AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USJumping around on The Flats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thoughts on a few topics like Tech’s in-state football recruiting, the start of Kristi Miller’s pro tennis career and the start time of men’s basketball.
It can only be a good thing when Tech lands more in-state football players, right? Or would you rather have a more talented player even if he’s from out of state? Do you take a certain number of more talented players from out of state, and then try to limit out-of-staters past a point so that a certain minimum percentage of players are from Georgia? What are the benefits of an in-state player versus one from out of state? Inquiring minds wanna know.
And I’m talking about talent here, not stars or ratings, not that anybody can really assess the talent until kids get out on the field and do it.
Hope to sit down and speak a bit with coach Paul Johnson Wednesday morning. More to come on that.
Kristi Miller began her pro career over the weekend in Houston, in a USTA tournament. She had to go through qualifying because she lost her ranking last year when she was out for wrist surgery. There, she won two and then lost the match that would’ve landed her in the 32-player draw.
Former Tech teammate Amanda McDowell is in the 32-player draw. I don’t know how she got in without going through qualifying. Maybe by ranking/points? I’m sort of new to this. She’s playing her first match as I’m writing (if the schedule on the USTA website is correct). It started at 10 Houston time. Amanda’s still an amateur, and will return to Tech as the defending national singles champion for her junior year. Former Marist star.
The two are in the doubles draw together, but haven’t played yet. Can’t find the full doubles schedule.
Paul Hewitt’s speaking this morning, perhaps also as I write as the Knight Commission was to meet from 8:30 to noon in the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., as coaches and administrators look for ways to improve academic performance of basketball players.
He would love to push the start of the basketball season back, ideally to after the first semester. No way that’s going to happen, and he knows it, but he thinks the idea of a couple of weeks has a chance to fly eventually. I say why not? Seems crazy to me that basketball players start full squad practices in mid-October and games in early November. How about a Nov. 1 or so practice start, games to begin around Thanksgiving, as a lot of football teams finish up?
No way the whole season is going to be pushed back in the spring. You think CBS, which holds the uber-gold meal ticket that is the NCAA basketball tournament is going to allow that to be pushed so as to overlap the Masters, which CBS also has the rights to televise? Uh, yeah, and gas prices should be around $1.50 a gallon by July 4th.
Matt
P.S. Hewitt still hopes to add a player for the ‘08-‘09 season, and although the spring signing period is over that doesn’t prevent him from doing that.
Tech got a start on next year’s class with Brian Oliver, a guard from Oak Hill. Committed the other day. Hoping for good news today or tomorrow from Negedu (sp?; Memphis, Tennessee and Indiana I think are other teams still in the mix).
The ‘09 signing class(es) could be HUGE if Tech lands the PG from down south and the big kid from right here in Atlanta.
And here’s a question: would it make sense to consolidate basketball signings into one period (bearing in mind that kids can sign outside the two signing periods anyway)? And how about moving up the football signing date while we’re at it?
Comments
By ZachRoyse
June 17, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
Your credibility goes out the window as you aren’t sure that your spelling of Negedu is correct. A quick one minute google search could pop up his last name as well as the three schools he is considering. You are right with the spelling and the names but the fact that you are confident in these choices will make people question your writing.
By Richard
June 17, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
“The ‘09 signing class(es) could be HUGE if Tech lands the PG from down south and the big kid from right here in Atlanta.”
Good to see the high quality reporting at the AJC. “the PG from down south” certianly tells me more than a name would.
Anyways, enough of that. I can’t think of a single rational fan that cares where the recruit comes from. If hes from Georgia, Florida, Russia or the moon, the only think that matters is can the kid play. I’ll take a good player from Alaska over a bad one from Georgia anyday.
By gt fan
June 17, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
i think the instate recruiting is a good idea.
it should help with higher profile instate recruits for years to come.
we dont have the budget that uga has so we can get more bang for the buck
less travel and a tighter recruiting base will allow for more in depth player evaluation and less misses.
players from georgia tend to understand THE hate we have for uga. that cant hurt our chances at getting back on a winning streak against the goats. beating the goats can only help our recruiting in georgia an nationally.
more players from georgia should help our ticket sales and help gain more sidewalk fans.
being homesick will not be so prevalent with local players. reference jamal evans.
its a win win situation.
By CarolinaJacket
June 17, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
So good ole Brian is coming back. Is he bringing the other two Lethal Weapons with him?
I surely agree that Tech needs to improve its in-state recruiting, and it looks like they are working on it. Obviously, that does not exclude signing some top players from out of state. Some of our very best have been from elsewhere.
Good luck to the tennis gals. They are both very good.
Finally, I would certainly like to see football signing day moved up. It does seem like it comes awfully late.
Nice article Matt.
By gt fan
June 17, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
so richard your saying that you dont trust the instincts of coach paul johnson?
that makes zero sense. of course we want the best players available but it sure is a whole lot easier to evaluate a player THOUROUGHLY that lives an hour away from tech as opposed to alaska. or russia.
last time i looked chan gailey was recruiting nation wide and that resulted in consitant 7 win seasons and an 0-7 against the goats.
also i do believe that ga players understand the rivalry better…. as coach paul johnson pointed out.
beating the goats is a top priority for tech now. it seemed to be an afterthought with chan. the results speak for themselves!
By TechRules
June 17, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
If I remember correctly, the Institute charges GTAA out-of-state tuition for out-of-state scholarship S-A’s. Can anyone confirm this?
By Matt Winkeljohn
June 17, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
OK, Zach has trust issues. I’ll get over them.
The PG’s name is Mfon Udofia, from Miller Grove High. He’s from Lithonia.
The big kid, of course, is Derrick Favors from South Atlanta High.
Hoops are recruiting hard in-state, too, and not just these kids.
Who came back to check on this?
By old gold engineer
June 17, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
We need in-state players and more wins to develop more fans, which helps get more and better in-state players, which results in more wins and even more fans, etc. etc. But if we can’t meet our needs with in-state kids, by all means let’s continue to recruit nationally. I’m surrounded by UGA fans since they’re on a roll right now. Eight years ago I was surrounded by FSU fans while they were on a roll. GT was starting to pick up some casual fans (those with no direct ties to the school) back in the last few years of the O’Leary era. The past six years of Chan Gailey’s team’s mediocrity and annual losses to UGA pretty well eradicated those casual fans. That trend can be reversed if local kids attend GT and the program starts having more success, especially against UGA. Three or four wins in a row over UGA will pick up some uncommitted casual fans and knock a few off the UGA bandwagon.
By the way, it seems Kristi Miller never was quite as successful after the wrist surgery. Best of luck to her in the future.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
June 17, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
I think it would have made sense to fire Hewitt last year.
He has destroyed GT Basketball, next year will be horrible. He will be fired, 2 years to late.
By old gold engineer
June 17, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Matt, welcome back from vacation. I look forward to you continuing to keep us informed since Mike transferred. Do you know when fall football practice will begin? Hard to believe it’s already mid-June and August will be here before we know it. I wish the GT baseball team was still playing in the CWS. I reckon Coach Hall deserves some slack due to the loss of a player this year, but I think his seat should be getting warm.
By surfrider
June 17, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Recruiting seems to be the water for college. It all starts there in all sports. The key at Tech though is combine it with the academics and ability to hang around or graduate where both player and school get the benefit of years of education/on field performance. As for in state/out of state it depends on that years talent pool and who is qualified. With budget concerns and time if a good instate player can be obtained great but the best available should be obtained. There should not be a min. but in plenty of years Tech could only recruit 10 to 15 instate talented/qualified players. In that case it’s better to get a Marco Coleman from Cleveland or a Willie Clay/Jimy Lincoln from Pitt, or Matt Urovich? from Chicago or several from LA. or Fl. etc..But Pepper recruited outstanding players from Ga. like Eddie Lee Ivery, Kent Hill, Drew Hill, Mackel Harris, etc..And Bill Curry, Bobby Ross, George O’leary and Gailey did a little bit of both.
By gt fan
June 17, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
the only reason ph is still here is because when he is canned he will play the race card. our current athletic budget can not take a hit while we still are paying off chan.
it is obvious he has NO love for gt like bobby cremins still does. ph’s recent tirad during a radio show allowed for his REAL emotions towards gt to show.
…but for gt, hewitt would be a second rate coach for a second rate school in seinna. the only reason he came to gt is because it is high profile in an nba city.
ph is an empty suit waiting on an invite to coach in the nba.
funny how we hired ph to re energize and move the program to the next level. unfortunately he has taken us in the opposite direction.
as was shown by our recent mediorce record with 3 nba players on our roster… gt is NOT limited by the players we have but by the coach.
ph is jut not the guy to coach up a player no matter how good he is.
so expect more of the same no matter who we recruit.
when we still finish in the bottom half of the league. when we still miss out on the ncaa’s. when we still go one and done in the acc tourney.
remember i told ya so….
and please stop with the excuses. to hear the same excuses over an over again is tiresome.
By GT76
June 17, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
In my view, Hewitt gets this next season to see if he will get more. They have to finish in the top 3, beat UNC and/or DUKE at least once, and get a top 5 seed in the tourney, otherwise I agree it is time for him to go.
The in state recruiting debate has been just that for 30 years. I trust Coach Johnson to pick guys who are already good, but who he thinks will grow in all aspects and who truly want to come to Georgia Tech. Of course it makes sense to find them as close to Atlanta as possible, but I think we have always had 10-20 on the roster from other states. I don’t think it would make sense to have 80 guys from Georgia. You need a few guys from up north, or out west to round out the culture.
As far as affording out of state scholarships I doubt if that is an issue. If it is we are “in deep” financially.
By Sports Fan
June 17, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Matt…
So if the home uni’s are back to the traditional white tops and gold bottoms, has there been any discussion about road uni’s. I just hate that they wear the same set for both home and road games.
By Sports Fan
June 17, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Matt…
So if the home uni’s are back to the traditional white tops and gold bottoms, has there been any discussion about road uni’s. I just hate that they wear the same set for both home and road games.
By CarolinaJacket
June 17, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
GT76, I’m sure that Tech will continue to bring in some top out of state players, but if we can get some more of the locals it might slow UGA down a bit. In recent years we have not competed against them very well as far as getting the top Ga. players (or in winning football games). Johnson is going to get the job done.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
June 17, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Johnson will get it done with whoever he gets.
gt fan, you’re right, but you can’t say you told me so.
By Jason
June 17, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
So, are you going to complain about the coach of your kid’s summer league swim team?
By Matt Winkeljohn
June 17, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
Nice Jason, real advanced.
My kids swim, but not on teams. How about yours?
By Yves St. Lawrence
June 17, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
Regarding the young men’s uniforms, I prefer the ones that look like the seats in Grant’s Tomb….the color of empty.
By Kendall
June 17, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
So what are you guys talking about over here while we are in the college world series? Oh. Uniform colors. Wow. Have fun with that.
By Joe Hamilton - A Tech Alum
June 17, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
I say the Tech football team should wear the old gold panties at home and the white thongs on the road.
By Elbert Einstein
June 17, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
I say you geniuses should DESIGN a new uniform….create something out of whole cloth…or hole cloth…NOBODY CARES!
By Hale Topay
June 17, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
If the young “men” don’t wear anything but no one is there to see them, are they still naked?
By Rose Enblatt
June 17, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
Wishing you underachievers were here, so we could beat you once AGAIN when it COUNTS! See you in November (8). Have a nice day.
By Recrooter Cogburn
June 17, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Considering how many HS kids play football in Georgia, there should be plenty of them available for GIT…that is, after GEORGIA signs the best ones! Of course with your rigorous academics, it’s amazing anybody would qualify…right? Why even try? I’m sure you could sell as many tickets for watching exams…
By Male...Junk
June 17, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
I am so tired of opening junk mail and finding Tech football tickets. However, the coupons for cokes and hotdogs are nice.
By Buzz29
June 17, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
I understand your pain male junk. I can’t even ride through athens anymore without getting a phd of beef jerky preparations degree thrown into my car window.
By Mr. Smart
June 18, 2008 2:18 AM | Link to this
Including your IQ in your Name was brilliant, Buzz.
By Eunie Phorms
June 18, 2008 2:21 AM | Link to this
Whatever color you choose, just be sure it doesn’t blend into the Boise State field for your annual Roady’s Blue Bowl.
By Bill
June 18, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Derrick Favors is the local kid , I assume this article is referring to. True impact player that would put Tech in many top 10 discussions. Hewitt has to get this kid or it may be difficult for him…..how can anyone with half a brain suggest Danny Hall should be on the hot seat?? He went to the CWS in 2006, was left out of the NCAA’s by a corrupt selection committee in 07, had a 7 RPI and was made a second seed by that same band of jokers in 2008 ( never has happened since 64 team expansion that top 10 RPI a 2 seed). He has an outstanding core of frosh and sophs coming back with a class in 09 that will be at least top 15 if Miller and Pope go to school. Granted there is frustration with Perno’s success in athens, but if anyone thinks Hall should be in trouble has a serious problem with reality. The Hutts case is a very sad tragic isolated incident. Back off the guy and give him some slack. Tech will be in Omaha in 2009 and/or 2010. BTW, Tech has been to Omaha twice since 2002…which more than EIGHT SEC teams. Give him some credit for a very good season with tragedy and low expectations.
By Rob
June 18, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
I don’t know why you mites are obsessed with firing coaches. Mediocrity is an excellent outcome for the trade school.
By old gold engineer
June 18, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
Bill, I appreciate your optimism regarding Tech’s future baseball outlook. I’m ready for better postseason results than we’ve seen in the last decade.
By Genius Jacket
June 18, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Our academics don’t allow us to be good in sports. Just ask Joe Hamilton and Stephon Marbury.
By Hal
June 18, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
The 1990 championship team had quite a few out of state players that were starters so don’t ignore the effort to get them. The thing to remember when you recrit the top players in state is that it’s almost like you get 2 for 1 because your in state rival looses 1 while you gain 1.
By bill
June 18, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this
Old Gold Engineer…I understand everyone wants NCAA titles. Georgia winning this year would be nauseating. But no ACC team has won since 1815 and perhaps the team should have a couple more Omaha visits this decade. But it’s not like Tech is lousy. Getting to Omaha this year was stomped out the day the selection committee screwed over Tech. Tn was better in 2005 in the supers. Really, if you tell me Tech should have been there EPat’s jr year, I agree .Or maybe 2003 when they got beat at home in 2. But 2006 was only 2 CWS’s ago. Tech had a solid year this year with a team few expected would get 40 wins. Tech will be very good next year. Count on it.
By Jacketnation
June 19, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Barach Hussien Osama, the lying Muslim running for president. After he’s eleted there will not be Baseball, Football or a nation like we know it.
By Ramblin'Wreck
June 19, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
I personally would like to see more in state recruits, but at the same time, if we can land top talent from out of state, let’s grab ‘em! I agree with earlier posts though, I think it’s important to the rivalry to grab in state guys. We all love to hate UGA.
By Buzz
June 19, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
I quit. My school sucks.
By Buzz
June 19, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
I quit. My school sucks.
By Barnack Frombama
June 20, 2008 2:13 AM | Link to this
To the “old engineer”. My friend, you need to stay on the train, better yet they need to demote you from engineer to fireman and ride in the caboose. I can’t believe you call yourself a Tech Man and you don’t even know when Fall practice starts.
By Bravesfan79
June 21, 2008 4:20 AM | Link to this
GT Hoops will be just fine. We have a good coach whos a GREAT recruiter and can assemble a hell of a team. I do agree tho that we need some fresh blood among the assistants…to help him with game planning.
I also thought wed do better than we did with Jarvis running the PT, but he WAS only a freshman, and we ran into a pretty hot shooting UNLV team.
We will NO DOUBT be a top 6 ACC team this year, and a potential top 10 team in fall 09.
All you fools on here that dont know anything about basketball should quit posting your negativity on the blog.
Focus on what you know about (football) Althought GT HOOPS is 10 TIMES closer to a National Championship than football will ever be as long as the BCS is around!
You really think thed pick a 1 loss ACC champion team NOT named Miami or FSU…. OVER a 1 or 2 loss USC, Ohio State, Texas, or the SEC champ??
KEEP DREAMING!!
College Football is a joke of a sport. I will be proven right after another wasted joke of a season.