It happened in nearly every game this season for Georgia Tech. At some point -- occasionally early on, usually in the fourth quarter -- safety Jamal Golden would charge up to his teammate in the defensive backfield and smack D.J. White on the shoulder pads.
Golden had a message. He wasn’t the only one delivering it this season, but this had become a ritual between Golden and White.
“Someone’s got to make a play now,” Golden would tell White. “It’s going to be me or you.”
Some days, it wasn’t one of them. Georgia Tech’s D made a habit of getting the big play when it needed to, and there were ample contributors. But in those most crucial moments, more often than not, it was Golden and White saving the day.
Witness the end of last week’s Georgia Tech win over Georgia. A 53-yard field goal tied the game at the end of regulation, but a botched PAT left the Yellow Jackets hanging by a thread in overtime. Someone needed to make a play, and it was White who corralled the game-ending interception.
Golden ripped off his helmet and raced 95 yards to the far end zone to celebrate with Tech’s fans. White hardly remembers the aftermath, the impact of the biggest play of his career still hard to consider even days later. The moment was entirely euphoric, but the play -- that was expected.
“We’ve been doing that all season,” White said. “Not just Jamal but different guys. Those are things that, as teammates, you really cherish, challenging each other and it just makes the game a lot more fun.”
Golden and White, who man the same side of Tech’s defensive backfield, have combined for 107 tackles, eight interceptions and three forced fumbles this season. It’s been a dynamic duo on a defense that was built on big plays.
“There’s a great chemistry between the two of us,” Golden said. “We challenge each other every week.”
That chemistry has been crucial to Tech’s success on defense, coordinator Ted Roof said.
The difference between a crucial takeaway or a blown coverage is usually all about chemistry between a safety and a corner, and the risk-reward math is something Golden and White have mastered this season.
“There’s a lot of communication and a certain comfort level right now,” Roof said. “They both understand the defense, they know where they belong, know when they can take a chance to go make a play and when they better make sure to stay on top. The longer that happens in the back end of the defense, the better off you are.”
It’s taken a while for Golden and White to get to this point though.
In 2012, Golden was getting his feet wet on defense and White played sporadically. In 2013, Golden established himself early, but a season-ending injury forced him to the sideline just as White began to come into his own.
During the offseason, Golden made the decision that he wanted a leadership role on the team, and that meant making sure he had the ears of the younger players around him. It started with White.
The duo quickly clicked, and once the season began, they found that half the fun of the game was challenging each other to step up and make a play.
“Jamal is a very smart player, a coach on the field,” White said. “He knows what’s coming before it comes, has a real passion for the game. When you’re out there with a guy like that, it makes it a lot more fun.”
Of course, their biggest challenge comes Saturday when Georgia Tech takes on undefeated Florida State, with the reigning Heisman winner Jameis Winston at quarterback. At stake is an ACC championship, and White and Golden are eager to rise to the occasion.
They’ve been doing it all season. At crunch time, there’s Golden, reminding White that this is their time to shine.
“We never go into a game thinking it’ll be easy,” White said. “This is a talented team, an athletic team. It’s a big challenge. But we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
