Peterson: Tech ‘not going anywhere’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Georgia Tech president G.P. “Bud” Peterson met reports and rumors about the school leaving the ACC for the Big Ten head on Saturday night.
“Not true. Not true,” Peterson said prior to the ACC Championship game. “We’re happy in the ACC. We’re staying.”
Internet and radio reports cited unnamed sources or repeated rumors that the school will follow Maryland out of the ACC and to the Big Ten, one reporting that the school will hold a news conference Monday to announce its departure.
“We’re not going anywhere,” said Peterson, speaking outside his suite at Bank of America Stadium.
It followed a Friday e-mail from school spokesman Matt Nagel that there was no truth to the rumors tying Tech and the Big Ten and acting athletic director Paul Griffin saying that Peterson had told him there had been no communication between him and the Big Ten and that he didn’t expect any.
In a Wednesday teleconference with news media, ACC commissioner John Swofford offered a similar tone, saying that the nature of conversations between him and Peterson in the past 10 days “has been emphatic in terms of their commitment to the ACC and Georgia Tech’s future.”
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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79 comments Add your comment
Ex-Yellow Jacket
December 2nd, 2012
3:07 pm
I read Bud’s comment that Tech isn’t “going anywhere” to mean Peterson expects no improvement in the NATS’ football program anytime soon.
My reaction was “So true! So true!”
1 4 GT
December 2nd, 2012
3:23 pm
FWIW! Supersize & I discussed this on the drive to Charlotte yesterday. While it probably would help with recruiting since most state educational systems in that part of the country do a better job than schools in the South, giving better educated kids the real chance of surviving at Tech. I seem to recall Tech used to recruit quite a few kids from Ohio & Pa and other northern/midwestern states and this would put us back in the mix for those kids again. Why Tech ever backed off a more national recruiting base has long puzzled me. Anyway, Supersize had a rather interesting thought on the subject. We would both rather Tech make an effort to get back in the SEC. I told him I think (I realize this may turn some of you off, but he had no problems with it) the Tech prez should go to the SEC schools kinda hat in hand & ask for readmittance into the SEC. Old, bitter resentments could be forgotten by now. Supersize had the thought that GT, FSU & Clemons get together & approach the Big 12 as a package deal. We both think that would be a better fit than the Big 10. Anyway, noone has knocked on my door soliciting my opinion on the matter. Unless the powers that be decide to make a move, it is all conjecture anyway. IMHO!
GT TO SEC
December 2nd, 2012
4:00 pm
I am against GT joining the BIG 10. GT is traditionally a southern school and the schools roots lie in the SEC with Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. Georgia Tech should take every opportunity to try and get in with the SEC. Fire Paul Johnson and join the SEC if possible before the football program is on par with duke.
ooopppps to late
Matt
December 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
Anyone saying we should go to the SEC is out of their minds. We would be the armpit of the conference until they fire Coach Turkey Neck. Here’s a novel idea lets worry about who our next AD will be and how soon he can get the entire coaching staff a one way ticket to who gives a Damn. We can not win big with a stubborn ass of a coach who will not change his way of thinking. And about his way of thinking, When was the last time somebody won with the offense he runs? Nebraska? Well times have changed since then you can’t win without some kind of passing game. And don’t even get me started on our defense. He is as agrogant as you get and simply thinks he can outscore everybody. Sorry this is not Georgia Southern, but if we don’t can him we soon could be.
When we leaving?
December 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
I would love to see the look on Coach K’s face at Duke if GT joins the Big 10 and says “see ya wouldn’t want to be ya”. The Duke coach thinks it is all about him and precious Duke basketball, Who gives a damn. K was all upset Maryland left. boo hoo
Golden Tornado
December 2nd, 2012
4:44 pm
My old daddy was disappointed, ‘way back in 1963, when Tech chose to leave the SEC for Independency, of all things. Dad said, “Those boys want to see their names listed as “All-SEC,” or “All-this-and that.”
But SEC’s allowing over-recruiting did not suit Bobby Dodd. He said, “I
want the boys to get an education. I’m not going to recruit ‘em on a trial basis, and then run ‘em off, like others do.” The football landscape has changed, now. Looks like Tech could work on getting back into the SEC – its natural home.
blazer
December 2nd, 2012
5:21 pm
Bill Lewis desimated the program- pJ is that close!
GT Fan Man
December 2nd, 2012
5:29 pm
Not going anywhere except possibly the way of Tulane until the school commits to playing big boy football which will be never. It’s embarassing enough in a league like the ACC. Who can imagine us in the Big 10?
Ex-Yellow Jacket
December 2nd, 2012
5:30 pm
Georgia Tech is by no means in SEC commissioner Mike Slive’s plans.
One of the North Carolina schools and one of the Virginia schools, yes!
GT, FSU, Clempsun, and Miami, No Way! Sorry!
Rick James
December 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
@Ex-Yellow Jacket
Georgia Tech is by no means in SEC commissioner Mike Slive’s plans.
One of the North Carolina schools and one of the Virginia schools, yes!
GT, FSU, Clempsun, and Miami, No Way! Sorry!
———————————————————————————————
I’m thinking NC State and Virginia Tech..UGA already has the Atlanta television market so Tech really brings nothing to the table.Duke wont go anyplace without Carolina..
sheepdawg
December 2nd, 2012
6:23 pm
tech’s best hope for football future is an invite from the big 10 and a new head coach
killerj
December 2nd, 2012
6:47 pm
The shoe fit,s,top notch in all academics…….ROLL WRECK!
Ex-Yellow Jacket
December 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
@ Rick James
Yes, that’s the way I see it too.
Academics is a factor in Slive;s thinking, Mizzou rather than one of the Oklahomas or West Virginia, for instance.
But NC State and Va, Tech wouldn’t offend the SEC academically.
Ben
December 2nd, 2012
8:01 pm
Tech had one mediocre year after 15 straight bowl games, and people say we’re at an all-time low, that Tech football is on par with Duke? B.S. Duke has it’s first decent season in forever, but we still beat them, and Tech’s all-time low was Bill Lewis in the early 90’s.
BugOnAWindshield
December 2nd, 2012
8:22 pm
The biggest idiots in Bugville History — the engineers/morons that decided to leave the South Eastern Conference…..what a joke.
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Ex-Yellow Jacket
December 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Academics is a factor in Slive;s thinking,
No, it’s absolutely not, it is a sports conference that exists to put together a framework to maximize television revenue for its member schools. Academics has nothing to do with any of it.
Buzz-Off
December 2nd, 2012
9:01 pm
Pretty funny watching GT struggle considering this all started 40+ years ago when they left the SEC for greed only!!! It has backfired for almost a half century,!,
Proud Jacket Alumnus
December 2nd, 2012
9:44 pm
Tech is “not going anywhere”… especially with Paul Johnson as the Head Football Coach!
tobacco road
December 2nd, 2012
9:53 pm
@ Rick James- Agree that VT and NCSU would be the best and most logical ACC additions to the SEC if they decide to add 2 more. Whether or not they will, who knows? But I don’t see the SEC adding more teams from FL, GA and SC since they already have a deep footprint there. The NC and VA markets would be more desirable IMHO.
UNC is to me the only logical ACC choice for the B1G. John Swofford and Jim Delaney, ACC and B1G Commissioners, respectively, are both UNC guys. The Tar Heels fit the B1G cultural image better than that of the SEC, and as for UVA, the B1G would be better off with perhaps Kansas than the Cavaliers. Also, the legislative tie-in (that brought VT into the ACC) between VT and UVA could derail any move for either school unless they were a package deal.
GT to the B1G is laughable to me because if GT can’t get into the SEC, headquartered in Atlanta, why would a conference headquartered in Indianapolis want them? The Big Ten Network is already available nationally on DirecTv’s basic package anyway, and has been since its inception. The Big 12 is the most logical place for GT, FSU and Clemson to go if (and when) the ACC falls apart.
The only thing that will save the ACC is having 2 8-team football divisions split north-south. This would allow the 4 ACC schools to play each other again every season, plus would maintain rivalries with Clemson, GT and FSU. The former Big East schools would form the north division, and I’m assuming UConn would be added to make 8 teams (Notre Dame is included here). But Notre Dame in the ACC as a partial seriously jeapordizes the future of this league, because they are NOT going to ever give up their football independence. No way, at least not for the ACC.
All in all, GT to the B1G makes as much sense as GT fans wanting the Jackets to get a bowl bid this season. To me, when you finish the season under .500, it’s time to call it quits.
tobacco road
December 2nd, 2012
9:56 pm
*The 4 ACC schools mentioned above should be the 4 NC schools, AKA the Big Four.
FORMATION 4 SUCCESS
December 3rd, 2012
12:47 am
JUST SAYING, AFTER ALL THE LOSSES THAT GT HAS HAD TO UGA, THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1990 AND THAT TROPHY HAS GEORGIA TECH’S NAME ON IT. UGA, YOU STILL HAVE TO LOOK UP TO US BECAUSE WE STILL SIT ON TOP OF THAT MOUNTAIN. IF I COULD JUST GET THIS THROUGH THE HEADS OF MY BOYS ON THE FLATS WE CAN GET THIS THING TURNED AROUND. IN THE MEANTIME UGA FOLKS, MY DARLING DAUGHTER SAYS IT BEST. SSHHH!!!
Auburn Grad
December 3rd, 2012
10:20 am
Don’t envision many GT fans traveling to see them play.
With the number of Big 10 alums in the Atlanta area, they’ll outnumber GT fans at Bobby Dodd.
Even though it won’t happen, I truly wish GT could rejoin the SEC.
RedandBlackDAWG
December 3rd, 2012
10:29 am
Surely you jest. You play in one of the weaker conferences in the NCAA, annually get beat most of the time by UGA, and to top it off. the SEC east teams annually beat the snot out of your teams as well. I think the battle cry for the tech. team should be, “WAIVER ON”.
As for why the GT team can’t go to the big 10, even if invited, people, think a minute here. They were one of the teams that voted to raise the ACC exit fee to 50 million bucks. Where will the GT athletic department get that kind of money. They are having trouble enough, just having to pay the former BB coaches exit salary, and it was nowhere near 50 million. Adding a team like Notre Dame to your conference, even if it is only for football, will prove to be a stupid move on the ACC’s part. They will most ;likely dominate you conference, unless it has negative impact on recruiting for Notre Dame. All this move does is to insure that Notre Dame will be in a bowl game of some sort every year, and it will not be because they need a waiver to go to a Sun Bowl.
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GT MAN
December 3rd, 2012
6:19 pm
Iam just so glad the luck finaly ran out on those lucky dogs that really thought the were good playing those div.12 schools. so go home and cry for 32 more years
RedandBlackDAWG
December 4th, 2012
8:02 am
The fact that your team got beat by an FCS team this year, should say all that needs to be said, GT Man.
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John
December 6th, 2012
6:27 pm
GT in the Big Ten is absurd from a cultural standpoint. The Big Ten is comprised of enormous factory like state schools filled largely with mediocre in state students and located in rust belt locations with horrible weather. The ACC has an incredible, unique, interesting and varied group of academic powerhouses in Boston College, Duke, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Virginia and North Carolina. The Big Ten has Michigan and Northwestern. And you want to leave that crowd to play football in dumps like East Lansing, Michigan and Iowa City? The ACC is the best overall conference in the country. It just needs to focus on football and make some adjustments and investments.