Updates on Hewitt; updates on spring football
A New York paper yesterday quoted Georgia Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich as telling 790AM the Zone that basketball coach Paul Hewitt had a “golden contract.” It also paraphrased him saying that if Hewitt were to leave for St. John’s, Tech’s next coach would come from a mid-major college because of the Institute’s financial constraints.
The issue is Radakovich didn’t appear on 790AM, nor did he say those things.
Hewitt did meet with St. John’s athletic director Tuesday evening, a few hours after Radakovich gave the Storm permission to talk to Hewitt, but no details have been made available. Hewitt is not in his office at Georgia Tech and the voice mailbox on his cell phone is full. A spokesman for St. John’s declined to comment Wednesday morning.
The same New York paper reported earlier this week that Hewitt, Florida’s Billy Donovan and Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg were the Storm’s leading candidates. Donovan reportedly turned down an offer of $3 million a year.
Hewitt is from the New York area and is known as an outstanding recruiter who could tap into the wealth of talent in the five boroughs.
However, he has said that he and his family are happy in Atlanta and aren’t looking to leave.
Hewitt is 177-144 at Tech, including 67-93 in the ACC.
—
Turning to football, Paul Johnson sat down with the media to preview the spring practices, which begin on Monday.
Hitting the highlights:
There is no depth chart right now because everything is still very fluid. Johnson said they hope to leave the spring, which ends with the T-Day game on April 24, with a two-deep.
Based upon experience, he said Anthony Egbuniwe, Albert Rocker and Osahon Tongo are penciled in at one outside linebacker, with A.T. Barnes, Malcolm Munroe and Chris Crenshaw at the OLB. Logan Walls and T.J. Barnes are at nose tackle (though he hinted that Barnes could be moved to offensive line), with Izaan Cross, Euclid Cummings, Jason Peters, Emmanuel Dieke and J.C. Lanier at defensive ends.
But Johnson said Lanier could move to nose tackle and that Steven Sylvester could move from inside linebacker to outside linebacker. He’s one of several players that could switch positions. A couple of defensive ends could move to outside linebacker and a couple of defensive linemen could move to the offensive line. Johnson said that DL-to-OL switch would be done for two reasons: one, to balance the scholarship numbers between offense and defense, and two: “I’ve challenged them on the conditioning and weight,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to lie to them. That’s [the OL] where they are headed.”
But he stressed that everything’s so fluid there’s not much point in trying to read too much into anything.
Johnson said he’s excited to see which players will be able to take what they are learning about the new 3-4 defense from the classroom to the field.
“It’s going to be important to see how fast they can learn the terminology,” Johnson said. “I don’t know how much the techniques are different. Everybody wants to make it rocket science. It’s not rocket science.”
Switching to offense, Johnson said that he’s been impressed by early enrollee Charles Perkins during morning drills. B.J. Bostic, another early enrollee, will start out at slot but may get time at quarterback.
Replacing three starters on the offensive line will be one of the more interesting areas to watch, Johnson said.
“Got some young guys who we’ve got a chance to get a really good look at,” Johnson said. “They may be an upgrade, but they’ve got to show us. How hard are they going to work, what are they gong to do?”
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166 comments Add your comment
rainman
March 24th, 2010
7:59 pm
It would be stupid to have a 2-deep depth chart set in stone before spring practice has even started. Tech has plenty of depth, it’s a question of what their best position is with the move to the 3-4.
Reality
March 24th, 2010
8:03 pm
You guys are all retarded. That’s all there is to it.
UGA fans…..you’re UGA fans. That says it all. Idiots.
Tech fans…..you keep encouraging them and acknowledging them. I think if we just ignored them, they’d go away. Now THAT, my friends, is irrelevance.
Reality
March 24th, 2010
8:04 pm
Oh, and those of you talking about Tech’s loss to Ohio St in the second round of the NCAA tourney, I’m curious. How is it UGA did in their first round game of the NIT against……uhh……errr…..who exactly was it they played again? I mean, they weren’t THAT sad, to the point where they didn’t make the NIT, right?
Shut up.
superDawg
March 24th, 2010
8:09 pm
good luck you will need it.
George P Burdette
March 24th, 2010
8:28 pm
NY Daily news is reporting on their website that the Deal for Hewitt is done and just some minor details are being worked out. He may be announced tomorrow as the new coach. YEAH baby!!!!!
Doug Roberson
March 24th, 2010
8:40 pm
George: That’s not at all what the story says. Read it carefully.
WakeForest
March 24th, 2010
8:54 pm
Hewitt doesn’t have the guts to leave. He’s just milking the cow.
Wiggy
March 24th, 2010
8:59 pm
Hey UGA fans go urinate on the streets like you always do. I am 70 years old and took a pet to UGA vet. hospital. I might add a darn good facility. We went to eat in downtown Athens. Such a pig sty. You students need to get off your better then Tech attitude and clean up your streets. Is that so hard to understand? Is my team better than yours? We will see next year, looser to Florida, Tennessee, LS U and others. Without divine help, you humpers would have also lost against Tech. Four points is not exactly a blowout. Dream on dawgs. You will remain at the middle of the S.E.C division and I will tell you that Tech will win the national championship before you leg humpers do.
George P Burdette
March 24th, 2010
9:10 pm
HEY DOUG…HERE IT IS VERBATIM. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SAYS??
All signs point to Paul Hewitt becoming the next St. John’s basketball coach, the Daily News has learned.
Before anything can become official, a number of loose ends must be tied up. Hewitt is believed to be talking through the idea of relocating with his wife and three daughters. There is also the matter of reaching an agreement with Georgia Tech to end his long-term contract.
If the process doesn’t hit a snag on any of those fronts, Hewitt should be announced as the Red Storm’s new coach in anywhere from a matter of hours to days.
Doug Roberson
March 24th, 2010
9:17 pm
George: there are no facts, no sources, no…nothing.
He’s believed to be talking
the matter of reaching.
if it doesn’t hit a snag….
basically, it says nothing.
PlantationNBA
March 24th, 2010
9:20 pm
Thanks for the update at 9:05. It’s good to hear something even if its just status quo. Are the reports that Hewitt may be leaving soon by NY press based on substance or just conjecture?. It’s no secret that his family likes Atlanta, so talking his wife into it isn’t really hard to imagine. And it would seem logical that the buyout is of considerable significance.
PlantationNBA
March 24th, 2010
9:21 pm
Sorry, Doug, you just answered that question. Looking forward to next update.
Doug Roberson
March 24th, 2010
9:25 pm
Also, to say this: Hewitt may decide to go to St. John’s, and if he does the stories everyone writes should be fairly strong.
PlantationNBA
March 24th, 2010
9:26 pm
I don’t know Hewitt’s wife, but that might be a really big nasty insurmountable SNAG! He’s a coach and they are a coach’s family so hopefully they recognize that this may be his best opportunity to make coaching money. IF they love Atlanta so much, they may be staying here as he works for a consulting company soon.
PlantationNBA
March 24th, 2010
9:28 pm
If you pay him, he will come. Pay him, St. Johns, pay him!!!!
PlantationNBA
March 24th, 2010
9:28 pm
and buy his wife a box of really expensive chocolates and a shopping pass.
George P Burdette
March 24th, 2010
9:30 pm
DOUG AMD PLANTATION
Go to NY post sports page. Seems like a pretty good bet he’s leaning. D’Rad will gladly let him out of the 3.4 mil he would owe and I’m sure GT boosters will cover any relo costs that St. Johns wouldn’t pick up. Hewitt is no dummy, he knows he has at best a year left, plus he can’t even deal with Mark Bradley chiding him a bit. He is disliked more than Chan Gailey was. Connect the dots guys
George P Burdette
March 24th, 2010
9:59 pm
Hey Doug
Just saw your latest story about Hewitt getting close to leaving. Don’t thank me…you’re welcome. Guess the dots connected well enough for you.
Tony
March 24th, 2010
10:18 pm
PlantationNBA
Thanks for the email address. It seems he may be hiding behind a skirt. Can’t really tell. But it would be appropriate if he is. Thanks again.
ignition
March 24th, 2010
10:19 pm
If he leaves I hope GT has a replacement for him…
Say whatever but dude had the Institute in the Tourney 6 times with 2 ACC Title Appearances & a National Title Appeareance .. (Sounds like a good run to me)
a fan no matter what
March 24th, 2010
10:28 pm
I think we are going to regret loosing Coach Hewitt. I say this because no mid major coach is going to be as good, regardless of present records. And no major coach would take the job at Tech. Guys I am in broadcast news and lots of my collegues go to other stations in search of something better, I am here to tell you – the pay may be better – but the grass isn’t always greener.
a fan no matter what
March 24th, 2010
10:34 pm
By the way, I like Coach Hewitt, but what do I know. The only time I have seen St. John’s Basketball is in “COMING TO AMERICA”
Later
Oh God
March 24th, 2010
10:42 pm
looks like blewitt is off to jew york…hire mark price!!!!!
NoCoach Blewitt
March 24th, 2010
11:00 pm
Blewey go ahead and sign on the line next to the X, and make the rest of my week a completely BLISSFUL party you pompous donkey …… I am from a town about 30 min outside the city and can not wait until the media their sinks their teeth into him …. Oh that will be another glorious day …… The first year at least he will be OK as no one cares about St Johns basketball up there anymore but I am sure someone might say something that a normal person would not think is an attack, and Phew will start his own downfall at that point ……. Okay I obviously have been waiting for this day for 5 years, please just make it happen ….
NoCoach Blewitt
March 24th, 2010
11:02 pm
BTW Paul my neice’s 8 year old squad successfully inbounded the ball 90+ percent of the time. ….. you might want to make it out to take in a few pointers
NoCoach Blewitt
March 24th, 2010
11:05 pm
A Fan No Matter What …… speaking of that movie I think that Akeem or even King Jaffe Joffer would be a better coach than Blewey …. I am sure after 9+ years of making the exact same mistakes they would figure out that maybe, just maybe, they should address those areas
college football
March 24th, 2010
11:12 pm
i told you Mark Fox would cause Hewitt his job at the ga institute of integrity…just a matter of time
NoCoach Blewitt
March 24th, 2010
11:17 pm
I think Mark Fox should, and probably is, focused on hitting that ultimate pinnacle at UGA —- the elusive .500 season
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 24th, 2010
11:28 pm
Please, oh please!!!!
NoCoach Blewitt
March 24th, 2010
11:30 pm
If this is going to happen, We should make them guarantee to playing 5 seasons in a row here ….. it would almost be an automatic win vs a Big East team yearly ( I mean come on Blewey on the road??)
bigstack19
March 25th, 2010
12:40 am
Lets all hope if he leaves that he stays gone and doesn’t pull a Cremins and change his mind. As for replacements, let me be the first to throw out the name of Murray Bartow of E.T.S.U. He can coach and he almost led the Bucs to a first round upset of Pittsburgh as a 16 seed. His teams are always sound and tough to beat.
Jovan
March 25th, 2010
12:46 am
This deluded idiot was actually quoted as saying: “unless I am missing something, people like the athletes I am recruiting and how they represent Georgia Tech.” Is he out of his mind?! All he did was promote a personal agenda–black and ONLY black players. I know more than a few people who resented that.
superDawg
March 25th, 2010
4:24 am
This for #1gt fan.We brag about beating you because you really think you can beat the GEORGIA BULLDOGS. NUFF SAID! UGA OWNS YOUR BEEHINDS.
messin with sasquatch
March 25th, 2010
7:01 am
thank god for the geniusdoggs – when are you going to become relevant in your own conference, dudes?
reebok
March 25th, 2010
8:10 am
we are soooo close to getting rid of ‘Coach’ Hewitt…if he doens’t leave now, it’s going to be a tremendous letdown. please GO!
BobinBuford
March 25th, 2010
8:56 am
Jovan:
Yep – all those BLACK players. Like Brad Sheehan, Luke Schenser, Daniel Miller, etc.
Get your little bigoted head out of your rear end.
I would believe anything from the NY Daily News before the NY Post. Since the Post is owned by the same guy who owns Fox News, its’ reliability is suspect at best.
Gatorman
March 25th, 2010
9:04 am
BobinBuford: Don’t watch FOX, I guess the truth hurts too much. Why don’t you name some other bench warmers as white players too. Luke Schenser was a good player (especially the last), but let’s not forget he never got the ball until Tech was in their run. I’m afraid the pattern was set long ago, and if the pattern was in reverse, you would have been screaming the loudest and first.
Coach Keith
March 25th, 2010
9:06 am
Everyone is going to eat their words very soon as GT basketball will fall off a clif as soon as Hewitt leaves. Just like in any sport when two good teams meet, it’s not about the X’s and the O’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s. One thing Hewitt will always be able to do is recruit. Name another coach who has put as many players in the NBA as he has……..I’m still waiting on your answer. That is what “talented” high school players want to hear. Student athletes want a good education and that’s why they go to Duke. Talented high school players just want to go to the NBA as soon as possible. If Hewitt leaves, I see a big black curtain going over the “Thriller Dome” because basketball will be in the pits and then everyone will be wishing we had Hewitt as our coach again.
GT Alum
March 25th, 2010
9:41 am
Coach Keith, since when do coaches get judged by how many players they put in the NBA? Its about what hewitt did(or actually didn’t do) with those players while they were on campus. This Georgia Tech fan doesn’t mind him recruiting one and doners, but you’ve got to be able to win with them while they’re on campus. Its not about putting big names on campus, its all about wins and losses. And he’s got way more L’s than he does W’s… Pull your head out, man, the facts don’t lie.
GT Alum
March 25th, 2010
9:44 am
Coach Keith, you act like Tech wasn’t a good basketball school before Hewitt arrived.. Like we were the Atlanta School of the Deaf and Blind. I guess its easy to forget the only team Hewitt had success with were all recruited by his predecessor. And his record with all of these stud recruits you reference is pitiful.
GA Tech Insider
March 25th, 2010
9:46 am
Doug; Paul has accepted the job and the announcement is forthcoming.
roll tide
March 25th, 2010
10:07 am
just advice to you tech fans, uga fans are like the drunk girl at the party if you ignore them sooner or later they will go away
roll tide
March 25th, 2010
10:09 am
hahah i do remember that St Johns was in “coming to america” such a classic movie
GT Alum
March 25th, 2010
10:14 am
GTI, thank the good lord. This GT fan has run out of Tums and Mylanta…
KeithB
March 25th, 2010
10:17 am
Based upon experience, he said Anthony Egbuniwe, Albert Rocker and Osahon Tongo are penciled in at one outside linebacker, with A.T. Barnes, Malcolm Munroe and Chris Crenshaw at the OLB.
You meant Barnes, Munroe and Crenshaw at the ILB, right? That is where they seem more suited. I am like some of these other folks, waiting to see how the O-line situation shakes out. Replacing 3 starters on the line to me is more galaring that replacing backs and receivers. It all starts up front.
Wiggy
March 25th, 2010
10:40 am
I am a bitter old man and am jealous of all those UGA students who can piss on their campus, all I can do is piss on myself.
George P Burdette
March 25th, 2010
10:44 am
Hey Dougie,
Read todays NYPOST. Hewitt is a goner! Look forward to your story tomorrow
brucemac
March 25th, 2010
10:45 am
Hea Messin, UGA won the conference tournament 2 years ago in BBall. When exactly did you guys win the ACC, I guess I missed it. One team in the Sweet Sixteen, your conference is simply pitiful and you still can’t compete.
PlantationNBA
March 25th, 2010
10:51 am
C’mon, St John’s. Announce that presser. As far as Hewitt crawfishing out of this (a la Cremins and USC) I think that door is gonna slam shut behind him and Radakovich is gonna change the locks. Not because of any animosity but just to get rid of that golden albatross of a contract. Of course, he might let Hewitt back in for a quarter of his current salary, no rollover, and a list of conditions about a mile long.
Pete
March 25th, 2010
10:54 am
Paul Hewitt is a good coach. Approx. 80% of all NCAA Div.I coaches are “good”.
It might be time for Tech to find a “GREAT” coach.
Problem : Where ??