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DEL.ICIO.USOld guard polarizing Tech on AD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Unlike Michael F. Adams, who never met a photo opportunity he didn’t squeeze to death, G. Wayne Clough tries to live off-camera. During the run to the 2004 Final Four, Georgia Tech’s greatest sports achievement of his tenure, Clough walked the back hallways of the NCAA tournament venues, no entourage in tow, no profile to enhance. For a time, the favorite parlor game on The Hill — the seat of Tech academic oversight — was to try to distinguish the bearded president from the bearded band director Bucky Johnson.
But now the low-key Clough faces a high-profile hire. He has to replace an athletics director who was both successful and disliked. The Tech old guard sees this vacancy as an opportunity to undo the damage it believes Dave Braine wrought. The old guard has sent word to The Hill that it demands a Tech man, preferably Bill Curry, who technically isn’t an old guard but an old center.
True to his nature, Clough has been secretive about the hiring process, though it’s believed an announcement could come this week. By being so adamant about its preference, the Tech old guard has put Clough in a polarized position — however he moves, he’ll be seen as having kowtowed to Big Money or having thumbed his nose at a powerful and vocal alumni base.
How vocal? Well, to hear his detractors, Dave Braine was an unmitigated disaster. Yeah, he hired Paul Hewitt, but he also hired Chan Gailey, whom the old guard views as an only slightly lesser disaster than Braine — never mind that Gailey hasn’t yet had a losing season — and he allowed himself to be snookered into handing baseball coach Danny Hall a new contract, and isn’t $400,000 a lot to be paying a guy who keeps losing the super regional on his home field?
The old guard made Braine’s life so miserable that, in announcing an extension of Gailey’s contract, the athletics director essentially offered a refutation of old-guard beliefs. “Some people who graduated from Tech in the ’50s and ’60s and ’70s [read: the old guard] have no idea what it’s like today … Georgia Tech can win nine or 10 games, but they will never do it consistently.”
Naturally, the old guard took that as a concession speech. Said Taz Anderson, the Atlanta entrepreneur who played under Bobby Dodd and who has emerged as the de facto spokesman of the old guard: “Will people continue to pay for mediocrity?”
It’s no secret that Anderson wants Curry, the handsome white knight. Curry played at Tech and coached Tech — though some of his backers concede he wasn’t the greatest tactician — and is a public speaker of rare eloquence. Contrast Curry’s famous we-will-bring-the-cheaters-to-their-knees stem-winder of 1984 (which was universally taken as an indictment of Georgia, further endearing the speaker to his constituency) with Braine’s tepid endorsement of Gailey.
Hiring Curry would score maximum points for Clough with the old guard, but here’s the thing: Curry might not be the best hire. He has never run an athletics department, and the days are long past when a school can simply install a former football coach as a figurehead. Like him or not, Braine is a professional AD — he’d done good work in that position at Virginia Tech before coming here — who knew how to oversee a big-budget operation. Where’s the assurance that Curry does?
And it’s unclear if the lobbying on Curry’s behalf will leave a positive or a negative imprint on Clough, who, it must be noted, is an old Tech man himself. (B.S. in ‘64, Masters in ‘65.) Nobody likes being told what to do, and college presidents like it less than most. Surely Clough is clever enough to realize that winning the introductory news conference will count for nothing if his new athletics director isn’t up to the task. If Clough hires Curry, it won’t be because of alumni pressure. It will be because the bearded president sees managerial material in the old center.
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By russell sorrells
February 20, 2006 08:08 PM | Link to this
Clough does not impress me as being a good manager, so how could he pick one? Remember it was Clough who allowed the embarassing cold fusion debacle to occur. Apparently no one at Tech reviewed that project before it was released to the press.
By gtgrad
February 20, 2006 09:21 PM | Link to this
Clough has been a great president for the school. He has excelled at improving Georgia Tech’s academics keeping them rated among the best in the country. He has raised enough money to put us over the billion dollar mark in endowment. In fact, Georgia Tech now has the highest donor percentage of ANY public school in the nation (as per U.S. News). He has supported Tech Square among all the other new construction on campus that will continue to place Georgia Tech as one of the best schools in the nation well into the future. While in the meantime, installing new programs for students to improve campus life. To say he does not know how to manage the school is not just ignorant - it is a lie. When Clough retires, he will be sorely missed. He will make the right decision on the AD hire and we should support whoever he hires 100%.
By The New Guard of Alumni
February 20, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this
The old guard need to back up. To a tee, you will find these alumni were members of ANAK with Bill Curry back in the day at Tech. These guys love their own power over Tech and have not given any thought to what is best for Tech. You’d think we were Auburn by the way they act.
Young alumni need to stand up and let their voices be heard in support of Tech. Nearly all young alumni, staff, faculty, and current students support Dr. Clough and recognize his great contributions to the Institute.
While at Tech, I roomed with an SGA president and worked closely with Dr. Clough. To this day, he’ll tell you there is not anyone he respects more than Dr. Clough and that no matter who he hires as AD, as long as Dr. Clough’s hand was not forced Tech athletics will benefit. I agree with him.
By wes
February 20, 2006 10:21 PM | Link to this
I liked Dava Braine. He picked up Paul Hewitt who almost took Tech to the promised land. Yeah, he brought in the unpopular Gailey, but he also brought in Jon Tenuta. And Tech has had one of the best defenses I’ve ever seen on the flats. Once the O picks up, DB will be seen as a great tactician. However, he was a horrible speaker who seemingly condoned mediocrity.
Would any of you Tech fans really trade in an obvious talent like Braine for someone who just “speaks eloquently”? I have no idea who the right guy is, but my gut feeling tells me it is not Curry. If I had the opportunity to pick anyone in the world to run Tech’s athletic department, there’s no doubt in my mind who my choice would be:
John Scheurholz
By Sid Fortson
February 20, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this
Bill Curry is the obvious choice for AD. He will bring back the North American Thrift Notes with his smiling face promising high rates for gulible senior citizens. Curry is a fool as he has proven many times both on the field and in the prees box.
By mtraininjax
February 20, 2006 10:34 PM | Link to this
Wes, we had the eloquent speaker, his name was Bill Lewis. He danced around and snowed all of the Tech faithful until O’Leary came in and showed him the door. Lewis snowed ol Homer good. Gailey is snowing Braine, why should we think that Braine’s replacement would be any smarter than Braine, or the wonderful Homer Rice? I agree, I don’t think Curry is it.
What happened to all the great talent that Tech has created, only to see it leave? Why not do like UGA, eh gad, did I say that? Hire from within and hire someone young. Someone who will be there for a long while. Stability is what the Tech program needs and someone that the Tech faithful can rally around. Curry is as old as a grandfather, how long can he manage? Will he need to take naps during the day? Promote from within or hire one of the people familiar with Tech, who have been there within the last 20 years. Curry might get a vote for the Alabama AD, why should we let him forget the grass was greener over there? Will he not bolt for the same later? Why make the mistake twice?
By JC Dawg
February 20, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this
The one thing you losers got over us is a great president. Ours is a megalomaniac who is thorougly detested by students, alumni, and faculty. Good luck on finding someone, anyone to take such a thankless job as AD at Tech.
By NoseyDawg
February 20, 2006 11:31 PM | Link to this
It’s none of my business, but I always got the impression that Bill Curry somehow thought he was doing Tech a favor when he was there as a coach. Those who were there tell me it was the same when he was a player. I don’t know if any of that’s true. But if Bill Curry is indeed just about Bill Curry, then this NoseyDawg would suggest Tech needs somebody who will be about Tech.
Tech fans are correct to get miffed about mediocre expectations, which will always be fulfilled. The president at Duke, a great academic institution, could have tried to temper expecations the same way years ago. Instead, they hired an Army guy from Chicago who had the ambition and grit required to turn Duke into the best basketball program in America.
Lesson: Hire the hungry guy who will get you there… not the guy who thinks he’s slumming.
By Peter Lindstrom
February 20, 2006 11:46 PM | Link to this
What about our old assistant AD when G O’Leary was here? He is now the AD at UCF
By mark bradley
February 21, 2006 12:08 AM | Link to this
On Second thought, I would hire Terrence Moore! He knows all of the answers!
By Wayne Clough
February 21, 2006 07:09 AM | Link to this
Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce the new AD at Georgia Tech, Bill Curry.
Great selection Dr. Clough, thank you.
By Jim in Pine Mountain
February 21, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this
Bill Curry was head football coach at Tech. He walked away. Remember?
By Hal
February 21, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this
I like Bill Curry but he simply is not the man for this job. There are more qualified individuals who will do better job based on their experience and qualifications. Lets not make such a serious decision a political one. Case closed.
By Mike
February 21, 2006 08:08 AM | Link to this
I still say you are all missing the point. While coaching hires are a big deal, the academic standards at Tech, enforced as they are under Clough, make Braine’s statements correct. We will NOT be a big time college program under Clough. You may decide he is worth it as a leader of a university, but then don’t try to sell us tickets at high prices to watch 7-6 teams.
Don’t be hypocritical. Either commit to big time football (with the necessary facitilites, personbel, and yes, the academic route that would allow more recruits to come). Or commit to your academic standards and have the b**ls to stand up to that. Lower your ticket prices, get rid of that god-awful club section, and start scheduling your soulmates, Vandy and Rice, instead of Notre Dame and Auburn.
Oh, and by the way, watch your endowment drop, your athletic donations drop, and (believe it or not) watch your admissions applications drop. The AD job matters not unless the new AD is going to battle the Hill (Clough) tooth and nail over the future path.
By GW
February 21, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this
Hire Bill Curry! Please.
By anotherdawg
February 21, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this
I am a staunch UGA fan and alum, but also a Georgian. I am proud of UGA (but would prefer another Pres.)and I am proud of Tech. Known for academics and sports history, I am afraid the academics has placed the institution in the category of Wake, Vandy, Duke, etc., and feel that is the path it should pursue. Yes, sports brings in alumni dollars, but what would alumni dollars at Tech be today if there were no controversy? Perhaps most would be happy, content to be an academic institution that played sports. Georgia is fast becoming known for the academics, but has built on sports. Tech could do the same in reverse. Good luck on whoever the hire turns out to be, and alumni, decide what you want. Academics or big time sports!
By techaholic
February 21, 2006 10:02 AM | Link to this
I’m not a Clough fan for various reasons. He has already ‘stood up to the old guard’ when the wanted to get rid of Braine a few years back.
This IS A BUSINESS DECISION and should not be dictated by the ‘old guard’ because Curry is a Tech man! We’ve seen ENOUGH screw ups over the last couple of years including this 5 YEAR EXTENSION for a coach who has taken a program backwards.
Clough signed on the dotted line for that mistake …he doesn’t need to be making anymore! Curry has NO experience and we need an experienced younger candidate who has shown what he can do already!
Curry IS NOT THAT CANDIDATED!
By hedduk
February 21, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this
Hire Bill Curry! Just do whatever it takes to get him out of the broadcasting booth. Football fans everywhere will owe you bigtime.
By Old Reck
February 21, 2006 10:35 AM | Link to this
It seems that a big part of the AD job is communicating: - A vision … communicating with existing employees (coaches and staff). - With one’s executive sponsors … the President and Board, etc. - With potential and current student athletes. - With alumni and supporters … the need to raise funds and grow revenues. - And in 2006, with regulatory authorities … in our case the NCAA!
Bill has unquestioned character, knowledge of Div. I athletics, knowledge of professional athletics and experience in all. He understands Tech and the unique demands on Student Athletes. He can directly build on the tradition of Coach Dodd. He relates how Coach Dodd would not allow his players to skip class or not graduate. We have the opportunity to continue the legacy created by the most outstanding leader of Student Athletics in the prior century … Bobby Dodd
Please strongly consider the opportunity to tap in to one of the outstanding sports leaders and communicators in memory. My 44 years in business and civic activities have built an appreciation for excellence and Bill exemplifies excellence.
Old Reck
By Corey Taylor
February 21, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this
Any individual who understands the true nature of this decision should recognize the following: The job of an AD in the new millenium is simple; generate revenue. Selling Skills mean more than anything as an AD. ADs are effective when they can unite people. ADs are effective when they can go to Macon or Albany or Chicago for that matter and bring people out of their homes to support a common cause. Tech needs somebody to get Athletics out of debt and rally support! Managing a budget is a heck of a lot easier when revenue is pouring in. Who other than Curry, I ask you, can bring Tech supporters out of the woodwork? The job won’t be done in Atlanta, it’ll be done nationally and beyond. It requires someone who is passionate about Tech and who can communicate the vision to people who actually show up to hear it. ONE person fits that bill… By the way, Curry did one thing before he left Tech in ‘86… He THUMPED UGA in ‘84 and ‘85. You Tech people can expect that to start again as well….
By Elephant
February 21, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this
Does anyone else remember what Braine said to Gailey in 2002?
He said “You have to beat Georgia.”
Then, last year, Braine said he expected improvement over the previous season.
Tech went on to win the same number of games as the year before, looked even worse against Virginia Tech, and once again failed to beat Georgia.
I’m not sure how you could defend Gailey as a success.
Braine apparently forgot all those things he said and decided to extend Gailey’s contract anyway. If that weren’t enough, he defended the decision by criticizing the school and the players. Not exactly managerial finesse.
To be frank, criticism of Clough over athletics is unjustified. Clough is shapi Tech into one of the best schools in the country (even more so than before), and his responsibilities go so far beyond a football game that sacking him over the failure of the AD and football coach would cause irreparable harm to the Institute.
By GTwig63
February 21, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this
Curry does have a lot of baggage and I have some reservations about him, BUT he absolutely understands the unique problems at GT, and I think he can come closest to leveraging The Hill to make concessions by making public some of their silliness and lack of reality concerning big time college athletics. No way you can really understand GT’s issues, if you haven’t lived them. The LSU guy would have no clue if he comes in cold, just like Gailey didn’t. However, Clough may have already decided to hire the LSU guy, but is saying Curry is still in the mix to appease his big money supporters and to make them think he is a serious candidate.
By SteveO
February 21, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
Gailey has done something nobody else has ever done. He has been to a bowl game all four years of his tenure. Look up any other coach and see if they had winning records and bowl appearances in all 4 first years. I agree that Tech hasn’t progressed that much, but they have not gone backwards. If you look at their schedules over the last four years, I’d say having four straight winning seasons/bowl games would be pretty good. This year will tell the tale. GTs schedule this year is not as strong. I think that they will bust open this year….ESPECIALLY if they beat Notre Dame.
By Tom 1956
February 21, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this
I am an ‘old guard’ class of ‘56 alumni who has served in several volunteer capacities during the tenures of our last three Presidents. I personally ‘like’ Curry, but I doubt that he has the hands on experience Tech atheltics needs today. I personally ‘love’ Clough for what he has done for Tech in all aspects and for how he has done it. Competence counts for more that persona; I’ll go with Clough’s decision! He’s earned the right to make it. If the ‘old guard’ doesn’t like it, too bad!
By Tom Rogers
February 21, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this
The comments by NoseyDog are right on target. Curry is a nice guy but he had his chance at Tech years ago and stuffed us for the Alabama job. A true Tech man would never have done that.Frankly, I was glad he left. His teams at Tech were unimpressive except for one good year. The other years were a disaster. Wasn’t he coach when we beat Alabama in the first game of a season and then lost 10 games? Or was he the coach when we tied Notre Dame and still went 1-9-1? I could be wrong, maybe it was Lewis, I can’t remember. My memory was Curry could occasionally hipe every one up for one big upset, but could never keep the team up for a whole season and beat people he was supposed to beat. Let’s try some new blood—Curry has had his day. And I am an old Tech man—class of 1969. We may not win 9-10 games a year but I want a man in charge of the program who believes we can! OH—and Anotherdawgs comment is classic Georgia—he says decide what we want, big sports or academics. Spoken like a real Georgia guy. I love it. They finally admit what we have been saying for years.
Drive through Athens and get a diploma thrown in you car. Drive through Atlanta and get 2 football tickets thrown in your car.
By northwestDAWG
February 21, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
hedduk has it right! people coasr to coast would owe Tech big time if they hired Curry and we didn’t have to put up with him on the ESPN broadcast. I don’t have a dawg in this fight and wish the Bees well. One thing I learned. I believe that going out side to hire is a good thing but be very careful or you may pull a dawg and get a president(Adams)who is more interested in his profile than what’s good for the University and for sure you have a good thing going because your President won’t over ride the AD. and bring in a “Herrick”
By Phill Younger
February 21, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
Tech needs an AD who has gathered the proper experience in that field, not a recycled Tech alum without the requisite skills and who was not particularly popular during his last sojourn with the school. If the choice is now down to the self adoring Mr. Curry and LSU’s Mr. Radakovich, how can there even be a question?
By Terry
February 21, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
Bill Curry? Been there, done that, bought a t-shirt! Don’t need to go there again. We laughed all day when Ala enticed BC to be their head coach. Let’s not go through those early 80’s football days again.
As someone said earlier, hire the hungry one!
By Dirk Palmer
February 21, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this
Bill Curry would be a nice hire, but Hire DUNCAN!
By TW
February 21, 2006 02:31 PM | Link to this
Wrong cold fusion President
By flakjacket
February 21, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
Don’t get me wrong, I can support Curry. He has coaching experience, personality analytical ability, and his Tech roots go “way” back. If what I read is true, though, “me thinks” that Mr. Radakovich maybe be more qualified to get run the GTAA and to get us to the next level in terms of national prominence.
Also, doesn’t the State of Georgia still have a mandatory retirement age of 70 or so? That would give only Curry seven years to work whatever magic he has.
Whomever Dr. Clough picks, I think, should receive the full support and energy of all of us ….for a few years anyway.
By The Next Generation
February 21, 2006 03:39 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding me??? Bill Curry is still being considered for this position. Why did he leave GT for Alabama? What was his record at Kentucky? Loaded questions…yes, but please, GT would be well suited to hire someone from a WINNING program (LSU) that will bring energy and yes, hunger, to the job. Hey, the good news for Bill Curry is he could potentially take IRA withdraws while still earning W2 income. If he gets the job, he may go down in history as the best interviewer EVER.
By ben
February 21, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this
Why don’t we ask Hewitt who he wants and be done with it?
By smitty
February 21, 2006 07:55 PM | Link to this
SteveO
I had to read your post a couple of times to make sure it wasn’t an attempt at sarcasm….please, stop mentioning GT’s bowl record under Chan…..it’s embarrassing every time a GT fan touts the bowl record as proof of chan’s coaching talent….do you even remember the name of the bowls?………………….. thought so……..i mean come on, the Emerald Bowl…..have you seen those incredibly stupid Emerald Nut commercials? every time they’re on it’s like a blow to the gut reminding me of the disaster in the muddy baseball field…..yesiree, THANK YOU CHAN…..oh yea, I’m not sure who should be AD but I vote for whoever will cancel Chan’s contract and send him packing
By WDGT55
February 21, 2006 09:49 PM | Link to this
Bill is more than qualified, He is the right man at the right time to jump start a dead battery.All you people who think otherwise don’t really know him. Chan will have to win or be gone, so will the other coaches. Give the man a chance. 56 years I’ve been wearing a GT hat and shirt, I would like to see it mean something again.
By doc
February 22, 2006 12:06 AM | Link to this
what the old guard really needs to do is go back and look in the record books and see that there is very little to restore. dodd had several great years before the era that came from about 1955 on. from then on it was the mediocrity that they speak of being afraid of attaining to.
i loved dodd but i remember some great wins and some disastrous losses to tennessee both at home and away that cost chances at bowls, many with uga and one or two that were to alabama, arkansas to broyles and auburn that were questionable. he always managed to win a few unexpeted as well. gee does that sound familiar, is there a ring to that?
fortunately dodd knew when to fold them as he went out on top after winning 9 straight before losing to ga and fla at the end. he played the games well whether it be football, tennis or poker.
this is not to denegrate dodd but the reality is in the books. now once everyone goes there please lets not be concerned with a little better than .500 years as that was the hallmark of tech during the last decade with dodd at the helm. in fact gailey’s record may have surpassed dodds fro that segment.
the teams for the alum who was so outspoken were some of the worst during dodds years. please go look in the mirror boys, your time is over. let someone else take the program to the next level, that someone should come from lsu not from the lowest level announcing group that espn has to offer.
i hope that politics dont get in the way of this hire and they choose the best qualified person for the job not the guy that can pat the backs of boosters but the boosters egos may be that fragile. if you hire curry they will have to hire another really smart guy to make the hires and do the admininistrative work as curry has failed in those abilities as a head football coach. unfortunately, under pressure curry has not been able to say the right things either which some feel is his best attribute. go figure.