Aug. 4, 2005
ATLANTA–Georgia Tech’s 2005 football season kicks off this weekend as the Yellow Jackets report to campus Friday and then begin preseason practice Saturday, four weeks before Tech’s Sept. 3 season opener at Auburn.
“I can’t ever remember a time when I wasn’t excited to get started,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey, entering his fourth season on the Flats.
Tech’s first practice is scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Rose Bowl Field. Per NCAA rules, the Jackets will practice Saturday and Sunday in shorts, then Monday and Tuesday in shoulder pads before the first full contact practice Wednesday, which concludes the five-day acclimatization period. The first day of two-a-days is Thursday, Aug. 11.
Priorities for the Jackets during the preseason are developing more consistency at the quarterback position, where Tech returns two-year starter Reggie Ball, and rebuilding an offensive line that graduated three starters.
On defense, Tech returns eight starters to a unit that ranked 12th in the nation last year, led by middle linebacker Gerris Wilkinson, defensive end Eric Henderson and safeties Chris Reis and Dawan Landry.
Top returnees on offense include sophomore wide receiver Calvin Johnson, senior tailback P.J. Daniels and senior tackle Brad Honeycutt.
The Jackets welcome 19 scholarship freshmen to the squad, and the Tech coaches will evaluate those players to see who can contribute this season.
“I think there a couple of positions where freshmen will have to play just because of our lack of depth there,” said Gailey. “At tight end, Colin Peek is probably going to have to play. Michael Johnson is probably going to have to play at defensive end. We’ll probably need a linebacker or two to play, and maybe one of the wideouts, and then we’ll have to wait and see on some of the others.”
PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULESubject to Change, Open to the public and media until further noticeSaturday, Aug. 6 4:30 p.m.Sunday, Aug. 7 4:30 p.m.Monday, Aug. 8 4:30 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 9 4:30 p.m.Wednesday, Aug. 10 4:30 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 11 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.Friday, Aug. 12 4:15 p.m.Saturday, Aug. 13 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.Monday, Aug. 15 4:15 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 16 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.
