TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
A Monumental Show of Support
I can’t help but open today’s Good Word with a big thank you to John and Mary Brock. Their generous gift – up to $3.5 million – announced this week, will provide untold assistance to our football program at Georgia Tech by jump-starting plans for an indoor practice facility at Rose Bowl Field on the Tech campus. John is chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises and has two degrees from Georgia Tech. John, Mary and their three children – John, Major and Rebecca – are avid supporters of our Yellow Jacket program as evidenced by this magnificent show of confidence and support. I encourage you to read the full story on the Brocks’ gift and the plans for the new facility.
Next Test
This week, our football team visits Chapel Hill for a showdown with the Tar Heels. I hope you can make the trip up I-85 for this great ACC match-up, but if not, you can catch us on the ACC Television Network or listen to the game on any of our radio affiliates throughout Georgia and across the south. If you live outside of our coverage area you can still listen to the games live utilizing the All-Access feature at www.ramblinwreck.com. Just click on the radio icon under the “Events” box and follow the instructions to sign up for All-Access. There is a charge for this live radio service.
Entry Process Corrections
I know we will be looking forward to our return to Bobby Dodd Stadium a week from Saturday to face NC State. I hope you have heard by now that we have made a number of changes and corrections to our gate entry process so as to avoid the kind of inconvenience and frustration that occurred at the season opener a couple of weeks back. Because of those issues, I felt it is important to give you an overview of corrections being made going forward.
• We have instructed the gate personnel to allow entry to the stadium in line with past practice. That is, regardless of the gate number listed on your ticket, you can enter the stadium at any gate.
• We have had extensive discussions the last 10 days with stadium operations and security personnel and have stressed the importance of presenting a helpful, welcoming attitude that reflects positively on Georgia Tech.
• We will add additional signage in and around the stadium to help patrons identify gate numbers and find directions to the various gates around the stadium.
• In consultation with the Georgia Tech Band, its performance on the Callaway Plaza steps will now begin 10 minutes earlier, at 40 minutes prior to kick-off. This will allow a more comfortable time period to enter the stadium prior to kick-off after the band’s traditional show.
• In addition to our ushers and security personnel, there are two contact numbers you may wish to keep handy should you experience any difficulties in the stadium. The Fan Assist Hotline is available to you at all times during game day at 678-429-1413. You can also text “JACKETS” (along with your issue and location) to 78247.
• We have also created a specific email account (gameops@gatech.edu) which will be monitored post-game for feedback on the performance of our staff, police, parking and contracted security group, Contemporary Services Corporation.
We feel confident that these changes will assist in the flow of fans into the stadium and resolve the problems experienced at the first game. Even with these corrections, some of you may still experience a delay in entering the stadium, specifically at the north end as this is a popular entrance. However, the return to past practice should assist in the entrance procedure.
Activity at NC State Game
The NC State game will bring about several significant efforts. First, it will be our annual Family Weekend, always a festive time on the Georgia Tech campus. Secondly, our Tech students have declared this game our annual Whiteout game. Nearly 10,000 specially designed white T-shirts will be distributed on campus and 15,000 white shakers will be seen in the stands at Bobby Dodd. Be sure to wear white on the 25th. Lastly, we will participate in the ACC’s Represent Promotion. The goal of this initiative is threefold: 1. To make sure our fans are connecting with the overall ACC Football brand; 2. To ensure that our fans know the 2010 ACC Football Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at 7:45 p.m. in Charlotte; 3. To emphasize that the Orange Bowl continues to be “Home to the ACC Champion.”
Also, while we know it is not the best situation, our ACC Television partners have negotiated the right to have some weeks during the season where they can wait until six days before a game to set the kickoff time. Our game next weekend is affected by that policy and our start time will be set on Sunday. Please check our web site or other media sources on Sunday afternoon for the latest information.
Kuch’s Krew
Jacket fans, we now have at least two great reasons to support The Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola coming up next week: Matt Kuchar and a Yellow Jacket Ticket Deal for next Thursday and Friday.
After collecting ten top-10 finishes during the regular season of the PGA TOUR and a win at The Barclays, the first stage of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedExCup, former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, and our great friend, Matt Kuchar will head into The Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola as the Tour’s FedExCup points leader. The tournament is held Sept. 22-26 at historic East Lake Golf Club. Following play on Friday, at 6:15 p.m., Atlanta residents and platinum-selling recording artists Collective Soul will perform a special concert at East Lake near the No. 6 green. All Friday ticketholders are invited to the show.
Join “Kuch’s Krew” and support one of our own as he chases the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus and states his case to become the Tour’s Player of the Year by purchasing tickets to the 2010 TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. As a Jacket fan you’ll get exclusive $30 savings on single-day tickets, Thursday and Friday, by using promo code JACKETS at https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=pgtoura&o=3043752&g=18.
Two Jackets Selected to State Hall of Fame
I want to congratulate two all-time great Yellow Jackets who were selected this week for induction into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Former football player Joe Delany and captain of our 1963 golf team Bill Ploeger will be inducted at a ceremony in Macon in 2011. The date of the event has not yet been determined. Joe is a long time resident of Atlanta who played football at Georgia Tech. Following his playing days, Delany became an SEC football official. In 30 years of officiating, he worked 20 bowl games — including the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls — and six national championship games. During his time with the SEC, Delany served in a variety of leadership roles and was asked to co-author the SEC Mechanics Manual of Football Officiating that is still in use today. Bill, a native of Brunswick, Ga., proved himself one of the state’s best golfers at every level of competition. As captain of Georgia Tech’s golf team in 1963, he was named an Honorable Mention All-American. Among the many golf tournaments that Ploeger won during his career are 11 Golden Isles Invitational championships. He went on to have a stellar career as a senior, playing in both the U.S. and British Senior Open and winning the 1999 U.S. Senior Amateur. He is a member of the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame and the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.
Volleyball In Clemson Tournament This Weekend
Coach Tonya Johnson’s volleyball team will play three matches this weekend at the Clemson Classic, starting with a match against ACC rival Clemson Friday night at 7 p.m. The Yellow Jackets return to action Saturday morning at 10 a.m. against Florida A&M, followed by a 7 p.m. meeting with Georgia State. Tech, 5-4 overall, kicks off ACC play at home on Sept. 24.
Women’s Tennis Hosting Tournament Friday-Sunday
The Georgia Tech women’s tennis team will host the Georgia Tech invitational Friday through Sunday at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. The Yellow Jackets will face opponents from Georgia, Oklahoma State and Yale in a three-day flighted tournament, which begins Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday’s matches will get underway at 10 a.m., while Sunday’s will commence at 9 a.m.
Cross Country Running In Athens This Evening
The men’s and women’s cross country teams are in action this evening (6:00 p.m.) in Athens – for a dual meet with the rival Georgia Bulldogs. Tonight’s meet is the last in-state race for the Yellow Jackets this fall.
