2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

Preseason

Head coach Chan Gailey returned for his sixth year at the helm of the program. Reggie Ball, after four years starting for Tech, was replaced by Taylor Bennett. Taylor Bennett started his first game against UConn in 2005 after Reggie came down with viral meningitis and had his break out game against West Virginia in the 2007 Gator Bowl. Tashard Choice was the 2006 ACC rushing champion and returned behind a veteran offensive line led by tackle Andrew Gardner and center Kevin Tuminello. Georgia Tech was ranked as high as #14 in the preseason.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Notre Dame

Running Back Tashard Choice ran for a career-high 196 yards for 2 touchdowns in the worst loss suffered by Notre Dame in a season opener in its history. Notre Dame accumulated −9 rushing yards and 130 passing yards. Georgia Tech amassed 260 yards on the ground while Taylor Bennett went 11/23 for 121 yards for his third career start. The Georgia Tech defense added nine quarterback sacks and recovered three fumbles.

Samford

Georgia Tech scored 9 rushing touchdowns in an offensive exhibition that also featured 389 yards of rushing yards. Tashard Choice continued his 100 yards per game streak with a 110 yard, 2 touchdown effort. True freshman Jon Dwyer racked up 3 rushing touchdowns as well. The Tech defense held Samford to 84 yards rushing and recovered two fumbles.

Boston College

Georgia Tech hosted Boston College for the first time since 1998, and it was also the first meeting of the two schools since Boston College joined the ACC. Senior BC quarterback Matt Ryan threw for a career-high 435 yards and the Eagles outgained the Jackets 527–267 in the game. Tech's defense held BC to 93 yards rushing, recovered a fumble, and attained two sacks. Offensive highlights included Jon Dwyer's fifth career touchdown and Demaryius Thomas reeling in 5 catches for 68 yards. Durant Brooks boomed 10 punts for a 45.3 yard average as well. The loss was Tech's first of the year, dropping them to 2–1, and 0–1 in the ACC.

Virginia

Clemson

The Yellow Jackets got their first conference win against rival Clemson. The Tigers averaged 38 points a game leading up to the contest but only managed a field goal. The Tech defense held C. J. Spiller and James Davis to a combined 62 yards on 21 attempts. The Tech defense also accumulated 6 sacks and an interception in their effort. Tech's Travis Bell kicked two field goals while Clemson's Mark Buchholz missed four of his five attempted field goals. Georgia Tech's offense controlled the clock with a ferocious ground attack, which featured Tashard Choice's 142 rushing yards and a touchdown. Clemson has not scored a touchdown in Bobby Dodd Stadium since 2003. Tech will be on the road for the next two weeks before returning to Atlanta to play the Army Black Knights for the annual homecoming celebration.

Maryland

Placekicker Travis Bell missed two of four field goal attempts including a 52 yarder on Tech's last possession in a 28–26 loss to Maryland. Maryland stormed ahead of Tech taking a 21–3 lead by the beginning of the second quarter. Tech rallied and by the fourth quarter had closed the gap to 2 points on a Taylor Bennett to Demaryius Thomas touchdown pass. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Tech would not score again. Tech was led by the rushing of Tashard Choice who carried 32 times for 135 yards and Demaryius Thomas' 9 receptions and 139 yards. Tech's defense amassed four sacks and recovered a fumble.

Miami (FL)

Taylor Bennett scored on two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter to lead Tech past the Hurricanes 17–14. Tech racked up 265 yards rushing against a Canes defense that only allowed 111 rushing yards per game coming into the contest. Tashard Choice carried the bulk of the rushing load carrying the ball 37 times for 204 yards. The Patrick Nix offense of Miami only passed for 56 yards and gained 225 total yards of offense against Jon Tenuta's defense. Travis Bell kicked the go-ahead field goal with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter and Tech never relented the lead. Since 1984, only Tech, Virginia Tech, and Florida State have beaten Miami at least 3 years in a row.

Army

Tech beat Army 34–10 at the cost of two running backs. Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant were both injured in the contest during Tech's 292-rushing-yard game. Tech's offense was led by Rashaun Grant's 135 all-purpose yardage and a touchdown. Tashard Choice, Jamaal Evans, and Jon Dwyer also scored rushing touchdowns. Mike Cox rushed for a career 38 yards on 3 carries. Freshman safety Morgan Burnett picked off his third pass of the season, which stymied Army's last attempt at taking the lead for the rest of the game. Tech's defense recorded 3 total interceptions and 2 sacks. Senior defensive end Darryl Robertson recorded 4 tackles for losses and a sack in the effort. Tech was now one victory away from bowl eligibility.

Virginia Tech

Georgia Tech only mustered a field goal in a game that saw Tech's offense turn the ball over 6 times. Taylor Bennett threw 4 interceptions and was sacked twice in the effort while freshman quarterback Josh Nesbitt threw another interception in the fourth quarter. James Johnson accounted for another turnover when he fumbled after a 35 yard reception. The Tech defense brought pressure all game long and sacked Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon seven times and stripped runningback Branden Ore of the football once in the effort. James Johnson had 7 receptions for a 136 yards while freshmen Jon Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt carried the load for injured seniors Tashard Choice and Rashaun Grant. The freshmen pair ran for 101 yards on 14 carries. Durant Brooks pinned the Hokies inside the twenty 4 times out of 6 punts. Tech is now eliminated from ACC Title contention. Also of note, Big Boi of Outkast performed at half-time.

Duke

Georgia Tech prevailed after trailing the Blue Devils 10–7 in the first quarter. The Tech defense recovered a fumble and recorded eight sacks in the effort. Tashard Choice eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for the second straight season with his two touchdown, 174 yard effort. Tech, with the win, became the 8th bowl eligible team in the ACC and ensured that Georgia Tech's 11 year bowl streak would continue to twelve years.

North Carolina

Georgia

Tech dropped its seventh straight season finale to UGA with a 31–17 loss. Tech's defense picked up one sack in the effort. Tech's offense was led by Tashard Choice's 133 yards and a touchdown. Durant Brooks boomed four punts for a 52.8 yard average while placekicker Travis Bell knocked down a field goal in the fourth quarter for Tech's last points of the game.

Humanitarian Bowl

Tech was coached by interim head coach Jon Tenuta as head coach Chan Gailey was terminated the Monday after the UGA loss. Tech dropped the decision 40–28. Tech's only lead of 7–0 held until the Bulldogs scored 27 straight unanswered points. Tech never recuperated from the 17 point Fresno 2nd quarter as Tech and Fresno exchanged touchdowns for the rest of the game. Tech highlights included Jon Dwyer rushing for two touchdowns and Demaryius Thomas catching 4 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. Tech receiver D.J. Donley blocked his second punt of the year as well.

Postseason awards

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|- ! style="background:#ccc;" colspan="2"| Ray Guy Award |- style="text-align:center;" |}

Roster

Coaching staff

• Chan Gailey – Head coach until fired on November 26, 2007
• John Bond – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Joe D'Alessandris – Offensive Line
• Buddy geis – Wide Receivers/Assistant Head Coach
• Jeep hunter – Tight Ends
• Brian jean-mary – Linebackers
• Charles kelly – Special Teams Coordinator
• Curtis modkins – Running Backs
• Giff smith – Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
• Jon Tenuta – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
• Butch brooks – Director of Football Operations
• Liam klein – Director of Player Personnel

References

References

1. (February 9, 2007). "Bond Named Offensive Coordinator". Georgia Tech Athletic Association.
2. Amaraneni, Akshay. (August 24, 2007). "Bond talks on Tech's offense, changing schools". [[The Technique]].
3. Brimmer, Adam Van. (March 8, 2007). "Yellow Jacket Freshman Helping Fill Wide Receiver Gap Left by Calvin Johnson's Early Departure". [[Savannah Morning News]].
4. Joshi, Nikhil. (September 23, 2005). "Viral Meningitis". [[The Technique]].
5. Amaraneni, Akshay. (August 31, 2007). "Choice, Bennett Lead Football Offense". [[The Technique]].
6. (December 20, 2006). "Georgia Tech's Ball, Scott ruled out of Gator Bowl".
7. "No. 14: Jackets getting hot in Atlanta". [[Athlon Sports]].
8. (September 9, 2007). "Yellow Jackets' first half best since 1916". The News and Observer.
9. "Cumulative Season Statistics". Georgia Institute of Technology.
10. (2007-09-23). "Tech's Correy Earls Released From Virginia Hospital". Georgia Tech Athletic Association.
11. Jenkins, Jay. (2007-09-24). "UVA FOOTBALL: Groh pays visit to injured Earls". DailyProgress.com.
12. (2007-11-10). "Georgia Tech 41, Duke 24". ESPN U.
13. Lee, Hahnming. (2007-11-30). "Gailey Fired". [[The Technique]].
14. "Player Bio: Taylor Bennett - Georgia Tech Official Athletic Site".
15. "Player Bio: Tashard Choice - Georgia Tech Official Athletic Site".
16. (March 2, 2007). "Klein Named Football Director of Player Personnel". Georgia Tech Athletic Association.
17. (September 1, 2007). "Tech's Opener a Choice Result". [[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]].
18. (September 2007). "Notre Dame Game Notes". Georgia Tech Athletic Association.
19. (September 8, 2007). "No. 21 Georgia Tech Sails By Samford, 69–14". Georgia Tech Athletic Association.
20. Associated Press. (September 16, 2007). "Georgia Tech Falls To Boston College, 24–10". Georgia Tech Athletic Association.
21. (September 22, 2007). "Georgia Tech 23, Virginia 28". go.com.