ESPN.com - NCF/PREVIEW00 - Say it ain't so: Jackets without Joe

College Football


		Scores/Schedules Rankings Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries Weekly lineup Teams Recruiting

Monday, August 14
Say it ain't so: Jackets without Joe

By Gregg Doyel
Special to ESPN.com

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
1999 record: 8-4 (5-3 ACC)
Coach: George O'Leary
Returning starters: 14 (5 offense, 9 defense)

Outlook
Last year, the Jackets took their shot at the ACC upper crust, losing by scores of 41-35 at Florida State and 45-38 at Virginia. This year, Georgia Tech might not have enough ammunition to try again. Weapons return on offense, but not one of them is named Joe Hamilton. The little quarterback, second last year in the Heisman Trophy voting, wasn't necessarily a one-man team -- but he was close.

His replacement likely will be junior George Godsey, who was 5-for-13 for 57 yards last season. Godsey has a prime target in junior receiver Kelly Campbell (69 catches for 1,105 yards), but speedster Dez White left early for the NFL. Defense was the Jackets' biggest problem last season -- they gave up 30.3 points per game, 93rd nationally -- but it was a young defense, and almost everyone is back. With only two senior starters, the 2001 defense might be better than this one.

Keep an eye on ...
Junior tailback Sean Gregory began last season as the third-string tailback and ended it with 837 yards, 13 touchdowns and three consecutive 100-yard games -- the first Tech back to do that since Jerry Mays in 1989. Gregory is big (6-foot-1, 211 pounds) but deceptively fast, and with Godsey not likely to throw the ball as often as Hamilton did, Gregory figures to get more than his 14 carries per game of last season -- and more attention from defenses.

It's a good season if ...
The Jackets have the same goal as every ACC team other than Florida State and Clemson -- get into any bowl game. Last season, that goal wouldn't have been enough, but this year, with a new quarterback and a still-young defense, reaching the postseason would be a success.

Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for the Charlotte Observer

AROUND THE ACC

Clemson
Duke
Florida St.
Georgia Tech
Maryland
North Carolina
North Carolina St.
Virginia
Wake Forest

ALSO SEE
FSU pulling farther away from the ACC