TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
This edition of The Good Word comes to you earlier than normal as I wanted to have an opportunity to communicate with you prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. I certainly want to take the opportunity to wish you a pleasant Thanksgiving and hope time spent with family and friends is enjoyable and happy. As Georgia Tech fans, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for this year! Of course, our day of thanks will come and go quickly as we prepare for our Saturday night showdown with Georgia.
Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to attend night football at Bobby Dodd Stadium understands that in the world of sports, there are not many places better. There is a magical transformation that overtakes this historic place when the sun goes down and the lights come on. Certainly, this Saturday night will be one very special opportunity for all those lucky enough to have tickets in hand. And while there is no one that enjoys our night time ritual more than me, I feel compelled to ask your cooperation on a few things.
First, let’s get into the stadium early. Please make an effort to leave plenty of time to enter the stadium as the crowds will be expansive and the bag-check process will take a little time. We ask your patience at the gates and an early entry will assure a smooth process.
Also, let me recount to you how many of our fans have commented to me this year on how well they have been treated when we have visited other schools. Oh, I know there are always the stories of rude, insensitive fans who have disrupted the visit in some way or another, but honestly, I have heard more positive feedback this year than I can remember. That is why I am really hoping that despite the intense rivalry, our Georgia Tech fans will go the extra mile and respect our opponents on Saturday. Please be aware of those folks around you and show the respect to allow them to enjoy the game.
Also, should a situation arise that you feel requires the attention of our security personnel, please call our Fan Assistance Hot Line at 678-429-1413. You will be able to alert our game operations staff of the issue. It’s a good idea to keep this number in your phone. However, it is our hope that it will not be necessary.
So important is this issue that we have spent a good bit of time the last few weeks with factions across the Tech campus to develop a unified message. This is being delivered on several fronts. Georgia Tech President Dr. Bud Peterson and UGA President Dr. Michael Adams teamed up on a sportsmanship video presentation, (click here to view the video). Our own Roddy Jones is serving as the spokesman for our football team and he has also produced a fan behavior video (click here to view Roddy’s video). Roddy also wrote a letter to the editor which is appearing in the on-line version of the campus newspaper The Technique. (click here to view Roddy’s letter).
Even Coach Paul Johnson got into the act by penning an e-mail that was sent to thousands of Georgia Tech alumni as well as the entire campus community of students, faculty and staff (click here to view Coach Johnson’s e-mail to Georgia Tech fans). There can be no doubt that our theme is sportsmanship and respect.
Having said that, it is perfectly fine and much needed for you to scream and yell in support of our Jackets at the top of your lungs. What we need to create here is an incredibly loud, fun and supportive atmosphere that will help cheer our team to victory. As Tech fans, I know we can dial it up in the right way. We’re counting on you guys to make Saturday night a fun and memorable experience for everyone in attendance.
Not trying to get ahead of ourselves, but thanks to all of you who have ordered postseason tickets. The deadline for priority seating at the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game in Tampa, and our ensuing bowl game passed on Monday, but that doesn’t mean we’re not still madly selling tickets for the postseason fun. We already have orders through our ticket office for more than 9,000 tickets to the ACC game and we’re aware of thousands more who have secured tickets through other sources. It’s going to be a hot time in Tampa come December 4-5.
Remember, although the priority deadline for A-T donors has passed, both ACC Championship Game tickets and bowl orders are still available on line at www.ramblinwreck.com/bowl. We are continuing to take orders for postseason play and the process is quick and easy. We need you to follow the Jackets into the postseason!
One last thought heading into the weekend. I hope many of you will have the opportunity to come out and catch our men’s basketball team in action on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. as Paul Hewitt’s team takes on the Mercer Bears at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum in the Henry F. McCamish, Jr., Basketball Complex. Congratulations to the Jackets for winning two of three games down in Puerto Rico last weekend.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving and I’ll see you all on the Flats this weekend!
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