Oct. 13, 2006
TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
Another great crowd for the win over Maryland! The atmosphere during the fourth quarter was tremendous, and I know that helped pull our team through. Thanks to all the Tech fans who are making Bobby Dodd Stadium such a home field advantage for the Yellow Jackets. It’s hard to believe we only have two home games left.
NEWS & NOTES
Our Student-Athlete Advisory Board would like to invite all Georgia Tech fans to participate in the annual Michael Isenhour Toy Drive. This year’s Toy Drive will take place at the Homecoming football game against Miami on Oct. 28. Fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game. Student-athletes will be collecting toys at all gates beginning 90 minutes prior to kickoff, and the toys will be donated to Children’s Heathcare of Atlanta.
Although the football team is off this weekend, there’s plenty going on around Georgia Tech. The volleyball team hosts a pair of ACC matches with North Carolina Friday and NC State Saturday, both beginning at 7 p.m. at O’Keefe Gym. Our men’s and women’s swimming programs begin their season by hosting a tri-meet with Boston College, Clemson and Miami Saturday at 12 noon at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. The softball team hosts a fall exhibition against North Georgia Sunday at 11 a.m.
Finally, this weekend marks the official start of practice for men’s and women’s basketball. Next weekend, fans are invited to HoopsFest on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 5-7 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The men’s and women’s teams will scrimmage, and both teams will be available for photos and autographs.
A SPECIAL THANKS
I am very pleased to announce that the project to totally renovate the men’s and women’s basketball practice facility and locker room area has gotten off to a great start with a $3.75 million commitment from Steve & Judy Zelnak. The Zelnaks have also made a planned giving provision in their estate plans to Georgia Tech athletics and the A-T Fund for an additional $5+ million. This commitment is obviously a tremendous boost to our program and specifically the basketball facility. More information about this particular $15 million project will be forthcoming. Please join me in thanking Steve and Judy.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
I’ve been promising you more information regarding the finances of the athletics department. We are in need of a business model change. Click here to view financial data from the last three fiscal years as well as a projection for 2007 as of Sept. 30, 2006.
As you can see, we are not moving in the right direction. After analysis, it is clear there are four stakeholders in addressing this problem:
1. The Athletic Association;
2. The Investors (ticket holders and contributors);
3. The Students; and
4. The Institute
It is incumbent upon my staff and I to work each day to cut costs and maximize efficiences. I pledge that we are doing that every day.
Within the next few weeks, we will specifically address our plan for how the Investors can play a role in helping us move forward.
The Students and the Institute are large stakeholders as well. For a comparison of Georgia Tech relative to our peers in the ACC, click here and view the figures for Institutional and Student support at our conference schools. We are formulating plans and creating dialogue between these two groups that bring us more line with our conference peers.
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!
