John Brock's Georgia Tech memories include attending Saturday morning classes followed by football games at Grant Field. More than 40 years later, his fondness for Yellow Jackets football endures. Brock, the chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, and his wife, Mary, provided the lead gift for Tech's new $9 million indoor facility, which bears their name.
Eight facts about the Brocks, gleaned from an interview with Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
1. Brock said the gift came from a meeting with Tech coach Paul Johnson in early summer last year. Brock asked what Johnson needed to take the program to the next level. The answer was an indoor practice building, which would allow the team to practice in all conditions and help with recruiting.
The Brocks' giving to Tech has largely been done on the academic side. They've endowed chairs in biomedical engineering both at Tech and Emory and also have funded a scholarship for chemical engineering, which was Brock's major. Brock is also chairman of the school's campaign to raise $1.5 billion.
John Brock liked the indoor facility idea from the start. Mary Brock was won over by the potential that a winning football team can have on increased giving to the school.
"Yes, I want Georgia Tech to win, but for me, that added benefit is really important," she said.
2. The donation agreement for the facility apparently didn't include a set of keys. When the Brocks arrived last Tuesday to the Mary R. and John F. Brock III Indoor Football Practice Facility for an interview, they needed to be let in.
3. Even high-powered executives talk trash. Brock said three of his six direct reports are Georgia fans, while Brock is the only Tech alumnus in that circle. He said they text back and forth during games ("really just nasty stuff") and have the typical Monday banter at the office.
4. Brock's favorite game since returning to Atlanta to work for Coca-Cola in 2006 is Georgia Tech's 45-42 win over Georgia in 2008, which broke the Bulldogs' seven-game winning streak in the series. The Brocks were in the Coke suite at Sanford Stadium with two of their children and a few Tech friends, huddled in a corner throughout the Georgia-dominated first half in a box full of Georgia fans.
As Tech fans well remember, Jonathan Dwyer ran 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half.
Said Brock, "We were totally obnoxious the rest of the game."
5. The Brocks attend every home game when they're in town and have trips planned for the Virginia and N.C. State games. When they don't attend road games, they invite Tech friends over to their residence at the St. Regis hotel in Buckhead for viewing parties on their 60-inch HDTV.
6. Three of Brock's favorite Tech players are legends from the 1960s: quarterbacks Kim King and Billy Lothridge, and defensive back Bill Eastman.
"I think the players that are most notable are the ones who excel both on the field and off the field and are leaders," Brock said.
7. In the wake of the NCAA's ruling that Tech failed to cooperate with an NCAA investigation and meet the conditions and obligations of membership, Brock said the penalties were "substantially out of line" and supports the school's appeal regarding vacating the 2009 ACC championship.
8. Brock's forecast for the season: "I think, finally, if we get our special-team issues dealt with, if we get turnovers in our favor, and if we have a few big plays, we're going to win a lot of ballgames."
About the Author
