Tech hopes to excite homecoming crowd against UNC

Tomorrow's homecoming game features two similar teams heading in different directions. The 1-3 University of North Carolina Tar Heels head to town to face our Yellow Jackets, who are 3-1. Both teams have athletic quarterbacks, good receivers, veteran offensive lines and young defenses, but Tech has the edge in all of those aforementioned categories.

Excitement about this interesting match-up, coupled with the fact that tomorrow is homecoming, caused the student tickets allotment to run out in only three hours on Monday. ABC has also jumped on the bandwagon, having picked up the game for a regional broadcast.

The Heels meet the seventh ranked Jackets following a loss last week to Clemson by the score of 31-20. UNC's lone win came against Indiana, and they have also lost to Virginia and Florida State. The Heel's record does not reflect their potential, and if they play on all cylinders, they could surprise people tomorrow.

"It's a typical North Carolina team that has a lot of outstanding athletes and has just had some poor luck," commented head coach George O'Leary.

A big contributor to the Tar Heels poor luck on offense is sophomore quarterback Ronald Curry. Curry is an incredible two-sport athlete who is also the backup point guard for the Tar Heel basketball team. Curry was named the national high school player of the year in both football and basketball.

But, as good as Curry is as an athlete, his decision-making sometimes leaves things to be desired. He has already thrown ten interceptions this season, with only three touchdowns.

The Tech defense should capitalize on Curry's inexperience if they can provide pressure on Curry. The Tar Heel offensive line gave up seven sacks to Clemson last week even though the line has four seniors that start, and a repeat performance of their offensive line is not out of the question. The weak state of the offensive line has contributed to Curry ranking as the Tar Heels' leading rusher, as he has scrambled for 191 yards and one score. Tailbacks Daniel Davis and Anthony Saunders share the rest of the rushing duties, triggered by the blocking of senior fullback Deon Dyer.

Curry has good receivers to throw the ball to, but he has not delivered the ball to them. Tight end Alge Crumpler is a legitimate All-American, but he has been underutilized, as he only has four receptions this year. Kory Bailey and Jason Peace are tied for the team lead with 13 receptions.

Tech's offensive situation is completely opposite that of UNC. Tech's offense is the best in the nation in scoring average with 43.5 points per game and also tops in total offense with 517 yards per game.

Second year UNC head coach Carl Torbush said, "Georgia Tech has got a great offensive scheme. The versatility in their attack is really what makes them dangerous."

The offense is just incredible, sporting so many weapons that Arnold Schwarzenegger must be jealous.

Wideout Dez White leads the nation in yards per catch, with a gaudy 30.4 yard average. Tailback Sean Gregory leads the team in rushing, with 246 yards. Joe Hamilton is right behind him with 244 yards.

Two great receivers have developed to complement White. Kelly Campbell leads the team in receptions with 19 for 270 yards, Kerry Watkins has 11 grabs for 173 yards.

The offensive line can't get enough credit for sparking this team to their incredible offensive heights. This group has paved the way for Tech to rush for an incredible 5.2 yards per carry. Most importantly, the O-line has kept Hamilton healthy.

Hamilton continued his incredible season last week against Maryland. Hamilton set the school record for total yards with 474. Hamilton is truly a student-athlete to be admired. He has set records on the football field, along with juggling schoolwork and many commitments to the media.

He has also appeared on many sports talk radio shows (Jim Rhome Show, 790 the Zone) chat rooms (CBS Sportsline), and also writes a weekly diary for ESPN. He will be sorely missed next season.

Trying to stop the freight train of the Tech offense will be tough for UNC. North Carolina is dead last in the conference in total defense, mostly due to the fact that the Tar Heels only start one senior on defense, tackle Sherrod Peace. They also are without their defensive leader, middle linebacker Brandon Spoon, who is out for the year with a torn biceps.

Linebacker Merceda Perry has stepped up in Spoon's absence, leading the team in tackles with 46. Nonetheless, Carolina's first four opponents have averaged 408 yards against them, placing them ninety-seventh in the nation in that category. The much-maligned secondary is the Heel's biggest weakness. They have given up an average of 214 yards a game in the air.

Like the Carolina defense, Tech's young troops look to improve. They might have to do it without safety Travares Tillman, because he is questionable for tomorrow due to a back injury suffered in the Maryland game. True freshmen Cory Collins will start in his place if Tillman can't play. That will increase the number of freshmen starters on the defensive side of the ball to four.

One freshman, Greg Gathers, continues to impress with his play from the defensive end position. He garnered ACC Rookie of the Week honors for his play against Maryland, and he also leads the team in tackles with 30.

The bell cow of the defense has been Matt Uremovich. He has provided intense leadership in the huddle since his return to the lineup. Uremovich already has 23 tackles in only two games, and the defense has averaged 90.5 yards per game against the run since his return.

The pass defense has been a different story however. Big plays have hurt this unit. A prime example of that was in the Maryland game, as two halfback passes burned the secondary for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Troy Tolbert will get a chance to make his first start, competing with Jamara Clark for the job at field corner.

"I saw improvement, and I'm as critical as anybody," said Coach O'Leary of the defense. "I saw guys getting to the point better and faster and reacting faster."

The defense will have plenty to react to with Ronald Curry at the helm of the UNC offense. The homecoming crowd should give them the extra impetus to have a breakout game. Look for Tech to use its great offense to mangle the Carolina defense, and the Tech defense to make some plays, and hopefully, as Coach O'Leary puts it, "their lights will come on."