It's not like Zach Laskey was doing poorly, but it's hard to ignore the production Synjyn Days has had. What Johnson said yesterday was that, it'll be a little like how he used Tevin Washington and Vad Lee in late 2012 - give both players snaps early and go with the hot hand. If Days keeps playing like he has, it'll be very hard to take him off the field. Matt Connors had a 55-yard run last year. David Sims' career long was 41 (also against N.C. State, coincidentally). But, to get at what you're saying, Days has peeled off a few long runs in a way that Sims or Laskey weren't or haven't been able to do.
Whoa. this is like "Being John Malkovich." Shrimp corn chowder. No comment.
The AJC rolled out the website hoping to improve the experience for readers. I gather that hasn't been the response among many of you. I don't know what will change, but I know the people whose opinions matter more than mine are listening. I encourage you to write to feedback@ajc.com with your specific complaints.
Thanks. Your encouragement helps keep me going.
Thanks. I sincerely appreciate it.
that's an interesting theory. I think running up against the Virginia Tech/Miami/UGA wall has been pretty frustrating for Tech fans (you'd know better than I would). I imagine a lot of people have felt like there's been a ceiling. But it's not like fans were ever crazy about Gailey, even after Tech beat Auburn and Miami.
This is why I got into the business. Probably equal chance and, since it's an open-air press box, hopefully the odor would dissipate quickly.
I believe so. He only has a year of eligibility remaining (assuming he regains it) so he'd have to drop down to FCS. And if he wanted to leave, I don't think he'd spend the year on the scout team.
As far as rankings implications go, probably not much. Tech got in the CFP top 25 last week for the first time after beating Virginia on ESPNU and then got into the AP and coaches polls after beating N.C. State on the ACC Network. If Tech were to beat Georgia, the appropriate people would know about it.
Not yet today. I wrote yesterday (I hope when I say this, I don't sound like, "Well, if you had been paying attention...") that Paul Johnson said it might be a Wednesday or Thursday decision. For what it's worth, Adam Gotsis thinks he's going to play.
It's probably a combination. Quayshawn Nealy's interception was luck. D.J. White's interception was skill. Tyler Marcordes' sack/fumble was maybe a little of both - it's not every sack that causes a fumble - but it wasn't luck that Nealy was right there when the ball came out. I don't think the coaching points have changed in the last few weeks. I think sometimes it's a "when it rains, it pours" sort of thing. You'll remember that prior to the Pitt game, Tech had only recovered one fumble.
I think pricing has a lot to do with it. You'll remember the Miami game drew well, as did Georgia Southern, although Southern brought a lot of fans. The cheapest tickets for the game are $75, although the ticket office is discounting upper north end zone seats to $50 today only. To me, $75 is a lot.
It is a big loss, without a doubt. Charles Perkins, Tony Zenon, Deon Hill and B.J. Bostic have all been contributors this season and past. Zenon, in particular, has really come on after not getting a lot of playing time in his first three seasons. A big load falls on Broderick Snoddy and Dennis Andrews, who've earned an increasing number of snaps lately, partly due to injuries. Another player to watch is Isiah Willis, a walk-on who's gotten a little bit of time, also. But, to answer your question, I guess we won't know, but that position group, under Lamar Owens, has turned out productive players each season. I had questions about whether any of the A-backs would step forward this season, and they've met the challenge, I'd say.
Good morning. Thanks for joining me on the mailbag. I look forward to taking your questions. Let's get started.
I always like to read that. Thanks.
Funny. I'd think it's at least a Tech record, if you want to call "most points scored in the first 5:14" can be considered a record. The record for largest first-quarter lead is 28 points, and I think it's safe to say Tech didn't score all 28 points in the other games in he first 5:14, though I don't know for sure. It's too bad there's not much of a record of the Cumberland game. Tech scored 63 points in the first quarter of that game. I wonder if Tech got to 28 faster against Pitt than it did against Cumberland.
Good question. Paul Johnson is usually unsparingly honest and you're often not sure how he'll answer a question. he is also a pretty good storyteller and has incredible recall. Mike Sewak (offensive line) is also very honest and detailed. Mike Pelton (defensive line) is the same way.
I forget if I read this or maybe I'm just totally making it up, but it does seem to me that Tech's base in the triangle is one of the largest in the country. Hopefully it'll be an enjoyable afternoon.
The problem with that is that Tech has a committed base of maybe 22 or 23,000 season ticket holders who are willing to pay the price of a ticket, and maybe even more. So if you lower all the ticket prices, then you have to lower it for season ticket holders and then you're losing revenue that way and kind of gambling that the lowered ticket prices will in fact draw sufficient attendance to make up for the lost revenue from season ticket sales. This is sort of off topic but Tech, like probably a lot of schools, is dealing with the fact that its season-ticket base is graying, and younger alumni and fans are less likely to take their places.
I guess it's all in how you look at it. It's kind of like what i wrote about Ricky Jeune and players in general. I think so much of what happens to a player (and I guess this is much more broadly true) is his willingness to push himself. I get the strong sense that he isn't there yet. In his defense, I think the fact that this is only his fourth year of football probably plays into it.
I'm sure it was a factor. The Virginia attendance wasn't as noteworthy to me as the Duke attendance.
He has a left-leg injury. He had to leave the Virginia game on a cart and hasn't practiced this week. I'd suspect he won't play Saturday.
