Technical Tidbits 12/29

It will be all business when Georgia Tech and Mississippi State face off in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Eve, but that doesn't mean that the history between the two schools has been nothing but fierce competition -- Paul Johnson's Yellow Jackets paid tribute to MSU's Nick Bell back in 2010 by wearing the school decal on the back of Georgia Tech helmets. Bell lost a fight with synovial sarcoma, a rare and dangerous form of cancer, at age 20 while playing football under Dan Mullen at MSU -- it was an incident which would shock both the program and the nation. Tech's gesture in the immediate aftermath was truly special and greatly appreciated by everyone in Starksville.

There are few cities in the world with more potential distractions than Miami, but our Georgia Tech football team is up to the task of staying focused during their trip to South Beach as they prepare for the Orange Bowl. From the tone of this article and of the players on social media and elsewhere, this Orange Bowl appearance is being taken much more seriously than any other lesser bowl would be, in large part because it provides such a unique opportunity to make a statement against top-flight competition from the stacked SEC West.

The San Francisco 49ers and coach Jim Harbaugh have officially parted ways following the team's victory over Arizona in the regular season finale. Harbaugh will now become the most highly sought after head coach in the nation for both NFL and college squads, but many reports indicate that he is already headed back to Ann Arbor to coach at his alma mater, Michigan. If he does in fact make his way up north to coach the Wolverines, it could mean big things for their program, especially as far as recruiting. A number of recruits, including Elijah Holyfield, have already expressed more interest in the university if the reports are true.

Gotta go back up to Michigan if Harbaugh takes the job!!!

— Elijah Holyfield (@EH_taught_me) December 28, 2014

In other NFL news which is maybe a bit more relevant to you, the Falcons were officially dispatched from playoff contention by the Carolina Panthers yesterday by a final score of 34-3. I've seen a lot of bad football these past few seasons, but that performance just might win the award for worst in the Mike Smith era. It also likely marks the end of the Mike Smith era -- Arthur Blank has expressed interest in hiring a new coach and moving on from Smitty as early as today.

Who is your pick for the coach to take the reigns from Mike Smith in Atlanta?

Have a great Monday!