Thank you Todd Stansbury!! I have listened to the academic excuse from Tech fans for 47 years, and I am sick of it.
There are 2 kinds of Tech fans: The Homer Rice kind, and the Dave Braine kind.
Homer Rice didn't believe in excuses. He took the programs from 1-AA/FCS quality to national contenders. His coaching hires won a football national championship, and many ranked seasons, including 5 final AP Top 25 rankings from 1997-2001. We achieved national prominence in basketball, baseball and golf. Championships, not excuses, for the Homer Rice kind of Tech fan.
The Dave Braine kind of Tech fan believes that because of academics we should be happy with 7 football wins a year (one of which is FCS) and maybe every now and then doing better. Unfortunately, most Tech fans fall into this category.
Almost every football program not named Alabama or Ohio State has disadvantages. Yes, academics may be an disadvantage, but we also have advantages. GT now has a great campus. Atlanta is a wonderful place for young people, and particularly young African Americans. But rather than looking at the advantages we have, the Dave Braine Tech fan prefers the academic excuse, because it's a lazy way out. That kind of fan believes "we lost to you because we are better than you academically." However, it's still just an excuse.
Academics can be an advantage. But when the football recruiting footprint is largely within 300 miles of campus, it's going to be harder to find enough academically and athletically qualified kids who want what GT and Atlanta have to offer.
Todd Stansbury worked under Homer Rice. After 3 duds as AD, I believe we have our man. The future is bright, especially if some Braine disciples will switch sides and get out their checkbooks.
Homer Rice was a pro at fundraising, which the 3 duds were not (2 of the 3 were big spenders though; the third seemed to be in the witness protection program). It remains to be seen if Stansbury is a baker: can he raise the dough?