Technical Tidbits 3/19

Just days after coach Paul Johnson alluded to the fact that two players would be leaving the program at Georgia Tech's Pro Day, it was announced that defensive end Chaz Cheeks and offensive lineman Thomas O'Reilly have both departed with one year of eligibility left. While it's disappointing to see any player leave early, these two departures will hardly be felt by the team this season -- neither Cheeks nor O'Reilly were thought to be on the two-deep for their respective positions. It became apparent that roster changes were coming when Georgia Tech signed a full recruiting class this season, but no one was sure exactly who would be leaving despite some speculation. For these two players, it makes good sense to finish their careers elsewhere if they want more on-field time.

Georgia Tech baseball is looking to bounce back from a couple of seasons away from the spotlight in order to regain national prominence and hopefully make a deep College World Series run. The Jackets have historically been one of the best teams in the nation under coach Danny Hall, but their success has slipped in recent years as a side effect of some recruiting woes. This season, however, Tech is riding a more than solid pitching rotation and a deadly offense to a 15-5 start to the campaign and a No. 21 national ranking. If all continues to go as planned for Hall's team, it could quickly become a historically good season with a very young team to build on for the future.

While Brian Gregory's teams have struggled in general, they've had a lot of success against their in-state rivals from Athens, and now he's trying to help Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo do the same -- Gregory reportedly shared all of his knowledge and tactics about beating UGA with Sparty's head man. I'm sure that a number of people will have some "why isn't he focused on his own program" argument to make, but I can't see any problem with this. Gregory is close friends with Izzo (as well as a member of his coaching tree) and every Georgia loss is a win for America, if not the world.

I'll leave you today with the story of James Dator, and SB Nation writer and one of many Australians who was unfairly abused by Michael Jordan and confusing American schools. Dator, who grew up idolizing His Airness while living in Australia, wanted nothing more than to attend Jordan's alma mater at UNC Chapel Hill. This dream was quickly derailed, however, when he mistakenly enrolled at UNC-Greensboro thinking that they were the same school. The results are a mixture of sad and hilarious. Don't feel too bad, however -- my sources indicate that Dator received his degree from UNC Chapel Hill after taking private lessons with professor Debbie Crowder and fellow classmate Rashad McCants. Or maybe he just found one in a trashcan and wrote his name on it like the rest of us.

What would have to happen this season for Georgia Tech baseball to return to national prominence?

Have a great Thursday!