Back in 2014, in that horrid loss to Duke when CPJ put Byerly in to finish the last eight minutes of the game -- darned if Byerly didn't lead Tech to a couple of TDs and cut the final margin from 12-31 to 25-31 -- Tech used the throwback to the QB in that game. B.J. Bostic threw to Byerly, and Byerly made the catch and some nice yards after the catch for a 15-yard gain. That time, I believe, is the last time CPJ called for a throw back to the QB.
So yeah, I thought it real curious when Smart said the Dawgs had prepped so much for it, because (1) that play is no staple for Tech, and (2) the last time Tech ran it, Thomas wasn't in at QB two years ago. Yet the Dawgs certainly had Thomas covered on that play.