Georgia Tech notebook

ATLANTA - Relief is a rare emotion for Travis Bell.

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Georgia Tech's kicker is as easy going an athlete as there is. Most days, he's part Jeff Spicolli, part "Bluto" Blutarsky.

Given his sudden kicking struggles earlier this season, though, Bell came into Saturday's game against Wake Forest a bit on edge. He'd made just one field goal in his last seven attempts after making five straight to start the season and 15 of 17 last year as a freshman.

Three 40-plus yarders Saturday chilled him back out, however, in the 30-17 win.

"I'm really relieved," Bell said. "I feel like my old self again. I got a little pressure off my back. Got some people off my back. Whew."

Bell convinced 51,571 fans at Bobby Dodd Stadium to get back behind him. He hit kicks of 41, 44 and 47 yards - and all three were no-doubters, plenty long enough and down the middle.

"It's great to have him back," coach Chan Gailey said.

SAFETY APPRECIATION DAY: KaMichael Hall and his fellow linebackers were overshadowed for the first time this season by Georgia Tech's safeties in Saturday's win.

Facing an option team in Wake Forest, the linebackers were responsible for runs inside while safeties Chris Reis and Dawan Landry worked the edges.

Reis and Landry combined for 21 tackles as a result, seven more than the Yellow Jackets' linebackers - a group that includes three of the top five tacklers on the team - combined.

"I told Reis, 'You're getting all my tackles today,'" Hall said. "I had to play off the quarterback and the fullback. He gets to run to the pitch. That's not cool."

Reis had a season-high 13 tackles and an interception. Landry had eight tackles, two for loss.

Reach Adam Van Brimmer at (404) 589-8424 or adam.vanbrimmer@morris.com.