Bill Curry....what do you think of him?

GeorgiaTechFan

GeorgiaTechFan

Flats Noob
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
535
A weird subject, I know. But, curious what the general consensus is of Bill Curry when it comes to Georgia Tech?

My own opinion.....

I was born in the mid-70s, so when I started going to games in 1982 Bill Curry was the coach and is who I associated with the program. I though when Bill Curry left he was making a big mistake. I think in the mid 80's having brought the program at least to a level of respectablity and having his past with GT that Bill Curry could have stayed at GT as a coach for a long time. However, he saw greener grass at Alabama. The way I am, once someone jumps ship, I say the hell with them. A couple years ago when Curry wanted the AD's job, I had no desire for him to get it. My thought was "thanks for your playing career and years of service Bill, but you left....goodbye".

I respect Coach Curry and hope he does well at Georgia State...but, am glad we are where we are with D-Rad and our current situation. Just want to see how others feel, maybe vastly different?
 
I didn't want Curry as the AD, because I didn't think he would do a good job as an AD. GT athletics is a multi-million dollar business. I think moving towards a businessman running the show and away from the historical model of having an ex-coach running the AD is a good developement.

I don't blame Curry for going to Alabama. As a fan, it makes him an SOB. As a person, I can understand trying to advance his career. Alabama had all the peices in place to make a run at a national title. The irony for Curry is that GT got the MNC before AL, so he made the wrong choice.
 
I have more of a problem with Curry for going to Georgia State. He should know that Tech doesn't want another football program in the city, yet he went there and helped them start one. He's getting pretty old. Hasn't he made enough money? Why does he need to do this?
 
I have a lot of respect for Bill Curry and I've always liked him. I have no problem with the Alabama move --he asked Bobby Dodd for advice and Dodd advised him to go. I wanted him as AD but see that DRad was the better choice in the long run. Would rather have Bill Curry working with GT instead of GA St, but it isn't to be.
 
GT65_UGA89 said:
I have a lot of respect for Bill Curry and I've always liked him. I have no problem with the Alabama move --he asked Bobby Dodd for advice and Dodd advised him to go. I wanted him as AD but see that DRad was the better choice in the long run. Would rather have Bill Curry working with GT instead of GA St, but it isn't to be.
Click to expand...

Thank you on the Bobby Dodd comment. Dodd said there were two jobs you didn't turn down and Alabama was one of them.

On the AD front, I wanted Bill because he had a plan in place. Bill can raise a hell of a lot of money (which we don't have right now) he also was going to bring in another AD to handle the admin. and the HILL. TS would have been a great hire and successor to Bill.

That being said, I'm glad Dan is here. He is a good friend and has had too make some tough decisions. Some we like, some we don't but his job is too hire great coaches and fire the duds + put fannies in the seats. Marketing has a long way to go but I believe he is working on that as well.

I wish him well at Ga. State and I will be a supporter of his as well.
 
WracerX said:
I don't blame Curry for going to Alabama.
Click to expand...

GT to Alabama will always be a LATERAL move. At least OLeary had the sense to take maybe the only job that would have been a step up.

Poor decision on Curry's part. Good for us. Ross is 100x the coach Curry would have ever been.
 
If Curry had been hired as AD, I believe it (like so many decisions made by the "smart Tech men" before) would have been for the wrong reasons.

There is NO comparison between DRad and Curry as an AD.

To hell with someone going to bama from Tech and talking about his friendship with people like holt.

The AD at gsu said that they will be Atlanta's college football team. I hope they never win a game. The bunch of ingrates started as the GT night school of commerce and don't even appreciate it.
 
Beestorm said:
GT to Alabama will always be a LATERAL move. At least OLeary had the sense to take maybe the only job that would have been a step up.

Poor decision on Curry's part. Good for us. Ross is 100x the coach Curry would have ever been.
Click to expand...

How do you figure GT to Alabama is a lateral move? Alabama has 90k show up to watch a spring game and we don't even get first billing in the city newspaper. Alabama is a big step up from GT.

I don't blame him for going. I think it's very tough to be loyal as a coach/administrator...you pretty much have to go where your career takes you and where the opportunities are. You even see things like former U[sic]GA grads coaching our teams and vice versa, or former Yankees managing the Mets. That's just the way it is.

I also agree that former coaches and such are generally NOT the best decision for AD, as it is a business now as others have said.
 
First he comes to GT, enjoys some success, key word 'some'.
The Bama calls with the money and success, bye bye Bill.
Then Kentucky, why? Who knows.
Then TV.
Now Gilmer Street High School (sorry that is what us native Atlantans called it for years).

He must be seeking some last bit of glory in his last job.
As possible AD at Tech, no, not, never.
 
I like Curry a lot. I've got a lot of respect for him. Growing up in the 90's, there was a lot of disappointment with GT and there was always talk of "man, I wish Ross was back" so there weren't any real "great" coaches until O'Leary took over and did pretty well.

Bill Curry, like you guys said, took a team that went from being someone that opponents feared seeing on their schedule in the 40's, 50's and 60's to a homecoming opponent for an easy win in the 70's. The 80's saw the Black Watch defense and a lot of new beginnings for Georgia Tech and we were FINALLY being put back in the spotlight.

I don't think it was necessarily wrong of him to leave or take the job at Georgia State. Being a coach is a job, and you have to find what fits you best. I heard an interview where Curry acknowledged that people would be sore at him for leaving, but his wife refused to move anywhere else for any more job offers after settling down in Atlanta. This new job didn't require him to move anywhere and he could still be close to his alma mater, so he still keeps GT in the back of his mind.

Every former head coach played a crucial role in our history, so the man has my respect and support, just like all GT coaches do.
 
GeorgiaTechFan said:
A weird subject, I know. But, curious what the general consensus is of Bill Curry when it comes to Georgia Tech?

My own opinion.....

I was born in the mid-70s, so when I started going to games in 1982 Bill Curry was the coach and is who I associated with the program. I though when Bill Curry left he was making a big mistake. I think in the mid 80's having brought the program at least to a level of respectablity and having his past with GT that Bill Curry could have stayed at GT as a coach for a long time. However, he saw greener grass at Alabama. The way I am, once someone jumps ship, I say the hell with them. A couple years ago when Curry wanted the AD's job, I had no desire for him to get it. My thought was "thanks for your playing career and years of service Bill, but you left....goodbye".

I respect Coach Curry and hope he does well at Georgia State...but, am glad we are where we are with D-Rad and our current situation. Just want to see how others feel, maybe vastly different?
Click to expand...
We dont know how Bill Curry would have been as AD,we do know that Bill Curry is a fine, honest, respectable gentleman and was a fine football player.
 
Beestorm said:
GT to Alabama will always be a LATERAL move. At least OLeary had the sense to take maybe the only job that would have been a step up.

Poor decision on Curry's part. Good for us. Ross is 100x the coach Curry would have ever been.
Click to expand...
A lateral move, you have got to be kidding at that time Alabama and Notre Dame were the top coaching jobs in America
 
I believe Curry loves Tech....but its kind of hard to believe that he REALLY loves Tech after some of the decisions he's made which directly HURT Georgia Tech.
 
I do not believe Bill is looking for glory or $$$. He misses the interaction with young men and the opportunity to put something into their lives. He has many Dodd like qualities and if you listen to him closely and read his book you will see the greater call.

The Alabama job was a huge step up, sorry it is, for so many of the reasons we read and talk about on this board (Media, Fan Support, Conference, etc.). His decision to go to Alabama was almost 25 years ago, please let go of it. Also, please do not forget that GT won a National Championship with his successor. You think that would have happened had he stayed, no way.

Men, he is a Tech man and he deserves nothing other than our best wishes. (that is unless GSU plays GT)
 
MacDaddy2 said:
I do not believe Bill is looking for glory or $$$. He misses the interaction with young men and the opportunity to put something into their lives. He has many Dodd like qualities and if you listen to him closely and read his book you will see the greater call.

The Alabama job was a huge step up, sorry it is, for so many of the reasons we read and talk about on this board (Media, Fan Support, Conference, etc.). His decision to go to Alabama was almost 25 years ago, please let go of it. Also, please do not forget that GT won a National Championship with his successor. You think that would have happened had he stayed, no way.

Men, he is a Tech man and he deserves nothing other than our best wishes. (that is unless GSU plays GT)
Click to expand...

Bama was (and is) a step up. And the fact that Dodd practically required Curry to go, even though everybody (including surely Curry) knew that it was not going to work-the Bama AD (whose name I forget) wanted to move Bama toward the Vandy-Duke-Tech model of high academic achievement, the fact that Dodd made him go makes it excusable that he did.
 
He gave a wonderful Commencement Address to my niece's HS back in May in Macon. It truly was a great speech.
 
wesleyd21 said:
I believe Curry loves Tech....but its kind of hard to believe that he REALLY loves Tech after some of the decisions he's made which directly HURT Georgia Tech.
Click to expand...

Regardless of those decisions, I think he REALLY loves Tech.
 
I hope Bill Curry has a fulfilling personal life and a postive impact on his players. That said I do not think he should have allowed his interest in the AD job to go public; I know and respect the reasons why people disagree with me on this.

But I hope the Night Division never wins a football game and runs so deep in the red they can their program. And given the lack of academic and discipline standards that a school like the Night Division can get a away with (not under Bill Curry, but what of his successor--Curry isn't young) they could be an annoying problem.

The Night Division's success will be a detriment to GT. As far as them being "Atlanta's team," good luck with that.
 
Hasn't he made enough money? Why does he need to do this?
Click to expand...

Maybe a love of football? The guy called games for ESPN, he clearly enjoys football. I have no problem with it. Plus, Ga. State is an FCS team. Really, if they are ever able to move up, it will be to a Sun Belt/C-USA type conference. No need for Tech to worry any time soon, and if they ever do get good, so be it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top