AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHow would a statue go over at Tech?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m thinking a little outside of the box today, more about politics than sports. And my question has been triggered by reading one of Chip’s recent Georgia blogs.
Before you stop reading, consider the question: What kind of fuss would there be if there was an attempt to erect a statue of a sports figure at Tech?
I don’t know all the ins and outs of politics at Tech, not by a long shot, but I know the old guard is not exactly revered by the new guard (which is, what? whoever isn’t in the old guard?).
So would the old guard, the Hill, etc., favor a statue?
I understand it would have a lot to do with who was proposed for the statue. I’m guessing the fuss among old guarders would be greatly reduced if it were to be a statue of someone with whom they could easily relate, like, say, Bobby Dodd.
Yet there are some clear old school views among the old guard, and I’m not smart enough to know if the idea of a new statue on campus — no matter who it might be of — would rankle just on principle.
Sure, location would also be a trigger point for dissent, and size, etc.
But, I wonder, in general, how would the idea go over?
Tech’s a very different place than Georgia, obviously. And the forum for political wrangling is therefore much, much smaller. There are fewer students, far fewer alumni, and — at least from my view — a much greater percentage of the alumni base is disenfranchised from Tech than at Georgia. More move away, more never cared about athletics in the first place, etc.
That leaves a much smaller group of people to get ticked off, but probably increases the volume of voices within a crowd of potential dissenters. And those who are passionate about Tech are every bit as passionate as alumni anywhere. There are just fewer of them, and there is a more distinct split in the nature of their passions (athletics vs. academics) than at a lot of other schools.
Thoughts?
Matt
Comments
By GTA
February 21, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Don’t we already have a statue of Heisman in the lobby outside the football press room?
I think people would care less about a statue here than they would at Georgia. Unless it was ridiculously expensive, it’d probably go pretty under the radar. I mean, not even 10% of the people at Tech even know about the plaques outside of the AA commemorating our national championships.
By scooter11
February 21, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
I’m guessing you could put Vince’s statue at the institute, and not many would know to complain. Of course, Vince did have a pretty good record there.
By Tom
February 21, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Well, Matt, obviously a statue of Coach Dodd would meet little-to-no opposition. Even a statue of Homer Rice near the building bearing his name (Center for Sports Performance) would go over without much fuss, imo.
Neither man brought any shame or scandal to The Flats, nor was either the subject of as much as the disparaging rumor or innuendo.
Nobody more contemporary than these two would really merit consideration.
With these two points combined, any comparison to the turmoil over the issue in Athens is moot, at best.
**
By FlagBoy Fan
February 21, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
I think they should errect a statue of Flagboy at the entrance of the stadium. For all the glory he brought to the Bug Nation by twirling his flag in his bright costume he should memoralized. Nothing says football more than seeing a man dressed in a spirt team outfit.
By HEISMAN JACKET
February 21, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
GT already has a statue of Former GT Coach John Heisman. It has been moved from outside the AA to inside the AA. As a GT student, I remember Heisman’s statue being painted with Joe Hamilton’s jersey when Hamilton was in the Heisman race. I miss seeing it on Gamedays and wish the AA would move Coach Heisman’s statue back outside.
By Cremins
February 21, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
It would probably be more accurate to compare an attempt to rename Alexander Memorial to Alexander - Cremins. Didn’t happen - it is Cremins court instead. Similar to naming the field in Athens after Dooley like some want.
By m
February 21, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
We could have a statue of Chandler Gailey….as a reminder of the kind of coach NOT to EVER hire again. Thank God and Greyhound he is gone. HALLEEEDAMLOOYAH!!!
By GT
February 21, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
If you can’t even remember what statues you have now why would you think a new one would hit the spot.
By Hunk Erdown
February 21, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
A statue at Ga Tech? Are you kidding me? Within a week he would be turned into an android and elected president of the dungeons and dragons club.
By FIX THE ROOF
February 21, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
Before erecting a statue, I would suggest plugging the roof! What an embarrassment!
By Bulldawg Bob
February 21, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
How about a statue of Vince Dooley at Tech? He basically owned Tech during his career? haha
By Wow.
February 21, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
Football stadium has obstructed views and now the basketball arena leaks.
Nice engineering. wow…
By Bowie
February 21, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
A statue for Paul Hewitt a Coach not to hire again. What a joke.
By GT DB
February 21, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
I realize it was different eras, but a statue of Joe Hamilton throwing to CJ works for me. Or a statue of the Black Watch D or 1990 citrus bowl National Champs.
Dog fans would probably like to see a statue of reggie ball throwing a pick to Vince Dooley!! Get off our blog, and have fun walking miles to see Vince Dooley’s statue.(great coach, great man, but c’mon, he is not a pretty sight to see anyway!)
By In touch with reality
February 21, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
Hey Wow,
The reason the Coliseum leaks is we have all UGA grads as our facilities workers. Best they could do. They were sympathy hires.
By wow
February 21, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
In touch,
Is that true? Did those people ACTUALLY go to UGA like I did? Or are you just trying to make a lame joke to cover up the fact that your athletic facilities are engineering embarassments? I think the latter.
Enjoy that false sense of superiority. Hope it keeps you warm after your 8th straight loss next year.
By Wrecker1
February 21, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
wow it’s very obvious you couldn’t have gone to TECH. Leaks can be a fact of life on any building, especially one 50 years old. If those Ugag grads working in maintenance had been doing their jobs therewouldn’t be a problem. I can think of only two people that would warrant a statue and that would of course be Robert Lee Dodd (in the stadium area) and William A. Alexander with his being placed at either the stadium or t the Dome. My gosh if we’re going to have a statue of Heisman it should be where the general public can enjoy it and not stored away where very people/fans can see it.
By Matt Winkeljohn
February 22, 2008 1:12 AM | Link to this
Pretty good point by Wrecker1.
There is at least one statue at Tech that I know of, the Heisman statue.
And it is all but hidden away where virtually nobody can see it.
Maybe that’s anecdotal evidence of why I asked the question in the first place: is there something about Tech and its people that averts the concept of something so iconic as a statue?
Is such a concept too liberal-artsy?
Matt
By Hunk Erdown
February 22, 2008 3:33 AM | Link to this
They put up a statue at Ga Tech several years ago but had to remove it. It was bad enough that the year book committee voted in the statue as “best personality” and “most popular” but after the pigeons decorated it, the statue also won “best dressed”.
By Bravesfan79
February 22, 2008 3:59 AM | Link to this
Good news fellow Tech fans, GT is up in the running with Clemson and Florida State for Derrick Favors. The top prospect in the Nation.
Lets hope Derrick wants to stay home and play in front of his family!!
Im tired of people talking on here about GT isnt a bigtime program. Yea we havent had the year in and year out success that others have had, but when we have a good team we make the best of it! Gt has had more players play in the NBA since the 80’s than any other school outside of NC.
And WEVE DAMN SHURE had more success than Clemson or FSU!
And common matt…u gotta realize man that alot of fans of GT NEVER went to Tech. Like myself, have been a hardcore Tech basketball fan since the days of beating Minnesotta on the way to the final 4 back in the day. After highschool i went off to play soccer at a small college in north ga. (piedmont college to be exact) i actually made the basketball team as a 5”10 white guy that was a pretty fckin good shooter, but never had any real coaching so i sucked at the drills. Needless to say when i got caught drinking underage (what freshman dosent) i was the perfect “example” and got kicked off the team the next day.
I guarntee if i had been 6”10 i woulda got a slap on the wrist, but thats life.
By Kevin
February 22, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
I didn’t go to UGA or Tech. I can’t believe Tech doesn’t have statues of Heisman & Dodd already! What the heck are you waiting for? Do it, it may change your luck.
By Chris
February 22, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
Kevin-
We named the stadium after Dodd and there is a statue of Heisman, though it may be moved into the lobby of the Edge building.
Yeah, the roof leak is a bit embarassing, but do you really think Tech engineers had much, if anything, to do with the leak? The McTit was built 50+ years ago by some contractor and is maintained by Facilities, which means it might as well not be maintained.
Yeah, the roof shouldn’t have leaked, but mocking engineers from one of the top 10 engineering colleges in the country for a roof leak at an old basketball arena is assinine. Grow up, Georgia fans.
By Heisman
February 22, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
The Heisman statue is in the football lobby to prevent vandalism. Can’t wait to see how the Dooley statue gets abused.
By scooter11
February 22, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Chris: Would blaming the architects make you feel better?
By jabster
February 22, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
IIRC the Heisman statue was always being painted, such as Heisman’s megaphone being painted, or the aforementioned case of JoeHam’s jersey. That’s probably why it was moved.
And blaming Tech engineers/architects for the leaks at the AMC is silly.
If my dog dies should I blame the UGA vet that treats her?
If I get audited by the IRS should I blame my UGA accountant?
If someone rips up the hedges, or if sewage bubbles up in the middle of Sanford Stadium should I blame the UGA landscape architects (wait—those events really DID happen—that’s why we call it The Cesspool Of The South)?
If my fries are overdone should I blame the UGA liberal arts major that cooked them (ok, maybe I should in that case…)
By scooter11
February 22, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
“Yes” to all of your questions, then see how far it gets you.
By Tom
February 22, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
uh-oh….scooter’s getting rankled ;)
By braveswin
February 22, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
If someones does work that furthers an institution over and above what the institution was before he came then a statue is an appropriate way to honor his legacy.In my opinion only the moron that is Mike Adams would stand in the way of such an honor.Nowhere else on the globe would a statue cause such turmoil.And if Adams was a MAN it wouldn’t be an issue in Athens.Vince Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium….has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?
By SanDiegoJacket
February 22, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Please
No statues……..we’re not a Communist Country with cult leaders.
LSDL (Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!!)
SanDiegoJacket
By shane #1
February 22, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
look,it’s bad enough that we have had a blog about a statue on the uga site since the twelth,but i come on this site hoping to read about a little football and you are talking about statues that aren’t even planned!AAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!would someone please talk to a football player or coach on one of these sites?spring practice starts soon,how about a little bit of information.thanks,shane
By JakcetGrad07
February 22, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
I don´t think anyone would mind, really, there´s no tradition against statues. There are, however, really only three statues at Tech right now: The Olympic Flame (Ice Cream Cone) near the Student Center, the statue of Dean Griffan (sp?) next to the flame, and the Heisman statue. Getting a statue would probably be a bigger deal than at UGA, where there´s a good number of sculptures on campus.