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8B ♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2006. __ isnTi 'A mB I M u P : . SKjr jHHH^ ; & j H L'*W* .. j? «, "#ff r k| ' KS,^ I '<! • * J 'i M-i. o-j^^^j^^py y j’] Contributed From left, Perry Horseshoe Pitcher’s Club members Mary Ann Gibbs, Rick Thompson and Jan Collier show off awards they won at the state tournament - hosted by the Perry club - recently. TECH From page $B the debate moot by defeating Wake Forest and claiming the ACC’s automatic Bowl Championship Series spot. The Demon Deacons finished the season with a 6-2 conference record, and the Gator could take any of three 5-3 teams - Clemson, Maryland or Boston College - ahead of Wake. lOHNSON EAGER FOR SINGLE COVERAGE: Wake Forest’s coach ing staff put then freshman cor nerback Alphonso Smith through what seemed a cruel initiation a year ago in a game against Georgia Tech - they put Smith in single coverage on Calvin Johnson. planning A PARTY? Consider VIP Treatment at your Favorite Entertainment hot Spot!!! i CTT WiWfff fi ROBINS CulMor Availability (Datei filling fail)) Georgia Tech’s star wide receiv er caught two long passes and finished with 98 yards, but he finished with only four catches overall. Johnson expects a simi lar approach out of the Demon Deacons on Saturday. “They show a lot of one-on-one coverage, but I really won’t know until the game starts,” Johnson said. “But in watching film, that’s what they’ve done a lot of the sea son.” Asked if man coverage would make him happy, Johnson replied, “Yes. Definitely.” Wake Forest’s defense ranked 11th in the 12-team ACC against the pass this season. The Demon Deacons do have 20 interceptions this season, though, led by safety State champions jm * I I [ m M I i k j - , V- 1 f r>> ' r I Josh Gattis. The senior has five pick-offs in 12 games and often lurks in the secondary, looking to help his cor nornnplfo RUMORS ABOUND ABOUT TECH COORDINATORS: With several head coaching jobs having come open this week, speculation is Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Patrick Nix and defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta could be candidates. Nix’s name has popped up on Internet message boards regarding the Tulane opening while Tenuta is being mentioned in connection with the Cincinnati job. Tenuta is an Ohio native and a former defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Gailey has yet to be contacted by schools seeking permission to SPOUTS Mp iXj&lMp,\A -V' s ; - J*U umJJP W ■i h j . talk to any member of his coach ing staff. Most schools would be considerate and wait until after Saturday’s ACC Championship game to do so, Gailey said. IACNETS NAMED ALL-AMERICA: The American Football Coaches Association named Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson to its all-America team Thursday while rivals.com put linebacker Philip Wheeler on its second-team all- America list. The AFCA honor marks the sec ond-straight year the coaches have selected Johnson. He was named the ACC’s player of the year ear lipr this; wpplc TITLE IS EVERYTHING: Joe Hamilton does not hesitate when asked to name the crowning achievement of his Georgia Tech football career. THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL The 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference championship. “It solidifies everything,” said Hamilton, an All-American, Heisman Trophy runner-up and Davey O’Brien Award winner dur ing his storied career. “You can get a lot of yardage and a lot of stats and a lot of wins, but without a title, you never won the big one. A championship puts it in stone.” “Ten years from now, nobody remembers your record, they just remember the champions,” added Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey. “Heck, three years from now they will have forgotten your record.” Reach reporter Adam Van Brimmer at adam. vanbrimmer@morris.com or 404- 589-8424. 00041348