Ken’s AJC article on Patrick Suddes ...

[Ibeeballin]

Didn't we also hire around four more to the recruiting staff in '18? Those aren't included here, are they?

Look at player personnel associate

 

[Animal02]

I have a friend whose son was recruited by GT. The parents were HUGE fans of what GT brought to the table. The son wasn't as big a fan of the school, and went elsewhere. So while CGC is definitely better at letting the public know, I wouldn't say he's any better at letting the parents and recruits know. The difference is that with the extra money and resources, we can now afford a wider and broader scope in our branding efforts. I really don't see why we have to keep trashing CPJ in an effort to praise CGC. CGC is doing an amazing job, but it's not a secret that he has a LOT more resources to work with that were not afforded to CPJ.

Yes, a lot of people seem to have trouble with the concept that not every kid
1) Wants to major in a STEM field
2) Wants to go to school in a big city
3) Wants to go to a relatively small school
etc. etc. It is not that they are not out there.....they are just harder to find.
I do hope the flow of money allows Collin and crew to cast a much bigger net.

 

[White_Gold]

This staff not organized based as a retirement village. Our old scheme required special knowledge and to get staff we needed to give and get long term commitment . Now we have a vast pool of coaches to fill our needs.

Cgc says we are headed to be considered in the elite of football. This staff would all like to be there when we show elite on field, however , we will first have to get to semi elite (vt) . At that time we will have to make some very hard decisions on each of the staff.
The decision is can they get us to elite? If no, giving them a big them a raise would be a mistake for both of us. We should let them quietly quit and replace them with a more expensive upgrade w have already found. If a yes, then big pay raise and lots of pr so they can someday get a better job.

Always being seen as genuinely trying to help your staff get a better job, makes getting better staff a lot easier. I think cgc and coach are both that type of guy.

I pretty much agree with all of this.

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

It's apparent that our fan base is fractured. People seem to fall into three camps.

1st are the CPJ die-hards that refuse to see any positive in CGC and do everything they can to diminish the efforts of the new regime.

2nd are the anti-CPJ diehards who readily consume the hype of the new program as proof that CPJ was this incompetent fool who didn't know how to run a successful program.

Finally, you have those of us who loved CPJ and yet are eagerly anticipating GT football under CGC. We seem to be a minority right now. We are fully supportive of CGC but can't stand to CPJ trashed in the process.

I was close to cancelling my season tickets this year prior to the announcement of CPJs retirement. I had spoken to @Supersizethatorder-mutt and @buzz_wiser© and a few others at the tailgate about how family issues might prevent me from coming to a lot of games this year. When CPJ retired and they announced CGC, I renewed my tickets so I could help send a message of unity in our fan base. Too bad that unity doesn't actually exist. You guys can keep crapping on our former HC, but you can count me out. It is possible to be a fan of CPJ and fully support the new regime. In spite of what so many of you try to get others to believe, it is not a zero sum game.

 

[Supersizethatorder-mutt]

The few? OK buddy.

You really think Collins hiring, the comments from Joe, Key, & Calvin come from no where huh?

I haven't heard a single one of them actually disparage CPJ, as you claimed. They might have said they were not fans of the offense, but I certainly didn't hear any of them trash CPJ

 

[Supersizethatorder-mutt]

It's apparent that our fan base is fractured. People seem to fall into three camps.

1st are the CPJ die-hards that refuse to see any positive in CGC and do everything they can to diminish the efforts of the new regime.

2nd are the anti-CPJ diehards who readily consume the hype of the new program as proof that CPJ was this incompetent fool who didn't know how to run a successful program.

Finally, you have those of us who loved CPJ and yet are eagerly anticipating GT football under CGC. We seem to be a minority right now. We are fully supportive of CGC but can't stand to CPJ trashed in the process.

I was close to cancelling my season tickets this year prior to the announcement of CPJs retirement. I had spoken to @Supersizethatorder-mutt and @buzz_wiser© and a few others at the tailgate about how family issues might prevent me from coming to a lot of games this year. When CPJ retired and they announced CGC, I renewed my tickets so I could help send a message of unity in our fan base. Too bad that unity doesn't actually exist. You guys can keep crapping on our former HC, but you can count me out. It is possible to be a fan of CPJ and fully support the new regime. In spite of what so many of you try to get others to believe, it is not a zero sum game.

AMEN, brother !!!!!
I think it's pretty clear which camp ATL1 falls in.

 

[beerbuzz]

I'm a big saltwater fishing fan. 5.5 hrs from where I live in Midtown to the gulf coast fishing spots. I leave early in the morning (usually 5am'ish) and can get there before noon. Also, Atlanta to Savannah is an easy 3.5 - 4hr trip.

For those that like trout fishing, and don't want to drive all the way to North GA, just take a 30 minute drive up 400 and you can fish the northern section of the Chattahoochie just below the Dam.

LOTS of outdoor options for nature lovers in GA. GT seriously does have a LOT of good options if you're a city lover, or an outdoor lover. Even better if you like both as I do.

When I was in school at Tech, caught an 8 lb hybrid in the Chattahoochee near 285/75 and tons of trout where the hooch crosses 400. You can do it all in the 404, or at least a lot....

 

[Milwaukee]

When did Facebook, Twitter, & IG cost money? All I’m seeing, TStan loosened up the purse strings for more resources. What’s going on now has nothing to do with cost! It’s all effort at this point

 

[White_Gold]

It's apparent that our fan base is fractured. People seem to fall into three camps.

1st are the CPJ die-hards that refuse to see any positive in CGC and do everything they can to diminish the efforts of the new regime.

2nd are the anti-CPJ diehards who readily consume the hype of the new program as proof that CPJ was this incompetent fool who didn't know how to run a successful program.

Finally, you have those of us who loved CPJ and yet are eagerly anticipating GT football under CGC. We seem to be a minority right now. We are fully supportive of CGC but can't stand to CPJ trashed in the process.

I was close to cancelling my season tickets this year prior to the announcement of CPJs retirement. I had spoken to @Supersizethatorder-mutt and @buzz_wiser© and a few others at the tailgate about how family issues might prevent me from coming to a lot of games this year. When CPJ retired and they announced CGC, I renewed my tickets so I could help send a message of unity in our fan base. Too bad that unity doesn't actually exist. You guys can keep crapping on our former HC, but you can count me out. It is possible to be a fan of CPJ and fully support the new regime. In spite of what so many of you try to get others to believe, it is not a zero sum game.

You forgot the 4th group:

People that played for GT that have insight into how things actually are/were and share said insight and opinion.

Believe what you want, don’t believe what you don’t want. It is what is. You shouldn’t be calling out people for sharing what they know, that’s actually divisive.

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

You forgot the 4th group:

People that played for GT that have insight into how things actually are/were and share said insight and opinion.

Believe what you want, don’t believe what you don’t want. It is what is. You shouldn’t be calling out people for sharing what they know, that’s actually divisive.

So is trashing a former coach, even if you're a former GT athlete.

 

[White_Gold]

When did Facebook, Twitter, & IG cost money? All I’m seeing, TStan loosened up the purse strings for more resources. What’s going on now has nothing to do with cost! It’s all effort at this point

Agree completely. The effort is amazing and definitely refreshing. You can feel it when you talk to recruits/HS Coaches about Tech.

 

[White_Gold]

So is trashing a former coach, even if you're a former GT athlete.

We can agree to disagree. I don’t think I’ve trashed him. I think I’ve given a pretty accurate account of the truth.

 

[Milwaukee]

Sounds like we need to have a Swarm cookout to get all of us together in support going forward. We're being stupid, myself included.

I'll bring the bratwursts.

 

[bobongo]

Look at player personnel associate

So, we didn't add four? There were articles at that time that said we added some positions in 2018. So, those articles were false? I'm just trying to figure this out. Did we add recruiting personnel in 2018 or did we not?

 

[Squints]

When did Facebook, Twitter, & IG cost money? All I’m seeing, TStan loosened up the purse strings for more resources. What’s going on now has nothing to do with cost! It’s all effort at this point

I'm a web developer and have spent time working with and rubbed a lot of elbows with people who work at digital service agencies. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram do not cost money to use that is obviously correct. But using them effectively is not as easy as you would think and having someone who has those skills does indeed cost money. You don't just start posting stuff and hoping it works out. We've tried that. And it clearly didn't work because no one remembers it. To act like the purse strings being loosened and our improved social media presence aren't related is naive and imo kind of insulting to Santino Stancato. What we're doing on social media isn't just effort. It sounds a little harsh but that's just ignorant. It's also research, planning, production, and execution.

And we're now paying someone for the specific purpose of handling all that. Which is pretty cool tbh. That's why our social media is better. Not just 'effort.' You may not mean it that way but it can come off as a dig at the old staff. Who on that staff had time to do all that at the quality we're seeing before we loosened up the purse strings?

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

So, we didn't add four? There were articles at that time that said we added some positions in 2018. So, those articles were false? I'm just trying to figure this out. Did we add recruiting personnel in 2018 or did we not?

We added two in Jan 2018 to bring the total to 4. They are currently listed as " player personnel associate" on our staff listing. In comparing former to current staff, these would not have been included as gains because, even though their tenure with us has been brief, they were indeed on the last staff as well.

 

[bobongo]

We added two in Jan 2018 to bring the total to 4. They are currently listed as " player personnel associate" on our staff listing. In comparing former to current staff, these would not have been included as gains because, even though their tenure with us has been brief, they were indeed on the last staff as well.

Thanks for that. So, we have a net gain of four on our staff since just over a year ago, with a fifth pending.

 

[bobongo]

Sounds like we need to have a Swarm cookout to get all of us together in support going forward. We're being stupid, myself included.

I'll bring the bratwursts.

I'll bring the crow.

 

[White_Gold]

I'll bring the crow.

No you won’t ;-)

 

[Ibeeballin]

Yellow Jackets add three to player personnel, two GAs




THE FLATS – Georgia Tech football has added five staff members, head coach Paul Johnson announced on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets’ five new staffers include three new members of the player personnel department and two new graduate assistants.



The additions to Georgia Tech football’s player personnel department include associate directors Thomas Balkcomand Tevin Washington, as well as digital content coordinator Ryan Wise. They represent three of the four positions that will be added thanks to the success of the Tech’s Football Recruiting Challenge, which has raised nearly $500,000 in support of the Yellow Jackets’ recruiting efforts this offseason.



Balkcom, a former Georgia Tech defensive back and member of the Yellow Jackets’ 1990 national championship team, returns to his alma mater with 28 years of experience as a coach at the high school, college and NFL level. He has 11 years of experience at the collegiate level, including four seasons at Morris Brown (defensive backs coach/special teams coordinator – 1997-2000), three at Morehouse College (linebackers coach/co-defensive coordinator – 2001-03), two at UCF (linebackers/defensive backs/special teams – 2005-06) and two at Savannah State (defensive backs/special teams coordinator – 2011-12). He also has five years of experience as a high-school head coach, most recently at Ridgeland-Hardeeville H.S. in 2017. His decorated resume also includes twice being awarded the NFL’s prestigious Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship, working with the Minnesota Vikings in 2003 (linebackers) and St. Louis Rams in 2006 (defensive line and special teams).



Washington, a former GT quarterback who served as a graduate assistant under Johnson the past two seasons, moves into a full-time role in the Jackets’ recruiting office. As a student-athlete from 2008-12, Washington started 31-straight games under center and led the Yellow Jackets to three-straight bowl games. He rewrote the school and conference record books, finishing his career ranked first or second in Georgia Tech history in 11 different statistical categories and setting ACC records for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season (20 as a senior in 2012) and career (38). After graduating with a management degree, he worked as a manager for Atlanta-based AT&T before returning to The Flats to attend graduate school and begin his coaching career in 2016. He assisted with the Jackets’ quarterbacks and B-backs over the past two seasons.



Wise, who will oversee production of the Yellow Jackets’ recruiting-related videos and other digital content, comes to The Flats from Liberty University, where he served as a video production specialist for nearly two years. He has almost eight years of video production experience in all, including stints with the Detroit Lions (2015 season) and at his alma mater, Bowling Green (2013-14).



“Thomas, Tevin and Ryan are all great additions to our recruiting operations,” Johnson said. “Thomas and Tevin will offer great perspective as former players, coaches and, of course, Georgia Tech alums. Ryan brings a lot of experience in video production and will be critical in helping us tell our story to recruits and fans alike.”



In addition to the three new full-time members of its recruiting staff, Georgia Tech has also welcomed two new graduate assistants for the start of spring practice – Trey Money and Nick Newsome.



Money, who will help coach inside linebackers, comes to Georgia Tech from Appalachian State, where he spent four seasons working under new GT defensive coordinator Nate Woody – three as a student assistant (2014-16) and one as a graduate assistant (2017). In his four seasons assisting the Mountaineers’ staff, App State compiled a 37-14 overall record, won bowl games in each of its first three seasons as full-fledged members of NCAA Division I FBS (2015-17) and claimed back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championships (’16-17). In his lone season as a G.A. with the Mountaineers, Appalachian ranked among the top 30 nationally in both scoring defense (20.2 ppg), total defense (342.5 ypg) and turnovers gained (2.0 pg). He graduated from Appalachian State in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in finance.



Newsome, who will assist with the Yellow Jackets’ quarterbacks and B-backs, arrives at Georgia Tech with six seasons of coaching experience under his belt, including four at the collegiate level (2015-17 at Capital University, 2012 at Tennessee-Martin). In his first season at Capital (2015), he coached A-backs and was the special teams coordinator under head coach Craig Candeto, who currently serves as GT’s quarterbacks/B-backs coach. Newsome spent the past two seasons as Capital’s wide receivers coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator. In his lone season at UT-Martin, he began as a G.A. with the Skyhawks’ linebackers before being promoted to coach tight ends/H-backs and slot receivers. He also served as UTM’s assistant strength and conditioning coach. He was a four-year letterwinner as an H-back and long snapper at Austin Peay (2008-11) and graduated from APSU with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He also earned a master’s degree in sports management from UT-Martin in 2014.



“It’s great to have Trey and Nick join Tyson Wachenheim as graduate assistants,” Johnson said. “All of them have gained coaching experience at a wide variety of different programs, so I’m excited about what they can all bring to our program.”



TRANSACTIONS – Georgia Tech adds Thomas Balkcom and Tevin Washington as associate directors of football player personnel, Ryan Wise as football digital content coordinator and Trey Money and Nick Newsome as football graduate assistants.


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