I made the very rare decision on my drive home this evening to tune in to 680 The Fan to hear what they were saying about our upcoming battle with UGA. I tuned in just in time to hear Chuck & Chernoff belittle GT & CPJ for not recruiting the level of talent necessary to compete with UGA. While this unto itself wasn't all that shocking given the typical ATL sports radio perspective on GT athletics, what was shocking is they chose to specifically call out Brad Stewart and Brant Mitchell as examples of multi-year starters for GT that do not possess the athleticism to compete with UGA / Clemson. I was stunned. To me this totally crosses the line of professionalism. Personal attacks by middle aged adults with little to no athletic ability of their own, against top notch GT kids that are student athlete role models pursuing "real degrees" that neither of these buffoons could have touched, is beyond sad.

I haven't seen this yet, so apologies if it already has a thread. Ths is an interesting article on some Techsters - the thing that caught my eye is that GTAA is an angel investor. This is indeed outside the box thinking. (Actualy dates back to The Toad)

Best stadium experience?

KQ- Probably LSU in 2003 when they beat UGA. I could feel the earth moving under my feet on the field at the end of the game as the Tigers came back and won the game. They also had killer press box food that was Cajun stuff and it was totally nuts from driving in with a bad bad bad hangover from NOLA to leaving and people throwing shit before and after at my friend's car that drove us.

Worst stadium experience?

KQ- Independence Bowl in Shreveport was probably the worst all-around experience and as I recall the freaking food was like a mile away from the press box in the end zone or something stupid like that. Game was awful as well.

Your go to favorite away game restaurant?

KQ- Alpaca Chicken in the Triangle area. There are a couple but my favorite one is the OG one on Davidson Ave just off the Duke campus.

Restaurant you'd never frequent again?

KQ- Probably Taylor's Maid-Rite and their loose burger meat burger. That thing about ruined a rental car I had up in Iowa.

Which GT football player has the largest NIL deal?

KQ- I have no idea. My gut says LaMiles Brooks but that is just a wild guess.

1. Any news on additional unique seating options under consideration at BDS (or whatever the new moniker is post-Hyundai investment)?

KQ- From the conversations I've had everything is on the table, but they have their hands full right now until the Edge construction begins as well as trying to get things set up for the season. They had people working in the suites as offices and all kinds of stuff going on in BDS. They only have so much bandwidth at the moment.

2. Have you heard anything about likely scheduling model for 2024, and if there's a better than not opportunity that GT will make a biennial CA or TX road trip?

KQ- I've heard that Cabrera wants GT to play one of the Cal schools as part of the rotation maybe getting out of Wake or Louisville (I'm sure they'd like to drop Clemson but that won't fly) if they are keeping the permanent rivals thing. That's just something I heard though through the grapevine. I have no idea how it will work honestly. Once the season got going I pushed that out of my brain for the moment.

I'd think that Louisville and SMU might play since geographically that makes a little sense. I'd think SMU and Wake would make sense as well.

I assume the ‘24 FSU Week 0 game is set in stone with all the travel packages being sold, but do you think the two Colorado games will still be season openers? I know you’re tired of P5 openers every year and covering a team that is always 0-1. Chances you think GT either pushes those games or tries to ease into the season those two years by moving Georgia State to Week 0 in ‘26 or moving the FCS game to Week 0 in ‘25?

KQ- GT won't push games. You have to pay money to do that and it is not a small amount. That is why the Ole Miss and Bama series are still on the books. Those two programs had to pay GT to not play them and push those games. You'd need both programs to want to push a game to avoid paying for it. Also Colorado has an issue now because they are moving back to the Big XII and they had a non-conference game in 2025 with Houston set up so that has to go away so there is no way in hell they want to reschedule two non-conference games two years out and have to get FBS opponents and have at least one be a P5. So no is the answer to your question.

Why did UNC, CU, and FSU vote no to the expansion. These three teams offer the ACC a foot into Texas (Dallas) and a foot isn’t California tv markets.

I would think this adds TV$. I would also think it would help with recruiting in these talent rich states. They are also not tapping the ACC TV money for 7-9 years.

Thoughts?

The SEC and the B1G think those states are important.

KQ- FSU is just pissed and wants to get out. That's how I read their posture. UNC and Clemson can raise an extra $5 million through multiple means so they didn't care and it just complicates things for them so it was an easy no if their leadership didn't see the rewards being lucrative enough.

The PAC XII disappears next year. What happens to the money that was suppose to go to these teams from TV. If a former team is on TV how do they get paid.

Example
2024. Stanford plays someone on TV. How does Stanford get compensated?

KQ- Stanford will be in the ACC. The Pac-12 TV deal expires after this year that was the whole issue and why the league broke up. They could not get a deal the majority of the programs agreed to.

The ACC will have more potential games to show. If the ACC gets $x per year, how are the extra games compensated to the league?

KQ- That is where the new money comes in. That is all in the contract with ESPN and there is language on how much money the league gets for adding additional teams. Those are baked into these TV deals.

Does the league just rotate in these three new teams as part of their 50(?) game package?

KQ- No the package expands.

JOLers, my son is trying out for his high school baseball team (Harrison), and we have been tasked with participating in the team’s fundraisers. One of these is a sale of fully cooked Zeigler BBQ Boston Butt. They are $55 each. The Boston Butt orders will be delivered the week of October 12.

The other fundraiser is the Hoya Baseball Golf Tournament at Brookstone Country Club. Entry into the golf tournament is $225/ individual or $800/ foursome. Entry fee includes breakfast, lunch, and a sleeve of golf balls. There will be door prizes, and each par 3 will have hole-in-one prizes, sponsored by Hardy Chevrolet-GMC. The Tournament is scheduled for Monday, October 30.

The team is only allotted $1600 per year by the school, so these fundraisers pay for field and facility maintenance, as well as uniforms, team equipment, and travel costs.

Please DM me if you’re interested.

Matt Gieger’s son Madden is a freshman at Calvary Christian in Florida. He is already 6’8” and 180

The North Metro GT Alumni Club is excited to host watch parties at two locations this Fall.

We will start with the Ole Miss game on 9/16!

Come hang with your fellow Jackets and grab some Alumni Association merch while there.

1. Mutation Brewery

With GT fan and Head Brewer Dan leading the efforts, Mutation Brewery is a great place to cheer on your Jackets!

Food and drink discounts will be available.

Event Facebook Page: GT Watch Party

Address: 5825 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, GA 30328-4905, United States

2. Kettlerock Brewing

GT loyalty runs deep with the Peets at Kettlerock Brewing. Read about the family here!

Festivities will start with the first pour at noon for Oktoberfest by the Mayor of Peachtree Corners and then continue through the evening game.

Food truck will be on hand and some beers will be discounted for the fans!

Event Facebook Page: GT Watch Party

Address: 6035 Peachtree Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092-3369, United States

Meant to post this last week, but with everything else going on it got buried.

Georgia Tech will begin their fall practices later this month, and will hold two scrimmages against teams in October.

10-14 Kennesaw State

10-27 UAB

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech softball and coach Aileen Morales announced a five-game fall slate for 2023 Tuesday. The schedule is highlighted by three home games, including the first pair and fall finale at home.



The White and Gold will open fall play on The Flats with 10 innings against crosstown foe Emory on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at Mewborn Field. That same weekend, Tech will also take on North Georgia in a doubleheader on Oct. 1 beginning at noon in front of the home crowd.



The Yellow Jackets will hit the road the following weekend, first stopping at Columbus State on Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. for a meeting in Columbus, Ga., before wrapping up the weekend at Gulf Coast State College on Oct. 8 for a contest in Panama, City, Fla.



Georgia Tech will wrap up fall competition back on The Flats, facing Emmanuel in a 10-inning contest on Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. at Mewborn Field.



Georgia Tech enters its seventh season under coach Aileen Morales, bringing back 18 returners from last season’s squad. Chief among the notable returners 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 a combination of last season’s regular starting lineups is a slew of Yellow Jackets, including third baseman Mallorie Black, outfielder Ella Edgmon, utility player Sara Beth Allen, outfielder Madison Dobbins, infielder Grace Connelly, designated player Emma Minghini, infielder Abby Hughes, outfielder Paige Vukadinovich and catcher Reese Hunter.



The stable of returners is bolstered by the Yellow Jackets’ recent recruiting class, composed of five highly-touted new Jackets. The class consists of three newcomers joining the collegiate ranks along with a pair of transfers in sophomore infielder Brionna Condon and graduate infielder Tiffany Domingue.



Morales will lead a retooled staff on The Flats in 2023-24 as she’s joined by assistant coaches Erin Dixson, Hunter Bunch and Kelsey Bennett as well as director of operations Deven Boland in prepping the Jackets on the diamond.

It looks like the University of West Georgia is making the jump to Division 1 athletics (FCS football) and will join the Atlantic Sun Conference on July 1, 2024. Wouldn't be surprised to find them on future Tech schedules moving forward.

https://www.westga.edu/news/around-campus/ncaa-division-I.php

Has a tackle and a blocked field goal that was returned for touchdown. Pretty solid start to his career!

This is quite an insightful, but depresssing, article about where we are headed for watching our favorite sports. Grab a drink - it's a long read.

THE FLATS – Following a historic performance in Georgia Tech’s 48-13 win over South Carolina State on Saturday, junior Kyle Kennard (Atlanta, Ga./Riverwood H.S.) has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.



Kennard had an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the win over S.C. State, becoming only the second Georgia Tech player since 2000 to pull off the rare trifecta in a single game (joining Bruce Jordan-Swilling, who had all three at Virginia in 2017).



Kennard’s first-quarter interception and his recovery of his own forced fumble in the third period both set up Georgia Tech touchdowns and led to the Yellow Jackets outscoring S.C. State 14-0 in points off turnovers for the game.



In addition to the takeaways, Kennard had five tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, in the win over S.C. State. For his efforts, he received an exemplary 93.9 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.



The ACC Player of the Week award is the first of Kennard’s career.



Kennard and the Yellow Jackets (1-1) return to action when they travel to No. 17/19 Ole Miss (2-0) for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday. The game will be televised nationally on SEC Network.

I guess being competitive is not all that matters.

Oregon State is 16th
Washington State is 23rd.

Is 92.9 taken on Saturday’s?

Sylvan is out.

Eddie Kelly couldn’t put any pressure on his leg/ankle/foot.

Domineck (at Colarado) balled out today.

Jared Ivy (at Ole Miss) balled out today.

Crap!!!!!!! 💩 💩 💩

I must say this football season has been refreshing. Seeing Miami wallop TAMU and Texas wallop Bama was absolutely incredible.

Here’s the games I’m watching this week:

The early games are kind of weak this week but I think I’ll tune in to FSU-BC and LSU-Miss St. I’m curious to see whether FSU-LSU meant anything because we could have seen a dominant FSU beating a great LSU or a good FSU beating an average LSU.

The afternoon game I’ll be watching is of course South Carolina at Georgia. I don’t expect a Gamecock victory but I will be hoping. Other than USCe I don’t think anyone but Tennessee will even be a speed bump for Georgia. I’ll probably also have Northwestern at Duke going. We need to get viewership up on ACC games.

The evening games, I’ll watch Tennessee at Florida and of course I’ll be watching us upset Ole Miss.

I think I’ll watch the first half of the Rocky Mt Sanders Family Traveling Own-the-Haters Tour.

Fire away.

pics by Blake

If we beat Ole Miss and WF what do yall think the attendance will be when we return home to play Bowling Green? Like yesterday? Slight improvement or much improved?

Still in the process of talking with several of the football visitors from this weekend, and trying to get a feel for what type of impact (if any) the delay and the performance on the field had on the guys that made the trip.

Here are my three biggest 2024 takeaways from those conversations-

1. GEORGIA TECH'S PUSH FOR KELL CB CEDRIC FRANKLIN REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Cedric Franklin II was offered by the staff at Georgia Tech following an impressive performance during the Corky Kell 7v7 tournament that was held on GT's campus.

Many close to Franklin were not pleased with the timing of the offer, saying that the hometown team was far too late to offer.

Franklin scheduled an official visit with the staff, but first up was a trip to Charlottesville to see Virginia. The Cavaliers negatively recruited GT pretty strongly during the visit, and prior to leaving campus there he was committed to the coaching staff there.

As time has gone on, Georgia Tech has turned the heat up. Distance has started weighing in the mind of the Kell defensive back, as has the state of the UVA program.

Members of Franklin's family, per source, were unable to make the trip on Saturday for various reasons.

Franklin and those members of the family are expected to make a trip to Georgia Tech at some point this week.

From there, things could really heat up, and Franklin could be officially placed on flip watch.

2. KEEP AN EYE ON WESTLAKE OL DOMINIC STEWARD

Westlake has become a pretty significant pipeline for Georgia Tech in recent recruiting and transfer portal cycles.

After both Christian Peterson and Rae'Mon Mosby both fell down the recruiting board at their respective positions and landed elsewhere, many thought that any chances of a 2024 member of the GT recruiting class were gone.

Following a strong start to his senior season, OL Dominic Steward has quickly seen his stock rise. Currently committed to Troy, Steward has added offers from Missouri, Georgia State, and ECU.

"Georgia Tech has always been a dream school to me, so to be able to be on campus yesterday, and at Bobby Dodd, I was so excited to be there," said Steward after the visit. "Coach [Geep] Wade said that Georgia Tech is fired up about me. Athletic offensive tackles like myself are exactly what Tech needs and what Tech and himself love to recruit."

Keep an eye on this one. I don't think this is the last you'll hear of Steward.

3. DELAYS, TIMING CUT VISIT SHORT FOR MILTON LB JACOREY STEWART

The kickoff of the game on Saturday was originally set for around 1pm on Saturday afternoon. With kickoff at that time, most recruits had likely been on campus for multiple hours. With a 2+ hour delay due to the weather in the area, it was a (pun intended) perfect storm for some unfortunate results in recruiting.

While most recruits I have talked to stayed through the delay, Milton LB Jacorey Stewart and his family had a prior commitment that forced them to leave campus during the game on Saturday.

Stewart wasn't able to have any real conversations with the coaching staff, but has already locked in plans with LB coach Kevin Sherrer and DC Andrew Thacker to be in attendance for the matchup against Bowling Green scheduled for later this month.

More to come.

CLASS OF 2025
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CLASS OF 2024
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