Football Fix

WILLIAMS WAITS HIS TURN
Story on Darius Williams. Here's another one with some game and injury notes as well.

PJ DANIELS IN ESPN'S "HOT100"
On PJ:

99. P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech RB: Tech did nothing without him against Miami, but he came back the next week and sparked an upset of Maryland.

DANIELS PROVES WORTH WHEN HE FINISHES
The real crusher - Brad Brezina is out for the season. Many I hate it for him.

Rhodes and center Kevin Tuminello, who started in place of injured starter Andy Tidwell-Neal, played solidly against Maryland.

"They've made great strides. But they still are not where we need them to be," Gailey said. "They get to make another great stride from week one to week two for them. There are fighters."

CAN GT WIN WITH BALL'S PASSING GAME

DUKE LOSS STILL STINGS 11 MONTHS LATER

DEFENDERS ARE BOOKENDS ON/OFF THE FIELD
E.Henderson and T.Parker. I love this quote about where they meet together:

On the field, they've picked a convenient meeting place.

"We get to meet up at the quarterback every play," Parker said. "Shake hands before the play and meet you at the quarterback."

REIS THRIVING AT LINEBACKER
I think Coach Gailey's understated quote here really says it all:

"He really has a nose for the football," Gailey said.

That's it. The kid just has a nose for the ball.

NO COMPARISON BETWEEN GT / DUKE

TV / RADIO COVERAGE FOR THE DUKE

TECH DEFENSE AIMS FOR ANOTHER DOMINANT PERFORMANCE
Interesting comments from Gailey on the progress on the team, saying E.Henderson's return really isn't the key thing:

But Gailey thinks the defense has relied on more than just Henderson's return.

``I don't think that's all of it,'' Gailey said. ``Also, I think we have young players who have gained more and more experience and confidence.''

Gailey said the players ``all of a sudden are starting to understand'' the new positions.

``When you get the combination of all of those things happening, you see the sack numbers increase and I would expect if we can continue to improve you will see out turnover numbers increase,'' he said.

MIAMI PLAYER COMMENTS ON CHRIS WOODS RUN
Interesting comments from the guy who caught up with and tackled Chris Woods on the first play from scrimmage in the Miami game.

In UM's Oct. 2 win at Georgia Tech, Meriweather, who has been battling turf toe this week, caught tailback Chris Woods from behind on the first play at UM's 11-yard line to prevent a TD. Later, he intercepted Reggie Ball, which set up a 57-yard touchdown pass.

"The one that was more monumental was saving the touchdown, because we held them to a field goal," Coker said. "It showed some speed. I thought the guy was gone. I didn't know we were going to catch the guy."

"It finally showed I'm faster than what everybody thinks I am," Meriweather said. "When I first started running, I thought I never was going to catch him, but as I took five, six steps, I realized I was getting stronger and he was getting weaker, so I just kept pushing and eventually I was there."

UNC PLAYERS MAY NOT RETURN TO TEAM
Bunting certainly is taking a harder line that most.

COMMENT ON RECRUIT TONY CLARK
Quote:

The GA coach is concerned about facing a Groves offense which has big-play potential, with senior tailback Jon Armstrong and senior wideout Tony Clark, who also plays defensive back and has already committed to Georgia Tech.

"(Armstrong) is about as good as anyone we've seen, and (Clark) is phenomenal. You can have him covered and he'll make a play."

COMMENT ON RECRUIT CARLOS THOMAS
Tell me this doesn't get you excited:

Banneker is led by senior Carlos Thomas (6-foot, 180 pounds) who has already verbally committed to Georgia Tech. “He is as good a kick returner as anybody that I have seen in a long time,” Kelley said. “He is magic with the football.”

Thomas has over 280 kickoff return yards on just six attempts, including two for touchdowns. Thomas has only been kicked to once during a punt but returned that 46 yards.

The speedster has also accumulated over 300 receiving yards, 220 rushing yards and has thrown a pass for 38 yards. Add in 17 tackles and an interception on defense and it’s easy to see why Georgia Tech snatched him up.

“He is really good,” stated Kelley. “His brother (Levon Thomas) already plays at Georgia Tech.”

HISTORY STACKED AGAINST CLEMSON GOING TO BOWL
Reference to GT in 2003:

No ACC team has started 1-4 and made a bowl in the league’s 52-year history. The closest example was Georgia Tech overcoming a 1-3 start in 2003 to finish the regular season 6-6 for a berth in the Humanitarian Bowl.

DUKE'S DRUMMER SLOWLY LEARNING THE ROPES

MORE ON THE MARYLAND STANDING CONTROVERSY

AROUND THE ACC