TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of Georgia Tech Athletics
FROM: Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics
I am happy to pass along to you this week that six different Georgia Tech sports programs are currently ranked among the nation’s Top 22 in their respective sports. This would include our two basketball teams – men at No. 20 and women at No. 21; our baseball team, which opens at home next Friday, at No. 6; softball, opening this weekend in Florida, at No. 13; women’s tennis, playing this weekend in Wisconsin, is No. 9 and our men’s golfers are No. 22. Six programs — all in action concurrently and all nationally ranked! All of this is following the ACC Championship football run and a volleyball NCAA Tournament appearance in the fall.
Women’s Basketball
I want to send out special kudos right away this week to our women’s basketball team. Coach MaChelle Joseph has guided our program to its fourth straight 20-win season. Before she arrived, Georgia Tech had reached that plateau only three times in school history. Our ladies are challenging for an ACC title and look poised to make their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament run.
I encourage all Georgia Tech fans to make a special effort to get out to the Coliseum to catch a women’s game next week because we have two sensational home matchups. Monday night at 7:00, the Jackets will face 10th-ranked Florida State. And Friday night, Feb. 19th at 8:30, 7th-ranked Duke comes to visit. At Monday’s game against FSU, all tickets will cost $2. The Duke game is our annual “Pink Zone” event and all fans wearing pink will be admitted for only $2. Let’s get out and show our appreciation for Coach Joseph and the team. (Click here for a list of all promotions for women’s basketball).
Men’s Basketball
I want to thank the members of our 1990 men’s basketball team for gathering here in Atlanta last weekend for what was a very special reunion. We celebrated the 20th anniversary of Georgia Tech’s first appearance in the Final Four. The team members and support staff were introduced at halftime of the NC State game, including two-thirds of the famous Lethal Weapon 3. Dennis Scott and Kenny Anderson were able to make the reunion, while Brian Oliver delivered a stirring video message from Houston, where he was broadcasting for CSS-TV. Coach Bobby Cremins also appeared via video and warmed the crowd and his former team with some heartfelt comments.
The next several days are crucial for our men’s team as well in their chase for ACC positioning. A game on the road Saturday night at Wake Forest is followed by a home matchup with North Carolina next Tuesday. Get plenty of sleep over the weekend, because that one against the Heels is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tipoff to accommodate the regional telecast. Our AM radio partner 790 The Zone will have Pollack and Bell doing their “Afternoon Saloon” show from the AMC from 4-7 p.m. followed by former Jacket — the aforementioned Dennis Scott — doing his “3D After Dark” show live from the concourse near Gate 1 as well.
Baseball
I don’t know whether it’s this extended stretch of cold, rainy weather, but for me spring and Georgia Tech baseball can’t get here soon enough. I always look forward to the annual Baseball Leadoff Dinner which will take place next Thursday, Feb. 18th at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. A few tickets are still available for the event which will feature future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine as the guest speaker. (For information on the Baseball Dinner, click here). Hard to believe but the season’s first pitch will come on Friday, Feb. 19th as our club hosts Missouri State to open a three-game weekend series at 4 p.m.
Our baseball marketing folks have been working hard to put together a fun list of promotions for the 2010 season. There are lots of give-aways, fun games and fan opportunities at Russ Chandler Stadium. This year we will offer a set of collector’s baseball cards featuring this year’s team with a new player card given out at each home game. Let’s see who will be able to secure the entire deck throughout the season. (Click here for the complete list of baseball promotions).
Football Signing Day
By all accounts we had a great day last Wednesday and welcomed 18 new Yellow Jacket football players to the fold. I want to thank all of you who attended our Signing Day Event at the Georgian Terrace Hotel. We have had a number of positive comments. We certainly want to thank the staff and management of the Georgian Terrace for being gracious hosts and providing a magnificent setting for our signing party.
Football Renewals
If baseball season is almost here, it must be time for our football season-ticket renewal process to begin. We will begin mailing renewals in the next few days with a deadline to renew for the 2010 season of April 16th. Please be on the lookout for your renewal form via U.S. Mail… but remember, beginning early next week you can also go to www.Ramblinwreck.com to renew your seats on line. The on-line process is quick and easy and you will receive immediate confirmation of your renewal.
Football Schedule
I trust you all have seen that our 2010 football schedule is complete with a challenging slate of games. What you might not have seen yet is that Homecoming has been set for October 9th vs. Virginia and Family Weekend will be September 25th when we host NC State. All of our six home games fall on Saturdays this year, giving us at least a one-year hiatus from the Thursday night routine. We do have a road game on a Thursday night — November 4th at Virginia Tech. (Click here for the release on our 2010 football schedule).
Spring practice will begin on March 29th and conclude with our Spring T-Day game on Saturday, April 24th. We are planning some very special activities around the T-Day game, so please save the date!
