Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins’ comments following the Yellow Jackets’ 45-17 win over Kennesaw State Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium:
Opening statement:
“Really good team win, really proud of the guys in that locker room. Two years ago, we were in a very similar game against a triple-option team that runs it really, really well (The Citadel) and took a loss in overtime. And I think it shows the growth, the development of this program to play one of the top teams in FCS and play at that high of a level under adverse circumstances. They’ve got a really good program coach (Brian) Bohannon has built. They play the game the right way, but just really, really proud of our guys, the way they handled this week.”
On Jordan Domineck’s forced fumble before his 70-yard return for a touchdown:
“He kept our developmental quarterbacks out (after practice) for five minutes, practiced coming off the edge, taking first threat. And then when they planted and pitched, practiced sticking his arm out. That’s why that play happened, because J.D. has learned in this program how to have a process, how to apply the process, how to find any way to have an edge, so that on game day, you can get a play that’s hopefully going to be in (SportsCenter) Top 10 or on top plays tonight and tomorrow morning, and it’s all deserved, because he did it the right way.”
On playing Clemson next Saturday:
“Exactly seven days from right now, we have to go on the road for the first time this year together to play a big-time team. So the work is cut out for us. Got to put this one to bed and get ready for a big-time opponent on the road next Saturday in Death Valley.”
On criticism from fans:
“After being a coordinator in the SEC for six years, I’ve learned a long time ago to stay off social media, to block out noise, don’t worry about it. Being a head coach now going on my fifth year, there are certain people’s opinion that I value very, very high. It’s those guys in that locker room, it’s our coaching staff, it’s our athletic department, it is our families that I really, really give credence to their opinions, what they think.”
On the play of quarterback Jordan Yates:
“I thought Jordan did a great job. (Offensive coordinator) Dave Patenaude, I thought he called a heck of a game doing the things that Jordan is really good at. And Jordan was able to put on a really good display today. A lot of weapons around him, a big, physical offensive line, but just Jordan’s energy, his presence, who he is in our program, who he is in our locker room, I’m really proud of him, so glad he got the result that he’s worked really, really hard for this team to have.”
On defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker’s game plan:
“When you watch around college football, when you play that offense, most times, people stay in one structure. They’re either eight-man front structure, they’re an odd structure, there may be a bear structure. But what coach Thacker did, he kept cycling through. We were going from odd to even, from one-high to two-high to bear and just kept cycling through those things the entire game. That is hard to do. But our guys handled it. He did a great job teaching it, he did a great job coaching it and applying all the principles and fundamental beliefs that we have in our program and our entire defensive staff, hats off to them as well.”
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