Welcome to my Q-and-no-A with Paul Hewitt
If there is one thing I’ve learned after 28 years of trying to squeeze usable quotes out of disobliging subjects, it’s how important it is to prepare for an interview.
I’m not talking about subject matter. I’m talking about knowing the personality of the person you’re about to talk to: Will he/she be entertaining or dry? Easy or difficult? Friendly or combative?
Paul Hewitt is seldom dry but he’s often combative. Some folks don’t like that. Personally, I find him kind of entertaining. I’m pretty sure you folks will find this exchange between us entertaining. The Georgia Tech basketball coach was made available to the media Tuesday to promote the start of practice. Jackets’ basketball has been down, but expectations are high this season. Almost every significant player returns from last season, and there’s the addition of talented freshmen Derrick Favors, Mfon Udofia and Glen Rice Jr.
I tried to get Hewitt to guarantee this team would make the NCAA tournament. He wouldn’t.
Funny. He went as far to say that the Jackets had Final Four potential. So why not say it’s a tournament team?
Here we go . . .
Me: Is this a tournament team?
Him: “Is it a tournament team? It’s a very good basketball team.”
Me: But is it a tournament team?
Him: “It’s a very good basketball team. The [selection committee] will decide after that.”
Me: Why not just say it’s a tournament team?
Him: “It’s a very good team. If we’re healthy, we have a chance to be one of the top teams in the ACC. And if you’re one of the top teams in the ACC, you have a chance to play for anything that comes after that.”
Me: Again. If you think you’re a top team in the ACC, isn’t it logical you’re a tournament team?
Him: (Laughter). “Oh boy. . . . Any other questions?”
Me: You always love to lecture me about your old college journalism professor. Is there something wrong with the question?
Him: “I didn’t say don’t ask the question. I gave you my answer.”
Me: So why won’t you take that leap and say you should be in the tournament?
Him: “It’s not a matter of taking a leap. We have a chance to be one of the best teams in the ACC if we stay healthy.”
Me: And those types of teams make the tournament. So why the hedging?
Him: “Can you predict the future? I mean, I know that sportswriters do a lot these days. They just predict. They don’t write any more. It’s Jimmy the Greek journalism these days.”
Me: Wow.
Him: “Hey, you’re coming at me. I’ll come back at you. I just don’t like to make predictions. … How about this? We’re a really good team. We have a lot of talent. The range could be very wide for what we can accomplish?”
Me: How high is that range?
Him: “We can go to the Final Four. It’s that type of team. But it’s a wide range. DeAndre [Bell] coming back from a year off [after spinal surgery]. Mfon is a freshman. Derrick is a freshman. The range is wide. Those are three of our top six players, maybe. Do you disagree?”
That’s it. I need a nap.
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123 comments Add your comment
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:14 pm
First?
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:14 pm
First again?
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:16 pm
Paul Hewitt v. Jeff Schultz: its like Tyson v. Holyfield minus the ear incident
GTfan
October 13th, 2009
3:18 pm
Is this journalism? What in here is newsworthy?
Tech82
October 13th, 2009
3:20 pm
Spencer – Do we know for sure there was no ear biting?
azcat225
October 13th, 2009
3:20 pm
I’m reminded more of Clara Peller and Wendy’s.
GTfan
October 13th, 2009
3:21 pm
Also, why did you guys not publish my previous comment. I am restating here.
You are ridiculous. You asked him a question, and he answered it. If he answered it in the manner you wanted, meaning if he said yes, we are a tournament team, you would follow up with one of two likely comments: 1) Something about how last year’s team was probably a tournament team, and underachieved, or 2) something about how Paul Hewitt is cocky even though he underachieved last year.
GTfan
October 13th, 2009
3:22 pm
At least Paul Hewitt was available to your questions and comments, unlike the AJC which keeps filtering which comments of mine it will display.
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
3:23 pm
Tech82: We are now receiving unconfirmed reports that there was an attempted ear biting by Hewitt but when asked about the incident he responded, “It’s a wide range of what could have happened. I might have bitten his entire head off praying mantis style or I might have no idea who Jeff Schultz is. There is really a wide range of possibilities”.
randy
October 13th, 2009
3:25 pm
Schultz was out of line here, Hewitt answered honestly.
Alabama Jack
October 13th, 2009
3:26 pm
Give ‘em hell, Hewitt.
GT Alum
October 13th, 2009
3:29 pm
Let it go, Schultz. Let it go. Sounds like you got what you deserved..
homer
October 13th, 2009
3:32 pm
If I am being interviewed by an obvious smart-azz jerk, I would give the same type of answers. What a no-talent hack!
The Real YellowJacket
October 13th, 2009
3:34 pm
So you had the time to ask nine questions, no check that the same question nine times. Some of us fans would have liked a more imaginative interviewer. Maybe next time! Shesh!
jackets77
October 13th, 2009
3:35 pm
I’ve gone from being a huge Paul Hewitt supporter/fan to now thinking he might not be right person for this job…especially if THIS team doesn’t make atleast some noise in the tournament. With the landscape of College hoops, it doesn’t matter if your team’s primary players are freshmen, especially if the freshman has the skills of a Favors….you’ve got to make some noise in the ACC and in the Tourney this year…period
Gordon
October 13th, 2009
3:35 pm
I’m with Schultz on this one. Sounds like Hewitt is laying the groundwork for excuses if things don’t go well. Why couldn’t he just say “If we stay healthy, we should make the NCAA tournament”? Here’s why: Because Paul Hewitt is coaching it.
But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. It’s a new year, and all things are possible.
Al
October 13th, 2009
3:35 pm
How can anyone say it is a tournament team or not when you have not even played a single game? Obviously, Hewitt believes the team should make the tournament. But he’s not making predictions. I will make a prediction. If the team does not make the tournament with this class of freshmen and Lawal returning, there will be trouble for Hewitt with a capital “T”.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 13th, 2009
3:37 pm
1.3 million for “The bubble”.
That’s the best we’ll do.
For those of us who have been watching this coach, that’s the expectation. Anything more would be foolish.
bali
October 13th, 2009
3:38 pm
jimmy the greek schultz school of journalism………. sounds good to me
JP in EP
October 13th, 2009
3:39 pm
I think you needed to let it go. Obviously, he did not want to commit to being an NCAA tournament team. It sounds to me like you were more “combative” than he was. Sorry, no sympathy for you from this corner. He might not be so eager to have you interview him the next time.
CarRamRod
October 13th, 2009
3:39 pm
Can we please practice our free throw shooting a little bit? Maybe our inbound plays too. That may help.
sidewalk74
October 13th, 2009
3:41 pm
Hewitt’s just laying the ground work for another disappointing 14-16 season with no chance at the NCAA tourney. No matter how much talent he has Hewitt, 8 out of 9 times, finds away to come up short of expectations. So bases on his track record I give us/GT a 11.11% chance of having a winning season.
Tech82
October 13th, 2009
3:42 pm
Spencer – I wonder if ears taste like chicken? Shultzie, can you lend any insight on this?
On a serious note, I think this team is too talented for even a hack like Hewitt to screw things up. They’ll win in spite of him. Next year, after massive defections to the NBA, we’ll be back to mediocrity and Hewitt will return to the hot seat.
DMWC
October 13th, 2009
3:46 pm
Hewitt is not going to be knocked off message. Good for him. He has whatever reasons he has for wanting to answer the question the way he did, ranging from the noble “I don’t want my kids thinking they don’t have to prove themselves” to the less-noble “I need to save my own hide if we miss the tournament.” Whatever reason, I’m not sure why you would expect a different answer after asking him the question the 9th time.
The truth is he has to make the tournament or he’s probably out. I’m sure he’s a smart enough guy to realize that.
GTMan108
October 13th, 2009
3:50 pm
Schultz…what a dou**ebag. That “journalism” was pathetic. Wah…he didn’t give the response I wanted, I’ll ask 8 more times…. Wah.
Joke.
Just A Fan
October 13th, 2009
3:50 pm
As a Tech fan I enjoy it Schultz. He’s proven nothing lately and frankly if he doesn’t make the tournament he shouldn’t be coach anymore. Losing records and mediocrity in college basketball for a storied program like GT in the ACC is an insult to the fan base. Keep the grilling going…..
ben
October 13th, 2009
3:53 pm
It all started with the ESPN “I’m a comedian, not a sportscaster” anchors and now with the twitter writers, it’s all about the writer, not the subject. God bless Furman Bisher.
Brian
October 13th, 2009
3:58 pm
You asked a question. He answered it, but didn’t give you the guarantee you were looking for. ….and you repeat the question several more times. I get what your job is, but you actually made that the focal point of your article? If that’s your angle, why not title the piece “I failed”.
matt r
October 13th, 2009
4:00 pm
Nice work of needling him until he popped and told you what he is really thinking.
GTFUZZYBEE
October 13th, 2009
4:00 pm
Schultz – While Coach may be hedging – what coach doesn’t?! – you appear to have had an agenda to get him to commit in writing that “this is a tournament team” — and when he didn’t — you wasted everyone’s time… It’s up to his boss to force him to commit that he’ll deliver a tourney team … not you.
JSS
October 13th, 2009
4:05 pm
Only a fool would predict he has a tournament team when he has not been there in a couple of seasons now… He just needs to coach, adjust, and win… The Tech BB fans will have the same unrealistic expectations that UGA football fans have…Hyder never won the NCAA, Morrison couldn’t beat a HS team, Cremins made you respectable, and Hewitt at least to a title game… Now, I’m no Hewitt apologist… He just needs to win…
David
October 13th, 2009
4:05 pm
that was great thanks JS! Should be an interesting year in the ACC but for now…lets stick to what people like more…Auburn football hah. War eagle!
Spencer
October 13th, 2009
4:07 pm
David: I couldn’t agree more with your statements. War eagle!
NCR
October 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
Schultz, stop pestering him. His final comment was “We can go to the Final Four”. How much more of a comment do you want? Whether the Jackets “should be in the tournament” is not for Hewitt to decide, that’s why there’s a selection committee.
Jamar
October 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
Pretty poor journalism Schultz. It has no place in the AJC. If you have some rift with Hewitt, fine, but take it behind closed doors between the two of you.
Willie Coyote
October 13th, 2009
4:12 pm
…& when someone does give a guarantee, it is used against them mercilessly for as long as anyone wants to talk about it. He guaranteed enough when he alluded to his team being one of the best in a perennial power conference. What good does a guarantee do anyway?
Injuries are a reality and one or two key ones will turn a national title contender into an also-ran (Oklahoma Football anyone?)
Buford T. Justice
October 13th, 2009
4:18 pm
This happens every time one of those floozies starts poontangin’ around with those show folk fags.
Oh Come on
October 13th, 2009
4:19 pm
You guys are unreal. Ask a simple question and get no answer, then you ask the simple question again. Paul Hewit showed his true colors in that simple interview. He is a chump. GT can do so much better. Hewit is hiding because he himsrlf has no confidence in his own coaching ability. Who getting hurt would keep this team fom making the tournament? Are we not deep enough to withstain an injury. Pathetic. I still think in spite of his ineptitude, GT makes the tournament.
Paul H
October 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
I agree with Jeff. It’s a simple question. The fact that Hewitt couldn’t answer makes it look like he lacks confidence in his team.
What difference does it make? He’s gone of they don’t make the tourney anyway.
PatrickT
October 13th, 2009
4:24 pm
Just think : If there was no internet, only three readers would have seen this in the paper. Of course, since it’s not news worthy….selah.
mtraininjax
October 13th, 2009
4:28 pm
Jeff – Its obvious to me that Paul Hewitt will be your new BFF during basketball season.
Did you ask Paul Johnson if the Jackets were BCS bowl worthy? What response did he give you?
willwc
October 13th, 2009
4:29 pm
Well, it’s not like Hewitt has a lot of recent experience with knowing what coaching a tournament-quality team is like, anyway.
collegeballfan
October 13th, 2009
4:31 pm
Jeff you asked the same question 8 times. I would have ended the interview on the third.
And you win in basketball with chemistry. Hewitt will not know that until sometime in January.
Thumbs Down
October 13th, 2009
4:36 pm
Seriously Jeff? Just leave it alone, you’re lucky enough he’s even taking the time to give you an interview. Stop being such a douche!
Mutts R Stupid
October 13th, 2009
4:38 pm
The Urinal gets worse everyday, they are scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill the pages with meaningless words, inter spaced by advertisements. At least they are covering tech a little bit now, however poorly; I canceled my subscription a couple years ago when the UGAY grads at the Urinal were crowning uga National Champion during the pre season. Jeff should work on his table busing skills, he will need them when the Urinal folds along with the other rags calling themselves newspapers.
Wink
October 13th, 2009
4:44 pm
Hewitt did right not to commit to this being a tournament team.
He state D. Bell was one of his best players coming back from injury. Bell before the injury you knew what you had, but this guy suffered a SPINAL injury, how does Hewitt know he getting the same player back, without the benefit of a game or practice.
The same can be said for the incoming freshmen; how do you know, what is the team make up? How about chemistry? Can they adjust to the college game? Other teams has last year had McDonald’s All Americans and did not make the tournament; the ones with a Championship play for the Tar Heels.
One player declared for the NBA draft;changed his mind due to draft position. Did stay for selfish reason, to improved draft position? Did he return to get into the tournament? Will he aid or disrupt team chemistry?
The point guard Shumpert under performed last year. He confesses that he has to get better. Could Favors have a similar freshmen year?
The could not give the guarantee that he has a tournament team, because he does not know yet what his product will be like on the floor. What if they get off to a slow start, but improves during the course of the year, make it to a bubble team, where thinks they have done enough to earn tournament consideration, then is rejected by the selection committee.
Coach Hewitt is right….just wait till the ball is tossed up thru the balance of the schedule…then he will have an opinion Mr Schultz….by the way you were the combative one!!!
Kurdt Kobain
October 13th, 2009
4:44 pm
Yeah, I’m sure PJ would have guaranteed a BCS team if you asked him enough times. Right…
Joe Fan
October 13th, 2009
4:48 pm
On talent alone the Jackets are a tournament team but Hewitt could even mess that up. Some coaches are only as good as their talent and after Favors et al are gone will Hewitt be too? I hope DRad has had the best lawyers look for a loophole in Hewitt’s contract. He is going to need one.
79
October 13th, 2009
4:48 pm
Jeff asked if this GT team was going to make the NCAA…you know, be one of the top 64 BB teams in the country. Hewitt’s answer should have been, “Hell yes…we are going to be very good…and if I was a Tech fan, I’d be calling about season tickets….but then, if I was really a Tech fan, I’d demand that DRad fire me.”
Gavin Weldon
October 13th, 2009
4:55 pm
Put your money where your mouth is, Paul.
Independent Thinker
October 13th, 2009
4:57 pm
Going to the NCAA tournament does NOT mean you are one of the top 64 teams in the country.
I agree with this being non-newsworthy and wish had the the last several minutes back that I spent reading (and writing) comments!
GT
October 13th, 2009
5:02 pm
Hewitt gave you the answer. YOU are the one that was combative. Why couldn’t you just go on to another question. You were just trying to set this up so if something happens and GT doesn’t make the tournament you can come up with another one of your spectacular pieces of journalism and rip GT. What a jerk. Try that with Paul Johnson and see what happens. No wonder the AUC is going out of business.
Billy
October 13th, 2009
5:04 pm
I’m no Jeff Schultz fan, but the question was perfectly reasonable. It sounds to me like Hewitt is already hedging his bets and coming up with preemptive excuses. And before I get accused of being a dawg, I’m a lifelong Tech fan AND grad. Paul Hewitt is a mediocre coach who had a good run several years ago. Bobby Cremins got run out of town for having 1 good season surrounded by junk.
GT
October 13th, 2009
5:09 pm
If the public every took the question and comments as lightly as the guy asking them there would be no problem being candid and open. The problem is the press in general will take a comment like “we are a tournament team” and have Hewitt eating it at every turn. The truth now days is bastardized by sensational head lines on what use to be throw away lines. I am not a big Hewitt fan, I see a lot of Chan Gailey in him, but if he wins I am wrong, not just wins like in being on the bubble but wins like being a solid team in the tournament. You ask Paul Johnson that same question and you will get an answer right between the eyes, no hedging. He assumes you are man enough to handle the truth even if it is telling you how stupid your question was. A large part of coaching is keeping it real both bad and good.
SCHULTZFAN
October 13th, 2009
5:19 pm
Jeff, I really enjoy most of your work, but this one is a bit off. I’d say maybe prepare your questions better in advance. Reading this was a complete waste of time, which is unusual for your work. Your personal dislike of coach is evident, please don’t let it taint your work.
chuck allison
October 13th, 2009
5:22 pm
The newsworthy part of this interview is the opportunity for Tech fans to understand the evasiveness of our coach.
Hewitt’s vision is not any level of achievement for our team. His vision is simply self preservation. Some wonderful day, Hewitt will be gone and we will ring the church bells all over Georgia.
sarrcford
October 13th, 2009
5:22 pm
Good question, Jeff. Bad answer, Paul. After that, it sounds like you’re badgering Dude. What was your next best question? “How many times are you going to beat Duke and North Carolina?” Never mind, he would probably dodge that one too.
Metal Jacket
October 13th, 2009
5:25 pm
Why would Hewitt be so defensive? Maybe he realizes he’s in over his head. In some ways he’s like Richt, has a lot of talented players but has done very little with them. Good job Jeff.
79
October 13th, 2009
5:26 pm
I-Think writes;
“Going to the NCAA tournament does NOT mean you are one of the top 64 teams in the country.”
Yep…at GT we measure the success of our BB program on the basis of whether we are in the mix as a bubble team on Selection Sunday…How’s that been working out?
GTFAN
October 13th, 2009
5:26 pm
Go ask Paul Johnson if he’ll guarantee a Rose Bowl appearance this year. Sheeesh! This article looks like it was written by a schoolyard bully.
Brad
October 13th, 2009
5:34 pm
Jeff, you are an idiot.
Mutts R Stupid
October 13th, 2009
5:42 pm
I believe our little jeffy was one of the Urinal Clowns crowning UGAY National Football Champion a year or so ago, in of all things, the pre season. So now to cover his failures, he is trying to get a Georgia Tech coach to commit in pre season to making the NCAA playoffs. A wise man never predicts both what event will happen in the future, and also set a date for that event to occur. Our little newsboy was trying to trick Coach Hewitt into doing just that, but Paul was too smart for him, hence the bitter article.
Buzzed
October 13th, 2009
5:42 pm
Asked and answered. Maybe it would have actually been an interview if you would just moved on.
Arkansas is next
October 13th, 2009
5:57 pm
Tech Nation – Your coach doesn’t sound to confident to get to the only part of the season that matters, the NCAA tourney. You should pay this guy by performance, a base salary, then wins, then what tournament he leads the team too, and finally how far they get in the tournament.
Concerned Citizen
October 13th, 2009
6:00 pm
Mr. Hewitt looks like one of the men I saw running from a recent robbery of a student near the campus. You might want to look into this.
Biff Pocoroba
October 13th, 2009
6:05 pm
Hewitt failed to bring in some decent assistant coaches. Hewitt made it to the Final Four with good assitants. This year he will be out in the second round but it doesn’t matter becasue he has a life time contract.
BehindEnemyLines
October 13th, 2009
6:11 pm
Ah yes, it’s almost time for the Paul Useless follies. A horrible mistake in the first place, compounding daily as he continues to send the program down the drain. I wonder what excuses his supporters will come up with this year after another dismal season.
Okeefe/GT
October 13th, 2009
6:27 pm
Schultz—I thought I liked you but your QandA with Hewitt makes me wonder.Are all journalists this stupid that you have to continually ask the same stupid question even when it has been answered? If you are looking for a specific answer then you should shut your mouth and quit asking.Move on will you?
Professional
October 13th, 2009
6:32 pm
Jeff Schultz – you are a complete moron. What kind of bush league questions are those? You are looking for a “gotcha” response so you can have something to print after their first loss.
Jackets Keep Rollin'
October 13th, 2009
6:37 pm
Jeff, asking the same question 12 times makes you a dweeb. Hewitt said the words “Final Four.” Nuf said. And that is freaking AWESOME. Go Jackets!
zzzzzzzzzzzz
October 13th, 2009
6:43 pm
Hewitt needs to put up or shut up this year. WITH THAT SAID, Hewitt would probably like to kick your arse for being such a Richard Cranium. Hope some day you try that crap w/ CPJ….you’ll probably soil yourself. Doubtful that’ll happen since jobs at the AJC are dwindling like ice on blacktop in August. Also, hope to God you don’t try and get a gig on local radio…you stunk on 790 tonight.
zzzzzzzzzzzz
October 13th, 2009
6:57 pm
After reading the interview again, this is exactly why ILMA off when a coach goes postal on an idiot interviewer. You deserved whatever came your way. Hewitt knows the deal. He should ask you why you are working at a dinosaur newspaper that’ll no longer be around in a year or 2.
Bubba Dodd
October 13th, 2009
7:15 pm
So if Hewitt had answered your question with a simple…”Yes”….what would your next question have been?….”Do you think you will be a top 5 seed?”….or….”In which Regional are you likely to be placed?” When Bisher retired he took the last sliver of class in the AJC’s Sports Section with him!
Limelight
October 13th, 2009
7:17 pm
Schultz: You talk about Hewitt as combative? You were pestering the crap out of him. Very annoying. I would decline interview next time if I were him. Perhaps you should go back to you liberal politics. I’m not sure which you’re better at now. Perhaps try Sarah Palin this time?
wxwax
October 13th, 2009
7:17 pm
Well, that was just a sad little game of gotcha that the sports writers play.
If they can trap the coach into saying he has a tournament team, then they have an angle for stories every time the team loses.
I hafta say that as an outsider, I find the game a little distasteful. But I’m not privy to the overall dynamic of the reporter-coach relationship.
Limelight
October 13th, 2009
7:18 pm
And I’m hardly a Hewitt fan…
Easy Charlie
October 13th, 2009
7:34 pm
Typical crap from a sports non-writer.
FireSchultz!
October 13th, 2009
8:03 pm
This has got to be one of the most despicable, non-professional interviews I have ever had the chance to read. So many unfortunate people losing their jobs at the AJC, and this irresponsible, rude joke of a “writer” is still on the ship? That is simply amazing. I truly do not mean to sound like a drama queen, but reading this has certainly made up my mind about canceling my AJC subscription. I have received the AJC 7 days a week for the longest time and have been considering canceling, and this article/interview is the last straw. Does anyone else recommend any other newspaper out there? I am old-fashioned and love reading the paper w/ my cup of morning joe.
Jeff Schultz
October 13th, 2009
8:35 pm
Wow. Some of you folks took this way too seriously. I was smiling. Paul was smiling. I was even laughing at times, as Paul would tell you. It was just an attempt for you to get a peek at some the give and attack between media and coaches, that’s all. My previous relationship with Paul – which I’ve always considered good – played into it. This wasn’t as attack journalism at all. I think some of you folks took it the wrong way.
Jeff Schultz
October 13th, 2009
8:40 pm
GTFAN – I haven’t deleted any comments off this blog so I can’t respond to your question about what happened to you “original” remarks.
For the record, there was no biting.
GTFuzzybee – Actually, a lot of coaches will make declarations before a season, maybe not extent of saying, “We’re going to win a championship,” but certainly to the extent of saying, “We should make the playoffs,” or “We should make the tournament.” That’s not that uncommon.
Billy
October 13th, 2009
8:41 pm
Actually, I think that most of the respondents take every slight against anything GT-related to be an attack. These are probably the same people who thought that Chan Gailey was doing a good job. Too bad that we don’t have a basketball equivalent of Taz Anderson. I wish that Mark Price wasn’t such a good person…
Buford T. Justice
October 13th, 2009
8:50 pm
Well, thank you Mr. Hewitt. And as the interviewer, may i say you’re the darnedest interviewee i’ve ever interviewed. Now that the mutual bs is over, ANSWER MY QUESTION YOU SB!
Jeff Schultz
October 13th, 2009
9:01 pm
GT FAN — I take that back. I just deleted one comment for profanity but it wasn’t your’s.
Buford — I argue with no man named Justice. Not even David.
Larry
October 13th, 2009
9:16 pm
Jeff,
I see some foreplay here but, because Paul likes women, I believe you’re out of luck!
helluvaengineer
October 13th, 2009
9:19 pm
Jeff-
I’m confused. You claim this piece to be, “just an attempt for you to get a peek at some the give and attack between media and coaches … This wasn’t as attack journalism at all. I think some of you folks took it the wrong way.” Just what way were we supposed to take it? Give and attack??
and Paul says, “Hey, you’re coming at me. I’ll come back at you.” Sounds like attack journalism to me. Am I missing something? This certainly was NOT worth sharing with the class. If I’m Paul I have no desire to do a one on one with you. BTW I would never want to make predictions on a basketball team based on Freshman performance.
rhynster
October 13th, 2009
9:22 pm
How is that people don’t understand the difference between a news reporter and an opinion writer?
Schultz, Bradley, Bisher = opinion writers
Tucker, O’Brien (sans blog), Ledbetter = news reporters
Both roles serve a vital purpose for a newspaper.
GT GRAD
October 13th, 2009
9:47 pm
Hewitt provided intelliget answers and was smart enough to refrain from making a prediction which could come back to bite him later if the season does not go well (too many variables to know how the season will unfold).
I generally like Mr. Schultz and his rantings (blog comments), but Mr. Schltz was out of line and simply being difficult during this “interview”. Very childish the way he painted Coach Paul Hewitt (a fine man, a good basketball coach, an honest person and a positive representative of GT) as a difficult person to interview.
Mr. Schultz should print a formal apology for the unfair portrayal and learn from this experience.
"Chef" Tim Dix
October 13th, 2009
9:55 pm
Jeff, If you ever get the chance please ask him this question:
In your darkess moments or even if your just feeling a little down, have you ever busted out laughing with a jackass grin when you remember how rediculously sweet your buy out deal is?
If he refuses to answer it, rephrase and try eight more times.
GameTime
October 13th, 2009
10:14 pm
Perhaps Mr. Schultz pushed the question further than necessary but Hewitt showed his stubborn side – a side that hasn’t served him well in his coaching and selection of asst coaches. Also shows he doesn’t want to set the expectation bar very high — quite a difference in Hewitt and Johnson!!
Bless you
October 13th, 2009
10:14 pm
Hate Paul, he couldn’t beat my wifes basketball team……fire his a@@.
4 jacks
October 13th, 2009
10:20 pm
Some of you need to get a life….these two were just going at each other a little based alot on their relationship built over the years. If Hewitt sounded defensive or bothered by it, he should be. He is the problem with GT basketball. If I win the lottery tonight I will pay the buyout so we can let DRAD hire us a real coach, and start generating some excitment and sellouts at Alexander again.
sup wit dat?
October 13th, 2009
10:22 pm
Schultz……….winning a Pulitzer this year ?
GT21
October 13th, 2009
10:27 pm
All you paul hewitt homers make me want to throw up! You ever thought well jeff wouldn’t have ask the question if this bunch had coached and played up to their ability the last 3-4 years. And to compare hewitt to johnson you have to be on crack. When was the last time TECH was 3-1 after 4 conf. games in basketball? Dig deep you may have to go back to the cremmins era.The difference between hewitt and johnson is simple, hewitt couldn’t win the ACC with Lebron James and if Johnson had the talent that richt has nobody would beat him. By the way I am not a johnson fan or hewit fan I am a GEORGIA TECH FAN, and a season tix holder in both sports so my money is where my mouth is . One simple message to both JUST WIN BABY!!
employedwealthyjacket
October 13th, 2009
10:42 pm
Wow. This is absolute trash that belongs on some mutts myspace page. After your rag of a paper finally dumps you off the sinking ship maybe you can serve hot dogs at sanford stadium.
Jeff Schultz
October 13th, 2009
10:47 pm
Hellofanengineer — Sure. I was trying to corner him and he took a shot. Doesn’t mean it was vicious. I believe the word is banter
Rhnyster–Yep. That’s why the paper carries that thing that says “My opinion” by the column.
azcat225
October 13th, 2009
11:56 pm
I think some GT basketball fans are wound up just a wee bit too tightly. I’ve no dog in this fight, since I am far more concerned about how Sean Miller does in his first year at Zona, but I do agree with some posters that if Hewitt mucks it up this time around, that contract of his might become a bit easier for the GT AD to swallow.
matt
October 14th, 2009
12:40 am
According to Wall Street Journal’s analysis of coaches with 5 or more years currently at the same school, (mostly based upon the RPI ratings that the NCAA uses for tournament seeding and the coaches salary) Hewitt provides the worst value of any returning NCAA b-ball coach.
Based upon watching this team over the last 5 years, I have to agree wholeheartedly.
GTGuy44
October 14th, 2009
2:29 am
I am disappointed in earlier comments that basically give Hewitt a pass for not answering legitimate questions that all of us (Tech alum and real fans)want to have answered. He is once again preparing us for another unachieving team. He is arrogant without reason. If he had a record like Coach K or Dean Smith he could get away sometimes with smart ass answers, being uncooperative, being evasive, lecturing and being sarcastic. He is a terrible coach and I want to go on record once again and ask for his firing. I predict a losing record in the ACC even with the new talented freshmen. He simply does not want to be held accountable for what he produces on the court. How can a coach say “we are a really good team” and not commit to anything more than we have to see what happens?
GTGuy44
October 14th, 2009
2:45 am
A second thought. Hewitt says “we are a very good team” and yet this team has not even played one game. How can a team be judged to be very good before playing a game? No less a team that will depend on true freshmen to a large degree. He cannot have it both ways. Had he said he will have to wait and see how the freshmen contribute and produce that would have been a fair comment. However, he is the one who said we are a very good team, so for him to cover his butt after volunteering that assessment is consistent with his lousy coaching and not accepting responsibility for the teams he recruits and produces. He always finds something else to blame for our failures such as injuries, guys leaving early, the talent of every other team, etc, versus his coaching.
BravesFan79
October 14th, 2009
5:52 am
GT mens hoops has the best chance at a national title of ANY of major Georgia teams and this is all you got!?? WTF
This interview was TERRIBLE!!
Let me tell yall what Jeff didn’t. The Jackets have the NATIONS best frontcourt this year!
Favors might be the top pick in the 2010 draft, and Lawal could of been a top 15 pick in the 09 draft.
All hinges on the guard play this season. With Udofia from Decatur leading the way at pt this allows the Mcdonalds All American guard from Chicago to move over to SG.
Like i told everyone 2 years ago when i found out Favors was leaning towards coming here…. 2010 will be a great year for GT Hoops! This is a Final 4 caliber team no doubt!
ps. it would of been nice to see Hewitt swallow his pride a little and hire back one of his old assistants that left after the title run.