After seeing Troy Calhoun's name in the Jeff Monken thread, I googled his name and this link came up: https://insider.afca.com/air-forces-troy-calhoun-soaring-standards-no-excuses/ . While not directly related to GT, it is relevant both to our recent past, our present, and our possible future because it speaks to offensive adaptability and scheming around your deficiencies. Very good read.

THE FLATS – Due to inclement weather in the forecast this weekend, Georgia Tech baseball has moved its fall exhibition against Kennesaw State to Friday, Oct. 28 at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.



First pitch is set for 6 p.m. with admission free to the public. There will not be concessions available during the contest, but fans are welcome to bring in their own snacks and drinks.



Parking will be available in Klaus Parking Deck.

Shop the rogueshop.com for your alternative medicine needs. They may be more needed after today for some...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the weekend off I figured this was a good time for a quasi-War Room type deal.

On Jeff Sims, he has what I'd call a chronic injury, but it will likely be a week-to-week thing unless he decides to pull the plug on the year per my sources. Sims tried to go, but wasn't comfortable, and Sims plugged the plug. Per my sources, it is unclear what his status is for FSU as of today. If Sims can't go then it will be an interesting situation with Zach Gibson and Zach Pyron as the next two options. Pyron is more limited in what he can do in the playbook, but is more mobile than Gibson.

Gibson has the ability to play better than he showed on Thursday night, that was the worst I've seen him look and as I've said they would struggle to protect him without the run threat. Teams are just going to stack the box and dare GT to throw over them until they can protect Gibson. Taisun Phommachanh just struggles to throw the ball and he is not dynamic in the run game either. The lack of a similar backup QB to Sims remains a big issue. Each of the four QBs would need different plays so that is a problem too. I hate to take a W on the Gibson stuff, but I was telling the truth to you all when folks clamored to see him, the scheme is so different with him and the OL can't protect him.

This will come down to Sims' foot/ankle and it sort of sucks for Brent Key that will likely determine his fate as an interim HC, but that is how the chips fall. His OL play is a big piece of this and not getting it where it should be faster going is haunting GT right now. Geoff Collins and Key are the two people most responsible for that.

I've had people ask me about players who are no longer with the team. I saw four guys not dressed on Thursday or on the sideline, Kenny Bennett, James BlackStrain, Khatavian Franks and Christian Burkhalter. BlackStrain is out for the year with an injury. Bennett should be back, but Burkhalter and Franks are no longer with the team. This is the second time Franks has been away from the program. I do not have any further details on why those two are not with the team other than they are gone.

Still quiet about what happened with Mike Daniels and why he resigned and the circumstances leading up to it.

Defensively Andrew Thacker and Jason Semore are the two guys who deserve the bulk of the credit, Semore has been the wingman for Thacker and the LB play also has improved thanks to his work along with special teams.

No word on the 10th coach spot yet that opened when Daniels resigned and they moved Donald Hill-Eley to RB coach after promoting him to the 10th coach. I hope to have some clarity on that 10th coach spot soon. Not having a 10th coach didn't matter this past week because Key went out and you can only send out 10 of 11 on the field staff.

As far as what J Batt is thinking, I have no clue. He has spent a lot of time talking to people and getting an idea of where boosters are and the bigger picture, but what that looks like who knows. There are a ton of conspiracy theories on who he might target but again that is people connecting threads that might not actually connect.

The league is still dreadful so if GT can find some offense, with the way the defense is playing they can still win some games or they could lose all of them too. It will all play out over the next month ahead of the UGA game and this is where Brent Key can earn the job or not IMO. He has to figure out something that works on offense and keep the D playing up.

This morning… Taylor has heard the rumors.

“He’s flipping from GT. He’s decommitting. GT is no longer in the mix for him.”

He’s heard it all the last couple of weeks, but things have really picked up so far this week.

In my brief conversation with him today, (he’s at school) Taylor reiterated that he is “locked in on Georgia Tech” and his commitment there.

He plans to take visits elsewhere, particularly to NC State among other, but will also visit Georgia Tech multiple times between now and the early signing period.

Ace Eley

E.J. Jenkins

Zamari Walton

Johnson covers his interest in Georgia Tech; he'll be at FSU this weekend watching the Yellow Jackets play.

They've had guys who haven't dressed for games like Jason Moore and Kenny Bennett who are out still listed the last few weeks so keep that in mind.

As I've hinted at several times, the inevitable has occurred.
Login to view embedded media Interesting that Cornist got an edit for a decision that wasn't exclusively his.

My goodness, he’s good! Whoever said he was 4th string should be benched until further notice.

Team Notes

• Georgia Tech dropped to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
• The loss was Georgia Tech’s first in the month of October and snapped the Yellow Jackets’ two-game winning streak.
• Georgia Tech fell to 21-22-1 all-time against Virginia.
• Georgia Tech lost to Virginia at home for the first time since Oct. 25, 2008 (24-17), snapping the Yellow Jackets’ five-game home winning streak against UVA.
• The loss was Georgia Tech’s third-straight to Virginia overall.
• Playing without starting QB Jeff Sims, who left the game due to injury in the second quarter, Georgia Tech had only 41 total yards and four first downs in the second half.
• Georgia Tech blocked two kicks in a game (field goal and punt) for only the 10th time in school history and the first time since the 2013 Music City Bowl vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 30, 2013).
• Georgia Tech’s interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter (LaMiles Brooks – 37 yards) was its first since Oct. 5, 2018 at Louisville (Juanyeh Thomas – 95 yards).

Individual Notes

• So. DB LaMiles Brooks had two takeaways on Virginia’s first two possessions of the game. He recovered a fumble forced by So. LB Trenilyas Tatum on Virginia’s first possession, then intercepted a pass that he returned 37 yards for a touchdown on UVA’s second possession. The fumble recovery was the first of Brooks’ career, the interception was the second of his career (prev.: at UCF – Sept. 24) and the touchdown was the first of his career.
• The forced fumble was the first of Tatum’s career.
• r-Jr. DB Zamari Walton’s second-quarter interception was his first of the season and the third of his career. It was his first INT in more than two years (last: vs. Clemson – Oct. 17, 2020).
• So. DL Zeke Biggers’ field goal block in the third quarter was the first of his career.
• r-Fr. RB Daylon Gordon’s punt block in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.

Spoke at QB Club. Spoke lots about his love for GA Southern and Savh and the state of Georgia in general.

I was disappointed he didn't really mention GT at all. Then, during Q&A a dwag asked him what his cousin Todd thinks of the rest of their season.

"Well, I coached under CPJ at GA Tech, so when I speak to Todd the 1st and last thing he hears from me is THWG"!

So... go Army, beat Navy.

For those of you that don't have NBA ticket. He had a lot of minutes the other night in they're home open or overtime loss.

Let's do this.

Note: I just created (and deleted) a thread about a new 2023 RB offer that appeared to have been sent out. After further review (kid said Daniels gave him the offer) I deleted the thread and have confirmed the offer is not real.

Anyways, fire away

Kamal Bonner of Colquitt County. I’ve been talking to people tonight, including those around the Colquitt program, and they believe an announcement is imminent.

The consensus is that the uncertainty with the coaching staff, and all of the schools coming at him it is best he open things up and decommit

GT is far from out of the equation, but it won’t be an easy road if they are to re-secure his commitment in the future.

Top 10 Under 45
This is from back in April, but it's interesting to see how their last is "playing out" now that the season is well underway. A couple of names that I wasn't aware of are:

Jason Candle - Toledo - 1st in MAC West 37 PPG & 406 YDS/G
Ryan Silverfield - Memphis- 34.4 PPG (Right behind Clemson, Kansas, and Liberty)

The other takeaway is how some of the "big name schools" are going young vs the older veterans (i.e USC, Oregon, VaTech, Florida, Tenn., FlaState, Ohio State). I knew all of these names at the bigger named schools, but never really recognized the pattern of them being under 45yo.

So my uncle (uga grad) told me they are making a movie or series about this book. He said a good portion of the book takes place at Georgia Tech because the main character plays on the GT football team. Never read this book but when I googled it the results said they are making a Netflix series on it currently. If they keep it close to the book then there should be a lot of GT and Atlanta staples in it. Anyone read it before?

GTMB season tickets for all 17 home games arrived via email at 9:15pm on October 24…so check those inboxes. It came from Georgia Tech Ticket Office.

or login to your account at www.ramblinwreck.com/myaccount to manage your tickets online, including transferring tickets to others.

NOTE: Tickets are 100% mobile this season to provide contactless entry at the event. Printed tickets and Print at Home tickets are not being offered.

Coaching search, I know it's not the top priority right now for Batt, but I would assume he came in with at least a short list of names. Any word on any names that he would be in on? Also, if Key ends up with the job, what direction do you think he would go with the staff? Clean house and put his own staff together? or roll with what he has?

KQ- So on the first part there is no way to really know who is on Batt's short list of candidates for the HC job. I'm sure he has one as anyone interviewing for that job would, but as to who is on it, no idea. My job is to find out over the coming weeks.

On the second part, I'm sure there are things and staff that Key would change if he gets the job. He also has strong relationships with a lot of the people in the building as well since he helped bring in Chris Weinke, Chip Long and others and he has spoken very highly of guys like Travares Tillman and Jason Semore and even JOL punching bag Andrew Thacker. I know he is tight with a lot of the support staff as well. It will be part of his pitch when he has the chance to interview for the job to lay out that vision to Batt. He has worked with a lot of interesting people in his career as well.

The SEC Network has been a great addition for the SEC. The ACC NW, not so much, in my humble opinion. What could/should the ACC Network do, in your opinion, to make it a more watchable/enjoyable channel for ACC fans?

KQ- They really need to find someone to move the needle publicly like a Paul Finebaum type. That isn't Packer who seems like a good dude. They need some better advocates for the product, but the product has to be better too. It is not like the SEC Network is just jammed with exceptional programming, people just watch it for games and things like that only really. The ACC needs to have good teams again and that will drive the ACCN properties IMO.

RJ, can you do a list of defensive players that you have seen in person that hav surprised you or really impressed you by position that you have seen in person to go with the offensive list that you said that you would do?

RJ- Let’s do it! I have been meaning to get to this, but with how crazy things have been, following the coaching search crums, being on the road, and working on potential recruiting profiles it has been anything but easy.

Enjoy, and sorry for the wait. This is only for 2023 recruits

QB- Dylan Lonergan, Brookwood (Alabama)
QB- Hank Brown, Lipscomb Academy (Tenn.) (Liberty)
RB- Keyjuan Brown, South Atlanta (Purdue, for now)
RB- Justice Haynes, Buford (Alabama)
RB- Jordan Louie, Meadowcreek (West Virginia, for now)
WR- Zion Taylor, Norcross (Georgia Tech)
WR- Keshaun Singleton, Meadowcreek
WR- Nakai Poole, Norcross (Mississippi State, for now
TE- Lawson Luckie, Norcross (Georgia)
OL- Paul Mubenga, Buford (LSU)
OL- Stanton Ramil, Thompson (Ala.) (Michigan State)
OL- Gabe Fortson, North Cobb Christian (Georgia Tech)

DE- Mekhi Buchanan, Allatoona
DE- Ezra Odinjor, Allatoona
DL Peter Woods, Thompson (Ala.) (Clemson)
DL- Stephiylan Green, Rome (Clemson)
HYBRID- Jacob Cruz, North Cobb Christian (Georgia Tech)
LB- Marcellius Pulliam, Sandy Creek
LB- Jalen Smith, Grayson (Tennessee)
CB- Martel Hight, Rome (Vanderbilt)
CB- Kaleb Cost, Sandy Creek (UNC)
S- Rob Billings, Milton (Clemson)
S- Caleb Downs, Mill Creek (Alabama)
ATH- Taye Seymore, South Atlanta

Javion Clark. I might have missed it, but are you able to say what’s the deal with his committing, decommiting and still in the mix?

Also, his pre injury film reminded me of Clayton Powell-Lee athletic wise. Is this a good comparison?

RJ- That is a pretty solid comp for him. The biggest difference I could see between the two would be that Clark is even more willing to step up in the run game and making plays in the open field. I do not expect him to start day one wherever he ends up like CPJ has done following the injury to King, but I do believe that there is strong upside.

As for his recruitment, I believe that both sides of things are still trying to feel each other out at the moment. Clark is looking to see what happens with the staff, and GT is looking at Clark with what are likely some clear objectives prior to making his offer committable again.

Don’t expect a Z. Keith moment here. If he re-commits, he will sign with GT pending the coaching hire (or Key) opting to take his commitment.

What’s it gonna take to get some nasty top tier OL here? I saw the Bama Tennessee game and Tennessee’s OL ate the Bama front 7 alive. This is how I felt after watching that:

KQ- What is funny is Bama's OL is pretty sad when it comes to run blocking and that has been their main issue. Jahmyr Gibbs often looks like he is running behind the 2021 GT OL over there. It is a two-step process, you need young guys you build up and you need to develop and S&C them up. A guy like Jakaih Leftwich for example could be playing now, but his core strength isn't quite where it needs to be per my sources so that holds him back. Each of the OL guys that end up signing here are going to mostly be guys that are on a 2-3 year development plan, there just aren't many guys ready to play out of the box. The biggest issue Key has had is they took too many transfers early and should've been signing like 8 and 8 or 9 and 7 in 2020 and 2021 in the OL room. OL is the hardest position to evaluate and develop and even at UGA when I covered them, they often had major issues with depth and player develop and guys getting medical'd. GT has had the same thing with three key OLs getting medical'd out in the last 9-10 months alone.

Favorite home game meal? Favorite away game meal? Can be at the stadium or just around town

KQ- I really love some wings and pizza or some wings and cheese fries on a game day at home. Away, Alpaca Chicken in Durham (they are all over the triangle) is my jam and I'll eat there multiple times on a trip like a lunatic.

How involved was Brent Key with hiring Chip Long?

KQ- He is the person who made it happen.

After tonight‘s loss, a bowl is probably out of play. But say Key goes 5-7 and competes the rest of the way with no blowouts. Would there still be internal push to hire him? If Sims is out for the year would Cabrera and top insiders maybe be more likely to give Key a pass and see what he can do with a full season? What I’m really getting at here is that I hope it is 100% AD Batt’s call and not based on the school or emotions.

KQ- No idea, I can't pretend to know what the thought process is behind someone I barely know in Cabrera and someone I just met in J Batt. Anyone telling you anything otherwise is full of it too.

I looked it up and Gibson played in 17 games at Akron, attempting 370 passes and 105 rushes which I assume were mostly sacks running for his life. It’s Akron I get it, but anything you can point to as to why he looked so scared to keep his eyes downfield and turn the ball loose with that much experience under his belt?

KQ- I tried to tell everyone my concern about playing Gibson was the OL's ability to protect him. He played on one of the worst 5-10 teams in CFB at Akron and couldn't win the job there. There is a reason why he is available. He is a guy who can come in and win a game, a guy maybe you can game plan for, but he is going to struggle to do more than that behind GT"s OL situation against stacked boxes. GT doesn't have enough on the outside with playmakers to make teams respect the throw enough to have a fair shot with the numbers game upfront to protect him. I will also add my other concern is you have to call a different game for Sims than Gibson and you only have so much time to prepare and can only install so many plays each week. It makes it very difficult when QB1 and QB2 are so different from a skills standpoint. Gibson is an old-school gunslinger-type QB. Sims is a true dual-threat guy, Pyron is somewhere in between those two and I haven't figured out what the ex-Clemson kid does well yet.

Will Zach Gibson ever take another snap for this team?

KQ- Yes, I think his leash got a lot shorter though. He will be pretty hyped up for this game against FSU if he plays so that'll be interesting. His family are Noles and he grew up idolizing Weinke, he has talked about it before.

We are literally being inundated with page-after-page of people who feel entitled to call specific Georgia Tech SAs soft, or retort that anyone defending/calling out any negatives toward those SAs are simps, stans, or out of touch with reality.

Please stop this shit. Like now. Doing this does nothing to help the cause of this season, other than to stroke your personal egos.

"I knew he was never going to pan out"...Great! Now take a victory lap Miss Cleo, and let the rest of us cheer on these kids and hope they (and Key) can salvage this season, otherwise let's wait for the changes we've been promised.

In nashville 80-76

He has there offense and defense ranked in the top 25

Discuss!

Tip Times, TV Announced for Georgia Tech’s Men’s Basketball
Jackets have 6 games on ESPN networks, 10 on ACC Network, 2 on FS1

Updated Georgia Tech men’s schedule | Season ticket information | ACC Composite Schedule

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech men’s basketball will appear as many as six times on the three primary ESPN networks, four of those before the Christmas break, and have two other early national TV appearances on FS1. The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the full schedule of tip times and television coverage for all 15 teams on Wednesday morning.

Tech’s games in the Fort Myers Tip-Off (Nov. 21 and 23 on FS1), Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Nov. 29 on ESPN2 or ESPNU), Georgia (Dec. 6 on ESPN2), North Carolina (Dec. 10 on ESPN) and Clemson (Dec. 21 on ESPN2) are slated for national television coverage, along with the Yellow Jackets’ Feb. 21 game at Pittsburgh (ESPN network to be determined) and March 4 at Boston College (ESPNU).

Nine of Tech’s ACC games will be aired on the ACC Network, as well as the Jackets’ Nov. 17 non-conference game against Northern Illinois, while seven other games will be broadcast on the ACC’s Regional Sports Networks (including Bally Sports South in Georgia).

The Yellow Jackets open the 2022-23 season on Nov. 7 at home against Clayton State, and open their ACC schedule at North Carolina on Dec. 10. Tech still awaits word on a tip time for its Nov. 12 game at Georgia State.

Information on season tickets for the 2022-23 Georgia Tech season is available here.

The Yellow Jackets return eight letterwinners for head coach Josh Pastner’s seventh season on The Flats, including senior point guard Kyle Sturdivant (Norcross, Ga.) and senior center Rodney Howard (Ypsilanti, Mich.) who are Tech’s top two returning scorers. The Jackets’ core includes a trio of rising sophomores in Dallan “Deebo” Coleman (Memphis, Tenn.), Miles Kelly (Stone Mountain, Ga.) and Jalon Moore (Birmingham, Ala.) and junior point guard Deivon Smith (Loganville, Ga.).

Login to view embedded media
Embarrassing or something GT ought to consider for the Miami game? Both, IMO.