Georgia Tech Yellowjackets

Yellow Jackets Honor Cox

January 7, 2013

Season Report Posted: May 11, 2009 17:23  

When coach Kennedy took over the Georgia Tech football team following the 2008 season, he had less than two months to put together his first recruiting class. His first move was to retain several popular members of the previous coaching staff, which allowed him to sign many of the players who had previously committed to playing for Georgia Tech. He then went out and closed the deal on eight of his own guys, including halfback Jacob Banks, corners Darren Gibson, Adam Ward and Jelani McCullough, and linebackers Vinnie Johnson and J.J. Kelly.

But perhaps the biggest get of all, at least in terms of the number of snaps played, was offensive guard Doug Cox, who listed Georgia Tech as his top school prior to the 2008 season, looked to be headed elsewhere as his stock rose and the season went south on the Yellow Jackets, and eventually signed with the Yellow Jackets based on a commitment from coach Kennedy to revive the struggling program.

Cox, an offensive lineman from Augusta, was a key player in that revival. Weighing just 253 pounds as a freshman, he was undersized for a Division 1-A lineman, but he made up for it with an unfailing work ethic. He started every game of his four year career, 51 in all, and helped lead Georgia Tech to a 32-19 ledger. During that time, he contributed 35 pancake blocks, more than any other lineman under coach Kennedy, but the statistics only tell part of the story.

"It's hard to put into words the impact Doug had on this program," coach Kennedy said at a recent press conference to honor Cox. "He was one of the first real high profile guys we recruited, and yet he was one of the hardest working guys I've ever coached. He put in the effort every day, and really set the tone for what the expectations were, and are, for every single guy on the team."

"Doug was a leader, in every sense of the word, and for that reason, we are establishing the Cox Trophy, to be awarded each year to the offensive lineman who has the biggest impact on our success as a team."

As always, Cox downplayed the recognition. "I'm just incredibly honored that coach sees fit to name this award after me. I think a lot of times, us big guys don't get a lot of attention, which is generally the way we like it. I can think of at least a half dozen guys I played with these last four years that deserve this just as much, if not more than me. Unfortunately, I couldn't get coach to call it the Cox/Hodge/Tucker/Wright Trophy, so I'll just have to take solace knowing many deserving names will make it on the side of that award over the years."

The inaugural Cox Trophy will be awarded at the conclusion of the 2013 season.

Georgia Tech Extends Two Streaks, Ends Another

Season Report Posted: March 10, 2009 02:32  

2012 has been a season of streaks for Georgia Tech.

They started the year by losing four of their first five games. The lone win came courtesy of Virginia Tech, one of only two teams (along with Duke) to have lost to the Yellow Jackets in each of the four seasons headed by Coach Kennedy.

Since losing to Boston College in week 5, however, Georgia Tech has won three straight, the most recent of which, a 24-14 triumph over Miami, surprised even the most optimistic of Yellow Jacket fans. The Hurricanes were the only team to have beaten Georgia Tech in each of the first three years under Coach Kennedy, and entered the game not only undefeated, but ranked second in the nation.

Although his numbers were modest, maligned senior quarterback Luke Grevious came through on the biggest stage of his career, completing 11 of 18 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, and rushing six times for 28 yards and another score.

The defense was even more impressive, holding the high-powered Miami offense to 14 first half points, and scoring themselves on a 52 yard interception return by junior cornerback Jelani McCullough in the first quarter.

It all added up to a thrilling 24-14 upset win for Georgia Tech, one that takes a little of the sting out of what to this point has been a disappointing season.

Quarterback Issues Doom Georgia Tech Again

Season Report Posted: March 02, 2009 02:28  

Despite two interceptions returned for touchdowns by the defense, and more than 100 yards rushing by sophomore fullback Todd Green, the Yellow Jackets fell to 0-2 on the season with a 21-22 setback at the hands of the North Carolina Tarheels on Saturday.

The primary culprit?

Quarterback play. Senior Luke Grevious and redshirt freshman T.J. Paul combined to go 5-15 for just 57 yards and one touchdown, with three interceptions. They were also sacked eight times.

"We've got to get better play out of that position," coach Kennedy told reporters.

"Part of that is protecting those guys better, for sure. But part of it is them making better decisions. Luke showed a couple flashes last year, so we really expected him to assert himself this fall. Unfortunately, that hasn't really happened, and now us coaches have got to decide how to get the most out of that spot. We'll decide this week whether that means making a change or not."

Whoever gets the nod won't have an easy go of it, as Georgia Tech is on the road for the third consecutive week, traveling to Blacksburg, Virginia to take on 15th ranked Virginia Tech.

Wacky Schedule First Challenge for Georgia Tech

Season Report Posted: February 23, 2009 08:23  

Georgia Tech faces a tough first month of the season. Due to a quirk in the conference schedule, the Yellow Jackets play their first four games on the road, three of them against teams ranked in the preseason top fifteen. They then play their next four at home, including games against Florida Atlantic and Duke.

"If we can make it through those first four weeks with our confidence intact, we could put together a nice little run," Coach Kennedy told reporters at media day.