Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > June > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia St. off to a good start with hiring of Curry
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nobody asked about his offense. Nobody asked about his defense. Nobody asked Bill Curry about his coaching staff, what he looks for in a quarterback, whether a zone-blitz is too much too soon, does he think Georgia State can be the next Appalachian State and, while we’re at it, where the heck is Hofstra?
But there he was Thursday, commanding the room. He was less football coach than inspirational speaker. He told stories. He talked about bringing together young men from different backgrounds, uniting them for a common goal on Decatur Street. By the time he stopped to take a breath, you were ready to either run through a wall for him or vote him into office.
Georgia State made the right choice in hiring Curry as its first football coach. That doesn’t mean the school will win a lot of games in 2010 or 2011 or any time soon. It remains to be seen how easily a 65-year-old — 67 for opening kickoff — who has been sitting in a broadcast booth for most of the past dozen years can re-acclimate himself to the sideline and recruiting.
But what Georgia State needed most is what Curry can provide: energy, tempered by a steady hand. He is a well-polished, Pepsodent-smiling, picture-posing, baby-kissing, rejuvenated football man. He’ll lead pep rallies, dazzle boosters and schmooze donors, and all before lunch.
The Panthers needed a salesman. They needed a face familiar to most people in this city, even if most of the 18-year-olds Curry recruits will need to Google his name for some clue on his background.
Mary McElroy, the athletics director, knew visibility was important. She offered the job to Dan Reeves first, as expected. He turned it down, as expected. Reeves, a consultant, suggested she hire a college coach and gave her a list of names.
“Bill wasn’t on it,” he said.
That wasn’t a slap. He just didn’t know Curry was interested. The thought hadn’t even occurred to Curry until McElroy asked him two weeks ago. And then: “There was a pause on the phone — about 10 seconds,” she said.
Curry: “I just sat there. It must’ve been 20 seconds.”
Take the average. The point is the same.
Curry hadn’t thought about coaching in at least four years (the last time he was approached about a job). He hadn’t formulated a game plan since 1996 (at Kentucky). The only job he had pursued: Georgia Tech athletics director, and that didn’t end well.
Like Reeves, he expected only to give McElroy a list of candidates. Unlike Reeves, she asked the question and his heart started pounding.
“I literally started thinking about blocking sleds again,” he said. He thought about it. He phoned Reeves, who asked, “Is this something that excites you?” Curry, surprising himself, said yes.
“They don’t have a transfusion to get coaching out of your blood,” Reeves said Thursday. “Age doesn’t have anything to do with it. One of the best coaches on my staff in Atlanta was Marvin Bass, and he was 82.”
It’s logical to presume this is just a stopover for Curry before slipping into administration on campus. McElroy admitted the subject came up in their talks. But Curry’s take now: “I thought I would have those thoughts. But now I’m just thinking about coaching as long as I can go.”
Earlier, he had stood at a podium, surrounded by students, officials and media. He offered an explanation for people’s passion for football: the huddle.
“In that huddle is black America; in that huddle is white America,” he said. “And liberal and conservative and Jew and gentile and atheist and Muslim and Christian and agnostic. I can go to South Central Los Angeles and the hills of Eastern Kentucky and bring [recruits] together. They’ve been raised to hate each other. But when they put the blue jersey on, they realize their sweat smells the same and their blood is red.”
This is how you script a beginning.
Comments
By Ted Striker
June 12, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Curry is a perfect fit for a start-up football program. He will impress the people he needs to reach.
As for unsolicited critics — they’re not on his contact list.
By GSU Alum
June 12, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
A few years ago, Dr.Patton was going to create a basketball program to rival Georgetown. This became central to Patton’s life, and he got to rub shoulders with some of “Lefty’s” old friends and travel with the team. It didn’t work, and GSU students were left with a huge student-activities debt and an expensive, empty basketball facility. Now Patton gets to hang out with Bill Curry and Dan Reeves, and working students are going to be stuck paying for another Patton ego trip. Ticket sales won’t pay the electric bill for the Georgia Dome.
By TheBlogger
June 12, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Good for Bill. But, why is this on the GA Tech web page? Good lord! Will the ajc forever put anyone and everyone ever associated with Tech on this page?
The ajc needs to grown up. And, Atlanta desperately needs to get a second (and better) newspaper!
By GSU Student
June 13, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
I, too, think that this is another white elephant for GSU. The student body is sick of paying for fees after fees after fees for stuff that we don’t want and don’t need. Total fees per semester have grown to equal the cost of tuition for an entire course!!
The administration of GSU is doing all of this for their own glory - they don’t give a rat’s a$$ about the students.
Give us a good education at a fair value. That is all we want. Keep your sports teams, your computer rooms (we have our own computers!), your “new” library, your empty dorm buildings.
By Lord Help Us
June 13, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
Great move, hire a coach who had a losing record at two of his three head coaching jobs. His winning record was at Alabama where if you have a pulse and know the difference between a football and a hockey stick it is darn near impossible to have a losing record. Curry may be a recruiter but obviously he only gets the players that the other big programs don’t want he can’t recruit the players needed to be a consistent winner. I would have much preferred that Curry be brought on as an assistand athletic director and fund raiser. He has the personality for that but his track record doesn’t look good for coaching. We might as well get ready for “moral” victories with “great team effort” over West Georgia and Valdosta State even though the scoreboard will show that we took a beating.
By john
June 13, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
congrats GSU you hired a guy that is hated in Alabama,Kentucky,his offense was bad 20 years ago. He is also hated by almost every coach in college football for his critiques. I thought prostitution was illegal because Gsu just prostitued it self. I’m sure bill promised a lot of fund raising dollars. You have been weighted,tried and found wanting and dont foget,bought. Shame on the A.D no more bull on welfare of student athlete. Your now a pimp.
By Wreck'EmTech
June 13, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
GSU Student, football programs boost publicity of your school (and by way of association, your degree). Before I came to the state of Georgia I didn’t know about Georgia State or Kennesaw or any school around here other than Georgia and Georgia Tech. I won’t rag on the academics at UGA, but being a State student I’m sure you’ll agree that your education is comparable. Why then does UGA get all the money, facilities, and publicity? Football, my friend! Even if you’re not great at it (like Tech) it still goes a long way in letting people know your school exists. Embrace it. On a personal note, I look forward to watching a Tech vs. State exhibition game sometime soon!
By Haywood Jablowme
June 13, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Why is this story on the GT page? Because Curry is a former Tech coach and alum.
By So What?
June 13, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
So Curry wasn’t the best coach at Tech and UK….Big deal. Lombardi couldn’t win big at either place. It’s good that Curry has another job coaching. After all, we NEED another Techie to poke fun at.
By godawg
June 13, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
If it gets him off TV, then I’m all for it! WOOF!
By Paddy
June 13, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
Congrats Bill…The next year will be important. Raise as much $$ as you can and get the best facilities you can afford. It is one way you can seperate youself from other programs you will recruit against. One ?, where will you practice downtown? Good luck, Ga loves its football.
By Jeff Schultz
June 13, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
GSU Alum: I hear you loud and clear. State and Curry have an uphill battle. That said, I think this was as good a hire as the school could have made. … The Blogger: I wasn’t aware of that. Obviously there’s the Tech tie. But I’m sure our digital department will be creating a separate Georgia State page soon. …. GSU Student: Interesting, because school officials claim most of the student body was in favor of the fee to raise funding for the football program. Safe to say it’s split. But that’s often the case on university campuses. Believe it or not, there are students at Georgia and Alabama who don’t care about going to football games. …. To a few on Curry’s coaching ability: It should be noted that he had a few pretty good year at Tech, a school, not noted for great football at the time. I believe he was ACC coach of the year and, as a result, he got the Alabama job. He wasn’t Bear Bryant at Alabama but he wasn’t exactly awful, either (26-10). He wasn’t great at Kentucky, but how many coaches have been great at Kentucky? …. In summation: Am I convinced Georgia State will be a success in football, in terms of support from the student body? No. But I believe Mary McElroy is giving it a great run, this was a good start and we’ll see where it goes. … JS
By DawgHare
June 13, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
Great hire for a coach; stupid move to start a football program
I met Bill Curry years ago at a friend’s wedding and he immediately stuck me as a class act. Tech really made a bonehead move by not hiring him as AD. But their loss is GSU’s gain. He is a perfect fit as the Panther’s coach. I also went to GSU for two years before transferring to UGA (talk about entering the Promised Land) and while at GSU I often thought about what if State had a football team.
If any coach can get them off to a good start it is Curry, but, as others have stated, football at GSU is a misguided move. First of all there is already a I-AA team in downtown Atlanta, and they already have a nice campus and facility yet they can’t fill the seats every game without help from opposing fans.
What? Tech is I-A or whatever they call it? Oh, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell. My bad.
Anyway, do GSU folk really think people are going to drive in from McDonough and Lawrenceville and Austell on a Saturday to see a I-AA college football game at The Georgia Dome? Downtown Atlanta, the Dome, and the “ailroad gulch are hardly tailgating paradise.
I bet Ga. State Basketball merchandise is hardly flying off the shelves at the GSU bookstore. After an initial run sales of football merchandise will dry up as well. And then they will realy have a hard time paying the bills.
By I'm just sayin'....
June 13, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
I’d be a little nervous about this if I were a Tech fan. Lets say that GSU’s stated goals actually come to fruition at some point in the obviously distant future. They move up to D-1 and join the Big East. If you thought filling up your stadium is tough now wait until you’ve got another BCS conference football team only minutes from the Tech campus. A team that is supported by a school much larger than Tech with twice, maybe even three times as many alumni as Tech in the Atlanta area. It would be the end as we know it of Georgia Tech football. I am not saying GSU will ever reach that level. I have no opinion on that. But if they do it will be the nail in the Techies coffin. Crazier things have happened. Stay tuned.
By EmoryBizDr
June 13, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
WreckEm’
I respecfully disagree with your statements. In a matter of maybe just a couple years, UGA might very well surpass Georgia Tech on the academic front! If I’m not mistaken, the entrance requirements at UGA have already surpassed Tech. You are correct by stating that GSU is a great academic institution!
On the GSU football story: This is a great thing for Georgia State! For those that are contrarian by nature, you will be pleasantly suprised.
By Jeff Schultz
June 13, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
I’m just sayin’: I don’t know that State will ever ascend to Tech’s level, but I’ll say this: The two schools will be tapping into the same fan base. The Jackets want to market in town — downtown, midtown, Buckhead, Atlantic Station, etc., not necessarily just to Tech alums. If State becomes an appealing enough product that the casual inside-285 fan starts going to their games, it hurts Tech. It certainly won’t hurt Georgia. JS
By PantherFan
June 13, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
If Coach Curry and the Panthers are successful at the 1-AA level, I think the stage will be set for a move up to 1-A, just like UAB, UCF, FAU, FIU and Troy have done recently. If that happens, and GA State moves to Conference USA or the Sun Belt Conf., GA Tech will have a serious problem on their hands…a legitimate, cross-town competitor for the sports entertainment $$$. Go Panthers!!!
By WestVaJoel
June 13, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Very impressed that Georgia State got this done. My daughter graduated from GSU and I wondered if they’d ever step up and play Div.1AA football. Curry is the absolute right fit, and he doesn’t have any skeletons like Lefty Dreisell had (GSU basketball) when they hired him. Best of luck to the Braves.
By ATLborn
June 13, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
GSU starting a football program is a great idea. For the past 20 years the school has been moving in the direction of a more traditional college from the inner city Sidewalk U commuter school they were in the past.
The majority of new students to GSU now are younger traditional college aged students rather than mid 20s to older adult students that used to comprise the vast majority of the student body in the past.
Younger students will bond w/ the football team. A lot of alumni will support the team. GSU has a lot more Atl area alums than Tech. These folks didn’t have a college football team to identify with and are eager to align themselves w/ a team.
You can’t look at the failure of GSU’s Basketball team to attract a consistent fan base and crowd at the gym and translate it to their football team. We’re in the South where football is KING. Shoot, UGA doesn’t draw a large crowd for its b-ball team and they play in the SEC, are a larger school than GSU, and have a traditional campus w/ where a large percentage of their students reside. GaTech doesn’t always sell out their b-ball games either and sometimes play in an areana less than half full.
Bottom line, Football at GSU will work in Atlanta, especially if they build a winning program. They eventually will be able to get better athletes than Tech due to less intimidating academic offerings.
The State of GA has far enough talent to fuel the football recruiting needs of UGA, GaTech, GSU, GA Southern and all other football playing schools in the state. Its a shame that this state only has 2 D 1A football teams with all the talent we have in state. Even Alabama and Tennessee have 4 D 1A teams apiece and the football talent in those states don’t come close to comparing w/ the quality and amount of talent in GA. Not to mention we’re darn near twice the size of those two states.
U doubters need to quit dissing GSU and start supporting their program.
By old gold
June 13, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Yea G State wants credibility. Thats why they didn’t hire J Donnan or R Goof.
By ATLborn
June 13, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
I agree. Curry is a great hire that brings instant credibility to the GSU program.
By Dave
June 13, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
Winning brings credibility old(fool) gold. Curry is a loser. Check the winning percentage. And by the way old (fool)gold, why do you think the trade school’s credibility is at an all time low. They can’t even win while cheating.
By Tony Soprano
June 13, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Ray “goof” owned Tech, old gold. Donnan didn’t. Guess why he lost his job. You techmites talk some powerful stuff for a crowd that doesn’t have a clue how to win. Win something and then run those mouths. They oughta change the name of that dump over on North Avenue to Catfish U. Fogetta bout you.
By Sid MIser
June 13, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Georgia State and to Bill Curry. Alumni and fans here at South Alabama are looking forward to a possible home-and-home with the Panthers. We have fond memories of GSU in the old Sun Belt. Good luck!
By Sid MIser
June 13, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Georgia State and to Bill Curry. Alumni and fans here at South Alabama are looking forward to a possible home-and-home with the Panthers. We have fond memories of GSU in the old Sun Belt. Good luck!
By bb
June 13, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
JS and ‘I’m just saying’: GT’s fan base has never been built up by a large ‘walk-up’ contingent (at least not since pro sports came to Atlanta in the 60s), so I’m not sure how many fans will be drawn away from GT by a successful GSU program. More likely GSU will have to build their own base from people that would normally have rooted for either an out-of-state team or UGA by default.
In fact, having another Div 1A team in the city might increase overall interest in college football (amoung transplants, the natives interest doesn’t need increasing and they have already chosen sides) which would not hurt any of the schools.
I would think GT would need to worry more about a successful Div 1A GSU thinning out the recruiting base more than the fan base. That would definitely be more likely to impact GT than UGA at this point. But that is years down the road and a lot can change in 10-15 years.
By Jeff Schultz
June 13, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
Ain’t it just great how almost everything eventually leads to a Georgia-vs.Tech blogging war? I guess it’s better than everything leading to a Michael Vick/race-baiting debate. … BB: I’m aware GT has never had a strong local walkup, but that’s the direction Dan Radakovich wants to go. It’s central to the school’s marketing plan now, as orchestrated by he and assistant Wayne Hogan. …. JS
By Lamar
June 13, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
I predict in 5 years the real GSU will win a National Championship and Georgia Southern will be a Divsion II team. Tech will lose significant recruits because you can get to the pros playing Div IAA, especially when you are in the #8 TV market….and you don’t have to have a 700 math SAT to play.
By 2 Cents
June 13, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
As a native Georgian i believe it would be great IF G-State could make into a BCS conference (more than likely the Big East). GSU’s location in Atlanta (top 10 tv market) makes it an attractive school for conferences because of the exposure and $$$ that would bring.
BUT, the biggest problem that GSU faces is support, not so much winning percentage for the first few years. It won’t matter if GSU is winning or losing if no one is in the seats caring about how the Panthers are doing. I believe that everything hinges on GSU developing a loyal fan base, if that doesn’t happen then nothing else matters. And a D 1 conference, especially the Big East will not come calling.
But there is an outside chance because South Florida has set the precedent, and South Florida was/is a commuter school also and Tampa Bay does not nearly have the same market appeal as Atlanta. Also G-State is expected to have an enrollment of 36,000 within a decade which would make it as large if not larger than UGA and a top 30 school when it comes to enrollment. That would go a long way in developing that fan base IF the students/alum care.
I also believe a State v Tech Battle of Atlanta rivalry would help both schools in school awareness and recruiting and also stir even more interest in college football (not just UGA) in Georgia.
But all of this is more wishful thinking at this point than a true possibility
By Wreck'EmTech
June 13, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
EmoryBizDr, thanks for declining respectfully. I’ll return the favor. I’m tempted to bring up the US NEWS rankings for public universities (Tech is 7th nationally and stays in the top 10). Tech is still accepting a smaller percentage of applicants than Georgia for the time being, but I’d be alright with Georgia stepping up it’s academics. If Georgia rose to the level of, say, UVA academically then maybe this state could be respected in the educational world (ATL is the bubble with Tech and Emory). Right now Georgia has the football team, but academically it’s not doing much better than Bama or Tennessee (both of which are in SUCH well-respected states…)
All I’m trying to say is that Tech is better than people give it credit for (even in football). Georgia isn’t quite as good as people say it is (except in football). And GSU students need to wake up and realize that the whole “we don’t have football, but we’re aiming to be the best academically” thing only works for private schools. So pay the fees and come to the games. Your school’s moving up in the world…don’t pout.
By College Sports Fan
June 13, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
I love how bloggers like Wreck’EmTech always revert to academics to make excuses for their impotent sports programs, especially football.
The point is this is a football blog, not an academics blog. We are talking football here, so Tech is a bunch of losers who year in and year out remain at the bottom of the list.
In Athens 92,270 fans do not show up to watch a team of students take a midterm exam. On North Avenue, 23,000 fans do not show up to watch a team of students take a midterm exam. So focus on the discussion: football.
I can see the Georgia State program growing into a 1A program quickly if the GSU alumni and their families buy season tickets and show up in mass for the home games. If they travel well then so much the better.
I think Georgia State would be a great fit for the Big East Conference. Look at other schools like Pittsburgh and South Florida that are urban schools and have incredible alumni and fan bases.
I forsee UGA and Georgia State being the two teams that play for the Governor’s Cup in 10 years, with Tech downsizing due to support from only a limited number of alumni in the Atlanta area.
Tech on the other hand will replace Duke as the perennial ACC cellar dweller due to the improvements David Cutcliff will make in Durham.
By TechFan
June 13, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Wreck, don’t be blind and ignorant to the truth! Even as a Tech alumni I can say that both UGA and Tech are very good academic institutions. I don’t necessarily agree with Emory regarding UGA “surpassing” Tech academically, however, UGA has made some unbelievable strides and is FAR FAR FAR above the rest of the SEC, hold Vandy.
By GSU Student
June 13, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Jeff Schultz The administration can claim anything that they want to. How can anyone say they are wrong? All you have to do is go onto campus and talk to students to find the truth!
Students are sick of paying outrageous fees every semester for things we don’t want, we don’t need, we didn’t ask for, and don’t help us with our college careers.
They forced a computer fee on us to set up computer rooms in buildings. Rarely does anyone use them because most of us already have our own computers. Then, on top of that, they added a required paper fee to pay for the printing from those computers - that just rubs salt into the wound!
They forced a fee on us to pay for a new student athletic center. I would guess about 5% of the student body actually uses that facility. Oh yes - it is very nice: rock climbing wall, weight rooms, etc. But, it is another white elephant nonetheless.
They forced an athletic fee on us. First, it was for the basketball team. Have you checked how many students support the games (attendance)? It is crazy low - no one cares! Now, the fee will increase for this football team. Again - no one cares!
GSU administration is trying to make GA State into something that we are not and DON’T WANT TO BE. Most of us are here for a quality education at a bargain price. However, these absolutely large fees are piling up making this college more expensive than most.
If we wanted to pay more for a football team, for a basketball team, for computing facilities, for a monster library, and so on, we would have gone to UGA or to Tech.
I cannot wait to graduate and get out of here. And, I can say that without a doubt that I will NEVER contribute at all to GSU as an alumnus.
By Al
June 13, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
I agree with WreckEmTech. GT will at least finish in the top 50 and be around #7 in the ACC. They will definately overachieve this year.
By Say What!
June 13, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
Bill Curry shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath with Erk Russell. Bill Curry’s trademark has always been to seek out situations where the expectations were low. Check out the police report from the Alabama incident where Curry reported a brick being thrown through his window. The glass was all on the outside. Ole Bill used that one as the excuse to leave Tuscaloosa with his little stinger tucked between his legs. And then the guy actually had the nerve to play a revision of the death threat “incident” at Alabama by saying his wife got death threats at Kentucky. Does that not just defy all logic folks? Kentucky fans could give a rat’s azz about football. All the losers they had before Curry and they threaten him. Put 2+2 together on that one folks. Bill Curry plays that sanctimonious role to mask the fact that he just flat can’t coach football. The guy’s a loser. My condolences GSU.
By John
June 13, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
bill has been out12 years 14 by the time they play a game. gAY did not hire the right guy. The game on and off the field has changed NCaa rules recruiting ruled clearinghouse. The press will die down and they have a relic. his oc will be lou sabin he is ready. He will be 68 for the first game. Maybe they will fill the dome with senior citizens giving an AARP discount.
By REAL GSU Student
June 13, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
To GSU Student:
YOU are theone that needs to get your head out of the sand, not the administration. Georgia State is a heck of a lot more than just art majors and wierdos. Most people at this school have been begging for football for years and couldnt be happier that its finally here. And if you had ever actually gone into the Rec Center you’d see how full it actually is. Empty dorm rooms? are you kidding? There was a waiting list a mile long at the Village and theres one twice as long at the Commons. People come to GSU because its a great school with alot of great academic opportunities, not because its cheap. Most of the state schools are almost identical in tuition price, so your point there doesnt even make sense. and as for people not supporting basketball, well, this is the South and if you think people wont support football in the Georgia Dome, then you really are out of touch.
The bottom line is, i dont know anyone who doesnt have purple hair (and even a few that do) that doesnt want football here. 85 dollars a semester when your already paying 3000 for a football team is a bargain. Either get behind it or shut up.
By bama_12titles
June 13, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
So Jeffrey is lauding Curry’s togetherness; Jew, gentile, whites, blacks, etc. That’s funny. This is the same guy who Kentucky and Alabama alumni used to criticize for being somewhat of an elitist. Curry didn’t like going into tough inner city areas or the projects to recruit black players. It was beneath him and he was also just flat out scared to go to those places unlike other coaches.Mr. Schultz should do well to do a little RESEARCH and find out what people at the 2 SEC schools he coached at thought of him!
By SEC 123
June 14, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
Okay… I’m going to third or fourth the question: WHY IS THIS ON THE TECH PAGE???!!! GET A GA STATE PAGE. And by the way, the REAL GSU is Southern. When someone says GSU in Georgia, everyone knows it is referring to Ga Southern. I love how the State fans get a Div I-AA football team and all of a sudden they are competing on the level of Ga Tech for recruits and are ALREADY talking about a jump to Div I-A. Ya’ll are all ridiculous and need to get your heads checked. How about getting the program going and win some games before talking about beating Tech out for recruits/ moving to a BCS conference? Oh and GT just hired the great Paul Johnson if you didn’t realize… If I had to pick, I’d take Johnson over Curry 10 times out of 10.
By Caoimhin@GSU
June 14, 2008 2:10 AM | Link to this
Hey GSU student, You obviously don’t speak for all GSU students. This one is glad to have football coming. Where were you and your comrades when we had town hall meetings to discuss the issue? Where are all the surveys you all completed to voice your opposition to the program? And where do you get your information about Patton and his designs for a football team? If you want to know the truth, Dr. Patton has always been opposed to having a football team at Georgia State. He’s fought it tooth and nail from day one and has declared repeatedly that there would be no football at Georgia State during his tenure, and guess what? There won’t be. You think it’s coincidence he’s retiring? He’s a man of his word. The student body (minus you and your apparent opposition minority) and the alumni of Georgia State have pushed this issue for years, and Patton finally yielded. Football is something that’s wanted at Georgia State, and has been for many years. Hurry up, graduate, and get on with your life. As an alumnus of Georgia State, and a current grad student, I’m glad we’re taking athletics to the next level. With the football team we’re also creating new women’s sports, making Georgia State even more desirable to the kind of students who will appreciate a well rounded athletics program and won’t whine so much about fees. By the way, I’ve yet to see an empty pc workstation in any of the new labs that aren’t needed. Get a clue.
By Zeb
June 14, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this
GSU, I’m a GA fan, but I see where you’re comin from. I’m way a way from college, but I remember the fees that were imposed. I know you’re pi$$ed about extra fees, but I want to ask you…..what are you going to do about it?? Are you going to petition the student union?? Are you going to send a letter to the Pres of the University?? You can’t just b!tch about something without taking action.
By Paddy
June 14, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
Tony Saprano…Your words are that of an angry old man. Get back to bed now and I will let you know when its bathroom time.
By CW
June 14, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
In some respects, Georgia State has already won the battle by starting a football team and by hiring a coach. I graduated from State in 1988 and there has been more ink in the AJC in the last 2 months than the last 20 years combined covering my alma mater.
I’ll be curious to see where State is able to find the land anywhere near downtown to build a practice facility. Any kind of green space close to campus will be a huge plus and will immediately help GSU more like other campuses. However, if players and coaches have to schlepp out to State’s fields at Panthersville, it will be hard to attract players.
By mojoman
June 14, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Bill Curry? What did Jim Donnan turn it down?
By Edgar
June 14, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
I know what football can do for a school like GA State. Erk Russell took a dream in 1981 and turned it into a national powerhouse in a little more than 3 years. Curry can do the same. To the students that are complaining about having to prop up a basketball program let me tell you this…Football will pay for itself. In fact 4 years from now you’ll be able to look at the bottom line (finances) and be amazed.
By LOYAL TO GSU
June 14, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
To GSU student,
You need to graduate, just where did you come from? I can’t believe you said you will never support GSU, how ignorant. Are you against GSU growing and becoming better? Do you even come to campus? Everyone I know is thrilled about football. I have asked people on campus and about 85% of them say football is GREAT.
And to say we have empty dorms is absolutely ridiculous. GSU has built the biggest, newest, and most technologically advanced dorms in the nation. Aimed at providing a central location of learning and studying for all that live there. Not to mention a waiting list a country MILE long.
I am glad you are graduating. I hope you are happy with a degree from a school you don’t appreciate. From a school that has given you top-notch education, for the cheapest tuition around. Quit moaning and do something if you want, but let me go ahead a warn you, YOU WON’T GET A THING DONE! You’ll have to through an army of supporters, including me, who love GSU and WILL support it in everything the university wants to do. I love my university!!!!! I AM LOYAL!!!!!
GOOOOOOO STATE!!!!!!!! GET AFTER ‘EM PANTHERS!!!!!! “STILL UNDEFEATED”!
By playa
June 14, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
He has a 5 year contract that will run through 2013. They start play in 2010 and conference play in 20012. I think he is the right guy to get the logistics in place (administrative systems, interest, plans, recruiting systems, etc.) I do think that at the end of his contract he’ll move to soem other type of post in the athletics dept. and a new coach will take over. I also think that the CAA is not the final place for GSU’s athletic program. I think they’d like to move up to the big east of conference usa by 2020. I also think that football will be a success there. The school has 30,000 students. In two years freshman will be required to live on campus, and the majority of the freshman through senior student are now traditional student who live inside 285. There has been a consolidation of campus with more dorms being built, dinning halls, etc. By the time that the football team takes the field for its 1st conference game, the majority of the current undergrad student population will be living within 5 to 10 miles of campus, with most of them living on campus. there aree also 250 majors at state and it is in downtown atlanta, which isn’t the ghetto it once was. I also say in the long run watch out Georgia and Georgia Tech, recruiting is going to get harder in the state. I think this especially hurts GT because part of thier draw is the location. But with a school with a similar location with more majors (i.e. easier) Tech will start to lose recruits. The same will happen to UGA, but not on a large a level.
As I said, the campus is getting better, (i.e. more traditional in its physical set up, its buildings, and its student population)yet there is still plenty of room for improvement. I read that they are look at site for athletic offices and practice facilities downtown.
As for the basketball program. The team has sucked, and it played in the no name sunbelt, so why would you go? In abetter conference with a better team ( thanks coach Barnes) people will go.
By Obnoxious Georgia Fan
June 14, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
I for one agree with Wreck’emTech on one thing: Georgia Tech is better than people give them credit for in football. They are doing just fine from where I’m standing. Paul Johnson simply needs to stay the course and maintain the status quo. I think fans across the southeast, especially Tech’s ACC opponents, would agree with us on this. I’m with you Wreck’em.
By GT
June 14, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
There are studies that prove from a public relations standpoint and student interest that a football team more than pays for itself. The fact that we are discussing this at all establishes some reality of this. Florida schools have established legitimate proof of this also with South Florida and Central Florida being two examples. All players cannot get into the elite BSC schools for reasons beyond just talent. Once again Curry will be drawing closer to the smuggling of characterless players into college football just like leaving Ga.Tech for Alabama. At the end of the day the general public could care less and if he wins he get paid well for being the hypocrite he is.
By old gold
June 14, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
92,000 show up in Athens because they don’t have anything else to do. The easiest fortune that could be made in this state would be to start up a UGA football channel. Those fools would pay anything. A fortune is waiting.
By old gold
June 14, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
92,000 show up in Athens because they don’t have anything else to do. The easiest fortune that could be made in this state would be to start up a UGA football channel. Those fools would pay anything. A fortune is waiting.
By old gold
June 14, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
92,000 show up in Athens because they don’t have anything else to do. The easiest fortune that could be made in this state would be to start up a UGA football channel. Those fools would pay anything. A fortune is waiting.
By Obnoxious Georgia Fan
June 14, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
old gold, its called CBS. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Be sure to tune on Saturdays around 3:30. You’ll love it.
By BoogerPhil
June 14, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Nevermind where BC coached before. Ask where was he hired from? He was “working” as the “head” of leadership course at a podunk prep school located in Tennessee. Gasp!
By GW
June 14, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Forget a Tech/State rivalry. Whatever happens I predict UGA will give GSU a game before Tech will. UGA and Southern are about to play for the 4th time and Tech has not let them on their schedule yet. All while playing Jax State and other 1-AA schools. Southern and State will play each other and Tech will again be totally out of the state’s football loop. Maybe some AJC reporter will ask Tech if they will be willing to play State at some point. They haven’t been willing to play Southern.
By Pago Flyer
June 14, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
A woman AD! Michigan State had one for a while, just for pc crowd, she didn’t last long. [;’[