In a statement, Vad Lee said good-bye to Georgia Tech on Friday, ending a three-year relationship that began with the highest hopes and concluded with disappointment and well-wishes.
He called the decision to transfer difficult and said he will remain close to his teammates and that he will miss the support he received from the Tech fan base. He thanked coach Paul Johnson for the opportunity to play and to work with former Tech assistant Brian Bohannon and his replacement Bryan Cook. He also thanked recruiting coordinator Andy McCollum, who helped bring Lee to Tech from Durham, N.C.
“My decision was also difficult because I know firsthand the talent coming back next season,” he said in the statement. “I just felt that it is a good time for me to get a fresh start on my final two years of college.”
The school also released a statement from Johnson.
“Vad is a young man with high character, and I appreciate all the work that he put into our program and to Georgia Tech during his three years here,” he said. “This is a decision made by Vad and his family, and while you don’t like losing talented players, I wish nothing but the best for Vad in the future.”
Lee started all 13 games for Tech this season, culminating in the Music City Bowl loss to Ole Miss on Monday. He had big-play ability as a passer — had he accumulated enough pass attempts to qualify, his 8.7 yards per attempt average would have ranked fourth in the ACC and in the top 20 in the country — but he had difficulty running the Yellow Jackets’ option offense.
It turned out to be a busy day for statements. Later Friday, Johnson refuted a Twitter post from a CBS Sports columnist that he was unhappy at Tech and hoped to be bought out of his contract. Johnson’s contract runs through the 2016 season and, with three seasons remaining, has almost $8 million left on the deal.
“The rumors on social media are not true,” he said in a statement. “I plan on being the head coach at Georgia Tech into the future. I look forward to finishing up recruiting and getting ready for the 2014 season.”
About the Author
