Technical Tidbits 8/24

The very first AP poll of the season was released yesterday, featuring Georgia Tech at No. 16 just ahead of Ole Miss and behind Arizona State. The Ohio State Buckeyes were the unanimous No. 1 team in the country, becoming the first team ever to accomplish such a feat in a preseason poll. Rounding out the top five are TCU, Alabama, Baylor, and Michigan State, with Auburn, Oregon, and USC lurking close behind. UGA comes in next at No. 9, starting a string of four straight upcoming Tech opponents in a row -- Georgia at No. 9, Florida State at No. 10, Notre Dame at No. 11, and Clemson at No. 12. Schedules don't get much tougher than that.

All it took was one successful season to send Georgia Tech season ticket sales skyrocketing -- the athletic department is expecting more than 33,500 purchases, which would be the best number since 2009. The simple fact that Georgia Tech's season ticket sales are continuing to rise while the national numbers are falling is a massively encouraging sign for the future. Congratulations to the athletic department for doing something absolutely right. If the excitement surrounding the program continues to grow like this, I can't wait to see what the atmosphere at Bobby Dodd Stadium will be like in a few years. It could finally have the big crowd to pair with the amazing venue in the near future.

While many football players look to childhood role models for inspiration, defensive end KeShun Freeman finds his inspiration in the form of his 9-year-old brother, Landon. Landon Freeman, who was born with a laundry list of health issues, was given just 4 hours to live by doctors at Columbus Medical Center but has defied the odds to live a full, happy life. The story of he and older brother KeShun is truly amazing and serves as a true testament to Freeman's character. I really recommend reading it.

Georgia Tech commit Jarett Cole, a three-star safety out of Norcross High School, says that a change of heart in terms of a college decision is less than likely. Cole committed to Tech last month over a slew of offers from other prestigious programs and appears to be very solid in his decision -- despite being heavily recruited by a number of schools, including SEC powerhouses, he will not make any other visits. I can't wait to see what Cole can do at Tech, especially if he gets to play as a true freshman. He has the talent to be a great college player.

What are your thoughts on the first AP poll of the season?