Brent Key didn’t like the way Georgia Tech finished last season, so he made changes

Every Sunday afternoon of this past football season, Georgia Tech sports information director Mike Flynn texted coach Brent Key about where the team was in the updated polls. Normally, Key just sent a one-word reply: “Thanks.” Then came the third Sunday of October, after Georgia Tech stayed unbeaten with a win at Duke. Key looked at his phone, saw Flynn’s text that they had risen to No. 7. Again, Key replied with a one-word text. But this time the one word was not fit for print. Key worried his team was a product of its schedule, lulling everyone — including coaches — into a false...