Braves getting another ring this year?
KQ- Maybe, I’m going on a limb and saying it won’t be the Mets.
Will you and/or Russell be going to Dublin in 2024? Since you were there last time, any good stories you can share (or maybe haven't shared) from the experience before? If so, I'm all ears
KQ- I’ll be there, Russell I would doubt will be there as that is not really in his lane. Also, I don't think his family can deal without him for that long.
On cool stuff to do check out the thread announcing the trip. People weighed in including me with stories. It is worth the expense to go.
With football and basketball turned over with what looks to be a 180 degree change in terms of attitude and expectation, what is the vibe on the inside at the AA?
To me it feels like the fanbase wants to be very excited but we’re a bit gunshy as a whole. It won’t take much for excitement to explode though since we’re starving for positivity!
KQ- I think people are always excited about changes and nervous and other things. I can’t speak for a fast organization like the whole of the AA, but most people are really curious/excited to see how this all works out. Key is obviously something that was easy to get behind internally. Firing Pastner and hiring Stoudamire is more of a big question because it wasn’t a hire that was a sure bet. Batt is betting on Stoudamire to an extent, but also limiting GT’s financial exposure at the same time while he tries to fix that area. He made a business decision there straight up, firing Josh was pretty much all about two things his roster management and the dwindling ticket sales. Will Stoudamire move the needle? Can he win quickly? Those are the questions that people taking a step back are asking.
Which team practice is The Minister of Mayhem visiting next week?
KQ- I would doubt it is Alabama, I have a really good idea of what Nick Saban things of him.
Which GT basketball players do you think will be entering the transfer portal?
KQ- I got asked this last week, it is really disrespectful to the players on the team to be like I think player X, Y and Z is leaving or A, B and C are staying. Please try to respect that part of this, I have to deal with these young people, their families and the GT staff so I’m not interested in being a jerk.
Do you think Stoudamire will be a better recruiter than Pastner?
KQ- I think it all depends on Damon and on paper Josh was the better recruiter, that is how he made his bones as a coach and until he got to GT he routinely was landing top talent and in the mix for Rivals top 50 players at Memphis. The restrictions place on him when he was hired and him adhering to those lead to some rough seasons, but also the ACC Tournament Championship and some other bright spots with the get old model. Stoudamire had some success as a recruiter and has a lot to sell, but he also hasn’t had the restrictions that come with the GT job either.
You have probably already answered this question awhile back but I can’t remember! Is Franks ok? Still with the team? He’s on the roster but haven’t heard to much about him.
KQ- Khatavian Franks is recovering from an injury. He has spent almost his entire GT career either injured or on a leave of absence from the team at this point so if you get anything out of him that is a bonus.
Are you hearing of any changes Battman has made in the org chart in the GTAA offices relative to marketing, promotions, sales, etc.? The new Georgia's Own announcement is, obviously, a new & good move, & appears to be a small step in the right direction. Hopefully, it is symbolic of what is to come. Any light to be shed (yet) or should we be patient & sit back & watch JBatt & the "new" GTAA operate?
KQ- They have parted ways with some people and he has changed some roles. I’m sure it is an ongoing process as he evaluates everyone in the org. Some people have seen their roles change for sure though. I know that revenue streams is a key piece of things and Batt will aim to keep putting money through the funnel.
How do you get in contact with kids like the Yale kid in the portal? What is that process?
KQ- Trade secrets. We have databases with numbers, the ability to get numbers from other people and other ways to get in contact with players. It really depends on the kid. There could be handlers, a parent or the kid himself or a coach. It is very random in men’s basketball.
Idk if you can get a read on it this early into Spring practice but how much of Brent Key's gameplan feels unique to him. Things like the roles he has hired so far being firsts for GT or re-introducing them, the vibe of practice, team meetings or what have you. How many of the decisions so far seem to come directly from already successful programs like Bama, UGA or somewhere else? Just trying to get an idea of how much he is trying brand new things he has thought up from his past experience. Or anything so far that has made you stop and be like "Oh wow, I never thought of doing it like that"
KQ- We haven’t seen enough of anything yet to have a take on how he does things. GT practice looked like a normal college practice that I saw CPJ or Mark Richt or others run. He has taken pieces of GOL and pieces of Saban though for sure. He will admit that freely. I don’t think he has any intention of reinventing the wheel. We just saw for 3.5 years what happens if you do that without a track record of actual success doing that.
Why can’t we just let the Collins mess go? I understand his lack of Coaching skills or being upset over the buyout but he keeps living because GT as a group keeps talking about him.
KQ- Man people were still stuck on GOL during the CPJ era and stuck on Bill Lewis and other shit. It is a message board, it is what people do. Eventually it will quiet down, but I remember how pissed and how long it lasted after Paul Hewitt got fired with the evergreen deal. GT people hate wasting money and hate incompetence and Geoff checked both boxes along with the former AD so they will be dragged for a long time IMO.
