen live on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks, including Fox Sports South. Mike Hogewood is set to call the action, with former Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner providing analysis and Elizabeth Moreau handling the sidelines. As always, you can hear Wes Durham and Rick Strom on the Georgia Tech IMG Sports Network – in Atlanta on 790AM and 106.7FM, on Sirius Channel 112, XM 190, or check the radio affiliate list.
You can also follow @gtathletics for in-game updates on Twitter and use the hashtag #GTMT12 for in-game discussion.
RODDY JONES LIVE BLOG
Saturday’s game also features the live blog of former Yellow Jacket Roddy Jones. Click here for more information.
WHEN TO WATCH
Official kickoff is set for 12:08 p.m. Eastern Time.
SATURDAY SLATE — Click here for more info
9 a.m.: Wreckfest
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: McCamish Pavilion open house
9:30 a.m.: Yellow Jacket Alley
12 p.m.: Kickoff vs. Middle Tennessee State
Regional Sports Network Distribution
In addition to being aired on FOX Sports South, Saturday’s game between Tech and Miami can also be seen on the following networks:
FOX Sports Carolinas, SUN Sports, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, New England Sports Network (NESN), FOX Sports Tennessee, FOX Sports Arizona Plus, FOX Sports San Diego, FOX Sports Southwest Plus, FOX Sports Houston Plus, FS Prime Ticket. ESPN3 will also carry the game live, but will black it out inside the ACC footprint.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Settling the Rush. After allowing McNeese State to roll up 298 yards rushing in the season-opening 27-21 upset loss to the FCS team, Middle Tennessee State has allowed just 170 yards on the ground combined in its last two wins – Florida Atlantic and Memphis. MTSU is coming off its bye week, and will have to deal with the nation’s third-best rushing offense led by senior QB Tevin Washington. Tech rolled up 382 yards rushing and five touchdowns in last season’s 49-21 win in Murfreesboro.
Pocket Protection. The Blue Raiders can sling it with QB Logan Kilgore. The redshirt junior is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for 233.7 yards per game. He’s thrown six touchdowns against one interception, which came in the opener. Anthony Amos is his favorite target, with 21 grabs for a cool 100 yards per game average. Kilgore’s got time in the pocket, as his offensive line has not allowed a sack in three games. MTSU is one of just three teams remaining to not allow a sack, joining Air Force and Oklahoma State.
Gold Standard. Sophomore Jamal Golden has burst onto the scene in 2012, providing Tech athleticism in the defensive backfield and a much-needed spark on special teams. Golden logged a total of 113 plays (defense and special teams combined) in the Miami game, with a tackle, a pass breakup and a pair of long punt returns that each set up Tech touchdowns. His 56-yard return in the second quarter gave Tech a short field en route to the go-ahead TD at 22-19. He broke off a 26-yard return in the third quarter, and two plays later Tech led 36-19. Expected to get more action in the return game, Golden’s 56-yard return and 84 total return yards versus the `Canes were the longest/most by a Jacket since 2009.
Captains Named. After using game captains for the first four games, Coach Johnson allowed the Yellow Jackets to select permanent captains for the 2012 campaign. The senior captains are QB Tevin Washington, OL Omoregie Uzzi and DL Izaan Cross.
Number Change. Senior Izaan Cross will not be wearing his traditional No. 94 jersey this week. Instead, look for Cross to wear No. 40 as the Yellow Jacket continue to rotate the No. 40 jersey in honor of Julian Burnett, whose promising football career was cut short because of an injury last season.
THEY SAID IT
“I don’t think anybody knows about (the possibility of achieving or not achieving) any goals four games into the season. We’ve got teams in our league that haven’t played a conference game. (Yet) we’re already anointing conference champions. You have to play it and see what happens.”
–Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson
“On Monday we came in and watched the film and saw the mistakes and things we could have done better … that’s when it left us.”
–Senior CB Rod Sweeting on turning the page from Miami
“Our guys are not in awe of going into Bobby Dodd Stadium. They’re not going to be in awe of Georgia Tech. We’ve played all these type games. They’ve been everywhere. They’re not looking at the logo on the field or on their helmet and saying, `Wow, we get to play these guys.'”
— MTSU coach Rick Stockstill
STAT(S) OF THE WEEK
** September 29 has proven to be one of the better days in Georgia Tech’s history. All time, the Jackets are 12-1-1 when playing on the 29th day of September. Tech’s last time playing on this date was a 13-3 win over Clemson at Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2007. South Carolina, Clemson (three other times) and Florida are among Tech’s Sept. 29th victims.
** Tech is 122-73-4 all-time versus teams with color-based nicknames and leads all but one of the all-time series (Alabama). The Jackets are 54-30-1 versus “blue” nicknames – 2-0 versus the MTSU Blue Raiders, 48-30-1 versus the Duke Blue Devils and 4-0 versus the Presbyterian Blue Hose.
MILESTONE WATCH
Jeremiah Attaochu’s next tackle will be the 100th of his career… Izaan Cross is eight tackles shy of 100 for his career… Jamal Golden needs 13 punt return yards to surpass 100 this season (and career)… Zach Laskey needs 31 yards to eclipse 300 yards rushing for the season and his career… Justin Moore is 11 points shy of 100 for his career… Quayshawn Nealy needs 22 tackles to reach 100 for his career… David Sims needs 200 rushing yards to eclipse the 1,000 career rushing yards… Orwin Smith needs seven kick-return yards to reach the 1,500-yard career mark… Smith also needs 11 receiving yards to reach the 600-yard career mark… Jemea Thomas is 22 tackles shy of his 100th career… Tevin Washington is 159 yards shy of achieving 2,000 career rushing yards… Washington is 555 yards away from 5,000 yards of career total offense… Izaan Cross is set to make his team-leading 31st-consecutive start Saturday (the next longest streak is 21-straight by Tevin Washington)… T.J. Barnes and Rod Sweeting should play in their team-leading 45th game on Saturday.
