In the grand scheme, can Tech afford NOT to fire Paul Hewitt?

ansel

January 26th, 2011
2:32 pm

first

Basketball is LAME.

January 26th, 2011
2:39 pm

Do not fire Paul Hewett! It’s just basketball. Who cares?

Save the money. We’ll need it to keep CPJ once he gets the program going.

Hiring a DC who has a clue, might not be a bad idea either.

sugarpikegang

January 26th, 2011
2:40 pm

Go Jackets, whatever Dan’s decision!

sugarpikegang

January 26th, 2011
2:42 pm

…one can only imagine the conversations that our AD is having. I’ve seen him having them around town – there is chatter.

SOUTH GA DAWG FAN

January 26th, 2011
2:45 pm

I enjoy watching good tech basketball I know thats strange for a Dawg fan , but if they don’t fire Hewitt for a few more years and the program declines wouldnt if have an affect on the caliber of coach they can get to replace Hewitt ?

Really Mark

January 26th, 2011
2:46 pm

you start off the week with a column about how big a week it is for tech basketball and then after they pull off a brilliant win last night you come back and ask can they afford not to fire paul hewitt. This may be a relavant topic but shouldn’t you wait for a relavant time such as not after an impressive home win…

MattyB

January 26th, 2011
2:46 pm

If I had a spare million, I’d surely contribute to the cause.

GT Alum

January 26th, 2011
2:48 pm

Well, the other thing about firing Hewitt. Is there any reason to believe he’ll leave of his own accord? By waiting to fire him, aren’t we just delaying the inevitable? It’s not like this buyout is ever going away. Are we just going to keep him around until he retires and hope it gets better?

chalkdawg4

January 26th, 2011
2:51 pm

I’m an attorney and I’m not sure that the contract is even legal. Is there an ending date to it or does it just roll over forever? I’m a Georgia fan so I don’t really care – just hard to see how anyone would sign a contract like that.

Elvis the Peacock

January 26th, 2011
2:51 pm

Is it even necessary for Tech to have a basketball team? I doubt the 13 or so players it has add any value (one way or the other) to GT. Why not drop the program. (By gosh, it would even help the Title IX statistics.)

GT Alum

January 26th, 2011
2:53 pm

Well, I meant ever leave. I find it hard to believe he’ll get a better opportunity or a better contract. Why would he walk away from that severance?

sidewalk74

January 26th, 2011
2:55 pm

Those may be the announce attendance #’s but it looked like a lot less than 5,794 were there last night. I would have guessed 4,000 or less. Based on the attendance and $ being lost with empty seats Hewitt’s buy-out is less than 7 mill. Because if he was gone I would by season tickets just to make a point.

PureEvil

January 26th, 2011
2:57 pm

Mark,
I’m in Buford and I haven’t seen any GT Basketball advertisements this year outside of the timeout ads at football games maybe the lack of attendance is partly due to a poorly ran marketing dept. at GT. Also will someone tell Fox SS that it’s 2011 and standard definition is not acceptable anymore? Last nights game was unwatchable!!!!

The Grinch

January 26th, 2011
2:58 pm

He’d be a moron to walk away from that contract. But not as much of one as the guy who drew it up in the first place. Can’t Tech sue HIM for the 7mil? I’m pretty sure a court would at least listen given the incredible nature of it. I’m a Dawg fan and I’d love to see that played out in the media.

Delbert D.

January 26th, 2011
3:00 pm

Hewitt is too young. He might not retire for another 15 or 20 years. It appears that he can stand any amount of fan and media ridicule.

Gordon

January 26th, 2011
3:02 pm

“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.”

Yes, it is inconceivable. Tech deserves credit for playing better, and Hewitt deserves some of that credit. But in these 3 home wins, UNC had their worst shooting performance in over half a century, Wake is a once in 10 years bad team, and VT caught us on a night where Oliver had a career high AND Shumpert had the first triple double in GT history against ACC competition. Also, we haven’t come close to winning on the road. I’m willing to wait until the end of the season to pass judgement, but 3 home games don’t make up for 5 and a half years of disappointing results. If Hewitt can keep it up then more power to him – he deserves to come back.

Regarding the cost of firing him, season ticket holds pay at least $25 per seat. Tech lost 2,000 season ticket holders this year. With an 18 game home schedule, that translates to $900,000 that Tech gets back if a new coach is brought in. Even allowing for the fact that not everyone left because of Hewitt, it is safe to say at least half of Hewitt’s $1.4M salary comes back if he is replaced.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
3:03 pm

I am going to continue to pull for Tech and leave the decisionmaking to others.
I’m starting to like this team a lot so pulling against them is inconceivable for me.
Lots of you are fed up and feel differently.
I’ll respect that if you’ll respect those few of us who stay on board.
Ya’ll check the scores lately and say “damn we beat Carolina” or “damn Shumpert outplayed Delaney”.
That must be fun.

Reggie

January 26th, 2011
3:03 pm

Mark,

Its really starting to sound personal now!!

RAMBLINWRECK

January 26th, 2011
3:05 pm

Mark, good article and you make some good points. However it is my understanding that GT has the money to buyout hewitt now as we speak. We can’t afford to further watch the fan base shrink or there will be hardly any left! We need to fire him this year regardless of what happens in the last 11 games.

Does 70-96 in acc play not say enough mark? This man is not ACC caliber in terms of coaching. It’s almost a given when hewitt is on the road, the jackets lose by 20! It’s always a close 1st half, then the bottom falls out in the 2nd. We have all seen to many times! I have never seen a coach do so little with so much!! Last year you could argue GT has 3 1st rounders because shump will go in the 1st round mark. Favors was #3 a lotto pick and lawal at #26.

All that talent and we get date raped by a good but not great ohio state team in round 2. 08 and 09 we didn’t make the NCAA either and hewitt is 186-153 at GT which is not very sexy considering what we get in return. Which are 20 point losses to a cow school in basketball. Hewitt is not the man we need at gt and it shows when you look around the arena now. How much revenue is hewitt costing GT now because so many will not come in protest of hewitt? Drad can’t continue to ignore the fans here.

This was a pretty solid program mark once and now when high school kids talk about college choices, GT is hardly even mentioned among the elite. Hewitt recruited 1 and done guys and never had a plan b. Many elite programs lose guys early but are prepared. Hewitt clearly was never prepared. I’m tired of excuses for this guy and i’m fed up with him at GT. Only a moron of a GT fan would stand up for hewitt and jump on the excuse train like we are young. How many times have we heard that or that we had guys go pro? I see it happen at many other programs and they still win at a consistent rate. Hewitt is not consistent in anything but losing in the ACC mark. Only 1 time (2004) has GT been above .500 in ACC play. We had 3 1st rounders on last years team and almost beat duke twice but got run out the gym by OSU in round 2. See a pattern?

Hewitt is like a box of chocolates if you catch my drift. Nobody knows what team will show up but one thing is for sure…he can’t win on the road and that is not the sign of a champion! 1 road ACC win in the past 2 years. Terrible

Fire this bozo!! He is setting us further back with every check he takes to the bank! You should resign coach hewitt and move along so GT basketball can once again thrive on the flats!!!!

GoJackets!

January 26th, 2011
3:07 pm

Mark, are you sure there’s no out clause anywhere at all? I know Hewitt was a hot commodity at the time so Tech had to make sure he stays a long time so he can keep recruiting good players. But if the contract rolls over and over that means Hewitt can coach for the rest of his life collecting his paycheck without trying much. Is there at least an age limit or something? Maybe he retire after 65 or something?

TS

January 26th, 2011
3:09 pm

Bradley says Tech hasn’t overachieved since 2004. He’s too kind. In fact, Tech has grossly underachieved every season since 2004. The only reason Tech made that Final Four run was that they had 2 NBA-caliber point guards, which masked all of Hewitt’s coaching deficiencies. Ever since then, the talent has been there but the coaching has been deplorable. Bad free throw shooting, bad defense, bad offense, bad substitution patterns … you name it.

I’m going to the game on Sunday night, but truthfully I’d rather stay home.

Davan S. Mani

January 26th, 2011
3:09 pm

I had the same discussion with brother concerning this issue. My take is that Hewitt sends guys to the NBA. He uses this as seminar school, helping them prepare for life in the NBA or Europe. My brother complains about not having a offensive system where you can get players who fit the “part mentality” instead of the “production mentality” of stars. He doesn’t have offensive system that the Ga. high schools coaches can prepare role players to send. He has to rely on stars just to compete and once high schools stars to role players. I also think that Paul Hewitt doesn’t have the ACC charisma of coaches before him like Cremins, Driesell, Sloan, McGuire, Smith, Valvano, Bubbas, Williamses, Holland, and Foster. Hewitt is more like Carl Tacy, Herb Sendek, Jeff Jones, and Dave Odom type. They want to coach and not deal with the outside bull.

My belief is once that the renovations are finished. Hewitt move on maybe to the pros where he doesn’t have to worry about recruiting and pleasing alumni donars.

Mark Richt

January 26th, 2011
3:10 pm

Don’t Ask Me.

I think Coach Hewitt is doing a superb job.

PMC

January 26th, 2011
3:14 pm

Mark, you should be putting more blame on Dave Braine for hamstringing GT with these issues. Talk about defeatest athletic directors. Man he was horrid. Paul Hewitt is really trying his best. By far best for Tech would be for them to get hot, make a tournament run and then for a good North Eastern team make him an offer so Tech can get out of this awful contractual deal.

GoJackets!

January 26th, 2011
3:18 pm

PMC, that actually happened last year. I mean Tech did not get so hot but St. John’s made him a very lucrative job offer after Tech made it to second round but Hewitt said no. Now Steve Lavin’s their coach and expecting top 5 recruits next year. In retrospect, Tech could have gotten Steve Lavin.

GTBob

January 26th, 2011
3:19 pm

I am actually torn with this decision when I watch GT basketball. Do I root for our team to win, leading to possibly having an ok season and giving DRad an excuse to keep Hewitt? Its a weird feeling as a fan. In the end I always root for our guys. I can’t root against them. It’s not fair to guys like Shumpert and Mo Miller to root against them when they are playing hard and have been for a while. It has been several years though since I attended a game and I used to go to several every year. We have to get rid of Hewitt soon. I think at this point it is near impossible for him to restore the faith. We need a fresh start.

lanier

January 26th, 2011
3:20 pm

If they don’t do something they will be playing in front of 3500. Sponsers will dissapear then also.
Then even if they fire him it will be a long road back in the end making a 7 mil hit look like a bargin

collegeballfan

January 26th, 2011
3:22 pm

The fans have lost faith in the program. Hewitt has recruited well. A lot of players will return for next season and he has a couple of nice recruits coming in next fall. But there is no consistency to the play of his teams. Always hot and cold. I call that coaching.

And the program is the opposite of the UGA program. UGA is a program on the upswing. Tech is sliding toward mediocrity. As UGA gets stronger, Tech will get weaker.

Tech needs to buy him out. Or be satisfied with mediocrity.

UGA75

January 26th, 2011
3:24 pm

I am the exception when it comes to GA fans, I am a Tech fan if they are not playing UGA. I attend more Tech Basket Ball games than I do GA because of the distance, or I should say used to attend Tech games, I have turned down free tickets the past 4 years. It seems to me that there are 3 distinct areas involved in Coaching Basketball, recruiting, developing players and selling the players on your system. Coach Hewitt has been a decent recruiter, but he has not developed any players that came to Tech with raw ability into even marginal players, and worst of all when he has stars, he has been unable to convince or coach them into playing his system, assuming he has a hard and fast system. Coach Hewitt is a nice guy, but I think he is so far over his head at Tech that he would be relieved to be fired.

Gordon

January 26th, 2011
3:26 pm

Another question about replacing Hewitt this year is this: Do you bring in a new coach when his first season will be played with an abbreviated home schedule entirely off-campus (Phillips or Gwinnett)? I’ve heard arguments for and against. Radakovich could open the new arena with a new coach and have an easy time marketing that as “the rebirth of GT basketball.” On the other hand, a new coach would certainly provide an incentive to attend games in a year where going to games will be decidedly more inconvenient for most people. If Hewitt is still here and doesn’t turn things around this year, I can’t imagine what the attendance will be next year. Who would go down to Phillips to watch Tech play Niagra?

yellarjacket

January 26th, 2011
3:29 pm

My question is if you fire Hewitt, who are you going to hire? We’re in the process of trying to get a 90M bond issued for renovations to our athletic facilities and facing the inevitable firing of Hewitt and putting us another 7 million plus in debt. With that said, I just don’t see us spending the money to pay a top tier coach to come in here and turn our program around. Who do we hire?

NC State was in this situation several years ago when Herb Sendek was the head coach. Their fanbase didn’t like him and thought they were underachieving, even though he had taken them to NCAA tournament five straight years from 2002-2006. NC State fired him after the 2006 season and hired Sidney Lowe a former player. They haven’t been close to getting back to NCAA tourney since hiring Sidney Lowe.

I’m not a fan of Hewitt, but I don’t want Ga Tech to become another NC State. Many of the bloggers on here are calling for Hewitt’s firing and you can make very valid points both ways on this issue, but I never hear any of the Hewitt detractors talk about a REALISTIC choice to replace him. We can’t afford to lure a coach like Jay Wright or Matt Painter to come here right now, especially after forking out 7 million on a buyout. So who can we go after?

GT Trumpet

January 26th, 2011
3:32 pm

With the talent we bring in year after year we deserve to perform at a level high than barely making the NCAA Tournament. Make Hewitt recruit for us and hire a new coach who can coach up kids. Probably not possible but in a perfect world…

GoJackets!

January 26th, 2011
3:33 pm

I think it should be based on this year’s regular ACC season record. ACC is so down this year. Other than Duke every team can be beaten and Tech has talents to do so. If Hewitt can take this team to a winning ACC season hence possibly a NCAA tourney bid then one more season should be given as this team will be even better next year. If not, it’s better to let him go before the next rollover kicks in than losing even more fans and money that they bring in by keeping him another year.

mountain_jim

January 26th, 2011
3:34 pm

I was one of the hundred per night who watched some of those late-Morrison era games.

Back when Alexander Coliseum was still informally known as the Tech T*t, and still had it’s nipple.

I live out of state now, but watched last night on TV and saw all those empty seats. Program definitely on the decline.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
3:35 pm

Any Wake people out there?
How did your once great program drop so far?
What is your attendance this year?
How long has your coach been there and can he bring the program back?

juvenal

January 26th, 2011
3:35 pm

hope the acc games are at phillips, can’t get to gwinett easily from here…chan still gets $ 1 more year….ask Mark & Spider & Dennis to coach for love……..

Navigator

January 26th, 2011
3:38 pm

Bradley: They don’t have the millions to get rid of him or they would have already. They are hoping Hewitt will have limited success to keep some amount of interest in the program. Money talks, and everything else walks.

GTBob

January 26th, 2011
3:38 pm

yellarjacket, if GT had gone to the NCAA tournament for 5 straight years then we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. We have only been 4 times in 10 years under Hewitt and we are barely even competitive in the ACC. One winning conference record in 10 years. What are you really afraid of? That we will have no winning ACC seasons in the next 10 years? I’m willing to take that risk. The Sendek situation was questionable, but it’s not really comparable to the Hewitt situation.

Herschel Talker

January 26th, 2011
3:44 pm

MB:

In the grand scheme, can UGA afford NOT to fire Mark Richt?

HT

GTBob

January 26th, 2011
3:45 pm

You are correct Mark, I typed it before looking it up. Thank you for the correction. Only 2 in the last 5 years though and only one tournament victory. Sendek won 5 tournament games in his final 5 years at NC State.

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January 26th, 2011
3:46 pm

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Gordon

January 26th, 2011
3:47 pm

Mark,

So based on your 3:38 comment, I’m assuming that means we have 10 home games next year, all played at Philips. Is that correct? I also heard a rumor that Tech will offer an incentive for buying season tickets next year by giving you a better deal for the first year in the new arena. I don’t know if that means price or seats. Have you heard anything about that?

RamblinRed

January 26th, 2011
3:51 pm

I think Hewitt will be gone either this year or next (if AD doesn’t want to have a new coach play his first season away from campus).

He is what he is, a good guy and middle of the pack coach. His 5 NCAA Tourney in 10 years in behind only K and Roy in the ACC and I belive tied with Gary. But he has lost the fanbase (including me) and that will ultimately cost him his job.

My first call would be to Brad Stevens.

yellarjacket

January 26th, 2011
3:52 pm

GTBob – I’m simply making the point that sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. As I’ve said before, I’m not a Hewitt supporter, but 7 million is a lot of money considering the financial stress of the athletic dept right now. I agree a change needs to be made, but I don’t think we’ll be able to afford the type of coach who can turn this program into a legitimate ACC contender. In order to get the fanbase interested again, I think we would need to hire an established coach with a track record of getting to the NCAA tourney. Considering our financial restraints, who do you think we could hire?

Gordon

January 26th, 2011
3:53 pm

Unfortunately for Hewitt, if things go the way I think they will this year, he will have as many losing seasons (02, 06, 08, 09, 11) as NCAA bids. Take away the final four year and he’s never reached the Sweet 16. Unacceptable.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
3:56 pm

I’m curious why Curry was allowed to be terrible to mediocre for 7 long years.
If you played here, it’s ok to stink.
And is that when the 15,000 fans of the Dodd days (55K to 60) left us for good or has it been a thousand a year over decades?
We downsized Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field to hide all the people who left?

Fish Bisch

January 26th, 2011
3:57 pm

Roll Tech

northavenuealum

January 26th, 2011
3:58 pm

I don’t see why we even continue to have sports at my alma mater over there on north ave. It’s not like we ever win or anything. That money could be used to build a magic the gathering clubhouse.

Covers Dixie like the Dew

January 26th, 2011
3:58 pm

TO HELL WITH HIS CONTRACT …… fire him now.

Chopper

January 26th, 2011
4:03 pm

I would think that if Dan Radakovich expresses that Georgia Tech would like to go in another direction, that they could come to some type of settlement with Paul Hewitt and his agent that is something less than $7million. Because is it reasonable that Hewitt would be employed by GT forever? I think if GT and Radakovich are fair and honest with Hewitt it would be pure spite for him and his agent to demand there be a $7million buyout. If Hewitt and his agent were honest with themselves they know this arrangement would have ended 3 or 4 years ago were it not for this outrageous contract. So they have in essence extracted a $4million pound of flesh already, so why not settle the buyout for $3million or less?

I think GT gave Hewitt plenty of time to make this program into something, he can’t be angry that they need to make a change. Hewitt should do the right thing here and not make GT pay thru the nose at the end of his tenure. Have they not suffered enough during it?

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:05 pm

You know when we blew it.
When Cremins wanted to go, we should have encouraged him and hired Roger Kaiser or someone else.
But we don’t like it when we get dumped.
We find out things like even Bill Curry thinks Bama is a much better opportunity and an easier place to recruit at.
We were Bill’s stepping stone I do believe.

Roto

January 26th, 2011
4:06 pm

This year, I gave up season tix in the seat-back area after many years as a holder. Almost all of the people I knew sitting around me also gave them up. Rad “announced” a loss of 2,000 season tix holders, but that was net, and probably was an understatement (lie??). The last straw for me was PH calling a time out to nullify a final-second three-point basket at FSU last year, turning a win into a loss. The running joke among the tix holders was that Tech teams ahd gone several years without a successful basket following a PH time out with a short clock. After so many of those timeouts, GT never even got off a shot. PH has got to go.

GTBob

January 26th, 2011
4:09 pm

yellarjacket – I’m not sure who we should hire to be honest. Mark gave one suggestion and there are several others. We would probably look to hire an up and coming coach from a mid major who is doing good things. Similar to what we did with Hewitt and what UGA did with Fox. As for the money, we start getting paid from the new ESPN contract soon and Chan Gailey’s contract comes off the books soon. Hopefully that will help out. If we stay with Hewitt then think of the lost ticket revenue for the next 5 years. Think about opening the new arena in front of 4000 fans.

Herschel Talker

January 26th, 2011
4:09 pm

“The difference between Mark Richt and Paul Hewitt: People haven’t tuned out Richt’s team.”

They are beginning to do so. Everyone knows that the “Dream Team” is really just to stock the cupboard for the next coach. Everyone knows that next year is a zombie year.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:10 pm

Gailey is getting paid how many millions by the Bills?
Was it pure spite for him not to wave the last years of his settlement though he eventually landed a better paying job?
I thought he should have given us a break.
He hasn’t and won’t.

yellarjacket

January 26th, 2011
4:19 pm

I really like Mike Anderson at Mizzou, but not sure how much he would cost. His teams play really good D and has recruited in the south before when he was at UAB.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:21 pm

While we are being honest, I’m curious about something else.
Is the football program finally back or just our usual one great year surrounded by mostly mediocre ones?
If you want to be thought highly of by Tech fans, you had best dump us while you are a hot property.
No one seems to hold it against Curry and Ross for doing so.
Ross even had the nerve to talk Ken Swilling into playing his senior year though it turned out to hurt him in the draft.
Then took the money and ran.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:23 pm

yellarjacket.
I agree with your earier point about wish list.
Would we be able to offer someone good enough to leave a thriving program?

JoeFan

January 26th, 2011
4:26 pm

If GT has a successful season and that means finishing above .500 then CPH gets another year. Especially since DRad want fire CPH when he was recentlyt named coach for the Team USA. It would be bad PR and with the nucleus of this team coming back next year plus a couple of top shelf recruits the “travel” season has the potential of being a good one. However, if the team falls totally off the map then DRAD want have another option but to can CPH after next season. Don’t see CPH going either way until the new arena is ready. Also, are you sure GT will have to come up with the total buyout if CPH is not renewed? Never read that before.

P

January 26th, 2011
4:26 pm

I’d like to see the team win, no matter what. I was at the game and no way did it seem like 6000 people were there. More like 3000. btw, that was a helluva team game and individual efforts from Shump and Oliver. Shumpert looks NBA ready to me. Win or lose, it’s probably time for a coaching change. Make an offer to Sharman White of Miller Grove; back to back state titles and a top National ranking. And then, maybe Tech gets Tony Parker to boot in 2012.

supersize that order, mutt

January 26th, 2011
4:27 pm

I certainly don’t hold it against Curry for leaving. I was stunned that anybody else wanted him; he was a terrible coach. His leaving was GOOD for Tech. Ross’s leaving was understandable (the opportunity to coach in the pros), but regrettable. Still, I don’t think anybody can hold it against him. It sure would have been great if he had stayed a few more years though. If nothing else, we wouldn’t have had to suffer through the Bill Lewis debacle. But back to the original point, I can’t pull for the Jackets to lose, but I do want Hewitt out of here.

TomB

January 26th, 2011
4:28 pm

Tubby Smith at GT ? Can we afford him?

RAMBLE ON!!!

January 26th, 2011
4:29 pm

Fire him 5 years ago!!!

C'Mon Man

January 26th, 2011
4:31 pm

You fire Hewitt and you will start seeing all the top Basketball recruits heading to Georgia… That would be a dumb move….

supersize that order, mutt

January 26th, 2011
4:32 pm

I know no division 1 school would ever hire a division 2 coach, but Dip Metress at Augusta State has taken his teams to the Final Eight the past 3 years, finishing second once. He graduated or lost to transfer almost the entire team after last season. So what does he do? He goes out and recruits virtually an entire new team, and they have lost one game and are ranked 3rd in the country in Division 2. I don’t guess I would recommend that Tech consider someone like him, but he sure is a helluva coach and deserves something in Division 1.

C'Mon Man

January 26th, 2011
4:34 pm

I also think that the majority of the people that want him fired are UGA fans… Tired of him bringing in the top recruits in the state…

RAMBLE ON!!!

January 26th, 2011
4:35 pm

Mark, would you happen to know the year when GT quit selling out their season tickets for BB?

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:36 pm

Thanks Supersize for addressing one of my posts.
Here’s a thought no one has considered: What if many on the team like Hewitt and transfer if he is fired?

RAMBLE ON!!!

January 26th, 2011
4:37 pm

C’Mon Man, you’re not very smart.

supersize that order, mutt

January 26th, 2011
4:39 pm

C’Mon Man, I have no doubts that most of the posters on here who trash Tech in general are mutts, but I can assure you that those of us who don’t like Hewitt are tried and true Tech fans….or maybe in the case of Hewitt, that should be TIRED and true.

KC

January 26th, 2011
4:39 pm

Maybe Hewitt regains his form and turns Tech around – and GT saves $7M. Shouldn’t we be pulling for this to happen??

supersize that order, mutt

January 26th, 2011
4:41 pm

After almost 10 years of buying season basketball tickets at Tech, I did not this year. It wasn’t solely because of Hewitt, but if we had had a different coach with what I thought would be a better chance to do something, I might have reconsidered the other factors.

GoJackets!

January 26th, 2011
4:42 pm

Jackets2010-11, I don’t think that many will transfer even though they like Hewitt not because they don’t necessarily want to but because it’s better for them to just stay. Shumpert is Junior so he has no reason to transfer or he may go pro if he keeps playing like he has lately. Holsey, Rice, and Oliver are sophomores. If they transfer then they have to sit out one year to play again. Rice and Oliver won’t take that chance. Losing Jason Morris and/or Hicks won’t hurt much. Next year’s class doesn’t look that good so far with only one top 100 player. They don’t have much to lose. Sure it could be even worse at first but it doesn’t make sense to keep this going.

supersize that order, mutt

January 26th, 2011
4:44 pm

KC, what “form” would that be that Hewitt might regain? His teams have always been the same, as have his excuses. Even the Final Four team wasn’t that much different overall; they didn’t win either the ACC regular season or the ACC tournament.

Ted Striker

January 26th, 2011
4:45 pm

I’m a UGA guy & don’t have a bee in the bumble on this matter. However as an outsider looking in, this situation has certain parallels to Fulmer’s final year at TN and Goff’s last year at Georgia. Empty seats and fans torn on whether winning or losing would better for the remainder of the current season.

UGA kept Dennis Felton because he 1) put together a string of wins and 2) Damon was distracted.

I’m thinking D-Rad won’t be distracted.

More to come later from Striker…..doorbell is ringing….

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:46 pm

That’s what I’m doing KC but I’m a moron. ha ha.
To be honest, I only came back to the programs as a season ticket holder of both football and basketball in 2009.
So I have not really had to endure the bad years as much as the rest.

RAMBLE ON!!!

January 26th, 2011
4:48 pm

No one will Transfer Jackets2010…Shumpert will got pro (he is anyway), Rice and Oliver only have one year left and it wouldn’t make much sense.

But, if we lost the whole team, it would be worth it to get rid of Phewitt.

AS

January 26th, 2011
4:50 pm

No way they only have 7 acc losses. They already have 3 and 5 road games remaining where they stink. If they do win one road game, assume wake, then they can’t lose to maryland, clem,fsu va and miami. think that will happen? nope. they’ll probably lose to chattanooga. i mean chatt was able to beat kenn st. lol

Open Minded

January 26th, 2011
4:50 pm

Am I the only one who thinks the $45 Million to rehab the BB arena is an absolute travesty in this day!
The economy is seriously on the ropes , why not place this project on hold like any regular family would do with a huge addition to the home in a most difficult financila time? This is seriously going too far.
I am ashamed of us….what an indictment on what we citizens value most. We are disgusting.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:51 pm

I may be delusional folks but I see this team getting better every game. And I also see them learning to win on the road soon.
I’m sure this post will draw some insults but that’s what I see.
I see character in this team and have enjoyed the last three home wins a lot.
Brian has really hussled and done the little things, fighting with larger players for baskets in the UNC game and I was so happy to see him knocking down one basket afater another last night.

Chris

January 26th, 2011
4:51 pm

Tech would be better off to fire him and hire a grad assistant to shephard the program along for 3 or 4 years for a couple hundred thousand dollars per year. It is better to pay Paul Hewitt and have him not coach than it is to pay him and have him coach. After the buyout has been “paid for”, we can go out an hire a real coach again.

Sound ridiculous? You’re paying him either way. I’d rather pay him and watch a grad assistant coach the team.

Patrick

January 26th, 2011
4:54 pm

i watched some of last night’s game on tv and that place was at most half full.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
4:54 pm

I would think Mr McCamish is the straw that stirs the drink concerning the rehab. Maybe he doesn’t want to wait.

Patrick

January 26th, 2011
4:55 pm

I will go to the games at Gwinnett next year if there’s a new coach. Not with Hewitt.

Of course it's the contract

January 26th, 2011
4:58 pm

It would take a stupid man to opt out of a guaranteed $7+ even if he has to listen to disgruntled fans. For a person capable of running an engineering institute to sigh a contract like that still befuddles me.

So Tech can pay him now or pay him later…but $7+ will happen one day.

Still was fun watching Iman and friends play well.

TechAlum

January 26th, 2011
4:59 pm

Umm…will they be serving alcohol at Philips during the games? Would be a way to get fans out there regardless of who is coaching

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.

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!!

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.

Navigator

January 26th, 2011
7:15 pm

GTech fans are no different than a lot of other schools that don’t want success to get rid of the coach. The difference for most of us are we are Tech fans and aren’t used to firing basketball coaches. Whack Hyder (long run, and too long for Kentucky as they despised him), Morrison (a few years), Cremins (long run) and now Hewitt (too long of run). That is not a lot of coaches over the last 40 plus years.

Jacket Hoops

January 26th, 2011
7:16 pm

GA_TECH_92 – The ACC has won 5 National Titles and lost 2 others in Finals in Hewitt’s 10 years. Probably the best 10 year stretch in ACC history. No other conference even close to these records over the last 10 years. No shame in finishing middle of pack in ACC. I would like to be, but we are not Duke or UNC. Outside of those 2 and maybe Maryland, who has had a better last 10 years in the ACC?

BravesFan79

January 26th, 2011
7:19 pm

Im rooting for GT to finish around .500, and somehow make the NIT. I used to be one of Hewitts last supporters 2 years ago when i knew he was gonna sign Favors, but i also said he needed to bring in a TOP level assistant… someone who is a ex college coach.
That did not happen, Hewitt did not swallow his pride, and we wasted having the best combination of big men in the country. Hewitt is better off up north. Cya Hewitt!

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
7:21 pm

Dodd (in 1957 to Texas), Cremins and Hewitt should have left us when they were hot properties.
Had they done so maybe we would be more aware of where we are in the college sports food chain.

BravesFan79

January 26th, 2011
7:22 pm

Could GT possibly just demote Hewitt to “recruiting coordinator”, or another position in order to make him quit on his own? I would like to see him stay in GT’s program.. just as head recruiter, not head coach!

mcdavidastro

January 26th, 2011
7:24 pm

Georgia will come up very short on monay this year because of no firing Richt. The loss of contributions over the last two years and now in 2011 will make the money to get rid of Richt look like nothing. It’s a business and bad coaches at Georgia or Georgia Tech should be fired along with the people who create these outragious contracts. This contract at Tech is one of the worse I’ve heard of. Woe be if Georgia gives Richt any kind of extension, not out of the question (it happened at Tenn).

Fran Tarkenton

January 26th, 2011
7:27 pm

What is Paul Hewitt’s religion..???

OldTimer

January 26th, 2011
7:30 pm

Hewitt has made Georgia Tech basketball irrelevant and without passion. That is quite an accomplishment. As long as Tech is in the ACC recruiting will not be a problem. Yes, his contract is a problem. However, just wish him well and pay the man, let him walk. He doesn’t do his home work. Tech is better than that. That’s the word Dan. Step up. Please. What do you think we’re paying you for?

SnappyNappy

January 26th, 2011
7:31 pm

I’ve Got It ! Pay (or bribe) somebody, anybody, $4 million to hire Hewitt away from us! They get $4 mil. and we save $3mil to use as a signing bonus for a REAL coach!

McBubba

January 26th, 2011
7:36 pm

I think this situation has lemons to lemonade potential: Chuck Hewitt and hire Nancy Lieberman, currently of D-League Texas Legends fame,and a Basketball Hall of Famer. She is a superior coach, and Tech is a superior school; and being an alum of ESPN, you know she will get loads of positive press, so why not..?

GT 74,76, and 09

January 26th, 2011
7:39 pm

I like Hewitt and his Band of Thieves team this year. These guys have a strategy for getting steals. It is fun. Steals make for an exciting game changer. Some refs are calling fouls on ball slaps that are all ball. Shumpert is All-World in my book, a star and a team player. You can’t ask a kid to do more.

I haven’t gotten to a game in person this year. My trips to Atlanta just haven’t matched up with any home games. I really hope to get there soon to fill up one of those empty seats.

My only complaint with Hewitt is not wins and losses, it is graduation rate. I understand that the caliber of player needed to win in the ACC can make a lot of money in the NBA. So it is just wishful thinking on that point.

I wish more people shared my opinion of Hewitt and backed with him with positive comments.

TW

GssiT

January 26th, 2011
7:46 pm

CPJ won the ACC w/GT football players. DRAD-follow VT’s lead. CSG won’t be back!

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
8:00 pm

Tech is getting better with every game regardless of what u think of the coach.
Same thing just happened at Maryland with Ralph Freigen, the brains of O’Leary’s best years.
ACC coach of the year but fired after a 9-4 season.
I guess they were so determined to get someone better it did not matter the year he had or what his peers thought of him.
Not exactly like Hewitt’s situation but similar.
I agree with Mark that Hewitt outcoached Greenburg.
Rematch should be interesting.

techster

January 26th, 2011
8:28 pm

I will pull for Tech and watch them but have a hard time going to the games as a result of my dislike for the coach. I had tickets last night and decided not to go. I pull for the team nevertheless but my dislike goes beyond coaching which I feel in the past has been terrible. Hewitt actually coached well last night but I just don’t like him and it would take more games than last night to change my mind on his coaching. Some of his comments also have turned me off and his St John pursuit and then turn it down turned my stomach. He knew he was disliked and then pulled that crap and rubs it in the alumni faces as if look – I got another job and turned it down all you haters. Tech can be great at basketball – make a change and let’s get there.

T-man

January 26th, 2011
8:39 pm

C’mon folks… look at his record. It speaks for itself. He’s in his 11th year at Tech and no matter what excuses he has, no way does he lose to THUGA (again) and more incredibly… to Kennesaw State!!! A well established ACC program should be the dominant basketball team in this state – not third best.

So the question is “Can Tech afford not to fire him?” For someone who should have been let go at least two or three years ago, it’s not a matter of if but of when. Unless he wins the ACC championship or makes a Final Four appearance this should be his last. Anything less is unacceptable. Are you listening D-Rad???

Paul in RDU

January 26th, 2011
8:50 pm

Jacket Hoops

January 26th, 2011
7:16 pm
. I would like to be, but we are not Duke or UNC. Outside of those 2 and maybe Maryland, who has had a better last 10 years in the ACC?
________________________________________________________

ACC regular season records in last 10 years (doesn’t include 2010-11) – only includes teams who were in the conference for all 10 years
MD 96-64 + 1 NCAA Championship
WF 87-73 – they fired a coach with a 27-21 conference record
NCSU 71-89 (even with 4 years of coaching by Sidney) – they ran off a coach with a better record than CPH
GT 67-93
FSU 65-95 – a school that doesn’t care about b’ball
UVA 64-96 – revolving coaches
CU 62-98 – another school that doesn’t care about b’ball

Fed Up

January 26th, 2011
9:01 pm

Why does our idiot AD keep extending Hewitt’s contract? Hewitt is the biggest jerkoff excuse for a basketball coach in the NCAA.

Tar and feather Hewitt and run him out of town on a rail.

spider

January 26th, 2011
9:12 pm

i think we should hire NOODLES away from new mexico. he has been a great asst coach for steve alford for many years and he was one of the more enthusiastic players we ever have had.

Bill

January 26th, 2011
9:17 pm

Best option is if team wins are loses Coach is gone!

Hewitt has lost the fans…..I feel for the players but I hope we lose till Paul Hewitt is gone. I watch but can’t pull for a Hewitt coached team, I’m sorry. I’ve been a GT fan since 65 when my dad took me to games. The Thriller Dome…the thrill is gone! I will no go back till PH is gone and many other fans feel the same. The last couple years you could not give tickets away.
Look at UGA the last couple years with a new coach..Fox. The game against Fla was a sell out and fans were crazy. Then GT’s game came on TV and the fans …half empty..the fans..well the thrill was gone. Is that what Rads and PR dept wants? If so thats what they got. I really pray that “old one and done Bewitt is fired’ that may be wrong but GT deserves better.
Someone said, who would you hire? Rads can get a very good coach. They are out there just waiting for the call. I love GT but this BS needs to stop. Fire Paul Hewitt.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
9:19 pm

Fed Up.
Read the article.
Annual renewal contract signed by prior AD.
Not DRAD’s fault.

gtfan

January 26th, 2011
9:25 pm

No Head Coach would keep Hewitt to be a recruiter..BRAVES FAN79

That would be bad business. Just fire him and he will live good on the money he stole from GT.

Paul in RDU

January 26th, 2011
9:28 pm

ACC regular season records, last 5 years – Players off team in NBA
Duke 59-21 3 current players
UNC 55-25 7 current players
MD 46-34 1 current player
FSU 43-37 4 current players
CU 42-38 1 current player
VT 40-40 NONE
BC 40-40 2 current players
WF 35-45 4 current players
UVA 32-48 NONE
GT 32-48 4 current players
UM 30-50 NONE
NCSU 30-50 1 current player

Dawg A

January 26th, 2011
9:29 pm

As a DAWG fan……….. keep him!!!!

RamblinRecluseRoad

January 26th, 2011
9:30 pm

As a Tech grad of ‘73, I think the waste of Tech talent from the Cremins players is why Tech plays without a full identity on the court and in the stands. What if Mark Price or the Barry player, Drew or Jon, I don’t recall which one, or John Salley was the coach? Then I believe Tech would play better. Just pick a player who is still young enough who has had their jersey retired, and ask them to coach if they want. All I remember is last year when Tech could not inbound it, and time expired, turning it over. They could have thrown it up to the rafters with a 50-50 chance as a jump ball that Tech would get it back. Instead they got 0% when time expired. This is the mark of a team with problems, whether coaching or player ability. The one who needs to get canned at Tech is CPJ since he does not run a shotgun ever. He thinks his team can score more points by running than opposing teams can by passing and running, and that just hasn’t been true. I hope CPJ went to the CFB championship game in AZ and saw Auburn with Ted Roof out there, and Oregon both run shotguns. Their short passes and use of tight ends, and screen passes are what Tech never uses. Tech only uses long passes or to the sidelines passes that will never score in that direction, not to mention never gain yards.

North Ave Killer Beez

January 26th, 2011
9:40 pm

I didnt even read the article but why does this guy even write about CPH? It’s obvious they dont get along. I guess when there is nothing good to write about he just pulls this same old dog and pony show out of his @@@ss to write about.

Bill

January 26th, 2011
9:41 pm

Agree with Mark. Brian Gregory Dayton would be great. Make the move Rads. Put Bewitt on the road.

firehewitt

January 26th, 2011
9:44 pm

beez…get a life and go home to your daddy hewitt.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
9:46 pm

I hate to bring it up but many don’t like our baseball coach either.
The only coach Techsters like is Machelle Joseph but give it a few years.
We’ll hate her too before u know it.

PaulieOldSchool

January 26th, 2011
9:47 pm

Although I’m a UGA BB fan, I feel for the Tech fans. I said over a year ago that Hewitt must be shown the door, despite this insane contract. When is it a good time to fire a horrible coach? Or, if not horrible, one that no longer inspires anything positive in the hearts and minds of players, fans, and boosters alike? Just ask Bulldog Nation about Mark Richt (whom I also want gone, but that’a another story). To paraphrase the old joke, if I’d fired that SOB when I first had the thought, I’d be out of debt by now.

GT Grad 99

January 26th, 2011
9:55 pm

If Hewitt had any honor, he would step down without the payout. He has grossly underperformed and has done untold damage to the program. Pick your favorite stat. I come back to one winning conference season in a decade.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
9:56 pm

Paul Hewitt has indeed lost most of the fanbase.
However he has not lost his players.
They play hard and are getting better with each game.
Ridicule that thought if you must but I am seeing a different game. (like the Sporting News)
I have season tickets.
I wanted Bill Lewis fired in the nineties because he lost his team.
Call me what u want but as long as the team plays with effort, I am not bailing on the program.
It took some effort to be the only ACC team to defeat UNC.
The UNC and VT games were a lot of fun.
I’m older than Hewitt so think up a different insult.

BobDawg

January 26th, 2011
10:05 pm

…Now that the Dawgs are relevant again in BBall… we need for Tech to get with it and become a force again so that our games mean something again…I really liked the teams you had with Salley, Dennis Scott and Mark Price.. that was good BBall… Get your former QB who is now a Real Estate Mogul (Dewberry) to fork over the Bucks and fire Blewitt….

firehewitt

January 26th, 2011
10:06 pm

Jacket2010-11—-the fanbase don’t matter to you? We have no problem with the players..just Hewitt. I also have no problem with any coach at GT but Hewitt. As for the wins…sometimes it better to be lucky than good. I’m older than Hewitt too..so whats the problem? I respect your opinion, respect mine.

Jackets2010-11

January 26th, 2011
10:15 pm

The fanbase does matter to me.
If the 7 mil is there, fine.
All I am saying is this team is getting it together.
Maybe Hewitt has played the fanbase like Lucy does Charlie Brown and now one else can believe it.
Many I’m delusional and everyone else is right.
We’ll find out soon enough.
Anyone surprised Freigen got the boot after a pretty good year and ACC coach of the year award?

GT454

January 26th, 2011
10:28 pm

Unfortunate situation for both PH and Tech, but mostly for the entire Tech basketball team! As an alum, I want our team to win regardless of the coaching situation.
Mark, tells it truthfully that there is no winner on either side, other than PH may depart a rich man in monetary terms, but with a tarnished past. DRad must now do what he should have done last year.
Just looking at all the empty seats should confirm his decision. Hopefully, PH and DRad will negotiate an honorable and mutual departure for both parties involved.

IL Jacket

January 26th, 2011
10:37 pm

Paul in RDU, thanks for the statistics. Overall, given the quality of the ACC over the last ten years( what is it, 5 NCs in the period), these numbers do not look too bad for a small, academically challenging engineering school. How many National Championship games were we
in before Paul came to Tech?

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 26th, 2011
10:43 pm

You five stick to the partyline and keep the banter flowing. We have more tea to make and plenty of bags. Tech Sucks, Hewitt Sucks, body of work, product on the floor, can’t shoot free throws, can’t inbound, etc….

Most of the negative comments on here are by the same person using different fonts. Now, let’s wait for the go home to daddy Hewitt comments from the “educated” Tech fans.

JustMyOpinion

January 26th, 2011
10:53 pm

Thanks Anti-BuzzDraft. His team plays hard!

same article different day

January 26th, 2011
10:58 pm

How many different ways can you write the same article?

same article different day

January 26th, 2011
11:03 pm

Your agenda is pretty clear Bark. I hope Hewitt pulls it together and denies you access to the team. Your incessant harassment of the man has grown tiresome.

Paul in RDU

January 26th, 2011
11:14 pm

IL Jacket
Look at the stats for the last 5 years in the ACC (since expansion). GT has performed horribly. There are only 2 teams with worse conference records and the better teams include several “small academically challenging schools” (Duke, WF, BC). For a 12 year period under Cremins, GT was the #3 program in the ACC (tied with MD behind the boys in light blue and dark blue). That should be the goal.

Paul in RDU

January 26th, 2011
11:18 pm

I agree with Jackets2010-11 – GT has improved since the beginning of 2011 and CPH has not lost the team. Unfortunately in year 11 of the CPH era, the program as a whole is dying and it’s getting close to the point where GT can’t afford not to fire Hewitt.

Jackets

January 26th, 2011
11:26 pm

Hewitt has 5 ncaas in 10 years in by far toughest conference in America and a title game appearance. Cremins had one final 4 in 19 years and 10 ncaas. Same results last 30 years. tech fans are delusional if they think it could be better. Do not fall for fox and uga. They will not finish with winning record in sec. They may sell out, but Cannot win at home. They did pull off a miracle win against tech so something to hang on.

IL Jacket

January 26th, 2011
11:34 pm

Paul in RDU, I hate to argue with the guy with all the statistics, but sustained excellence over every 5-year period is difficult. Roy Williams has hit a rough patch the last couple
of years, but I don’t think he has forgotten how to coach, the early departures wreak havoc with a program. Duke, I think you will admit is sui generis and Mike for the most part has the luxury of working with his kids for 4 years. The one qualifier you left out of my characterization is “engineering” which is a severe limitation. Finally, I don’t have any contrary information, but #3 behind only Duke and UNC? It seemed to me that the end of the Cremins years were pretty mediocre. And Bobby never got to the NC game.

5150 P.O.A.D.

January 26th, 2011
11:47 pm

FAKE 515O P.O.A.D
I must have a real DAWG FAN that LOVES ME. He has been on every Blog today using my name. What a joke. FAKE POAD everybody knows I am a long time TECH fan and would never say the CRAP you keep posting. GET A LIFE and your OWN NAME.

peytonsdad

January 27th, 2011
12:18 am

I also think Iman Shumpert will make a great pro-in Italy or Israel or Turkey.

peytonsdad

January 27th, 2011
12:35 am

I remember watching the Georgia Tech teams in the 80’s and early 90’s play while I was growing up in Illinois and enjoying what they did. It really was a great era of growth and excitement for all of college basketball. I became a big fan of the team and the school just by that experience.
That being said, it seems difficult to watch them play now. I don’t know if it is because I am older, or I have less time to watch, or if the basketball just isn’t as good anymore, regardless of what statistics are out there. I just know that the Georgia Tech basketball brand isn’t that appealing right now and hasn’t been for a number of years, in spite of the recruiting that has been done. I don’t think the coach has forgotten how to coach and I don’t think he isn’t a good coach- I am by no means an expert in that department, no matter how much basketball I have watched in 40 years on earth. I just don’t think Georgia Tech basketball is interesting or worth investing my time or money into the product.

Bill

January 27th, 2011
12:43 am

Yes, CPH did make it to the NC game. Had one winning season in NCAA in 10 years. Appreciate what he did when he came in 2000. But he has lost his passion. It’s obvious. Look, early defections don’t help any coach. But his ACC road record is very, very poor last 5 years. Tech loses to Kennesaw. In baseball, that isn’t awful. Sure is in men’s hoops. You can’t rest on your laurels. Hewitt hasn’t produced last 6 years. Just as it was time for Bobby to step down, it’s time for CPH to leave. Program needs a change. Just ask all the vacant seats at home games. Honestly, GT should be better yaer after year in the ACC. Atlanta is a great place to go to school. Tech isn’t UNC or Duke, but we should be competing with Md for Top 4 annually in the ACC.

thwg

January 27th, 2011
1:16 am

Couple of ideas: why not simply reassign him to a different position, and hire another startup coach for 800K? It would reenergize the program and I would assume Hewitt may likely finally resign if he was in a position that took him out of coaching and impacted his ability to be hired elsewhere down the road?

TheAntiMe

January 27th, 2011
5:23 am

It’s obvious that Hewitt’s not going anywhere and every passing year makes it more certain that he is here for the duration of his contract. Tech has already written off any hope of being anything more than sorry for the sake of money and they are obviously prepared to just grin and bear it until Hewitt’s albatross contract expires.

Besides, the fact that this enormous mistake of a contract was signed before current AD Dan Radakovich took over makes it that much easier since he can continue to claim, it wasn’t me who did it!

Georgia Tech’s in no-win situation if it wants to fire Hewitt | Beyond the Arc

January 27th, 2011
7:00 am

[...] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist made the case yesterday that Tech can’t afford to keep coach Paul Hewitt, even if it does cost the school $7 million in severance pay. The reason? Mediocrity is killing the program, and at the worst possible time. [...]

C C

January 27th, 2011
7:05 am

Jackets2010-11: We all of a right to our opinions, and I certainly like this team’s players and heart lately, but I couldn’t disagree more about your comparisons and statements about how people feel about coaches.

Sure people got frustrated with Cremins at times, and things went downhill at the end, but GT fans certainly did not dislike him, never hated him. Not like they feel about Hewitt now. You just can’t compare the two situations. (Hate Cremins?!? We named the freaking’ COURT after him!!! What are you smoking?!?
As awesome as 2004 was, we just barely won several of those tourney games, and assistant coaches and Jarrett Jack’s leadership made PH look like a better coach than he was. Too bad we found that out after the Most Ridiculous Contract Extension of All Time (TM).

Also I completely disagree about “many don’t like our baseball coach either” and “the only coach Techsters like is Machelle Joseph but give it a few years. We’ll hate her too before u know it.” What’s the basis of that? What are you trying to say? Hate very much?

Michelle J and her players have been consistently good and played with heart. Why are you suggesting GT fans would turn on her? She’s PROVEN she’s a solid coach. Baseball hasn’t done as well in the tournament sometimes but everyone I know likes going to games and has nothing bad to say about the coach at all. Been a very good to great program just about every year. Sure there might be a weird play or decision once in a while, but that happens even with good managers.

Also Friedgen wasn’t consistently disliked by the fans at Maryland, the way Hewitt has been the last few years. He had a couple of bad years but responded with a good year this year. With Hewitt, even with last year’s talent and making the NCAA we underachieved, were horribly coached AGAIN, and fans really wanted to get rid of Hewitt. With Friedgen it was largely politcal/adminstration issues with him. If you asked the fans this year they would’ve been happy to keep him. Totally different situation.

Also you’ve made comments about how hard it is to win on the road. But EVERY coach has to deal with that. And Hewitt has consistently been the worst in the entire conference over the last several years. You can argue with opinions but not with that statistic.

Yes, this team does look to be improving and I actually have been a lot more enthusiastic seeing the last few home games. I still want them to win but have lost all hope in Hewitt. Until PROVEN otherwise by real results, we still suck on the road in the ACC…and the horrible UGA, KSU, and other bad losses this year still count. I’d like to see us make a run, I like these players, and I certainly will keep cheering for them. But that doesn’t change the fact that we can and should get a better coach. Period.

JB

January 27th, 2011
7:37 am

The article made me think of the Football situation in Athens. not the money part, but the part about Cremins. Cremins came to Tech and tore it up for a few years, and then just went to hell in a hand basket. Sound familiar? Mark Richt is the Dawgs Cremins!

ga_tech_92

January 27th, 2011
7:45 am

TheAntiMe – The main problem with what your suggesting is that the contract NEVER expires. You must fire him and pay him for the (always remaining) six years. There is no time you can fire him without paying him for 6 years. It never expires. It is a lifetime contract signed by an idiot who doesn’t work at GT anymore. So…the question remains…is it cheaper to pay about 7 mil today?…or is it cheaper to pay 1.something mil per year for a few more years, lose the fanbase even more, and THEN pay him 7 mil? Sounds like 7 mil today is a lot cheaper than 7 mil plus more mil’s plus damage to the program. Obviously we have the money, or we wouldn’t be spending it on a new building. The choice is made daily to not make GROUNDHOG DAY stop.

And here we are again…waking up and it’s still Groundhog Dayl

JB

January 27th, 2011
7:54 am

I, As a Dawg fan, hung on ever game with Cremins and lethal three….. Good stuff.

ga_tech_92

January 27th, 2011
7:59 am

JB – Lethal Weapon Three was good fun. I was lucky enough to be in school during those years, plus the (co)NC in football.

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:11 am

I look around at the good teams around the country and I see a common theme: most of them have at least one lights-out shooter.

At Tech we have not had one since Anthony Morrow and before that Marvin Lewis.

I understand that you need good athletes to play the game, but it seems as if all we have are athletes. No pure shooters to be found.

Sure, sometimes a guy gets hot, but we need guys who can consistently shoot 40-50% from behind the arc.

Hewitt doesn’t bring those guys in nearly enough, and you have to have them to win.

Just sayin…everyone talks about not developing a point guard, and I agree, but I think the lack of a sharpshooter is just as important.

I have always liked Hewitt and I want for him (and Tech of course) to succeed. But enough is enough. The way we have played recently only highlights the ridiculous early season losses.

This team is WAY too talented to lose to some of those teams…

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:12 am

I look around at the good teams around the country and I see a common theme: most of them have at least one lights-out shooter.

At Tech we have not had one since Anthony Morrow and before that Marvin Lewis.

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:12 am

Sure, sometimes a guy gets hot, but we need guys who can consistently shoot 40-50% from behind the arc.

Hewitt doesn’t bring those guys in nearly enough, and you have to have them to win.

Just sayin…everyone talks about not developing a point guard, and I agree, but I think the lack of a sharpshooter is just as important.

I have always liked Hewitt and I want for him (and Tech of course) to succeed. But enough is enough. The way we have played recently only highlights the ridiculous early season losses.

This team is WAY too talented to lose to some of those teams…

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:13 am

I look around at the good teams around the country and I see a common theme: most of them have at least one lights-out shooter.

At Tech we have not had one since Anthony Morrow and before that Marvin Lewis.

I understand that you need good athletes to play the game, but it seems as if all we have are athletes. No pure shooters to be found.

Sure, sometimes a guy gets hot, but we need guys who can consistently shoot 40-50% from behind the arc.

Hewitt doesn’t bring those guys in nearly enough, and you have to have them to win.

Just sayin…everyone talks about not developing a point guard, and I agree, but I think the lack of a sharpshooter is just as important.

I have always liked Hewitt and I want for him (and Tech of course) to succeed. But enough is enough. The way we have played recently only highlights the ridiculous early season losses.

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:13 am

Hewitt doesn’t bring those guys in nearly enough, and you have to have them to win.

Just sayin…everyone talks about not developing a point guard, and I agree, but I think the lack of a sharpshooter is just as important.

I have always liked Hewitt and I want for him (and Tech of course) to succeed. But enough is enough. The way we have played recently only highlights the ridiculous early season losses.

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:15 am

I have always liked Hewitt and I want for him (and Tech of course) to succeed. But enough is enough. The way we have played recently only highlights the ridiculous early season losses.

This team is WAY too talented to lose to some of those teams…

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:16 am

Sure, sometimes a guy gets hot, but we need guys who can consistently shoot 40-50% from behind the arc.

Hewitt doesn’t bring those guys in nearly enough, and you have to have them to win.

Just sayin…everyone talks about not developing a point guard, and I agree, but I think the lack of a sharpshooter is just as important.

This team is WAY too talented to lose to some of those teams…

Marvin Mangrum

January 27th, 2011
8:19 am

Been a fan since the 60s, watched most of coaches great wins, but it is obvious that he knows not what he is doing. #1, I would fire a Tech coach, who has a drop out rate higher than 25 %, I would not let Jesus play for me one year, or two years. And that should be a NCAA rule, you play 4 years or you go pro on your own. NC and Duke, most of them play 2 years, right? Thats your problem. 17-13, hockey, never happen, assuming the other team shows up.

Tech Man

January 27th, 2011
8:38 am

When Hewitt signed the most insane contract in sports history Tech was doomed. We’ve got him fort the rest of his life. Thanks Dave Braine. He should be arrested for committing a criminal act. No one gets a contract like that. Not even Vince Lombardi if he was still alive and in his prime.

gt

January 27th, 2011
8:42 am

Jackets2010-11 is right we did run Bobby out of town. The sea had changed in college basketball, with kids allowed to skip college and go straight to the pros. Bobby played, still does, a small number of players, some years just 6, and they stayed for four years in the Price, Sally era. Old Dean Smith would bring in four or five a year at Chapel Hill because of the program he had there, Bobby would concentrate on one guy, and with his charm and recruiting ability that one guy was his. In the NBA during that era Bobby’s alumni were as good as anybody’s in the country. Duke had always had good college players that were not that good in the pros. Coach K knew how to recruit what worked at Duke and were just a hair under the NBA radar. Before the no college pro entered the picture Bobby was every bit the match for Smith and K, but as his players stop coming to Tech, going directly to the pros like Garnett or going out in one year, the one’s at Duke stayed for 4 years. They ended up being like 18 year olds being held back with 12 year olds to play with. Smith had numbers and used a lot of his bench, Duke had student athletes that came to Duke for more than basketball. Bobby has one and done attitudes, he was having to rerecruit his own players every year, begging them to stay, then go find a super star point guard to replace the one that left. I am so glad Bobby didn’t quit coaching at that low point. He is now back where is all began, the Southern Conference with a team that probably could beat this Tech team and looking good for a NCAA bid this year. We did the right thing letting Bobby go, the laws of basketball economics were working against us and looked like they would never change. Instead of hiring a coach like the ones they have at Duke or Carolina that seem to have a system to weather this change we hired the opposite. We hired two coaches in that era very similar in demeanor, Gailey and Hewitt. Both were very removed 9 to 5ers. It was almost like we had resigned ourselves to be a dull athletic program in personality and results. Dan Radakovich unlike his predecessor showed guts and imagination in hiring Johnson. Think about it, bringing that offense to Tech was one of the gutsy moves of this decade anywhere. Now that we got an AD that doesn’t just mail it in lets take his handcuffs off and let him fix this basketball program. Somebody is going to hire Radakovich away pretty soon and if we don’t fix this now we may be stuck with another 9 to 5 stiff to fix this later, which we have seen how that works.

JB

January 27th, 2011
8:44 am

Did Braine have the authority to give a contract like that? Didn’t the President or Athletic Board have to sign off on it?Just Curious.

81Dog

January 27th, 2011
8:44 am

A few years ago, Tech’s goal was to hire a football coach who could do for their football program what Hewett had done for their basketball program. Hmmm. Early success? Check. Losing record against UGA? Check. Losing record this season after being considered a top 25 team? Check. One or two more bad recruiting classes from being completely irrelevant? Check.

Kudos to Radokovich. His plan is really shaping up nicely. Now all he needs to do is lock down PJ with a perpetual rollover before someone like Elon or Newberry comes along to steal him, and the D Rad Plan for Football will be fully in place!

82Dawg

January 27th, 2011
8:46 am

JB.. he would have to get any contract approved with the board…

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
8:54 am

Wishful thinking, “81Dog.”

I love how so many Dog fans keep trying to make Johnson look like a failure just because your own coach is a bumbling idiot. I guess it’s true that misery loves company.

JB

January 27th, 2011
9:00 am

You would think there would be language in Hewitt’s contract to get him fired with a less pay out….like sucking at his job….

Larry

January 27th, 2011
9:03 am

Trim the fat on the 45 million renovation to a new budget of 38 million. There’s your 7 million…problem solved!

JB

January 27th, 2011
9:17 am

Larry………….Every Tech grad knows what ” Value Engineering” Means. Great idea.

Use Chan's Can on Paul Hewitt

January 27th, 2011
9:43 am

A lot is blamed on Braine, but Tech has legal counsel that should have been screaming about the craziness of the contract. Were they?
Are they still working for Tech?
Did the Tech president buy-in?
It was probably Braine’s and Pails dumb idea, but Braine has bosses, too.

RambleOn84

January 27th, 2011
9:55 am

I totally agree…though Braine is a Class A Jackass for offering the contract, there were plenty of others to be held accountable for this fiasco.

For the record I like Hewitt and hope he can turn it around; however, NO ONE deserves a lifetime contract under any circumstances.

JR

January 27th, 2011
10:13 am

The new coliseum involves a bond issue for $45 million. Seems to me that GT should add the $7 million buyout to it and make it for $52 million and start fresh with a new coliseum and a new coach.

Lifetime contract?

January 27th, 2011
10:16 am

People currently with lifetime contracts:
Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XV)
John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Paul Hewitt

Basketball coaches without lifetime contracts:
Mike Krzyzewski, Phil Jackson, Tom Izzo, Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams, Billy Donovan…..

Aero Jacket

January 27th, 2011
10:18 am

Was Dave Brainless able to offer Hewitt his lifetime contract on his signature alone, or do such contracts also require the GT president to sign off on it? In other words, is the departed Wayne Clough also responsible for this contract fiasco? And what Tech lawyers or legal firm reviewed this contract? They should also be held responsible for not looking after the best interests of the institute.

To answer Mark’s original question: Yes, I’ve been worried that a few fluke wins will be enough to postpone the inevitable need to replace Hewitt with someone who can coach and win. I’ve been a huge fan since 1984 and was at every home game for the 5 years I was at Tech (often sitting next to Mark on press row), but this year I am one of those empty seats.

Smarty Pants

January 27th, 2011
10:19 am

Based on what I glean from this blog Ga schools suck at both bb and fb . Only tech bb had a winning season in 2009/2010; UGa had loosing season. Both fb teams had loosing seasons in 2010/11; both bb teams will struggle to make 64-team NCAA tourney.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 27th, 2011
10:20 am

Face the facts guys, from some of your comments here your problem is with CPH making more money than you. If you haven’t noticed the coach and the team went to the ACCT Championship game and the 2nd round of the NCAAs last year. This year is still be played. The selection committee selects teams on the current year not on what they did 3 or 4 years ago. We see you miserable “fans” trying to get others to not go to the games. Your simple mind thinks that everyone is filled with hate like you. Wrong! This team is turning a corner and you will miss this in person. For people who hate CPH and the team so much you guys always know when we lose a game but never when we win. I see you hating from the West Coast “Honest Abe” you know who you are.

Jacket Dad

January 27th, 2011
10:52 am

It’s time for Hewitt to go. (way past time) He is killing what was once a BB program that was respected and envied. Now, they are simply too painful to watch (win or lose).

Even if it results in some tough transition years, I want a team that lays it all on the court every game, that knows and plays fundamentals, that plays as a team, and that has heart.

Some of the current guys have some of these characteristics, but due to inept coaching and leadership, they never mesh or appear together.

GT BB needs new blood and a new attitude and that will never happen with Hewitt around.

Old Rat

January 27th, 2011
10:55 am

Not sure which is the chicken and which is the egg. I can get almost every Tech BB game on TV. This may reduce game attendance. It was embarrassing to see the number of empty seats during the VA Tech game. Empty seats reduce the excitement to the television audience AND MAY REDUCE FUTURE COVERAGE. Recruits love to know they will be seen on TV.
Vicious circle which has negative results.

Has everyone accepted that he is going to get the 7 million unless he violates his contract or resigns. If he stays the coach for the next 30 years, he still has the severance coming if and when he is forced out.

TomB

January 27th, 2011
11:15 am

Alright, everyone comparing Hewitt to Cremins is totally clueless. First, Cremins took over a program that was a joke in college basketball especially for one in the mighty ACC conference.GT was winless in the ACC conference when Cremins took over compiling a 4-23 record before his arrival.

What did he do? In four years, he won the ACC championship( something Hewitt’s still trying to figure out), and his team reached the elite eight in the NCAA. Cremins went on to win 3 ACC championships and was 3x the ACC coach of the year. How do you measure the success of a college coach? I believe it is winning in conference and how far you take your teams in the NCAA tournament. Not just making the tournament, but taking your team to as many sweet sixteens and farther as possible. 3 sweet sixteens, 1 final four, 1 elite eight, along with 3 ACC championships under Cremins. You just can’t compare the two.

Why did Cremins retire and leave the tremendous job he did at Tech? Because his ACC winning percentage over his final five seasons was 41 percent(33-47) with 1 NCAA tournament appearance. By comparison, Hewitt has a ACC winning percentage of 35 percent over his past five years. Outside of the final four run in 2004, Hewitt has never reached the sweet sixteen of the NCAA tournament at GT.

So, everyone comparing these two coaches please give it a rest. There is no comparison, and based on his ACC winning percentage, and lack of sweet sixteen appearances, Hewitt is gone. Bye Bye.

Hewitt's agenda = Hewitt

January 27th, 2011
11:19 am

Ed Nelson (remember him?) saw the writing on the wall. He was ACC Rookie of the year (the ninth to be so honored at GT). But as Hewitt got more comfortable in his seat as Head coach in 2001 and 2002, Nelson was seeing less and less playing time. There were rumors, of course, that it had something to do with his pale skin … only rumors. Nelson transferred to U-Conn in the summer of 2003 and, although he had to ride the pine for a year (NCAA rules), he was part of the U-Conn team that beat GT in the Championship game in 2004. I’d sure like to ask Nelson what it was about Hewitt and/or the situation at GT that caused him to transfer …

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 27th, 2011
11:26 am

See above for the racist nonsense. You do realize that Hewitt recruited Nelson, Luke, Dan Miller, & Nate Hicks along with other “pale” players. Keep your hate on the Hive. We aren’t buying it here CindyJacket.

TomB

January 27th, 2011
11:32 am

Oh, give it a rest Hewitt’s agenda = Hewitt. Did Luke Schenschers’ pale skin keep him from playing? I hate it when people show their true colors on here. Why is Daniel Miller playing according to your rationale? Granted no one screams about diversity here, but don’t you think you’re reaching?

yearofthedawg

January 27th, 2011
12:00 pm

I just wish the Milton kid had picked UGA…

TomB

January 27th, 2011
12:40 pm

I don’t believe Bradley was hating on Hewitt here. I’m sure he’s unconvinced of Hewitts’ greatness since his record speaks for itself. I believe Bradley went to the game the other night and witnessed the sparsity of the crowd and reached the reasonable conclusion that Hewitt had lost his fan base. If you know anything about Tech basketball over the years, then you know the fans have always shown up. I cannot remember a time when conference games at Tech were not sold out or at least around 90 percent capacity. So, I’m sure he asked himself a reasonable question. How can Tech afford this? New coliseum on the way, huge debts concerns and now a half full coliseum.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 27th, 2011
12:56 pm

Tom, Bark Madley takes shots at Hewitt every chance he gets. He only shows up to games when they are getting blown out at the half. Bark’s peers consider him a joke and an ass.

TomB

January 27th, 2011
2:56 pm

The Anti-BuzzDraft: Hewitt in many ways has been has been his own worst enemy; specifically, when he is responding to criticism, whether it be Bradley at the AJC or some other media. Many coaches will lay the blame with themselves first, before they make excuses and lash out at the media. Bradley certainly isn’t picking on Hewitt for personal reasons. If so, then he really has a beef with Richt over at UGA. And, you never hear Richt crying and blaming the media. I’m just saying this hasn’t helped Hewitts’ cause.

You're an idiot

January 27th, 2011
3:14 pm

Mark Bradley,

You’re an idiot. You came to the game predetermined to write a negative article regardless of the outcome. The team is obviously playing better than they did in the preseason and you just have a personal vendetta against Paul Hewitt. The team is 3-3 and gave UNC there only loss in conference play. It’s obvious that the team is not that talented yet they’re still winning games. Give credit where credit is due. Mark Fox who has 2 pros and is supposed to have a top 25 team is 3-3 in the SEC which is worse than the ACC by far this year and you’re not calling for his head. Give me a break. Go get a job for the UGA paper and stop pretending like you’re not biased.

I agree

January 27th, 2011
3:16 pm

I agree with you’re an idiot. Mark has been doing this for years and is either being told to do this by the editor of the paper or the editor is looking the other way. I understand that you want to write stories to make people read the paper but how can you write foolishness about a coach after his team wins 3 out of the last 4 games. You’re a terrible writer and I don’t know why the AJC hasn’t fired you. Do you have a rollover contract. You’re not very good.

TomB

January 27th, 2011
3:34 pm

You’re an idiot: I agree that you are an idiot. If you go back to the 2004 run and before, Bradley praised Hewitt in many of his columns. Facts are funny things though. How many ACC coaches have kept their jobs while winning 35 percent of their conference games which just happens to be Hewitts’ winning percentage over the past five seasons. Take away Hewitt’s 2004 run and tell me how many sweet sixteen appearances he has had at Tech? Has a Hewitt coached Tech team won even a single ACC CHAMPIONSHIP during his ten years at Tech? We even measure the success of coaches at smaller schools by how far they take their teams in the tournament. Hewitt has one sweet sixteen appearance; 2004 when his team made the final four.I will make the argument that 2004 is the only reason he’s still coaching at Tech. Lets at least be honest here: Any other ACC coach with this record would already have been canned.

chuck allison

January 27th, 2011
3:48 pm

Some beautiful day Tech will dismiss Paul Hewitt. The birds will be singing, the church bells ringing, and fun will come back to Alexander Memorial Stadium. Hewitt has been disloyal to Tech and only followed his own warped agenda. When he leaves, I hope to never see or read of him again. And I wish him well in his new environment somewhere else.

TomB

January 27th, 2011
4:13 pm

Some beautiful day in March 2011, Chuck. Best of luck to him.

Funny thing… one day you’re coaching little Sienna college and then the big boys come calling. You’re making over a million dollars a year with a dream contract coaching in one of the best conferences in college basketball. Big job, big pay and high expectations, but man you’ve reached the top. You accomplish all this and then one day you tell everyone you don’t read the AJC anymore because one sports writer wrote something you didn’t like. Blah, blah, blah. Wha!, Wha!. I just don’t get it, and I expect more from my coach and so should Georgia Tech.

ncjacket

January 27th, 2011
6:01 pm

The best option is for us to get hot, make the NCAAs and have a decent run, and for Hewitt to become a “hot” coach again and have someone hire him away. I can dream right?

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 27th, 2011
6:37 pm

NC as a Tech man and fan you should always want the team to do well. I’ve read your posts on the Hive and on Craptalk, you have some common sense. Don’t fall for the propaganda machine of Cindy, Acworth, and Lord of the Ring in Tampa. The team is playing well, TOs are way down, inbounds plays have led to scores, FTs are up! They are defending AMC with a passion even with the smaller crowds. They haven’t given up but the few that speak like they are the majority have given up. They speak about the product and about the ACC record of past years. The NCAA selection committee only uses records from the current year. BTW Bark you still suck.

TomB

January 27th, 2011
6:59 pm

The Anti-BuzzDraft: Have you ever asked yourself why the fans have turned against Hewitt? Do you honestly want to know or will you keep defending the indefensible. I’ve been a Tech fan for a long time having season tickets for many many years. There is a reason why the coliseum is only half full for ACC conference games; its never happened before even the final years under Cremins. Believe what you want, but the facts are the facts.

Hewitts’ overall ACC conference winning percentage is 42 percent,and only 35 percent over the past five seasons.Heck, he’s never even finished higher than third in the conference and that was just one season, 2004. Even last year with one of the most talented teams of recent memory, they finished 7th in the conference. No ACC championships in ten years and no sweet sixteen appearances outside the final four year in 2004. Take away the 2004 season and Hewitt would have been long gone.

I can’t believe you keep bringing up their play this season. Did you not see the Kennesaw St game?

TomB

January 27th, 2011
7:02 pm

Inbound plays have led to scores… that was funny The Anti-BuzzDraft.

TomB

January 27th, 2011
7:08 pm

Oops, forgot to mention Hewitts 31-86 road record at GT. Pathetic.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 27th, 2011
7:11 pm

Tom ask yourself why you always have to respond to me. It’s because I know who you are Buzz.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 27th, 2011
7:15 pm

Tom is the KSU game determing Tech’s ACC record? See people lime you only want to mention to bad and never the good. You are a very unhappy man. Your posts on here and the Hive show it. Haven’t seen you post after the last couple of wins. Let there be a lose and you post every five minutes.

techster

January 27th, 2011
9:51 pm

SCOTT DREW

Lee

January 28th, 2011
12:16 am

What more do you need to say about Coach Blewitt, nothing but fire his butt ASAP!!!!!!!! I was hurt to see the empty stands at the Virginia Tech game. Sad time in the state of Georgia. I will contribute to the firing fund as soon as it is posted. If all who are really tired of Blewitt coaching, we can make the firing a reality. Put the money where your mouth is!!!!!!

Shameful

January 28th, 2011
2:21 am

It’s sad to see the day when GT “fans” are not excited to see their young team that’s not that talented play well. You call yourselves fans but you don’t come to the game to support your team and you say nasty things over the Internet. You should be ashamed of yourselves and look in the mirror. Support your school. Support your team. Support your coaches or root for another team and leave us alone.

mtraininjax

January 28th, 2011
8:09 am

Mark – What about some props for Cliff Warren here at Jacksonville University? He was hired by Alan Verlander, a fellow Tech grad, and Warren has done an outstanding job at JU. He used to be at Tech under Hewitt and seems to have a great mind and would not cost a lot.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 28th, 2011
8:52 am

When did Bark become the arbiter of basketball knowledge? He can’t even win his own Final Four Fiasco.

GTGuy44

January 28th, 2011
9:15 am

RamblinWreck I totally agree with you on every point. I believe Hewitt as only won 15 road games in the ACC since he came. That averages about 1 1/2 wins on the road per year. Unbelievable horrible performance. He is the worst coach in the ACC. There are probably 100 better coaches in the country. Many lower division coaches are better. We rank about 136 in the Sagarin rankings now ahead of only Wake Forest. We should have fired him years ago.

Yurtle_the_turtle

January 28th, 2011
9:48 am

Anti-BuzzDraft needs to give it a rest. According to him, if you don’t kiss Phewitt’s butt, you are not a fan. God help all of us who aspire to have a better coach and better program than what we’ve seen the last 6 years. Phewitt sucks, I’m not attending games. My kids are not attending games. I would rather drive to Athens and let them see a real coach than to watch the garbage Phewitt throws out. And having the team play “better” in the last 3 games doesn’t equate to 6 years of crap.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 28th, 2011
9:51 am

GTGuy Tech is 98th in Sagarin as of today. WF is 251st. VA is 110th. BC is 44th. UNC is 23rd and you guys swear that they aren’t good.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 28th, 2011
9:56 am

Yurtle, you care so little that you come on here and post. I see you BD run back to the hive now. Where did I say kiss CPHs butt? Take your kids to see Fox. You aren’t a true Tech man with that nonsense.

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January 28th, 2011
10:18 am

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TomB

January 28th, 2011
11:19 am

The Anti-BuzzDraft: Hard to see the light when you lose to Kennesaw St, Siena, and Charlotte. Given the talent GT has, you can only reach one conclusion about these losses. Coaching or the lack thereof. KSU lost ten straight games after beating us. Shame. You just can’t defend against such a loss; it is absolutely devastating to our program. It doesn’t matter what happens this year because Hewitt lost his job that night.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 28th, 2011
11:34 am

Tom other than Shump name one 5 star on the team that is playing at a high level? The antagonist claim when we win it’s because of the players and when we lose it’s because of the coach. Get a grip BD/Acworth/Ringold. Your wet dream is not the wishes of the majority. A few sour old men sipping tea using multiple fonts to say the same thing does not make for a consensus. You hate CPH so much that you can’t see the good play and you missed last year.

TomB

January 28th, 2011
11:46 am

The consensus is the half full coliseum Anti-BuzzDraft. Jason Morris, 4 star recruit, Kammeon Holsey, 4 star, Mfon Udofia, 4 star, Glen Rice, 4 star, Maurice Miller, 4 star. No talent there right,The Anti-BuzzDraft. Would you like to compare this lineup with Kennesaw State’s?

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 28th, 2011
12:14 pm

Tom reread my post. We are 3-3 in the ACC along with Clem, VT, and MD and all you can come up with is KSU. Please stay home, I’ll fill you in on a little secret Tom, the longer people stay away the longer CPH will be there. You are only hurting Tech’s AA not CPH. The AA will still have to pay and your Season Tickets, which I doubt you ever had and your Tech Fund donation that you aren’t paying is only putting the school in a hole. Try hiring a legit coach with the limited funds that the AA has because you stayed home. Your type is the problem that will lead to no solution. I’m off of this subject with you now. See you at Lunch Bunch old boy.

Gtfan11

January 28th, 2011
12:16 pm

@ RAMBLINWRECK – You are dead on the money! The only other coach I can think of that has done less with more talent is Mark Richt and his coaching staff. No wonder most of their players bolt to the pros as soon as they do. The players are actually getting worse by staying any longer than they have to in the respective programs. Bite the bullet and let Hewitt go!

Walter Smith

January 28th, 2011
4:14 pm

The only thing credible about this column is that the columnist admits that he has a “feeble mind.”
Georgia Tech should be glad to have Hewitt

TomB

January 28th, 2011
8:49 pm

Why is that Walter Smith? Care to back up your support with numbers?

Hewitt's agenda = Hewitt

January 29th, 2011
12:34 pm

the voting so far:: 78% say the better option for Tech is for the team to go cold … Hewitt goes.

Despite all the complexities, the fans can still make the loudest and most impactful statement:: continued low attendance at the games will eventually force someones’ hand (namely D-Rad).

Hewitt's agenda = Hewitt

January 29th, 2011
12:49 pm

…. whether we like it or not, college sports are a BUSINESS and sometimes the majority stakeholders (THE FANS) have to instigate change themselves. Disagree with me all you want … call me a “fair weather fan” … I don’t care. I’m a LIFE LONG GT FAN AND GRADUATE, but Paul Hewitt is just plain worthless, he’s not good for the school, and he needs to go. Period.

5150 P.O.A.D

January 29th, 2011
2:41 pm

I charge a $10 to fans to kick Hewitt in the butt and we can make the money in no time. No press comfrences just a line of fans to kick Hewitt in the butt after a game and at every Tech football home game.

The Anti-BuzzDraft

January 29th, 2011
6:37 pm

Kick rocks barefoot!

In the grand scheme, can Tech afford NOT to fire Paul Hewitt?

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In the grand scheme, can Tech afford NOT to fire Paul Hewitt?

273 comments Add your comment

About Mark Bradley

We’ve Moved!

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