Tech's O'Leary to get first look at freshmen

George O'Leary: Georgia Tech football coach is starting his third full season at the helm.

Web posted August 11, 1997

By Tony Fabrizio
Morris News Service

ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary heads into preseason camp today with better talent than he has had the past two years.

That's the good news for the Yellow Jackets. The bad news is that a tougher schedule combined with the lack of many star-caliber players will make it difficult to improve on last year's 5-6 mark.

Tech plays only five home games, and the non-conference foes are Notre Dame, Boston College and Georgia.

``I think having Notre Dame for your season opener (at South Bend on Sept. 6) will definitely help keep your players focused through camp,'' O'Leary said. ``I feel pretty good about the experience we have coming back, and these guys welcome the challenge.''

Practice begins with the freshmen reporting today and the remainder of the team on Thursday.

Three of the 19 incoming players have a chance of working their way onto the depth chart. They are offensive tackle Jon Carman, a behemoth 6-foot-9, 380-pound sophomore transfer from Nassau (Garden City, N.Y.) Community College; linebacker Matt Miller of Atlanta; and fullback Ed Wilder of Washington, Ga.

``I don't see a freshman coming in and challenging for a starting role, and he would really have to push to get into the two-deep,'' O'Leary said. ``As far as the linemen, the closer you are to the ball, the harder it is to play early. Jon Carman might have a shot from the standpoint of age, maturity and paying experience.''

Two of the Jackets' most talented veteran offensive players come off major injuries. Running back Charles Wiley, a 6-2, 220-pound junior from Miami, sustained a season-ending knee injury in the third game last year against North Carolina. And flanker Derrick Steagall missed the entire season after blowing out a knee in a freak accident during preseason drills.

The third offensive weapon is split end Harvey Middleton, who led the ACC in receiving last year with 64 catches for 804 yards and three touchdowns. Middleton, from Jamestown, S.C., is a fifth-year senior.

Sophomore Joe Hamilton returns as the starting quarterback and will be tutored by Ralph Friedgen, who returns as offensive coordinator after spending the last five years with the San Diego Chargers. Senior Brandon Shaw could get a look at quarterback if Hamilton falters.

Seven starters and 22 lettermen return on defense, including linemen Ralph Hughes and Derrick Shepherd, linebackers Ron Rogers and Keith Brooking and safety Brian Wilkins.

Tech has been a hard team to figure under O'Leary. A 4-2 start in 1995 dissolved into a 6-5 finish, and the Jackets couldn't go to a bowl because one of the wins came against a Division I-AA team. Last year, the Jackets started with a 5-2 mark that included an upset of then-No. 12 Virginia, but lost four of their last five to finish 5-6.

``I was disappointed with how we reacted (late in the season) last year, but the kids seemed really focused this spring,'' O'Leary said.

GEORGIA: The Bulldogs concentrated on special teams play Sunday as the team's two-a-day workouts continued.

``We spent most of the day working on special teams, goal-line offense and defense and two-minute drills,'' head coach Jim Donnan said.

Donnan said more players from the first team will be used on special teams this season because the Bulldogs have more depth and the competition warrants it.

Senior flanker Corey Allen dressed out Sunday but was limited in practice because of a slight concussion. Donnan said Allen would probably return to practice Monday.

The Bulldogs play host to Arkansas State in the season opener Aug. 30.

VANDERBILT: Woody Widenhofer has been a busy man since being hired last December as Vanderbilt's third coach this decade.

He's filmed some TV commercials making Vandy football seem like fun, talked to anyone who would listen and helped redesign the team's black and gold uniforms to resemble the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team he won four Super Bowl rings with as a defensive coach.

His Commodores unveiled the new look to at least 300 fans Sunday on the field at Vanderbilt Stadium.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Hundreds of mourners packed the West Lowndes High School gym Sunday to pay their respects to Keffer McGee, the Mississippi State star running back whose promising life was cut short by an accidental drowning.

A crowd of about 1,000 jammed the high school where McGee first made a name for himself as a player to be reckoned with. The body of the 22-year-old lay in an open casket on the gym floor, surrounded by floral arrangements in the blue and gold of West Lowndes and the maroon and white of Mississippi State.

Delivering McGee's eulogy was head Mississippi State football coach Jackie Sherrill.

``For two days I've asked God to give me enough strength, courage and wisdom to stand here today,'' a weeping Sherrill said, ``and pay tribute to a great athlete, outstanding student, great teammate and great friend.

``He was a very gifted athlete with strong legs and great instincts ... His teammates and foes marveled.''

McGee, a fifth-year senior expected be an intricate part of the Bulldogs' offense this season, drowned Tuesday in the swimming pool of a Starkville apartment complex. The death was ruled accidental.