Option not gone, not forgotten

Geoff Collins has waited a long time to walk onto Grant Field as Georgia Tech’s coach.

Collins’ love affair with Georgia Tech began as a child and continued through some of his first jobs as an assistant. Finally, he’ll have his homecoming when the Yellow Jackets face South Florida in the new coach’s home debut on Saturday.

“When I was a little guy our Thanksgiving tradition was to come watch the Georgia Tech-georgia JV Thanksgiving game,” Collins said Tuesday.

Pointing up at upper-deck seats in the stadium, Collins added “I’d sit up there in the top of those bleachers and watch the game and we’d go have Thanksgiving dinner.”

Collins would return for recruiting visits as a junior and senior at Rockdale County (Georgia) High School. His Georgia Tech dream began to take shape when he worked as a graduate assistant and then tight ends coach under George O’leary. Finally, he was hired from Temple in December.

Asked about emotions he expects to experience on Saturday, Collins said “It’s going to be special.”

Last week’s 52-14 loss at No. 1 Clemson didn’t erase the warm feelings which will accompany Collins’ home debut. Expectations were low for Georgia Tech (0-1) against Clemson.

The visit from USF (0-1) is different. Coach Charlie Strong’s Bulls bring a seven-game losing streak

ATLANTA —

Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins said, “When I was a little guy our Thanksgiving tradition was to come watch the Georgia Tech-georgia JV Thanksgiving game.” to Atlanta, including last Here are some other things option at quarterback gives week’s 49-0 loss to No. 17 to know about the USF-GEORthe Yellow Jackets freedom Wisconsin. gia Tech game: to mix in option plays. Plus,

“I will say to you I still have offensive coordinator Dave confidence and I believe in this Patenaude says his offensive team and I know that we’re linemen remember how to going to go take care of business,” block on option plays. Strong said Monday. “Their familiarity with it up

USF lost its last six games front and at the quarterback last season following a 7-0 position is certainly something start that included a 49-38 we have to maximize comeback win over Georgia because they do it so well,” Tech. Patenaude said.

Georgia Tech has moved from the triple-option offense used by former coach Paul Johnson for 11 years to a spread pro-style attack. Tobias Oliver’s familiarity with the