Pregame Observations from Georgia Tech

It's finally here. We're coming at you live from the first row of the press box of Bobby Dodd Stadium, clouds darkening the skies but an atmosphere that is exhilrating. Saw the Georgia Tech players walk in to the stadium to a raucous crowd. The crowd, for one, is amped -- the first group of students sprinting down the stairs to get front row seats.

The press box is open air and the stadium offers a gorgeous view of downtown Atlanta. A lot of southern schools have open air boxes, which are great to gauge crowd noise and atmosphere but horrific in rainstorms and monsoons. If Ernesto had hit, it would have been horrendous.

In one of the more interesting surprises, Notre Dame took five tight ends -- John Carlson, Marcus Freeman, Konrad Reuland, Will Yeatman and Paddy Mullen -- to Atlanta.

When Notre Dame initially ran out of the tunnel, there was more cheers than boos but a majority of the Tech crowd hadn't arrived yet.

At 7:41, the Georgia Tech student section whipped out its first "Overrated" chant. Never understood this one. Why would you say that? So then, if your team wins, they aren't as good as some people think because they beat a team that was "Overrated." Come on fans, you can do better.

Best T-Shirt seen so far: "Send Charlie back to the Chocolate Factory."

A little before game time and there is a breeze. And the humidity isn't too bad. The Irish may have lucked out there.

If you have any questions in-game, post them as comments or in an e-mail to mrothstein@jg.net and we'll do our best to get to them.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Wondering]

Can we say overrated yet?

[mikes1160]

Wondering What,

Because we didn't open up against Valpo, Northern Illinois, or North Texas State??? Are you Wondering if you're Gutless? You is....