The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 75

THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION SPORTS PART 2 PRO FOOTBALL F8 WEEKLY POSTER FI4 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16, 2000 ROAD TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL 'Something special5 in Mami UGA NOTEBOOK MARK SCHLABACH Gibbs gets big plays on defense TECH NOTEBOOK NORMAN AREY O'Leary gives team average After 14 practices in eight days, Georgia Tech coach Athens With two-a-day practices coming to a close ,1 il George O'Leary on Tuesday gave his team two A's and one C. Receivers and today, Georgia football coach Jim Donnan said Tuesday that he's happy with how i i 1 A i i If i i Iff 1 No chumps now: Having recovered from a 5-6 season three years ago, 'Canes are in contention. By Al Levine alevineajc.com Coral Gables, Fla. For the first time since 1993, Miami is back in the race for the national championship.

It says so in all the preview magazines. It is validated in the Associated Press preseason poll, which has the Hurricanes ranked No. 5. Even the head coach says so. "Every year, there's probably 12 to 15 teams that think they have a chance to win the national championship," Butch Davis said.

"This year we're one of them. You can't say for sure, 'We're going to win it because so much depends on injuries, breaks, things you can't control. But everybody thinks this is the year for something special." But please don't use the term "banner it's not necessarily taken as a compliment. Davis learned about the price of great expectations in 1997, when Miami's football powerhouse crumbled under the weight of NCAA sanctions and scholarship limits. It was Davis' third season, three years after the Hurricanes played for the national championship.

Miami went 5-6. A disgruntled fan hired a plane to fly a banner above the Orange Bowl: "From Champs to Chumps. Thanks, Butch." "It was disappointing," Davis said. "You don't like it, but you A. 'Jf minintfi- DAVID BERGMAN Associated Press Butch Davis says his team is not going to rest on the preseason hype and No.

5 ranking it has received. understand that people, in their years earlier in the NFL helped up winning two Super Bowls. You own frustration, maybe don't real- Davis cope with the insult. can't just turn the switch on it; it ize what's going on. They may be "I went through 1-15 with the doesn't happen overnight.

It somewhat oblivious to the diffi- Dallas Cowboys and a staff try- culties and problems that you're ing to replace Tom Landry and please see Miami, F8 having to go through." the legend of the Dallas Cow- also inside Manta Football classic at A similar transgression a few boys," Davis said, "and we ended Georgia Dome has new sponsor, Despite bad breaks, Dogs reserve settles in "My three years here have been everything I had hoped for and more," Ed Wilder says. Wilder's grinding y. style suits rcSS. DeJuan Green suffered concussions on and off the field during his freshman year. Jackets special teams got the top grades.

The went to the offensive line, and six other areas got B's. "Of course, I'd like to see an A all the way across the board," O'Leary said. "Consistency is the only reason they're not all A's." The report card: Receiver A. The position has speed, depth, experience and talent Kelly Campbell might be the fastest man in the ACC, but Jon Muyres, Kerry Watkins, Will Glover, Jonathan Smith and Nate Curry would finish within a half-step in the 100-yard dash. "Watkins has had the best fall," O'Leary said.

Running back B. At least six tailbacks can and will piay: Joe Burns, Sean Gregory, Gordon Clinkscale, Sidney Ford, Jermaine Hatch and freshman Jimmy Dixon, if he gets healthy. With Ed Wilder back for his senior year and freshman Johnathan Jackson proving to be a quick study, fullback looks solid. Offensive line C. O'Leary sees depth as a weakness on the offensive line.

"We need for our second-teamers to step up," he said. The starters seem solid enough. O'Leary usually plays six offensive linemen, with two alternating at one spot Tight end B. "Russell Matvay has had a good camp," O'Leary said. "I'm real pleased with him" Matvay, 6 feet 4 and 245 pounds, will be backed up by former walk-on Will Heller (6-6, 255).

Quarterback B. "I'm happy with George Godsey," O'Leary said. "He's separated himself big-time from the other two. I'm happy for George, too." Backups will be Andy Hall and Jermaine Crenshaw. Defensive line B.

"Our front people have gotten better," O'Leary said. The coach is awaiting the results of the medical tests on the seriousness of the neck injury that Guenter Kryszon suffered Saturday. Nick Rogers' move to defensive end from linebacker has helped. Linebacker B. Experience is the only thing keeping the linebackers from an A.

The three freshmen Hobie Holiday, Key Fox and Daryl Smith all will play, and Matt Miller's comeback from injury gives them an on-field leader. Recardo Wimbush returns after an outstanding freshman season as the outside linebacker, and Ather Brown won a starting job in the spring. Defensive backfield B. The two safety spots are set, with strong safety Chris Young and free safety Jeremy Muyres. Marvious Hester has had his moments this fall, and Jamara Clark is back for his senior year at cornerback.

Special teams All kickers, snappers and returners are back. the defense has looked. That's a relief for Georgia fans, who watched the Bulldogs defense finish last in the SEC last season, allowing 382.6 yards per game. After Georgia allowed 25.9 points per contest, Donnan fired defensive coordinator Kevin Ramsey and replaced him with former Oklahoma coach Gary Gibbs. "I think our defense resembles what I hoped it would look like coming into this season," Donnan said.

"We've been really strong at the line and we're breaking on the ball and intercepting some passes." In Tuesday's full-contact scrimmage at Sanford Stadium, the defense disrupted the offense throughout the two-hour session. Starting quarterback Quincy Carter was the victim of two interceptions. Free safety Jermaine Phillips intercepted Carter's throw to tight end Randy McMicha-el, and would have returned it for a touchdown if officials hadn't blown the play dead. Later, middle linebacker Adrian Hollingshed tipped Carter's pass over the middle and it was picked off by cornerback Tim Wansley. Injury report Several players sat out Tuesday's scrimmage: receiver Damien Gary (bruised knee), kicker Billy Bennett (pulled groin), defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan (throat infection), offensive tackle Jon Stinch-comb (hand) and receiver Tavarus Morgan (shoulder).

Outside linebacker Tony Gilbert is wearing a cast on one hand, but Donnan said it's just bruised and nothing is broken. Just for kicks Bennett's pulled groin has slowed his competition with incumbent Brett Kirouac of Duluth. Bennett, a walk-on from Athens Academy, hasn't gotten much work the past week. But Donnan said the coaching staff saw plenty from him during earlier freshman practices. "We've been nursing the injury and we've been careful with that," Donnan said.

"We think he's a very accurate kicker and he's definitely in the mix." Donnan said Kirouac will handle kickoffs, and sophomore Jonathan Kilgo will punt. "Kilgo's had a really good fall camp," Donnan said. "He's kicki ing like we hoped he would kick when we recruited him." Filling in With Stinchcomb sidelined on Tuesday, sophomore George Foster got most of the work at No. 1 right tackle. Foster, 6 feet 6, 307 pounds, held his own vs.

defensive end Josh Mallard. "George did some good things, but he's still got to be consistent," Donnan said. "We've got to decide our starting lineup after next week. He and sophomore Alex Jackson are definitely in the hunt for starting jobs." Extra points Senior LaBrone Mitchell, from Marietta, made a nice 33- yard catch, beating cornerback Decory Bryant. Walk-on Andy Hogan, from Clarke Central High, is currently the top snapper, while Kilgo is holding on kicks.

Hollingshed flattened running back Brett Millican, who made a nice catch on a pass thrown too high by Carter. By Mark Schlabach mschlabachajc.com Athens Literally dazed and confused, Georgia running back DeJuan Green wondered this spring if he'd made the right decision. Green, a sophomore from Jacksonville, was one of the South's top recruits in 1998. After rushing for 1,818 yards and 22 touchdowns as a Raines High senior, the SuperPrep preseason Ail-American chose Georgia over Miami, North Carolina and Syracuse. After two bad breaks during his freshman year at Georgia, however, Green wasn't sure he'd picked the right school.

"I started wondering why all of these things were happening to me," Green said. "I wondered if I was supposed to be down in Florida and not here." Green's problems began late in the Bulldogs' first game last season. Against Utah State on Sept. 4, Green took a handoff and was knocked unconscious by Aggies safety Elijah Bell. Green's helmet landed several yards behind him.

Green, 5 feet 11, 205 pounds, suffered a broken jaw and severe concussion. He didn't regain full consciousness until he was in an ambulance en route to a local hospital. "I didn't feel anything; I didn't remember anything," Green said. "I still don't remember anything about the play." Georgia was hoping for big things from Green. Runner-up in the Florida Class AAAA 100 meters as a senior, the Bulldogs hoped to utilize Green's speed, but he was sidelined and got only eight more carries the rest of the season.

"It kind of introduced me to most ferocious blockers in the ACC. Mostly, he has distinguished himself the past two seasons as the lead blocker for Joe Bums and Sean Gregory. It is a job that has suited him just fme. "My three. years here have been everything I had hoped for and more," Wilder said.

Wilder was highly recruited as a fullback out of Washington-Wilkes High School. But torn cartilage and ligament damage to his right knee and an ensuing operation caused many of the recruiters to drop away. Tech was persistent Although Wilder has continued to have problems with the knee it required arthroscopic surgery in the middle of last season the Jackets' loyalty has been rewarded. Wilder has played in 32 games in three years and started 27. He has proved himself to be an excellent student and has no academic worries.

As for the knee, the long-term damage might affect a possible pro career. Wilder, however, doesn't think so. "I think my chances are good," he said. "I think it's a situation I can overcome. With time to prepare myself, I think I'll be blessed enough to pass the physical." But Wilder also is realistic.

"Personally, I don't want to have any more operations," he said. "It's nothing they can fix. I've got to decide if it's worth playing with the pain. "Right now it is," he said. "I love the game." i ON THE WEB: Discuss the Yellow Jackets' upcoming season www.accessatlanta.conVsportstech By Norman Arey nareyajc.com If you look at Ed Wilder's career statistics at Georgia Tech, you might have to stifle a yawn.

In his career, the Yellow Jackets senior fullback has carried the ball 50 times for 236 yards and scored two touchdowns. The native of Washington, also has caught 28 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns. And he has returned two kickoffs for a total of 38 yards. Those aren't Hall of Fame numbers. But that's where the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Wilder has people fooled.

He is, without question, one of the main keys to Georgia Tech having success this season, along with quarterback George Godsey and the two cornerback spots. He is the most versatile player on the team, and, according to coaches and players, he is by far the most valuable. If he can keep his right knee healthy, the Yellow Jackets could spend the Christmas holidays in a bowl game again. It is no coincidence that offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen has had so much success since Wilder's arrival in 1997. "Wilder was a godsend when Ralph got here," coach George O'Leary said.

"He gave us so much flexibility because he could play so many positions." Wilder lines up primarily at fullback, where he runs the ball and catches passes and knocks down opposing defensive players. But he also will play at tight end, where he is considered one of the college football," Green said. "I was running into the holes a little bit slow and I was tip-toeing. Now, I know I've got to hit the holes fast." That's what Green planned on doing this spring. But while returning from his parents' home in Jacksonville, Green fell asleep at the wheel and wrecked his car on Ga.

15 near Watkins-ville. He suffered another concussion, and Georgia's medical staff wouldn't let him practice. "Right then and there, I knew that I wasn't living right," Green said. "Things weren't going my way, but I just needed to grow up and mature. I had a lot of people motivating me, so I never thought about quitting." Less than three weeks before the Sept.

2 opener vs. Georgia Southern, Green and redshirt freshman Bruce Thornton, who missed last season with a broken wrist, have emerged as the top reserves behind junior Jasper Sanks. Senior Brett Millican of Lil-burn has shown surprising quickness, and the Bulldogs also have freshmen running backs Albert Hollis and Musa Smith. Where they'll all fit in has yet to be determined. But at least one of them is sure where he belongs.

"I know I'm at the right place now," Green said. ON THE WEB: Discuss the bulldogs' upcoming season www.accessatlanta.comsportsuga.