April 5, 2007
TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
It is truly hard to believe that I have just reached the end of a full year as Director of Athletics at Georgia Tech. It goes without saying that it has been a very busy 12 months, filled with many gratifying moments and much success. It’s very humbling to realize my good fortune to accompany our teams to the College World Series, a New Year’s Day Bowl game, both men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments and to be part of the host Institution for the Final Four. These accomplishments and many others too numerous to mention in this short space are a tribute to the dedicated men and women who comprise our coaching and support staffs and especially to those who represent Georgia Tech as student-athletes.
I realize the year has also brought about many changes within our organization and in its policies and procedures that affect you, our fans, alumni and supporters. I have sincerely appreciated the dialogue that has accompanied, for example, the implementation of the TECH Fund. It has been my express goal to keep the readers of “The Good Word” in the loop, as it were, on the changing landscape here at Georgia Tech. We have made great strides in laying out a concise strategic plan that we believe will ensure the stability and continued success of this great program that is so special to all of us.
I want to thank each and every one of you for a wonderful first year. I have had the opportunity to personally meet or correspond with many of you, and I look forward to getting to know many more Tech supporters in the coming year. I want you all to know that our staff and I continue to work unceasingly to provide a first rate athletic program in every way. As we continue to tell the world: At Georgia Tech, Class is In! I am honored to be a part of this great and historic Institution and look forward, with your support and encouragement, to advancing many more initiatives in the coming weeks and months.
SUCCESSFUL FINAL FOUR
We can all be very proud of the role that Georgia Tech played in putting on such a successful Final Four for the city of Atlanta. The Georgia Tech staff devoted many, many hours over the last few years to planning and staging this great event, and the results were obvious not only to the 55,000 people who witnessed the games in person, but to the entire nation.
FOOTBALL SPRING SCRIMMAGE HIGHLIGHTS BIG WEEKEND
Football spring practice culminates this weekend with our annual Spring Scrimmage, scheduled for 11 a.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field. Admission is free (enter via Gate 4) and free parking is available in Peter’s Parking Deck as well as the O’Keefe and AMC lots. We’ll have family activities in the Callaway Plaza from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the players will be available for autographs after the scrimmage.
After the scrimmage, stay around and watch our softball and men’s tennis teams. The softball team, ranked 24th in the nation, hosts Florida State in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Glenn Field. The men’s tennis team faces 11th-ranked Wake Forest at 2 p.m. at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. Admission is free for both events.
GOLF HOSTS U.S. COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Our golf team hosts the U.S. Collegiate Championship next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta. Fast becoming one of the college golf’s premier events, this year’s tournament features 10 of the top 14 teams in the nation and eight of the top 12 individuals, including our own Roberto Castro. Tech will host the NCAA East Regional on the same course, May 17-19.
Visit the U.S. Collegiate Championship website for more information, including directions to the Golf Club of Georgia.
BASEBALL GETS ROLLING
Our baseball team has won seven straight games and 11 of the last 13 heading into this weekend’s ACC series at Miami. All three games will be televised as Tech and the Hurricanes play Friday at 7 p.m. on CSS, Saturday at 1 p.m. on FSN South, and Sunday at 1 p.m. on CSS. Radio coverage is available on WREK 91.1 FM.
Unfortunately, the way that our schedule set up this season, we only have seven home games remaining, including key ACC series against NC State (April 20-22) and Florida State (May 17-19). We also have three games against Georgia – at home on April 18, in Athens on May 9, and the annual charity game at Turner Field on April 24.
Congratulations to head coach Danny Hall, who recently earned his 800th career victory. Tech’s next win will be Coach Hall’s 600th with the Yellow Jackets.
TECH FUND UPDATE
The implementation of the TECH Fund continues to go well. Many of you took advantage of the three-payment plan, and now the April 13 deadline approaches for the one-payment plan as well as relocation requests.
As always, we welcome your feedback ( goodword@athletics.gatech.edu ). Please know that even if I’m not able to send a personal response to everyone, I do read each email, and I appreciate the support and passion of every Georgia Tech fan.
