I respectfully dissent.
ccg's tenure at GT has little or nothing to do with how many games we win, or who we beat next year, or the year after next year. In fact, as long as he has an overall winning record, and shows up for work, he will remain the GT hc under the current administration. It is not the AD's call. It is not the wealthy supporter's call. It is the call of the academic side of the institute, who will continue to back ccg as long as he does not bring discredit to the institute by way of personal acts (probability of that happening approaches zero) or by way of the actions of his team (eg, UM and Larry Coker - probably of that happening is very low).
The most important ranking at GT these days is the one published in USN&WR. There is major emphasis in all areas of the institute to maintain and improve that ranking, which does not include, as a component, the win loss record of the football team. It does include student retention and graduation rate. It does include retaining and recruiting top notch faculty. It does include moving towards a equal undergrad-grad population. It does include increasing the image of the institute as a research heavy academic school.
ccg is compatible with these goals, and to the consternation of some, has not been confrontational with the academic side of the institute. He is regarded as bringing in the type of sa who will graduate from GT in the time allotted by the ncaa. ccg is regarded by the administration as being a good team player. And as all of us know, organizations do not readily dismiss good team players.
Another problem is that there is a serious cash flow problem with in the AA. This has been evident for the last three years, and has not improved. Given his current contract, including the one year extension for "getting us to a bowl game," asking ccg to seek other employment or to pull the cord of a golden parachute and retire is not viewed as financially feasible either at this time, or in the near future.
As may have been evident from my past posts, I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a fan or supporter of ccg as head coach. But I am absolutely certain that if I appeared on the GT campus tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next year with the exact amount of money necessary to buy ccg's contact out, and offered that money to the institute only if it would be used for that purpose, the offer would be rejected.
So my point of view is, for better or for worse, no matter how many games we win or don't win next year, whether or not we beat uga, whether or not we go to a bowl, ccg will be our football head coach at least through the 2008 season. If at that time, he still has an overall winning record, and still is regarded as a "team player," he will continue to be our hc until he decides he no longer wants to be, or until he is no longer regarded as a "team player."
A couple of notes as to the above comments. I have always supported the academic side of GT by way of the Roll Call to a larger extent than I have the athletic side by way of the AT fund. I will continue to do so, whether or not ccg remains our football hc. I will also continue to support the AT fund, and purchase tickets, but until I see how much more the AA will be asking for my upper west tickets in the future, the extent to which I support those areas is open to question. Also, I have no particular contacts, either within the administration, or the AA, so I do not base my opinions on inside information. However, I do listen carefully, read everything I can get my hands on about our current situation, and apply 40 plus years of association with GT do what I hear and read to reach my conclusions. Those conclusions may be wrong. But then again, they may correct.
If they don't agree, drop the series until they agree to our terms. I promise you it wouldn't take long.
