TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
First, I want to wish you all a very happy holiday. Certainly, the events in the world of Yellow Jacket athletics over the past few months have brought great tidings of joy to all of us. I think it is only fitting that we close out 2008 with the New Year’s Eve party of all time – ringing in the New Year with the Jackets at the Georgia Dome.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of you Georgia Tech fans who resoundingly responded to our selection to play LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl by snapping up our entire allotment of 17,500 tickets in just four days. We were even able to obtain a few thousand more tickets in order to fulfill the great demand. I know there are many more of you who have tickets to the game or will acquire them through other sources. I have no doubt that Yellow Jackets fans will create a great atmosphere in the Georgia Dome on New Year’s Eve.
Our ticket staff is busy fulfilling your orders, and tickets will be sent out by UPS second-day delivery by the close of business tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 20). Your package should also contain a Chick-fil-A Bowl Guide with information on all of the activities and events. In addition, Georgia Tech and ISP have produced a Bowl Fan Guide specific to the Yellow Jackets, our season, our highlights, award winners and our participation in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Those will be available in various places around Atlanta.
While we couldn’t be more pleased with the response of our fans, I have one further request of you that I feel is one of the most important I have put forth on behalf of Georgia Tech. It is absolutely imperative that our fans participate in the Chick-fil-A Bowl activities leading up to the game itself. On game day there is a parade in downtown Atlanta and the Chick-fil-A Bowl Fan Fest will be held all afternoon on the 31st at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Our Georgia Tech Alumni Association is holding a tailgate party at the World Congress Center and there is a Team Walk – similar to our own Yellow Jacket Alley — in which both teams begin their trek from the Fan Fest area and wind their way over to the Dome for the game. We need to show our support by having a huge crowd at these afternoon festivities, get into the Dome early and be loud as we show our colors proudly in our home town and in front of a huge national television audience.
There are also special hotel and entertainment packages that the Chick-fil-A Bowl folks have arranged for Yellow Jacket fans. I urge you to visit this link for information on all of the downtown opportunities and specials.
The bottom line is that this appearance will not be complete if we all just plan to show up for the game alone. Georgia Tech’s whole-hearted participation is a must as we position ourselves for bowl games in future years. We have an absolute golden opportunity to take over the city of Atlanta this holiday season, but we need your commitment to the cause and your presence downtown. I have no doubt that our players and coaches can count on you to paint the town gold.
GET THEM WHILE THEY LAST
We learned today (Thursday) that the Chick-fil-A Bowl is releasing 700 premium tickets not previously available. The tickets being offered are premium sideline locations in the Club Level and Lower Level seating areas. Officials are directing ticket buyers to the Bowl’s Web site — www.Chick-fil-ABowl.com — or to Ticketmaster.com for access to the added ticket inventory.
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL CELEBRATION IS SATURDAY
All Georgia Tech fans are encouraged to come out Saturday (Dec. 20) and participate in the first of the Chick-fil-A Bowl Activities at Spirit Day. There will be plenty of games and activities for kids of all ages and Georgia Tech door prizes for those in attendance.
What: Chick-fil-A Bowl Spirit Day
When: Saturday (Dec. 20), 2-3 p.m.
Where: Chick-fil-A restaurant at 1942 Howell Mill Road
Who: Georgia Tech pep band, Gold Rush dance team, Buzz the mascot, and more
MEN’S BASKETBALL OFF TO WEST COAST
Coach Paul Hewitt’s team looked good in Wednesday night’s 20-point win over Georgia State. The Yellow Jackets are off to California today where they will play at Pepperdine Saturday (5 p.m. Eastern) and at Southern California on Monday (10:30 p.m.). You can listen to both games on the Georgia Tech/ISP Radio Network. Tech will return home for a pair of games in late December, including the ACC opener Dec. 28 against Virginia (5:30 p.m.)
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IN TOP 25
Coach MaChelle Joseph’s squad is flying high at 8-2 and ranked in the Associated Press top 25 for just the second time in 15 years. The Yellow Jackets are currently in the Bahamas, where they will play Winthrop tonight at 6 p.m. and either Memphis or Texas-Arlington on Saturday. On December 30, Tech will host Florida A&M at 6 p.m. in the first half of a men’s/women’s doubleheader.
Kristi Miller EARNS HIGH HONOR
Former Yellow Jacket six-time All-American women’s tennis standout Kristi Miller earned perhaps her most prestigious individual honor when she was named one of eight recipients of the 2009 Today’s Top VIII Award by the NCAA. The award recognizes eight student-athletes out of nominees from every sport in every NCAA division who have completed their athletics eligibility for their success on the fields and courts, in the classroom and in the community. Recipients will be honored at the NCAA Honors and Delegates Celebration January 15, at the 2009 NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C.
