Georgia Tech Football

The Broward Medical Examiner's Office ruled Tuesday that the death of Georgia Tech football recruit Bryce Gowdy on Monday was a suicide. 

According to Brooke Baitinger, Cindy Krischer Goodman and Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Gowdy's mother, Shibbon Winelle, said in a Facebook video message that her son's behavior leading up to his death concerned her.

Winelle said Gowdy was "talking crazy" and "talking in circles," and that he began acting "paranoid." She noted that Gowdy was struggling with the fact that his family was homeless and living out of a car and a hotel room. Winelle also said Gowdy asked her if his brothers would be OK once he left for college.

Gowdy was found dead early Monday morning near train tracks in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and it was determined he deliberately put himself in position to get hit by the freight train.

Gowdy was a star wide receiver at Deerfield Beach High School and rated a 4-star prospect by 247Sports. He ranked as the No. 310 overall player, No. 54 wideout and No. 54 player from the state of Florida in the 2020 class.

Gowdy, 17, tweeted the following on Dec. 29 in anticipation of making the leap to Georgia Tech:

Per ESPN's Andrea Adelson, Georgia Tech head football coach Geoff Collins released a statement following Gowdy's death:

"Our entire Georgia Tech football family is devastated by the news of Bryce's passing. Bryce was an outstanding young man with a very bright future. He was a great friend to many, including many of our current and incoming team members. On behalf of our coaches, players, staff and families, we offer our deepest condolences to Bryce's mother, Shibbon, and his brothers, Brisai and Brayden, as well as the rest of his family members, his teammates and coaches at Deerfield Beach High School, and his many friends. Bryce and his family will always be a part of the Georgia Tech football family."

High school wide receiver and Georgia Tech signee Bryce Gowdy died Monday, the school confirmed. 

According to ESPN's Andrea Adelson, Gowdy was hit by a freight train in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The Broward County medical examiner's office ruled his death a suicide on Tuesday.

Yellow Jackets head coach Geoff Collins issued a statement regarding Gowdy's death:

Gowdy, a 4-star recruit, was the No. 54 receiver in the 2020 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and a star for Deerfield Beach High School.

Deerfield Beach head coach Jevon Glenn told the Miami Herald's Jason Dill the 17-year-old was preparing to travel to Georgia Tech later in the week. Gowdy tweeted Sunday that he "can't wait to get to the ATL soon!"

Glenn added that Gowdy's impact went beyond the field: "He was a great kid. The hardest working and most caring people. He really cared about others. He cared about others' success, team success more so than his. ... All-around great kid."

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Brandon Adams died Saturday, the school announced.

"Our entire Georgia Tech football family is heartbroken by the news of Brandon’s passing," head coach Geoff Collins said in a statement. "In the short time that I have had the privilege and honor of knowing Brandon, I admired and respected him, first and foremost as a terrific human being, but also as an outstanding teammate and leader."

Adams, 21, played three years for Georgia Tech. He had 41 total tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 33 games.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Ken Sugiura praised Adams, describing him as "a force in the interior, often requiring double-teams to keep him from pushing centers into the pocket." Sugiura added that the Brentwood, Tennessee, native was one of the top Yellow Jackets to watch during the team's spring practices.

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt removed his name from consideration for the open Georgia Tech head football coach position Thursday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Whisenhunt had an opportunity to return to the school where he played tight end from 1981-1984.

However, he's doing quite well in his current gig with the Bolts, as the team is 9-3 and owns the sixth-best scoring offense in the league. 

The Chargers offense also finished seventh in Football Outsiders' DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) in 2017 and is ranked third this year under Whisenhunt's command.

With Whisenhunt out of the picture, the team must look elsewhere to replace ex-Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson, who stepped down after leading the Yellow Jackets to an 83-59 record over 11 years. 

Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution provided an update on the coaching search Wednesday prior to Whisenhunt's decision being made public. One name in particular was mentioned as a possibility:

"Athletic director Todd Stansbury will interview five or six candidates, and the decision may not arrive for another week-and-a-half, according to the person, who also believed that Whisenhunt has not received an offer, as has been reported. Another candidate is Temple coach Geoff Collins, who previously served Tech as a graduate assistant, tight ends coach and player personnel director in two separate stops at the school."

The 47-year-old Collins has gone 15-10 in two seasons with Temple.

The ACC is in the midst of a down period, which could benefit Georgia Tech's new coach. Clemson and Syracuse were the only teams to finish in the AP Top 25 in 2018, with the former team being the conference's only contender for the College Football Playoff. Therefore, the Yellow Jackets have a shot to hang in the ACC's upper echelon if the transition is smooth.

Before then, however, Georgia Tech will finish its 2018 season in the Quick Lane Bowl against Minnesota on December 26. The 2019 campaign opens Thursday, August 29 at Clemson.

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt could be returning to his alma mater.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Whisenhunt will interview this weekend for Georgia Tech's head coaching vacancy.

The Yellow Jackets have an opening after Paul Johnson announced his retirement this week. Georgia Tech went 82-59 under Johnson and will be playing in its ninth bowl game in 11 seasons.

"It's never seemed like work so it was a difficult decision, but it's one that I think I needed to make and I know that I need a break," Johnson, 61, told reporters in his 22nd season as a collegiate head coach.

Whisenhunt is in his second stint as the Chargers offensive coordinator. The Chargers have had a top-10 offense each of the last two seasons. They rank sixth in yards gained and seventh in points scored. Football Outsiders ranks the Chargers offense as the third-best in football.

The 56-year-old previously spent six seasons as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and a season-and-a-half with the Tennessee Titans. His teams went 48-71, though he did lead Arizona to a Super Bowl appearance in his second season.

Georgia Tech is reportedly looking for someone with ties to the school and NFL experience, and Whisenhunt fits the bill. The Augusta, Georgia, native was a tight end for the Yellow Jackets from 1981-84 and played eight years in the NFL, including the first four with the Atlanta Falcons. 

Whisenhunt has not coached in college since a two-year stint at Vanderbilt in 1995 and '96. 

Paul Johnson is retiring following 17 seasons as a head coach for the Navy Midshipmen and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech announced the news Wednesday:

Georgia Tech director of athletics Todd Stansbury said in a statement:

"I was saddened when Coach Johnson informed me that he was going to step down as our head coach. Not only is he Georgia Tech's winningest head coach in more than 50 years, but he is also an incredible mentor for the young men in our football program and has helped develop countless student-athletes that have gone on to great success after graduation. I wish him and Susan nothing but the very best as he steps away from coaching football for the first time in 40 years and ask the entire Georgia Tech community to join me in thanking him for his hard work and contributions to the Institute over the past 11 years."

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com deemed Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator and former Georgia Tech player Ken Whisenhunt a "top candidate" to replace Johnson and said Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott is also "in the mix."

Johnson's offense is known for its triple-option attack, which he rode to a 45-29 record and five bowl bids at Navy from 2002 through 2007.

He has been with the Yellow Jackets the last 11 seasons and sports an 83-59 record and eight bowl appearances, including two Orange Bowls. He has two seasons of double-digit wins with the ACC team—including in 2009 when he beat the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship Game—and failed to win seven or more games just three times.

He found success outside the FBS level as well, winning back-to-back Division I-AA national titles at Georgia Southern in 1999 and 2000.

According to Dan Wolken of USA Today, the 61-year-old Johnson "has been contemplating retirement for several weeks."

Johnson's Georgia Tech team leads the nation in rushing yards this season and finished with a 7-5 mark following Saturday's loss to the rival Georgia Bulldogs. The Yellow Jackets are awaiting their bowl assignment, which will be Johnson's ninth with the school should he coach it.

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A video of a second fight between Georgia Tech football players Step Durham and Lance Austin has emerged, with Durham knocking Austin out for a second time in the same day.

TMZ Sports obtained video of the second fight, which came "hours" after Durham knocked Austin out in a video that made the rounds last week. Austin reportedly wanted to "redeem" himself from being knocked out in their first fight. Both fights appear to be competitive in nature rather than acts of aggression toward one another.

Georgia Tech told TMZ the second video was "all part of the same incident that our coaching staff was aware of." The university said both players were disciplined for the incident, which took place during spring practice earlier this year. No specifics on the discipline were given.

"Taking disputes to a physical level is never the answer and I hope my peers take note of my mistake," Durham said in a statement last week. "I’m deeply sorry for my actions and, being an adult, I understand that consequences and judgment come with the actions shown. I hope to prove to those who don’t know me that I’m not a violent person whatsoever. I would respectfully ask those that have viewed the video not judge or categorize Lance or me based on what they saw in the video alone."

Austin also issued a statement saying he forgave Durham for the fight. 

Both players started in the secondary throughout the 2017 season for the Yellow Jackets, who went 5-6. 

Austin recorded 39 tackles and five passes defended without an interception. Durham had 30 tackles, five passes defended and one pick. Austin and Durham are both seniors. 

In video TMZ Sports released Tuesday, Georgia Tech defensive back Step Durham knocked out teammate and fellow defensive back Lance Austin at the Yellow Jackets' training facility.

According to TMZ Sports, it occurred earlier this year prior to spring practice, and Georgia Tech released the following statement: "Georgia Tech's football coaching staff became aware of the incident between teammates and friends shortly after it occurred. Discipline was handled internally."

Sources told TMZ Sports that neither Durham nor Austin missed any playing time during the 2017 season as a result of this.

Both Durham and Austin are senior starters for the 5-6 Yellow Jackets.

Durham finished with 30 tackles, five passes defended and one interception, while Austin registered 39 tackles, five passes defended and no picks.

The Georgia Tech football program announced Friday any individuals forced to evacuate Florida or other areas due to Hurricane Irma are welcome to attend the Yellow Jackets game against Jacksonville State free of charge Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

Athletic director Todd Stansbury along with school president Dr. G.P. Peterson and head coach Paul Johnson extended the invitation on the school's official athletics website.

"As a former resident of both Houston and Florida, my wife, Karen, and I personally have a lot of friends, former student-athletes and former colleagues in both areas and have been following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma closely. We have the deepest sympathy for everyone who has been affected by the storms," Stansbury said. "Our hope is that a day of family fun and great college football can be a much-needed distraction for families displaced by Irma. Additionally, Georgia Tech athletics will be looking to help those affected in any way that we can."

Georgia Tech noted tickets can be picked up starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning at Brittain Dining Hall across from the team's home stadium. People will need to show a valid state-issued I.D. in order to acquire any tickets for themselves and "members of their immediate families."

Along with the game, Wreckfest is scheduled as part of the tailgating festivities, which the school described as a "family-friendly pregame celebration featuring live music, interactive games and inflatables."

The Weather Channel reported the latest projections show Hurricane Irma making landfall directly over the state of Florida, leading to mass evacuations ahead of the potential for extreme winds and "life-threatening water-level rises" in the southern portion of the state beginning Saturday.

The Atlanta Braves previously announced hurricane evacuees can also attend any one of their four games against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park this weekend.

Georgia Tech opened the 2017 season with a 42-41 double-overtime loss to Tennessee on Monday night. Jacksonville State, an FCS program, is 1-0 after beating Chattanooga on Aug. 26.