What's Buzzin for Friday

FOOTBALL
Anyone notice that we have a new Quarterback on the roster? His name - Nick Barwig, and evidently he will be a preferred walk-on, which just means he's got a good shot to earn a free ride, but not yet. It looked like he was going to head to an Ivy league school, but evidently had a change of heart. Here's a little bit on him. In fact, if you look close there are quite a few names you might not recognize - RB Jason Davis from Dulth, QB - Ronnie Donaldson from Rome GA, TE Kyle Mooneyham from Nashville TN, WR Erick Oetter from Macon, DB Anthony Threats from Columbus, long snapper Zach Ware from Rome GA, PlaceKicker Mohamed Yahiaoui from Roswell. Seems that most of these guys are walk-ons of some type. Also note that the freshman weights have been updated as well....................... The USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll is out and the Jackets clock in at #29................. The Jackets report Friday and begin their first practice on Saturday at 4:30. Sat/Sun practice will be in shorts, then pads on Mon/Tues, with full contact on Wed. Very surprising is the quote from Coach Gailey that Michael Johnson and Colin Peek are probably going to have to play because of lack of depth. I figured Johnson would get PT, but we are deeper at DE than the tackle spots. The Colin Peek comment surprised me, since I figured Mike Matthews, George Cooper and Wayne Riles were the front-runners at the tight-end positions. Peek was very highly rated, but as a freshman, I was not expecting him to see PT other than special teams. Coach also mentioned that "we'll need a linebacker or two to play, and maybe one of the wideouts....". Well, the new incoming linebackers are Anthony Barnes, Matthew Braman, Taalib Tucker. It is likely to be in that order that they get a chance to play. At WR, we are talking Greg Smith and Martin Frierson...................


PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Subject to Change, Open to the public and media until further notice
Saturday, Aug. 6...... 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 7........ 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 8........ 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 9....... 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 10.... 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 11..... 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 12....... 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 13..... 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 15....... 4:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 16...... 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.


Here's more of the story about the departure of Kyle Belcher. Bottom-line - not a big fan of the city of ATL, not comfortable academically (didn't have a Science major he wanted), not committed to the sport of football, and oh by the way - his parents both went to UGA. That is where he is looking to end up, although he may not play football again. He'll take a year off and see if the "itch" is still there. Sounds like it was an amicable parting:

"I had a good spring punting, and I had put myself in a good position to punt this fall and hopefully still kick off," Belcher said. "I couldn't have asked for a better coaching staff and players. They were unbelievable. So many coaches took their time to talk with me about things. When I told them in April I was thinking of leaving, they were real understanding and helpful through all of it. That definitely had no impact on my decision to leave."

Kyle, all the best, but if you become a Dawg, don't expect a lot of pats on the back. Best of luck to you. I hope you find your path. More power to you......... Ok, how about the funny quote of the day, from UNC Head Coach Jim Bunting:

Q. Do you expect defenses to blitz more with a new quarterback (Matt Baker)?
JB: I expect Georgia Tech to be blitzing off the bus when they take us on.

In case you didn't know them, meet your coaching staff:


Chan Gailey - Head Coach
Joe D'Alessandris - Offensive Line
Buddy Geis - Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers
Brian Jean-Mary - Linebackers
Curtis Modkins - Running Backs
Patrick Nix - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Tommie Robinson - Tight Ends
Giff Smith - Defensive Line
Jon Tenuta - Defensive Coordinator
David Wilson - Special Teams/Recruiting Coord.
Butch Brooks - Director of Football Operations


As you know, the defenses are set to dominate in the ACC. In that article Georgia Tech gets the moniker "Team on the Slide". Ouch. Pretty rough........... Here's the Rivals.com pre-season all-ACC team, with Calvin Johnson, PJ Daniels and Travis Bell as 1st teamers and Joe Anoai and Gerris Wilkinson as 2nd teamers........ The Macon Telegraph on a Tech team looking for consistency........ Evidently Buzz will make an appearance at Tailgater's Alley on August 20, from 1-5pm. Where is that? Try here (from the Hive):

From Atlanta or I-285 take I-85 North to the Hwy.120 east exit (towards Lawrenceville). As soon as you merge onto Hwy 120 east you will move to the left. Go to the second traffic light, which will be at the top of the hill (just past Burger King), and turn left into Discover Mills Mall. In the parking lot go to the left. Entrance #6 is to the left of Burlington Coat factory. Enter at entry #6 we are then to the left and on the left.


Chris (GT '89) & Delane
Tailgaters Alley
Discover Mills Mall
Phone: 678-584-9688
email: tailgaters@bellsouth.net

Hey, check out the NY Giants depth chart - click on "center" and check out our Andy Tidwell Neal at 3rd string. Also click on the defense at strong safety where James Butler also shows up at 3rd string. Nice!


HOOPS
Well, the Portland Trailblazers released guards Nick "the quick" Van Excel and Derek Anderson. That would seem to clear the way for the Telfair / Jack era. Of course they signed Juan Dixon and Charles Smith, both guards as well............................


OTHER STUFF
A couple of our golfers get to play in the US Amateur Championships starting August 22........... Well, looks like Tavares Kearney was innocent after all - of cheating. Or so they would have you believe. While Jacket fans moan and collectively roll their eyes, I say hey, the guy was found innocent. What's a little arm twisting among friends......... Mark Zupan is getting a bunch of press lately. He was on CSS Sportsnight last week and here he's profiled by the AP...... No more scalping during NCAA postseason games evidently........