Football Fix

COACH GAILEY UPDATE
"Execution" is the fall-guy for why we lost. Can't say I disagree. Play-calling is an area of concern, but I guess that could fall under coaches execution. Nice to see the comments about the good reception we are getting on the recruiting trail. After all, that's where it all starts. Gotta get the horses.

JACKETS RETURN TO PRACTICE
Obviously E.Henderson is ready to hit someone:

When Gailey was asked if he thought Henderson was antsy to play, he said, "Well, he was the only one today who asked if he could wear his equipment to run the sprints after practice," referring to conditioning drills for which players remove their helmets and shoulder pads.

HENDERSON EAGER TO RETURN
Note that PJ Daniels did not practice this week, but Seth Besirevic did.

CAN GT GET BACK INTO A BOWL?
From a Brunswick editorial.

Can Georgia Tech get back to a bowl game again? Outlook not so good. How in the world do you lose to North Carolina, especially after winning at Clemson? Miami, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Virginia and Georgia all are waiting. It may not be pretty.

CANES EXPECT MORE FROM OFFENSE

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - NAT DORSEY
Looks like an injury has thrust Dorsey into a split-time role on the Vikings O-Line.

In four days, Haayer and Dorsey will tag-team Chicago's Adewale Ogunleye, a force great enough to lead the AFC in sacks last season (15) and command former Bears No. 1 receiver Marty Booker in a trade with Miami during the offseason.

"I didn't come here to sit the bench," Dorsey said. "You should have seen me the first two games. I did nothing. It was very hard for me to take." Dorsey is athletic, but he's 21 and especially green from leaving Georgia Tech a year early. He also hasn't played on the right side of the line since high school. "It's just getting down in a different stance," Dorsey said with a shrug. "You're putting a different hand down."

MORE ON NAT DORSEY

The Vikings love Dorsey's 6-foot-7, 322-pound frame and his footwork, and in the long run it's probably his job to lose.

"If he continues to work as hard as he does," Culpepper said, "I think he's going to jell very well with our o-line."

"I'm very excited," Dorsey said. "It's hard for me to sit on that bench and watch the team play -- win, lose or draw."

RECRUITING IRONY
The NC ST kicker handles field goals, kick-offs and punting. He is one of 10 kids nationally who does all three. The irony is that he could have ended up at GT.

But his most important trial was essentially a one-day tryout at Georgia Tech.

"George O'Leary, who was the coach then, got the top five kickers in the eastern United States together," Deraney said. "He was going to make decision out of those five guys."

Deraney finished second in the competition. "At the time, that's where I wanted to go," he said. "Now I'm glad I didn't go there. I felt comfortable up here. I committed here early. Auburn really wanted me. They kept writing me and calling me."

Ironically, the kicker whom O'Leary offered a scholarship doesn't kick for the Yellow Jackets, while Deraney is working overtime for the Pack.

PATHS INTERTWINE FOR ROOF & FRIEDGEN
Interesting article looking at the relationship of these two Georgia Tech assistants.

RALPH FRIEDGEN - BY THE NUMBERS