Nov. 24, 2010
TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
Welcome to an abbreviated version of The Good Word this time around as I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving. I know we are all excited about seeing family and friends as we all have much to be thankful for.
Jackets Bowl Eligible for 14th Straight Year
Congratulations to Paul Johnson and our football team for the victory over Duke last Saturday and gaining a slot in our 14th consecutive bowl game. Only Florida State, Florida and Virginia Tech have longer streaks of consecutive bowl appearances. You’ll be receiving information on our destination and how to be a part of the experience as soon as our bowl is finalized…which could be early next week.
Saturday Night Showdown
Before we get to all that, though, we have an appointment over in Athens on Saturday night. This should be a great ballgame, as has been the history of this rivalry, and I’m sure the atmosphere will be “lively.” Game time is 7:45 and is nationally-televised on ESPN.
Fans, we still have a few remaining tickets for Saturday’s game, available online only at www.ramblinwreck.com/tickets. Once purchased, those tickets can be picked up Saturday after 5:45 p.m. at Sanford Stadium’s Gate 5.
Basketball Teams on the Road
The holiday week won’t slow down our other sports for long either. Both basketball programs are on the road this week – the women in a tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the men at the Legends Classic in Atlantic City.
What a sensational afternoon we spent last Sunday as more than 7,000 fans – an all-time Georgia Tech women’s basketball record – filled Alexander Memorial Coliseum for the visit by Maya Moore and the UConn Huskies. The event offered a great atmosphere, lots of fun and great basketball. We hope to see more great crowds throughout this season as our ladies bid for their fourth straight NCAA appearance. They’ll take on Georgetown, Tennessee and Missouri in the Virgin Islands event. Not exactly a peaceful and relaxing visit to the Islands for MaChelle Joseph and her team. Fans can watch all the action online for a small fee at this link: www.fcsbroadband.com/pjwomens2010.asp.
The men’s team faces UTEP Friday night at 5:30 p.m. and either Michigan or Syracuse on Saturday. The consolation game Saturday is at 5:30 with the championship game at 8. Live national TV of both Tech games is available in high definition only on HDNet. Fans who wish to see the game live should contact their cable or satellite provider to sign up for HDNet. Information on whether your provider carries HDNet can be found at the following link: http://www.hd.net/watch_at_home.html,
Volleyball Finale – Senior Night
Here on the home front, Friday night would be a great opportunity to join Tonya Johnson’s volleyball team for its final home match against Clemson. It’s Senior Night with the match scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at O’Keefe Gymnasium. We will salute our departing seniors Jordan McCullers and Mary Ashley Tippins.
Great Basketball Ticket Opportunity
Men’s basketball Atlantic Coast Conference packs are on sale now. We have made a White Pack and a Gold Pack available for Yellow Jacket basketball fans.
The ACC White Pack will feature the first four games of the ACC home schedule (North Carolina – Jan. 16, Wake Forest – Jan. 19, Virginia Tech – Jan. 25 and Maryland – Jan. 30). The ACC Gold Pack includes the last four games of the ACC home schedule (Clemson – Feb. 5, Florida State – Feb. 10, Virginia – Feb. 23 and Miami – March 6). Tech Fund sections are $140 per pack; non-Tech Fund sections are $130 per pack. Tickets for single-game non-conference home men’s basketball games (excluding Georgia) are still on sale and are priced at $20 per ticket. Groups of 10 or more are $10 per ticket.
The Georgia game December 7 is currently available through the purchase of the Blue Pack. Priced at $60 for non-Tech Fund sections and $70 for Tech Fund sections, the Blue Pack features the Georgia game as well as your choice of two additional non-conference home games.
Georgia single-game tickets will go on sale on Monday (Nov. 29) at 8:30 a.m. and are priced at $30 and $40 per ticket depending on location.
To get in on these great ticket deals go to www.ramblinwreck.com/tickets.
Orange Duffel Bag Event
I hope you all remember the story of former Tech football player Sam Bracken who authored a sensational book based on his life called My Orange Duffel Bag. This book and the resulting Orange Duffel Bag Foundation has been the impetuous for many great programs involving foster children and at-risk youth in Georgia. Georgia Tech’s First Lady Val Peterson is chairing the first ODBF fundraising event at a spectacular estate…Sterling Hall, a couple of doors down from the Governor’s mansion on Sunday December 5th from 7-10 p.m.
This event will include an exhibit of the “Clothing of the Future” from the Georgia Tech College of Computing as well as an opportunity to tour this magnificent estate and meet Sam Bracken personally. I know many of our donors and alumni would be interested in attending this event which focuses on improving education for at-risk youth and homeless kids. Plus, having the opportunity of enjoying an evening with Bud and Val Peterson is an added bonus.
For more information or how to purchase tickets to this event go to www.orangeduffelbagfoundation.org/.
Turkey Bowl Trot
The Georgia Tech chapter of Sigma Nu will be competing against the University of Georgia chapter in the “Turkey Bowl Trot” Friday. In short, this is a relay race and competition, all in an effort to raise money for a good cause – the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Sigma Nu members will begin running, simultaneously, from their respective campuses. It’s a 40-mile foot race to the courthouse steps in Lawrenceville, Ga. The two chapters, while rivals on the field, recognize the lack of donations that are going towards research hospitals and have decided to support St. Jude’s. If you would like to contribute to either chapter please contact Shane Sandridge at 404-909-5131 or by mail at shane.sandridge@gmail.com.
The competition involves a number of categories: number of runners, time it takes to reach the halfway point, and most importantly, dollar amount donated to St. Jude’s. The Tech Gamma Alpha’s need your help. Donate a minimum of $100 and receive your name or company name on our shirt.
Thankful
As I close this Thanksgiving edition of The Good Word, I’d like to say that my family and I remain honored to be here at Georgia Tech and to have the privilege to working with exemplary and inspirational student-athletes, coaches and colleagues. I’m thankful that you, our great fans, continue to support Georgia Tech Athletics in so many ways. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Now, let’s go get after those Dogs!!!
