JACKET26
Georgia Tech Fan
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Georgia Tech legend Homer Rice dies at age 97
Georgia Tech legend Homer Rice died at age 97
Homer Rice passes away at 97
- Thread starter JACKET26
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LT 1967
Jolly Good Fellow
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- 497
I remember always watching Homer and Kim King on "Sideline Sports". He really worked hard to get GT back in the news. I always looked forward to watching the show to hear any good news about Tech from Facilities to Recruiting. He set up his 5-year plans and methodically worked through them to bring about the success of 1990 with a basketball final four and a Football national championship. I have two of his books which I will be looking back through tonight to remember the good times during his tenure
RIP
RIP
FredJacket
Helluva Engineer
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Homer Rice is responsible for a LOT of JOY I was fortunate enough to experience while a student during the Final Four run & unreal undefeated football season culminating in a national championship.
Rest in Peace
Rest in Peace
The man who constructed the Total Person Program is passing away at the threshold of college athletes doing it just for the money. Not for the sport. Not for the degree. Not for the betterment of one's self. Not for leadership lessons. Not for lessons of how to overcome trials and adversity....Ironic.
Truly the end if an era.
Glad he got to see the statue that I'm sure he begged not to erected. I hope he knew how we the fans fully appreciated him.
Condolences to his friends, family and colleagues.
Truly the end if an era.
Glad he got to see the statue that I'm sure he begged not to erected. I hope he knew how we the fans fully appreciated him.
Condolences to his friends, family and colleagues.
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RIP
He was a great hire for GT and made GT sports viable in the the 80's.
“He literally reinvented and rebuilt an entire academic institution’s athletic program", is entirely true in my eyes.
Condolences to his friends, family and colleagues.
He was a great hire for GT and made GT sports viable in the the 80's.
“He literally reinvented and rebuilt an entire academic institution’s athletic program", is entirely true in my eyes.
Condolences to his friends, family and colleagues.
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He was a difference maker in this world. These types are the rarest of the rare. A real giant amongst the rest of us mortals. RIP.
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If the article is blocked, cough up the $0.99 a read it... Or wait until it's available for free.
HurricaneJacket
Helluva Engineer
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Rest in Peace Coach Rice. Time to go reread your books
jacketup
Helluva Engineer
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Tech athletics would be FCS level if not for Dr. Rice. Most fans don't realize the importance of an AD, especially at Tech.
Dr. Rice was a fund raiser, and left the program in the black. Braine came in and spent the money Dr. Rice raised.
Dr. Rice had credibility with the Board. They were going to do what he said. Later ADs have not had that credibility, and the Board has made lots of bad decisions in the last 25 years.
He admitted that he made 2 mistakes: Hiring Lewis, and letting Cremins come back. He quickly fixed the Lewis situation by forcing him to hire O'Leary as DC then firing Lewis later. Not letting Cremins come back would have been an almost impossible thing to do.
He was the best. In my opinion, he is the most important person in the history of Tech athletics. He does not get his due.
Dr. Rice was a fund raiser, and left the program in the black. Braine came in and spent the money Dr. Rice raised.
Dr. Rice had credibility with the Board. They were going to do what he said. Later ADs have not had that credibility, and the Board has made lots of bad decisions in the last 25 years.
He admitted that he made 2 mistakes: Hiring Lewis, and letting Cremins come back. He quickly fixed the Lewis situation by forcing him to hire O'Leary as DC then firing Lewis later. Not letting Cremins come back would have been an almost impossible thing to do.
He was the best. In my opinion, he is the most important person in the history of Tech athletics. He does not get his due.
stinger78
Helluva Engineer
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Simply one of the best minds of our lifetime. So grateful he invested so much at GA Tech, athletics and otherwise. He was missed the day he stepped down. We will miss him even more in the future.
I somehow feel the timing for him is merciful, with his beloved college athletics on the precipice of destruction as he knew it.
RIP, Dr. Rice.
I somehow feel the timing for him is merciful, with his beloved college athletics on the precipice of destruction as he knew it.
RIP, Dr. Rice.
Tommy_Taylor_1972
GT Athlete
- Messages
- 202
Agree totally with all you say. His Georgia Tech and lifetime legacy should live on by retaining and highlighting the name "The Homer Rice Center for Sports Performance" as a significant part of the replacement for the Edge building. Over 5,000 Georgia Tech athletes have benefited from the opening of the 44,000 square foot sports performance center since it's opening in 2002.
Homer Rice Center for Sports Performance
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Athletics...
ramblinwreck.com
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From Mark Bradley at the AJC...
www.ajc.com
Homer Rice, 1927-2024: A Georgia Tech icon was THE total person. By Mark Bradley
Mark Bradley: Maybe you know of a life better lived. I don’t.
stinger 1957
Helluva Engineer
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I also believe he saved our athletic program. Raised money when it may not have been easy to do so. A great leader, will always be grateful for what he did for GT, the student athlete and GT sports fans.
stinger78
Helluva Engineer
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Dr. Rice undid, as best he could, the unintended consequences of the Dodd decision, while holding a similar affection for the student athletes as young people under his care.
Gtyellowjackets
Jolly Good Fellow
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He absolutely saved GT athletics. Put together a game plan for turning around each sport starting with the revenue sports, hired the right coaches, built the edge center, got all sports fully funded. New/upgraded facilities for each sport. And did it without cheating (as opposed to the schools that we were competing against. Usual suspects UGA, Clemson, UNC, Auburn, Duke,Etc). Very hands off with the coaches. Very easy going. 10 minutes with him and you'd run through a brick wall. He will be missed. Thanks for everything Homer!
LT 1967
Jolly Good Fellow
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Swarm members may like the attached. This is a story from Homer's Book, "Lessons for Leaders". It tells the story of how Homer was recruited twice by Bobby Dodd, once as a 17-year-old
player and later as Athletic Director. Coach Dodd's first attempt failed due to Homer being called to military service before he could attend college.
player and later as Athletic Director. Coach Dodd's first attempt failed due to Homer being called to military service before he could attend college.