Probation!? I've Had it With Tech!

I’ve followed Georgia Tech sports my whole life. But this probation might be the last straw. Name one good reason why I should remain a Tech fan! With all these negatives listed below, even being a Tech grad just isn’t enough any more.

The arrogance is what I dislike the most…from the fan base, coaches, AD, and players. What exactly is there to be arrogant about? The details that follow add up to an average athletics program (at best). I see nothing exceptional to brag about.

I like DRad. He gets it. I don’t blame him for telling Paul Johnson about the NCAA inquiry. He’s making Georgia Tech the best it can be.

Paul Johnson does have an above average offensive mind. I like the way he takes chances, particularly when he goes for it on fourth down. But his arrogance places himself above the fan base that can support him (or not). He appears to not care if fans buy tickets. Doesn’t this pay his salary? If he’s so in love with his running game, why does he let quarterbacks pass ten times a game (when they’re so inaccurate?). Reverses and other oddball plays drop the percentage of options run to 50%. For goodness sakes, RUN the ball!

Recruiting: Receivers drop passes. Players repeatedly fall flat in big games. This is a product of poor coaching and arrogant “me first” players. But since Tech is so desperate for good players, they continuously take chances on those with attitude problems. Johnson comes off as harsh when he drops recruits for looking around. He may have a point, but it just makes Tech even less attractive to other recruits.

How can any reasonably-minded football fan think Tech can compete at the same level as Virginia Tech, much less UGA? The athletes GT recruits are obviously a step below UGA’s. You can look at them and tell! Short and squat (GT) compared to long-legged (UGA)

In the ACC, Tech’s athletes are third-tier at best…

1. VT, FSU

2. Clemson, UNC, Miami

3. Wake, NC State, GT, BC, MD, Virginia

4. Duke

Wins and losses are determined by determination, attitude, and superior coaching. Tech should almost always beat WF, MD, BC, NC State, and UVA. Instead they hardly break even against them.

Game day experience: The constant rap music says it all. GT has to completely cater to the inner-city athlete to get him to come to Tech.

With its downtown Atlanta campus and ACC affiliation, Tech should have no problem attracting elite black athletes, despite its engineering curriculum. Two turnoffs: Paul Johnson’s “once committed, don’t look around” arrogance, and Johnson’s high school offence. Athletes want to play in a pro-style offense, since they all think they’re headed to the NFL.

Alumni don’t cheer, except for the Budweiser song. They’re only there to be seen, not heard.

Schedule: In 2011 Tech boasts three weak non conference opponents. UGA and Clemson both play two strong non conference games. GT has so little clout they have to TRAVEL to places like Middle Tennessee State and Kansas. To the delight of the fan base, Tech has two Thursday night home games. One of them isn’t even regionally televised, much less nationally. Neither Clemson nor UGA play on Thursday night this year. How can so many other teams juggle schedules to play in prime-time Labor Day matchups, but not Tech?

Record: Tech boasts one of the longest current streaks of playing in bowl games. In this age of five and six win teams filling spots in the innumerable meaningless bowl games, is that really an accomplishment? Tech’s their record in these bowls is nothing to brag about. A halfway knowledgeable fan knows when he’s being bamboozled. DRad knows recruits today care little about what happened in the past. Years of 6-7-8 win seasons in the ACC is nothing to be arrogant about.

Uniforms: The Russell Athletics contract is further proof that Tech wallows in the dark ages. Though it’s nice that GT stands by their long-time small-time vendor, does Russell have to make changes EVERY year? (Including 2011!) What happened to Tech’s great tradition? Even the names on the jersey backs are old and ugly. Why does Russell dictate the uniform? Why not Tech? Not that they could do a better job (though I certainly could!). Before Russell lost the contact, Auburn’s uniforms never changed.

Nike keeps Georgia’s unis relatively traditional. The Dawgs get to show off Nike Combat unis that the players love, on national TV. Tech is lucky to make the ESPN web-cast.

Merchandizing: Why are GT T-shirts busy and ugly, but UGA’s simple and good looking? Of course, it’s hard to find a GT shirt anywhere. Tech fans don’t buy gear. If they own one cap, why buy another? Even if the cap they have is 20 years old. UGA, Clemson, SC, Bama, Auburn fans buy new caps every year.

Marketing: Billboards. UGA doesn’t need any. GT has ugly black billboards with an ancient typeface. Before you say “They’re traditional”…why isn’t the on-field typeface the same? Not that ANY Tech typefaces match. Whatever additional fans these fly be night marketing campaigns bring in are offset by the ridicule of Georgia fans. Is it really worth it?

I’ll keep up with Tech this year, because that’s what I do. It will just never be cool to be a Tech fan. Years ago Tech was the crown jewel of Southern college football. Now they’re more of an embarrassment.