But Tuesday, when Georgia Tech players could finally address playing the Seminoles in Tallahassee, Fla., this weekend in a game that figures to play heavily in determining the ACC champion, they found themselves answering questions about terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Head coach George O'Leary, a native of Central Islip, N.Y., on Long Island, has a brother who was working in Manhattan and several cousins who work in the vicinity of where Tuesday's terrorist attacks took place.

''It's a sad day in America when things like this happen,'' O'Leary said. ''I tried to call my brother but there was no answer. I hope everything's all right. I really don't want to spend a whole lot of time on that.''

While the terrorist attacks forced the cancellations of several sporting events across the country and altered practices, O'Leary said Georgia Tech's routine wouldn't change. The team scheduled a night practice today because of tests.

The school was dismissed early Tuesday morning, and players gathered around televisions in the athletic cafeteria as the events unfolded.

The 10th-ranked Jackets (3-0) have looked to Saturday night's game with No. 6 Florida State for most of the season. After the attacks, Georgia Tech quarterback George Godsey has a different outlook on Saturday's game.

''This puts everything in perspective ... what's important and what's just a game,'' Godsey said.

Neither O'Leary nor athletics director Dave Braine know if Saturday night's nationally televised contest will be played. A decision is expected today.

If the Florida State game is postponed, senior strong safety Chris Young admits he would be disappointed.

''Hopefully nothing comes this way, because I don't know how to say it, but we have a big week going on, and I hope it don't stop us from playing this game,'' he said. ''We've been waiting on this for a long time.''

While safety and security is the main issue as the NCAA wavers on whether to allow games to be played Saturday, travel is also an issue. All commercial air traffic was shut down Tuesday and, while Georgia Tech would have the luxury of making the five-hour trek to Tallahassee by bus Friday, all schools aren't as fortunate.

Young said Tuesday's attacks made it hard to focus, but the team must continue to move forward.

''It's really hard to do that because you feel sorry for the people that that's going on with right now,'' he said. ''I mean, you still have to stay focused; it's just adversity that you have to overcome and you have to step up.

''I know a lot of guys are going to talk about it, but we really can't let that distract us.''

Reach Tim Morse at (706) 823-3216 or timmorse@augustachronicle.com.