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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2009 > February > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHard to watch for ex-Jacket Jack
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Most of us have become numbs to the clanks and the meltdowns by now. True, a 21-point home loss to North Carolina State might seem like a new low. But really, what’s so startling about getting smoked by one of the ACC’s worst teams when, in fact, you are the ACC’s worst team?
But Jarrett Jack — he is not numb to this. This isn’t the Georgia Tech program he grew up in. Jack defined toughness as a Tech point guard. He represented the highs under coach Paul Hewitt. But things got so bad Saturday, with Jack watching from behind the bench, that, “I wanted to jump and play.”
The NCAA would have had a problem with an NBA player on the floor. But at this point, probation might be a mercy killing.
An 86-65 loss to the Wolfpack dropped Tech to 1-10 in the ACC. The last time the team was this bad, it went 0-14 in 1981.
Jack didn’t get too worked up about that. He was born two years later. But he was so upset Saturday that he went into Tech’s locker room at halftime, unbeknownst to Hewitt, to unload on the players.
“I yelled at them a little bit,” he said. “I can’t really repeat some of the stuff I said. But they’re not playing Georgia Tech basketball. They’re not representing what we built here. This was a winnable game. You need to take more pride in yourself on your home court.”
If it’s not turnovers, it’s missed free throws. If it’s not missed free throws, it’s poor shooting. If it’s not poor shooting, it’s a sleepy defense. At various times against North Carolina State, it was all of the above.
The Jackets started well (11-5). Then they missed six layups in the first half. They were aggressive at times on defense (with 10 steals). But they got hurt when they backed up into a zone and N.C. State made seven of its first nine three-pointers.) An early six-point lead became a 16-point hole (40-24).
Perhaps inspired by Jack’s halftime speech, the Jackets closed to within three points, 47-44, in the second half. But they continued to blow shots, stretching from the 1-to-10 scale of difficulty.
The rest of the game became just another cliff to fall over.
“It’s very interesting to go through something like this,” Hewitt said later. “I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody. You learn an awful lot. You’ve heard the clichĂ©, ‘You learn through adversity.’ Well, you learn a lot. You see a lot. You learn what people know. You learn what people have no idea about. You learn what people are talking. I don’t ever intend on going through something like this again. But as I move forward, there are certainly some things I intend on doing differently and better.”
He kept it vague. He talked about his appreciation for the support of the school’s administration and “the vast majority of the people I come in contact with,” even amid cries from some for his firing.
After the postgame news conference, he touched on some of the same themes and his surprise at the way the season has unraveled. Presumably alluding to the quick trigger by several of the nation’s athletic directors, he said: “I’ve learned that I made absolutely the right decision to come to work here at Georgia Tech.”
And then this: “But that’s no excuse for being 1-10. We’re supposed to win. We’re Georgia Tech. We’re supposed to be better. We’re absolutely supposed to be better.”
On that, his detractors find common ground. There is all this talk about next year’s great recruiting class, but we’ve certainly learned in sports that talent doesn’t always win. Something to has change.
Hewitt said, “You don’t forget how to coach over night. But you can get an idea about what can have an impact on your circumstances.”
It’s the usual: Academics. Injuries. The far-too-slow maturity process of some players.
But the coaching? Jack, who plays for Indiana, says those pushing for Hewitt’s firing are misguided.
“People shouldn’t have such short memories,” he said. “Coach Hewitt has brought a lot of success to this program. It’s way too early to even think about something like that.”
Maybe so. But this is getting old.
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By bobbydoddsghost
February 14, 2009 8:49 PM | Link to this
Hewitt has lost control of this team. The players have quit on him. The fans have quit on him. Luckily for Hewitt, his contract from the Braine-dead days will keep him around one more year. Hewitt should do the right thing and resign.
By BravesFan79
February 14, 2009 9:01 PM | Link to this
As someone thats supported Hewitt for years, when you get outcoached this much by other not so great coaches like Sidney Lowe……. SOMETHINGS WRONG!
We should keep Hewitt as Head coach ( aka head recruiter) and bring in the BEST assistants $$ can buy!! Why has the AD not pushed for this sooner? Weve all seen that Hewitt gets regularly outcoached since the old assistants left (the 2 that left after 2004-5)
By TONY SHUMPERT
February 14, 2009 9:06 PM | Link to this
I know for A FACT that the team has not quit on him. Sure, they are frustrated, but who wouldn’t be when you losing? People, keep in mind this is a VERY young team. We can all see the talent, right?!? We might have lost the battle, but not the war! Everyone keep your heads up. It just stinks that this game had to be on Valentines Day. My partner and I were planning on drinking margaritas and salsa dancing tonight, but it’s hard to now after this game. Next year we will be in the Final Four, you heard it hear first!
By GT Fan
February 14, 2009 9:08 PM | Link to this
Please just pay Hewitt off and tell him to get the he!! out of town. At least UGA had the guts to fire their Coach.
Dig up Braine and make sure he’s dead. What a stimulus package for Hewitt…Both damn jokes! I hope the fans stay home till Hewitt is gone.
By Elmer Fudd
February 14, 2009 9:21 PM | Link to this
If you think Braine laid an egg on Gaily’s contract, you should see Hewitt’s. Can you say 7 year rollover.
By mowreck
February 14, 2009 9:28 PM | Link to this
If I see Mo Miller have one more turnover, give one more unnecessary foul, make terrible decisions passing AND shooting the ball, I think I’m going to be sick! Is it just me or does anyone else see us get ahead with #1 at the point, then in comes Mo to let the other team into the game. Of course, the game against NC State, everyone contributed to being just awful.
By BravesFan79
February 14, 2009 9:39 PM | Link to this
Next year we will be a tourney team on talent alone!
We can either be a top 4 seed if we bring in quality assistants (someone throw a ton of $$ at Bob Knight please )
OR ….. If Hewitt makes No changes on the coaching staff, and once AGAIN relies on talent alone instead of smart gameplanning, then we will be around .500 in the ACC next year and a 7 or 8 seed in the tourney, and be out quick like in 2007 when no one had the balls to tell Thad Young “STOP TAKING STUPID SHOTS!”
This team has not quit on Hewitt. I saw the effort when they kept coming back against VT.
The problem is bigger than lack of hustle. Its dumb shots, and even dumber fouls that keep turning layups into 3 point plays.
Another problem is how Terrible we are closing out halves. Can anyone count how many times weve turned a lead into a 5 or more point deficit in the last 2 minutes of the 1st half?
By the sage
February 14, 2009 9:43 PM | Link to this
I repeat this is the first time since Dwayn Morrison that I have felt the way I do watching this team perform. The leadership is totally absent from both players and coaches. You’d think that for just one game we would come out and play an half court game. You know why we don’t do that. We don’t know how. Watch WVU and you will see a team that understands what “passing the ball” means. I’ve given up and this will be my final effort to even recognize this horrible excuse for GT basketball. BBB that stands for bring back Bobby. Selah
By AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 14, 2009 10:00 PM | Link to this
I haven’t posted for awhile. I am in depression, especially knowing that we have such a great recruiting class coming in to join Schumpert and Lawal (if he doesn’t go pro), but we will still have the worst coach in the ACC! When a coach does his job, players get better. This team is right where it was when the season started, or maybe it has regressed.
I will now post about GT basketball, watch GT basketball, or even discuss GT basketball until some major coaching changes are made.
I love my school, but this team is absolutely embarrassing because of poor coaching.
I cannot wait until football season starts….
By AlabamaRamblinwreck
February 14, 2009 10:03 PM | Link to this
One more post to correct the above post:
“now” should be NOT
By passion
February 14, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this
I blame Hewitt for not bringing in better players. We only have Gani and Shumpert and Aminu.
I know the players do not seem to have developed. But maybe they can’t get any better -what you see is what you get.
By Jack
February 14, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this
Well, he is right about one thing. It is a good thing he is at Tech. We are probably the only stupid people who would put up with his but! He needs to have enough pride in himself to just resign because he has proved he does not have what it takes to build a winning BB program in the ACC.
By BravesFan79
February 14, 2009 11:28 PM | Link to this
passion: i disagree with you. I think its his lack of ability to COACH the guards that’s hindering this team.
He usually perfers “athleticism and potential talent” over actually skills like shooting. And it shows in our terrible 3 point/ free throw shooting.
Hewitt is the kinda guy that would make alot better GM than coach… He needs to get some help on the bench (thats MORE experienced than him) to help make him look good again!
Anyone think ol Lefty Drisel would come back to coaching and be a head assistant at GT?
We seriously must go after the best and brightest assistants in the land in this offseason if were to reach our potential next year.
Which i believe if coached right, is a Final 4 caliber team.
By Lance
February 14, 2009 11:36 PM | Link to this
Just let the players play, like in the final four season. They played that year and just went with the flow and developed chemistry, ever since it seems like the coach wants to take control, call unnecessary timeouts, subsititue a player to take out a player who is on fire, etc. Let’s get back to that this is basketball not a math equation.
By TONY SHUMPERT
February 15, 2009 12:28 AM | Link to this
People, take my word for it- the entire team will be back for next season. This goes for Gani. Gani obviously has an incredible body, but he needs to gain a good 30 pounds or so before he can mix it up with those STUDS in the NBA.
By HelluvaEngineer
February 15, 2009 12:49 AM | Link to this
Watching CPH’s teams for years - with the exception of one truly fabulous year - has become the same thing over and over again. Great talent completely wasted by the inability for the players to work as a team.
Offensively I have literally seen a fifth grade girls team execute better than these guys. It is astonishing just how such great talent can go wasted. They are absolutely clueless. There is no movement offensively away from the ball. They cannot shoot to save their souls.
Defensively they just give up. Playing soft interior defense has been a hallmark of CPH (although I admit this year has been better than most in this regard).
They play with great stupidity too. Watch how their opponents will take high percentage shots versus Hewitt being content with taking 13 foot jumpers all day (even with a considerable size advantage).
I disagree with those who say they have given up, because I think the players are playing very hard, and I give them credit for that. They just stink as a team.
Has Hewitt ever made a halftime adjustment? He is now getting outcoached by Sidney Lowe as the post above suggests!? His team two years ago had THREE NBA players on it to which they could barely make the tourney and failed to win a game (the only other team with 3 NBA players on it was Florida, who won the title). His teams take stupid shots, whereas opposing teams take high percentage shots. His teams cannot inbound the ball, and his players are often confused what defense they are even in half the time.
Time for a change at the helm. Nine years; one year way above expectations, one year above, and the rest at or well below. Check please.
By moboman
February 15, 2009 12:50 AM | Link to this
This season has one issue. We dont have any shooters. If you cant hit outside shots, you cant open up the inside for the bigs. Shumpert is a gifted athlete, but not a shooter. Clinchs confidence has been ruined. Storrs is not an ACC player, and Bell wouldnt have made any difference. No guards, no wins.
By moboman
February 15, 2009 12:51 AM | Link to this
This season has one issue. We dont have any shooters. If you cant hit outside shots, you cant open up the inside for the bigs. Shumpert is a gifted athlete, but not a shooter. Clinchs confidence has been ruined. Storrs is not an ACC player, and Bell wouldnt have made any difference. No guards, no wins.
By Najeh Davenpoop
February 15, 2009 3:07 AM | Link to this
Hard to watch for ex-jacket?
How about, “Hard to watch for those with the ability to see”
By KC Kid
February 15, 2009 7:21 AM | Link to this
Hey Tony,
Don’t threaten us like that. Why would anyone want this team to come back?
I’ve been a Jacket fan since the 70’s, and this team is one of the worst editions of a Tech Bball team I’ve ever seen. I’ve got season tickets but I’d rather paint a fence than watch this group try to compete in the ACC.
We’ll let Iman come back, but the best thing about him is that Freshman become Sophmores. Make him shoot and make 500 jump shots a day this spring and summer. Maybe he can earn his scholarship the next three years. Outside of his one moment against Wake, he’s been average at best.
Let’s hope this incoming class can overcome their coaching and win anyway.
Lose by 21 at home to NC State?
U-G-L-Y!!!!
By JimmyO
February 15, 2009 8:21 AM | Link to this
Hewitt needs to change the line-up. Sit Mo and Clinch - they have done nothing this year except misfire shots and turning the ball over. And mo’s defense, or lack thereof - awful. All our opponents have to do is put any three point shooter on the line, have him pass the ball inside and mo ‘follows the ball’ only to have the ball go back out for a wide open 3-pointers. again and again and again.
as frustrated as i was watching that game yesterday, i did make the comment that hewitt has to be more frustrated. BUT, he needs to sit some players when they continue to play poorly. i would love to see lani, imam, peacock, aminu and storrs or foreman starting. these players seem to have the energy.
if he can’t get his players to concentrate for the entire game and play within his system, he either needs to cut them from the team, or cut himself.
By JimmyO
February 15, 2009 8:25 AM | Link to this
Hewitt needs to change the line-up. Sit Mo and Clinch - they have done nothing this year except misfire shots and turning the ball over. And mo’s defense, or lack thereof - awful. All our opponents have to do is put any three point shooter on the line, have him pass the ball inside and mo ‘follows the ball’ only to have the ball go back out for a wide open 3-pointers. again and again and again.
as frustrated as i was watching that game yesterday, i did make the comment that hewitt has to be more frustrated. BUT, he needs to sit some players when they continue to play poorly. i would love to see lani, imam, peacock, aminu and storrs or foreman starting. these players seem to have the energy.
if he can’t get his players to concentrate for the entire game and play within his system, he either needs to cut them from the team, or cut himself.
By Gordon
February 15, 2009 9:08 AM | Link to this
Radakovich to Hewitt in his annual review:
“Paul, attendance is dropping, the team looks terrible, and we didn’t improve a bit during the whole season. The team is not entertaining to watch, and it’s obvious to people who know nothing about the game that we are poorly coached. I hate ultimatums, but if I don’t see some significant improvement next year, I’m afraid I’m going to have to pay you 7 million dollars to not coach. I mean it Paul! I hate to be so blunt, but that’s the way it has to be.”
Hewitt to Dave Braine later in the day:
“I love you, man!”
By If I had a rollover contract, I would NEVER quit either...
February 15, 2009 9:37 AM | Link to this
Tech surely is embarrassed about this never ending thing…the most ridiculous contract ever! What were they thinking?
Same thing-can’t shoot but yesterday was even worse…can’t play D…what happened?
By BartBuzz
February 15, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this
It’s easy to jump on the dump Hewitt bandwagon. I’ve tried to stay optimistic but Tech basketball has turned so mediocre. I watch other ACC teams. They can make free throws when it counts. They don’t make turnovers on simple passes. They show intensity. I was spoiled by Bobby Cremins. He showed some emotion about winning and losing. It was hard to watch yesterday’s game. Every time I saw Paul Hewitt in the huddle he looked clueless. He’s not helping the team. Losing by 21 to NC State on our turf is about as bad as it gets. Sorry…but IMHO Hewitt blewit again.
By gtbabe
February 15, 2009 10:06 AM | Link to this
MARK PRICE IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, HE’S THE ONE THAT PUT GT ON THE ACC MAP AS A PLAYER, LET HIM COME BACK AND DO IT AGAIN AS A COACH..You want point guard experience and knowledge where it counts, Mark’s your man.
By Red GA Dawg
February 15, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this
Insult to injury, AJC reports today that TECH is not only team to ever lose all SEC conference games which was 1954, TECH also lost all ACC conference games in 1981. Why do I continue to read that TECH has a glorious BB hsitory. We who are Bull Dawg bred acknowledge that the BB program in Athens is historically weak, yet we have been to final four and have never lost all conference games, must less twice in two different conferences! Some fans mix fantasy with reality, at least DE can try to make situation better with a new coach, DR at Tech is stuck with PH till death do them part.
By fred
February 15, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Hewitt is the coach.
Team is poorly coached.
Fire the coach.
By BartBuzz
February 15, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
I just Googled “Mark Price” and he is available. He can teach players how to shoot the basketball! After all, Mark does hold the NBA free throw percentage record.
By GTWreckette
February 15, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this
not sure why Jared Jack would say don’t give up on CPH..when the entire GT team came back in 2005, what did they accomplish? nothing…and it has proceeded to worsen now that it is 2009. I agree with previous comments, CPH doesn’t know how to utilize the guards, was forced to play Matt Causey when Causey could have pulled more victories through for the team last season…its one thing when your getting paid 90,000 a yr, but when they pay you a million your expected to win games, my GOD, can we get this nightmare over with, can’t take this disgrace anymore
By double d's
February 15, 2009 10:59 AM | Link to this
21 pt loss to NC State at home is an all time low for GT…I agree with previous comments, I would rather paint the fence and watch the paint dry than ever sit through this again. Put Tech back on the road to accountability and respect…hire MARK PRICE
By IndyGT
February 15, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
I’ve been pretty adamant about supporting CPH this year on all my posts.. but this is beyond bad. I just don’t see any development with the guards. Shumpert you can see is talented, but he’s playing out of position. He could be so much more dominant as a 2-guard. But, we have nothing at the PG spot, so he has to handle the ball. Storrs has the 3-ball, and plays ok defense.. but he’s just a stand still shooter! And sometimes he just looks like he’s looking to give it up, instead of creating something. Then w/Mo.. maybe that injury really hurt him bad, but I was hoping for more out of his Soph season. The bigs are doing ok, but we NEED better guard play! And we’ve regressed since last year. For that I do blame CPH..
By PJ
February 15, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this
Not only do we not go to games any longer… we had to shut off the TV in the first half. This is just awful and it is caused by an inept coach. Hewitt must be moved out… NOW!
By Joe
February 15, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
Unwatchable.
By luke
February 15, 2009 2:54 PM | Link to this
ha! who the f**k is jaret jack? his indiana pacers are 21-33. the only thing he knows about winning is he doesnt do it. how come he was able to attend the GT game? BECAUSE HE ISNT A FRIGGING ALLSTAR! what a joke. this mtherfukker didnt even graduate from GT. there is no difference between J—Jack and a janitor giving a talk to the team at halftime, neither has a college degree. what a self-promoting puke…lecturing the team. what is next? stephon marbury coming in coming in and teaching the team how to have sex with interns in cars he cant afford? kenny anderson showing the team how he fathered 7 kids with 3 different women and then skipped out on child support? GT = Get Thugs.
By Fire Hewitt
February 15, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this
Paul should be fired for continuing to start Clinch every game. Lewis shoots every time he touches the ball and has only had two good games all year. His best season was as a freshman and has gone down hill since he started cheating on tests. Shump is ok but shouldn’t be playing at the end of games when he is ball hogging and forcing bad shots and dribbling off his foot trying to do too much since he knows his team mates suck. We should hire Mark Price as an assistant next year and let him teach the guys how to shoot before making him the head coach in two years. We have several black coaches in the ACC now so Hewitt has done his job there and can now resign happily. The team quit on Hewitt yesterday and everyone saw it but Hewitt but he doesn’t care since he is getting paid to watch this crap but no one else is willing to pay to see this anymore. Even the students won’t come out and watch it with free tickets anymore. Hewitt should just go off and play golf with Dave Braine and Chan Gailey and enjoy their buy outs for doing nothing.
By Jeff Schultz
February 15, 2009 4:46 PM | Link to this
bobbydoddsghost:: If you want to criticize Hewitt, you’re certainly entitled, especially given the way Tech has played. But to say players have quit on him is borderline moronic. Coaches who have players quit on them get a bad reputation, and coaches with a bad reputation can’t recruit great players. (for example: Bobby Knight). …. Mowreck I’m sure u know college teams all start at the point guard spot, and Moe never has gotten it going this year, partly because of injury, i imagine. Shumpert is playing some point but he’s better suited for the 2 guard. …. BravesFan79: You hit on one big problem: Tech needs a pure outside shooter, especially for 3s. Hasn’t had one for a while. …. Tony Shumpert: You seem pretty certain about Gani Lawal being back, but I wouldn’t count on that. Larry Hartstein told me he saw a mock draft that has Lawal going 14th. If that’s close to accurate, I can’t imagine he would come back. I don’t know the kid well enough to know his motivations, but I know generally what happens when somebody is projected that high – gonzo. …. Luke: if you’re comparing Jarrett Jack to Stephon Marbury or even Kenny Anderson as a person, you might be the dumbest person alive. …. JS
By SpreadTOption
February 15, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
assistant coaches Mark Price & Dennis Scott
By Jacketman
February 15, 2009 5:35 PM | Link to this
Our team has the worst record in the ACC. It is also clear that our team is the most poorly coached team in the ACC. We obviously do not have a good offensive plan and the fundamental skills needed by the players have not been developed. Our coach has stated that individual instruction is his forte. It is also obvious that coaching team strategies is not. Bringing in an additional recruiting class will not help this issue. The program is in an increasing state of decline.
It should be made mandatory that CPH make changes in his staff to meet our current challenges. If we are stuck with a mediocre head coach due to contract stipulations why not make changes where we can. CPH’s boss can accomplish that. If our team needs better in depth coaching (and it certainly does) bring the expertise in even if the coach is young and inexperienced. The $275,000 loss per year will escalate as ticket holding fans that are not showing up now refuse to buy tickets in the future.
By Chris Broe
February 15, 2009 6:04 PM | Link to this
Wow! Jeff Schultz has taken the gloves off! (“dumbest person alive”…..”borderline moronic”…)
i’m afraid to say anything. I know, I’ll say something safe, that applies to any team in any sport no matter how ugly the cheerleaders are…..Ahem, professionally speaking, the two platoon system is better than the one platoon system, cause it’s twice as good!
By ggodsey
February 15, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this
My name is Shumpert and I approve this message: Shumpert will be at the Clemson game on 2-22-09. He will be in a “Oak Park” tshirt. Please do not look at him directly in the eyes. Do not violate his court order and allow little boys within 10 feet. And by all means do not fall for the penis in the popcorn bucket trick. Thank you.
By There he is
February 15, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
ggodsey- you are pathetic. Schultz- how about you delete that post and ban that guy?
By TONY SHUMPERT
February 15, 2009 7:12 PM | Link to this
GGODSEY, your act is up, silly man. I’m not letting you get to me anymore. Jeff, I will make a wager with you: If Gani goes pro after this year, I will buy you Braves-Cubs tickets for the series when the Braves come up the first week in July. Everything will be 1st class and all on my tab. If Gani stays, you predict Ga.Tech will win it all in 2010 for an upcoming article, and somehow reference me in that article. Listen, I respect Larry’s opinion, but Gani will be back next year! These kids change their minds all the time, but he knows that he is not ready. He knows he will one day be NBA ready one day, but that day is not going to happen this year. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Gani for a while now. Mentally, he is ready for the NBA, but not physically ready-YET! I remember seeing him at a Peachtree Corners pool last summer, and when he first walked through that gate my jaw almost hit the ground. The kid is in great shape. You could seriously prepare dinner on his stomach. He is that impressive. But, he needs to gain some more weight onto his ripped body. He really reminds me of a young Chris Bosh, but just an inch or two shorter. Gani will be back next year, and this team will know what it is like at the bottom, and I’m telling you right now everyone will be hungry for a championship!
By luke
February 15, 2009 8:10 PM | Link to this
Jeff,
y-o-u picked UGA over Bama AND Florida last autumn and you have the nerve to call me the “dumbest person alive”? I won’t call you names as I feel sorry for you. You used to be a “columnist” or “journalist” and now they have you blogging all day like a g******* 12 year old and apparently using the same strategies they do. I heard the AJC pays you a dime for every reply you get on you thread. Well you can earn 20 cents off me today. As for Mr. Jack, yes I do find it appalling that he played for 2 years and skipped out but has the nerve to state:
“I yelled at them a little bit,” he said. “I can’t really repeat some of the stuff I said. But they’re not playing Georgia Tech basketball. They’re not representing what we built here. ” Built?? Ha! He didnt build a dam thing. He dropped out of college. He is a DROPOUT. And then to have him brag about “not being able to repeat what he said”. What a tough-guy. A lot of good it did, they got outscored by 10 in the second half. Report the facts, Jeff. Leave the “internet smack” to the children.
Yours truly, Luke P
By LOL
February 15, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this
Look at Luke. Got all riled up, didn’t you little girl? Did Jeff hurt your feelings? Nice job “duking” it out on the blog!! LMAO at the pathetic girl, “Luke”.
By Fire Hewitt
February 15, 2009 8:33 PM | Link to this
Gani will go pro because he knows he isn’t going to improve under Hewitt’s “leadership” while he stands there with his hands behind his head crying at the refs. If Hewitt was a real man, he would apologize and offer a refund from his bloated contract to anyone who sat through the game where Clinch and the boys quit on him yesterday.
By luke
February 15, 2009 9:06 PM | Link to this
Sorry, LOL. I am not a 12 yr old girl like you usually chat up online. You will have to wait until the next time Chris Hanson lures you in on one of his NBC specials to meet a “gal”. Good to see you have Jaret and Jeff’s back though. Maybe the 3 of you can get together and cuss out the ramblin wreck at halftime when Wake prison-styles them this week.
By yurtle_the_turtle
February 15, 2009 10:09 PM | Link to this
Hi all…Lawal going pro is excuse #218 for Hewitt to remain coach of the Yellow Jackets. He can then claim that he didn’t think Lawal was going and that his team would have won in 2009-2010 had he not lost Lawal. As for his “great” recruiting class next year, which is one reason he isn’t going THIS year, has anyone stopped to think that this year’s debacle is his mess too? I mean, he recruited this current crop of “great” players also.
DRAD is trapped in a contract situation not of his making, but I wish he would come out and just scream at the top of his lungs why we should put up with this crap.
PLEASE TECH FANS, Protest by NOT attending the next two home games. Let’s get this bum fired.
By Jeff Schultz
February 16, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
Luke: Yeah, those were dumb game picks. But only if I had picked Georgia to beat Alabama and Florida after the games already had been played, then I would even with your comparison. …. also, if the AJC paid me per thread, I’d be on here 24/7. But thanks for the idea, I’ll pass it along to editors. …. Fire Hewitt: It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Hewitt has to win — next year. He is getting a pass this year because of his recruiting class and possibly other issues but next year there will be no excuse. …. And, no, Yurtle I don’t think Lawal going pro would be an excuse for losing next season —- at least, it shouldn’t be. But we’ll see how this all plays out. Fact is, if Tech plays well next year and goes back to the tournament, and wins, say, at least two games, a lot of this criticism goes away. Would you agree? … JS
By ga_tech_92
February 16, 2009 12:04 PM | Link to this
Who can help articulate the history of Ground Hog Day?
Recruit a great class…fan base gets excited…lack of coaching and true point guard play and youth costs the team MANY wins. At the end of the year, the best player leaves as a first round draft pick. Somehow, the coaching staff convinces us that ‘it was a surprize’ and that we will ‘have to move on with youth’. Thus, setting the excuse on the table that the team will be young next year and has lost it’s best player. Ignoring the bigger picture that coaching and true point guard play was lacking. The player we lost goes onto looking MUCH better in the NBA than they did at Tech and we kinda scratch our heads thinking, “wow, maybe he just didn’t have the right coaching at GT”. We don’t want to think that way, so we put it in the backs of our minds like some dirty laundry.
Next year rolls around…we have a great recruiting class coming in and the fans are excited and forget about the previous year. The team struggles with turnovers, offense, in-bounding the ball, many things that the average fan simply cannot fathom, based on the highly ranked recruits they are seeing on the floor…the same recruits that will look great in the NBA…the same recruits that looked great in high school…but, somehow, they don’t look great at GT. Odd…so, us being logical folk, on average deduce that something is wrong in the soup, so we start thinking about it again. We see that the team is young, because we lost our best player. We see that we don’t have good point guard play, because somehow SOMEHOW, we just seem to never have depth there. Typically we have ONE dude who has a clue at point, but he is either a walk on, or very young…(never mind that K.Anderson was young and dominated…young somehow is a valid excuse for Hewitt year after year). We see the makings of a good team, if these guys stay together…we see a great incoming recruiting class the next year and conclude “well, we should be good next year…let’s give it another year”. We endure the painful season…we observe teams with much less talent beat us as often as not. We bite our lip waiting for next year. In the off season, our best player goes onto the NBA…the coaching staff convinces us that it was AGAIN a total surprize!! We allow ANYONE to believe it! Said player goes onto be a stud in the NBA…just like in high school…but nothing like at GT…we get a new class coming in which excites the fans and excuses the coach….
The next year…rinse and repeat. Fundamentally, we feel after years of the same conversation this: “Something is missing from this equation…this makes no sense…it feels like ground hog day…the same thing year after year…how can people be so blind?? Hasn’t anyone been paying attention the past several years? These excuses play fine, if you haven’t heard them every year (after year after year)…but how is any sane person to believe the same excuse year after year?….something is missing right?….then we find out what is missing…CONTRACT INFORMATION.
We find out that our school, who is small but proud, has a contract which rolls over every year, making it almost impossible financially to fire the coach. Well, it’s like having a rotten leg…on one hand we feel like “darn, I hate that my leg is rotting off…I don’t want that to happen”…on the other hand we feel like “we can’t afford to have surgery and cut this leg off…it will cost too much money…besides…maybe it will get better next year right?…I mean…it has to be better next year, even though it has never given us any reason to be believe it will get better”……..well…the truth of the matter is…the leg is rotten…and like it or not…it will continue to do more damage the longer it festers…and like it or not…it will cost just as much money to cut the thing off today as it will years from now. CUT THE DAMN LEG OFF AND GET ON WITH HEALING THIS PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Edwin Phillips
February 16, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this
No talent on the floor for TECH!!And I can’t EVER remember Tech no having three or four NBA LEVEL basketball players on the floor. Plan and simple Bad point guard, shooting guard maybe One on the Team. Low post game what low post game!! Bring in Mark Price allow him to rebuild this program!!. Allow Paul to leave he has done all he can do for Tech.
By Gordon
February 16, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this
Jeff Schultz,
You say it goes without saying that Hewitt must win next year, but what if he doesn’t? I don’t think Tech can afford to buy him out (over $7M). If his contract ended in 2011 like I thought it did this wouldn’t be so bad, but I think we are stuck with Hewitt no matter how next year goes. Please tell me I’m wrong.
By Jeff Schultz
February 16, 2009 2:09 PM | Link to this
Gordon and Everybdoy else: I am not making any predictions here. OK, everybody? This is not a prediction. But let me just spell things out to you in generalities: 1) Paul Hewitt’s contract, while rich and long, is not all that unusual for college football or basketball coaches in high-profile jobs. College coaches’ contracts generally rollover deals. There are a lot of reasons for that, not the least of which is recruiting. You can’t tell a parent, “I’ll take care of your kid for four years” when there’s only one of two years left on your contract; 2) Buyouts, no matter how steep they look on paper, can be negotiated. They are done all the time; 3) Dan Radakovich, despite his very open support for Paul Hewitt, wants to win and wants packed houses. He is not oblivious to either the 1-10 ACC record this year or the declining season-ticket base; 4) This athletic director did not hire this basketball coach. In fact, even the school president is gone … Again, I am not predicting anything. I’m just saying that anybody who believes that a coach in these circumstances is safe indefinitely because of his contract would be mistaken. I hope that explains things. I’ll be happy to answer any other questions, since I’m spending most of my day at home, sneezing. … JS
By Gordon
February 16, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this
Thanks for responding Jeff. I never knew automatic rollover contracts were so common without some level of performance to trigger it. For example, adding a year to the end automatically if the team made the NCAA field would seem very reasonable. Do you know if Johnson has an automatic rollover? People love him now as much as they did Hewitt in the spring of 2004, but in reality they love the winning, not the coach.
I also don’t understand what leverage Tech would have in negotiations if they wanted Hewitt to leave. I think Hewitt is a good man, I really do, so if it came to that I think he would negotiate. I don’t think he would stay if he wasn’t wanted. Here’s hoping it won’t get to that point. But as you said, this is getting old.
By Jeff Schultz
February 16, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this
I’m sure we (AJC) have a copy of Paul’s contract but I don’t have it in front of me. Often the coach has a rollover deal — it just has to be triggered every year by the A.D. When it’s not triggered (and people, particularly opposing coaches) find out about it, then it becomes news. But contracts also have all sorts of buyout clauses, or something that says, “If Joe Blow is fired, he will receive the equivalent of one year’s pay.” Even in cases where a coach technically is owed, say, six years salary, a settlement often is negotiated because neither side wants things to be dragged out. And, yes, particularly a young coach like Hewitt, who would easily get another job elsewhere, he would not want a long and very public separation from Tech, a school that has been so good to him. He’d want to move on.
By Tron5000
February 16, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this
I’d be interested to know Mr. Jack’s definition of “a lot of success.” ‘Cause I’ve been watching this team since I was born, and I’ve not seen “a lot of success” under Hewitt.
By luke
February 16, 2009 9:54 PM | Link to this
Here you go, Jeffie. I found this by googling the following: hewitt contract + tech + buyout it took me to this link: http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/01/31/bradley0131.html the verbiage is as follows: **His deal was reworked in April 2004 after he led Tech to the NCAA title game. Dave Braine, the athletics director who hired Hewitt in 2000 and had seen his vision realized, rewarded his coach with a six-year contract that rolls over automatically and that provides a buyout in full for each remaining season if he’s fired “without cause” (meaning, just for losing).
Hewitt is making $1.3 million this year. His total compensation will increase to $1.375 million next season and to $1.45 million in 2010-11. Were Tech to dismiss him today, it would be obliged to pay him in full for the next five years —- a total of $7.175 million.** Give me a nickel!!!
By O'brien
February 17, 2009 7:47 AM | Link to this
I have seen a lot of people on here asking for Mark Price to be hired to help with FT shooting, for one. But he currently works for the Hawks, and the Hawks are still one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the league (led my Josh Smith).
My point is, hiring Mark price does not guarantee improved FT shooting.
By Bill
February 17, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this
I love Jarrett Jack, the success he brought to GT and the way he played the game. However, he certainly is not making an objective statement when he says there has been a lot of success under Hewitt. Players do not get better playing for him. Poor FT shooting. Probably the worst team in the ACC coming out of a timeout. NO EMOTION!! All coaching issues. Next season will be better but more than likely we’ll be talking about underachieving again.
By UGA is so last year
February 17, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this
Do you or would you expect Jarret Jack to say Hewitt should be fired?? I’m mean that is insulting to even put that in print. What else would he say.
The truth is … . he DOES need to be fired! He recruits supposed great players every year yet we are 1-10? Why should it be any different next year or the next year?
By Chris Broe
February 20, 2009 12:39 AM | Link to this
It’s easy to fire someone who is totally inappropriate for the job they hold….it’s easy to say someone who loses 90% of the time is a total loser……it’s easy to criticize loss after loss after……..it’s easy to think you could do better than to win one game out of ten….aw, .I got nuthin’
By GT66
February 20, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
BravesFan79 you are out of your mind. Why do you think some group of freshman will suddenly make Hewitt a better coach and transform the crappy team into a TOP 4 SEED? When has any freshman class taken a team from the worst in the conference to the top 4 in the conference. You are completely unrealistic. It will never happen with Hewitt as the coach. He is the worst coach in the conference and one of the worst in the country.
By RT
March 3, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this
As I see it DRad has a couple of options; 1) Live with a crappy BB team and pay Hewitt until he decides to leave. 2) Man up and pay Hewitt 7 mil to quit. 3) Mount an ugly, embarrasing campaign against Hewitt by limiting his responsabilties, eccouraging the fans and media to abuse him, and tell anyone who listens that Hewitt stinks, but refuses to quite. 4) Appeal to Hewitt’s good side and tell him straight up that its not working out and that Hewitt should recognize that he does not DESERVE 7 mil and negotiate the severance down in exchange for a glowing recommendation to some other poor unsuspecting school.
I don’t see any AD opting for 1 or 2. Option 3 migh be satisfying, but would reflect badly on the school. If Hewitt is such a great guy, maybe option 4 would work out.