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Practice #1 -- August 3, 2007

Aug. 3, 2007

GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL

Post-Practice Report - August 3, 2007

Practice #1

Rose Bowl Field

9:30-11:30 a.m.

Format: Helmets and shorts

Weather: Sunny and hot, temperature in the high 80's

Georgia Tech held its first practice of the 2007 season Friday morning at Rose Bowl Field, where 106 players (including walk-ons) worked out in helmets and shorts for just over two hours.

Notebook:

-- On the same day Georgia Tech began preparations for the 2007 season, former Yellow Jacket All-American Calvin Johnson signed a six-year deal with the Detroit Lions.

-- John Bond, the only newcomer to the Tech coaching staff, begins his first year as the Yellow Jacket offensive coordinator.

-- Many of the Tech players took part in a media training session on Friday. 180 Communications, led by Don Yaeger, provided a couple of presentations.

Fact of the Day:

Georgia Tech and Boston College tied for the most votes in the "others receiving votes" category in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll announced on Friday. Two Tech opponents - Virginia Tech (9^th) and Georgia (13^th) - were in the top 25. Jacket opponents Miami, Notre Dame, Clemson and Duke all received votes in the poll, meaning exactly one-half of Tech's regular season schedule include teams that were ranked or received votes.

By The Numbers:

17 - Number of starters returning on offense and defense combined

79 - Number of players on scholarship

105 - Number of scholarship and non-scholarship players to participate in the first practice of the year

Quoting Head Coach Chan Gailey

On his linemen reporting to camp bigger and stronger:

"We want those guys to be as big and as strong as they can be. But what we don't want to do is for them to lose their speed and quickness because that is one of the advantages that we have had in the past. Players gaining weight in August is not an issue, but losing too much weight is."

Quoting junior tackle Andrew Gardner

On the camaraderie of the offensive line:

"Everyone on the line is gung-ho and that comes Coach D (line coach Joe D'Alessandris). I guess he got that from the marines, I'm not sure. But there is a lot of camaraderie between the guys on the line. We play together, live together, hang out together, and that can only help us. It's really important for us to have good communication."

Next practice: Saturday (9 a.m.) at Rose Bowl Field.