In the grand scheme, can Tech afford NOT to fire Paul Hewitt?
Is Paul Hewitt pointing to the NCAA tournament -- or the exit? (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
My longstanding belief has been that Georgia Tech cannot afford to fire Paul Hewitt because it doesn’t have $7 million in ready cash. But recent events have subjected that belief to recalibration, and now the issue, at least in this feeble mind, has become: Can Tech afford not to fire him?
Dan Radakovich has been supportive of the coach whose oppressive contract this athletic director inherited. (Quick recap: Hewitt’s contract has an automatic six-year rollover that calls for a full buyout if he’s fired at any time.) But D-Rad isn’t stupid, nor is he blind. He has to see that interest in Tech basketball is at a low not seen since the few folks who deigned to grace Alexander Memorial Coliseum in the final days of Dwane Morrison wore bags on their heads.
Bobby Cremins arrived from Appalachian State in 1981, and soon Tech was winning the ACC tournament and even reaching the Final Four. It got bad again in the late ’90s — Cremins’ teams missed the Big Dance six of his final seven seasons — and he announced his resignation in February 2000. Four years later, Hewitt took Tech to the national championship game.
It has, sad to say, been downhill since. Tech finished with a losing record three times in four seasons. When it made a run to the ACC title game last spring and won its first NCAA game since 2005, the team didn’t exactly become the talk of the town. And now most Atlantans seem to have forgotten Tech even has a team.
For a home game against Georgia, Tech drew 6,725 to a gym that seats 9,191. For North Carolina the crowd was 8,125, but a photo of the highest-priced courtside seating area showed almost an equal split between Tech gold and Carolina blue. For Tuesday’s game against Virginia Tech, the announced attendance was 5,794.
Loading ...This mounting apathy comes at a perilous time. In April, Tech will begin a $45 million renovation of Alexander. Next year’s Jackets will play 10 games at Philips Arena and the rest in the Arena at Gwinnett. How many among a diminishing number of Tech patrons will be willing to make the trek to unfamiliar buildings? And how, if interest doesn’t pick up by November 2012, will it be to unveil a refurbished coliseum that few care to visit?
Granted, $7 million is a lot of money, but Radakovich must weigh that outlay against the price of standing pat. Down the road, how much more than $7 million would it cost Tech to keep an unpopular coach whose teams can’t be said to have overachieved since the golden run of 2004? At what point must an AD, hat in hand, call on donors and ask, “Can you spare a million to help us make a fresh start?”
There is, however, a fairly massive complication: The season isn’t yet over. Tech started horribly, losing non-conference games to Kennesaw State, which is 5-15; to Siena, which is 7-12, and to Charlotte, which is 9-10. Even after winning three of its past four games, Tech has an RPI of 136, second-worst among ACC teams. That said …
Tech is playing better. Its victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday broke a trend. The Jackets had lost five of the past six against the Hokies, but on this night Iman Shumpert fashioned a triple double and overpowered the estimable Malcolm Delaney and, in a total departure, Hewitt outcoached Seth Greenberg.
Eleven regular-season games remain. Given the softness of its schedule and the weakness of the ACC, it’s not inconceivable that Georgia Tech, which is 10-9, could enter the ACC tournament 17-13 and 9-7 in league play. Would that be enough to save Hewitt? And now the bigger question: If you’re a Tech fan, are you rooting for a furious finish if it means keeping this coach?
Flash back to Nov. 24, 2007: Tech played Georgia in football. The Jackets were 7-4 and it was clear Chan Gailey’s time as coach was near its end. But what if Gailey, who was 0-5 against the hated Bulldogs, had beaten Georgia that day? Would Radakovich have fired a man who’d finally done what his constituency demanded?
Nobody will ever know the answer. Georgia won 31-17. Chan was canned two days later. Two years later Paul Johnson won the ACC title with Gailey’s players. In the grand scheme, that last loss to Georgia was worth it. In the grand scheme, one more losing hoops season might be the best thing for Tech.
By Mark Bradley
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273 comments Add your comment
KC
January 26th, 2011
4:59 pm
I agree Open Minded. And if getting rid of Hewitt IS the answer, putting off the building project would easily free up some cash for Hewitt’s buyout. Not that it’s being put off for Hewitt’s sake!!! But you fix the leaky roof before making any additions.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:00 pm
Attendance is way down.
However many who work missed the game because of the late time.
Six around me who said they might skip the game didn’t show.
I plan on kiding them.
They seem to be upbeat like me.
Should I break the bad news to them that fellow Jackets consider us morons?
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:02 pm
Isn’t Henry McCammish putting up 15 million?
I’ll bet he has ways out of the deal if we do not proceed.
I’m all for the name change.
15 mil then he deserves it named for him.
Ed Zachary
January 26th, 2011
5:03 pm
Ed Zachary
BW
January 26th, 2011
5:04 pm
Please don’t fire Hewitt.
Go DAWGS!
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:08 pm
You know what I think would be funny.
No one will agree but I think this team might get on a roll like 2003.
And maybe I’m a simpleton but I enjoyed the last three wins, especially last night.
Brian Oliver has been doing the little things and it was great to see him have a big game, knocking down shot after shot.
Old Tech & Mountaineer fan in NC
January 26th, 2011
5:08 pm
Already listed is the “box of chocolates”…that is what you get with any new coach. The guy before ph came from Boone, NC…not exactly your normal bastion of future ACC coaches of the year.
Always a Jacket
January 26th, 2011
5:08 pm
Don’t care any more. It’s not just the losing records, it’s the way Hewitt team lose and the very low entertainment value, even when they win. Will never go back to a GTBB game unless it is the women playing.
TechAlum
January 26th, 2011
5:10 pm
Another idea–why don’t we go get to know Mr. Burton up in CT–he has around $3 million he is looking to (re)donate somewhere
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:10 pm
Seriously the improved arena will help Tech basketball reguardless of who the coach is.
And it’s a reasonable price concerning what a new one costs.
Same old
January 26th, 2011
5:10 pm
Ah… whenever there’s a shortage of stuff to write about, you can always count on either the fire Hewitt or fire Richt column.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:14 pm
Will the women ever beat Duke, Tennessee, Stanford or Connecticut?
Maybe the question should be will they be able to make it a close game eventually?
GTBob
January 26th, 2011
5:14 pm
@Jackets2010-11
And I also see them learning to win on the road soon.
Can you give any reason for thinking this? I like your optimism but we are 0-6 on the road, losing by an average of 14 pts in each game. In ACC road games we are 0-3 this year and have won 1 of our last 19 ACC road games.
Jacket Backer
January 26th, 2011
5:17 pm
I could never pull for a Tech team to lose but if we’re gonna lose, NOW is the time! Its abundantly clear by the empty seats and general apathy of the fan base and students that Hewitts’s time is up. Let’s get a new coach and give this program a chance to get back on track before we open the new arena in a couple of years. I believe DRad will pick the right guy. He picked the right football coach!
Go Jackets!!
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:21 pm
Always a Jacket.
I haven’t suffered like some of you but the last three games have been fun.
I see a team getting better.
I can understand giving up on Hewitt and not buying tickets but I don’t get the folks with a need to blast him again and again.
Man Curry would have been miserable if we had the net back then.
Anyone whether they cared about Tech or not could have posted in year two something like “1-10, when will you get back to mediocre?”
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:29 pm
GTBob
Yes.
Call me nuts but I see Lethal Waepon Three (2nd version) as I posted yesterday prior to last night’s rousing win (for me alone perhaps).
Brian Oliver has busted his butt doing the little things including rebounding and scoring on 7 footers in the UNC game.
That was almost unbelievable but he did it twice.
This whole team is busting it’s butt.
It was great seeing Brian getting back to where he was last year.
He may even have a more complete game as he learned to do a lot while his shot was not failing.
It wasgreat to see him knocking them down.
Lethal Weapon Three: Shumpert, Rice Jr. and Oliver.
Laugh if you like but this team is coming together.
I think we’ll beat Miami on the road.
Our freshman class has some skills too and provides decent minutes. Morris has impressed though he didn’t get started last night.
Cam and Miller will be good big men.
Every member of this team is improving and wants to contribute.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:32 pm
I wish CPJ well but that he is the right pick is a fact not in evidence yet. I could win with four high draft picks. When does Tech have two 1st rounders?
MoneyBags
January 26th, 2011
5:32 pm
Jackets2010 and everyone else that keeps talking about how we are going to pay for the buyout and a new coach and improving facilities:
THE MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED! We already have the 7 million raised and ready for the season to end. The alumni have stepped up and now it is just a matter of time. Now we just need to find the right coach.
Bill
January 26th, 2011
5:36 pm
Bilas has said this is the weakest ACC he has ever…..EVER….seen. Tech may very well get to 9-7. Ironic that Hewitt could get fired after finally having a winning record besides the 2004 year. I just miss the joy waiting to watch GT hoops. Many people obviously feel the same judging by the capaciy at home games. It has been tough to follow( though I do) for a few years now. Honestly, kids are playing graet at home. But the 7-9 ACC team from last year was better. If this team played in the ACC last year, they would be 5-11 at best. ….nothing agaginst CPH. Tech just needs a change.For reason’s sake, the team with Favors and Lawal were 7-9. A better coach would have had that team at 11-5.If you saw the UVa post game, Hewitt looked perplexed. Think he needs a change, too.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
5:37 pm
GT Bob
Every player on his team is improving.
I said yesterday before the game I thougt Shumpert, Rice and Oliver could be Lethal Weapon Three (2nd version).
Oliver’s slow start has made him develop his game.
His getting two rebound baskets vs UNC’s 7 footer was unbelievable.
He really showed me something that night so I was delighted he was knocking down shot after shot last night.
I may be the only one who thinks so but we are going to beat both Maryland and Miami.
This team will learn to win on the road.
Alex
January 26th, 2011
5:39 pm
Making the tourney is impossible unless they win the acc tourney. They would almost have to win out with the horrific losses they have this season. 9 losses already and the bubble usually starts with 10 loss teams. The fact the acc is down this year rankings wise is not a good thing either. A loss to Ksu should be enough to get the clown out of here.
Road Scholar
January 26th, 2011
5:40 pm
Didn’t Hewitt just get named head coach for Team USA for an international tourney this summer? I dropped my season tickets 3 years ago. I still don’t understand the ticket surcharge based on where you sit. Everybody must be doing it , esp for football. But isn’t it stupid to charge extra when you don’t even fill up half of AMC?
As I have posted before the team appeard rudderless until the past 3-5 games. Shumpert is playing under control; he is playing lights out. Rice and Oliver have been inconsistent;too many forced or out of control shots, and at time, no defense. We have some plyers that are showing a lot of potential, but tell me, who has Hewitt developed over time? I heard of a comment from a pro coach that told Favors after he was playing in the pros that no wonder he had a lot to learn, he didn’t have a coach in college!
GT
January 26th, 2011
5:41 pm
2010
what are you smoking. that uva game was horrendous.
will
January 26th, 2011
5:45 pm
I did not see the Tech game last night (watched UGA) but I am thinking Shrumpert is gaining stock every night out with the NBA. I am guessing that Tech should “use” Hewitt through next year with all the intown road games (wish UGA played at Tech next year), and let hin go at that time. Start working this season on his replacement behind the scenes. If you don’t think that is part of the business these days, then you don’t understand what big business NCAA Dvision 1 Basketball and Football Coaching really is!!!!!!!!!!!
Wolfman
January 26th, 2011
5:47 pm
I know that Dave Braine gets all of the blame, but I am sure that the Board of Trustees or someone else had to approve it. Why would anyone offer a contract that open ended??
StingerSplash
January 26th, 2011
5:52 pm
Playing better? Last night, most certainly.
But a drubbing of the worst Wake Forest team since the earth cooled and a cold-shooting Tar Heel team shouldn’t lead to a “save Hewitt’s job parade.” Because that was backed up by a listless effort at Virginia.
The ACC was down last year and isn’t full of world beaters this year either, save for the State University of New Jersey at Durham (or so my UNC friends call it). To be middle of the pack in a mediocre ACC doesn’t say much for a program that brought back so many players from last year’s NCAA team.
A half full Thrillerdome, a team that also likely will finish at or below .500 again in the conference and a flimsy resume for the NCAA tournament all equals one remedy.
New coaching is needed. Save for another college seeking Hewitt’s services, maybe a team from the Association, in need of a top assistant, knocks on his door.
Would the Institute stand in the way?
I don’t think so.
Ted Striker
January 26th, 2011
5:57 pm
For anyone interested, here’s Hewitt’s contract. Minimum cash compensation is page 7, termination provisions begin page 26.
The $7.125 million buyout (not including perks like 2 cars, insurance, country club membership, etc) would be paid in equal monthly installments over six years.
http://scr.bi/gPchd5
Every year that goes by, it’s another $1.2 million for a divorce. Maybe he’s the guy for Tech. But if there’s any doubt, this should be an easy — albeit — painful decision.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2011
5:57 pm
As I understand it, Wolfman, Brian and Dr. Clough believed it was of the highest priority to keep Hewitt. (Remember, this was a week after the NCAA final.)
Veteran Fan
January 26th, 2011
6:00 pm
Yes, I was there too in the Morrison years and all the years after! Coach Hewitt is over his head and he has lost his drive and focus. I was a big fan when he was hired. He promised pressure defense and a running offense utilizing a deep bench to wear down other teams! Only in the last few games have we seen this in over 5 seasons! Enough is enough! Yes it is embarassing when all those empty seats are on display on national tv but it is the only way to make our point! I WILL BUY a minimum of two and maybe four season tickets and consider a VIP package for my company, the day after Coach Hewitt is gone! When they called me I told them that! And also for the new “diversity coordinator” at Tech, I don’t care who we hire as long as they are young, energetic, and promise rebounding and defense! Diversity is BS when it comes to performance and everyone knows it! Unlike the current coach, we need to be color-blind when we recruit and color-blind when we hire a new coach! As for UGA, they are an aberration. They have had good teams and good coaches in the past, but the school and alums just don’t care about basketball and never will! Two sell outs a season do not make a program, they are just events! A new coach at Tech will eliminate this problem as well as Coach Hewitt has always deemphasized the UGA game to the level of another out of conference game!
Tony
January 26th, 2011
6:01 pm
Dave Briane gave us chan, got us on probation for the only time in school history and this contract with hewitt. Did he do anything that was good? I hope he rots in hell. By the way chippy towers is a joke.
Born2Buzz
January 26th, 2011
6:01 pm
I don’t wish poorly on anyone, especially our own Bball coach, but MB is right. The vitriol against Hewitt has reached epic proportions and the empty seats for ACC games says it all. Nothing short of another miracle run to the NCAA finals will save his job. And whoever takes over will have a team with a lot of talent, especially if Shumpert stays his Sr. year.
The game was fun last night, but it would have been more fun with a packed house. Too bad, cause the kids are trying and playing hard and they deserve the support. Hewitt, not so much.
5150 P.O.A.D
January 26th, 2011
6:06 pm
Please keep Hewitt at Tech! I’m sure all the Georgia fans would chip in a few bucks to keep him on board! Hewitt is the best thing to ever happen to Georgia basketball!!
say what, God is good
January 26th, 2011
6:07 pm
Mark you just want them to fire every body But PJ
RAMBLINWRECK
January 26th, 2011
6:08 pm
@Jackets 2010-11
Lethal Weapon Three: Shumpert, Rice Jr. and Oliver.
Man, i am LMAO! Shump or rice are no kenny anderson my friend and not even close! Oliver has been a disappointment overall this season and he is no oliver,scott or anderson either from the legit edition. What are you smokin over there? Shump had a nice game last night and the light seems to be coming on with him but he couldn’t hold the jock strap on anderson. Kenny vs pitt his freshman year,..32 points, 12 boards and 19 assists. Kenny dominated from the time he stepped on GT campus and scott could hit the trey from the parking lott! That is absurd you making that ridiculous statement. Shump is a jr and just now starting to show that he can play. If anderson would have stayed at GT into his jr year, i bet he would have averaged about 25 per game. Kid was sick at GT! Talk about a complete PG who could do it all! Kenny could take over a game vs anybody and do it on a consistent basis. There were great players in the ACC at that time as well. The ACC as we speak is melted down. It is not strong at all!
In reference to mark few and brad stevens not leaving. How many ACC jobs have they been offered? Few is a west coast guy and very well may never leave the zags and would cost a lot but i would dangle a carrot if we could. The ACC in hoops is the SEC of football. The conference carries extreme prestige. I cant recall any ACC school offering either guy. I know few turned down arizona and that is a high profile job among some other schools. I’m ok going after a solid mid-major coach who has shown he has the ability to win and recruit good players. That would be most likely what happens from a cost aspect.
Right now UGA has fox and they will pass our program y unless we stop the bleeding with hewitt. How can anyone really make a case for hewitt to stay another year regardless of what happens in the last 11 games? 70-96 in the ACC….what else is there to say? He is not ACC material and the numbers don’t lie! If you want a real disaster to view, look at his road record in the ACC. Talk about epic failure! Kicking the can down the road is not the answer. If we do have the buyout money now, kick his a** down the road and let’s get back to recruiting strong and being more than a laughing stock in the ACC for the most part.
Action taken and confidence restored is what i’m screaming!!!
RAMBLINWRECK
January 26th, 2011
6:08 pm
..@Jackets 2010-11
Lethal Weapon Three: Shumpert, Rice Jr. and Oliver.
Man, i am LMAO! Shump or rice are no kenny anderson my friend and not even close! Oliver has been a disappointment overall this season and he is no oliver,scott or anderson either from the legit edition. What are you smokin over there? Shump had a nice game last night and the light seems to be coming on with him but he couldn’t hold the jock strap on anderson. Kenny vs pitt his freshman year,..32 points, 12 boards and 19 assists. Kenny dominated from the time he stepped on GT campus and scott could hit the trey from the parking lott! That is absurd you making that ridiculous statement. Shump is a jr and just now starting to show that he can play. If anderson would have stayed at GT into his jr year, i bet he would have averaged about 25 per game. Kid was sick at GT! Talk about a complete PG who could do it all! Kenny could take over a game vs anybody and do it on a consistent basis. There were great players in the ACC at that time as well. The ACC as we speak is melted down. It is not strong at all!
In reference to mark few and brad stevens not leaving. How many ACC jobs have they been offered? Few is a west coast guy and very well may never leave the zags and would cost a lot but i would dangle a carrot if we could. The ACC in hoops is the SEC of football. The conference carries extreme prestige. I cant recall any ACC school offering either guy. I know few turned down arizona and that is a high profile job among some other schools. I’m ok going after a solid mid-major coach who has shown he has the ability to win and recruit good players. That would be most likely what happens from a cost aspect.
Right now UGA has fox and they will pass our program y unless we stop the bleeding with hewitt. How can anyone really make a case for hewitt to stay another year regardless of what happens in the last 11 games? 70-96 in the ACC….what else is there to say? He is not ACC material and the numbers don’t lie! If you want a real disaster to view, look at his road record in the ACC. Talk about epic failure! Kicking the can down the road is not the answer. If we do have the buyout money now, kick his a** down the road and let’s get back to recruiting strong and being more than a laughing stock in the ACC for the most part.
Action taken and confidence restored is what i’m screaming!!!
RAMBLINWRECK
January 26th, 2011
6:11 pm
wow..@Jackets 2010-11
Lethal Weapon Three: Shumpert, Rice Jr. and Oliver.
Man, i am LMAO! Shump or rice are no kenny anderson my friend and not even close! Oliver has been a disappointment overall this season and he is no oliver,scott or anderson either from the legit edition. What are you smokin over there? Shump had a nice game last night and the light seems to be coming on with him but he couldn’t hold the jock strap on anderson. Kenny vs pitt his freshman year,..32 points, 12 boards and 19 assists. Kenny dominated from the time he stepped on GT campus and scott could hit the trey from the parking lott! That is absurd you making that ridiculous statement. Shump is a jr and just now starting to show that he can play. If anderson would have stayed at GT into his jr year, i bet he would have averaged about 25 per game. Kid was sick at GT! Talk about a complete PG who could do it all! Kenny could take over a game vs anybody and do it on a consistent basis. There were great players in the ACC at that time as well. The ACC as we speak is melted down. It is not strong at all!
In reference to mark few and brad stevens not leaving. How many ACC jobs have they been offered? Few is a west coast guy and very well may never leave the zags and would cost a lot but i would dangle a carrot if we could. The ACC in hoops is the SEC of football. The conference carries extreme prestige. I cant recall any ACC school offering either guy. I know few turned down arizona and that is a high profile job among some other schools. I’m ok going after a solid mid-major coach who has shown he has the ability to win and recruit good players. That would be most likely what happens from a cost aspect.
Right now UGA has fox and they will pass our program y unless we stop the bleeding with hewitt. How can anyone really make a case for hewitt to stay another year regardless of what happens in the last 11 games? 70-96 in the ACC….what else is there to say? He is not ACC material and the numbers don’t lie! If you want a real disaster to view, look at his road record in the ACC. Talk about epic failure! Kicking the can down the road is not the answer. If we do have the buyout money now, kick his a** down the road and let’s get back to recruiting strong and being more than a laughing stock in the ACC for the most part.
Action taken and confidence restored is what i’m screaming!!!
Stinger2
January 26th, 2011
6:13 pm
Paul Hewitt is the best thing to ever happen to Georgia Bulldog basketball ! Most Georgia folks would pay the money for Tech to keep him at tech forever!
ga_tech_92
January 26th, 2011
6:25 pm
Groundhog Day
We’ve been beyond patient, considering ONE winning acc record in TEN years:
2000–2001 Georgia Tech 8–8 T–5th NCAA 1st Round
2001–2002 Georgia Tech 7–9 T–5th
2002–2003 Georgia Tech 7–9 5th NIT 3rd Round
2003–2004 Georgia Tech 9–7 T–3rd NCAA Runner-up
2004–2005 Georgia Tech 8–8 T–4th NCAA 2nd Round
2005–2006 Georgia Tech 4–12 T–10th
2006–2007 Georgia Tech 8–8 T–6th NCAA 1st Round
2007–2008 Georgia Tech 7–9 T–7th
2008–2009 Georgia Tech 2–14 12th
2009–2010 Georgia Tech 7–9 7th NCAA 2nd Round
Overall at Georgia Tech: 67–93
Hewitt is now 4-7 against UGA
Appathy has beyond set in: I *LOVED* GT basketball more than any other sport…had season tickets for years…let them expire in discust about 3 years ago…I can’t stand to watch them for free on TV anymore (didn’t watch UGA because I knew we would find a way to Blewitt).
Some say, “We can’t afford to fire him.” I say we can’t afford not to and should have 7 years ago.
What cost more,
(a) 7 mil
or
(b) 1.4 per year, for a couple/few more years + continued destruction of the program + continued errosion of the fan base + further emptying of seats + further humiliation from loosing to Kennesaw State, UGA, etc, and THEN paying the 7 mil?
You don’t have to know advanced math to know that (a) is much less than (b), yet we pick (b) year after year.
Since we had the money to put into the arena, then we had the money to spend and our AD CHOOSE not to fire him.
Even the Wall Street Journal knew this years ago, per this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123690294088913675.html
When we have a lottery pick playing on the blocks we hear, ‘we’re young’…yet…have you seen Kentucky lately?…coaching.
When we have Anthony Morrow, he comes out of high school a 4 star stud…does almost nothing for four years at GT…then breaks records in the NBA within two years…coaching.
We have the most experienced and highly recruited back court that we’ve had in years, so what does that get us with Hewitt’s coaching?
FIELD GOAL PCT = 294th OVERALL
We play against teams who shoot 33% from 3’s for the season, but who then will shoot 50% against us and our good perimeter guys….coaching.
The list goes on and on.
It would take a man of honor to resign and walk away from the money, but it would be the right thing to do. Hewitt knows he is running the program into the ground. He knows we honored him with a gentleman’s contract, which was based on trust and mutual honor. Hewitt needed to resign years ago if he held any respect for the program. Obviously he hasn’t a shred of respect for the program, or he would have let someone else take over, like Bobby Cremins did.
What is the good word? = FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!
What is the good word? = FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!
What is the good word? = FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!
gt
January 26th, 2011
6:28 pm
It is a depressing almost pedestrian feeling to hang out at Alexandra now days. I was a season ticket holder for years, dated my wife, raised my kids, took clients, to what was an event rivaling Augusta or Georgia football as the place to be seen in this state. It not only hurts Tech ,having this funeral home, in downtown Atlanta, it hurts the image of the ACC. I use to see celebrities by the dozen wonder into the games, you could feel the buzz. Now it is cheap entertainment like an old mansion that has lost it glamor and finds itself on the wrong side of the tracks. Now that you lost it I am not sure if you will ever get it back, magic in a bottle, now showing in Charleston, with his name still swinging in the wind, there spelled out to insult the situation even more.
Mel from Atlanta
January 26th, 2011
6:32 pm
NO, ya got to keep Hewlett around…dude where’s nice suits and polished shoes.
Ekim
January 26th, 2011
6:35 pm
Yes, maybe Tech should sue Hewitt over the contract. The central point of their argument could be over the definition of the word “coach.”
Happy St. Pat's
January 26th, 2011
6:42 pm
Surely there’s some kind of performance clause? If not, then the coach needn’t even show up for work. And if there is a performance clause, well then, there are options..
Ted M
January 26th, 2011
6:46 pm
I missed VT game darn it.
Mark you MUST have missed the NC game, I didn’t, it was at least 2 to 1 of fans wearing Carolina blue to GT gold.
Hewitt is the worst coach in college BB. DRad might actually be stupid as he will likely rationalize that Hewitt can turn it around because of a win here and there. That’s all Hewitt can do and DRad won’t fire him because he is stupid.
just wondering
January 26th, 2011
6:51 pm
I AM GOING TO SAY THIS AGAIN FOR THE LAST TIME, SHOULD CPH GET FIRED, TAKE THE CONTRACT TO ARBITRATION COURT. LET THE ARBITRATOR JUDGE ACCESS THE RECORD THE LAST 6 YEARS AND DECIDE WHAT THE OUTCOME SHOULD BE. WHY ARE UNIVERSITIES HELD HOSTAGE TO ANY COACH WHO SIGNS A FAT CONTRACT AND THEN UNDER PERFORMS. WHY DO YOU MARK AND THE REST OF YOU ON HERE THINK THERE ARE ONLY TWO OPTIONS, KEEP CPH OR PAY HIM OFF. NOT SO, MAKE HISTORY IN THIS WORST RECESSION ERA IN THE LAST 86 YEARS ACCORDING TO CONGRESS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF COACHES ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY WHO UNDERPERFORM AND THERE SHOULD BE AN ARBITRATION HEARING FOR ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT DO A BLANKING THING BUT HOLD THE UNIVERSITY OR INSTITUTE HOSTAGE. IF CPH HAD LOST LAST NIGHT, THERE WOULD BE MORE NAYSAYERS ON HERE TODAY. HONESTLY, I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WENT ON AFTER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN CPH ONLY WON 2 GAMES IN THE CONFERENCE. GT CAN HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND GO FROM THERE. WHY DOES EVERYONE SHIVER IN FEAR OVER THIS CR@P.
GT '89
January 26th, 2011
6:54 pm
We cannot afford to keep him. Where do I contribute to the buyout fund?
Rich T
January 26th, 2011
7:00 pm
I never understood the fans who wanted their team to fail simply so they could fire their coach … until Paul Hewitt. I get it now, and adamantly want him gone.
just saying
January 26th, 2011
7:03 pm
INSTEAD OF TREMBLING IN FEAR OVER A CONTRACT, TAKE HIM TO ARBITRATION COURT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, EVEN CONGRESS HAS LABELED THIS ERA THE WORSE RECESSION IN 89 YEARS. TIMES HAVE CHANGED..IT HAS GONE ON FOR 6 YEARS NOW.
Jacket Hoops
January 26th, 2011
7:10 pm
The team is looking a lot better. They are not just winning – they are crushing teams. All this talk about ACC being down is ridiculous. 5 titles in 10 years – do not be surprised with another one this year. We did have an embarassing 1 point loss to UGA and Fox earlier this year. About like football the past 2 years.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
7:13 pm
Many of you have “voted” with your feet.
If you raise the money for the buyout, fine.
Someone posted DRAD did something similar with CPJ as to how Braine responded to the threat, believe it or not, or Hewitt leaving.
He gave CPJ a raise and an extension.
The football and basketball head coaching jobs here appear to me to be a stepping stone to something better.
The folks who stay – Cremins and Hewitt – are eventually disliked and maybe hated. There was ugliness during Cremins last two years though some deny it.
Looking at all the mediocre football coaches since Dodd, I have to wonder if we have the funds to be a plum coaching job.
We haven’t gotten the best man available with experience (Dodd a promoted assistant) since Heisman and that’s a long way back.
BravesFan79
January 26th, 2011
7:14 pm
Basketball is Lame: Your a MORON. Mens Basketball is the one sport where GT could actually win a NATIONAL Championship! Because we all know the ACC winner gets no love from the BCS.