Its been a long year of waiting, | Forum

ATLANTA -- Coach Paul Johnson isnt concerned with low expectations at Georgia Tech. Folorunso Fatukasi Stitched Jersey .Its nothing new: Since Johnson took charge of the Yellow Jackets eight years ago, theyve been ranked in The Associated Press final poll just three times, and this season hardly looks promising.Were not at a place where were going to have all these All-Americans and you just reload, he said. Youve got to do it with blue collar and work ethic and that kind of thing. Hopefully it was a lesson a year ago.Georgia Tech is coming off a 3-9 record, 1-7 in the ACC, and missed out on a bowl game for the first time since 1996. The Jackets have been picked to finish sixth in the Coastal Division.Not exactly inspiring stuff, but Johnson has tried to use the lack of respect to his teams advantage.He routinely tells the players that outsiders insist Georgia Tech cant compete on the same level with Georgia and other major programs that border the state.If you look, youre surrounded by programs with double the budgets and all the things, he said. You have to have a chip on your shoulder to survive. Youre not the same in a lot of areas with the (programs) they want to compare you with.Johnson seems to have the players attention.Coach Johnson has definitely brought that up, senior kicker Harrison Butker said.After beating Georgia, advancing to the ACC title game and winning the Orange Bowl two years ago, Johnson thinks some players mistakenly believed they were better than they were.When people are telling you (that) youre really good and you ought to run right through this and run right through that, our guys have historically not handled that very well here, Johnson said.HANGING IN THERESenior quarterback Justin Thomas is eager to play alongside some familiar faces this year.After a sensational 2014 season, Thomas statistics and confidence took a hit last season as the injuries mounted across the offense.Weve all come together closely, and I think a lot of guys know what to expect and what to do, Thomas said. Its not just me. Weve got a whole lot of guys on both sides of the ball being more vocal.NOT-SO-HOT SEATJohnson doesnt appear to have concerns about his job security. Hes under contract through 2020, and it would cost the school over $9 million to buy out the last three years of his deal. Georgia Tech also is searching for a new athletic director after Mike Bobinski left last week for Purdue.SEASON OPENERThe Jackets begin Sept. 3 against Boston College in Dublin, Ireland. Senior center Freddie Burden has told his teammates to consider the long trip a blessing.I almost kind of look at it as making up for our bowl game we missed last year, he said. Its going to be a fun, exciting time. Everybodys hyping it up. Guys are excited to play. I think its everybodys first time going to Ireland and a lot of guys first time flying overseas and being in a different country.KEY GAMESAt Clemson Sept. 22, vs. Miami Oct. 1, at North Carolina Nov. 5, at Georgia Nov. 26Johnson is 5-4 against Clemson, including the vacated 2009 ACC title game victory. Former Georgia coach Mark Richt is now working in the same capacity with Miami. Johnson says last season turned on a lost fumble against North Carolina.Each year, no game is bigger for Tech than the annual matchup with Georgia.PREDICTION5-7 overall, 3-5 ACC. Womens Jets Jerseys . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Camo Jets Jerseys . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. http://www.officialjetsnflauthenticshop.com/ . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. It would be understandable if Abner Mares had at least a hint of doubt in his mind.Although Mares has won world titles in three weight divisions -- bantamweight, junior featherweight and featherweight -- and, for years, hes been one of boxings best smaller-weight fighters, its been a rough road for him recently.In his first featherweight title defense in 2013, Mares stunningly got knocked out in the first round by Jhonny Gonzalez in an upset. An 11-month layoff followed, and although Mares won his next three bouts in a row, none came against a top opponent -- and he had some lethargic performances.When he finally stepped back into the ring with a top foe, then-undefeated Leo Santa Cruz for a vacant featherweight title in August 2015, Mares lost again, albeit in a competitive and ferocious fight-of-the-year-contender.Mares has not fought since that loss because of fight postponements, and he now finds himself at another moment of truth -- a shot at secondary featherweight titlist Jesus Cuellar on Saturday night (Showtime, 10 ET) at the Galen Center on the campus of Southern California in Los Angeles, where Mares will enjoy hometown crowd support.People said I could have taken a tune-up fight (after the loss to Santa Cruz), but theres no point to that, Mares said at the final news conference Thursday. Jesus Cuellar is one of the hardest punchers in the weight class. Of course, Im aware of his power, but Im not scared. This is a contact sport. I can punch back.Im looking forward to this test. Every single fight is a test for me, he continued. Im going to make you guys believe. You will see a tremendous fighter in the ring on Saturday night.The fight headlines a strong doubleheader, which also includes junior middleweight titlist Jermall Charlo (24-0, 18 KOs), 26, of Houston, making his third defense against mandatory challenger Julian J Rock Williams (22-0-1, 14 KOs), 26, of Philadelphia, in a 50-50 fight.Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs), who has made multiple trainer changes in his career, will go into this bout with former Cuellar trainer Robert Garcia -- long considered one of boxings best cornermen -- at his side for the first time.Bringing in Robert Garcia has been a great thing for me, Mares said. Hes brought a lot of experience and hes one of the best coaches out there. I cant wait to show the fans what Ive learned from Robert.On the one hand, Mares 15-month layoff could be a problem because of rust and the potential for a slow start against a heavy hitter in Cuellar (28-1, 21 KOs), 29, of Argentina, who will be making the third defense of his belt and fighting for the first time in a year.But there is also the fact that the layoff gave him ample time to adjust day in and day out in the gym to the lessons Garcia had for him. Mares, 31, views the layoff as a positive.Theres always a reason behind something bad that happens. In this case, me not being able to fight twice (due to postponements), it just gave me the opportunity to get to know Robert even better, Mares said. Ive had a whole year leading up to this fight. You will see a difference in me. Im very eager and excited to fight.Coach Robert Garcia brings the discipline and the demanding voice of a trainer, Mares continued. We have to do things his way and I like that. Its bringing the best out of me. Im really excited for this fight.Garcia has trained several top fighters, and he feels like Mares discipline and coachability is second to none.I think basically what Abner needed was just a new voice, Garcia said. He had been working hard and training in a nice gym that he liked. But he was calling his own shots. I think he was getting a little too comfortable. I just think he needed a new voice.Hes never questioned one thing Ive asked of him. Hes done everything Ive asked, Garcia continued. Abner is hungry now. Trenton Cannon Stitched Jersey. . When he introduced himself to me, he might have lost some of that. He wasnt listening to trainers instructions. But the moment he came to me, hes been doing everything hes supposed to. Hes old enough to know that hes not a kid anymore.The fight against Cuellar, whos now trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, makes this bout a showdown between two of the best trainers in the business.The fight was initially scheduled to take place June 25 on the Keith Thurman-Shawn Porter undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but it was called off because Mares, who had successful surgery to repair a detached retina in his left eye in 2008, failed his prefight eye exam. The New York State Athletic Commission would not license him because his uncorrected vision did not meet the states minimum standard.Mares said his eye is fine, but he needs to wear glasses in his everyday life.Different rules for different states, he said. [The eye issue was from] something that happened in 2008. I have been fighting since. Ive been cleared in every state Ive fought in, other than New York. I fight in California, I fight in Texas, I fight in Vegas. I fight in Philly, too. I think there was a red flag for (New York) because, obviously, I had surgery done in 2008 and they just didnt want to take the risk. My surgery is done. Im good and like any other fighter I have the same risk.Mares later passed the California State Athletic Commission eye exam and the fight with Cuellar was rescheduled.It was difficult, Mares said of dealing with what happened in New York. Its not the first time something like this has happened to me -- not in the sense of me being injured or anything but a fight being cancelled. But I am a human being, I have feelings, obviously, and I just felt sad at the moment because I love to fight.I was supposed to fight in March. That got postponed because of an injury and then it got postponed for June and then that June fight got postponed so here we are. You know my family kept me strong and those long talks with my advisor [Al Haymon] kept me going and again, here we are and still healthy, and we will continue to give you guys good fights.The bout with Cuellar figures to produce fireworks given their styles.Cuellar is a very strong fighter both physically and mentally, Garcia said. Hes the hardest hitter in the featherweight division. Hes dangerous and dedicated.Cuellar is aware of Mares resume and knows he is the most significant opponent of his career.This is definitely the biggest fight of my pro career, Cuellar said. This is historic and I definitely think that it will be a memorable fight for fans. Because of who Im fighting and what were fighting for, it makes it crucial that I get the victory. Im a warrior. My style is to be aggressive and fight with my heart. If I have to let the warrior out, I am ready. But if I have to box, I am ready for that, too.Mares is a great fighter and has been a great champion. But I dont think hes ever faced anyone with my power or ability. Its not going to be an easy fight for either of us, but Im very confident that I will win and probably knock him out.Mares wasnt about to make a prediction. He is just happy to be getting back in the ring for another chance to win a title after a trying 15 months.Im really excited about this fight. Its been a long year of waiting, Mares said. Its been a process. Having this fight so close to happening makes me really happy.I dont pay attention to the fact that Im a three-division world champion. Thats in my past and its my history. Its always going to be part of me, but Im looking for that fourth world title. Wholesale JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys CamoCheap NFL GearCheap NFL GearWholesale Nike NFL JerseysWholesale Jerseys 2018China Jerseys Cheap ' ' '