Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich has promoted ''a whiteout'' for Thursday night's prime-time ESPN football game against No. 23 University of Miami.
If that is limited to fans wearing white to ''create a striking visual presence on ESPN,'' according to Radakovich in a Georgia Tech website column, count on UM players not caring. It's the other white stuff, the kind used to build snowmen, that might freak out the young Hurricanes on a night expected to dip into the 30s -- possibly upper 20s by game's end.
Snow is not in the forecast. But many of the youngest Canes, on a quest with the veterans to earn a spot in their first Atlantic Coast Conference title game, have never played in the cold.
''I think I might redshirt this game,'' mused quarterback Jacory Harris, a Miami native who has yet to play in cold weather, though some of his former Miami Northwestern High teammates thought the 57 degree temperature at Duke last month was freezing. ``By halftime, you'll see me thermalled up.''
Maybe their soaring adrenaline after a five-game winning streak and first national ranking in more than two years will help keep them warm. Or maybe another national TV broadcast on a night when millions tune in will help. UM (7-3, 4-2), which defeated Virginia Tech last Thursday night on ESPN, is 13-1 in Thursday night games.
Georgia Tech (7-3, 4-3) is 9-11 on Thursday nights.
''You know it's a big game when you look up and you've got that big sky camera flying down and looking all around at the teams,'' said UM freshman linebacker Sean Spence, another Miami Northwestern alumnus whose coldest experience was at Duke. ``But in Boise, they said their toes were numb and it hurt when you hit.''
UM played in Boise, Idaho, in its last bowl game on Dec. 31, 2006. It was in the teens during bowl week and it snowed lightly the night of the game.
''After the first two drives, I didn't feel my feet,'' UM linebacker Glenn Cook said.
Two more victories in their final regular-season games and the Canes won't have to dwell on the thermometer. UM also can clinch a spot in the ACC title game with a victory Thursday and a North Carolina loss Saturday, or a victory and victories Saturday by Virginia Tech and Virginia.
The Yellow Jackets, who run the rarely employed triple-option offense, have their own agenda. Heading into the final two weeks of the season, nine schools -- including Georgia Tech -- still have a chance to head to Tampa for the Dec. 6 league title game.
''We certainly have a huge challenge ahead of us,'' Tech coach Paul Johnson said. ``Miami is playing as well as anybody. They have an excellent defense, and on offense they have some skilled people with a lot of speed.
``We have to play better fundamental defense. In the last three weeks, we haven't put a fear in anybody.''
The triple-option offense involves handing the ball off to a fullback or having the quarterback keep the ball or pitch it to a running back. If the quarterback disguises his handoffs well, defenses are often tricked into going after the wrong person.
Georgia Tech ranks eighth nationally in rushing offense, with sophomore Jonathan Dwyer leading the ACC with 1,056 yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries.
Quarterback Josh Nesbitt has completed 42 of 87 passes for 614 yards and two touchdowns, with three interceptions. Tech's passing offense is rated 116th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
''We stressed that you have to tackle everyone up high,'' UM coach Randy Shannon said. ``The option quarterbacks carry the ball high. We need to tackle the arms. This is where the turnovers will come.
``Defensively, they have four guys up front who do a great job of causing havoc. It's going to be a challenge for our offensive line to make sure they stay focused and don't get discouraged.''
The Yellow Jackets' scoring defense is ranked 11th nationally, holding teams to an average of 16.1 points a game. Their total defense is 14th.
Miami is 10th in total defense and 37th in scoring defense (21.1-point average allowed).
UM kicker Matt Bosher, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, said he's pumped for another big game, even if it is a tad cold.
''The big jet heater is conveniently placed next to the kicking net,'' Bosher said with a sly smile. ``You've got to go out there and play regardless of the temperature.''
If that is limited to fans wearing white to ''create a striking visual presence on ESPN,'' according to Radakovich in a Georgia Tech website column, count on UM players not caring. It's the other white stuff, the kind used to build snowmen, that might freak out the young Hurricanes on a night expected to dip into the 30s -- possibly upper 20s by game's end.
Snow is not in the forecast. But many of the youngest Canes, on a quest with the veterans to earn a spot in their first Atlantic Coast Conference title game, have never played in the cold.
''I think I might redshirt this game,'' mused quarterback Jacory Harris, a Miami native who has yet to play in cold weather, though some of his former Miami Northwestern High teammates thought the 57 degree temperature at Duke last month was freezing. ``By halftime, you'll see me thermalled up.''
Maybe their soaring adrenaline after a five-game winning streak and first national ranking in more than two years will help keep them warm. Or maybe another national TV broadcast on a night when millions tune in will help. UM (7-3, 4-2), which defeated Virginia Tech last Thursday night on ESPN, is 13-1 in Thursday night games.
Georgia Tech (7-3, 4-3) is 9-11 on Thursday nights.
''You know it's a big game when you look up and you've got that big sky camera flying down and looking all around at the teams,'' said UM freshman linebacker Sean Spence, another Miami Northwestern alumnus whose coldest experience was at Duke. ``But in Boise, they said their toes were numb and it hurt when you hit.''
UM played in Boise, Idaho, in its last bowl game on Dec. 31, 2006. It was in the teens during bowl week and it snowed lightly the night of the game.
''After the first two drives, I didn't feel my feet,'' UM linebacker Glenn Cook said.
Two more victories in their final regular-season games and the Canes won't have to dwell on the thermometer. UM also can clinch a spot in the ACC title game with a victory Thursday and a North Carolina loss Saturday, or a victory and victories Saturday by Virginia Tech and Virginia.
The Yellow Jackets, who run the rarely employed triple-option offense, have their own agenda. Heading into the final two weeks of the season, nine schools -- including Georgia Tech -- still have a chance to head to Tampa for the Dec. 6 league title game.
''We certainly have a huge challenge ahead of us,'' Tech coach Paul Johnson said. ``Miami is playing as well as anybody. They have an excellent defense, and on offense they have some skilled people with a lot of speed.
``We have to play better fundamental defense. In the last three weeks, we haven't put a fear in anybody.''
The triple-option offense involves handing the ball off to a fullback or having the quarterback keep the ball or pitch it to a running back. If the quarterback disguises his handoffs well, defenses are often tricked into going after the wrong person.
Georgia Tech ranks eighth nationally in rushing offense, with sophomore Jonathan Dwyer leading the ACC with 1,056 yards and eight touchdowns on 160 carries.
Quarterback Josh Nesbitt has completed 42 of 87 passes for 614 yards and two touchdowns, with three interceptions. Tech's passing offense is rated 116th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
''We stressed that you have to tackle everyone up high,'' UM coach Randy Shannon said. ``The option quarterbacks carry the ball high. We need to tackle the arms. This is where the turnovers will come.
``Defensively, they have four guys up front who do a great job of causing havoc. It's going to be a challenge for our offensive line to make sure they stay focused and don't get discouraged.''
The Yellow Jackets' scoring defense is ranked 11th nationally, holding teams to an average of 16.1 points a game. Their total defense is 14th.
Miami is 10th in total defense and 37th in scoring defense (21.1-point average allowed).
UM kicker Matt Bosher, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, said he's pumped for another big game, even if it is a tad cold.
''The big jet heater is conveniently placed next to the kicking net,'' Bosher said with a sly smile. ``You've got to go out there and play regardless of the temperature.''
