ATLANTA – Georgia Tech coach George O’Leary was walking through Hartsfield International Airport recently when he noticed two men waving. This has become commonplace for O’Leary, whose popularity in Atlanta has grown the with rise of the Yellow Jackets.
O’Leary, a no-nonsense Irishman who was born and raised in Central Islip, has never been one for the spotlight, but he politely walked over to the men.
“Newt Gingrich, how are you?” one of the men asked, excitedly.
“I’m not Mr. Gingrich, I’m his brother,” deadpanned O’Leary.
By the end of this season, college football fans in Atlanta, and around the country, won’t mistake O’Leary, known as the Big Bee down here, for a right-wing political operative. O’Leary has Tech poised to win its first national championship since the 1990 crown it shared with Colorado.
“We’ve been working toward winning a national championship,” said defensive end Nick Rogers. “Now everybody here has to believe. Whether people around the country believe it, I don’t know.”
Most don’t believe in the Yellow Jackets, who could have their national championship hopes crushed today by Syracuse in the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium. They aren’t listed in the Top 10 of most national preseason publications and the two national polls.
But in a season with no undisputed preseason No. 1, the Yellow Jackets, who return 35 of their front 44 players from last season’s 9-3 team, are The Post’s pick to emerge from Florida State’s shadow and win it all. For that to happen, Tech will have to do what no Atlantic Coast Conference team has ever done and no team has done in 53 Seminole home games:
Win in Tallahasee.
“I think right now, we’ve gotten closer mentally [to Florida State],” O’Leary told The Post. “Physically I think we’re getting closer. But they beat a lot of people before you even kick off, just mentally. Our kids look forward to that game.”
That game is Sept. 15. The ‘Noles have lost 15 starters from last year’s 11-2 team that lost the national championship 13-2 to Oklahoma. Chris Rix, a redshirt freshman who has yet to attempt a pass in college, takes over for Chris Weinke.
The M.O. on beating the Seminoles is to get them early, before all that talent has a chance to turn into terror. N.C. State beat the Seminoles and a then inexperienced Chris Weinke in the second game of the 1999 season. Miami beat the ‘Noles in the sixth game of last season.
Georgia Tech, which lost 26-21 to FSU last season and 41-35 at FSU two years ago (in the second game of the season), have closed the talent gap with the Seminoles and other perennial Top 25 programs, have questions of its own. Quarterback George Godsey is coming off reconstructive surgery after blowing out his knee in the Yellow Jackets’ baffling 28-14 loss to LSU in the Gator Bowl.
Tech jumped out to a 14-3 halftime lead before the explosive offense fizzled in the second half, gaining just 100 yards. Ralph Friedgen, Tech’s noted offensive coordinator, didn’t coach that game because he had accepted the head coaching job at Maryland. Bill O’Brien, who was promoted to offensive coordinator, knows some question if Tech can remain the juggernaut it has been.
“It’s human nature when people question you, you get your dander up,” said O’Brien.
The Seminoles know exactly how O’Brien feels.
“People can talk about about quarterback, running back whatever,” said FSU safety Chris Hope. “We have enough talent here to win the national championship. Every year we hear about some team that’s going to beat us [here]. It hasn’t happened since I’ve been here.”
The Yellow Jackets also must find a way not to get tripped up by a lesser opponent. Last year it was NC State (30-23). Two years ago Tech got bit by Wake Forest (26-23). And three years ago, in a 10-2 season, one loss was to Florida State and the other to rebuilding Boston College, 41-31, when the Yellow Jackets defense was a joke.
That defense, which gave up 24.6 points per game in ’98 is virtually the same one that gave up 19 last year and returns mostly juniors and seniors this year. A better defense, a healthy Godsey and a team that doesn’t soil itself when it sees FSU on the schedule could win the national championship.
“This team doesn’t fear anyone,” said Godsey.
Neither do we. We’re picking the Yellow Jackets to turn Big Bee into a very recognizable figure.
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1. GEORGIA TECH (2000 in review: 9-3, lost 28-14 to LSU in the Peach Bowl). Starters returning: 17. If the Yellow Jackets can hand FSU its first ever ACC home loss, the Rose Bowl awaits.
2. FLORIDA (10-3, lost 37-20 to Miami in the Orange Bowl). Starters returning: 18. With all the talent and a made-to-order schedule, the Gators have no excuses.
3. OREGON ST. (11-1, beat Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl). Starters returning: 11. Are the Beavers that fast or the Irish that slow? Both, but Oregon St. remains good and fast.
4. TEXAS (9-3, lost 35-30 to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl). Starters returning: 17. If the Longhorns don’t find a kicker, it won’t matter how good Chris Simms or the defense is.
5. TENNESSEE (8-4, lost 35-21 to Kansas St. in the Cotton Bowl). Starters returning: 16. A monster defense takes on a brutal schedule that tapers off at the end.
6. MIAMI (11-1, beat Florida 37-20 in the Sugar Bowl). Starters returning: 16. First-year head coach Larry Coker looks to carry on Miami’s return from NCAA probation.
7. NEBRASKA (10-2, beat Northwestern 66-17 in the Alamo Bowl). Starters returning: 14. Memo to Frank Solich: You will never win the national title until a passing game is implemented.
8. OKLAHOMA (13-0, beat FSU 13-2 in the Orange Bowl). Starters returning 14. Everything went right last year … won’t this year
9. VIRGINIA TECH (11-1, beat Clemson 41-20 in the Gator Bowl). Starters returning: 17. The Hokies defense might be more dominant than the 1999 version.
10. FLORIDA ST. (11-2, lost 13-2 to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl). Starters returning: 9. FSU is the only program in the nation that can lose 13 starters and still be ranked in the Top 10.
11. MICHIGAN (9-3, beat Auburn 31-28 in the Citrus Bowl). Starters returning: 14. QB Drew Henson opted for pinstripes and greenbacks but Wolverines are the Big Ten’s most balanced team.
12. OREGON (10-2, beat Texas 35-30 in the Holiday Bowl). Starters returning: 12. Defense must come together early.
13. NORTHWESTERN (8-4, lost 66-17 to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl). Starter returning: 17 Can score on anyone. But, anyone can score on them.
14. LSU (8-4, beat Georgia Tech, 28-14, in the Peach Bowl). Starters returning: 17. Back-to-back games at Tennessee and at home against Florida will determine the season.
15. CLEMSON (9-3, lost 41-20 to Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl). Starters returning: 12. The loss of LB Keith Adams forces the Tigers to go to a 4-2-5 defense.
16. SOUTH CAROLINA (8-4, beat Ohio St. 24-7 in the Outback Bowl). Starters returning: 13. QB Phil Petty isn’t pretty, just efficient in running Lou Holtz’ offense.
17. EAST CAROLINA (8-4, beat Texas Tech, 40-27, in the Gallery.com Bowl). Starters returning: 13. Liked QB David Garrard so much they wouldn’t assure Michael Vick the starting spot.
18. MISSISSIPPI ST. (8-4, beat Texas A&M, 43-41, in the Independence Bowl). Starters returning: 13. Will be a force if they get out of September 3-1.
19. COLORADO ST. (10-2, beat Louisville, 22-17 in the Liberty Bowl). Starters returning: 13. Sonny Lubick has built a program that owns the Mountain West.
20. UCLA (6-6, lost 21-20 to Wisconsin in the Sun Bowl). Starters returning: 15. Holy Toledo! These Bruins might be able to play ‘D’.
21. COLORADO (3-8, no bowl). Starters returning: 17. Everyone who could get hurt, did get hurt last season. A healthy RB Cortlen leads stampede.
22. OHIO STATE (8-4, lost 24-7 to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl). Starters returning: 11. Addition by subtraction, John Cooper out as head coach (Jim Tressel in).
23. ALABAMA (3-8, no bowl). Starters returning: 15. New coach Dennis Franchione won’t make the same mistake Mike DuBose did and play musical quarterbacks. Tyler Watts should win the job.
24. PURDUE (8-4, lost 34-24 to Washington in the Rose Bowl). Starters returning: 16. QB Drew Brees is gone but 10 starters return on a fast-and-furious defense.
25. PITTSBURGH (Lost 37-29 to Iowa St. in the Insightpc.com Bowl). Starters returning: 18. Can returning Biletnikoff Award winner Antonio Bryant not violate team rules?
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THE POST’S 2001 ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
WR Jabar Gaffney Florida
WR Antonio Bryant Pittsburgh
TE Tracey Wistrom Nebraska
OT Mike Pearson Florida
OG Martin Bibla Miami
C Seth McKinney Texas A&M
OG Fred Weary Tennessee
OT Bryant McKinnie Miami
QB Eric Crouch Nebraska
RB Damien Anderson Northwestern
RB Ken Simonton Oregon St.
K Jonathan Ruffin Cincinnati
KR/PR Lito Sheppard Florida
DEFENSE
DE Julius Peppers North Carolina
DT Larry Tripplett Washington
DT John Henderson Tennessee
DE Cory Redding Texas
LB Mario Haggan Mississippi St.
LB Jashon Sykes Colorado
LB Trev Faulk LSU
LB Saleem Rasheed Alabama
CB Lito Sheppard Florida
SS Edward Reed Miami
FS Chris Hope Florida St.
CB Quentin Jammer Texas
P Jeff Ferguson Oklahoma
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Games to watch in 2001
Sept. 8 Notre Dame at Nebraska – Cornhuskers needed OT to survive in South Bend last season.
Sept. 15 Georgia Tech at Florida St. – The Seminoles have never lost an ACC home game.
Sept, 15 Tennessee at Florida – UT will go with sophmore QB Casey Clausen … how many QBs will Steve Spurrier use?
Oct. 6 Florida at LSU – Gators get Vols and Seminoles at home, but not the Tigers.
Oct. 6 Texas vs Oklahoma at Dallas – Longhorns don’t face Nebraska and K State.
Oct. 13 Miami at Florida St. – It’s Part I of the Florida State Championship.
Oct. 27 Oklahoma at Nebraska – Sooners should face undefeated Huskers.
Dec. 1 Miami at Virginia Tech – Vick is gone but the Hokies D is loaded.
Dec. 1 Oregon St. at Oregon – But you never thought Ducks, Beavers could decide the title.
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HEISMAN HOPEFULS
Damien Anderson, RB, Northwestern – Gets to full speed in one step.
Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska – No one runs the option better.
Lito Sheppard, CB/PR, Florida – Does Charles Woodson ring a bell?
Chris Simms, QB, Texas – He’s got the name, now can he post the numbers?
Anyone but Oregon QB Joey Harrington – There are enough billboards in Manhattan.