Technical Tidbits 7/8: Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

The Georgia Tech football team has taken it slow getting back to the Flats. At first, only returning players from the Atlanta area were allowed on campus, then it was all returning players, and on Sunday all of the incoming freshmen (and transfers) moved in. According to the article above, many of the new players’ parents agreed with this reopening model. They feel that Coach Geoff Collins and the staff are serious about COVID-19 and only wanted the best for their players. A great part about the move-in is that the entire roster has been updated with number assignments (and re-assignments) for the upcoming season. I hope John Ross makes Andrew Chau proud with his no. 51.

Although Bryce Gowdy unfortunately took his life in December, his memory will live on at Georgia Tech. This season Gowdy will be on Tech’s roster as no. 7, his number throughout high school in Deerfield Beach. Another way Gowdy will be remembered is through the foundation set up in his honor, The Bryce Gowdy Foundation. Its mission is to, “create an open and comfortable platform for discussions about mental health & suicide in order to remove the stigma...(and ) provide resources and a network of support for Mental Health, anti-bullying, and suicide prevention and overall wellness.”

We’re all about numbers today at FTRS, first football, now basketball. Incoming basketball players (and one returnee) have selected their numbers for the season. Bubba Parham, the lone returner changing things up, will switch from no. 11 to no. 3, which we wore at VMI before transferring to the Jackets. All of the other number assignments can be seen above!

Russ Chandler Stadium is already one of the best in college baseball, but over the past few weeks construction crews have been making it even better. The players will get a new training facility, fans will get new restrooms and concession stands, and the GTAA should make a lot of money with the new suite areas. It’s a massive win for everyone.

Uplifting Athletes is an athlete-led organization with chapters on college campuses across the U.S. dedicated to fighting a number of rare diseases. Each year, the Georgia Tech chapter hosts a “Lift for Life” event, but COVID-19 cancelled that. So, in lieu of “Lift for Life,” the Tech chapter will hold a “7,000 mile challenge.” From what I understand, the goal is to get all participants to do a combined 7,000 miles (for 7,000 rare diseases) of activity from July 17 to July 26. Here’s the link where you can join, donate, or do both.

Question of the Day: What would your football number be?