| Another opener with Notre Dame not fun for Gailey
For the second year in a row, Chan Gailey was talking football and having a good time, playfully chiding Georgia fans and assorted decisions by the NCAA.
And for the second year in a row, the man who introduced him was something of, ironically, a buzzkill.
"Charlie wants me to talk about the Notre Dame opening game," said Georgia Tech's head football coach, nodding toward local businessman and big Tech fan Charles Jay. "OK, that's enough."
A year ago, Jay did the same thing to Gailey, the guest speaker at the Macon Touchdown Club's second "spring fling." The Yellow Jackets gave Notre Dame a serious struggle in Atlanta before losing 14-10.
Tech went on, however, to win nine games and reach the ACC championship game and the Gator Bowl. A repeat wouldn't be a bad thing, although starting the season with a traditional power is a task for any team.
"If I had my choice, would I open up with Notre Dame, up there?" Gailey asked rhetorically. "No. Who would do that? In their right mind, who would do that?"
Gailey's only real worry is that his team, especially the younger players, may be overly excited about the name of the opponent and its tradition.
"It's one of the most storied venues in all of football, and you're getting a chance to go up there and play the game," he said. "But you can't sell it so hard that they forget they got a football game to play."
That's unlikely. Gailey pointed out that the accompanying media coverage can help return a team to earth. And there's the fact that Gailey will take a pretty solid team to South Bend.
While there's no replacing wideout Calvin Johnson, Gailey pointed out that his last season team lost four of five games by 13 points, had no regulars get hurt in the spring and returns 17 starters.
"We've got guys that have played well in other places," he said. "They've gone to Auburn and played well. They've gone to Miami and played well. They've gone to Clemson and played well. They've gone to Virginia Tech and played well.
"They know how to go to other places and play well."
New offensive coordinator John Bond can play with the passing game, but Gailey told him - and all of the candidates to replace Patrick Nix - to leave the running game alone.
"Tashard Choice led the conference in rushing last year, and two years ago, P.J. Daniels led the conference in rushing," Gailey said. "We needed some new ideas in the passing game. He's come in and given us a lot of great new ideas in the passing game. I'm looking forward to seeing that in action."
Middle Georgia likely will have a serious impact in Tech's fate this year, led by All-America punter Durant Brooks, who played at Tattnall Square and then at Georgia Military College, as well as wideouts Demaryius Thomas of West Laurens and Correy Earls of Central.
"Demaryius Thomas has got a chance to be a really good player," Gailey said. "Correy Earls from right here in Macon had a very good spring, had over 100 yards receiving in the spring game."
Johnson County grad Brad Jefferson hasn't shown up yet but still caught Gailey's eye.
"Brad Johnson won the state in the 300 (meter) hurdles," said Gailey, who also has defensive end Robert Hall (Hawkinsville), fullback James Liipfert (Westfield) and center Trey Dunmon (Hawkinsville) on the roster. "I mean, just an amazing athlete. He's 6-3, 210 pounds and won the state in the high hurdles. He's just a phenomenal athlete."
The Yellow Jackets - ranked 14th in Athlon's preseason poll - have plenty of experience back and a schedule that'll test it.
"We've got Notre Dame at the front, Georgia on the back," Gailey said, "and we play the ACC in the middle. That's not exactly the easiest road to hoe that's out there."
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