Nov. 9, 2006
TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
In recent editions of The Good Word, I have been affording all of our friends and supporters an inside look at the business side of our athletic program at Georgia Tech. For those of you who may have taken the time to delve into the financials that appeared as an attachment two weeks ago, you may have noticed a rather disturbing trend – that of a steadily declining fund-balance. This fund-balance represents the money that is in our “checkbook,” so to speak, at the close of each fiscal year.
When I arrived at Georgia Tech last April, I felt a responsibility to do some exhaustive research into our budget trends and to explore our business model to insure that we will remain not only solvent and fiscally responsible in the coming years, but to also remain competitive both in the ACC and nationally. Having spent many years on the business side of college athletics, I fully realize the importance of creating a model that supports long-term stability and insures that we will be able to provide the goods and services necessary to flourish in the fiercely competitive world in which we operate.
That being said, you may also have read this week in the AJC excerpts from some remarks I made in a talk to the Atlanta Touchdown Club with regard to this business paradigm shift. Simply stated, we absolutely must create consistent streams of revenue on an annual basis that will first and foremost stop the alarming trend that will soon lead us into deficit; but also to give us the best opportunity to continue on the path to sustained excellence.
In the coming weeks I will be sharing with you our road map to the future. We are in the final stages of developing a four-pronged plan that will create the financial foundation for Georgia Tech Athletics. Our own efficiency and fiscal responsibility within the athletic department has been a priority since my arrival. In addition, our plan will call for a shared investment in our product with increased financial involvement from the Institute itself, from Georgia Tech students and finally from our season ticket-holders in preferred seating locations. While I realize that change is never easy, I urge you to understand the complexity of what is at stake as we share this path with you very soon.
It is my sincere hope that you, as true Georgia Tech alumni and friends, will take the time to understand and embrace the importance of this critical initiative as more information and details are finalized. In the meantime, I urge you to enjoy the meteoric success of our 2006 football team, nationally ranked men’s basketball team and all of our hard-working student-athletes and coaches across the board.
SENIOR DAY
Hopefully many of you will be making the trip to Chapel Hill for Saturday’s football game – wear your gold and be loud and proud! Even more importantly, we really need a tremendous crowd for our final home game on Nov. 18 versus Duke. We will conduct our Senior Day ceremony during pregame, so I encourage you to be in your seats early and give these young men the proper send-off. We will also be honoring our College World Series baseball team at halftime.
POSTSEASON FOOTBALL
All season ticket holders should have received information on postseason football tickets, both for the ACC Championship game and potential bowl games. Be sure to get your orders in as soon as possible. You can even bring them with you to the Duke game and drop off at the Ticket Office that day. If you have any questions about how to apply, please email ticket manager Scott McLaren at smclaren@athletics.gatech.edu .
HOOPS SEASON IS HERE!
Basketball season arrives with a bang – five games in seven days, beginning Friday with a men’s and women’s doubleheader. We’re all excited about the potential of both squads and we look foward to an exciting winter at the Thrillerdome.
If you are coming to the men’s game Friday, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. against Elon, arrive early and watch the women’s team take on Mercer, beginning at 6 p.m. There’s another men’s game Monday, and then a second men’s and women’s doubleheader next Thursday.
For those of you who listen to our men’s basketball games on the radio, please be reminded that in addition to our flagship station, WQXI-AM 790 the Zone, night games are also available on WREK-FM 91.1. In Cobb County/Nothwest Atlanta, WTSH-FM 107.1 also provides coverage for all men’s games.
Congratulations to Paul Hewitt and MaChelle Joseph on their outstanding recruiting classes!
Again, thank you for your positive response to “The Good Word.” We welcome your feedback at goodword@athletics.gatech.edu While I cannot guarantee a personal response to every email that we receive, please know that they will all be read, so I do encourage your continued participation in this process. Some of your questions could become topics for future issues of The Good Word.
I also encourage you to share this letter with any Tech fan who may not have access to the Internet. Our goal is to inform and engage as many Yellow Jacket supporters as we possibly can.
I want to personally thank you for your continued support of Georgia Tech Athletics as we move forward with our vision for excellence.
Go Jackets!
