Wreck Ramblin

Keys for 2007 Football

Here are some impressions about three things that will determine Georgia Tech’s success this season, based on spring football practice:

1. Keeping the offensive line healthy. The No. 1 line looks great. The No. 2s? Not so much.

2. Getting dependable play from Anthony Barnes or Shane Bowen. Tech might have more depth at linebacker than it did last season, but there’s a significant dropoff now between Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton, who both look excellent, and the third starter. Guyton could be ready for a big year, and Wheeler should be better than ever.

3. Keeping the quarterback healthy. I think Taylor Bennett is going to have a strong year. Neither Steven Threet nor Calvin Booker is ready to step in and start, though. That’s no knock on them; they’ve had just one spring of practice at Tech.

[MK, AJC]

Rumors of Calvin going #1 persist

1. Oakland Raiders - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech

Al Davis loves speed. Al Davis loves athletic specimens. Al Davis wants to win now. Al Davis will select Calvin Johnson with the first pick in the NFL Draft. CJ is 6′5″ 235 and runs a 4.35 40 yard dash. He is a big target who is fast. I am sure that Al has been salivating over him since the end of last season.

The general consensus says that the Raiders should select a quarterback with this selection, but  Al Davis  has a long standing aversion to selecting a quarterback in the first round.

[PP, MVN]

More speculation on Calvin going #1

1. Oakland Raiders - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech

"Al Davis loves speed. Al Davis loves athletic specimens. Al Davis wants to win now. Al Davis will select Calvin Johnson with the first pick in the NFL Draft. CJ is 6′5″ 235 and runs a 4.35 40 yard dash. He is a big target who is fast. I am sure that Al has been salivating over him since the end of last season.

The general consensus says that the Raiders should select a quarterback with this selection, but  Al Davis  has a long standing aversion to selecting a quarterback in the first round."

Calvin Johnson will step in and be the deep threat receiver that Al Davis covets.

[MVN]

Hope Al Davis is reading these. Calvin did visit the Raiders, but so did Russell.

Keys for Tech in 2007

Here are some impressions about three things that will determine Georgia Tech’s success this season, based on spring football practice:

1. Keeping the offensive line healthy. The No. 1 line looks great. The No. 2s? Not so much.

2. Getting dependable play from Anthony Barnes or Shane Bowen. Tech might have more depth at linebacker than it did last season, but there’s a significant dropoff now between Philip Wheeler and Gary Guyton, who both look excellent, and the third starter. Guyton could be ready for a big year, and Wheeler should be better than ever.

3. Keeping the quarterback healthy. I think Taylor Bennett is going to have a strong year. Neither Steven Threet nor Calvin Booker is ready to step in and start, though. That’s no knock on them; they’ve had just one spring of practice at Tech.

[MK, AJC] [GT Schedule]

Dunmon sheds locks for good cause

Trey Dumon has donated his hair for wigs for kids with cancer.

[GT AA photo gallery]

GT tied with Clemson at USCC

Georgia Tech's golf team is hosting one of the second United States Collegiate Championship teed off Monday at The "Lakeside" course at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta.

After the first of 3 rounds on Monday, GT is tied with Clemson at +4. [Team Leaderboard] Kevin Larson is tied for 7th. [Individual Leaderboard]

#1 UGA is four back.

[GT AA] [AJC] [Athens Online]

10APR2007 Buzz

Annotated links in the continuation

Rumors of Calvin going #1

"... something tells me Russell to the Raiders isn't as certain as most people are portraying it to be. Sure, the franchise needs a quarterback the way some folks in the Oakland Hills neighborhood in which I used to live need Xanax, but I'm hearing from people in the know that Davis is locking in on Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson."

[MS, SI]

The latest draft rumor has the Oakland Raiders skipping a quarterback and drafting Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson with the first pick. That means the Detroit Lions (2) and the Browns (3) might have the choice of quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn. The Raiders' quarterback situation is terrible, and it's hard to imagine them not taking a quarterback -- but supposedly, owner Al Davis is convinced Johnson is the one certain superstar in the draft.

[TB, Akron Beacon-Journal]

It's not the rational thing for the Raiders to do, unless the Raiders have a trade lined up for a QB.

TK @ Lions Insider discusses the rumored trade for McCown.

More by JJ Cooper @ NFL Fanhouse.

UM beats Baseball in bottom of 9th

Gus Menendez's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth plated Roger Tomas from second base to give Miami (20-14, 7-8 ACC) the ACC series victory with an 8-7 win over Georgia Tech (21-13, 9-6 ACC) Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field.

With the loss, the Jackets dropped their first ACC series since the first weekend of conference play, and currently stand third in the Coastal Division in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.

[GT AA] [Sun-Sentinel] [AP]

Minor sports

Senior Alison Silverio recorded wins at No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles to lead the sixth-ranked Georgia Tech women's tennis team to its eighth straight Atlantic Coast Conference victory with a 6-1 win at No. 45 NC State Sunday.

The Yellow Jackets improved to 17-4 overall and 8-1 in the ACC and stand tied with Clemson, also 8-1 in the ACC, atop the league standings heading into the final weekend of conference play.

[GT AA]

Kidd, Linn and Moss garner first-place finishes at the Tiger Class in Auburn. [GT AA]