Letter to Braine from former S/A

[General Wood]

Please feel free to forward to other Tech faithful.

Open Letter to 100+ loyal Georgia Tech fans:

I vividly remember my freshman orientation at Georgia Tech. The speaker told everyone in the audience to look to your left and to your right. He said, "That person will not be with you when you graduate from here!" Little did I know those words would come back to cut me like a knife 22 years later. In the classroom it was a fair fight and you were judged on merit. What is cutting me today and many of you has no merit and is based on the sole discretion, and one-sided judgement of our Georgia Tech Athletic Director.

I am one of the two loyal Tech fans cut out of the 2,100 chair back section on the East side directly behind the visitors bench. How does such a thing happen to a 13-year season ticket holder and top 20% point holder in the AT Fund?

As expected, 1,400 of the 2002 ticket holders in this section did not succumb to Athletic Association’s extortion regarding season tickets and opted to move out of their seats from last year. So the AA was left with the dilemma of how to distribute these left over seats. In comes the Braine plan to distribute the tickets to GTAA staff and ISP Sports. I don’t think this a plan, I have a different name called Ticketgate.

Let’s examine this new ticket distribution scam a little further. First, it is designed to reward the GTAA staff sworn to protect their leader and take the fall whenever called upon. Second, it rewards another very close friend of the AD, ISP Sports. After all, the AD’s son rose from an entry level position to an execute office at ISP faster than it takes the Ramblin’ Wreck to make a lap around the field. It doesn’t take 2 years of advanced math at GT to see the high correlation between the 3 variables in play here; 1) son of the AD, 2) broadcast contract for GT sports, and 3) sons new title at ISP Sports. This group too will be rewarded by the new ticket policy. Last and certainly least, are the long-time, loyal season ticket holders - those of us who were chased off due to the current and future seat lease prices and the ones that shelled out their hard earned dollars to support and cheer for their team. I feel like those who paid to stay are getting an extra slap in the face. I think this simple analogy paints a very realistic picture. How would you like to fly on an airplane and know you paid full business class price and the person to each side of you is flying for free! Flying for free because they are friends or have the favor of the captain!

I am astonished to see one of the highest paid AD’s in the country has the time to hand pick the 1,400 individuals to get free game tickets. This must be another Braine child idea or improvement for GT athletics. Just look in the AJC archives to see how some of these other so-called program enhancements have benefited our team. In the end, this little Ticketgate may be a huge success or dismal failure. I have a prediction on the forthcoming public relation statements. If it is a success, the praise and responsibility will be showered upon the head man for conjuring up such an ingenious plan. If it blows up in the face of the GTAA, you can bet the last dollar you give to the AT fund this ticket idea will become the product of a low-level, staff member/fall guy that was trying to do the best for Tech fans but made a critical mistake in judgement by not communicating everything to the top man in charge.

We, the loyal GT fans and tickets holders decide whether this type of extortion, ticket scam or Ticketgate is good for the Jackets or good for the birds and should just fly far, far away.

See you at the Flats, home of 2003 Ticketgate!

PS. Remember the 2 best ways to have your opinion heard are to use your money and your mouth! And just to make it clear to everyone. This is not about the seats, it is leadership. I’ll sit anywhere to support good leadership.



Ramblin’ regards,



Damian Burke

GT Football Letter Winner 1982 - 1985

IE ‘86





Damian Burke

 

[TIARB]

GW - I am a curious font.

I have seen neither hide nor hair of either you or Gnome since our upset of Auburn.

Yet the two of you were very frequent posters all off-season and thru last week.

Am I mistaken if I were to say that this post on Braine is the first post you have made since Sat evening?

I would have hoped to see you, Gnome, and others who have been esp vocal in your criticisms of Braine (which I do not disagree with), and to a lesser extent but still critical, Gailey, celebrate the impressive victory from this Sat.

 

[General Wood]

My ire has been towards the administration. I mentioned Gailey, early on in the discussions regarding academics, and in a minor role regarding the "flunkgate" debacle, and I want the kids to do well, no matter who the coach is.

I appreciate your concern about me, and enjoy your posts and banter.

 

[Father WASP]

I am enjoying our win over Auburn with General Wood, but I for one don't intend to let Braine off the hook for basically being incompetent, but also exhibiting his arrogant disregard for the Tech fans.

Yes, it was a big win. But so was our 1981 win over Alabama. After that, we lost em all. I would like to see how we perform over the remaining games before booking reservations to the Fiesta Bowl, and more than anything, how we perform against Georgia.

But, I come to Gen. Woods defense because of his factual posts but also to state that Braine ain't off the hook by a long shot.

 

[oldfoggy]

Braine Incompetent? Hardly, he's not smart enough to be incompetent. We the loyal fan base should continue to push for his ouster.

 

[JacketIM]

OK, TIAR,B, I am one of those who has been critical of CCG. In addition, based on the results of the last 9 games, I was critical of the decision to schedule Auburn (and based on other things, critical of many of the decisions made by DB over the past several years, not the least of which was the hiring of CCG). The great win on Saturday makes many of my pre-game opinions suspect at best, and down right dumb at worst. This was a great win. It belongs to every one in the GT family. And if those at the top are subject to brickbats for failures, then they have a right to accolades when they succeed. So well done to WC and DB. And super well done to CCG and his staff. And super-duper well done to the SA's. The team was well prepared, the plan was well executed, the flow of the game was well managed - in short, everything, and more, one would expect from a professional coaching staff headed by an experienced head coach. I cannot think of one bad thing to say about any aspect of the game. I really don't much care who was in the fancy seats or upper north, or how many were there. In fact, I wouldn't mind a bit if for every game in the future the fancy seats were less than half full, as long as the Yellow Jackets win. Most important, I saw a team that had shown improvment from last year in their first game, show improvement again. What a wonderful feeling to see a pass thrown to a receiver who does not have to stop and go back for it. And to see passes thrown to the good guys instead of the bad guys. What a wonderfull feeling watching a QB whose confidence and performance electrifies his team and the entire stadium. That has got to be a result of coaching. I don't know if it has been pointed out, but our defense has not given up a touchdown in the last 8 quarters played a BDS - credit coaching. That having been said, just as the disasters of last year did not serve to convince you and others that CCG is the not right man for the Tech job, this win does not convince me that he is. I continue to reserve my judgement as to that matter, and continue to agree with Furman Bisher who wrote, after the end of last season, that CCG should be given this year before any final decisions were made about his tenure. I would be equally opposed, at this point to letting him go, or to extending his contract. My criteria for evaluating him has in the past, and will, in the future, be based on the performance of the team on game day with a view towards week to week improvement, adjustment to situations, the apparent level of team preparation, the management of the sidelines, etc, - basically all of the things one would expect a coaching staff to do. I say all of this knowing that, in the end, my opinion will not mean a thing to anyone but me. So, here's to the Pres, AD, HC, AC's, GTAA Staff, Band, SA's, all of us that were there last Saturday, and all of us that were not. A great win, to be enjoyed, by all of us, including CCG and DB.

 

[The Gnome of Zurich]

Originally posted by TIAR,B:
GW - I am a curious font.

I have seen neither hide nor hair of either you or Gnome since our upset of Auburn.

Yet the two of you were very frequent posters all off-season and thru last week.

Am I mistaken if I were to say that this post on Braine is the first post you have made since Sat evening?

I would have hoped to see you, Gnome, and others who have been esp vocal in your criticisms of Braine (which I do not disagree with), and to a lesser extent but still critical, Gailey, celebrate the impressive victory from this Sat.

<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">Thanks for asking. I was out of pocket for the last few days.

The game was great obviously because we won, and for all at GT we needed something positive no doubt. I called the first play because I hoped Gailey would open it up a bit. That play and the fake punt were the 2 good calls. I believe we have a playmaker in BALL and need to open it up more. I saw a pathetic Auburn team. Tenuta did a good job and the team executed it well, but Auburn is one dimensional. THey are easier to defend than Vandy or Duke. But the kids executed and that is important. I thought the 4th down try in the 3rd quarter in our own territory was about to cost us the game and momentum (before the snap). After we got a bad spot, another reason not to go for it besides fumbling the snap, fumbling by RB, and that our defense was shutting them down, I thought "here we go again." Thank God it didnt. All in all, it was Gailey's best game, but Auburn is pathetic. How we follow up last weekend's game with FSU is huge for Gailey. If we do well, and have some momentum into Clemson, that is the game for the season. BUT, I still would say, last weekend means NOTHING when it comes to a new GTAA, AD, etc looking at our situation and deciding if we are going in the right direction. Last weekend does nothing for my opinion on Dave Braine. Actually, Braine is thanking god we won because the empty seats would have been the headlines in the SPORTS since everyone already thought we would lose in the first place. I am happy for the young kids no doubt. But one game is not a trend, but it could get the emotion back to were we look like a competitve team again. That has nothing to do with Braine. I didnt realize by the way that Auburn has a former OFF Line Coach as their Off. Coordinator! What are they thinking? Great win for Gailey and Tech.

 

[MsTechAnalysis]

Originally posted by Father WASP:
I am enjoying our win over Auburn with General Wood, but I for one don't intend to let Braine off the hook for basically being incompetent, but also exhibiting his arrogant disregard for the Tech fans.

Yes, it was a big win. But so was our 1981 win over Alabama. After that, we lost em all. I would like to see how we perform over the remaining games before booking reservations to the Fiesta Bowl, and more than anything, how we perform against Georgia.

But, I come to Gen. Woods defense because of his factual posts but also to state that Braine ain't off the hook by a long shot.

<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">Couldn't agree with you more on the game and the rest of the season. DB is another issue that continues to fester and General Wood has brought insight into a situation that was only brought to life after the UGAG and Fresno debacles.

It took one can of worms opening to open all the others.