CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Georgia Tech preview

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Life after Joe not as bad as it seems

'99: 8-4, 5-3 in ACC

Coach

George O'Leary (sixth season, 36-25)

Key offensive players

George Godsey, QB, Jr.
After winning the starting job in spring practice, Godsey didn't exactly get the biggest vote of confidence from O'Leary, who said competition would continue in the fall.

Kelly Campbell, WE, Jr.
Set school records with 69 catches, 1,105 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches. But what can he do without Hamilton throwing him the ball?

Sean Gregory, TB, Jr.
Stepped in at mid-season last year for the injured Joe Burns and Phillip Rogers to become the Jackets' leading rusher with 837 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Key defensive players

Greg Gathers, DE, So.
Gathers earned freshman All-America honors after starting every game last year, making seven sacks and 11 other tackles for loss.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Joe Hamilton, QB, 1996-99
"Go ahead and doubt this pick. He loves proving you wrong."

Brightest Moment: Hard to choose between the national championship teams of John Heisman, William Alexander, Bobby Dodd or Bobby Ross. Maybe Ramblin' Wreck's most explosive moment was on Oct. 7, 1916, when it ravaged poor, overmatched Cumberland State Teachers College 222-0.

Lowest Moment: Four years after the Yellow Jackets won the 1990 national championship, the Yellow Jackets under Bill Lewis were winless in the ACC and had a 1-10 overall record.

Recardo Wimbush, LB, So.
Pressed into action early last year, Wimbush became the first freshman in Tech history to lead the team in tackles (91).

Chris Young, SS, Jr.
Big hitter who hopes to lead a beleaguered defense out from the bottom of the ACC pile.

Key newcomer

Hobie Holiday, LB, Fr. After starting three true freshmen last year on defense, the coaches aren't shy about sticking youngsters on the field, and Holiday was a Parade All-America.

Throwback player

Hard-hitting safety Chris Young, whose old-school style hopes to turn around what's been a dismal defense.

21st century player

As a freshman, silky receiver Kelly Campbell actually outgained NFL product Dez White by 250 yards.

Fast fact

Last year's Yellow Jackets became the first ACC team to lead the nation in total offense (509.4 yards).

Outlook

Hot-lanta will miss Hamilton, the flashy, do-everything quarterback for the Yellow Jackets the last four years. But O'Leary isn't sure his team needs someone to replace Hamilton, who took over an offense that was sorely lacking in complementary players. The coach believes his program is better stocked these days and all he needs to do this season is plug in a capable quarterback to run offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen's complicated scheme. Godsey won the job in the spring, but will have to re-earn it in the fall. Whoever the quarterback is, he will have one spectacular receiver to throw to in Campbell. Defensively, the Jackets can't help but be better. Last year, when Tech started three true freshmen, inexperience was the biggest problem. This year, the offense won't have to put up as many big numbers just to outlast opponents.

-- Tim Peeler