With Gathers out, Yellow Jackets turn to Wimbush

ATLANTA - Recardo Wimbush will make his 42nd consecutive start Saturday when Georgia Tech visits North Carolina. The senior linebacker has never been more important to the Yellow Jackets. <br> <br> A starter since arriving from Early County in 1999, Wimbush welcomes the challenge that awaits Georgia Tech. Since last week, the Yellow Jackets have lost senior defensive end Greg Gathers, the school&#39;s all-time sacks leader, to a kidney ailment that will sideline him for the rest of the season <br> <br> Hobie Holiday, who backed up Tony Hargrove at the other defensive end spot, quit the team Friday, and the former Houston County standout refused to answer calls from head coach Chan Gailey. Albert Poree, a reserve cornerback from New Orleans who played in the Yellow Jackets&#39; last 16 games, left school the same day. <br> <br> Wimbush is unfazed. <br> <br> He said, ``I&#39;m a person who leads by action. If you tell me to do something, then I&#39;ll do it. If you tell me to cover a wide receiver, I&#39;ll go do that even though I&#39;m a linebacker. My role is to get out there and play hard and have fun every play.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> As Georgia Tech (3-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) prepared today to face the Tar Heels (1-2, 0-0), it did so knowing its defense must give the Yellow Jacket offense decent field position and time necessary to produce long drives. <br> <br> The Jackets lost their top offensive threat for the year when Tony Hollings left last week&#39;s victory over Brigham Young with a season-ending torn knee ligament. <br> <br> Wimbush said, ``We have to hold on until the offense can get it going because Tony was a major part of the offense.&#39;&#39;