It’s pitiful the extent that our alums will go to avoid truly supporting GT football. If you want us to be good, look in the mirror. It starts with us. Pony up.
This is true, however, you can’t hang that statement out there in isolation. There’s context.
When I was at Tech, first, the Prez wanted to kill athletics. He was fairly open about it and almost did it. Second, the board never recognized athletics as a front door to the university. It was always ancillary.
Subsequent presidents were less openly hostile, but most remained benignly detached. They did, however, seek to elevate student life, which was a positive, and which impacts athletics. So they set the stage for what we have today.
This attitude remained in place, more or less, until Cabrera arrived. This means that the university has actively or passively cultivated generations, decades, of marginally engaged alumni.
Cabrera is a Spaniard who reportedly loves his soccer. He has set a new focus for GT excellence that includes academics, student life, and now, athletics. This is *huge*!
We will emerge, under the restructuring Cabrera is bringing, in time. It will take time, though.
ETA: We need to hope and pray that he stays around.