Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Around the Hive

GOLF
The Golf Team gets a #2 seed in the NCAA East Regional..... What I didn't say is that the mutts grabbed the #1 seed.......... Nicholas Thompson has been named one of 5 finalists for the Byron Nelson Award


FOOTBALL
Dave Braine oks the instant replay for the Auburn game, effectively changing his mind since the SEC officials will be calling the shots...... For ACC games, it looks like coaches won't be able to make the call themselves.......... Also note that the ACC is looking to add 2 more bowls to the ACC line-up......... Chan Gailey has lost 20 pounds and feels great. Amazing what giving up ice cream will do............... Also, the ACC is pushing for that 5th year of eligibility. Personally, I think it's a great idea. However, what people are NOT talking about is that this will reduce the overall number of scholarships available for high school students. If more people stay 5 years, then there will be fewer free rides.......... Well, CFN is counting down their top 100 potential Hiesman hopefuls for 2005. Reggie Ball clocks in at #63..

63. QB Reggie Ball, Georgia Tech, Ball has some major issues with consistency (see last year's 18 picks and 49.7% completion percentage), yet he finished strong, and it's hard not to be intrigued by the talent that surrounds him.


In other football news, looks like we will be playing Army in a home-and-away series in 2007/08 (or 09), per someone at the Hive........ The NY Giants might be counting on James Butler to make the squad and become a factor on the team.

This time around, of all the undrafted hopefuls, safety James Butler from Georgia Tech might have the best chance to stick. If the Giants had owned a seventh-round pick, Butler would have been the choice.


Rangy at 6-3 and 210 pounds, Butler was a first-team All-ACC player the past two years. He said he thought he might get drafted as early as the third round and that getting bypassed did create doubt in his mind.


"I ain't coming in with chips and all that. I'm just coming in to make the team," Butler said. "I have tremendous respect for the other players in the NFL and what they have accomplished. I just want to get in here, learn the system, keep my mouth shut, just show 'em I'm a consistent player, I work hard. That's what coaches look for."


HOOPS
Jeremiah Rivers has committed to Georgetown, which takes him off the Tech board (which I'll do later). He was one of 3 PG's with an offer from the staff. With Tywon Lawson looking more and more like a North Carolina lean, it is clear who the #1 target is - Javaris Crittenton, who has narrowed down his list to Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Florida. Stay tuned................ Jon Babul was named an assistant coach under Cliff Warren at JU. Congrats!!! Way to keep it in the family. Of course, where has Babul been? For the past two seasons he has been Director of Basketball Operations at James Madison, where another former GT coach, Dean Keener runs the show............