Sept. 29, 2000

WHEN GEORGIA TECH HAS THE BALL: The Yellow Jacket offense is an amazing unit. They are as multiple and complex as some NFL teams, and they do a tremendous job of teaching their players all of their intricate blocking schemes, formations and plays within the NCAA mandated 20 hour work week.

Offensive Coordinator Ralph Friedgen has a well-deserved reputation as a brilliant tactician and tireless worker and he is in high demand at coaching clinics in the off-season. Plus, he's had two extra days to prepare his offense for the Heels since GT played NC State last Thursday night on ESPN.

Tech does a little bit of everything and they do it uncommonly well. They'll run the ball with power, some option and some trap scheme. Their passing attack incorporates both dropback and play action, AND they will also get quarterback George Godsey on the corners with a variety of bootlegs and rollouts.

Additionally, Tech's offensive line is extremely difficult to disengage from once they get locked up on you. Friedgen also coaches the O-line, and once they start to block you, you stay blocked.

WHEN CAROLINA HAS THE BALL: Bad news: Georgia Tech's defense returns 9 starters from a year ago. Good news: Last year's defense was sorry. More bad news: this year's defense isn't. They appear to have changed their entire philosophy.

The last few seasons, Tech has aligned their defenders to try to limit big plays. They gave cushion in the secondary, their front seven were fairly easy to find, and the unit as a whole was young and not that physical. As a result, enemy offenses went right at them, drove the ball successfully and ate up lots of clock.

This season, the thinking seems to be just the opposite. Tech lines up now more like the Carolina defense does, with lots of pre-snap movement, blitzes galore, and some man pass coverage. This defense seems to be saying "We're not going to let you get 4 and 5 yards a whack in the running game and we're coming after your quarterback. Go ahead. We dare you to try to make big plays to beat us."

THE KICKING GAME: Carolina's Jeff Reed could be developing into one of the major stories on this football team. He's got a huge leg and his confidence is growing. Tech's kicker, Luke Manget (pronounced with a French sound, mon-JAY) is also excellent, and he gets the ball up very quickly. I saw him kick in person over at State and remain very impressed with him.

HOW I SEE IT: I don't like the feeling I have about this game. For Tech, this is like Carolina's Marshall game last week in that they simply have to have it. They are 0-2 in the league right now and absolutely can't afford to lose this game, so they will be excited and ready to play. Don't be fooled. Tech will look a whole lot more like the team that almost beat Florida State than the team that lost to the Wolfies. The Jackets have won 2 straight against UNC and 3 of the last 5. Carolina is 0 for their last 5 on ABC TV.

But I like this Carolina squad a lot. The players seem to be developing trust and confidence in one another and in the coaching staff. The Heels are at home. The offense is improving. The defense is solid.

In a heller at Kenan Stadium, UNC 31 GT 30.

See you on the radio. 2:30 sharp.