Sept. 21, 2012
HOW TO FOLLOW IT
The weather folks are calling for another picture-perfect Saturday on the Flats as the Yellow Jackets play host to the Miami Hurricanes at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and the game can be seen live on the Regional Sports Networks, including Fox Sports South. Paul Kennedy is set to call the action, with Keith Jones providing analysis and Steve Byrnes 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 137, XM 192, or check the radio affiliate list.
You can also follow @gtathletics for in-game updates on Twitter and use the hashtag #GTUM12 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 3:09 p.m. Eastern Time.
Regional Sports Network (RSN) 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 San Diego, FOX Sports Arizona, FS Prime Ticket, FOX Sports Houston, FOX Sports North Plus, FOX Sports Southwest, FOX Sports Wisconsin. ESPN3 will also carry the game live, but it will be blacked out inside the ACC footprint.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Ground Leaders. There’s been no more dynamic running back in the Atlantic Coast Conference over the first three weeks than Miami freshman Duke Johnson. The two-time ACC Rookie of the Week has amassed 84.3 yards per game rushing (tied for second in the ACC with Tech QB Tevin Washington) and is second nationally at 212.67 all-purpose yards per game. Already this season, Johnson has three TD runs of 25+ yards, a 50-yard TD catch and a 95-yard kickoff return for TD. On the flip side, Georgia Tech’s defense is one of 10 FBS teams remaining that have not allowed a rushing touchdown. Also, the Jackets have not allowed a 100-yard rusher, and rank 34th nationally in rushing defense (113.0 yards per game). Oh, Tech can run the ball, too. Chewing up 374.0 yards per game on the ground, the Jackets’ Spread Option attack ranks third nationally in rushing.
Catch 24. Through three games of the season, Georgia Tech and Miami have combined to have 24 different players catch a pass. The Yellow Jackets’ big-play offense has completed 25 passes to 10 different receivers for an average of 18.9 yards per catch and four touchdowns. Jeff Greene has an 82-yard TD grab, Zach Laskey reeled in a 70-yard TD catch, while Robert Godhigh was on the receiving end of a 45-yard touchdown pass. The `Canes, meanwhile, have seen 14 different players catch 69 passes at a clip of 9.3 yards per reception, and three TDs. Of the 69 catches, 22 have been made Phillip Dorsett (12 for 89 yards) and Allen Hurns (10 for 113 yards). Miami QB Stephen Morris has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 633 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.
Number Change. Senior long-snapper Tyler Morgan will not be wearing his traditional No. 63 jersey this week. Instead, look Morgan 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
“Miami has handled us fairly easily the last couple years. So we have to see if we can’t put our big-boy pants on and play a little better against them.”
–Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson
“I was a two star. I kind of felt that I was a little bit better than that. So I kind of play with a chip on my shoulder and kind of want to show everybody that I can play.”
— Sophomore BB Zach Laskey on his level of recruitment in high school
“So it’s a big, strong, physical group that gives you multiple fronts. They have a very aggressive linebacker corps with playmakers. And I think the biggest change is how aggressive they are on the back end and how they’re challenging receivers.”
— Miami coach Al Golden on Tech’s defense
“I’ve seen a couple a couple say ‘Hey, that’s Duke Johnson.’ He stays pretty humble with it. He kinda don’t like attention like that, but he takes it well.”
— Miami starting safety Deon Bush on the attention RB Duke Johnson is getting
STAT(S) OF THE WEEK
** Miami is hoping for a fourth straight win over Georgia Tech. The last ACC team to win four straight against the Yellow Jackets was Florida State, which actually won 12 straight against Tech from 1992-2003.
** The Yellow Jackets lead the FBS in plays from scrimmage of 40+ yards (11), 50+ yards (8), 60+ yards (5) and 70+ yards (4).
** Georgia Tech has a winning record against all teams with catastrophic weather-related nicknames: Iowa State Cyclones (1-0), Miami Hurricanes (10-7), Tulane Green Wave (35-13) and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-1). (via @deanbuchan)
MILESTONE WATCH
Jeremiah Attaochu is five tackles shy of 100 for his career… Izaan Cross is 14 tackles shy of 100 for his career… Isaiah Johnson is eight tackles shy of 150 for his career… Zach Laskey needs 13 yards to eclipse 200 yards rushing for the season and his career… Justin Moore is 11 points shy of 100 for his career… Quayshawn Nealy needs 30 tackles to reach 100 for his career… David Sims needs 202 rushing yards to eclipse the 1,000 career rushing yards… Orwin Smith needs 100 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 27 tackles shy of his 100th career… Tevin Washington is 206 yards shy of achieving 2,000 career rushing yards… Washington is 28 yards away from reaching 2,500 career passing yards and 234 yards away from 4,500 yards of career total offense… Izaan Cross is set to make his team-leading 30th-consecutive start Saturday (the next longest streak is 20-straight by Tevin Washington)… T.J. Barnes and Rod Sweeting should play in their team-leading 44th game on Saturday.
