Brent Key didn’t sugarcoat how rough the opening 30 minutes was for Georgia Tech. “We couldn’t have played worse in the first half,” he admitted after the Jackets’ season-opening win at Colorado. “Self-inflicted errors, three turnovers on the first three drives, penalties, busts…allowed to score early on that first drive. Next play, next play, next play. And the resiliency of these guys really showed.”
Key pointed to the difference in mentality compared to years past. “There’s been a lot of times in the past where that wouldn’t have happened at all and the finger-pointing can start,” he said. “But our team does and look there’s things we got to continue to work on and clean up. That’s why I’m proud of them. Proud of them for fighting back and overcoming those things.”
Special teams steadied the game. “Aidan had some big kicks that really kept us in there. He was as confident and money on it as he could be. Got two hands on a couple of their kicks, which could have been big, but ended up floating through there.”
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The defense delivered when it mattered most. “When they got down tight in that red zone I thought they really bowed their necks back and played good football down there,” Key explained.
Up front, Georgia Tech rotated through as many as eight linemen. “That’s the name of the game…you got to be able to get guys experience. I thought they played very physical, especially in the run game. That’s what we talked about. Body blows are going to add up and they’re going to accumulate in the fourth quarter.”
When pressed on the difference in the game, Key offered a blunt reply. “Seven points, I believe. Seven points. Our ability to run the football was a huge challenge we put on these guys up front on the O line… we know who we are as a football team. We know what our identity is. Just wanted to make sure everybody else knew.”
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