How Georgia Tech coach Brent Key turned around Yellow Jackets, has nation buzzing after win vs. Florida State

It didn’t take long for Georgia Tech to make one of the biggest statements of the 2024 college football season. With Week 0’s 24-21 win against No. 10 Florida State on Saturday, the Yellow Jackets have a claim to being “back” after years spent far away from the national radar. 

It’s another achievement logged in a rapidly growing list for coach Brent Key in just his second full season as coach at Georgia Tech. Key took over as interim coach amid one of the worst stretches in program history — the Yellow Jackets had three straight three-win seasons under Geoff Collins prior to his firing four games into the 2022 season — and turned things around with a 4-4 record. 

That led to him earning the job on a permanent basis, a move that paid off immediately for Georgia Tech as he led it to a 7-6 mark, its first winning campaign since 2018. Now, the Yellow Jackets (1-0, 1-0 ACC) are close to making it back into the AP Top 25 after an almost nine-year drought. 

Saturday’s win against Florida State (0-1, 0-1) snapped a 15-game losing streak against top-10 teams. It was also Georgia Tech’s 10th outright win as an underdog since 2022, all of which have come under Key’s guidance. 

Following the trajectory that Key has Georgia Tech on, it won’t be considered an underdog for much longer. Here’s how Key has led Georgia Tech right back to the forefront of college football’s consciousness.  

Shifting the mentality 

Key sent a message during his on-field interview with ESPN after the victory vs. Florida State in Dublin, Ireland: 

“Run the ball!” 

Running the ball isn’t a new concept to Georgia Tech fans that grew up watching Paul Johnson-coached triple option teams. But Key’s approach is a whole new world. 

The Yellow Jackets no longer…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/how-georgia-tech-coach-brent-key-turned-around-yellow-jackets-has-nation-buzzing-after-win-vs-florida-state/

Author : Will Backus

Publish date : 2024-08-26 19:18:25

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