The National Championship game is finally here, and Kirby Smart will have to prove that he’s the man for the job. The last two times Georgia has played in this game they’ve lost, but can Coach Smart turn things around?
FILE – Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reacts during the second half of the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
When Georgia plays Alabama on tonight, it’s going to be a tough game. The quarterback question (and there is no question at this point) aside, Georgia has the defense and running-backs needed for this kind of game, although they were truly tested in the SEC Championship Game, and ultimately lost. For Georgia to win it’s first National Championship in 41 years, Kirby will need to prove that he can outsmart Nick Saban. It’ll all come down to how Kirby Smart coaches.
So, does Kirby Smart have what it takes to finally bring home the National Championship? We’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, be sure to tune in all day for wall to wall coverage, leading up to the game at 8pm on 680 The Fan. #TeamKirbySmart #GoDawgs #DawgsOnTop #NationalChampionship
Kirby Smart gives us a recap and his take on the 2024 G-Day Game. What did he see from the team that he liked? Is he worried about the transfer portal going into 2024? How is Carson Beck Looking after the game? Why did he end it with a tie? Find out all this and more!
KIRBY ON HOW G-DAY WENT: I thought the defense played much better today than they did in previous scrimmages in terms of like energy, enthusiasm, running to the ball, we rushed the passer better today. Offense probably didn’t have as good a day as maybe they’ve had in the two scrimmages, but overall I don’t evaluate things on today. I know you guys will ask questions and talk about today. For me it was about the entire spring 15 practices. Very pleased with our our health coming out of it.
CARSON BECK’S SPRING: Carson had a great spring to me. He’s had a quiet leadership, he’s got a lot of confidence when things aren’t going well to kids and players and O-line turned to him. He had really good moxie out in the field. He never, you know, pressed or got frustrated even today. He drove the team down and made some really elite throws there at the end to give us. A chance to tie the ball game, but taking the day out of it. I mean, I don’t. I don’t even go off today. He’s had a good spring. He’s just he knows how to navigate a pocket. He knows where to go with the ball. There’s nothing he hasn’t seen on defense, so I’m happy with where he is going to continue to grow as a leader.
ON THE DEFENSIVE BACKS: That we got a long way to go. You know, we lost three really good football players there and we’re saying we got better in the secondary, but we’re not where we need to be in terms of being able to make plays on the ball downfield and affect the quarterback.
KIRBY WANTS 4 SCHOLARSHIP QBs: Yeah, our goal is to have 4 and a really good walk on that’s the goal. We think we’ve got a fourth walk on kid. It’s a really good player that’s coming in and excited about him. We thought he was a really good player in our state. You know, we’ll see what happens. I… I can’t predict the portal. I won’t even try to, you know, I’m… I’m… I’m worried about our guys and…and the retention of our players.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PROGRAM: Lifting. Monday we get after it we’re going to work out. We’re going to target some guys weights. We’re going to drive some weights down, we’re going to lift. We got to get our bottom half of our roster to the top half and you’re not going to get there watching the spring game tape. You got to get to work. We’re going to work really hard on those guys. We’re going to keep meeting and talking to our players. I told them jobs not done. We’re not where we need to be. We just don’t get to practice anymore. We get to do other things so we’ll get back to work Monday.
ON LETTING THE GAME END IN A TIE: Didn’t want to put a two point play on tape, which we did that last year. It was last year, the year before we did it and I was like, yeah, we won’t keep those things in our pocket. We don’t need to show off those and figure the kickers needed to work.
HOW CONCERNED IS KIRBY WITH PLAYERS & THE PORTAL: I’m not. And then can I control it? I can’t. So I don’t. I mean, I don’t. If I concern myself with things I can’t control, I won’t live long. There’s just too much out there, so it’s really one of those things where it’s like, do you want to be here or do you not because they know how we do things by now. They all know. They said that was the easiest practice we’ve had all spring, so they enjoyed it thoroughly and guys want to be somewhere else. I have no control over that.
Nothing says “Delta 8” like Chuck & Chernoff! Listen for your chance to call in and win a $100 Gift Card for Georgia Hemp Company and an Autographed Football! It’s happening all week, so stay tuned for your chance to score big!
White and Gold Game, baseball, softball, men’s tennis and Yard Sale all on tap
Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key hugs running back Dontae Smith (4) and defensive back Clayton Powell-Lee (5) after victory over Syracuse in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)
THE FLATS – Saturday is one of the biggest days of the year for Georgia Tech athletics, with the following events all on tap:
Tech Athletics Yard Sale – 9 a.m.-Noon (McCamish Pavilion)
Men’s tennis vs. Virginia (Senior Day) – Noon (Byers Tennis Complex) – Admission is FREE
Football White and Gold Game – 1 p.m. (Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field) – Admission is FREE
Baseball vs. Virginia Tech – 4 p.m. (Mac Nease Baseball Park) – Buy tickets online
As fans swarm to The Flats for a full day of cheering on the Yellow Jackets, here are parking and traffic details:
Free Parking:
Free parking for fans opens on a first-come, first-serve basis in the following parking areas, beginning at 9 a.m.:
Visitor Area 1 – North Avenue
W21 – Ferst Drive
Burge Deck (E46)
O’Keefe Gym (E63)
McCamish Pavilion (E65)
Family Housing Deck (ER66)
Fowler Street, between 6th Street and 10th Street
Parking in the Klaus Deck (E40) will be free and available on a first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., but at 1:30 p.m. will be restricted to baseball parking ($5 per vehicle).
ADA Parking:
ADA parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis adjacent to the Klaus Deck (E40). A free shuttle will run from the ADA parking area to the ADA entrance at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (Gate 6) from 10 a.m. until one hour following the conclusion of the White and Gold Game.
Road Closures
The following roads will be closed for general traffic beginning at 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.:
Techwood Drive between 5th Street and North Avenue
Fowler Street between Ferst Drive/5th Street and Bobby Dodd Way
4th Street between Fowler Street and Techwood Drive
We’re also partnering with Folds of honor for our first Folds of Honor Friday, so we’ll have an opening ceremony with color guard playing at the national anthem. And then there’s some special activations throughout the course. Folds of Honor will be out on hole #13 and excited to have them with us this year.
ASHLEY HAMILTON
ATLANTA – Ashley Hamilton, Senior Tournament Director of Mitsubishi Electric Classic presented by Vensure, joined Nick Cellini and Chris Dimino to talk about the upcoming PGA Tour Champions event coming to TPC Sugarloaf April 22nd – 28th.
11 Yellow Jackets will sign autographs exclusively for Tech Way subscribers
THE FLATS – Eleven prominent Yellow Jackets, including quarterback Haynes King, will sign autographs for subscribers to The Tech Way following Georgia Tech football’s White and Gold Game on Saturday.
In addition to King, DL Zeek Biggers, DB LaMiles Brooks, RB Anthony Carrie, TE Ryland Goode, RB Jamal Haynes, DL Horace Lockett, DB Clayton Powell-Lee, WR Malik Rutherford, TE Brett Seither and WR Eric Singleton Jr. will sign autographs exclusively for Tech Way subscribers after the conclusion of the game, which kicks off at 1 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.
To be a part of the autograph session, fans must be a Tech Way subscriber. To become a subscriber and receive more information on the exclusive autograph session, visit thetechway.com.
Admission to Saturday’s White and Gold Game, Georgia Tech’s annual spring game, is FREE. For more information, click HERE.
The Tech Way
The Tech Way leverages the collective power of alumni and fans to equip Georgia Tech student-athletes with the tools and resources necessary for them to excel both during and beyond their time in Atlanta. More importantly, The Tech Way seeks to help student-athletes maximize their name, image and likeness opportunities the right way, without ever compromising the values of the Institute and the legacy of those who have donned the White and Gold in the past.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing, right, who gave up Hank Aaron’s 715th home run, throws out the first pitch following a ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of the hit before the start of baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, Tuesday, April 8, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Any young player coming to the Major League, I don’t care who you are, there’s someone who’s going to adopt you and it’s like going into a fraternity and they’re going to look after you. And Henry was like…like that about a lot of young players. I wasn’t the only one, but I especially enjoyed it because I was a Pitcher and he didn’t care.
He says, “You know, I want to make sure you’re as good a Major Leaguer, huh? So, and of course, when you know…when I’m at bat and you’re pitching, you know it’s confrontation and that’s the way it is.“
AL DOWNING
ATLANTA – 50 years ago today, Al Downing gave up homerun number 715 to Hank Aaron which broke Babe Ruth’s Home Run Record. Today, Al Downing joined Nick & Chris to talk about that day, the infamous pitch that launched he and Hank into the history books, and his relationship with Hank Aaron following that home run.
He’ll also recount being on the NY Yankees with a couple all-time Hall-of-Fame greats, his days around the Atlanta Braves broadcast booth, and much more!
Buck has a pair of tickets up for grabs every day this week! Just listen for your chance to call in and win from 10am to 11am every day! Good luck and keep listening to 680 The Fan for your chance to score big!
Call in this week for your chance to score a pair of tickets to the Mitsubishi Classic at TPC Sugarloaf. Every winner during the week will be qualified for the Grand Prize Drawing on Friday of a “VIP Behind the Ropes Experience!” Enter today for your chance to win!
ATLANTA – This season, fans located anywhere in Georgia can participate in the 50/50 Raffle. Fans may purchase raffle tickets online here at braves.com/5050 or via the MLB Ballpark app while in the state of Georgia, and fans at home games can continue to purchase raffle tickets from sellers at Truist Park and around The Battery Atlanta. At the end of each raffle, one lucky fan will walk away as the winner of a cash prize.
The purchase of a raffle ticket gains entry into the grand prize drawing, which will take place after the 8th inning on the final day of the raffle period. The winning ticket may be claimed at the guest services booth located at Section 111 or by emailing [email protected]. Winner does not have to be present to win.
Every transaction is electronically tallied and updated in real time. The ongoing total is displayed inside Truist Park on the LED board located in left-center field, on the Georgia Power Pavilion in The Battery Atlanta, as well as braves5050.com.
The Raffle Jackpot Winner will receive one half of the total net proceeds collected by Atlanta Braves Foundation during the Raffle Period, less any and all applicable taxes or other fees.
Prize claims can be made at the Atlanta Braves Foundation booth located at Section 111 inside Truist Park for Braves home games, or by emailing [email protected]. All prize claims must be made within thirty (30) days of the raffle drawing date.
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 05: Atlanta Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos waves to the fans during the World Series Championship Parade and Celebration at The Battery and Truist Park on November 5, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
We just always felt we were an outfielder short. Once we got Adam Duvall back, that just basically…OK, now we have a guy that can backfill and cover everybody. Ronald goes down, he could play right field. Harris goes down, he could play center field and Jared goes down, he can play left field.
ATLANTA – Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos checks in with Cellini& Dimino with some final evaluations and team information before we start the 2024 Regular Season. Find out why Adam Duvall is returning to the Braves, how Pitcher Chris Sale is adapting to the new clubhouse, Spring Training positives with Jared Kelenic and MORE!
Nothing says “Delta 8” like Chuck & Chernoff! Listen for your chance to call in and win a $100 Gift Card for Georgia Hemp Company and an Autographed Football! It’s happening all week, so stay tuned for your chance to score big!
Buck has a pair of tickets up for grabs every day this week! Just listen for your chance to call in and win from 10am to 11am every day! Good luck and keep listening to 680 The Fan for your chance to score big!
Call in this week for your chance to score a pair of tickets to the Mitsubishi Classic at TPC Sugarloaf. Every winner during the week will be qualified for the Grand Prize Drawing on Friday of a “VIP Behind the Ropes Experience!” Enter today for your chance to win!
