After 48 hours

...to say I'm tired is an understatement. I won't go into detail, but a full day of meetings, followed by a dinner cruise around Helsinki by boat, then out to see the "night-life". Quite entertaining to say the least, but I finally had to call "mercy" and end the night. I just was never cut out for the night scene. To each his own. But talk about a vibrant city.

Since my last post, we have actually gotten another football commitment (5th) - this time from Michael Johnston, a 6'7" 215lb tight end from Plantersville AL. Looks like he really fell in love with the school after a camp. Wants to major in engineering has great grades and is even interested in walking on to the GT hoops team. He actually has hoops 'ship offers from a couple of small schools. A fairly "below the radar" guy, but gaining recognition. Does have an offer from Clemson and some smaller schools.

Speaking of grades, congrats to these folks for making the 03/04 ACC Academic honor roll - link here. Honorees include PJ Daniels, Gerris Wilkinson, Nate Curry and Chris Reis. There were 13 players from the current football team and 24 GT athletes honored in various sports. Well done.

On the practice field, it looks like the defense is ahead of the offense - link here. The article says that's normal in the pre-season. Of course we know it was normal for us DURING the season as well. Bottom line is our defense is a good one and our offense has the potential to be a good one.

Kevin Tuminello, a redshirt freshman who looks to start on the O-Line in the fall, is getting plenty of support from his fellow lineman. Story here......... Here's more on the O-Line shuffle as Kevin recovers from a minor injury - link here.

The SportingNews sees GT at #28 in football and a "program holding steady" - link here.

Another seven-win campaign probably won't excite followers, but that looks like the Jackets' fate. PHS

Fan Photo day is August 15 - details here.

Eric Henderson was named by Rivals.com the 4th best defensive player in the ACC. James Butler also received votes - link here.

In my "where are they now" segment, Matt Kuchar is quoted on not leaving school early - link here.

Matt Kuchar didn’t give in to that temptation. He turned down big offers and stayed at Georgia Tech to earn his degree.

"Even if I became one of the best golfers on the PGA tour, had I turned pro earlier, and had I been in the top five, you know, living a dream out here, I knew I would look back at a point, and say, ‘God, I wish I could be that college kid again,’" says Kuchar.

Evidently he is being used as a negative example:

Unfortunately, Kuchar’s last two years of college golf were unexceptional, and after graduation, he went to work as an investment banker, unsure whether he would ever pick up the game again as a professional.

A lot of agents and instructors used him as a negative model: "Don’t do what Matt Kuchar did. He walked away from that money."

"That was tough on me for a while, to hear that, 'You don't want to be like him,'" recalls Kuchar. "Here I was, I stay in school. I graduate. I get my degree. And yet, it’s used as a negative."

But the kid who had been written off at 19 made his way onto the pro tour this year. And three days after Stewart interviewed him in 2002, he won the Honda Classic, taking home $630,000 and a coveted spot in the Masters Tournament.

"Very few guys win on tour at 23," says Feinstein. "Or ever. To win on tour at this age is an indication that he's going to be a very big moneymaker for very many years to come."

Mark Teixeira articles are becoming the norm - link here........ Here's another one on Mark.

Get your Kenny Anderson throwback autographed jerseys here - right here.

David Duval is eager to "regain that winning touch" - link here.

Dickey Vitale ranks GT #7 in the nation in his top 30 - list here.

7. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2003-04 record: 28-10 (9-7, tied for 3rd in ACC)
2003-04 Postseason result: Lost to Connecticut in national championship
Key players returning: B.J. Elder, Jarrett Jack, Luke Schenscher, Will Bynum, Isma'il Muhammad, Anthony McHenry
Key players lost: Marvin Lewis, Clarence Moore
Newcomers of note: Zam Frederick, Ra'Sean Dickey, Anthony Morrow, Jeremis Smith
After reaching the national-championship game last season, coach Paul Hewitt's team will be a contender again this time around. Schenscher keeps getting better and better in the middle, and Jack is a great leader. Elder can flat-out score, and the newcomers could help out.

He hasn't released his top 5, but suffice it to say UNC will be #1 - take it to the bank. Crazy but true.