How Hewitt can win back Tech fans – and win games, too

Too late. We want Paul Hewitt gone.

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I swore I’d never play that game.
I’ve just dropped over 30 years of maturity at least.

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first

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Well stated Bradley.

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Great article Mark! Too bad Hewitt wont read it…

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Can’t you write something that would make him just go away. Blast him more often so he runs and cries back to St. Johns. He needs to coach somewhere up in the Northeast anyway. That is where he gets a lot of his recruits.

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Liked the article Mark.
But Orlando Sentinal’s Fowler is now leaving you in the dust.
Seriously I think I can patch things up with folks even after heated words and that was what you did with this article if someone will get CPH to read it.

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Great article, Mark! Thank you Coach for staying!

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Good article, Mark. Agreed on all points. Most of us still want to like and believe in Hewitt, but he keeps giving us reasons not to. Some changes are definitely needed.

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Man, i cannot wait to hear how you get ripped (unjustly) for this …… This is a really strong AND FAIR list. Especially the efforts at good will (not saying you don’t already try goodwill Coach Hewitt!!! See you have to say these things or he will go off the deep-end about you again.

Strongest ones are the coaching staff (keep LaBarrie bcuz you need that former player) and not understanding how badly he is portrayed by Tech fans and alum.

Hewitt may not read it, but I guarantee you someone will read it TO him or give him the highlights. That’s how coaches get around the “never read the media” statements.

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Well said, but I think you need to add “drop player development from his contract with recruits”. Hewitt went too long with Lawal as the first offensive option. Lawal was a tremendous rebounding power forward, but Favors was the star. I think Hewitt makes promises to players, like Lawal, that get in the way of “TEAM”. You point out that Favors was shooting the ball 8 times a game and there’s why. Meanwhile check out Vasquez at Maryland or other stars of the ACC. They carry the team, which is what’s best for the team. Hewitt has to drop individual promises and do what’s best the first month of the season, not the desperate last month.

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Clemson hasn’t been anything but one and done in March madness when they have even made it.

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Good article, Mark.
As Jacket fans, we just want what is best for Tech.
Hopefully this will inspire Hewitt to do what is needed, to do what is best for the basketball program.
Think you covered it all very well, starting with some good assistants.

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Clemson isn’t a better program than Tech, but it isn’t markedly worse.

Tech is middle of the conference pack at best, a la UGA when it comes to SEC football.

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OK. I’m starting fresh next year. I’m going to give Coach Hewitt my complete support, and I would really rather have him than Tubby Smith anyway…

Why? Because of any other criticism, his players play hard. They’re usually good citizens. I even thought Clinch handled a bad decision with class when he made a boneheaded decision to cheat and got caught. He paid his dues, got back on the team, and played hard without offering any lame excuses. (Much better than an apology. Boy, am I sick of having to forgive someone just because they apologized. I’d much rather watch them work hard to make me forgive them.) And his players like him. That does wonders with recruiting.

And I would agree with most in MB’s article except the assistant coaches. I think it’s a little unfair to criticize a group when it’s very difficult to know what they have been doing to make the program better or worse. If I am going to support the head coach, I also need to support his personnel decisions. We shouldn’t hold him responsible while at the same time dictating who he should hire as his assistants. I grade Paul Johnson on his wins and losses — and I’m quite confident both he and Hewitt will hire the people who he thinks will make the program more successful.

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OK – when I thought he was leaving I threw out the name of Mike Anderson. Now that he is staying, I think he should take a hard look at that style of play. With Shumpert, Rice, Oliver, Udofia, Miller, Foreman and Jason Morris coming in – he will have a ton of backcourt / wing players to run and press with. The brand of basketball is entertaining, and he would have the type of athletes to pull it off.

I know football coaches often get together in the off-season and go through offensive and defensive systems. I think Hewitt should visit Columbia, MO and tap into a bit of what they have going on there. The team could forge a new identity that they could recruit to and carry on consistently. We could be like Paul Johnson’s team – a unique style that no one wants to play against.

Helena Engineer

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I think asking him to renegotiate his contract is ludicrous. Why should he renegotiate it? He got his money and contract and TECH is obligated to pay him, if they don’t like him then they can fire him and pay his buy out. Mark if you had a few bad years of writing would you renegotiate your salary to a lesser amount? I don’t speak for MB, but I know I sure as hell wouldn’t!

I agree with the other 5 steps but the money issue is simply a non issue to me and it should be for TECH as well.

Thanks!

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Hey Mark…

One could argue that Clemson does have a better program thes days…maybe it Hewitt’s fault in that they”ve been better the last 3 years in the regular season. They’ve just not been able to carry the regualr season success over to the post season.

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Mark, I don’t often say this about your articles, but you’re right on target with this one. I used to be one of Hewitt’s biggest apologists, but even my patience has worn thin. His unwillingness to acknowledge that he hasn’t lived up to expectations is infuriating, and the excuses have to stop. The comment about not being Duke or Carolina really drove me nuts. Most of us aren’t asking for ACC titles every season and a top seed in the NCAAs. We do expect a winning conference record most years and for making the tournament most years with the occasional deep run. I would be satisfied with Maryland or Wake Forest-level results, but he hasn’t even delivered that.

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americus jacket, I guess you weren’t around when Jermis Smith admitted the team quit in some games.

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Everthing you wrote is true. There are MANY fans who are SICK that he did not leave–I am one. I don’t hate Hewitt–I hate his offensive offense. Teach fundamentals, FT shooting, inbounding and accurate passes. Every game I went to this year TECH won and I left with a headache and a sour stomach due to the “way” they played.

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been saying for 5 years he needs an pffensive coordinator rad make him go get one

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I agree that he needs to get rid of the entire group of assistants and start over. Why doesn’t he try to rehire Dean? He’s not coaching anymore, and he was a great asistant coach. What Paul needs to do is swallow his pride and admit that he needs help. If he doesn’t then the boos will be gone next year, because those people won’t be paying for the tickets any longer…..

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Enter your comments here

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The first identified problem of excuses and the later identified habit of thinking that people who will talk to him in the airport are representative of the fan base mean that the rest won’t happen.

He should look at the film of his team running his Junior-high inbounds play and realize that his coaching needs to improve.

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Come on Bradley don’t any original thoughts float around in your head. You’ve just stated some pretty vague stuff here. How do you know he doesn’t coach offense as hard as he does defense? When was the last time you were at a practice? Would you be willing to renegotiate with the AJC if I suggested it would help your readership? The only thing that you ‘may’ have a point about is getting some better help on his staff, but even then you would have to be at practice to really see what they contribute. You’re article could have been one sentence. Just win more games. That’s all he needs to do. The AJC should ask for some of your paycheck back for this article.

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Let’s get real. How is he going to patch things up? Make things better? All the hocus-pocus in the world isn’t going to make up for lack of results. His 2 best basketball players are leaving for the NBA. Not sure the bench can even cover 1/2 of that production.

Hewitt had a golden opportunity to start FRESH (and Tech too). Now, instead of getting a hero’s welcome back home in NY, he’s going to try to convert *skeptics*. Do you know how hard it is to convert *skeptics*?

Another example of Hewitt making a poor coaching decision. My prediction is that after next season’s sub-500 record (total record, I’m not even talking ACC here), the Tech administration will have had enough, swallow their pride, and pay him the $7milliion to get out of town.

All this is doing, is delaying the inevitable.

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One ACC season above .500 in the last 10 years. Finding out CPH was staying was like a punch in the gut for this Tech alum.

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Hewitt ain’t gonna listen to you Mark, but you’re right. His ego won’t let him realize the majority of his fans in this state are UGA fans. I love him. Just saying …

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Yes we can! Yes we can! etc, etc…

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Price, Salley, Hammond, Darymple and Ferrell: best starting 5 in America.
And fans who paid for season tickets, ACC tickets, Big Dance tickets (quite an investment) just to be beat by a better game day coach were numb for awhile and then very pissed at Cremins.
BTW I was a Cremins homer then too.

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Mark Bradley

You make great points

Like if players leave get someone off the bench
Reach out to fans and alums
Win more games
Stop the excuses

Here is my observation

Hewitt can go to his bench but his bench wont be enough due to lack of talent not wanting to play for poorly run college team

Reach out to fans and alums. Great idea if he can locate them. My suggestion would be to put a billboard right there on the interstate next to the stadium to see if at least some of the half a million cars that pass by might net you a Tech that shows up

Win more games Well we know that won’t happen at a program like TECH

Stop the Excuses. Well in his defense if I had such talent and fan support like Tech does, I would have more excuses than Hewitt does. Lets give him some praise that he doesn’t complain enough as he should!!!

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I would hope that DRad has or is having a conversation with Paul saying these exact things.

Yea, my main gripe is the excuses. Own up to your shortcomings like a man. Admit when you haven’t done the job the I’m sure you feel you should do. Doesn’t every coach want his team to win every game? CPH could take a lesson from CPJ on this matter.

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I believe he is closing in on the record for most conference game losses. Most coaches get canned before they get close. So he has that going for him.

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I think the contract re-write hits it on the head. It’s not that I don’t think he’s lazy or is just bad, but he does seem to be in denial about how grumpy the fans are and how embarrassed we are to waste the talent he brought in. If he showed he was invested in Tech, we’d show him the love he wants.

Also, I’m kind of sick of him badgering the media when it’s critical of him. If the fans disagre with what they read or hear, we’ll tell the press to shut up ourselves, no offense Mark. Don’t want him to act like Meyer (although I did enjoy the time he called in on 790 to defend his players in 2003)

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Jackets2010, put the pipe down for crying out loud.

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We need to finish somewhere between 2nd and 6th every year, and win the conference every once in a while. And NEVER finish behind the likes of Va Tech and Clemson. Hewitt needs to make that happen to get the fans back in his “court”. (Oh, and recruit a “honky” every once in a while.)

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Hewitt wanted to leave but couldnt get the wife back to NY. That $7.1MM is community property.
He doesnt want to be here and we dont want him here. Recipe for total collapse of the program. GTAA isnt getting any more $$ from me. The home football schedule in 2010 is not worth it and the BB program is a joke.

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Too late, screw him.

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Unfortunately this resembles a married couple that stays together for the kids or because they can’t afford to split. And things rarely get better. Hopefully this will be the exception, but I think an already troubled relationship will only grow more dysfunctional.

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He can’t coach and he’s not going to learn. He has to go. Dang, I thought we were rid of him. Hewitt, WE DO NOT WANT YOU HERE! GO SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE BUT TECH!

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Cmon

TECH

You mean to tell me if you were paid good and never had to worry about being fired you would want to leave.

Lets be realistic now

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Billy
My intent is similar to Mark’s in trying to be a peacemaker.
Your point is valid about the contract.
But as long as it is there, some will believe it is the only thing keeping him in the job.
Renegotiating is his call and he probably won’t.

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Mark

Tommorow lets write on the positives of the Ga Tech program if there are any

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GTPhenom:

There are many times that someone doesn’t live up to their contracts. It happens all the time every single day, but at the end of the day TECH got what they wanted and they should pay the man what he is owed. How can you fault him for getting as much money as possible and signing the best possible contract for him and his family???

Being worthy of the contract has nothing to do with reality. The reality is that they gave him that contract (worthy or not) and they should pay him according to the contract and no one should complain or tell him to renegotiate.

Was Barry Zito worthy of his 7 Year $129 million dollar contract to the San Fran Giants? Many say no he isn’t, but do you hear anyone complaining about his deal and telling him that he should take less money??? NOPE!

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He ask his players if they would give up their cell phones and then had to ask his wife if they could move. Does or has he ever made a decision on his own?

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You’d have to be Mark to run a blog.
I’m trying to be and still have about 4 arguments going on at once.
Having a good time with them though.

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Don’t care. Used to care about GT BB. Now I don’t. Very liberating.

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I ask every Jackets fan to boycott 680. Today, John Kincaid had the nerve to say that he wondered if GT fans wanted rid of Hewitt because of race. What an idiot. Fans called and called trying to get him to understand how sad it is to watch the very talented kids miss free throws and struggled to do what should be jr high things like get the ball thrown in! John, you are not a jackets fan and a real jackets fan needs to not listen to your insulting comments.

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Jacket2010: You’re full of it. You said both Hewitt and Cremins were flops in the tournament. I said you couldn’t compare the two and your response is nothing. No facts to back up your statements. You site the 1986 year under Cremins as pivotable from a fans point of view. That’s bull. Cremins had won his first ACC championship in 1985 and was just beginning years of success at Tech. In 1990, he took his team to the final four and was named Naismith Coach of the year. In 1996 he won another ACC championship and took his team to the sweet sixteen. No one was pressuring Cremins to leave until the final two years(1998-99). I was there and I remember. I can’t say the same for you.

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Oh —-! He’s gonna stay. I knew it was to good to be true!

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Things will be fine at Tech as long as Hewitt keeps recruiting at a high level, and gets to the NCAAs more frequently.

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It takes a smart man to make the kind of deal he made with Braine and Clough. It takes an immoral and unethical man to not live up to his end of the agreement to do his best to succeed. It takes a truly foolish man to stick around where he is not wanted and can do no good when he could go elsewhere where is wanted and can do some good. Hewitt has been all three, and now that he is back, I wish him the worst.

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I am done with GT bball until blewitt is gone. I’ve been a fan for over 20 years and an alumus for 9, but I cannot stand this man, his excuses, his god awful game management, the 15+ turnovers per game his teams have consistently produced on his watch, the lack of offensive flow, and simple fundamentals (inbounding the ball, free throws, post entry passes). Oh and for all of you out there that think he is a great recruiter, take a look at our recruiting class this year. 1 medicore player. And he’s not even a big man! That’s all we have coming in to replace Lawal, Favors, Bell and Peacock. 1 great class every 4 years does not make blewitt a great recruiter.

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GTPhenom & BAMAFAN:

There are many times that someone doesn’t live up to their contracts. It happens all the time every single day, but at the end of the day TECH got what they wanted and they should pay the man what he is owed. How can you fault him for getting as much money as possible and signing the best possible contract for him and his family???

Being worthy of the contract has nothing to do with reality. The reality is that they gave him that contract (worthy or not) and they should pay him according to the contract and no one should complain or tell him to renegotiate.

Was Barry Zito worthy of his 7 Year $129 million dollar contract to the San Fran Giants? Many say no he isn’t, but do you hear anyone complaining about his deal and telling him that he should take less money??? NOPE!

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I have to say Born2Buzz, you seem to be a plant from the AA.

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Born2Buzz, that was a good post. I think Hewitt’s flirting with a job change can do a lot to re-invigorate his commitment and make him reconsider how things are done. I also really think that bringing in an assistant coach who can help with the point guards would really help. You’ve GOT to have good point guard play to go far in college BB. Mark Price might be the guy if he’s interested but I’m sure there are plenty of others as well.

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While many will disagree, in my opinion this is very good news for Georgia Tech University – Coach Hewitt has always represented us very well and will continue to do so as a valued member of our University community.

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Not only has he alienated many of the fans (myself included) with lackluster seasons, Twitter remarks, radio interviews and the like, now he has alienated us even more by even entertaining the overtures by another school. I mean, I am glad that he did, and I wish he had accepted, but to entertain and then reject is akin to Cremins’ move to South Carolina only to ultimately change his mind and return. He should never have returned, or Tech should not have allowed him to, and Hewitt should not have talked to St Johns unless he had planned on going.

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Technophobe and Jackets2010 have been Hewitt apologists from the beginning. That’s fine, you are Tech fans with a different opinion and I respect that. If you like the old Hewitt and expect him to be the same way, that is your right. But don’t insult the thoughtful adults in the room by suggesting that this middle-aged man who has been doing these things for 10 years is going to suddenly “get it” and change for the better. It is counterintuitive to think he could change when the very root of his problem is that he can not adapt. He lacks the objective perspective to accurately evaluate himself or his team so he is incapable of adpating, adjusting his actions. He doesn’t coach well in games because he can’t make adjustments. He still hasn’t adjusted to the NBA cradle-robbing trend, because even though he can lure the children to play for him, he can’t keep the stable full enough to replace them when they leave early. Get real, and get honest, people. If you are happy that he is back, then that’s OK for you. But don’t start playing the hope and change game, or more accurately, you HOPE he’ll CHANGE. He won’t change, and maybe he shouldn’t even try. He should have just gone to St Johns where he doesn’t need to change. He will never change because he doesn’t believe he needs to, or at least doesn’t believe he should have to. History proves this point, gentleman.

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ACT QUICKLY!!!! Call UGA and offer to swap coaches — the Dawgs might be dumb enough to bite. Quick!!!!!!!!! Oh, I forgot — GT and Paulie Walnuts lost to a UGA team with inferior talent — even the UGA guys can see the obvious. Well, this will drag out for 3-4 more years, then maybe we can hire a real coach. How painful for us.

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It would have been a lot easier to change cities and schools than to change his whole approach to life and coaching in the university.

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I haven’t stopped laughing since reading Clemson being called better or equal to GT as a b’ball program. Clemson??????
Clemson is a founder member of the ACC and has NEVER won the Tourney – heck they have lost in the first round about 50 times. South Carolina has won the ACC more times than Clemson and they left the league 40 years ago.
GT’s win in Chapel Hill this year was one more than Clemson has won in their entire history.

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supersize, amen. In fact, the name is Institute but the school’s status is that of a university. No true Yellow Jacket or any other intelligent being has ever called Ma Tech “Georgia Tech University.”

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Had to take a break Tom.
Why, pray tell, did Cremins leave?
He did not retire as we all know.
He did not leave for a better job.
Just who was it then that pushed him out the door?

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AE 87, tell it, brother. And I am afraid that DRad is sadly one of those who is inadvertently adding the “Tech” to it. THWG

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TEchnophobe, I hope you are right and that Hewitt does deign to lower himself to our standard by reading some of this. I believe he has been following all of it a little closer than he let on, though I doubt he ever reads AJC blogs. Just in case he is reading: WE DON’T LIKE YOU. IF YOU WON’T GO TO NYC THEN JUST GO TO HELL. IT IS A LOT SAFER THERE.

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He’s not a good coach. Another year of mediocrity awaits..

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Mark, to me it is absolutely amazing that you are still working at the AJC, because you are so incredibly adept at telling EVERYONE else what they should be doing, how and when they should do it, and why. You should probably be the GM and head coach of the Falcons, Bulldogs, Jackets, Braves and Hawks all at once. A veritable Oracle of sports. Why someone is not paying you to run everything is a mystery.

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Wilson, I think D-Rad’s been had too and is now trying to make the best of the undesired outcome. I’m still expecting a tweet telling fans, err press, to stop being so hard on his family because their young . . . etc

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Johns Creek Jacket, you are absolutely correct. Connie may be a cunning linguist but she obviously was preoccupied during her time here.

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Tom I have.
Lighten up.
I am a Cremins homer.
Except the 1990 team, the Jackets underperformed in March Madness during his time.
You should have stepped up and told the Tech people who booted him not to.
I sure didn’t force him out and why else would he take a job in SC?

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The only way Hewitt can win back most of the fans is either compete in the ACC, which he has never really done, or leave, which he won’t do because of the Braineless contract he holds in his hand. His statement that this was “a great season” then “a very good season” is the same mentality that Braine had, and they truly beleive that GT fans should be happy about it. Also the Hewitt apologist and/or supporters also beleive it. Thank God that DRAD, and CPJ are trying to change that loser mentality, and a good many of us are buying into the fact that GT can field top competitive sport teams, as well as being a fine institute of education. Only Hewitt is left, thinking that a 7th place finish in the ACC is “a great year”. If you beleive Hewitt is a fine coach, go to some of the other ACC message boards and see what they say about Hewitt. Tech basketball is on life support because of Hewitt, and the only way to get rid of this loser and his loser mentality is simply don’t go to the games, as I have determined to do. When ticket sales drop DRAD will have no choice but to buy this loser out, and please, don’t talk to me about what character this guy has. He has no love at all for GT, as his tweets and statements have shown over the past couple of months. I will give him credit for this, he is not stupid. He has us by the short hairs with this contract, and he intends to squeeze every dime he can get out of GT. Bottom line is we have the worst record of all the ACC teams over the past five years, with talent that says we should always be in the upper half of the ACC. Of course Hewitt knows if he went somewhere else without said contract and actually had to prove himself to be a decent coach he would be out of a job within 3 years, as no one would put up with his sorry underachieving teams and record. I feel for the kids that bust their tails for GT, and they truly deserve our support. This sorry coach, that has a book full of excuses does not.

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Jackets2010 — give up. Bobby’s an SC grad. He wanted to go there in 93, but loyalty to Tech kept him there too long. We’re seeing a worse version of that since Coach Hewitt turned down St. John’s in 2004.

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Wilson Dunkitt–never wish anyone to Hell; if hell lasted a thousand years, at least it would end, but hell is eternity for individuals not accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, so please never wish anyone to Hell

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Cremins could have easily stayed with the Institute in another capacity when his coaching days were done, but he (and Carolyn) were really ready for a break. He admitted he was burned out on it all. (If you ever see him at a Tech event or in public, you’ll find he’s the nicest guy in the world, and loves Georgia Tech. He is also very candid.) I once thanked him for helping to build our program and he just smiled and said he wasn’t really trying to build a program, he was just trying to win and keep kids in school (which he did to varying degrees). But he admitted that the wins and guys like Mark Price were the cornerstone for building Tech’s ACC basketball program. One other thing about Cremins, who was a New Yorker also, he was honest, candid, and friendly in public and private…and he still is. When he would catch himself making excuses he would backtrack and say something like, ” but, you know, we just didn’t shoot the ball well” or, “the guys played hard but we just didn’t get them ready for the press, Maryland really surprised us with that.” A far cry from the current “coach.”

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Great post, Mark. I wholeheartedly agree with your suggestions.

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Jackets2010: Cremins left for the SC job in March 1993, three years after his final four run and at the height of his popularity at Tech. In 1996, he won another ACC championship and a sweet sixteen appearance. Are you telling me he left for SC because the Tech fans were down on him. Wrong. I just want you to get your facts straight.

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Pay him the millions and send Pauly packing.

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Thank you Wilson Dunkitt. I agree completely as I’ve stated many times in my comments.

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While youre mentioning assistant coaches…dont forget Willy Reese. He was on staff and then demoted to DOBO or Admin Asst and now he is back on the bench. Hes the coach who said 5 years ago that Jode Meeks couldnt shoot. HAHA. Real good talent evaluator. The GT coaching staff is pitiful.

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Mark, Absolutely your best article, EVER. I was going to email Drad, but they have some assistant’s e-mail next to his name. Sounds like he’s trying to make the best of it. Tech folks are too smart to fall for the PR BS.

I’ve attended most of the football and basketball games for the past 46 years and the news that PH is staying makes me sick. This guy is another Obama. Gailey was a good man, and letting him go was justified, but this clown has not represented the institute well with low graduation rates, prima donna players that under achieve and still gets to hang around. This whole situation makes me sick. I guess i can go to the doctor with the money i’ll save by not renewing my bball tickets.

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I am not Mark Bradley’s biggest fan, but I do read him regularly and find him to be fairly accurate in analyzing college basketball. I can’t believe the number of fools here who keep criticizing a columnist for writing about a subject instead of doing something about a subject. Hello, idiots, writing IS doing! He is doing his job! We need to people to observe, analyze, and explain things so we can all understand them better. And since Mark, unlike some “journalists,” makes it clear that his analysis is based on his own observations and are therefore the product of his personal perspective, you can take or leave his comments for what they are worth. Mark Bradley in particular, and the AJC in general, has been more than fair to Paul Hewitt and his more recent columns have been objective, accurate, and clear, while also provoking the responses he needs to provoke. If you really believe that writing is not doing, then why the heck are you on here writing and why aren’t you out there doing something more productive?
Lyman Hall- In the first place I would put accuracy.

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Jackets2010 – I have to differ with you about Cremin’s teams underperforming in March apart from 1990. The 1985 team was an overperformer – went to the Elite Eight, losing to Georgetown

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BTW, on Carolina Sportstalk Radio, they are complaining about Purnell too and majority wished he were gone, Packer the host but he is a Clemson grad too

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If Elin WOODS can forgive TIGER for cheating on her 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, …or how many times, cant the PAUL HEWITT haters, forgive and forget the 7 million payout.

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I remember when Tubby first came to UGA and we were playing against his team for the first time. UGa had gone ahead but Tech started to rally and go on a run and it looked like we would beat the Dawgs again. The look on Tubby’s face was priceless and unmistakable. He was fuming, I thought steam was going to come out of his ears and he would blow a gasket. Sure enough, UGa snapped out of it and won the game. I wish Hewitt could do a little of that. Unfortunately, the look on his face looks more like “Aw man, Shump (or whoever) you screwed me again”. Hewitt needs to realize he’s the boss and enforce what he wants on the court for the good of the player, himself and the school. Just a little constructive criticism. Go Jackets!

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freshd: Get me a nine-iron and two tees. I’ll “forgive” Hewitt the same way Elin “forgave” Tiger.

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Amen, Go Jackets.

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Hewitt is now delusional. He thinks they took a step forward this year? Are you serious? You underacheived AGAIN and went 7 -9 in the weakest year the ACC has had in the past 25 seasons. Your team couldn’t inbound the ball and no one in the college basketball world knows what you’re trying to do on offense including your own players. Paul, you should’ve taken the St. John’s deal. In three years, you will be lonely, jobless, and without any decent offers to coach anywhere.

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Hewitt Fan: Let’s see, since you are implying that Roy Williams has some relevance to Paul Hewitt, can you first tell which years the latter won conference and national championships? Also, according to your conspiracy theories of the past (ACC is racist. ACC is run by the refs, ACC is run by racist refs, Duke and UNC have the bomb, etc.) then Roy Williams could not have had a bad season this year at UNC. It must just be the AJC being unfair in reporting that.

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Jacket Dude, right on. but he’ll be lonely, jobless, and without any offers to coach anywhere, but with $7 million of our dollars in his pocket.

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I just woke up from a long nap and had this really awful nightmare that Paul Hewitt turned down that offer from St. Johns. Most frightening dream I’ve ever had. So, what’s new this afternoon?

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ELIN might have hit TIGER with a nine iron, but she aint leaving that money. Why should PAUL HEWITT?

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I just got here myself. What a bad day. With all due respect, Mark, I don’t think Hewitt is salvagable (sp?). People can be pretty forgiving, especially if you win, but Hewitt and Radakovich has let this go on too long and too far. I don’t think a man like him can change because he still doesn’t realize he needs to. Even if he did, by the time he gets the Titanic turned around, it will be sunk. The fans will be peeling off all during the offseason, and won’t be back for awhile.

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Hewitt Fan @6:33. If you lived up here in the Triangle and read Ole Roy’s interviews in the N&O, you’d know that he blames himself for the poor performance of UNC this year

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/10/379794/tar-heels-demise-baffles-williams.html

Quite a difference in self-awareness from CPH

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Ricky B, glad you made it.
Been arguing all afternoon.
I get confused with a lot of people.
My last post sums me up best maybe.

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George P

Gt has one sure NBA player..Favors…I wish people would stop saying we had final four talent…..NC had 7 high school all americans…..we had 3, so is Hewitt a better coach than Roy Williams?

Wilson Dunkitt

Duke won the regular season championship and the ACC tournament when Singlar shot more free throws than the ENTIRE Gt team…..I told u its only 2 allowed to win it….pay attention

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Hewitt Fan – No good big men who are likely to leave early go to the ACC?
Ever hear of Marvin Williams (1 and done), Ed Davis (will be gone this year after 2 years)?
How about Josh McRoberts (a 2 and done white guy from Duke, no less)?
Alabi from FSU (he’ll be drafted this year) – Singleton will be gone next year. Don’t let facts get in the way of your thoughts.
And if UNC and Duke only have good records in the ACC because of some kind of conspiracy between Swofford and the refs, how the heck did they get to win all of those NCAA champiuonships?

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How could Favors dominate when hes on the bench…Carmelo played in a leauge where its not all about the coaches, its all about the players…thats why he dominated….

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RickyBobby – In the N&O article Ole Roy talks about how the pain of losing is greater than the joy of winning. Coach K and Gary W are pretty much the same. You read the same thing about guys like Parcells and Belichick (to quote coaches in another arena). Maybe you need to be an obsessive to go all the way.

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We have now reached the absurd position of having the coach we do only because his wife doesn’t want to move and his employer can’t afford to buy him out. At tonight’s press conference, Dan Radakovich and Paul Hewitt will sound very serious when they say how this is a fresh start, but everyone knows the truth: Hewitt would rather be at St. John’s and everyone at Tech would rather he be anywhere but here.

For me, excitement from years gone by has given way to disappointment, then anger, and now apathy. Until this sad situation is brought to a merciful end, I have attended my last Tech basketball game, contributed my last dollar, and written my last blog entry. I love Georgia Tech basketball, and will miss it very much, but my patience has run out.

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Paul RDU

Remember these players……
Duke( the team that dominates the ACC) former players that have been busts in the NBA

Parks,Mc Cloud,Hurly,Jayson Williams,Sheldon Williams,Avery,Dunleavy jr,Reddick,Ferry, the list goes on and on….do u remember big bad Sean May……
But look at GT players Jack,Bosh,Young,Morrow, are all solid players…i wonder whats the problem….

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Will you please shut up already about Hewitt? It isn’t that big of a tabloid-esque scandal/tragedy like you are making it out to be. Hell, if Mark Richt had sex with a pig or Barbara Dooley in public in the trailer lot of the latest Georgia Baptist Convention, you wouldn’t give it this much ink if at all.

Move on, Kentucky boy…

Jesus,

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I am predicting that Radakovich may be leaving in the next year or two, completely of his own accord, as he was bound to do anyway. This whole unpleasantness may indirectly his decision to go, but I do hope he has the decency to fix this thing before he goes. Even if it means firing Hewitt outright and paying off the whole amount, and then turning around and hiring a relative unknown with reasonable salary requirements. Please, do this for us, DRad.

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this whole unpleasantness may indirectly INFLUENCE his decision to go

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Bradley you forgot the main thing that would make a good recruiter successful at GT…. .HIRE a ex head coach with a great offensive mind… as head assistant!!
Of course i have said this for 3 years now with Hewitt hiring nothing but guys that looked like they just graduated college and are more clueless than he is on how to run a offense.

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Sheesh, I just checked scout.com and Carolina has three 5 star players already signed. Talk about reloading, they’ve already got 5 McD’s all Americans and I don’t think they’re losing much from this year’s team.

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Mark – will you be at the 9:30 presser tonight? I’m curious as to the spin that Hewitt puts on this and who he blames.

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Why work for a living,when you do not have too,Paul you could be the “face”of our party

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Got to pull for Syracuse in this tourney, anybody that has a coach as old as me and has a 5 year old son—he’s still got the spice.

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Hewitt Fan – Interesting how you came up with your list of former Duke players – talk about cherry picking. You do know that there are way more former Duke players currently playing in the NBA right now than GT players, right? You left a few Duke names off – like Corey Magette, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand. And if you are going back to Cherokee Parks to bring up busts, all throw in Grant Hill as a current one.
And some of your other busts are a reach – You do know why Bobby Hurley and Jason Williams were “busts” in the NBA, right?

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Got to pull for Syracuse in the tourney, anybody thats got a coach as old as me and has a 5 year old and a fine young wife like he’s got—mans still got the spice.

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Price, Salley, Hammond, and Dalrymple were all formidable. Solid stuff. And even Yvonne Joseph, the first Haitian I ever really talked to, was a real contributor.

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Got to pull for Syracuse in the tourney. Any team that has a coach as old as me and has a five year old son and a fine looking young woman as Boeheim—win it all !!!!

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THE HAITIAN SENSATION! We had better nicknames back then, lol.

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I don’t agree with much of what you say Technophobe, but amen on Hurley. Go Jackets

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Blewey must have, http://failblog.org/2010/03/24/wheel-of-fortune-fail-2/ , thinking he can come back and receive any kind of REAL support.

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Technophobia – You’ve got it right about UNC next year. Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock are going to be studs. UNC will lose Davis, Ginyard and Thompson but they will be much better overall. As Dean once said, the best thing about freshmen is they grow up to be sophomores.
Ole Roy will start the year with Henson playing at PF instead of SF where he played him for most of this year. They still need a good PG to run the fast paced style Williams likes since Drew definitely was not the answer this year.

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I wonder if Hewitt will be wearing a dress on the sideline next year since obviously he no longer wears the pants in his house …. sure he will still be a sharp dresser

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If he stayed at GT just because of his contract and is indeed as miserable as the fans, then it will eventually have a very negative effect on his health. Money can’t buy health or happiness and he will learn this lesson the hard way.

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One Idea for Hewitt: Instill tough discipline!

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I loved Al on basketball, but he used to drive me crazy during football season. Still, will always miss “toe meets leather!”.

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1. CPH needs an offensive coordinator. Our half court set looks clueless at times.
2. CPH overcoaches in that he analyzes to a fine detail. Perhaps its information overload as the players overthink themselves and then fail on the basics—can’t inbounds the ball, no concentration on free throws, stare at the ball in flight instead of finding someone to block out. We consistently have the highest # of TOs in the league.

We had the talent this year. It’s the entire coaching staff’s responsibility to develop the chemistry and get the most out of them.

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RickyBobbyonFire—dont forget– ‘Shooter at the charity stripe, free throw in the air-good, a lot of iron, but good, also, ” snowbird and bunny”, terms we all miss.

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He drove me crazy trying to follow the action but I loved it. I think I see Paul Hewitt wear some of his jackets sometimes, what a travesty.

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shooter takes the bunny…goot!!!

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Jackets take the field, and now the young lefthander, Kim King….

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The Curious Case of Paul Hewitt’s Ego —- another great sequel coming your way soon

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Looking forward to watching Cornell, man fundamentals work wonders don’t they???

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“The horror, ….the horror.”

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Your article is right on. Right now all I feel is sick. I won’t renew my season tickets next year.

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GO TECH 64: No is your answer.

He is not a disciplinarian.

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sick
real sick

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Hewitt could not care any less about winning Mark Bradley or the Techies over. He choose to stay to crap on you. I guess Hewitt showed all you who is the Boss around here.

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I don’t know if CPH coaches the offense harder than the defense. But, I will say this, when GT was playing good the defense was GREAT. The defense brought us back to win some of those games when we got behind. Almost the ACC Championship game. Except for the great field goal shooting one game, I don’t remember the offense being that great until Favor got started late in the season.

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It is not about winning (to the exclusion of all else) this man cannot TEACH/COACH. He is not worth the money and RAD has to be out of his tree to say otherwise. I am ready for both to get a pink slip! maybe this is a test for the new President. Many of us who have lived on this campus want it cleaned up and Hewitt needs to be the biggest mess to be cleaned up immediately.

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Mark,

You are right on the money about all the suggestions. I was thinking that he needed to volunteer to renegotiate his contract BEFORE that deadline past. If he truly is a Tech man as he claims to be, he has to know that the contract is not in Tech’s best interest and therefore is not in his. It might be in his financial interest, but most certainly not his best interest if he wants to be a leader in the Tech community. Hewitt is a great guy and I can’t say I wouldn’t want my son playing for him. I would welcome that. However, he’s got real, hard, deliberate changes that must be made. The contract and new coaches would be a good start.

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Crap, Blewitt is staying. Enough said. Good recruiter, lousy coach. Seems that we are stuck with him until the economy improves and we can afford to fire him.

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Enter your comments here

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I’ve always wondered, and still do, why so many players have transferred away from Tech- all the way back to Ed Nelson. Hmmm

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I honestly can’t figure CPH out. He takes Tech to Championship game in 2004 but losing record in ACC 9 out of 10 years. I agree that CPH is too full of excuses and not nearly full enough in the win column. I honestly thought he would take the job at St. John’s and everyone could have a fresh start. From the blogs I read he is not nearly as popular at Tech as he might think and if he can’t produce this year…well I am very concerned about next season without Lawal and Favors and how Techs fan base will respond. Possibly another excuse in the making? On the positive side he seems to do a good job of representing the University well and being a good mentor of student athletes. But bottom line you either produce or lose support with your Alumni and fans.

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Well said 4 Jacks … well said

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Mark,
You’re fired. It will happen soon.
Don’t worry it’s for your own good.

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I hope Hewitt is watching the NCAA tounament. Teams with white boys win games. Hewitt is a racist.

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I’ve been a bit down on all of your Hewitt bashing (even though he deserves some), but this article was spot on. I also don’t agree that next year is definitely going to be terrible. We have a couple of redshirt bigger guys coming in and maybe he can snag some more commitments this year. We are loaded at guard. Now that he is back, let’s support the guy!

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This day started so so so so promising and now I just watched the coach that could have been GT’s coach next season beat a #1 seed to get into the Elite 8. When will it end???

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Bradley’s suggestion was NOT to pay Hewitt less money, it was to make hi significantly more in exchange for the dropping of the perpetual rollover. That’s a reasonable deal that both sides should consider. I repeat my point: if that same contract remains in effect for the next year, Hewitt will be fired next March.

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Could there possibly be 70,000 fans/alums out there somewhere who would contribute $100 each to get rid of the guy? I suppose that’s impossible and wishful thinking,but I’ll happily be one of the 70,000.

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gt deserves better

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Coach Hewitt deserves a raise and a bonus for his devotion to such a low paying position.
The Georgia Tech adminisration must find the funds somewhere and cut the budget in other departments.

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We all know coach does not read the AJC, but if someone else can relay Mark’s talking points claiming them as their own, then maybe he will address those issues and take us back to relevance…….Nah

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As a season ticket holder for GT basketball for 10 years, I will NOT be renewing. Tech basketball is dead to me as long as Hewitt remains.

He has proven, over the course of years, that he does not hold himself accountable to the same degree that I do. The excuses are sickening, but I have come to believe Hewitt really thinks that way. He is VERY unlikely to change, so why bother watching this train wreck anymore?

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So Syracuse is out now. Hey Mark, how’s that bracket lookin? Sorry I couldn’t resist.

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just like Mark Richt….

This guy is past time to go, he should’ve manned up and told the wife and kids “listen, if I stay, I’ll lose all integrity that I have. I’ll be fired next year and, yeah, I’ll get a huge buyout so you can buy all your goodies, but then we’ll be living in bumblefark Texas because no other Div. 1 program will hire me. And also, kids, get used to all your friends that you claim to want to be around hating you next year because my team is gonna really submarine since we won’t have Favors and Lawal around anymore. Hope you guys like being run out of Atlanta on a rail, I’m betting you would have liked NY a lot better than a community college town.”

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Mark, I truly wish YOU would point out some things that were out of CPH’s control–things that negatively impacted his w/l record, that in essence victimized CPH for being good at what he does. Dig out and factor in the details of recruitment of Dwight Howard and Randolph Morris. Consider the unexpected 1-and-done of Chris Bosh. The surprise of Thaddeus Young leaving after the one year he had. And the total shock of Javaris Crittendon leaving after one. And how many college BB coaches can point to the New York Yankees buying your “franchise” point guard for $10M or whatever. CPH has recruited the very best, and it has been nothing but disaster. Do you honestly think he should have done it differently? Do you honestly believe he had control over all that? Give me a break.

Not only that, the fact that GT plays every ACC game against Duke and UNC spotting them 5-10 points because of Swofford’s officiating crew is out of CPH’s control. Likewise for all the away games against the rest of the league. (Is it any wonder that CPH and GT come in just under 500 each year in the ACC. We hold serve against all but Duke and UNC and we lose the rest, generally.) To be fair, you should point out things like this. To be really fair, you should point out that YOU, with your bully pulpit, should be playing a role to turn this officiating scandal around. You should be taking up for the home team. But you do nothing but tell the story of what a bad job CPH is doing. Nice.

Maybe we should be talking about your contract. What do YOU think?

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Low Class MB to call out the assistant coaches.

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Cremins’ departure was mutual. Tech fans were ready for a change. Bobby was ready for a break. There certainly had been increasing pressure on Cremins as some of his usual fine recruits were leaving early. Remember, that was when the NBA was really starting to become a force in the NCAA. Some Tech fans were vociferous, but I think the majority of fans had mixed emotions when he left. I haven’t really been following the apparent debate here but that’s the way I remember it.

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Recker, surely you jest, sir. Victimized? Surprised? The coach’s responsibility is to know who he is recruiting and if he acts surprised when a recruit bolts early he is either being disingenuous or dishonest. A coach who is “victimized” by adolescents isn’t worthy of leading young men.

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He didn’t “choose” Tech over St.John’s — He just chose not to pay $3.4 Million to leave! St. John’s told him he had to pay his own buyout. Now we get the “this is where I wanted to be all along” rap! He should have asked Tech fans — most would have taken up a collection to pay his buyout!

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B2B, I respectfully disagree that I owe any allegiance to the hired help of the Institute. It is true that if I want the student-athletes to excel I would typically pull for their leader to help them achieve that excellence. However, when I feel in my own best judgment, inexpert as it may well be, that someone is doing more harm than good to the student-athletes and by extension the Institute, I will not, I can not, in good conscience support that person.

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How many of you would voluntarily give some of your income back to your employer to earn goodwill? Mark, would you? I am not a Tech fan and some of the things said about Hewitt is totally ridiculous. Most of Tech’s players, especially the guards are over-rated right now. Schumpert is not a point guard. Udofia is an over-rated freshman. Oliver is a streak shooter. Rice is a nice player but not what Tech needed this year. Why not ask Gary Williams to re-structure his deal? Coach K has done nothing since 2001, what about him? Tech basketball will have an exceptional year every 5 years or so. Making the tournament every would be very good, going beyond the Sweet 16 consistently would be exceptional.

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Hewitt’s friend. The assistants, just like the head coach, have chosen a profession that relies on the public for its success and is subject to scrutiny in public forums. If any of them have thin skins, as Hewitt obviously does by your very existence (he can’t bear to read it himself? boo f***ing hoo.), then they may be in the wrong profession. OR, they might want to try doing their jobs better so that they can enjoy praise as well as criticism. IF you can’t stand the heat, get out of Mrs. Hewitt’s kitchen.

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NOW BUTLER HAS BEATEN THE MIGHTY SYRACUSE! WOW! BRAD STEVENS IS THE MAN! TO BAD WE WILL NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO SEE WHAT HE COULD HAVE DONE FOR TECH. LISTEN, MARK FOX AT GEORGIA WILL OWN TECH AS LONG AS HEWITT IS THE COACH. I WANT TECH TO BE BETTER. HIRE BRAD STEVENS PLEASE!!!!

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Tech should take a play from Georgia’s playbook: everyone groused when the Dawgs hired Mark Fox instead of getting a “big school coach.” Now, no one is complaining, because CMF can coach-up players.
Tech should do the same. Skip the big-school coaches and go after a successful mid-tier school coach who is known for coaching-up players (see, e.g., Brad Stevens), pay him big bucks to come to a bigger conference, and create a program where guys stay for more than a year — a winning program! (OK, a winning program except for ONE certain out-of-conference game a year, that is!)

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Its fine with us if Hewitt’s wife and kids stay here, we just want him to go. Acceptance of mediocrity is not in the best interest of the Institute. Look what it has done for football. Why the double standard, Drad?

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For my next trick I will make Paul start to show interest in caucasian athletes ……. followed by making him bark like a dog ( I mean he obviously a secret fan of the ugay nation)

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I know he is a popular figure, but Dan Radakovich has chosen to cast his lot with Paul Hewitt. Before, I assumed he was just keeping his criticism and guidance on the down-low and out of the spotlight for the benefit of the coach and the program. Now it is clear that he is sincere in his support of Hewitt (we always knew they were friendly). I am not willing to give him a free pass. No, he did not sign the original contract and yes, there are “unique” financial burdens created by that contract, but Radakovich has had several years to force the changes MB and many others have been suggesting for some time. At some point why hasn’t he said, “Paul, don’t you think it’s time we hire at least one assistant who is not a part of your personal buppy program?” Or, Radakovich could have been more forthright in discussing Hewitt’s situation with alumni who might be able to help him effect some change. Certainly, instead of putting efforts in building new luxury boxes and re-building the inside of AMC for $30 M he could have encouraged funneling some of that money into finding a worthy coach. And at no point have I heard Radakovich in public or private address the academic issues such as graduation rates and inappropriate recruiting of unqualified student-athletes. I know DRad is the darling of the administration and he has indeed made some excellent hires, but this fiasco should serve as a wake-up call that there are times when he may not have the Institute’s best interest in mind.

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Coach Hew-nit-wit, that is too bad about the 3.4 mill CPH would have to pay GT, GTAA should have said to him “look if want to go, that is fine, go ahead and we will call it a day, do not worry about the money.”

wow Wilson, your still on here ..I was on here earlier around 5 and now I’m back and your still going at it..but I know how you feel..it is like we GT fans are all being punked. Maybe we will wake up in the morning and find out we were. Maybe, we should form a protest line outside the GTAA office.

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I hope Urban Meyer cusses you out for bending over for CPH. You need a finger in the chest. Just teasing. Next time you see Hewiit I dare you to tell him to take off Colin Montgomerie’s Rabbit Ears and loosen up.

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How am I over reacting?? He attacked all the fans and people in the local media …. How can this eunuch think he can just come crawling back and all will be okay …. Do not think so

He had an opportunity to save his career and maybe create some success ….. he just threw that away for either the reason stated or because he just wants to stick it to GT, to the point of no short term recovery …. so no i do not think it is over-reacting

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if only: I was gone too, but I got back just before you

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My bad. I meant to say “Hiring Paul Johnson was brilliant.” It’s starting to get to me now.

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Nocoach, how are you over reacting????? ROFLMAO You can’t be serious. You say you have hatred, contempt and loathing for someone who has done you no personal harm other than to fail to provide the level of basketball you feel you are entitled to. Then you say he “attacked” the fans because he asked them to support the team rather than focus on criticizing him. His comments were poorly chosen for sure but an “attack”, I don’t think so. Then you call him a eunuch because he decided not to uproot his entire family to make an, at best, lateral move. And you top it off by saying he “came crawling back” when all he did was interview. Wow.

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NCB: I don’t think I can wait 350 days, but I hope it is no later than that.

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“We’ve got a pretty good thing” – I see CPH is still delusional, nothing will change, turn out the lights.

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This article provides some much needed perspective
http://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/tech-fans-might-be-404264.html

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Techno you are absolutely right …. I have always wanted Tech “to have a pretty good thing going”

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Agree with Wilson. Any criticism of Hewitt from here on out should be jointly directed at Radakovich. It’s on both of them now, whether they turn it around against all logic, or whether they fall flat on their faces.

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Why are you doubting? I went to the school fr 84-88 & graduated in 88′. If you went to the school get the 85′ “Blueprint” yearbook and look up the team – standing next to John Martinson in the pic. Duane is doing great, an astute businessman and also works for the Hawks as does Mark Price. GT will turn the corner next year or soon after. The 1980’s @ Tech were a SPECIAL time – Salley, Yvon Joseph, Duane, Tom Hammonds, Bruce D.,Mark Price – also football – Pat Swilling, Ken Whisenhunt, Robert Lavette, Gary Lee, Track – Antonio Mckay, James Purvis, etc. I could go on & on…. Be patient people …… History repeats itself…..

True Jacket Fan & PROUD Alum -
RKB

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I must admit…I was disappointed when Hewitt announced he was staying. The ONLY reason I wanted him to leave is because 1 winning season out of 10 in ACC play is indefensible. That is a terrible record. That aside, CPH is here at least for the next season. And…I think we all agree he’s a class individual who runs a clean, honorable program. As a true GT fan, I am pulling for him and the team to be successful next year. So…will someone please print out Bradley’s PERFECT words of advice and hand it to him the next time you see him. (Maybe you can leave out the contract part..that may be kind of offensive)

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Thanks for staying coach!

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D Rad brought in Coach Paul Johnson, and FIRED CHAN. No one is second-guessing THAT move…cut the guy some slack.

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Well, Rick, the early 80’s were pretty miserable on the football side, but you do indeed name some of the best players of the decade. (I was your classmate but not in athletics.)

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D Rad brought in Johnson and several other good head coaches, but he is also responsible for Hewitt now. As clearly stated before, he did not hire Hewitt but he has had ample opportunity to either hold him accountable or terminate him. Now that he has cast his lot with Hewitt he deserves much credit if Hewitt turns it all around and flies straight, fulfilling his executive duties in the basketball program. But D Rad is also now responsible for Hewitt’s failure. Perhaps you will be right Rick Bell and history will repeat itself. But in my “groundhog day” experience with Hewitt these past several years it appears he as an individual is a lot more likely to repeat his mistakes.

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Seriously, I’m as disappointed (or MORE) than all of you….but it could be MUCH WORSE. How many 20 win seasons has he had? I know the ACC record has been disappointing, but hopefully Favors stays another year and these dudes mesh as a team. Hopefully Shumpert will become a court general…. Hewitt has brought in the top talent consistently w/o the scandals – (Memphis, USC, etc.) – Now they just have to come together & execute…….

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Willie was great, but I never saw him after he left Tech. What’s he doing now?

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Willie reese was a great assistant before.

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This Kan St – Xavier game is outstanding

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helluva game.

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Really fresh legs for the second OT, but now they’re getting a little sloppy.

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I can imagine Price, Anderson, Scott, Salley, Hammond, Harpring, Dalrymple and guys of their ilk in an epic game like this K St – Xavier. But I can’t see Shumpert, Favors, Lawal, et al, holding it together for this long.

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After Cornell lost hopefully St Mary’s can get it done tomorrow night

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Well, hell, I’ve calmed down some now. I still hope we find a way to get another coach in here, and I still won’t renew my season tickets (the wife is thrilled about that one) until Hewitt is gone, but I do wish the student-athletes well. Mark, I know I am in the tiny minority here, but the first thing I believe Hewitt, or any coach at my alma mater should do is ensure the development of the student and the athlete in the student-athletes he leads. Hewitt has neglected both, especially the student aspect, but no one–not you, not DRad, not most of the fans here–no one has addressed this issue. If we don’t address soon, the NCAA will address it for us.

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Thanks for the comments Rick but do you REALLY think Favors might stay? It’s pretty hard to justify passing up lottery pick money even if he would benefit from another year.

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Dave Haase, jacket, lottery, lottery and others. lottery said: http://www.cash2day.ws How Hewitt can win back Tech fans – and win games, too http://tinyurl.com/ygc55h3 http://www.mad2miss.ws [...]

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We ain’t got no problems that a ballsy athletic director, a big chunk of money, and a stellar point guard won’t fix. That or a meteor strike at 10th St and I-75.

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16 minutes seems like a long time to walk into the dining room, wolf down some meat and bread, and get back to the television, in March anyway. but you’re right Ron, I hope he don’t have no comebacks either.

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I am from Queens, NY. I grew up watching & playing against some of the great ones. Kenny Smith (NC), Greg “Boo” Harvey (St. Johns), Rod Strickland (DePaul), Mark Jackson (St. Johns), Kenny Patterson (DePaul), as well as TONS who never made it…… Believe me – a GREAT PG makes all the difference, just like a Brady, Manning, Brees in football. We need the next one to step up to the plate….

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Alright Paul. If you are staying then its time to shake things up. Bring in a new coach or two. Change some of your styles. Whatever it is, just do something. What you are doing now isnt working. We dont want another 7-9 ACC season, praying we make the tournament. We are tired of seeing dumb turnovers and missed free throws. That said, if you make the effort and turn things around then you can win the fans back.

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So Rick, do any of the PG’s we have, have the potential to get the job done? In other words, do you think it can be coached or is it just raw talent that makes a really good point.

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LAST!

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Jojatek – you may be right… It is a “high risk” strategy…. Look at Duke every year…they seldom if ever have impact guys leaving after 1 year….. lately that’s been all that Tech does…Back with the great GT teams of the 80’s and a few of the 90’s – they AT LEAST stayed for 2 years….I know there were exceptions like Kenny & Steph……etc…

Maybe he should concentrate on getting a core of
guys who will stay 4 years, and a stud or two who will leave after 1 or 2…….

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we dont want him.

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley. Mark Bradley said: How Hewitt can win back Tech fans – and win games, too http://bit.ly/aHJTdS [...]

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NCAA Tournament Action :

SEC 15-4
ACC 9-9

SEC Men 5-2
ACC Men 5-5

SEC Women 10-2
ACC Women 4-4

ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Men
ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Women

SEC has winning record in BOTH NCAA Tourney Men & Women.

SEC is kicking the butts of ACC in basketball, again.

Big East had 8 bids to the Men’s Tournament. Butler beat # 1 seed Syracuse last night. Big East have 1 left, tomorrow night West Virginia vs. SEC # 1 Kentucky. Big East also does not have a Winning Record in Men’s NCAA Tournament, just like the ACC. Neither the Big East nor the ACC are better than The SEC in Basketball. Big East is NOT the best basketball conference and NEITHER obviously is the ACC.

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I thought Hewitt was gone….DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN !
We still have basketball’s version of Obama….slick, articulate, handsome and in WAY OVER HIS HEAD

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1. Love the media
2. Review his assistants and make some changes
3. Keep winning
4. Stay positive
5. Win in the ACC when he should.
6. Listen to his critics and play nice nice.
7. Negotiate a new contract with incentives for winning and no significant penalty to Tech if he doesn’t perform.

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This article is right on the money Mark. Since he’s not going anywhere anytime soon, I would at least like to see Hewitt try a little different style and wake up to some of the criticism. I also think in a way that it will be fair for him to reap the benefits of what is to come next year that wouldn’t have been fair to put on a new coach. I think Tech has some good young talent but it is going to be nearly impossible to replace the two heading for the NBA. Good coaching can adjust to that and overcome. Next year’s team will be interesting to watch and it could end up being a pleasant surprise or a complete disaster. I don’t think any reasonable fan would expect a deep run in the tourney like we had the year after Bosh left, but then again no one really expected it then. I think next year the team will have a top level of being a 4 to 6 seed for the Big Dance if things go well or it will struggle for 4 to 6 wins in the ACC if things go poorly. It will be an emotional one for us true Tech fans because we will either be expecting some resurgence in Hewitt’s ability to revive the program or the mob will grow in wanting him shown the door. Any little sign things are going either good or bad will be overly analyzed and the blogs will enjoy a good year. I personally am looking forward to offering my own overreaching analysis all season long.

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bawahahahahahaha!!!!!! Yech has the two most overrated coaches in their respected sports and I love it!!! CPJ and his gimmicky offense has been exposed. He can’t win the big game unless it’s against an equally pathetic ACC team and his own recruits sucks since he’s forced to hang on to Gailey’s. Hewitt is the master of one and doners and he manages to do less with more than even Yech’s annually overrated baseball team!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

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Need a New Coach – Why is it always about the color of one’s skin? Judge the man according to his performance, not his color. I want a winning team. Not a White team. Not a Black team. A winning team! Put the best 5 out there and play ball! Simple as that. Man, what a shallow mind! Just goes to show, academics has NOTHING to do with measuring true intelligence! So sad!

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I’ll never again support Hewitt as the coach at Georgia Tech. Ever. I hope AMC is empty except for students. Students need to get in there and support their classmates. Alumni and other season ticket holders need to spend their money on football.

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Great day to be a Georgia Basketball fan.

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Great work again Mr. Bradley Hewitt has everything he needs to win Favors or not we have a strong team battle tested coming back the fans wants “WINS” and there will be no excuses next year. Hewitt I know u have to control everything PLEASE but IMAN on the wing and Mo at the point. Ufion is still young and Foreman can play. Rice Jr. will shine at the other wing. Lawal at the four to keep him out of foul trouble. Miller or Hoseley in the paint. But Im not sold on Favors leaving if he does we need a true center with Peacock toughness. Hewitts back its time to get to work.

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Well written article.

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Unfortunately I agree with everything you said but pissed because I wanted that job.

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To start off, I know nothing about it! But I would never sign a player that would play one year. Not once, never. Look at Duke! Its about being a coach, and if you can not do that then, well you know! But then after my team learned defense they would learn offense, it looks to me that Tech has yet to have that class. The word flounder comes to mind! You know, you can have 10 great players and despite yourself they make the final four and then get beat soundly cause of all of the above, that does not make you a great coach, a great recruiter maybe but not a great coach. I would find out from Coach K how he keeps players 4 years then I would do that at Tech. It is Georgia Tech not lawnmower Tech!

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You know, I just read the article about Hewitt’s response to all that has transpired. “We have a good thing going here . . .” Well Hewitt, if you consider a losing record in the ACC and only 50% tournament showings, then yeah, we have great things going. The problem is, 90% of GT fans don’t except those kind of records. You know, I once again go to the fact that his arrogance just doesn’t let him see the truth. Right after he says, “I know there are those who are not satisfied,” he satisfies his own ego by saying, “but I was getting a lot of emails saying the opposite.” Come on Hewitt. Just recognize the fact that majority of the fans do not like you, and were PRAYING that you would leave the campus. See, he thinks that if he wins “a few more games,” that he satisfies the fans he has ostracized. Not me. It is going to take CONSISTENT increases in winning and gameplay to win me back. I want to see single digits in the loss column more often than not, an occasional trip deep into the tourney (Sweet Sixteen or better), I want to see more effort by the players, and I want Hewitt just to own up to mistakes he has made. It is always something else with him. Just say, “I screwed some things up, and we are going to fix it.” That is all it takes. Swallow your damn pride and ego for five seconds and get that message to the fans. That alone wins some people back. But if things continue like this next year. He needs to be gone. For Good. I (along with most other GT fans) are sick and tired of the mediocrity, the inconsistency, and the excuses. I have went from a season ticket holder, to a consistent TV watcher, to an occassional TV watcher. Now, I am going to have to force myselft even to watch the games on the TV. It is just always a train wreck. The only team you can watch, where you come out feeling sicker to your stomach sometimes after a win than a loss.

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Great article Mark, we need to get behind this team and coach. All of the negative press and negative blogs will kill recruiting. And i completely agree that he needs better assistants, a lot of the close losses this past season could have been wins, and that would have created a much higher seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

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Mark, you present some wonderful ideas. Since Hewitt claims not to read the local papers, I doubt he will act on any of them, which is a shame.

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Exactly CanHewitt. Manning up I think is one of his key issues. I don’t know. Maybe he really is just that dense when it comes to what people think of him. Maybe he really thinks that people are ok with him, and that everything is great. But that is exactly true. We don’t expect UNC and Duke results with two or more NC each decade, but how about something closer to 7 appearances in the Big Dance each decade, and 3-4 of those actually being deep runs past the field of 32. With the talent he brings in year-in and year-out, why can’t we expect single digits in the loss column, and at least an OCCASSIONAL winning ACC record.

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The problem is that Hewitt is not a college basketball coach, and after all these years, he’s not going to change. What you see is what you get, and that’s not very much.

Tech will continue to wallow in mediocrity as long as Hewitt is here.

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If you can’t teach players how to play the game and your system of basketball, and you can’t control their lack of execution of the system in the game, what use are you as a coach?

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GT just lost a Basketball Fan………….fire Hewitt and Rads.

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Oh by the way! Don’t hate because Hewitt negotiated a good contract. No one forced GT to agree to those terms 4 years ago. Maybe Mark Bradley should re-negotiate his compensation with the AJC and get paid on the % of the public would pay extra subscription fees just to read his unbiased editorials

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Spot on Mark. The contract blurb is the only thing that really is a reach. I am ready for him to be gone, but he can temper my disillusionment by winning games like we know the Tech program is capable of.

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Hey GTPhenom… I have $7.1 million reasons not to care what people think about me…
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I Run This School….$7.1 million or STFU…LMMFAO…Paul.

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Most accurate, and easiest to agree with, point in your column: something has to be done on the assistant coaches level. Current staff may be decent, likable fellows, but evaluation has to be made based on coaching skills.

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Having watched fickled fans and sports writers in Atlanta for years, there is no reason for Coach Hewitt to waste any of his time trying to win them over. If he wins games, then these yahoos will crawl back under their rocks and shut up. To suggest that he should give back some of his salary is even more ludicrous. Why is there so much envy in regards to his position and salary and the obvious questioning of his coaching skills by people who have never coached. It reminds me of the comments directed toward President Obama and Tiger Woods. I am sure that there is no correlation…or is there?

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Guest hosting on the Mike and Mike show this morning, Doug Gottlieb of ESPN was talking about the rash of bad turnovers Syracuse had last night against Butler and said they looked like a Paul Hewitt coached team.

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What he needs…. is the next Kenny Anderson.

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I’ve been a devoted Tech fan since 1970. Hewitt reminds me quite a lot of Bill Curry. He puts a good face in front of the program (for the most part), but he’s not a smart coach. Further, it just doesn’t look like there’s any way to get rid of him. And there is this: Curry’s football teams were just awful until he hired an extremely good DC; then, they got better. Then, he got rid of a terrible OC and hired a good one. He had two good years, the good OC left, and the hired the bad one back again. Then, I knew. He didn’t really care about Tech. Paul Hewitt looked pretty good early in his career at GT because he had some good assistants; now, he’s on his own. He’s not going to fix that and there is no way to make him do it. I’m still a fan, but I’m tired of this.

Here’s another thing: Tech used to graduate a higher proportion of athletes than of the overall student population. They don’t now, and basketball is a worst offender. How long can that continue to be the case? Why is it the case now? Is this actually bad recruiting or just not applying enough pressure to the players so that they know they’ve got to be students first.

And one last note for today: Tech’s basketball team WAS over-rated earlier in the season, but the baseball and softball teams are both as good as advertised. We sweep UGA in baseball and I’ll be greatly mollified.

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Spot on about the coaching staff.

Did anyone catch this item: Chris Petersen, coach of Boise State football, is going on trips to watch Oklahoma and Oregon practice spring ball.

WHOA! Boise has, of course, beaten those two clubs last time he played them! Check out this quote:

“I just have a bunch of questions. And I want to watch how they practice.”

CPH: you could learn a lot from a Blue Field.

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@lethal weapon 3 Tony Akins is still playing ball. He is in S Korea.

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Don’t kid yourselves- He wanted to leave and this will be remembered by the fan base. His family just wouldn’t let him. So I don’t blame him for following the family first, but he is really going to catch heat from the fans for a while until he proves that he wants to coach Georgia Tech.

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St John’s is a dead program. The college is in one of the worst parts of NYC, and the administration has left the practice facilities in poor shape. Until the administration changes, St John’s will never be as strong as it was in the 80’s.

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I know a lot of folks seem to care especially from reading these post and others. Really though if the football program is winning and making money the way the SEC schools do then we shouldn’t care about the basketball program that much. Even the traditional BB schools are now trying to greatly improve their football programs. Football is the money maker not basketball. So keep Hewit, keep him at his current rate with the current deal and he will eventually move on. “Hear me now beleive me later” football is all that matters.

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Next year will be a terrible season for tech . … Non of the players like him …Iman is leaving , Gani Leaving , D Favs leaving …Peacock gone , Deandre gone… U have three head case freshman that think they are better than they are and an a–hole for a coach.

He hasnt recruited Jack cause he is expecting them to fire him. Basically , he aint trying to win he is going through the motions because he is holding the program hostage.

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Who Cares,

You make good points. Are you saying that a notable institution like Georgia Tech would allow “special admits” for monetary reasons? The term “using them” is very interesting. Is this not a plantation mentality phrase where black athletes are used as slaves with no pay just to enhance the bottom line.Surely the one and done athletes( “special admits”) are not smart enough to see that. I thought that the discussion was about Coach Hewitt and winning basketball at Tech. Maybe Coach Hewitt and the “special admits”(including football players) are not as naive as you seem to imply.

I noticed that a lot of Tech alumni on this blog have elected not to renew their season tickets. What is the price of a season ticket? I would suggest to you that Tech’s revenue is generated by TV contracts. There must be some funding somewhere in the chain. Tech and their All Americans are a pretty good TV draw. Too bad that they do not get paid like everybody else since”special admits” do not graduate in most cases. You have identfied something to think about my friend. Oh well…Who cares. Right????

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Listen. The power structure at Georgia Tech can solve this with the stroke of a pen. Fire the man, pay the man and go get who you want as a coach. Stop waiting for Hewitt to the job for you. The Tech faithful only have the school to blame for this situation. If I were Hewitt I would not leave either. I am not going to let you off the hook after you have shown me that you don’t want me anymore. If the Tech power structure is unwilling to buyout the contract well Hewitt should continue coaching until his contract expires. Either way Hewitt wins. So Tech fans get over it and continue to support your team.

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So what do you suggest be done to the Tech Administrator who negotiated the sweet, outrageous deal with Hewitt?

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Bradley, Kudos. Correct on every point.

I’ll add, D-Rad must REQUIRE some changes, including the asst coaching staff.
It will be VERY BAD for BBall season tix sales and fan attendance, if no changes are made.

Besides, if CPH doesnt like it, then he can always quit.

Also, in a recent AJC article, CPH seemed to make it apparent that there is really only one other school he would go to, because he said that there was only one other school “on a similar mission” as GT.

Since CPH is Catholic, I can only assume thats either Notre Dame of Georgetown.

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You guys just want this guy gone for other obvious reasons. The guy has gotten Tech to the 03-04 championship game. Has reach the big dance facing all these, as you state, “excuses”. He still manages to attract top players who are apparently NBA material by their second year. Come on, give me a break! With Hewitt, Tech has went toe to toe with likes of Duke! With Hewitt, Tech has reach its highest heights in years. C’mon man, if you want something better, ask Coach K to talk his boss out of a gauranteed deal. Geez!

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Please you Tech fans. Paul Hewitt is the best thing you will have. dont try to run him out because you dont want to pay him. Quit crying. Why dont you go and coach them.

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well well…..another day and you techies just keep the fun coming….this is soooo past funny, but God I do love every minute of it!

Every day…every week…every year all us dumb arse, inbred, trailer living dawgs that all work at McDonald drive thrus hear from you extraordinary tech men (men used loosely) is how much those tech degrees are worth…how much money ya’ll make!….yet you cry and cry about how you cant afford to get outt or CPH’s contract…many begging him to do the “honorable” thing and re-negotiate his contract…well gents..there is another side to that coin..simply put….let GT do the “honorable” thing and pay the man! OR STFU!

Suggestion…you might want to hire the UGA educated lawyer that negotiated CPH”S contract for him…he might….might I say be able to negotiate on your behalf a loan from UGA’s atheletic department….they are sitting on a 30+ million surplus even after recently donating 2 million to the university itself! Of course the interest rate might have to be a bit extreme…but “any port in a storm”…right?

In the meantime Mr. Bradley…keep throwing out the chum…this truly is quite entertaining!

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Greed from the athletic department also plays a role in dwindling fans. I had been a mini-plan season ticket holder for years prior to the big ncaa tourney run. I wanted to renew the next year (and willing to buy full season as they weren’t offering mini plan). But even as a loyal fan I was not offered ability to get on the priority list for renewals and new purchases– I had to make a fat donation to the dept to do that. Sorry, I don’t have cash to do that but I wouldn’t remained a loyal fan through thick and thin. The attitude of the dept when I called to ask was terrible- (basically, sorry, we don’t care that you bought tickets faithfully during our slim seasons). They chased away the loyal fans, and are getting what they (the athletic dept) deserves. I feel badly for the players, they deserve to have a full gym their athletic dept is denying them.

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Unfortunately, coach Hewitt holds the cards…He knows Tech can’t afford to buy him out..The fact that most Tech fans wanted him to take that St. John’s job didn’t matter to him…he’s still here. Unless he dramatically improves or deteriorates the program..he’ll coach out his contract and be outta here..

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Over 500 comments. Is that a record?

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I agree completely with Americus Jacket. It’s time to put away all the negativity for a while and be supportive. All these comments like “…Hewitt is killing Tech’s ..program” are just tiresome at this point. Mark Bradley’s article is plainly right on target. Also, GO TECH 64, the man is married with three daughters in school, and parents he just moved to Atlanta, and you think he should just make a decision without consulting his wife. Don’t be stupid. This is the kind of personal decision making you applaud, not criticize. Either say something meaningful or shut up–all. It’s over for now. He’s staying and good for him.

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I am in agreement if they hire Mark Price…that is the only way I will give a d@mn, Mark doesn’t need to be working with the Hawks, he belongs at GT, nobody knows free throws and point guard know-how better than Mark Price, a GT grad, ACC leader and former NBA great.

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STUCK Tech is with CPH.

Hillarious, so hillarious. Sort of like the two FORMER Navy pilots ………..DUMB & DUMBER.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAH

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THe calls for DRad to go are just plain ignorant. Let’s see…Women’s Hoops better than ever, Football on MAJOR upswing, Baseball still top 5, Tennis and Golf teams excelling….yeah, let’s can the guy for keeping Hewitt. Look, we all know the situation. Paul has to produce. DRad wouldn’t have held a press conference before the ACC if his job wasn’t on the line. They made the NCAA’s, so he gets another year. Now, if the Men’s team has another sub 500 year, well, they may have to be a decsion. Essentially, the contract rollover forces an annual decision on Hewitt unless he breaks through like 2004. Get off DRad’s back…..Mr R. BELL–nice you added your words. I just want Tech to win, too. But it has been 10 years and Hewitt’s road record is 6-34 in ACC last 5. Sooner or later, probably real soon, Hewitt has to turn the corner. And Favors isn’t coming back. He’s not going to all his classes if my info is correct. TEch is looking at another 5-11 ACC year unless things change fast.

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Mark, you offer some sound advice. Maybe Coach Hewitt will read your article. I’ve been very critical of Hewitt for the past 2 years. Unfortunately, good will isn’t enough now. His only chance to win back the fan base is to win. If he offers more excuses because Lawal and Favors leave for the NBA, that will only dig the hole he’s in even deeper. I am willing to cut Hewitt some slack when he admits I have good reasons to be disappointed in his performance. Bobby Cremins ran a clean program too…yet he won a lot more than he lost. Even Cremins had a losing ACC record (134-150). But who remembers that? Tech won some ACC Championships.

Go Jackets!

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I just want to know when did mr. hewitt lose his fans? I have always been a fan of this man and will continue to support him.

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when he leaves so does the brothers on the team… I wanted him to go to st johns they would treat him with some respect. Brother keep your head up.” Hewitt

Has g-tech ever won a national championship in basketball? Hum… when they played in the final game who was the coach? Humm

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This was wonderful article!

Should Coach Hewitt should be allowed stay at GT? Yes. Why? He earned it after this season’s success, even though I do not be the BB program is progressing. So, why should GT keep him for another year? The team went 23-13 this season. Any good quality candidate for a head coaching position will look at what type of situation he or she will entering in to. If you fire the coach after he just produced a 23-win season, does the next coach get the same treatment? Candidates look at the whole picture and so do Ads.

Paul Hewlett is good person, presents a good image, and has not harmed GT. If you desire a coach or player to be loyal to the college, then the institution must show its loyalty to the coach or players. Will UNC fire Roy Williams after this season? No, they will not, but he is a much better game-day coach than Hewlett is. The off-season is just beginning and who knows what can happen…

Here is where the issue with Hewlett lays – he is a bad game-day coach. Look at the last three (3) minutes of their last game against Ohio State. Horrible time management. They did not know whom to foul or when to foul, they were behind in points but they walked the ball up the court, and in the end they allowed Ohio State to escape with a victory. GT was rarely beaten this season, but lost many games due to poor game coaching, poor game prep, lack of converting free throws (less than 65%), and poor player leadership. They have the talent and they could have won 32 games. People do not change and I doubt if Hewitt can improve on his game-day skills.

Plus, Hewitt has done little to help promote the school or the BB program. I have been shocked to see seats available for any BB game , but for ACC games – that is a telltale sign. Hewitt has done little to make himself a part of the Atlanta community.

Frankly, I did wish that Hewitt would take the Saint John’s offer. I would love to see GT hire Mark Price as the Head Coach. Johnson and Price would make a great pair on The Flats.

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This piece was good, Mark, and DRad would have done well to spell out some specific areas of improvement in his letter to Tech. Instead, DRad’s later letter was not honest, although I am sure it was thoughtfully considered for maximum effect. Radakovich is doing his job of making the best of a bad situation but I am rather insulted that he thinks so little of the Tech “family” that he does not level with us. The biggest lie here, and there are several, is characterizing Hewitt as a builder of character. The man doesn’t graduate players, doesn’t recruit true student-athletes, and displays an obvious bias that everyone sees but no one is willing to talk about. I don’t expect Radakovich to be openly critical of a man he is essentially chained to, but I don’t appreciate being lied to and pandered to in the name of keeping the “family” together. Shame on you, Radakovich, for neglecting the student-athletes in Hewitt’s program and for treating Tech fans like they were UGA fans. We will treat Hewitt with civility, but don’t expect us to embrace him just because you are willing to.

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I wouldn’t say “there’s no way he’ll ever be as beloved as he was then,” MB. Sports fans are too fickle for such talk. One day a man can be a goat, the next, a god… and vice versa… when it comes to this stuff.

Penn State folk were calling for Paterno’s ouster a few years ago, for example. And I guarantee you that, if Roy Williams struggles again at UNC next season — not likely, but a possibility — Tar Heel nation will be calling for his head.

Otherwise, great article, per the usual.

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My Freshman year before the Duke game my friends and I were camping out in front of the stadium and Coach Hewitt brought us Krispy Kremes and thanked us for supporting his team. Not many people see this side of Coach. He has underperformed, but his head is in the right place, and I’m certainly happy to see a good man staying in Atlanta, even if it is only for a little while.

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I think it is a safe bet to say that Hewitt will never be as beloved as before, regardless of his success. He doesn’t even own the students anymore, and that’s not good. I do agree that he can enhance his standing considerably, however, by doing some of the things MB suggested and a few he didn’t.

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The Paterno comparison is invalid. The PSU fans were never as vitriolic and personally insulted and angered as Tech fans have been.

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Only 2 coaches have winning ACC records in the last 6 years…..Coach K, Roy Williams….

Duke shot more free throws than any other team in the acc and usually NC is second, and its crazy because they are a jump shot shooting team…in the ACC championship Singular shot more free throws than the whole GT team…..

Duke and NC are the only 2 teams to win an ACC regular season title since Maryland won their championship….

can anyone tell me who was the last big man to dominate the ACC?

I will answer it for u….No one…

The ACC refs do not allow big men to dominate..they call bad fouls on put them on the bench (Favors,Bosh) and u idiots say Hewitt cant coach offense..but how can Favors score when he is on the bench..

To make a long story short..CPH should have took the st johns job…He could have went to a conference where its about the players not the coaches…

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so obvious. he wanted to go. wifey and kids didn’t want to leave the atl. good for y’all you got a coach that really wanted to leave. loooozas.

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We can still hope Paul Hewitt will just go away and never come back. Wins and losses are not his big problem. We just don’t like him. He is ugly and his mother dresses him funny.

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Woke up this morning. Same Bradley article. Same high pollen count. Same damm Tech BB coach. Not just groundhog day, it’s goundhog HELL.

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With the two former Navy pilots demoted and pumping jet fuel now in Yemen, Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz takes on an all new meaning.

Go Dogs.

How to win techers back? Defeat UGA in Athens.

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CPH has forgotten more basketball than any of his critics will ever know. Also Bradley ask your self do you want a Bob Huggins type of coach who doesn’t graduate players or a John Calipiri who is the scum of the earth. Win at all costs, right? Ask UGA and Jim Harrick about that.

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What a Joke,Rockboy. Huggins has consistently graduated more players than Hewitt over the past 7 years. It’s a shame that CPH has forgotten how to inbound, how shoot freethrows, how to control the ball, in short, how to coach. But I don’t think a short memory is his problem.

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I’m surprised they can use cellphones. They can’t manage to attend class or inbound a ball.

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I’m a huge Tech fan Hewitt has done less than Bobby Cremins ACC record but Hewitt has made it to the tittle game.. College basketball is fundamental teams. NBA is Athletes.. Think Reddick,Hansbroh, a Morrison,Vasquez for maryland same the Butler team Northern Iowa ya’ll think the goin to shine in the NBA not like Favors, n Turner for Ohio State and Jon Wall, just to name a few.. My point is Kentucky,Syracise,Kansas,Duke,Georgia Tech got the talent the only team that know fundamentals from them teams is Duke.. the coaches can’t play for them if u play basketball u should know how to inbound the ball all the coach got to do is draw up wat man goes where same with freethrows he can’t shoot them for u Athletes know they goin to the NBA.. Coach’s draw plays up if u really watch Tech basketball on offense and study it we run the same offense basically as N Carolina the same screens everything.. D Favors come back one more year because hewitt don’t have anyone left in the nation to recruit go look at the prospects. mark my words tech will go back to the Ncaa tournament next season.. will have 9 acc wins maybe 10. please Tech fans come down to Earth Tech is a Ncaa tournament team maybe win one or 2 games and thats with any coach.. Let me ask u this Paul Johnson won the Acc so we should say PJ we want u to be top 5 team and shoot for a National Tittle Hewitt got us to one.. NO we shouldnt because Tech will never compete consistantly with Florida,Alabama,Georgia,Oklahoma,USC,LSU,Va Techs in football we dont get the talent yearly neither does hewitt go look N Carolina basketball team right now got 5 5 star players they will grow to be good.. Bobby Cremins Got Guards better than hewitt guards but Hewitt gets better Big men.. If Favors come back even if Lawel goes hewitt go find u a guard like Marbury or Iverson sumone that wants the ball to take over a game bcuz thats wat Tech is missing but a Kenny Anderson would be better.. thanx 4 reading…..

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About Paul Hewitt:

(credit goes to various sources for some of these points)

1) In the last 5 years (including this year), he is 76-74. With all of the McDonalds All Americans and future NBA players, he is two games over .500 in all games, which include 8 or so each year against the likes of Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Winston Salem State.

2) In his entire 10 years, he is 26 games under .500 in regular season ACC games, and has only one season over .500 (9-7 in 2004).

3) In his entire 10 years, he has a winning record against 3 ACC schools and a losing record against the other 8.

4) He also has a losing record against mostly poor UGA teams.

5) “This seventh-seeded Tech team cannot dribble, cannot pass, cannot hit free throws, cannot exploit a massive size and talent advantage when it has one, cannot inbound the ball to save its life” – Pat Forde ESPN article that sums up our coach brillianty

6) TV commentators talking during the tourney saying things like, “This has to be one of the most talented teams in the country…they look like world beaters…this has to be the most sloppy and undisciplined basketball team we’ve seen this year…this team has to be very frustrating to watch for the Tech fans…”

7) Tech set a record for # of turnovers and missed free throws in the 57th ACC tourney, plus the announcers used the ineptness of simply getting the ball in bounds as a running joke on TV, embarrassing.

Every trip to the free throw line should not cause a collective panic. For those thinking that free throw shooting is something that cannot be improved upon, consider this from Mark Fox and Co. just up the road in Athens: UGA’s FT Shooting % in 2008-2009 under Dennis Felton was 63.8%. This year under Mark Fox? 71.8%. The Dawgs even lost their best FT shooter in Terrance Woodbury (83.9%) but still managed to improve 8 percentage points (for those of you interested, that is a statistically significant improvement). Consider these improved numbers: Travis Leslie went from 57.5% to 73.5%, Dustin Ware from 68.4% to 82.2%, Jeremy Price from 52.2% to 69.4%, Chris Barnes from 43.7% to 56.1%, etc. In fact, EVERYONE who played on last year’s team improved their free throw shooting percentage this year. Coincidence? Let’s also not forget that Mark Fox’s previous teams at Nevada also shot the ball well from the charity stripe: over 70% during his tenure there.

9) More national media, The Wall Street Journal has an interesting piece showing how Hewitt is the WORST DEAL IN THE COUNTRY, which doesn’t even take into consideration his horrible golden roll-over. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123690294088913675.html

It’s truely unfortunate that the admin have let it get to this point. They clearly are aware that blind loyalty turned to mass appathy turned to vocal majority long ago. They are telling us that we didn’t scream it enough yet. I love my Jackets, have NEVER spoke out against a coach, but this coach has to go, like 8 years ago….

**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**

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You lose credibility when your facts are wrong. Zaharis was a coach at Villanova. Kevin Cox was director of basketball operations. Way to slam people unfairly. Keep up the great “journalism”.

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