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Eschewing the traditional preview, we here at the 7th Floor are bringing you all the (mostly meaningless) things one needs to know prior to this week's match-up. The only rule? No game predictions. Today we bring you the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Have you seen 500 yards rushing before? I mean, not like, heard about it from a friend, or a friend's friend, but like, really, SEEN IT, in person? It's exactly the disaster you've heard all about. Everybody strap in, cause It's triple option wishbone time!
¿Quien?
2011: 8-5 (5-3 in ACC)
Last year: Lost 24-7 at Miami
Abetted by an easy early schedule, Georgia Tech started hot last year in winning their first six games all the way to a #12 ranking. They were upset by Virginia the week prior to making the trip down to Miami, and subsequently lost for the third year in a row to the Hurricanes. After the disastrous 2008 loss in Thursday night prime time, with GT steamrolling Miami to a tune of 472 rushing yards, Randy Shannon managed to tame Paul Johnson's triple option attack. Al Golden continued the trend, and after last year's complete shutdown in Miami, Georgia Tech blew out eventual ACC champ Clemson. So it seems Miami does have the Yellow Jackets' number, but a tiny little part of me thinks this year, not so much.
Miami allowed 230 rushing yards last week to Bethune-Cookman. Georgia Tech is a few plays away from coming in undefeated, and just beat Virginia by five touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets put together their usual ho-hum 462 rushing yards to go with a 21 yards per completion from QB Tevin Washington. For this weekend, the transitive property of rushing yard survey says! Prepare for destruction Canes fans.
¿Donde?
Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia Tech's campus lies smack dab in the middle of downtown Atlanta. If you're one of the cool kids or more trendy Young Urban Professionals you can take the Red Line from your overpriced Buckhead single family house right into the city. Objectively speaking, for a large, sprawling, drive first city, the MARTA train is actually rather awesome.
¿Cuando?
3:00 PM ET
TV: ACC Regional Networks, but most likely another ESPN3 game for many of you. Here is a handy list of affiliates who will be showing the game:
Sun Sports
FOX Sports Arizona PLUS
FOX Sports Houston PLUS
FOX Sports North PLUS
FOX Sports South
FOX Sports Southwest PLUS
Prime Ticket
FOX Sports Wisconsin
Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
¿Colors?
Old Gold (no new money allowed!) and White. Sometimes they roll in some Navy Blue as an alternate, and of course, BEEEES!
¿Stadium?
Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field
With the stadium right downtown, the tailgating options aren't all that inviting. You can walk around the few blocks next to the stadium on frat row and find a location, but be sure to bring hair nets to hand out to all those Bama Bangs that might feather into your drinks.
¿Food and Nightlife?
Some promising Yelp reviews might say it best:
- As gross as the bathrooms are, as dingy as the atmosphere is, and as ridiculously slow the service is, I still find myself here pretty much every weekend.
- I hate this bar. It's just gross, I mean really awful, I honestly do not know how they stay open, isn't there a health regulation of some kind that prohibits this place from existing?
- This place was bad originally, but now it's just trash.
- I'm not sure that they stock anything other than clear plastic cups.
- I would never bring a date here. Fun fact: I was hit in the face once here recently trying to break up a bar fight.
I go every time I'm in Atlanta.
Personally haven't been here, but took it on a strong rec from an Atlanta friend. Their motto: The Vortex is not politically correct. If you are easily offended, there’s a good chance you will be offended here.
They have a huge beer list, and don't mess around when it comes to liquor, especially their Single Malt Scotch.
Atlanta being the deep South, there are plenty of high end BBQ spots. Fox is more along the lines of Texas 'cue than the southeast Carolina/Georgia pork focused. Loved my visit here, a delicious side of tater tots drenched in melted cheese clogged me all up in a good way, but if any of you have any other spots to rec, please do so in the comments.
¿Last Minute Ticket Grab?
An easy two hour flight, not so easy 10 hour drive, getting to Atlanta can be hit or miss from Miami. Low end are $13 right now on Stub Hub, and there are plenty of seats available. I'm talking like the entire stadium is available. These Yellow Jacket fans are more interested in their dissertation on the wind resistance of the Bobby Dodd statue than watching their team play. Die-hard Miami fans, I'm sure you can relate.
¿Returning Starters?
Offense - 8
Defense -7
Specialists - 2
Senior QB Tevin Washington is the man on offense, racking up 2500 yards total in 2011, and in three games this year has 635 yards total. GT's best player is probably OG Omoregie Uzzi, who earned All-ACC first team honors last year and was a pre-season All-American choice for 2012. It's not hard to imagine what he is going to do to the Hurricanes depleted D-line.
¿All-Time Record?
These two have met 17 times total, with Georgia Tech leading the series 10-7. Since joining the ACC in 2004, the series is even at four wins apiece.
¿You Tube Clip of Glory?
The most famous play in Georgia Tech history is a sack. Of their quarterback. In a loss. By midget Rudy Ruettiger. Who sucked seven ways from Sunday. Thanks Sean Astin. GOONIES!
Ties, 5th downs, who cares! It all counts in your own record books, especially Texas A&M's. Georgia Tech's 1990 National Championship team was only three votes ahead of Colorado in the UPI poll, and Miami garnered a few first place votes even with two losses that year. Goes to show how reluctant everyone was to vote for the Buffs or Yellow Jackets.