How do we force the AJC to take us seriously?

[panama]

Seriously, don't we at minimum rate a section of ajcSportsTalk and/or our own Vent? We have 125,000 alumni! Seriously who do we start talking to/pressuring and how?


Jorge

[GridPan]

"Seriously who do we start talking to/pressuring and how?"

The Athletics Director got her picture and statement in the paper (front page, if I recall) last week in "hot pursuit" of the Tech AD position. Perhaps she's got some connections at the AJC to get some coverage for Georgia State University.

[panama]

I think if we at LEAST had our own Sports Vent section and/or Blog section that would generate some interest. No offense to CAA ZONE but I am sure 98% of GSU associated people have no idea this board exists.

[Mike]

...I am sure 98% of GSU associated people have no idea this board exists.

Right. Nor do they care. So if there's any topic that you feel really warrants attention, don't bother putting anything here, send it to the Administration, or Alumni Association, or Athletic Board, or somebody at GSU.

It's fun to vent and bellyache on this board, but remember that, as you say, there's not much chance of anybody that matters reading it.

[Mr. Beach Bum]

After years of viewing the Panther message boards, I figured it was time to add my voice to the fun and this seemed like a good place to start. It only takes three simply steps for the AJC to take Panther athletics seriously and it starts at the top.

1. President Patton has to take athletics seriously and this has absolutely nothing to do with football.
2. Our alumni have to start showing up at all events, especially men's basketball and baseball. From the attendance figures in the box scores this basketball season, that is definitely not happening.
3. (and the biggest) Win!!!!

May I remind everyone of just a few short years ago when our Panthers beat the crap of the Mutts to start the season and we had the whole front page. Yes, part of it was because we beat UGA, but it was also because of the win. Winning is what everyone cares about and right now, must sports just aren't cutting it, which goes back to number one.

[Woody Paige]

"Seriously who do we start talking to/pressuring and how?"

The Athletics Director got her picture and statement in the paper (front page, if I recall) last week in "hot pursuit" of the Tech AD position. Perhaps she's got some connections at the AJC to get some coverage for Georgia State University.

If I recall correctly, they ran a picture from the press conference in June of 2005. I know you remember that, since you were there.

[GridPan]

But her picture AND statements in the newspaper would NOT have been in that article if, when, she was contacted by the AJC she said what she said to us at that Board meeting a few months ago: That was, "I'm not using Georgia State as a stepping stone." If she'd said that, AND if she'd indicated she was loyal to her recent comittment to Georgia State, they (the AJC writers), would NOT have included her in that article with the others so quoted, and so interested in the Tech AD job.

No, she didn't do that. She left the door open for her to be considered either for that job, or some other. Now, usually, everyone wants to advance, if they consider that (the Tech job) an advancement. But the woman had just been hired only a few months. And she just made that statement ("no stepping stone") to the Board (YOU WERE THERE, TOO).

I don't like double talk from that high of a position. It's going through the "back door" to get her name out there for another job.

I want someone in OUR AD position at Georgia State University that puts Georgia State University FIRST, not first until something that looks better comes along. OR, at least prove yourself somewhere (like Georgia State University) FIRST before you "job shop."

So, in essence she sent the message to the Georiga State family that she's only here 'til something better comes along--an interloper. THAT doesn"t motivate or consolidate OUR interest and family.

[Woody Paige]

You can always count on a lawyer to bring the drama. :roll:

I guess you don't listen to many post-games after the basketball games are over.

[GridPan]

"You can always count on a lawyer to bring the drama."

Res ipsa loquitur.

[Mike]

1. President Patton has to take athletics seriously and this has absolutely nothing to do with football.

I agree for the most part but football is the "must have" component of a university athletics program, so one can't simply omit football and expect the olympic sports alone to be taken seriously and have mass appeal. That's been tried at GSU for decades and it hasn't worked yet. True, Patton doesn't take athletics seriously, but worse, he doesn't even understand the role of athletics in university life.

2. Our alumni have to start showing up at all events, especially men's basketball and baseball. From the attendance figures in the box scores this basketball season, that is definitely not happening.

This is simply not going to happen. Waiting for basketball and baseball to pack the house is futile. Been tried for decades and hasn't worked. These simply aren't the college sports that the masses want to see (in Atlanta, anyway).

3. (and the biggest) Win!!!!

Certainly winning would help, regardless fo what sport. However, even winning a game that only few care about will not garner mass interest among the media or alumni or students.

Simply put, the AJC is a newspaper. It will print what people want to read about. People in Atlanta want to read about major conference college athletics. If GSU wants people to read about them, they will plan for and grow into a member of a major conference, and that requires football.