Just saying.....the team could have folded after the punt and the interception returns for touchdowns, but then they bowed their backs and fought back to get the win. Terrific team effort of course but one where it appears a true freshman made the ultimate difference in the game. Hat tips also to Coach Key and this defense; for the leadership by the head coach and a 'D' that bent at times but continues to collect turnovers like they are Halloween candy.

Brent Key

Zach Pyron

Nate McCollum

Clayton Powell-Lee

Tennessee not looking good

ATLANTA- Georgia Tech hit the field early Friday morning for the second day of spring ball and despite rainy conditions, the Jackets worked in Bobby Dodd Stadium for two hours continuing offensive and defensive installs. After practice, offensive line and assistant head coach Brent Key spoke to the media along with some of his offensive linemen about spring ball.

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Key said they are still doing installation right now and it is a pro-style offense with tempo and a lot of moving parts to it and a lot of different schemes in the run game and passing concepts that are different for the kids. He said some of it is similar to what they ran before with different terminology like the run schemes, but the amount of protections and types have changed and they are installing them, they put in four new ones yesterday and six more protections in today.

Rod asked about Quick or Tchio playing tackle (they were both recruited as guards here which he should know)

Key said that they do look at position versatility but he wants them playing guard next to Weston Franklin at center and working on communicating with Weston and how that works. He said maybe toward the end of spring ball going into the summer they may look at moving guys around for emergencies but right now he wants them focused on guard where he picked them up to play.

Key said they've added calls to help the guys out on the offensive line to make it easier on them with the protections and that is why they have more calls now. "there's a lot of ways to help guys out you know there are protections if you have a really good three-technique inside to get a double team on protections to be able to get a double team on the nose guard if it's a really good nose protections to be able to help out a defensive end. You know if a tackle struggling blocking a certain guy, being able to manipulate to protections change the protections add new ones in get help different spots and really shore up the pocket and allow the quarterback sit back there and operate that's really been the biggest difference in the added stuff we are pushing on the guys right now."

Key bragged on Jordan Williams said he has had a great offseason and first few days of practice and he has taken on a leadership role as well being vocal and also leading by playing more physically. He said he will reserve some judgement until the pads get on. He was 350 in 2020 and he is down to 305 right now and he is expecting a lot out of him right now at RT. He is also teaching him some LT as well because with Long's offense and the protections they are using it is a little more mirrored so you don't have to be a straight up with LT/RT with pure blindside protections. He said that is his next goal for Jordan, getting him to where he can play both LT and RT if needed.

He said that Wing Green has been running with the twos at RT and a few one snaps and Jakiah Leftwich has been the LT and he wants to keep them at their sides for now until they are more comfortable with what they are doing. Key said that Jakiah is still really young but they expect big things out of him and he is doing a really good job of learning and both Wing and Jakiah have done a lot of things in the weight room to help them strength-wise and hopefully they can play fast and won't be blinded by the big lights when it is time to suit up.

Key said that Weston Franklin got 60-70 snaps last season and they were very valuable as he got to see some things that are hard for them to replicate in practice like against UGA seeing a cross dog or a backside blitz against Notre dame and sometimes there is value is messing up and giving up a hit or a sack as a learning tool for an OL so they don't make that same mistake in another game and he feels like that playing time really benefitted Weston.

Key confirmed what I've reported about Nick Pendley and Ryan Spiers both being medicated. he said that Pendley was especially tough because he was a guy they picked up with three years to play three and had so much potential and had played well when he was out there and he was a key guy because he was older and helping backfill the transition from 2018 and 2019 with the OL classes and changing over the system and that was something they made a major effort of trying to find guys like that to replace missing classes basically around Mike Maye who is the last guy left from that group. He said they've had terrible luck with injuries and medicals, but that is not uncommon with OLs and his small group right now is pretty consistent with what everyone else has and what he has had his whole career other than his time at Alabama. He said they are building some depth back by adding Paul Tchio and Pierce Quick, but he is still really bummed about Pendley. He is happy that Pendley and Spiers are helping coach now though.

Key said the one plus side of having around 12 OLs is they can only run two groups so you are not getting a lot of watered-down third team OL work and the two groups get a ton of reps, he said he was actually smiling after the last two practices he was so pleased with how they've looked so far. He said at UCF he had six OLs in a season or 7 so 10-12 is fine.

Rod asked him about Joe Fusile a walk-on OL

Key said that walk-on Fusile has been getting a lot of reps at tackle, but he is probably an inside player. He said that Will Milam is another guy they like and he has known his family for a long time as his dad was Key's academic advisor at GT.

Ken asked Ken about Key's year one comments on recruiting to GT and if that is still true

"I still have the same belief, I still believe you can recruit here and Georgia Tech is a place you can recruit to. If you look around everything that we have here at Georgia Tech, I've got an unbelievable feeling and desire for this place and what this place is and what it can do for you," Key said. "We've had some unfortunate breaks as far as literal breaks with injuries and whatnot, at the same time we know it is not going to be an overnight thing as far as the recruiting process. Let's not turn a blind eye either. We will put a product on the field this year that is going to allow us to create a higher level and today that's what it is all about."

Key said that is big working with Chip Long and Chris Weinke

" I think anytime you have experience with somebody you coach with, it's a bonus man because you know, you know how to, you know, you know how to get each other, you know, in a good mood, you know, when they're in a bad mood. You know what to say to them, you know how to help each other out on the field when one person's going through one thing and one thing is happening. You just get a feel for guys that comes with experience, guys haven't been in a room with somebody. You haven't been the same, you know, a lot of the same backgrounds. Were working for the same guys. I think that begins a bonus because there's a level of expectation that we have with the guys out there on the offense and you know, I think across the board, those guys come in and have the same expectations in what the same end goal."


Right tackle Jordan Williams said that he is trying to take over some of the leadership piece that Ryan Johnson brought to the table and he learned a ton from him and from playing the last few years and now he is trying to piece all of that together to be a great player while also taking over some of the leadership on the OL. He said he is really trying to play more physically. He said he doesn't consider himself an old guy even if he is, but he is trying to get the hang of the leadership piece.

Williams trimmed down about 35 pounds, he said he was trying to cut fat and add more muscle. He said he is trying to do whatever coach Key wants him to do.

Williams said QB protection is the one area they are really trying to improve at because the pressures were too high and they want to continue running the ball.

Williams said the entire team is pretty energized right now.

Guard Paula Vaipulu celebrates his birthday today, he spoke with us as well and he said that coach Key believed in him last year and he had the tools and the power to play, but not the experience yet and that is what he got a taste of playing last year and that was really good for him. He said he is trying to be a smarter player now and put together all the pieces and learn the playbook. He said with the second day on install they've messed up some, but they are doing a pretty good job with the install.

Vaipulu said he is mostly focused on playing left guard right now, but coach Key had him learn tackle his first year learning outside in and he can play guard or tackle.

Vaipulu said he and Weston Franklin are really close and they both had some tough experiences last year getting thrown into the mix but physically they are both better prepared now and they are trying to be more physical and dominant especially in the run game.

Vaipulu said that Pierce Quick and Paul Tchio are doing well at guard and he has a great relationship with both of them and they are learning fast.

Center Weston Franklin said learning through his mistakes last year has really helped him this spring as he has a tough job making all the calls and being vocal on the OL which is not something that comes naturally to him because he is more of a quiet guy by nature and a lead by example type and he is having to adapt to fit his role now and step up and be vocal.

Franklin said that they are installing a lot of new protections and that takes time for him to study and learn and the best way to really hone it is going out on the field and seeing the different movements of the defense.

Franklin said he is focused on narrowing his base this year, he felt like he got too wide last year and blocked some running lanes at times.

Greetings from the stadium. Russell is here shooting today

from Alex

Per GT Athletics-


THE FLATS – Highlighted by 33 home games and five Atlantic Coast Conference series at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium, Georgia Tech baseball announced its 55-game schedule for the 2023 regular season on Friday.



The Yellow Jackets return a reloaded roster that includes veterans, five transfers and the No. 3 recruiting class in the country, according to Perfect Game. Georgia Tech will look to remain red-hot in 2023 and capture its third ACC Coastal Division Championship in four years en route to its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.



2023 Schedule Highlights:

• Hosts five Atlantic Coast Conference series, including NCAA Regional participants Notre Dame, Virginia and North Carolina;
• Hosts 2022 College World Series participants Notre Dame and Auburn and 2022 Super Regional teams North Carolina, Auburn and Notre Dame;
• Plays nine teams who made the NCAA Tournament field in 2022 (Notre Dame, Georgia Southern, Virginia, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Kennesaw State, Miami, Georgia, North Carolina and Long Island);
• Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate: The Yellow Jackets will look to make it three-straight years winning the annual series against archrival Georgia in their three-game series. After UGA hosts on Friday (Time TBA), Georgia Tech will host the Saturday, March 4 matchup at 2 p.m. before the contests shifts on Sunday, March 5, to the 20th annual Spring Baseball Classic at Coolray Field, home of the Gwinnett Stripers, to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta;
• Also hosts in-state foes Kennesaw State (March 1), Georgia Southern (April 4) and Georgia State (April 11);
• Plays six teams ranked in the top-25 RPI last season and 12 teams ranked in the top-50, including eight top-50 teams at home.

2023 SEASON TICKETS

Season tickets for Georgia Tech’s 2023 regular season home schedule are on sale now at ramblinwreck.com/tickets. For complete information on 2023 baseball tickets, including premium membership options, please visit the official Georgia Tech Baseball Tickets page.

@tazbanks gets Greene in the win column in week one.

27-6 over BEST Academy

Looking to see what we think the time will be?

THE FLATS – Cameron Swartz and Kara Dunn combined for 23 points, helping Georgia Tech women’s basketball to a 69-62 win over Clayton State on Thursday in an exhibition contest. Eylia Love led the Yellow Jackets on the glass, securing 12 rebounds.

Swartz finished with a team-high 12 points, followed closely by Dunn who posted 11 points, guiding Georgia Tech to a 42.6 percent (26-61) shooting clip. Tech won the rebounding battle, 45-33, paced by Love’s 12 rebounds.

The Jackets shot 46.4 percent in the first half to hold a double-digit lead at halftime led by nine points from fifth-year transfer Swartz and five points each from Tonie Morgan and Inés Noguero. Connecting on three free throws at the 2:13 mark in the first quarter, Swartz jumpstarted an 8-0 run fueled by five points from Noguero as Tech opened a 20-9 lead with just under two minutes to play in the first. Clayton State closed it to single digits in the second, but the Jackets used a 7-3 run to end the frame for a 37-26 halftime lead.

Turnovers plagued the Yellow Jackets in the second half, committing 14 miscues allowing the Lakers to climb back within one point in the fourth quarter. Clayton State kept it a one possession game through the final media timeout before Swartz connected on a three-pointer at 4:05 and Dunn followed with an old-fashioned three-point play to return a 65-56 advantage to the Jackets. The Lakers scored four points over the final four minutes as Tech held for the 69-62 win.

Tech committed 25 turnovers to Clayton State’s 24. For the game, the Jackets shot 42.6 percent from the field and 50.0 from the free throw line, going 12-for-24 from the charity stripe.

Laylah Davis led Clayton State with 14 points and was one of three to finish in double-figures. The Lakers went 2-for-11 from the free throw line, including a 0-for-4 effort in the final two minutes.

The Yellow Jackets officially tip-off the season next Thursday, Nov. 10, against cross-town rival, Georgia State. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. on the ACC Network Extra.

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Tell me again why we have the NCAA.

50% chance of rain in Blacksburg VA this coming Saturday.

Met him last night at a work function in Bham. Really cool, laid back dude. Said he wanted the GT job badly in 2007 and had a 7hr meeting with DRAD and walked out already making calls to potential assistants. Thought it was in the bag. GT Board shut it down due to “running afoul of the NCAA” at prior stops (Colorado / Washington). Hired by UCLA three weeks later but said he really wanted the GT job. I asked why and he said the autonomy to do his thing. He felt in the PAC10 there was an expectation of what he should run / how he could coach.

Said he was happy for CPJ and they are still friends today, same with DRAD. But sounds like RN was the guy before it got shot down by the higher ups.

Think some have shared this before but just wanted to post it from the horse’s mouth.

Each week of the football season, professional guest picker Brian Edwards will join us to give his analysis and picks on a few games he likes each week…enjoy and good luck!!!

• By Brian Edwards
• @vegasbedwards on Twitter (linkage: https://twitter.com/vegasbedwards)
• MajorWager.com Managing Editor (linkage: https://www.majorwager.com/)
• VegasInsider.com Senior Handicapper (linkage: https://www.vegasinsider.com/handicappers/brian-edwards/)
• Owner of BrianEdwardsSports.com (linkage: http://brianedwardssports.com/) Host of the BetCFB Podcast (linkage: https://www.vegasinsider.com/shows/bet-cfb/)

Last week – 4 -1 - That’s two 4-1 weeks in a row…..so due for some losses or is he on a hot streak???
Overall – 23-18-3 * not counting bonus plays *


LSU +13.5 vs. Alabama: I made Alabama (7-1 straight up, 5-3 against the spread) an 8.5-point favorite against the Tigers, who are 4-1 both SU and ATS in five home games this year. LSU is also 4-1-1 ATS with four outright victories in their last six games as a home underdog.

Alabama has been abysmal for our purposes in seven road games since the start of last season, which happens to coincide with Bill O’Brien’s time as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator. In those seven road outings, the Crimson Tide is 2-5 ATS with a pair of outright losses.

However, three of those road wins have come by five combined points. In other words, they easily could’ve lost at Florida and at Auburn last year, in addition to at Texas this season. The Longhorns missed a chip-shot field goal before halftime and lost their star QB to an injury late in the first quarter.

If Auburn RB Tank Bigsby stays inbounds on his team’s last possession of regulation, ‘Bama loses the 2021 Iron Bowl on The Plains. At the Swamp last season, Alabama was the benefactor of three egregious calls by the referees in the first quarter and despite that nonsense, the Gators should’ve sent that game to overtime if not for a missed extra point that led to a two-point conversion that also failed.

LSU has played its best football of the season in the last two games, winning 45-35 at Florida before thumping previously-unbeaten Ole Miss 45-20 in Redstick. QB Jayden Daniels combined to throw five TD passes without an interception in the wins over the Gators and Rebels. He also ran for six TDs.

In the rare instances when Alabama has struggled in recent years, it’s usually against a mobile QB that can avoid pressure with his athleticism and make plays with his legs. Daniels fits that bill to a tee.

The transfer from Arizona St. has 524 rushing yards, nine TDs and 4.6 yards-per-carry average. In his four-year career that covers 37 games, Daniels has 1,812 rushing yards and 22 TDs.

Tennessee +8 at Georgia: Tennessee (8-0 SU, 7-1 ATS) is 2-0 both SU and ATS in a pair of road games. The Volunteers are off a dominant 44-6 win over Kentucky as 10-point home favorites. They sacked UK star quarterback Will Levis four times, limited him to only 98 passing yards and intercepted him three times.

Tennessee has had the best offense in the country all year, and now the defense is starting to play its best football. With that formula, Josh Heupel’s team blasted the Wildcats by more than five TDs even though they had two weeks to prepare for the trip to Rocky Top.

Heupel also welcomed back his best WR, Cedric Tillman, who had been out with an ankle injury since Week 3. Although Tillman was held to four catches for 22 yards, he was just shaking the rust off. The second-team All-SEC player in 2021 had two other receptions nullified due to penalties and was on a limited snap count.

Safety Jaylen McCollough also returned from a two-game suspension to contribute four tackles and one pass broken up.

Georgia is only 2-2 ATS in four home games. The Bulldogs will be playing without veteran LB Nolan Smith, who was lost to a season-ending injury in their 42-20 non-covering win over Florida.

Hendon Hooker has a remarkable 21/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio along with four rushing scores through eight games. He now has an incredible 74/11 career TD-INT ratio with 24 career rushing TDs. The transfer from Va. Tech has 8,177 career passing yards to go with 1,987 rushing yards.

Before the win over Alabama last month, you could’ve made a strong case that Hooker was one of the more underrated QBs in college football history. After he orchestrates an upset win over Georgia in Athens on Saturday, his 2022 campaign is going to start being compared to some of the best we’ve seen in a long time.

For a much smaller amount than the Vols +8 play, let’s get a little bit of Tennessee at around +245 on the money line. Let’s also package the Vols with LSU (+400 to +425) in a money-line parlay that should bring back a return in the +1200 to +1600 neighborhood.

TCU -8.5 vs. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS in three road assignments this year, losing by margins of 13, 9 and 10 points. They’re off a 45-17 home loss to Baylor.

I made TCU (8-0 SU, 6-1-1 ATS) a 14.5-point favorite in this spot. Sonny Dykes’s squad has won five of its eight games by double-digit margins. The Horned Frogs are 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in four home games.

TCU feels disrespected by the CFP Committee placing it at No. 7 in the rankings. Therefore, it would like nothing more than to earn some style points and take out some frustration on a Big 12 rival.

With Max Duggan and his 22/2 TD-INT ratio, we have the QB advantage. We also have talent and speed advantages all over the field. Big of the Frogs against the Red Raiders, who have lost three in a row in this rivalry and dropped the last two by double-digit margins.

North Carolina -7 at Virginia: North Carolina (7-1 SU, 5-3 ATS) is unbeaten in four road games with a 3-1 spread record. Meanwhile, Virginia (3-5 SU, 3-5 ATS) is 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS in four home outings.

UVA has scored more than 17 points only once in seven games against FBS opponents, and that was in a 22-20 loss at Syracuse. QB Brennan Armstrong completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 4,449 yards with a 31/10 TD-INT ratio in 2021.

But after losing all five starters on their offensive line, it’s been an immense struggle for the Cavaliers offensively. They’re ranked No. 123 out of 131 FBS teams in scoring with their pedestrian 16.9 points-per-game average.

Armstrong is only connecting on 55.7 percent of his throws and has a mediocre 6/9 TD-INT ratio. Meanwhile, UNC has seen an upgrade in its QB play even though Sam Howell is the program’s all-time leader in career passing yards.

Sorry, Sam, but Drake Maye has been better. In fact, Pro Football Focus has him as college football’s highest-graded QB this year ahead of Hooker. Maye has completed 71.3 percent of his passes for 2,671 yards with a 29/3 TD-INT ratio. He’s also produced 439 rushing yards, three TDs and a 4.5 YPC average.

Although UNC has issues defensively, they aren’t nearly as glaring as the ones UVA has on offense. The Tar Heels win by double digits.

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball and coach Aileen Morales announced the 56-game 2023 regular season schedule on Friday, highlighted by 33 home games and four Atlantic Coast Conference series at Mewborn Field. The Yellow Jackets will also host three home tournaments, most notably the ACC/B1G Challenge, as well as a pair of SEC schools, including this season’s edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.



Georgia Tech enters its sixth season under coach Aileen Morales, bringing back 18 returners from last season’s squad. Chief among the notable returners is NFCA Southeast Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ACC catcher Emma Kauf. The ACC’s two-time top catcher in the league is joined by a dynamic duo of right-handers in the circle in Blake Neleman and Chandler Dennis as well as the “walking web gem” serving as Tech’s vacuum in the middle, shortstop Jin Sileo. Also returning from last season’s regular starting lineup is leadoff mainstay and third baseman Mallorie Black along with ACC All-Freshman Team left fielder Auburn Dupree and fellow former freshman center fielder Ella Edgmon.



The stable of returners is bolstered by the Yellow Jackets’ recent recruiting class, composed of six highly-touted new Jackets. The class consists of five newcomers joining the collegiate ranks along with Texas A&M transfer Cayden Baker, who carved out a starting role with the Aggies while batting .261 as a freshman in the SEC.



2023 Schedule Highlights

• The Yellow Jackets open the season with the 24rd Buzz Classic, including UConn, North Texas, Saint Francis and UIC.
• Georgia Tech welcomes 2022 Gainesville Regional foe Wisconsin, Illinois and Louisville for a highly-contested ACC/B1G Challenge on The Flats as one of four campus host sites. The Jackets will only face B1G adversaries in the Badgers and Fighting Illini.
• The Jackets host another edition of the I-75 Tournament, including UNI, Southern Miss and Brown.
• Tech will welcome eight 2022 NCAA Regional participants to The Flats in North Texas, Saint Francis, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Auburn, Virginia Tech and Clemson.
• The White and Gold will take on a total of 10 Regional squads from a season ago, also hitting the road for weekend series late in the season at Florida State and Duke.
• Georgia Tech will battle five in-state foes in seven different games including rival Georgia, Kennesaw State (home and home), Georgia State (home and home), Georgia Southern and Mercer.
• The Jackets will face 10 top 50 RPI squads from a season ago, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Charlotte, Georgia, Auburn, Virginia Tech, North Texas, Clemson, Florida State and Duke. Among the 10, five were ranked inside the top 25 in Georgia, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida State. The Hokies led the pack, being tabbed second and advancing to host their own Super Regional.
• The White and Gold will host four ACC series this season, including Virginia Tech (March 17-19), Clemson (March 24-26), Boston College (April 7-9) and North Carolina (April 28-30).

Georgia Tech’s 2023 gauntlet begins Feb. 10 with the Georgia Tech Classic at Mewborn Field. At the conclusion of the regular season, the ACC tournament will be held on May 10 in Notre Dame, Ind. Ticket information for the 2023 season is coming soon.

This is at least two weeks in a row.

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I'm convinced that the first man that we need to approach, and make him say 'no' if necessary, is Dave Clawson. IMO - he would be worth a GT record $$ outlay to pull him and his coaching staff. IMO, there is a big dropoff in quality from Clawson to the next best candidate (probably Chadwell if you're asking). There are many points that make my case:

1) Proven winner in ACC. He has done so with less resources and at the head of a small academic minded university. He has already done the job that needs doing at GT. If our floor is 6 straight bowls and competing for conference championships, as Clawson has done at WAKE FOREST, what could be done at GT with a better pick of talent?
2) Runs a real development oriented program, repeatedly identifying overlooked talent. Critical for GT as we will never be a top 10 recruiting school.
3) Satisfies the option-loving contingent - a unifying hire - without having an option stigma. If you're an engineer who appreciates an optimized system, listen to this:
4) Offense is progressive and in line with what is currently winning in CFB. You can draw many similarities with what #2 Tennessee is doing under Josh Heupel. Wake is 17th in pace this year and have the ability to go very fast, and hit you with the changeup too.
5) Weaken the opposition. Starting next year, Wake is a permanent opponent.
6) Is loyal. Has passed up opportunities to move up before. We'd have to lay out a convincing case (and head turning offer) in order to make him even think about it. Perhaps he will feel that he has now achieved everything that is possible at Wake and would be ready for a new challenge with a higher ceiling.
7) Knows how to adapt. His early Wake Forest teams chewed clock and tried to grind you out, because they couldn't protect the QB. His coaching staff has adjusted and developed a killer RPO game over time.

So Russell’s interesting comments on the “player’s value” splits is the most striking.

5.7-5.8 recruit values (80% ball/20% school):
50% NIL
30% PT/winning
20% academics/location

Top 100 recruit values (85% ball/15% school):
70% NIL
15% PT/winning
15% academics/location

To all the white knights out there let this serve as a caution that this needs to go full employer-employee farm business model to be successful. Just because we recognize the value of a GT degree here, it is disingenuous to say in the overall landscape of CFB that the priority is getting the degree at all. Even for your above average recruit making money for 4 years is more than double of a priority than the degree that will make you money for the next 40. It’s time to move to a farm system/youth academy or risk becoming irrelevant. The fact is the teams - not going to say universities because there isn’t much education going on - that behave more like the European model in today’s landscape are simply more successful.