Coach Collins Starts His Season 3 at GT
Geoff Collins assumed the head coaching job at Georgia Tech in the off-season following the final year of Paul Johnson’s tenure at the Institute in 2018. Collins’ first 2 years have been trying, to say the least. Year One was the big change-over from Paul Johnson’s option system. It brought some significant struggles, which everyone saw coming. Year Two coincided with a global pandemic-that no one saw coming that coming. (or so we are told).
Year Three kicks off next week, featuring ongoing challenges from the pandemic which is continuing to resist control. And though teams are now familiar with the hurdles imposed by the threat of the virus, there is also the specter of stricter league rules, including mandated forfeitures for teams unable to generate a workable roster. From a perspective that is purely about football , though, things are looking up on North Avenue. The roster is broader and deeper, and most of them arrived during the time of Collins, meaning greater familiarity with the coaching staff.
Whatever the circumstances, for Georgia Tech there are two consecutive 3-win seasons in the book, to go with 16 losses. And for what it’s worth, the soothsayers don’t see much better ahead this season. While all agree that Tech’s roster is stronger, various prognosticators have pegged Georgia Tech to finish near the bottom of the ACC Coastal. Much of that gloomy outlook stems from a schedule that is among the most difficult in the country. For Tech, facing Clemson and Georgia are annual top 5 challenges. The same is largely true for North Carolina, ranked this year in many preseason Top Ten lists. Now throw in Notre Dame for good measure. And then Miami. Each of those schools is ranked in the top 15 in ESPN’s preseason forecast. Georgia Tech will play each of those games as a heavy underdog. On the other hand, Tech’s season begins with 2 games they will be expected to win– home matches vs. Northern Illinois and FCS division member Kennesaw State. From this vantage point, then, the crux of Tech’s season would appear to lie in the outcomes of the games they play versus the remaining 5 foes in the ACC. That group includes Pitt, Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Boston College. Win them all and Tech earns a nice bowl bid. Lose 2 or 3 of those and the season takes on a totally different feel.
Of course, making all these assumptions points out the beauty and the frustration of those of us who follow college football. Look no further than Geoff Coolins’ first 2 years for several examples. Who foresaw Tech falling to the Citadel, or to Duke, in year one. That same year, Tech beat Miami on the road. Last year’s surprises included an opening road win over FSU followed by a loss to Syracuse. Thus the old saying, ” the ball takes funny bounces”. Knowing that, what might 2021 hold for Tech? The answer likely lies in the month of October. That month the Yellow Jackets face 4 ACC foes, 2 at home, 2 away, with a bye week in the middle of the month. November then offers Miami, Nitre Dame and Georgia, along with an improved Boston College.
As always, the story will be told in time. There are more than the usual number of unknowns. But Georgia Tech has significant returning talent, and features strength in both the offensive and defensive backfields. Given that, I believe Tech will forge a 5-win season in 2021, with an outside chance at 6-6 if they can surprise Miami or North Carolina.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports