Georgia Tech’s invite to Ireland proves that Yellow Jackets are still relevant
Georgia Tech football will return to Ireland next year for the second time since 2016 to play Florida State. The Seminoles lead the all-time series 15-11-1 and are 3-2 in the last five matches against the Yellow Jackets.
However the bigger question in the minds of most Georgia Tech football fans: Can Coach Key accomplish what Coach O’Leary accomplished after taking the reins from Coach Lewis? Can Brent Key stabilize the program the same way that George O’Leary had?
Coach Key’s ability to generate buy-in as interim coach last season was on full display and the buzz found in the locker room and on campus after the 2023 Spring game is refreshing.
Coach Key had this to say at the Georgia Tech Aer Lingus College Football Classic Press Conference:
"“Being selected to play in the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a great opportunity for Georgia Tech football. It’s a unique chance for our student-athletes to experience a new culture, for our fans to support us at an incredible destination and for Georgia Tech to further promote our Institute, athletics department, students and alumni on a global stage.”"
Playing in Ireland shows Georgia Tech football still matters
When it was time to plan for the 2024 contest the ACC was an obvious choice as neither the Big Ten nor the SEC were options for 2024, as both conferences expanded and had not determined its scheduling model for that year. Georgia Tech football was invited because the last time the Yellow Jackets were in Dublin more than 12,000 fans traveled to cheer them to victory. This is surprisingly larger than the 10,0000 fans that Nebraska brought to the 2022 event. Florida State vs Georgia Tech seems like a no-brainer for the Aer Lingus organizers especially when you consider:
Also of note is that First-week ticket sales for Florida State’s game in Ireland have smashed records set in previous years.
A storyline to watch as the Yellow Jackets near the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic is the local draw and excitement about David Shanahan. David is the first Irishman ever to receive a full scholarship to play American college football. He is Georgia Tech’s punter and appeared in all 12 games last season while handling all 61 punts despite having never played in an American Football game prior to last season.
The 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a really important event for the Georgia Tech program as Coach Key’s ability to generate buy-in and belief that the football program is heading in the right direction will be on display as fans choose or choose not to travel to Dublin.
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While everyone needs to focus on the upcoming 2023 football season, the fact that the Yellow Jackets have been invited to the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic should be proof enough that the Georgia Tech football program is still relevant! Packages with exclusive game tickets are now on sale for Georgia Tech fans at GT2Ireland.com.