Buzz into overtime: A guide to winter sports

Since the last issue of the Technique, many of Tech’s student athletes have been continued practicing and competing in their respective sports. Most of Tech’s teams looked like they suffered holiday hangovers. Still, there were some highs (and lows) in an otherwise uneventful winter break.
For starters, the Tech football team took on Air Force in the Independence Bowl on December 27. The game featured the two best rushing attacks in college football, and it was expected to be a shootout. However, the game featured sloppy play by both teams as Air Force only mustered 170 rushing yards and Tech turned the ball over four times. Three of those turnovers came in the second half, and that was enough for Air Force as they won the game, 14-7.
The game was the last game of the season for many of Tech’s players, but two Jackets will be playing in all-star games later this year. Senior B-back Anthony Allen will compete in the Senior Bowl on January 29, and senior cornerback Mario Butler will play in the East-West Shrine Game on January 22.
Junior safety Jerrard Tarrant and junior offensive tackle Nick Claytor decided to forgo their senior season at Tech and head to the NFL. Tarrant played in 27 games as a cornerback, safety and punt returner, while Claytor played in 16 games on the offensive line. Both were some of the most experienced players at their respective position.
The men’s basketball team did not fare well over the break as they lost four of six games. The team notched a big win over potential NCAA Tournament team Richmond in the Bahamas but lost the following game to a lowly Sienna team that was under .500 going into the game.
After a win over Mercer at home, the Jackets proceeded to lose their next three games, two of which were against conference foes. The third loss was a 25-point route in Clemson in a game that saw the Tigers shoot 86 percent in the second half.
One of the bright spots for Tech athletics had to be the surprising strength of the women’s basketball team. Following their win against Georgia before the break, the Jackets won their next seven games to extend their win streak to 13 games.
After a trip to the northwest U.S., the Jackets returned home to put up 101 points against Mercer one night and then held Tennessee State to just 11 points two days later. The 101 points was the highest total under Head Coach Michelle Joseph, and the 11 points is an NCAA record for the fewest points in a women’s college basketball game. Tennessee State made no field goals in the first half, scoring only three points, and shot 3-50 from the field for the game.
The team has already won their first four conference games of the season for the first time in school history, but the true test will come on January 21 when the team travels to Durham to take on the No. 3 ranked Duke Blue Devils.