Hype follows Dwyer on to field for junior season

Photo Credit: Josh D. Weiss

LINK - By Coley Harvey - Macon Telegraph

ATLANTA — In a year’s time, Jonathan Dwyer’s lifestyle has become a lot more hectic.

That’s what nearly 1,400 yards rushing and conference player of the year honors as a sophomore will get you.

Since the close of the 2008 season, he has had to pause for the endless stream of interviews, the face time filming NCAA-related television commercials and the signing of autographs for people who had never heard of him a year ago.

Oh, and to top it all off, the Georgia Tech running back somehow has to sneak in schoolwork, football practice and an occasional snack or two or three.

How does he do it?

“He’s managing it pretty well,” said Dwyer’s teammate, A-back Roddy Jones. “To us, he’s the same old guy. He’s the same old Jon.”

He may be, but to the world that exists outside of Bobby Dodd Stadium, he isn’t just an ordinary player. He’s becoming something bigger.

“We’ll tease him every now and again when we’re walking around with him in public,” Jones said. “Especially in front of Tech fans, we’ll be like, ‘Hey, you’re Jon Dwyer!’ Stuff like that. But to us, he’s just the same old guy.”

The accolades have been plenty, and the expectations have been high. But Dwyer isn’t focused on the things people are saying he should be able to do this coming season. He’s more concerned about where Georgia Tech is headed this fall.

“We want an ACC championship, and we want to get into a BCS bowl. That’s our mind-set, and that’s what we’re going to have this upcoming season,” he said.

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