Tech, Georgia get fewer official visits, but still ‘huge’
Georgia Tech had just one official visitor in town last weekend but it was a big one — Kareem Martin of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end is essentially the last remaining target for the Yellow Jackets for their 2010 class.
Wide receiver Christian Green, a five-star prospect from Tampa, was Georgia’s only official visitor last weekend. The Bulldogs have three more coming in this weekend — WR Chris Dunkley of Pahokee, Fla.; WR/CB Terrence Mitchell of Pahokee, Fla.; and CB Cody Riggs of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
By all accounts, there are fewer recruits taking official visits — or “OVs” as they’re known among college recruiters — nowadays than there used to be. That’s mainly because so many prospects are now committing before their senior years, which is the only time they’re permitted to be treated to an official visit.
But getting a recruit to agree to an official visit is still a big deal, college recruiters say.
“It’s huge,” Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator and D-line coach Giff Smith said. “It’s the biggest deal in recruiting. As recruiting coaches it’s our job to get them on campus for an official visit. It’s our players’ jobs to close them. We tell our [recruits], ‘come here and see if you fit in; see if you’re going to be happy here.’”
So what’s the difference in OVs and “UVs,” as they call unofficial visits? Essentially money.
An unofficial visitor can receive up to three tickets to a game, one for him and two for guests. But they must travel to campus at their own expense and their time around the team is limited.
When a team hosts a recruit on an official visit, it can pay for him to travel to campus, pay for a hotel room for him and his parents and pay for all their meals. Also, a recruit’s host — a player already on the team who is designated to show a recruit around while in town — gets $30 a day with which to use toward “entertainment.” But probably the most important aspect of an official visit is the time coaches are able to spend with the recruits, who are allowed to be on campus for up to 48 hours.
“I have more time with them,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. “If you want to truly have time with a kid you’d rather have an official visit apart from a game because there is so much pre- and post-game stuff that has to go on. And now we’re practicing Sunday nights, so we’re very busy in the heat of the battle, so to speak. But he’ll see some atmosphere and some things during a game weekend he could never see on just another weekend. So it’s a tradeoff.”
And as Smith points out, it’s a chance for recruits to get to know their potential future teammates.
“That’s the biggest selling point for us — our players,” Smith said. “How they interact with each, how they get along, is very important.”
You’ll notice that all Georgia’s visitors this weekend are from out of state. That’s pretty much the norm these days. In-state recruits tend to attend lots of games unofficially and usually have been on campus multiple times before they commit. For an out-of-state kid this may be the only time you get to show them around.
“Normally kids that have a little farther to go tend to have official visits during the games,” Richt said. “The kids that are close enough to come unofficially to see games easily they usually have official visits after the season is over, if at all.”
Said Smith: “I go back to when [junior DE] Derrick Morgan came in [from Coatesville, Pa]. That was the first time he’d been on campus and been out in Atlanta at night. It’s the time they spend at night with the players when the coaches aren’t around that’s most important.”
So while they’re are likely fewer official visitors coming to campuses these days, they’re still very important.
“Oh, if you get a guy to come in for an official visit you know he’s serious,” Richt said.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
58 comments Add your comment
Dkchap
October 1st, 2009
1:16 pm
Chip, good explanation between the two types of visits. I find it interesting that Giff Smith said that “It’s the time they spend at night with the players when the coaches aren’t around that’s most important.” I’d argue that one…
Tech alum
October 1st, 2009
1:36 pm
Dkchap, you’d have a helluva hard time arguing that point. Giff Smith is right on with that statement.
Tom
October 1st, 2009
2:02 pm
3rd
CONCERNED
October 1st, 2009
2:04 pm
Said Smith: “I go back to when [junior DE] Derrick Morgan came in [from Coatesville, Pa]. That was the first time he’d been on campus and been out in Atlanta at night. It’s the time they spend at night with the players when the coaches aren’t around that’s most important.”
AKA, CHEETAH CLUB COME ON GIFF, WERE NOT STUPID, WATCH OUT FOR THE PANHANDLERS AND THUGS ROAMING THE STREETS THOUGH.
A real Bulldog
October 1st, 2009
2:14 pm
Georgia is having a large number or recruits this week-end and Georgia has encouraged some to come for the Auburn game instead for official visits. Some of these recruits want to see both Georgia and LSU. All the recruits from Georgia are coming but not on an official visit. Most of these guys will come after the season is over for an official visit. I am so thankful there are so many guys that we want that are very interested in the Dawgs.
BuzzGT
October 1st, 2009
2:15 pm
I remember hearing Ryan Stewart talk about the importance of night life in a recruits choice of college on his radio show. He said that he chose GT over Notre Dame because of the lack of night life in South Bend Indiana. He said that his host at ND game him his spending money and told him to that there really wasn’t anything to do at night in South Bend. Needless to say, he had a different experience on his trip to the ATL.
CONCERNED
October 1st, 2009
2:16 pm
Said Smith: “I go back to when [junior DE] Derrick Morgan came in [from Coatesville, Pa]. That was the first time he’d been on campus and been out in Atlanta at night. It’s the time they spend at night with the players when the coaches aren’t around that’s most important.”
AKA, BONE SHAKERS IN ATHENS! YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU COME TO VISITS TO THE TRAILER PARK ATHENS. NOTHING LIKE A GAY UGA CLUB.
dawg
October 1st, 2009
2:29 pm
interesting, concerned #2 must really be saint simons. I was not aware of any gay clubs in athens but is sure sounds like you do and you keep up with it. Enjoy your next visit.
The Truth
October 1st, 2009
2:42 pm
Tech Lies and Cheats and Everyone knows it. I bet the Lies really fly on those official visits. I know many times some cash finds it’s way around and is given to recruits at schools like GA Tech and Tennessee. I would never consider going to GA Tech if I was a big time player. Never! Any other school would be a better choice.
Money Accusations? LOL
October 1st, 2009
2:50 pm
You don’t know your ass from you face, douche.
GA Tech Insider
October 1st, 2009
3:02 pm
CONCERNED & The Truth:
Grow up you two babies. This is big boy football and we’re talking about GA Tech in downtown Atlanta under the most scrutiny in the world – CNN right in their own back yard.
Giff Smith is one of the top recruiters in the nation and doesn’t need any advice from any anyone and GA Tech’s football program can be sold on its own merits, thank you very much. Just ream what Kareem said in his interview while on campus with his parents and you’ll get some semblance of the pitch – 1 out of every 6 GA Tech graduates is a millionaire, it boasts of some of the top educational programs in the world, it’s steeped in some of college footballs deepest traditions and history, and the program is in good hands and is on the rise.
The players are looked at as a total person, not just as a player, so they’ll be prepared for a life outside of football, and they are welcomed into the GA Tech family which is a lifetime membership.
Regardless of whether players become injured, decide to transfer, are walk-ons, or never play a down of varsity ball at GA Tech, they will always be members of the GA Tech family, and, believe it or not, some student athletes and their families actually find all of the attributes that I listed, above, as the deciding factors as to why GA Tech is the best option for them to continue their athletic and scholastic careers. It has nothing to do with any illegal, or immoral, reason, regardless of what any of you babies try to claim. Perhaps it may with your team, but I can assure you, it doesn’t with GA Tech.
Dave H.
October 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
…And 5 out of 6 GA Tech grads are pompous, have-to-buy-wives d-bags.
Gator Bob
October 1st, 2009
3:56 pm
1 out of 6 GT grads a millionaire? Haha, good one. Is that American dollars?
tycpip
October 1st, 2009
4:06 pm
1 out of 6 GT grads a millionaire? Don’t forget to mention the “72 Virgins” thing also.
SEC1
October 1st, 2009
4:12 pm
and the rest…
2 out of 6 GT grads are terrorists
3 out of 6 GT grads live with their parents in a dark basement
4 out of 6 GT grads have never been to Bobby Dodd stadium
5 out of 6 GT grads are virgins
6 out of 6 GT grads are nerds
LizDawg
October 1st, 2009
4:12 pm
I bet Tech has to send bodyguards to keep the players from getting mugged and/or shot while walking around the campus/Techwood area. You wouldn’t catch me down there after dark for love nor money!
Rhino
October 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
Hope you’re right about the millionaire thing. My son is second year at Tech. He also mentions how he’s never seen a football player in class or on campus. Interesting.
1-800-TECH-TIX
October 1st, 2009
4:23 pm
Please!!!!! Anyone?????
Hal
October 1st, 2009
4:29 pm
This column is really funny. You guys are a trip.
Wow
October 1st, 2009
4:36 pm
Millionaire engineers???? Never, ever met one. An engineer will pull in roughly $44K right out of college and end his/her career making about $165K on the high end. Get real.
C'mon
October 1st, 2009
4:37 pm
Millionaire engineers?
mick6701
October 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
Average starting salary for GT graduate $59k.
Average starting salary for UGA graduate $44k.
Whatelse needs to be said. Which school is better academically?
Old Dawg
October 1st, 2009
4:51 pm
The upside to a Tech degree:
You get to design the next Star Ship Enterprise (but no intellectual or monetary rights to the completed project)
You know all the dialects of Klingon
Constant nightmares from watching Klingon version of Girls gone wild
Hash mark is for baggy content
Diploma is wrapped in space shuttle pajamas
Varsity letter is a greasy spoon receipt and not an athletic accomplishment
Streetwise is on core curriculum and not native intelligence
Checkoff is roommate’s name
Never know more than 10 girls until admitted to nursing home
Spoilers are car ornaments and not up-and-coming teams
mick6701
October 1st, 2009
4:51 pm
Engineers were pulling in $44k straight out of college 15 years ago.
You don’t have a clue about what you are talking about.
mick6701
October 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
college graduate starting salaries by university.
http://www.payscale.com/best-colleges/top-us-colleges-graduate-salary-statistics.asp
Not Disappointed
October 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
“WoW” I don’t know where you went to school. But some Engineers make millions. Believe what you want, but there’s alot of money for different engineers. This bridge problem across the US is working us overtime. It’s one of the reason why we expanded in the SE. Like Forrest Gump, “That’s all I’m going to say about that!”
Ramblin Wreck!
Not Disappointed
October 1st, 2009
5:04 pm
Old Dog is a funny blogger. I will give you that.
Ramblin on.
Ramblin Wreck!
mick6701
October 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
I have attended both university – and have a degree from both universities. There is no comparison between the two (GT is much more difficult).
And Would you rather hang out at the Odessey every night (Athens) or hangout in Virginia Highlands, Cresent Ave, L5Pts, East Atlanta or Buckhead?
Not a tough choice.
CBW
October 1st, 2009
5:24 pm
No offense to you, mick, but I too have degrees from both universities. I couldn’t tell the difference in either, academically, except my landscape architecture program at UGA was much more interesting and respected than the arch. degree I got undergrad at Tech. And I know I’m not in the minority when I say that I’d rather spend an evening out in Athens, than an evening out in Atlanta…Your comment really made me and several of my co-workers just scratch our heads and laugh. Tech students don’t go out in Va Highlands, btw. I’m not sure when you went to UGA (and i don’t believe you did or you’d know more about downtown), but you’re way off base comparing nightlife/college town feel. Athens is famous for its nightlife.
Old Dawg
October 1st, 2009
5:26 pm
mick6701: Actually, I know GT pretty well. My dad got a Master’s there and both of my brothers have engineering degrees from GT and Auburn. Come Thanksgiving and Christmas, the discussion around the table was usually on stress functions, the possibility of magnetic train travel by the end of the 20th Century and how much human atoms would be scrambled by a transporter.
When they finally asked me what I was up to, I had been covering SEC football, written free lance pieces on SEC and ACC cheerleaders, new golf courses on Hilton Head and college recruiting scandals.
Guess what my dad and brothers wanted to talk about? It certainly wasn’t stress functions.
Alabama Jack
October 1st, 2009
5:38 pm
Its like General Patton said.” If you go to Tech, when your grandkids ask you where you went to school to prepare you for life, you don’t have to say you studied bovine excrement all day and picked up trash on Saturday nights at the north Campus.”
what it's worth
October 1st, 2009
5:43 pm
Athens does have a great college atmosphere, I’ll give you that…I actually love both towns, went to Tech married a UGA girl. I liked hanging out in Athens better when I was in college and now prefer Atlanta. UGA is a very good school but Tech is better. UGA does have a better parks and recreation program than Tech. Tech is a serious engineering school. You can’t understand how hard it is unless you actually experienced it. Which is why Tech grads, especially the ones who speak English are so successful…common you know it’s true.
BigMike Said....
October 1st, 2009
6:19 pm
This is today, tomorrow, and forever DAWG NATION DEAL WITH IT!!!!!
CT_Jacket
October 1st, 2009
6:45 pm
I thought that this was a sports article. Why is everyone making comments about salaries and nightlife? It seems like the comments after every post degrade into the same childishness.
I cheer for Tech in every game and in every sport and I pull for every team in every sport that plays against Georgia. But I still recognize that Georgia has an excellent athletics program like most of the teams in the SEC and I wish that Tech could be more consistent with its success.
I think that the jury is still out on Paul Johnson’s offense. I think that to compete on a national level, he’ll have to get players that are wanted on a national level. You can’t coach speed. While we may beat some fast teams that are not disciplined, I think that the talent gap was very evident in the LSU and Miami games. The best teams, Florida, Texas Oklahoma, etc. have speed and are disciplined. As long as the talent gap exists, I think that Tech will, on average, be good, just not great. But, as a fan, I’ll be happy with great every now and then.
mick6701
October 1st, 2009
6:48 pm
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed my time in Athens (I lived a couple blocks off Milledge, behind the Lamda chi house in case you are interested CBW). The variety of things to do and places to go in Atlanta far outweighs what Athens has to offer. If you are into that small town thing – more power to you.
And yes, GaTech students do leave campus occasionally – geeez.
raoul75
October 1st, 2009
6:51 pm
… and be proud that your beloved UGA was ranked only two places below Fashion Institute of Technology – really. Never heard of it but their grads earn more on average than UGA’s. Oh yeah, UF, Auburn, Alabama and Clemson are above UGA on the salary list, too.
Jack G.
October 1st, 2009
9:48 pm
I started grammer school (thats what it was called in 1929) 80 YEARS AGO. There was a lot of mouthing trying to impress the other kids. The old my dad can beat your dad, your mom wears army boots etc. All I can say is nothing has changed the juveniles are still mouthing off.
All of this name calling derogatorry remarks and boasting is embarassing both to Tech and GA. Both are fine universities and deserve better.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 1st, 2009
10:01 pm
Raoul go back across the border before they find you.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 1st, 2009
10:03 pm
Heh – AJC why are you badmouthing UGA because they are only having a few more official visits. They only have about 3 scholarships left – why do they need 2 dozen offical visits to show up -dummies.
JoeFann
October 1st, 2009
10:17 pm
Gee. In all those years, I would have thought that Tech had more than six graduates. I guess one was bound to be a millionaire.
Go Dawgs!
2BT
October 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
I accidentally stepped on a hyperdermic needle on the campus of Clarke Central High School while tailgating at a UGA game once. I now have a 3rd testicle. Thanks UGA! Trashy school, trashy campus.
JP
October 1st, 2009
10:50 pm
Enter your comments here
I graduated from UGA and make $12,500 a year as a mall security guard at Georgia Square Mall…who says a degree from UGA ain’t worth nuthin!!
GO BUTTDAWGS!!!
Michael Dawgs for life
October 2nd, 2009
12:52 am
I have been to the tech campus at night and trust me you that is not some place a little asian GT student to be walking around. UGA is tougher to get into than GT anyways.
Check this out
October 2nd, 2009
12:56 am
Last year UGA had Fulbright, Rhodes and Truman scholars. First time a school has ever had all three in one academic year. We have more Rhodes and Fulbright’s in the last two years than Tech has in the entire history of it’s wretched, overrated existence. Engineers simply use CAD machines now, anyway so don’t tell me how smart you have to be to go to Tech…anyone remember Tyrone Sorrells? Flunked out of UGA, graduated from Tech. Of course, Tech can claim Jimmy Carter.
BigDawg
October 2nd, 2009
2:08 am
GT Bloggers,
You are pitiful. Let’s take a look at the comparisons. GT, lovely campus, great Greek houses, no crime, NOT! GT stadium, downsized and still hard to get a sellout in one of the largest metro areas in the U.S. Engineers, ha! Columns obstrucing the view in a SMALL stadium, no such problem in Athens with a stadium capacity more than twice as much with sellouts every game and a large “contribution fee” for the rights to buy season tickets. No Varsity meal deal with free tickets to the game. Astroturf? Gotta keep the homecoming queen (if a girl or guy) from grazing during halftime. Employment? Okay, work for somebody else rather than having your own business. Olympics in ATL, all UGA grads made that happen. Tradition? Ok, GT won one of last eight games against UGA. Mascots? Dawgs pee on trash can and yellow jackets hang around trash cans. Rankings? Ok, check out UGA end of season rankings over past 10 years compared to UGA! Number of NFL players from GT vs. UGA, laughable!!
Pull on my Johnson and his old school triple option worked well in his first season, how is it doing now? Ask Miami. As they said, if it was so great, everyone would be doing it. Of course, at GT, few people are doing it, unless you count Saint Simons blogger who is doing it online and with who knows else!
GT bloggers, just admit it. UGA is so superior to GT in so many different ways it makes your small parts sad!
Go you BIGDAWGS!
Ciao envious ones, I too would be envious if I went to the equivalent of a Division 2 school with a schedule of ACC pansies.
Golden White
October 2nd, 2009
7:22 am
jimmy carter ?…….
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo !
Yeah, I thought Jimmy Carter...
October 2nd, 2009
7:59 am
was a Navy grad?!??!!! –
And, BigDawg, while most of your points are valid, you lose points for not knowing that when Tech downsized the stadium they did away with the columns that obstructed the views. And, Tech also has a “contribution fee” – if you want to buy fairly good seats – but you are correct that you can buy some tickets without paying that fee.
Well, DUH...
October 2nd, 2009
8:03 am
Chip must be a moron to write this article – Tech has ONE scholly left and UGA 2 or 3, so not many recruits can be invited. Here’s a quarter Chip, buy a clue!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
October 2nd, 2009
8:36 am
I hate to see UGA right behind the Fashion Institute of Technology, Augsburb U, and Chapman U. Hell even Devry earns more the first year, heads will roll I tell you, heads will roll
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
October 2nd, 2009
8:40 am
Check This Out, not a nerd but I don’t think they give out those scholars to engineers, just saying, they ain’t going to change the world or find a cure for the common cold.
Carter went to both Tech and Navy. I didn’t know Tech had a agi dept.
Vick=Dog killing thug
October 2nd, 2009
9:16 am
Dawgs pee on trash can and yellow jackets hang around trash cans.
Hahaha love it
Halberstram
October 2nd, 2009
9:40 am
This is lame, both schools are great academically and offer different experiences. I’d be proud to say I want to either school.
shards1967
October 2nd, 2009
9:59 am
Tech HONOR students:
Jim Lavin, Kevin Mooney, Kevin Salisbury, Reuben Houston, Tarrant and Joey Hamilton, Eddie Lee Ivory and QB McShan ………..elite crowd but would you want to allow your 18 year old daughter alone with them for say 45 seconds??? Nope.
Names for Techers to be proud of. Most of you bloggers are too young to recall the beat down incident on N Avenue in the 90s with a small girl ( she fought hard ) and the three names above.
Don’t start with that Tech is the right stuff crap.
Go Dawgs!
LSU is next(for Florida)
October 2nd, 2009
9:25 pm
Top recruiting classes as of today:
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Georgia
That National Title does wonders for recruiting
Georgia Native
October 3rd, 2009
9:04 am
Atlanta rocks. The most amazing thing about Athens is that “it’s inhabited!” Seriously though, both UGA and GT are great schools.
southgeorgiadog
October 3rd, 2009
11:19 am
Hey shards,
I think it was MIKE Mooney, who beat up the girl and then started for Tech for four years on the OL. Not only did the girl get beat up, but she got her face re-arranged.
Don’t forget we have Tico Brown and Sammy Drummond leading the way from Tech’s basketball team. I wonder if they’re millionaires.
I’m sure all of these guys are in Tech’s Hall of Fame.
Saint Simons
October 4th, 2009
10:15 am
Khairi Fortt of Stamford, Ct., says UGA hosts abandoned him on official visit | AJC College Sports Recruiting
October 5th, 2009
3:32 pm
[...] sidebar made me think about what Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator Giff Smith told me last week regarding the importance of official visits. He said it’s his job to get the recruits to [...]