I think if you go down this path it's a slippery slope before you're a joke. Why not put in hot tubs, free Cheetah girl massages, and a hair salon?
The problem with Tech's program is the lack of a serious booster program. A good booster program generates dollars, which fund investment, which improves facilities, which improves recruiting and coaching. We have to improve across the board all the time and the only way to do that is a broad program.
If this is where TStan is spending his time, I'm not impressed.
Only been a GT fan for 4 decades now so I don't have the tenure of some of you nor the football team ties. It's not the same environment as it was in the Dodd glory days where the stadium was packed & people flocked to The Flats to watch GT play. Today many have jobs that are not 9-5, 5 days a week. Heck, I now work nearly 7 days a week and getting to the games is a chore (only missed 2 home games the last 3 years). Kids sports have exploded & many are year round. Alternatives abound to the traditional sports of days gone by. TV has impacted attendance significantly because before it was either watch in person or listen on radio. We can hope to evolve into Bammer or find the GT way.
I believe GT is in the center of a great town yet leverages none of the advantages its surroundings. Music is just one I cited to bring in people to the event. Back in my day there used to be a ton of live bands at the fraternity houses on game day. I think it provides something to the gameday experience that's missing today.
GT possesses a superior research capability but uses none of it to its advantage. Our stadium and surrounding areas should have top notch technology. The best video boards, acoustics, etc. Our athletes should have the best analytics at their disposal, we should be a leader in equipment design, etc. Where else should companies like Nike, UA go to in order to get access to athletes & designers/scientists/engineers than the best techological institute in the world? Maybe it helps with winning- it certainly couldn't hurt bringing in top coaches and recruits.
Kids are a key element whether we like to think so or not. Make a kid a fan when they're young & they're more likely to be a fan when they're older. Those that just arrived on campus need to be lured to the games as they often come from areas other than GA. We need to market to them to make them lifelong fans instead of saying "they're nerds & are not into sports".
Yeah I wish GT could field Top 10 teams every year but I'd have to go back 50+ years for the last time we had back to back Top 10 teams?? It was before my time. We won the 1990 National Championship & I don't remember attendance being off the chart good either during the run up or the year after. Maybe I'm mistaken because I was gone a lot during those years.
Stansbury has a big challenge. He needs a comprehensive approach to righting the ship. There's major challenges on every front- big donor support, debt service, fanbase spread all over the world and coming from all over the world, tough academics, major athletic program reputations leaving a lot to be desired, facilities needing upgrades because we lag the top competition, understaffed staffs, etc. I hope he transforms our athletic departments and I hope he has the vision & ability to execute.
