No. 14 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS

Jackets looking to build on '08 success

In a Tech season full of exciting moments, including big wins over Boston College, Miami and FSU and narrow defeats to Virginia Tech and Virginia, nothing was more exciting for Jacket fans then the 45-42 shootout victory over rival Georgia in Athens, where GT hadn't won this century.

And it was all thanks to Paul Johnson, whose triple-option offense has given Georgia Tech an identity. A team that should have been going through a transition turned out a 9-3 regular season and into the ACC Coastal co-champs. But after finally topping their in-state rival, Georgia Tech squandered the opportunity to show their arrival with a 38-3 blowout loss to LSU in the Chick-fil-a Bowl in Atlanta.

So now the question is which team will be the one that goes through the 2009 season - the one that persevered over the SEC foe at home, or the one that was dominated by the SEC underdog in Tech's own home town? If GT can play at the same level as it ended the regular season, then the Yellow Jackets will have the opportunity to not only duplicate their success from last season but unseat division favorite Virginia Tech.

The difficulties in stopping the triple option - which some incorrectly believe to be a gimmick offense - lends Tech the ability to even out athletic disparities. The offense has the ability to neutralize aggressive defenses and forces opponents to play more predictable base defenses. Also, as many teams found difficult last season, it's almost impossible to recreate the offense with a scout team.

But of course, if an offensive scheme alone won games than everyone would be instituting it. Johnson has great confidence in his offense and demands a high work ethic from his players (at least until bowl season rolls around). Still, with an ever improving ACC, Tech won't be able to sneak up on opponents this season. The Jackets draw Florida State and Wake Forest out of the Atlantic; their biggest games are probably on the road at Florida State and Miami; and the Jackets appear to be petitioning the SEC for re-admittance, with non-conference games against three SEC opponents. Any Tech wins this season will truly be earned.

Final 2008 Ranking: Not Ranked

CFN 2009 Preview | ESPN Georgia Tech Page | CBS Georgia Tech Page

Part of a two-week long look into the 2009 Preseason Southern Fans' College Football Poll. New posts released each day, culminating with the No. 1 team on September 2.