Radakovich’s letter to fans
Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich sent this letter to fans on Thursday in The Good Word, the weekly email that goes to Tech fans. It’s also published on ramblinwreck.com. Here is the link: http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/geot-good-word.html
Here is the letter:
TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
This, Tech fans, is an important edition of The Good Word, so heads up!
You have all followed the story this week as Coach Hewitt was courted by a University in his home town, where he has had and continues to have many friends and close connections. It is a school that has solicited his services as head basketball coach before – it did in 2004 when Georgia Tech made a long-term commitment to Paul. As he did in 2004, Coach Hewitt today withdrew his name from consideration at that school. But this time the circumstances are much different, and I think some honest and thoughtful reflection on what has transpired needs to be done.
I am extremely happy that Paul, Dawnette and their girls have decided to stay here in Atlanta and continue to be a part of the Georgia Tech Family. For the moment, I ask you to put aside your emotions with Coach Hewitt and the program. Let’s consider where we are and where we are going. First, understand that no one person, be it a coach, an athletic director or even a president, is more important than the Institution known as Georgia Tech. Given that, doesn’t it make sense to keep Georgia Tech at the forefront of every conversation and every decision? That premise guides our lives here in the athletic program every day.
Six years ago, after being handed an appearance in the National Championship game by Coach Hewitt and his team, Georgia Tech made a commitment to arguably the hottest, brightest and most desirable head coach on the planet. Georgia Tech made that commitment. But at the same time, Paul Hewitt, who could have hand-picked many jobs along the way — including St. John’s — made the same commitment to our Institute. He absolutely wanted to be here at Tech and to make a commitment to the city of Atlanta.
For the last year or so I have read and heard all of the concerns and comments about our basketball program. All of them. Believe me. Some are valid, some are not. Drawing on my own experience and that of my administrative staff (Paul Griffin and Wayne Hogan alone bring more than 70 years in the business), and using the valid feedback that I receive from some of you on a daily basis, I periodically counsel Coach Hewitt as I do all of our 17 head coaches. My purpose in life is to do all I can to make Georgia Tech better in every area.
I am not oblivious that we now live in a world of instant gratification. The sports world has become all about “what have you done for me lately.” In a pro sports town like ours, it is not uncommon to read about multi-million dollar salaries, $100 million payrolls and coaches and athletes who come and go on a whim. When a program or team goes through trials and tribulations the first solution has become “fire the coach.” Certainly we work in a results-oriented business. However, in some cases the best course of action is to stay the course. Unfortunately, there is a feeling by some that change would solve everything. I say to that: Not always. Not now… and especially not in the light of Georgia Tech’s commitment to this man, his family and our basketball program.
In the case of Coach Hewitt and Georgia Tech basketball, we remain together because we are Georgia Tech. Coach Hewitt remains the same bright, desirable and coveted college basketball coach he was in 2004. If you have any doubt, just read the New York City newspapers from the past week. His credentials as a human being, a family man, a leader and builder of character are impeccable. The mission here is clear. We need to win more basketball games. We will continue to do everything within our power to do that — as an organization — with Paul Hewitt as our basketball coach. It is not a one-man mission. We are all committed to scour every inch of the program, suggest and effect the needed changes and to give the coach every ounce of support. This is what we do at Georgia Tech.
So now that we know the lay of the land, I am asking you as Georgia Tech alums, fans and supporters, to get with the program. My experience has been that when a Tech man finds himself in choppy waters, the Tech family rises to help. This is about Georgia Tech. It’s about commitment. And it’s about a part of the Tech heritage — our men’s basketball program. We must pull together and continue to support this program and Coach Hewitt. This is the Georgia Tech way!
Go Jackets!
—–
Here’s a story that published in today’s AJC and has been online for a while: http://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/tech-fans-might-be-404264.html
—
Daniel Drummond, a freshman on Georgia Tech’s football team, has been ruled ineligible for at least the first 10 games of the 2010 season by the NCAA for violating eligibility rules.Tech declined to comment on the reason for the ruling.
A native of Flowery Branch, Drummond redshirted during the 2009 season. He is eligible to participate in practices but not games.
Drummond, 6-3, 253 pounds, was expected to compete for playing time at B-back. He rushed for 1,102 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior at Flowery Branch.
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238 comments Add your comment
D-Rad is not rad
March 27th, 2010
1:33 pm
We don’t hate Paul Hewitt, much less his family. We just hate what he has done to Georgia Tech basketball and to the public image and perception of our school. How embarrassing was it to be named among the schools in the NCAA tournament with the lowest graduation rates? And while academically rigorous schools like Cornell and Duke go deeper in the tournament than we do, we can only brag that several of our players will make it to the NBA. We have gone from Point Guard U to Tatted-Up Gangsta U. That is what we hate.
F-18s Trump the B-52s
March 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
D-RAD: How dare you lecture us on being true to our alma mater and supporting our programs? We always have, always will. We are not obligated, and nor will we be “shamed”, into saying Hewitt is doing a good job and keep paying him for it. D-Rad, you’ve been good to Tech so far, but just because Hewitt has a golden contract doesn’t mean you do.
F-18s Trump the B-52s
March 27th, 2010
1:41 pm
Sell it to the dogs, D-RAD. Georgia Tech alumni have generally been held to a high standard of excellence in their chosen professions from the time we were at Ma Tech through our present careers. Do NOT tell us to accept mediocrity from a man just because he has a nice family and a fat wallet. We are better than that, D-RAD, and you should know it.
F-18s Trump the B-52s
March 27th, 2010
1:44 pm
D-Rad, there is a point where having a teflon personality and being a smooth talker just becomes slimy. You’re getting there.
Doreen Macafferty
March 27th, 2010
1:47 pm
Gee, it seems like my fellow Tech fans like Hewitt better than I thought. They’re not even complaining about him anymore. BTW, does anyone have Hewitt’s blackberry number? I’d like to send him some more love notes.
DDawg10
March 27th, 2010
2:26 pm
Dan, several years back, the Atlanta Hawks had a first round pick that they overpaid and receive below average production from. When it was time to resign Jon Koncak and other teams showed some interest, the Hawks greatly overpaid him again to save face. It took them over 5 years to turn around from this mistake that every fan knew was a mistake. You have just made you Jon Koncak mistake by rolling over PH contract and continuing to keep a average to poor coach. Gailey had his Reggie Ball and you have Paul. I hope if does not cost you your job also.
DDawg10
March 27th, 2010
2:28 pm
Enter your comments here
DDawg10
March 27th, 2010
2:31 pm
D-RAD – Maybe PH can schedule Norcross HS for one of his “Quality” out of conference opponents next year. He has definitely taken the “Thriller” out of the Thriller Dome.
Jacket Fan
March 27th, 2010
3:30 pm
Dear DRad,
Just because we don’t boo our team,doesn’t mean we are happy and approve of keeping Hewitt. Do we have to be obnoxious to get the point across to you. We don’t like the BB program and Hewitt is to blame. Sure Hewitt is a nice guy and knows a lot about BB. He just loses and blames everything else, most recently, he blames us the fans. You blew a perfect chance to make a change. Now, it is same as if you signed the contract with Hewitt. Don’t send me anymore pep talks about YOUR problem. Short of winning a national Championship (which is impossible for Hewitt) there is nothing he can do to gain my support!
acowa
March 27th, 2010
3:54 pm
Jacketfan,
Did you get your Masters (of the obvious) from Georgia Tech? Hewitt’s contract will cost us the total gate receipts for half of our ACC games next season (regardless of whether he’s here or not).
Do you propose that we take resources from football and cripple that successful program? Otherwise, where do you propose to get the money?
Maybe DRAD can do a pay per gripe? At $1/per stupid post, we can raise the money in no time.
Doreen Macafferty
March 27th, 2010
5:35 pm
After you open “acowa” on yourself, then maybe you’ll be in a better frame of mind to comment on things you don’t know about. The money is indeed an issue, but not the only one. You are making the mistake of many Hewitt lovers in thinking that you can justify his staying here because he’s “too expensive” to fire. You sure can’t justify his record or public statements. Keeping Hewitt for another five years is going to cost a helluva lot more than firing him because of the continuing decline in revenues. Don’t think Hewitt or DRad can ride CPJ’s coat tails by suggesting it will hurt the football program if we fire Hewitt. DRad may have hired CPJ, but as he said himself, the Institute is a lot bigger and more important than any one man, including AD’s and coaches.
Doreen Macafferty
March 27th, 2010
5:38 pm
I’m getting sick of DRad telling TEch fans how they should feel or react to a given situation. It’s OK to go “Rah! Rah! Support the Jackets!” It is absolutely dishonest and disingenuous for him to whine about the Tech family and how much we really love Hewitt (only we just don’t realize it) and to imply that we’re bad people if we don’t suck up to Hewitt as much as DRad does.
Doreen Macafferty
March 27th, 2010
5:41 pm
Sorry, Dan, but I don’t generally respond to cries for help and desperate pleas for support from mercenaries, which you clearly are. You have Tech’s interest in mind only as far as it furthers your career, and that is OK. Tech chose to hire you instead of one of the Tech family because of your financial expertise, and that is a good thing so far. But before you hitch your wagon to the Hewitt horse you better be prepared to follow him to his next job because after missing this opportunity to fire him, when he goes, you go.
superDawg
March 27th, 2010
7:00 pm
OK,OK,OK !!! I finally admit that I am a GT wannabee. I am ashamed of my dawgs and worship the Jacket Nation. Long live King Paul.
Lil' Barry Bailout
March 27th, 2010
7:02 pm
DDawg10: D-RAD – Maybe PH can schedule Norcross HS for one of his “Quality” out of conference opponents next year.
——————————
The boys team or the girls?
Lil' Barry Bailout
March 27th, 2010
7:10 pm
Mr. Radakovich, you’ve done a nice job at Tech. The fact that you’ve so publicly hitched your wagon to Paul Hewitt tells me that you don’t plan on staying much longer, however. Best of luck to you and to Georgia Tech athletics. Those of us who love Georgia Tech will continue to support Georgia Tech athletics regardless of who’s running the show.
northbeach Scott
March 27th, 2010
7:28 pm
DRad, we love and respect you, however most of us reject your decision to retain Coach Hewitt. I will just say ‘no’ to season tickets at the tit. Hope you survive this decision, but I doubt it.
Admiral Ackbar
March 27th, 2010
7:33 pm
Radakovich, it’s a trap! Hewitt is a d-bag and will taint you.
No Rad
March 27th, 2010
7:51 pm
D Rad blew it with hewitt, now he’s telling fans how to react to his mistake??? Drad—you made a big mistake here. You probably know it by now.
killerJ
March 27th, 2010
10:49 pm
They just don,t have the money to buy out his contract plain and simple and to the dog fans who find it funny,I get to watch your school go down the shi$%er without a paddle not having the tax payers to support you, so whens your house going to be on the chopping block?Have a good day!
Doreen Macafferty
March 27th, 2010
10:49 pm
DRad was hired for his financial prowess and his record of building and renovating facilities. He made the great hire of CPJ for which we will be grateful, and thus far he has helped straighten out some of the financial and personnel problems left by Braine. However, he is letting his ambition of renovating AMC affect his financial decision to keep Hewitt around a little longer. It may enable him to pay for the 30-45 million dollar renovation, but who is going to come watch basketball there? You put the jackass before the cart, DRad, by letting Hewitt stay. Sure, they might call it Cremins-Hewitt Court at Alexander-Radakovich Memorial Colesium, but no one much will be coming to Georgia Tech basketball games by then.
Doreen Macafferty
March 27th, 2010
10:52 pm
Paul Hewitt does not represent Georgia Tech and his teams do not reflect the best of the Institute. Radakovich, if you really knew Tech and cared for it you would know this. You are a liar when you say Hewitt and his teams represent Tech well, and as such, I assume you are lying when you say you care about Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech is bigger than you, so get the hell out of the way. Maybe LSU, USC, or even the U will take you back in some capacity. That seems to be your element.
TYPO
March 27th, 2010
10:52 pm
DOUG,
……………..unfortunately Georgia Tech was 11-3 in football last season,
…………………………..NOT 11-2
On a Stick
March 27th, 2010
10:55 pm
Hey, Danny boy. Have you no shame in trying to “guilt” Tech folks into treating your buddy Hewitt like he was OUR buddy? Get this, neither you or Hewitt are a part of the Tech family when you hurt the Institute. Don’t feed us crap and tell us it’s chocolate.
COLLEGE of CHARLESTON
March 27th, 2010
10:58 pm
We like Bobby
On a Stick
March 27th, 2010
11:00 pm
Radakovich, I used to think you were a good man who just had to do a difficult and at times unpopular job. I see now that you are a slick used-car-salesman trying to sell a real clunker –not as a daily driver or a winter beater, but– as a Ferrari. You insult us, offend us, and then flash that chiclets smile at us as if everything is great? Do the right thing, and we may forgive you….Hewitt can not be forgiven at this point.
,,,,,
March 27th, 2010
11:02 pm
Hewitt is a strange person,
………………….not a people person,
………………………..paid millions to be a smart ass loser
On a Stick
March 27th, 2010
11:03 pm
Hewitt, DRad has stood by you in public. I imagine, because he is an intelligent man, that he has tried to tell you how hopeless your situation is at Georgia Tech. The word is he even encouraged you to seek other opportunities. You have not taken his advice and he has not had the cajones to terminate your employment. He or his successor will fire you, you will get your money, but DRad has irreparably harmed his standing with the university.
SAINT JOHNNY
March 27th, 2010
11:05 pm
HEWITT is a joke
fire him…..
25wattbulb
March 27th, 2010
11:09 pm
Coach Hewitt has chosen to stay where he is clearly not wanted to continue pushing a program and agenda Georgia Tech alums and fans clearly do not approve of. Teflon Dan has made his choice, too, as he gets ready for his next job. If Hewitt makes it another year or two (and DRad doesn’t fire him) the $30 million renovation and expansion of AMC will be complete and Drad can stick another feather in his cap. He’ll list CPJ and the facilities improvement on his resume, and ignore the basketball attendance and tremendous good will he squandered among the Tech “family.” IF the alums and fans do get their way and Hewitt is removed after he falls flat on his ego again, then DRad may not get a “better” job. So, now, where is the motivation to fire Hewitt?
25wattbulb
March 27th, 2010
11:10 pm
I may not be bright but I can recognize an opportunist when I see one. I see you, Radakovich. I see you.
25wattbulb
March 27th, 2010
11:16 pm
It’s true, Hewitt will never leave on his own. He won’t renegotiate his contract. I don’t blame him for either one. I don’t even blame Braine and Clough for approving the contract that is so chafing now. When that contract was approved it was a bad deal for Tech, but at least the AD and President then assumed (as anyone would) that if Hewitt failed to produce the current AD would man up, bite the bullet, and fire him, despite the tremendous costs, because keeping someone who is harming the school costs even more. That is where they were wrong. D=RAD beat out two Tech men for the AD position, and while he is a good businessman, he is quickly becoming anathema to Tech fans everywhere.
AVeryBadContract
March 27th, 2010
11:21 pm
It’s true that Hewitt’s contract was ill-conceived and inexcusably approved by men who should have known better. But now I see another contract as even worse…hiring Radakovich. A Tech man may not have been a good AD, but he sure would not have tolerated Hewitt’s petulant attitude to academics, the Institute, the media, and the fans. Radakovich isn’t one of us. Many have adopted him since the CPJ hire, and there is no denying that was a good hire. But it is clear that while DRAD may have been the best thing ever to happen to Paul Hewitt, Paul Hewitt is the worst thing to happen to Tech (much worse than CCG) and the worst thing to happen to DRAD’s career.
AVeryBadContract
March 27th, 2010
11:25 pm
I don’t even give DRAD credit for writing a good letter, as many folks here do. He could have stayed positive without being dishonest. He could just level with Tech and say, “I know you don’t like Hewitt but we can’t afford to fire him right now.” You say he couldn’t? No, if he is more worried about DRAD than about Ga. Tech he couldn’t, but again, he is dishonest in saying Tech is his priority. Painting this Hewitt fiasco with a broad, soft brush may preserve his career and his ability to get a better job, but it is driving the bb program right into the ground.
AVeryBadContract
March 27th, 2010
11:27 pm
Why renovate basketball facilities and colesium for tens of millions when you can’t even afford to fire a man who is guaranteeing that those venues will be less full than ever? How are we going to pay for renovations with a crumbling program and a coach who will still making $1.5M a year for mediocrity?
25wattbulb
March 27th, 2010
11:28 pm
Bite the bullet, fire Hewitt.
25wattbulb
March 27th, 2010
11:34 pm
Grow some, fire Hewitt.
Wet Rats
March 27th, 2010
11:39 pm
If I have a nice, full galley and a rat shows up I can ask him to leave, but he won’t go. I can hope he goes to another ship, where the galley is also nice, but he won’t go. The only thing I can do is get rid of him myself. It’s a little more complicated with people, but the principle is the same. If we wait for this rat to abandon ship it will be because he has already sunk it.
Wet Rats
March 27th, 2010
11:45 pm
It seems to me Mr. Radakovich that you are the closest thing to a Skipper we have on board. If you don’t rid the ship of the rat, and you even tell the crew to take care of this rat and embrace him, then you are either planning to go down with the ship or, more likely, you’re planning to hop onboard another ship at an opportune moment. Which will it be, Skipper?
nycstateofmind
March 27th, 2010
11:48 pm
They grow some pretty big rats in NYC, and they bite, so you Tech fans better back off. He’ll not only take your money but he’ll take the life out of your program before he does. Don’t think for a moment that my man is going to leave quietly or gracefully when he decides to leave.
nycstateofmind
March 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
the only real rats around here are the racist Tech fans who won’t see the good that Coach Hewitt is doing here. he said when u hired him that he was going to recruit kids who ordinarily wouldn’t or couldn’t go to Tech, meaning black kids from the city mostly. they took u to a final four and now u don’t like their tattoo or attitudes. that’s your problem. Hewitt is helping black kids, so you are the racists, not him.
nycstateofmind
March 27th, 2010
11:53 pm
Calling a brother a rat won’t make him go, it’ll make him stay longer.
Wet Rats
March 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
I was using something called an analogy, and you were far more specific in saying the rat was from NYC than I was.
nycstateofmind
March 27th, 2010
11:58 pm
This ain’t poetry, it’s bloggin’, so keep your anallogy.
Wet Rats
March 28th, 2010
12:02 am
Oh, I’d agree there is nothing poetic about you. I am not sure what an “anallogy” is, but I was using an “analogy.” If we break down the word “anallogy” it probably means something like “the study of the anal” which would seem to be more in your line. As you study Hewitt and support him, I would only ASSume …. oh, well, you get the picture.
Beavis & Butthead, UGA Class of '92
March 28th, 2010
12:07 am
hehehehe, he said “anal”. hehe, like cornholio….heheh yeah, hehe, he also said “Hewitt.” hehehehe, that rhymes with “blew it.” hehe hehehehe his wife’s name is “Dawnette.” hehe hehehehe hehe that’s funny.
Beavis & Butthead, UGA Class of '92
March 28th, 2010
12:12 am
hehehe Tech thought they’d got rid of Hewitt hehe hehhe but he came back hehehehehe hehe and he sucks. hehe yeah, man he sucks like a straw hehehe like an anteater hehehe he’s a loser hehe and he stays at Tech hehehehe hehe hehe so now their losers too
Beavis & Butthead, UGA Class of '92
March 28th, 2010
12:14 am
hehehehe they wer always losers hehe
Wet Rats
March 28th, 2010
12:18 am
Welcome back from Spring Break Tech students. Nothing much has changed, but boy was it an interesting week. Thanks to Coach Hewitt, you are guaranteed of missing at least one more season of unexciting, mediocre basketball next year, but that’s OK. You need to study instead of go to games anyway. With the money he’s making we’ll be needing your alumni checks more than ever.
Wet Rats
March 28th, 2010
12:18 am
B&B, it’s amazing what your UGA education did for you.