Wreck Ramblin

Weis ready for GT

Notre Dame's second-year head coach enters Saturday night's 2006 season opener at Georgia Tech knowing everything there is to know about the Yellow Jackets.

He knows, for instance, there have been 16 pass interference calls against Calvin Johnson's defenders.

[Kate Gales, The Observer]

GT enters ND game with unanswered questions

Gailey, Georgia Tech's head coach, is trying to limit the speculation and concentrate on his players - many wet behind the ears - and the game they will bring to Bobby Dodd Stadium Saturday.

[Kate Gales, The Observer]

1980 tie with Irish still inspires Jackets

"... one of the greatest victories in Yellow Jackets history ... if only Tech had won. The 3-3 tie sure felt like a victory to Mooney, his teammates and a first-year coach named Bill Curry ..."

[Mike Knobler, AJC, 8/30]

USA Today sees easy ND win over GT

No. 3 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m.

Yellow Jackets and anti-Irish fans are buzzing about a possible upset. But remember that Notre Dame routinely deals with tough road environments like Michigan, Tennessee and Southern Cal. With all offseason to prepare for Georgia Tech's blitzing defense, Charlie Weis and Brady Quinn should have no trouble spoiling the party. Notre Dame 35, Georgia Tech 17.

[Eric Smith, USA Today, 8/31]

UHND preview of GT

Notre Dame’s defense is going to be improved and I think we’ll get a glimpse of that Saturday. Calvin Johnson will get some catches and will end up with nice stats, but who else is Ball going to throw to? Offensively, Quinn could have a field day throwing against the young Georgia Tech secondary unless the Yellow Jackets find a way to get to him without leaving themselves vulnerable to the short passing game. Despite what some in the media are predicting, ND wins this one a lot easier than people think.

Notre Dame 34, Georgia Tech 13

[Frank at UHND]

Hanging with Calvin

Johnson, Georgia Tech's spectacular 6-foot-5, 235-pound junior wide receiver, makes acrobatic, jaw-dropping catches with such regularity that every time he lines up it's TiVo-worthy. He's made a mockery out of defenses, amassing 1,725 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons, and teammate Joe Anoai calls Johnson "the athlete of the century."

[Cory McCartney, SI]

Gentlemen, start your engine!

"... while other schools have their lions and tigers and bears (oh my!), the gold-clad faithful are quite pleased with letting a vintage automobile lead their football team onto the field before each home game while they belt out, "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer."

[AP]

CSTV preview of ND

n Year Two under Charlie Weis, the Irish have emerged as a trendy pick to play in Glendale, Arizona on Jan. 8 for the program's first national championship since 1988.

The Sept. 2 opener at Georgia Tech has been earmarked as a potential upset by many pundits.

[Bryan Graham, CSTV]

True Freshman may start on ND line

The Notre Dame coaching staff has raved about the progress of freshman OT Sam Young, who likely has won a starting job. If Young does start in the season opener against Georgia Tech -- he would be the fourth true freshman in Notre Dame modern history to start on the offensive line -- look for Georgia Tech to move speedy DE Adamm Oliver over Young and use Oliver and DT Joe Anoai on various twists to try to confuse Young.

[Matt Hayes, Sporting News, 8/28]

Hannah and Friends

The wife of Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis knows [her daughter] Hannah -- who has global developmental delays, which impede speech, motor skills and social skills -- never will live a normal life. Hannah also suffered seizures in her younger years, causing more brain damage.

Through Hannah & Friends (www.hannahandfriends.org), the nonprofit organization they founded in 2003, Maura and Charlie Weis aim to open a South Bend-area community for young adults with special needs. They're in the process of finding a site, and Maura hopes doors will open one year after the land is purchased.

These are good people.

[Vaughn McClure, Chicago Sun-Times]