Tech

By g8trh8tr

November 28, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this

I’m sure they’ll do what they normally do……lie and cheat!!

By GTVegas

November 28, 2005 04:13 PM | Link to this

Mike - is this all you could come up with as a topic, pretty lame. The Tech recruiters have the same up-hill task they have had for years. They only thing that has changed is that they have six fewer scholarships to give over the next couple years. And that is no different than last year as Tech put that reduction upon themselves.

The only thing they can hope to use is that some of these players might get more playing time and be a bigger focus than they would be somewhere else. They can get a good education just about anyplace (Yes, including UGA). The quality of their education is more up to what they want to do after Football and their individual commitment to make something of the time they spend in class at whatever college they choose.

Yes, the recruiters may have to explain what happenned, but, more importantly, they will have to explain what the impact might be over the next couple years.

This topic probably won’t have very long legs, especially from any Tech Alum/fan perspective. As usual, you have written more to incite derragatory comments from the UGA fan base.

By geechee

November 28, 2005 04:16 PM | Link to this

How about, if they stay all four years, they will be given two chances to check out the beautiful women in the Classic City.

By g8trh8tr

November 28, 2005 04:22 PM | Link to this

They could make promises about playing time. I can just hear Chan now. “We’ll let you play even after you’re indicted on federal drug charges.”

By Decaturtechfan

November 28, 2005 04:29 PM | Link to this

HEY g8trh8tr,

Dont the bumpkins in Athens have their own blog? Or were u kicked off it? Maybe you r one of the players from Athens who are unloading trucks for one the beer companies since u couldnt find a major where u didnt have to go class. You should have looked harder. There are plenty of majors over there to choose from.

By doc

November 28, 2005 04:29 PM | Link to this

geechee, what do you drink out there on the big island. somedays you are spouting classic literature other days down there with your penthouse loving bretheran.

great points gtvegas, didnt take the armadillo long to show up for the garbage.

good luck saturday boys, hope you do the state proud. may shock continue his flawless play.

By Doug

November 28, 2005 04:46 PM | Link to this

Jeez, “Decaturtechfan,” you sound like a 15-year-old girl writing a text message. Quiet down and let the adults talk football.

By g8trh8tr

November 28, 2005 04:47 PM | Link to this

Decaturtechfan,

Don’t worry about me. I’m doing just fine working in I.T. And why the personal attacks? I guess you couldn’t think of anything else to come back with after my “indicted felon” comment. Facts are facts. You have an indicted felon playing on your team. I know the courts forced tech to let Houston back on the team, but Chan didn’t have to let him play. I guess Chan knew that was the only way he could beat Miami….fight thugs with thugs.

By GLB

November 28, 2005 05:06 PM | Link to this

The way I see it, being on probation will probably help us get recruits. I mean look at all the recruits schools like UT, Miami, and Georgia get, and they’re on probation basically every other year!

By GTVegas

November 28, 2005 05:11 PM | Link to this

g8trh8tr - Your FACTS can’t be argued, but what you actually consider to be facts can. Houston was readmitted to Georgia Tech as a student by court order. He was reinstated on the football tean to be treated as if he had never been indicted by court order. If he was the best person at the position, Gailey was required to play him or open himself and the AA to further lawsuits and contempt of court charges. Lets remember, the courts imposed this upon GT because every person is innocent until proven guilty. It might not be right (I personally wish the court system would have stayed out of it), but it is also hard to fault the actions. I think the NCAA as a whole will need to address this kind of situation. This situation will happen again and could happen to any program. It has nothing to do with recruiting whatsoever.

By Johnny Bryant

November 28, 2005 05:16 PM | Link to this

Not only will you be allowed to play as an indicted durg dealer, you can take playing time away from young men that have worked their butts off all year!! Is it fair to come to practice three days and play ahead of others? We all know the answer to that question!

By Johnny Bryant

November 28, 2005 05:19 PM | Link to this

PS, TO ABOVE COMMENT: The court could not force Tech to play Reuben Houston.

By g8trh8tr

November 28, 2005 05:26 PM | Link to this

GTVegas,

I’ll agree with you on one thing. The courts should have stayed out of it. All insults, ribbing, etc. aside, I think GT did the right thing by kicking Houston off the team and out of school. I can honestly say that if one of the UGA players had gotten himself into a similar situation I would hope that we would have done the same thing. And I would also be very upset with the courts for forcing his re-enstatement. But I would be even more upset with the coach for playing the guy. I mean we’re not talking misdemeanor here. This is serious stuff.

By KneeJerk

November 28, 2005 05:48 PM | Link to this

Johnny, It’s sweet of you to think about your in-state rival’s backup players. I don’t give a rat’s ### if UGA’s nickelbacks play a down.

By Johnny Bryant

November 28, 2005 05:55 PM | Link to this

I know 150% for sure that there is no way Coach Richt would have played this guy!! Playing football is a privilege NOT a right.

By Brooks

November 28, 2005 05:58 PM | Link to this

What does Tech have to offer besides instant playing time? They will never be anything better than average in the ACC, they play in a cracker box(although it is very historic, yeah right)which they couldn’t fill if they paid you to go-barring the dawgs are in town. There’s like 2 good looking girls that go there. You can’t even sell drugs there anymore without sitting out most the season. Somebody please let me know the benefits of signing with Tech because we all know it’s not for the academics. GO DAWGS.

By Johnny Bryant

November 28, 2005 06:03 PM | Link to this

Dear Jerk, I care about all athletes. I have coached youth baseball and basketball for years. I have seen too many times kids not playing because of the other Coach doing “whatever it takes to win”!!!! How would you feel if you had been to practice hours on end, only to sit the bench when an indicted drug dealer comes back?

By Reality Check

November 28, 2005 06:03 PM | Link to this

I am still trying to find out if Reuben Houston is actually enrolled at Georgia Tech this semester. Does anybody know the answer to that? I thought he was kicked out of school, not just off the football team.

By I'm choked up

November 28, 2005 06:15 PM | Link to this

You got me all choked up Johnny. “I care about all athletes” that’s deep man. You should be commended.

By GTVegas

November 28, 2005 06:18 PM | Link to this

Reality Check - As I stated above, he was forcefully readmitted to Tech via court order the week after Tech kicked him out. It took longer for the courts to issue the court order forcing him back onto the Football team and Braine, et al refused until they were forced with contempt of court. Then, the wording was such that not playing him at all would have triggered more suits from both the player and the courts. I do not think Braine would have allowed Gailey to play Houston at all if the AA lawyers didn’t advise him otherwise seeing that he ignored and tried to fight the first court order. It just wasn’t a good situation for anyone and I am suprised Houston forced the issue (not a very class act, but he had his own future to worry about). This could be a very thorny issue across the NCAA by setting a very bad percedent. I don’t think they really had a choice. How much did Houston play vs. UGA? I did not even think to look for him on the TV, but don’t remember hearing his name at all.

By Tech sux

November 28, 2005 06:20 PM | Link to this

No more needs to be said.

By KneeJerk

November 28, 2005 06:27 PM | Link to this

Johnny please! If this happened to the any other school , I doubt you would be on their blog with your violin and box of Kleenex bellyachin’ about it. E-mail ESPN Johnny. I’m sure there is an ex-athlete that wants Michael Irvin’s spot on Monday Night Countdown.

By Al Davis

November 28, 2005 06:45 PM | Link to this

Whether or not an athlete plays or doesn’t play is 100% arbitrary. And guess who the judge is GTVegas? The coach, that’s who. If a coach doesn’t want to play someone for ANY reason there is no lawyer or judge on the face of this earth that could take him on. More scapegoating and excuse making for another sorry chapter a sorry situation. Playing Houston embarrasses everyone involved.

By DrT.

November 28, 2005 07:00 PM | Link to this

GTVegas, the only future Rueben Houston has is the Federal Pen. Furthermore the most glaring lack of class is on the part of the institution that played him.

By Harold Doherty

November 28, 2005 07:06 PM | Link to this

To Brooks, I install research equipment at all the universities in the USA, Europe, China and Southeast Asia. In short I have been on a campus or two. UGA is nothing special and niether is Oklahoma if your talking football factories. The University Of Washington would blow you away. Utah is also neat. Tech has strong personality gets yoiur attention and it looks great on TV at night.

By Al Davis

November 28, 2005 07:08 PM | Link to this

GTVegas…please show us that wording that compelled Tech to play Houston…if you can. Sounds like more techmite BS to most of us.

By HUH?

November 28, 2005 07:23 PM | Link to this

Yeah Harold, that chainlink fence that surrounds the campus to keep out the crack addicts, homeless, and panhandlers gives the campus a special ambiance. Would you call it penetentiary chic?

By Darius Swain

November 28, 2005 07:35 PM | Link to this

Coach Richt is a big meanie. I lose playing time cause I’m lazy. How unfair is that? I get suspended for forgetting you got to have a license to drive a car a couple of times and do 45 days in Clark County jail for it and then after I pay my debt to society coach still sits me out 4 games. I should have gone to Tech. They have it pretty good there. Houston told me that at Tech you can smoke your pot and sell it too and still get in the games. Some guys have all the luck.

By Brooks

November 28, 2005 08:14 PM | Link to this

To Harold Doherty. Are you talking about tradition and successful programs or scenery. I bet Washington and Utah are good schools for looking at the mountains and what not during games because they are getting their brains beat in. Utah had one good year in 100 and Washington is one of the worst programs in America right now. Are you a husky fan or what ? If you are I feel sorry for you. Look at successful, consistent programs and Georgia will be on the list. Obviously you haven’t seen the co-ed girls at Georgia lately. GO DAWGS!

By Allenlaw

November 28, 2005 08:26 PM | Link to this

Tech recruiters have plenty to offer, even setting aside the excellent education. Primarily, they have an NFL coach, a big city campus, an ACC television schedule, and, yes, a better chance to play sooner, because they do not have the stockpile of talent that a Georgia or Florida will have. On the defensive side, they also have the chance to play for Tenuta, no small thing for a motivated defender.

Remember that Tech’s primary recruiting field is not Georgia. They will probably not get a lot of the “blue chip” players, but will get plenty of excellent prospects who can be made into excellent players by good coaching.

By TheTruth

November 28, 2005 08:33 PM | Link to this

Tenuta will be gone within another year. To a Head job or a coordinator’s position at a top tier school that can’t play D. Oklahoma or USC among a host of others with more prestige and bigger paydays.

By CalCuLus

November 28, 2005 08:45 PM | Link to this

Your recruiting should really pick up now that everyone knows that football players really don’t have to take calculus.

By vetteDAWG

November 28, 2005 09:39 PM | Link to this

Dear all DAWG fans, remember this is the bee’s blog.Let’s face it,they NEED a lot of help in recruiting.This blog will not recruit anyone. We just WHIPPED them for the 5th straight year.We need to concentrate on L.S.U. now.We have 365 days to poke fun @ the bee’s. I can’t believe I am saying this,let’s leave the bee’s alone @ least until next Sat. night.

By Pulpwood Smith

November 28, 2005 09:55 PM | Link to this

Dear Tech Fans:

Pweeze Excooze my UGA bruddahs from coming on yalls blog. Theyz sed they ain’t got no cusstomers down to the Jiffy Lube tonights so theyz been on the compooter. Go You Silver Bwitches! HUNKA DOWN.

Love Pulpwood!

By Ty

November 28, 2005 10:02 PM | Link to this

To those who actually are addressing the recruiting question (vs. throwing around the same old worn out garbage)…..

What entices a recruit to Tech…..well, there’s a definite opportunity for a hotshot QB to come and make an immediate impact (remember how Reggie got the job in the first place)……several RB slots will be open…..if you have size and speed, we’ve got a spot for you in the defensive backfield….if you are a cover-corner — nothing need be said!!

About the only ‘tough sells’ will be for a wide receiver (unless you specialize in ankle-high catches) or tight end (that’s the guy that used to get a couple of passes each game for those of you keeping score).

The conference sells and the locales are a positive (you tell me….weekend in Miami or weekend in Fayetteville…hmmmmm).

I’m as fed up with the lack of offensive creativity as anyone. But, for a player, it’s about playing time and the chance to make a difference (ever heard someone say, “Yeah, I was the fourth string punter at FSU that won a National Championship!!….I haven’t”

By surfer

November 28, 2005 10:10 PM | Link to this

The best recruting tactic would be to fire the offensive coordinator and say we are now going to do with the offense what we have done with the defense, attack. As for the education part it helps if they recruit people that care about an education and that means get some out of the south like up north or out west.

By Ralph

November 28, 2005 10:44 PM | Link to this

Mr. Knobler,

I wish you and the rest of the AJC would practice good journalism. Your message is only meant to get comments from the Muttlanders. I am not asking you to be on our side, but you don’t have to be against us just to sell newspapers.

It seems readily apparent Tech can not get a fair shake from the AJC. And you don’t have to wonder why Tech people believe that is true.

Your double standard leaves a lot to be desired.

By Mike Knobler

November 29, 2005 02:07 AM | Link to this

Ralph,

Please read my blog again. I asked a straightforward question about what Tech’s recruiters would use as a sales pitch. The only negative I brought up was the probation, which I would think will come up in discussions with recruits. I don’t see how that’s not giving Tech a fair shake.

I didn’t write the headline for the blog, and the headline is not apropos what I wrote.

Mike Knobler

By THL

November 29, 2005 06:53 AM | Link to this

I think that a more uphill battle is trying to sell the top players in the state to play for a bad coach who drags a talented team down with his over-conservative, never going to score plays. Also hurting them is the AD’s attitude that Tech won’t be a consistant winner because it’s too hard.

As a Tech alum, they both make me sick and they will be the reason why Tech doesn’t get some top recruits that actually want to win.

Oh yea, since we are in a society that rewards stupidity and laziness, the academic reputation won’t help recruiting either. It truly is a shame that a good academic reputation is a bad thing today.

By GT5150

November 29, 2005 07:56 AM | Link to this

Yeah Coach Richt would not have played Houston, but he will play you if you get caught cheating on a test and then assault the teacher.

By Al Davis

November 29, 2005 08:13 AM | Link to this

GT5150, we realize that facts are not a strongsuit for many of you guys, so I will help you. The kid you are talking about is no longer on the football team nor in school. Coach Richt helped him find a new location. Check it. He never played after the incident. However…give him a call. He doesn’t fit in at UGA but he is perfect for Tech. Fits right in.

By Ricky

November 29, 2005 08:30 AM | Link to this

GT5150, at least get your facts straight before you start insulting people. The player in question was cleared of all charges and is no longer on the team. He never played a down for UGA.

By THL

November 29, 2005 08:33 AM | Link to this

With all that has happened over the past couple of years regarding players flunking out, getting arrested, not qualifying to play, etc., I don’t think UGA or Tech has room to talk about the other school. Lets just stick to the facts guys, our schools have not been model institutions with athletics lately.

By 83jacket

November 29, 2005 08:41 AM | Link to this

Mike,

Unfortunately, the headline is part of your blog and reflects on the content of your blog. Tend to fuel the perception that the AJC is UGA leaning.

FWIW, GT will continue to recruit the same way it has for the last four years. We stress the campus atmosphere (rare for urban school),long-term benefits of a GT degree, Atlanta, and the new ACC. Recruiting for Gt is very different than recruiting for a football factory. With some exceptions, most kids that are interested in football factories are not interested in GT.

By barry

November 29, 2005 09:37 AM | Link to this

Coach Richt trained as a Criminole…he has taken the art of being a “Criminole” to new heights. My legal friends in Athens tell me “if I only knew what does not get reported.” The hypocrisy is indeed amazing from Coach Richt…all under the guise of - “these young men deserve a second, third, and nineteenth chance.” And, UGA fans, for the most part, do not care. Shame. Shame. Shame.

And, how about this recruiting pitch? How many points is a 3 point basket worth? The question has me baffled. Oh, and, what conference do we play in? Still baffled. Isn’t that how UGA does it?

By Tough Sell?

November 29, 2005 09:42 AM | Link to this

The sell is tough if the young man does not desire to compete academically. The sell is made tougher if the young man cannot see more than five years downstream or past the football stadium. The sell is made tougher given the fact that Georgia is #4 in NFL participants but #50 in SAT average.

Fortunately, I am seeing that there are enough (not everywhere, but enough) quality young men who desire a tough academic setting and the chance to play big time football. And, the ACC is quickly becoming the foremost football conference in the land. The strength of the ACC will help GT.

By Ricky

November 29, 2005 09:47 AM | Link to this

Barry, name me a player at UGA that has been given more than two chances. Ask Derrick White, Josh Johnson, Dana Graydon, and others about screwing up at UGA. And ask Jamar Chaney and Jamar Bryant about being denied admission to UGA but being able to get into other SEC schools. I know it is easy to make baseless insults, but I figured a smart GT grad would understand the use of facts in his arguments.

By Ala. Jim

November 29, 2005 10:01 AM | Link to this

Dollar Dog, if you’re on here, I read your post on Furman Bisher’s column. Thanks for letting people know how 90% ot the Tech and Georgia fans really feel. Our 90% do not hate each other. Good luck against L.S.U.

By CW

November 29, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this

To get back to the original question, “what do Tech coaches tell recruits?”, they tell them that every year they will play against some of the best football teams in the country. With non-conference games scheduled against Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama and others and conference games against Miami, Virginia Tech, Clemson etc. Tech will continue to have important games with top 20 teams every year.

And although Tech’s win-loss record the past few years isn’t what many of us would like it to be, Coach Gailey’s teams have had a pretty good run of beating higher ranked teams every year.

By Brooks

November 29, 2005 10:52 AM | Link to this

Barry, you must be a jealous, sore-losing Tech fan. We are talking about football recruiting and not basketball issues. Georgia’s basketball program is still suffering from the Harrick boys action. If a player violates rules at Georgia they are punished. If the violation is severe enough they are relieved of their duties. The sad thing is the yeller jackets are going to lose to the Dawgs in basketball this year too. You Tech fans have nothing to look forward to except a choke in baseball. GO DAWGS!

By brock

November 29, 2005 11:25 AM | Link to this

Ty, I agree that recruits will pick Miami over Fayetteville. If they like half-empty stadiums every week. The same applies for Tech. Come to Tech and play in front of 30,000. I guarantee you that Arkansas fans are more passionate about their football team than Tech and Miami combined. The ACC was a basketball conference who played football in the fall until Virginia Tech and Miami came in. Tech can’t even recruit its own state. Recruits want to go play in an exciting atmosphere. Not a place where free hot dogs and cokes entice “fans” to show up. GO DAWGS.

By Al Davis

November 29, 2005 12:13 PM | Link to this

Barry, do you just not get it. The “tough academic setting” scenario just got sent to the bottom by a broadside from the NCAA! The whole world knows the truth now. Athletes can hang out at Tech for 5 years taking a high percentage of non-degree, “keep em eligible” crip courses. Furthermore, alot of them can’t even find the math building. That academic dog won’t hunt anymore.

By jackets fan

November 29, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this

UGA fans should not talk about Tech’s recruiting. Afterall it’s easy to have great recruiting classes when you will take anybody who can write their name down on a letter of intent (or are smart enough to have someone else do it for them). Tech has the unfortunate requirement of actually getting players who are college material. We’ve actually had players fail out because they were actually taking real college classes. That never happens at UGA because they lower the bar so that any moron can get over it. I mean you had a player so dumb that he was cheating in a nutrition class. “No, no, the food goes in your mouth.” You want to know why Calvin Johnson isn’t wearing red and black? Because he actually wanted an education.

By jackets fan

November 29, 2005 12:34 PM | Link to this

Tech violations were for misinterpretations of eligibility rules, not for course or class content. That’s how UGA keeps their neaderthals eligible. By offering courses in stacking chairs for the basketball coach. No need to worry about misinterpreting eligibility when everyone gets an “A” for stacking chairs. UGA fans questioning Tech’s academics is like George Bush giving a lecture on public speaking.

By TheTruth

November 29, 2005 12:46 PM | Link to this

jackets fan are you one of these guys that thinks if you ignore the facts it will just go away? Give it up. Tech has been exposed and no amount of denial will make it go away. Now that you will have a satellite office of the NCAA infractions committee on your campus you will be able to correct your cheating ways and in about 5 years you can get all sanctimonious again.

By Al Davis

November 29, 2005 12:55 PM | Link to this

Obviously not having Calvin Johnson in red and black is not that big a deal to UGA. When the ball gets distributed to 9 or 10 different recievers per game…well, you get the picture. Besides. Calvin didn’t do a whole lot for you guys Saturday night did he? Our secondary locked him down like Rueben’s jail cell.

By Ricky

November 29, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this

Jackets fan, wow you are a bitter man. Calling UGA players names and not even spelling them correctly. Its going to be okay. Tech will continue to win 6 or 7 games a year and play in a modest bowl and you can continue to insult UGA’s academics. Maybe that helps you sleep at night.

By TheTruth

November 29, 2005 01:13 PM | Link to this

Ricky, I think when the sanctions kick in even the dumbest hardhead among the techmites will have to face reality.

By DrT.

November 29, 2005 01:25 PM | Link to this

One of my best friends is a former Tech wide reciever from the 80s who now owns his own company. He told me point blank that during the O’Leary years academics meant absolutely nothing. Winning football games was all the O’fat one cared about. And I guess his statement can be backed up by the 33% grad rate among O’Leary footballers. The guy who does our IT stuff where I work is a full tenured professor at Tech. He also can tell you some dumb player stories. The whole world now knows that the whine about academics was pure and unadulterated BS.

By Bill Curry

November 29, 2005 01:30 PM | Link to this

Now that ESPN has given you the national recognition that you have craved for so long, recruiting should get better. Your coaches don’t have to lie anymore. Congratulations Tech fans! You are infamous.

By KneeJerk

November 29, 2005 01:37 PM | Link to this

Al, I have seen your receivers, and yes it is a big deal for you to not have Calvin. Your receivers minus MM are horrible. What happens next year when LP is gone? He’s your best target.

By Reality Check

November 29, 2005 01:40 PM | Link to this

Tech is a young team and they have a chance to be good next year if they can find enough defensive backs.

I think the biggest thing Tech needs to overcome is the negative attitude of many of their fans. Reggie Ball, Chan Gailey, David Braine, and the Tech program in general have been consistently criticized all year by scores of Tech loyalists, much more than they have been by Georgia fans. Recruits may notice that.

There was nobody on the field who wanted to win Saturday night more than Reggie Ball. He has worked hard for years trying to be the best quarterback he can be, and clearly he is the best Tech has right now. He was playing as hard as he could against a very good Georgia defense and Georgia’s most experienced defensive back made a great play to seal the victory. Ball has absolutely been vilified in the Tech blogs. I may be wrong, but I believe this post is the only one positive toward Ball. There is not one of the negative posters who could even approach his ability or how hard he has worked to make Tech successful. Why would a recruit want to play for a school whose fans are like that?

The other thing is a consistent drumbeat from Tech people about how hard Tech is academically and how everybody has to take calculus. Do you think beating that drum helps recruiting?

Tech is not the only hard school, it is just the one whose alums use it as an excuse. Recruits and recruits’ families want a good education. Crticizing the University of Georgia academically or their approach to discipline backfires on Tech because those criticisms are bogus and it puts people off. UGA and Tech are both selective schools with excellent academic reputations and the SAT scores have narrowed to the point that there isn’t much difference. Georgia graduates and Tech graduates both earn valuable degrees and achieve equivalent success rates in their careers. Richt has a consistent and well documented history of disciplining players with punishment that fits the crime.

Negative never sells. Tech fans are eaten up with negative these days and that is a problem Gailey and his staff are going to need to overcome to be successful.

You are your own worst enemy, Tech fans

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 01:50 PM | Link to this

The Truth - Why don’t you at least tell the truth, or maybe all the facts? Do you even know the facts? Obviously not as most really don’t. Jackets fan above obviously reads the articles with respect to Tech’s violations. As far as sanctions go, the current NCAA climate is very different than it was back in the Kemp days. I think it is highly likely that had UGA had the same debacle come up today, the outcome would be very different, like SMU or Auburn different. Did you ever see Hershal Walkers Trans Am he used to drive around campus as a Sophmore? I would be willing to bet he did not buy it coming from Milledgeville. What are these sanctions that will “kick in”? Last I read (maybe therein lies the problem with most of the UGA bloggers - reading), Tech had already imposed upon itself the only real sanction that means anything by limiting their scholarships. This sanction only continues for the next two years according to what I have read here. Tech has never been that deep of a team anyway so losing six out of 85 scholarships will have an effect, but maybe not the one you seem to hope. Do you really think that reality will be any different than what the past few years, or even decade, has been? I was there during the Curry/Ross years and then suffered as a recent Alum through the Lewis years, it doesn’t get much worse, so I think we will survive much to your apparent chagrine.

Al Davis - As far as Houston, again, you need to read the articles when they come out (Oh yea, I forgot the root of the whole problem here - reading). I am not going to research anything for you guys, not worth my time, you do it, if you can. It was either AJC, ESPN or SI, I read them all with respect to Tech. I don’t go on UGA Blogs (except for the occassional laugh) or read articles about UGA so I don’t profess to know many of their/your problems. All I hear is from my wife and our friends (again, she is a UGA grad and some of our friends live in Watkinsville - she a UGA grad and he a Tech/UGA grad).

I do not hate UGA as much as maybe you wish I did. I listened to Larry Munson growing up, especially the Hershal years, and knew nothing about Tech until my junior year in High school. My in-laws root for UGA every year during the Tech/UGA game since their daughter was a flag girl there and it gets under my skin every year for about three hours. They are from New Orleans and will root for LSU this weekend, so I get great pleasure in trying to find something red and black to wear on Saturday.

By Al Davis

November 29, 2005 02:02 PM | Link to this

GTVegas you are the world’s worst to not be able to document anything. Point blank. According to the NCAA Tech athletes were taking courses that did not count toward degree progress. Check it. You have been challenged to show all of us where in the legalese that you CLAIM to have the inside skinny on that it says that Tech has to PLAY Houston. You don’t BECAUSE YOU CAN’T. If you can, show us all and we/I will eat crow.

By Reality Check

November 29, 2005 02:12 PM | Link to this

GTVegas, I usually find you a man with reasonable positions, but there is something in your last post that needs to be challenged. There were plenty of people who asked questions about Herschel Walkers’ car as soon as they saw it. It was well documented that Herschel Walkers’ parents paid for his car with their own funds.

Herschel Walker was and is a fine man and you are casting unfounded aspersions against his character.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 02:15 PM | Link to this

Reality Check - I believe you are right in just about every respect. Thank you for the post. I have never been a big Gailey fan and I believe Braine’s comments will hurt Tech as well, but that does not deaden my support or enthusiasm for the program. Ball made one bad decision and his receiver (Bilbo) didn’t help matters either. I think Ball had a very good game overall. It all came down to one play on each side, great game. Thank you for the reality check.

Dr.T - When was your wide receiver buddy there? If I remember correctly, O’leary wasn’t a head coach for any part of the 80’s, just a defensive coordinator under Bobby Ross which means that your wide receiver buddy had limited exposure to O’Leary and that O’Leary didn’t care about academics because that was not part of his job as an assistant. It might have been the case though with O’Leary in any event. I was at Tech from ‘85-‘89 and then had the AA as a client from ‘90-‘93. I can tell you that statement is not in any way true for Bobby Ross or Ralph Freidgen. I have met and talked with each of them on many occassions, both during school and after. One of my friends was a Tight End, another a starting line backer (he was in many of my classes) and they will dispute your friends allegations with regards to academics any day of the week. Now, if your friend was there in the 90’s with O’Leary as a head coach, I can’t dispute that. As far as dumb football players goes, I don’t think anyone can say that their respective schools don’t have below average students/players. Being a management major back in the ‘80’s, I had many of the football players in my classes and, for the most part, they came to class did their work and participated in class. I am not going to say there weren’t a few that didn’t do this, but they were the exceptions. I also knew several that went on to get their engineering degrees. Like I said above, the education that the athlete receives is more a function of the individual’s goals and motivations than it is the actual school they attend. The coaches should not need to babysit their adult players, IMO, but some need it.

By DrT.

November 29, 2005 02:23 PM | Link to this

GTVegas I have also noticed that you like to throw around so called insider info but can’t ever seem to attribute anything. So far as not researching anything for someone, if you had the info already it would be no problem to share. I particularly recall one time when you claimed to be an oddsmaker but could not state the line on a game or the over and under. Your credibility is on the line here insider.

By DrT.

November 29, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this

No GTVegas. I said that my friend played in the 80s, not that he played for O’Leary or Ross. Maybe it is you who has a reading comprehension problem. Ex-players tend to stay close to a program and know a little about the goings on.

By HUH?

November 29, 2005 02:39 PM | Link to this

I remember the bookie statement too. Now the AA was a client of yours? Damn! Is there more going on at tech that someone needs to know about?

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 02:39 PM | Link to this

reality - I do not doubt that it is the case just because of how high profile it was. AND before you go throwing stones)like I stupidly did - I just should have left that reference out), I have dealt indirectly with HW as well as Dennis Scott from Tech in the investment world and they are class acts to any degree. It is just an example, albeit a poor one, but it happenned on a wider scale back then. It was a different time. The microscope was not as focused back then.

Al Davis - you look it up, I am not wasting my time and know what I read. I do not need you to believe it one way or another. And yes, you are right about taking classes that did not count toward a degree bacause they had already taken all of their alotted free electives. The misinterpretation of the rule pertained to “progress towards a degree”. The classes were valid classes, nobody can dispute that, they were just classes that the person should not have taken at that time. And the AA had begrudgingly let a tenured staff person appointed by Clough manage that process. That is the definition of “lack of institutional control”. There is no excuse for it and the NCAA also said that the violations were found to be “unintentional”. Al - you really should read and make a self commitment to understand and divulge all of the facts. I will be the first to admit what Tech did was wrong, but it is not like it was done deliberatly with intent. I’ll say it again with respect to Houston, I don’t think the court system should have any say in this at all. He should sit out this year and if found innocent, get another year of eligibility. If found guilty, well he goes where he goes. I wish Gailey had not played him, but knowing what kind of person(not coach) Gailey is,I trust his judgement in this respect more than I do some of his offensive decisions. Again, I do not think Braine would have allowed him back on the field if he could have stopped it. It’s just not worth the negative publicity. Your comments and others are proof of that. Do you honestly believe the influential Alum like the fact that he got playing time? Do you honestly think that Gailey and Braine could have gooten to where they are at by being that stupid? Use some common sense. Anyway, I know what I read and I still talk to AA staff from time to time, so think what you want. I don’t really care.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 02:48 PM | Link to this

DrT - Again you need to read and now who is making claims they can’t back up. There was a somewhat recent Blog where I had a dialogue with someone who used the name Oddsmaker. I do live in Las Vegas and made the comment that it was funny that I was responding to someone using the oddsmaker name. Again, you do the research and get the facts straight. Just another example of the twisting nature of Blogs. I have never been an oddsmaker and never stated such.

And yes, the AA was a financial audit client of mine before I left the Accounting firm. And didn’t I say in my response that if you were referring to something in the ‘90’s that it might be the case. Either way, Clough took control of this issue when the new rule was put out there by the NCAA and removed control from O’Leary. I personally believe O’Leary may have been really bad for Tech, but that happens and he is gone so you can’t really say too much about it. The only thing you can hope for is that the problem was identified and fixed and you have to live with the hand that was dealt.

By HUH?

November 29, 2005 02:51 PM | Link to this

Yesterday in this same blog you said that there was wording in the court papers that compelled the coaches to play him. (Nov 28 at 5:11pm and at 6:18pm) Now you are backpeddling about a hundred miles an hour.

By JUDGE JOE BROWN

November 29, 2005 03:00 PM | Link to this

GTVegas. Son you just got nailed to the cross with your own blogs on the Houston thing. You need to drop back back and punt.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 04:13 PM | Link to this

No punting necessary and I am not back pedaling. I stand by what I wrote on all occassions. I was merely pointing out glaring common sense issues to support the position without wasting my time proving something I know I read. I don’t need to prove it as common sense dictates as well as supports the conclusion, with or without proof, even though if YOU do the research you will find the Truth.

You guys may write anything you like to respond, but it will never be the whole truth and nothing but the truth with respect to these subjects, and I emphisize the WHOLE truth.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 04:31 PM | Link to this

OK- going to eat a little crow here, but not near as much as some should.

Read the article in the AJC dated 11/16 about Houston’s reinstatement. I went ahead and did the research since you guys couldn’t take the five minutes to do it that I did. Either that or you aren’t willing to admit that the article was not as cut and dry about this issue as you would have liked.

According to the article, Houston was to be reinstated to the Football team and treated like “every other student athlete” accused of a crime (not yet found guilty). Within the NCAA (not just at Tech) most athletes indicted of a crime (either felony or misdemeanor) got, “at worst, a one game suspension” which Houston had more than served. Braine fought this decision, but Georgia Tech is not actually the named defendant, The Georgia Board of Regents is, and it is up to them to appeal that. Given those circumstances and the fact that this is all now dictated under a court order, playing Houston avoided some potential legal issues, right or wrong. Who knows how this all played out given the involvement of not only Gailey, but Dave Braine, the AA and The Board oF Regents. All of the facts are not known and any accusations based on such are pure conjecture.

By JUDGE JOE BROWN

November 29, 2005 04:36 PM | Link to this

GTVegas, you dig your own grave and now you are shoveling in the dirt. Your own blogs got you as pointed out by HUH?. Are you sure you are not a VERY bad lawyer that doesn’t know when to clam up? BAILIFF!

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 04:38 PM | Link to this

I just want to add, once again, I wish the court system would have stayed out of it, kept Houston in school under scholarship, but not on the Football team until such time as the court made a ruling. If found innocent (not saying he is or isn’t), he should get his eligibility back. That is why we have the court system. On the other hand, I understand how the Courts came to their conclusion given the basic premise in this great nation (yes, even the Bulldog Nation) that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and that Houston was paying a price for being indicted, not beign found guilty. Whether he did it or not is not up to anyone other than the jury before which Houston will sit, like it or not.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 04:44 PM | Link to this

JJB - no, I still stand by what I said. Read the article. To be “treated like any other student athlete” means that Houston should serve his one game suspension and then play, if he is the best on the team at that position. Anything other than that would open The Board of Regents (as they are the defendant and ultimately have the final say) to a contempt of court charge. Again, read the article with Houston’s lawyer’s hat on. It’s not a stretch at all.

That being said, I just got my call and I have tix to Sat night’s game, got to go make flight arrangements.

By Real Tech Grad1975

November 29, 2005 04:49 PM | Link to this

Would someone please give GTVegas $2.00 so he can go play the ponies or something. He’s been tap dancing like Al Jolson for 2 hours now trying to get around his “insider” posting from yesterday. Please GTVegas! In your effort to sound intelligent you are reinforcing every Tech stereotype there is and making yourself sound less than intelligent in the process.

By Dave W.

November 29, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

I hope he keeps talking. This is hilarious.

By JUDGE JOE BROWN

November 29, 2005 04:58 PM | Link to this

Has anyone else here figured out that GTVegas is full of manure? BAILIFF!

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 05:01 PM | Link to this

The above does not mean that it is my only “source” of information you naive little pups. You may think what you wish, but I guess you just can’t take the fact that your comments are mostly based on conjecture.

RTG - you don’t know what your talking about given the history behind some of these guys comments. Sorry for the lack of respect for the more elder, but these guys spout off about Tech (as UGA fans) as if they know all of the facts when almost nobody really does. I just want them to admit that they don’t know all of the facts or, in most cases, I would like them to tell the whole truth, if they know it.

As far as insider info, I could give you names and I could tell you mine which would mean you could look up mu personal involvement. I will not disrespect those that I know or give you my name as that is not how this works, but I am confident enough to know that what I have written is based in fact.

AND I’ll TAKE THAT $2.00 NOW, from each one of you.

By Dave W.

November 29, 2005 05:03 PM | Link to this

Don’t go now GTVegas. Open another window and type in www.deltaisreadywhenyouare.com.

By Real Tech Grad1975

November 29, 2005 05:09 PM | Link to this

GTVegas it is obvious what you did. You tried to rationalize playing the drug dealer by stating in a blog that court papers said that Houston had to play. You wove a web and then caught yourself in it. A coach can choose not to play anyone for any reason. Chan compromised the integrity of the institution by playing him in his desire to win. The rest of us can admit it. Why can’t you? On the other hand, if you indeed have such wording in writing show it to us. I’m sure everyone here would be man enough to acknowledge. Are you man enough as well?

By Reality Check

November 29, 2005 05:34 PM | Link to this

Just to set the record straight on the violation Tech committed, it was directly related to the Jan Kemp case.

Georgia didn’t violate any NCAA rules at the time. In fact, it was a widespread practice to put football players in courses that kept them eligible but did not make satisfactory progress toward a degree. As a result, the NCAA put in rules requiring satisfactory academic progress.

The thing I believe all of us - Tech fans and Georgia fans alike - can agree about is that the fact Jan Kemp didn’t use some of that money to get her hair fixed is a sin, if not an actual crime.

By Master Baiter

November 29, 2005 05:42 PM | Link to this

Here goes the sad old whine about “the nerds have to recruit players who are interested in academics,” what a bunch of horse manure in 99% of all recruitment at all schools. Every high school footballer goes into the recruiting process with the vision of NFL dollars dancing in his brain, all of them think that in a few years they will be all-pro and raking in seven or eight million per season. The Institute’s recruiting problems are very simple, limited curriculum, second rate facilities, weak fan support, and, I know all of you nerd fanatics don’t want to hear this, playing in the ACC. As far as the rest of the country is concerned the ACC is a three team conference, Miami, FSU, and VTech. Most fans don’t even know that Boston College and Clemson are in the ACC. When you ask around the rest of the country about Maryland, NC State, Wake, Duke, UNC and the Institute most of them have no idea what conference they are in and don’t care. As for UVA, everyone says it is a great school and asks, “What conference do they play in?” The ACC has too many programs that are perceived, fairly or unfairly, as weak sisters waiting for round ball to start. After all the original ACC members can lay claim to only two mythical national championships, one by Maryland in the early 1950’s and Clemson in the early 1980’s, long, long, before any of today’s high school hot shots were born. The best way for the Institute to recruit is to dangle instant playing time in front of a kid, academics won’t sell, weekends in Miami are balanced off by weekends in Winston-Salem and Raleigh. Tell them they can play a lot quicker in Grant’s Tomb than they would in Sanford or Neyland, that might pick up one or two kids who are dreaming of the early entry draft into the NFL.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 05:51 PM | Link to this

It will never be in writing as such suggestions never are, but ask yourself the question :

If you were Gailey, would you have wanted Houston playing given all of the factors that surrounded this issue, the ridicule, the negative publicity, how the other players felt about it, etc? Did playing Houston really make that big a difference to the outcome of the game? I am asking because I did not see most of the game. Would playing the player(s) that played that position all year have been that much worse?

Now ask yourself the question if Tech’s original actions (kicking him out of school and off the team) were too harsh. I don’t think so if he is guilty, but that has not been determined yet and the courts came to the conclusion that he had been dealt with unfairly. According to the court order, he was treated unfairly given the precedent set, not only by Tech, but by other NCAA colleges. So, in it’s order the court ordered that he be treated fairly and fairly under the precedent set was a one game suspension until such time as he is either acquitted or found guilty.

And yes, Gailey could have made just about any excuse not to play him, but he probably would have to explain it in the future to a jury that might just not think as he does for whatever reason. I can see the lawsuit now if Gailey had not played him. He, personally, would have been sued if Houston was found not guilty of hurting any potential pro career he migth of had. And RTG, Houston is not a drug dealer until convicted as such and his lawyer would have an easy time with that. Gailey took the easy way out and I don’t blame him for that.

I wish Houston would never have put the Institution, Gailey or himself in this position, but I understand that there may (and is) more to this than most think. That is why Braine made the comment that this decision will now casue issues/ripples throughout the NCAA. This is, to my knowledge, the first time a football player’s fate is being forced upon a school by the court’s. It’s a whole new set of circumstances that Gailey, Braine, The Board of Regents and Houston have found themselves having to deal with.

Did Houston play against UGA? I do not remember hearing his name at all.

By Ricky

November 29, 2005 06:00 PM | Link to this

Houston did play. He tried to take a cheap shot at Leonard Pope’s knees while he was being tackled and he got beat on a couple of pass plays.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 06:05 PM | Link to this

Master Baiter - Welcome back from your travels. I trust business is good down south.

I agree with most of your comments. The curriculum is limited, the facilities are not as good as they could, or should be and I would not say lack of fan support as much as attendance. The issues of attendance are, for the most part, not a lack of support. Tech’s alum are scattered much more widely due to where the engineering job opportunities are. In my six years out here close to the left coast, I have run across more Tech grads than I can count while only running across four or five SEC grads (one other UGA grad besides my wife, two UF, one UK).

I also think your comments about the ACC are off base. The people out here are more into the west coast schools and not any more knowlegable about the SEC than they are about the SEC. They don’t take much time thinking about either the SEC or the ACC, or The Big East, etc. Plus, when you are talking recruiting, it’s the Southeast that matters and UGA dominates there, no question. I think Tech really has to go after more of the recruit that can be molded than the one that already is great and an identified four or five star recruit except where they have an immediate need to fill and the recruit can see that immediate playing time is in his future. There will be exceptions to your comments that all high school athletes have visions of the NFL in their head and don’t care about academics. Tech just need to get to those guys quickly, but they are the eception rather than the rule.

That being said, welcome back and congrats on the game sat, good luck this sat.

By GTVegas

November 29, 2005 06:07 PM | Link to this

Thanks Ricky - Just didn’t hear his name, sounds like he wasn’t much of a factor, certainly not like Minter.

By critic

November 29, 2005 08:06 PM | Link to this

I think I saw Al Davis on the FBI most wanted list…man that guy is the most negative, mean, negative, mean , negative, negative…you know!

By Master Baiter

November 29, 2005 10:58 PM | Link to this

GTVegas, business is good down south but, I was visiting friends and clients for a little fishing trip. Maybe next time will be business. I appreciate the compliment for last Saturday’s game even though I predicted 28-14, I guess I was half right. The Institute defense was better than I thought but, the special teams were worse than I thought. They kept letting UGA gain field position on every punt and I felt that eventually the Dawgs would get close enough to score and pull the game out. I sat with some friends and our section was mostly UGA with only a smattering of bug fans, almost all of whom were civil although not cordial but, I didn’t expect the welcome mat. Thank goodness for MARTA, I have had two cars vandalized on the Institute campus and wouldn’t risk a third. That being said, I still think that the ACC has a very long way to go to be thought of in the same way as the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, and PAC 10. The only ACC stronghold is NC,VA, and MD, with FLA as a toss up. BC has New England to themselves. The SEC is much stronger, support and recruiting, in GA and SC, and the rest of the southeast barely recognizes the ACC. Try finding articles about the mighty ACC in Knoxville, Birmingham, Jackson, Memphis, and New Orleans papers. Those papers cover the ACC games but during the week they only devote cursory coverage to the league. Most fans form attachments to schools and teams they are familiar with, epecially the high school football playing fans. Even Miami doesn’t do particularly well recruiting the southeast. North Carolina and Virginia can’t produce enough talent to stock all the programs in those two states, and ask Friedgen if getting all the good players in Maryland will produce a consistent winner. The Terps have to recruit against Penn State, Pitt, and W.Virginia and come out losers to all three on facilities, tradition, and fan support. The two Florida members of the ACC will always do the best job of recruiting because of facilities and weather, I pity the coach who follows Beamer at VTech. I am not a ACC hater, I have two children who graduated from UNC which makes the Tar Heels my second favorite college program but I recognize that in the scheme of college football the Heels will never attain the level of Notre Dame, basketball is another story. It only take six or seven good players to make a team competetive on the national level. I don’t think that adding the new teams hurt the ACC but it certainly didn’t give it any big prestige boost. The ACC picked up south Florida where the fans don’t really support any teams except the Dolphins, you picked up New England where most fans don’t even know that colleges have football teams all they care about is the NFL, and picking up VTech didn’t add any exposure in the Mid-Atlantic area since UVA and Maryland were already there. All in all the old ACC teams opted for a more tv money and bowl money by having a championship game and picking up a couple of more mid level bowls. I regularly travel the east coast the midwest and southwest on business, seldom venture to the west coast, and in all my travels and and discussions about college football I have never heard anyone outside the Maryland to N.Carolina area say “how about that new ACC? Man, that is going to be some powerhouse conference.” The ACC was a day late and a dollar short with their expansion especially with Boston College, I have nothing agains BC, it just doesn’t fit(geographically) with the rest of the ACC. The only thing the Eagles have in common with the rest of the conference is that Massachusetts does touch on the Atlantic Ocean.