Aug. 18, 2008
ATLANTA - Some good news came out of the Georgia Tech camp Monday afternoon as sophomore quarterback Josh Nesbitt, senior offensive tackle Andrew Gardner and true freshman B-back Richard Watson all returned from injuries.
The Yellow Jackets practiced for two hours Monday afternoon with minimum contact and a focus at the end on conditioning. The number of players sitting out of practice because of injury is down to five - the smallest number since late July.
There are still a number of starting jobs up for grabs, according to head coach Paul Johnson, with the season opener just over a week away (Aug. 28 vs. Jacksonville State).
"At positions like A-back and wide receiver, I'm not sure it's all that important who starts anyway," Johnson said. "We'll probably play four or five players at each of those positions."
Monday's practice, conducted in temperatures hovering in the low 90's, was the first of the year closed to the public.
SIX WALK-ONS JOIN THE FUN
With the beginning of classes, six non-scholarship players were able to practice for the first time. Long-snappers Michael Ray and Levi Walls, offensive lineman Michael St. Denis, quarterback Doc Coppage, kicker Tyler Davis and A-back Jason Davis will be permitted to wear full pads later this week.
TRIVIA QUESTION (Answer below)
Who was the last coach to lose in his first game as Georgia Tech's football coach? Extra credit: Who was the opponent and what was the score?
DREAM JOB? OPINIONS VARY AMONG JACKETS
There is a large number of Georgia Tech players whose dream job would be in the NFL - but not necessarily as a player. Some want to be the commissioner. We asked the Yellow Jackets to list their dream job and the answers varied from professional paintball player to being the head football coach at Georgia Tech.
Question: Your dream job would be what?
Owning my own business Clyde Yandell
Financial advisor Mohamed Yahiaoui
Lottery winner or R&B singer Jahi Word-Daniels
Playing in the NFL Willie White
Pro golfer or Augusta club pro Bret White
Pro paintball player Logan Walls
Stockbroker or coach Levi Walls
Stockbroker Lance Walls
Designing video games or drawing the art concepts Vance Walker
Owner of my own franchise Osahon Tongo
NFL player Demaryius Thomas
Coaching Georgia Tech football Michael St. Denis
Financial analyst Luke Snider
NFL Commissioner or high political figure Andrew Smith
General manager of an NFL team A.J. Smith
Venture capitalist Brad Sellers
NFL player Albert Rocker
Owner of an NFL franchise Darryl Richard
Professional golfer Paul Reese
NFL player Dominique Reese
Sports car test driver Michael Ray
Musical artist Steven Powers
Physician Jason Peters
Working for the Red Sox Alex Paquette
Playing in the NFL Josh Nesbitt
NFL player Derrick Morgan
Sports agent Tyler Melton
Professional golfer Jonathan Malone
NFL Commissioner James Liipfert
CEO of Ferrari Jeff Lentz
Head engineer for an international firm Zach Krish
A head professor Quincy Kelly
Owner of a pro sports franchise Roddy Jones
Working with kids Michael Johnson
Television host DeRon Jasper
Pro football Kyle Jackson
Lawyer Chase Hudson
Plastic surgeon Cord Howard
Georgia Tech head football coach Jim Henry
A singer Robert Hall
Sports agent Sedric Griffin
NFL lineman Joseph Gilbert
Own a gym Troy Garside
Billionaire venture capitalist Andrew Gardner
NFL executive Martin Frierson
Charter boat captain Andrew Folkner
CEO of Fortune 500 company Tyler Evans
Doctor Anthony Egbuniwe
Traveling the world Correy Earls
Real estate owner Jonathan Dwyer
Owning a company Tyler Davis
Giving speeches Jason Davis
Own a tiki bar on an exotic island Kevin Crosby
Head coach of a Super Bowl team Lucas Cox
CEO of an engineering company Doc Coppage
To watch movies all day and get paid for it Kevin Cone
PGA Tour R.B. Clyburn
A psychologist Nick Claytor
Working three days a week and making lots of money Tony Clark
Opening a sports bar Travis Chambers
Real Estate Mario Butler
Playing in the NFL Morgan Burnett
To own franchises and make lot of money David Brown
Investment Banker Drew Brannon
Work for ESPN Matt Braman
Work for ESPN Shane Bowen
Own the Atlanta Hawks Calvin Booker
Being retired Scott Blair
Professional golfer Jake Blackwood
President of the United States Sean Bedford
Own my own business Austin Barrick
Working for Lockheed Martin Tyler Barrett
To sit behind a desk and do nothing Anthony Barnes
Video game designer Elris Anyaibe
A dentist Chandler Anderson
Doing fishing charters Ben Anderson
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION
Bill Curry is the last Georgia Tech head coach to lose in his Yellow Jacket debut. Curry, however, had his work cut out for him. Tech played against the nation's No. 2-ranked Alabama team in Tuscaloosa, losing 26-3.
