Georgia Tech looking to past to build future

Brian Gregory believes in tradition. When Gregory took over as the 13th head coach in Georgia Tech Basketball history on March 28, 2011, he stated that an important part of building his new program was linking it to the tradition of the past. "I truly believe that one of the things that we need to do is reconnect and reengage our former players. Those are the guys whose blood, sweat, tears, and hard work made this program what it is today," he said. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those great former players that have set the path for our current players. We need to get them back involved with this program. You cannot have a great program unless your former players are involved and supportive of what you are doing. We are going to do that, we are going to get those guys back." That goal is becoming reality. The players of the past are coming back to The Flats. It doesn't matter that this year's team has no true arena to call home. They are united by being Yellow Jackets, and are at home with each other. Such was the case at a Georgia Tech-sponsored event Monday night at the midtown sportsbar STATS. Yes, that was former ACC-Rookie of the Year Duane Ferrell walking through that door. So was two-time All-American James Forrest, Tech's all-time assists leader Drew Barry and Matt Harpring, a three-time All-ACC First-Teamer and one of six Yellow Jackets to have his number retired. Their presence was a show of support for a program looking to regain its identity and standing among the elite and for Gregory, the man leading the resurgence. "He's making a very conscientious effort," said Forrest, who played from 1991 through 1995, and earned AP Honorable Mention All-America honors as a sophomore and a junior. "Coach Gregory brings a lot of energy. It's an energy that's been missed around here for a while. No disrespect to Coach Hewitt. He was successful. But when it's time for a change it's time for a change. I've been around Gregory a few times and I like what I see. He's opened up trying to get the former players back, which is something that is huge for us." "He's very adamant about getting the players and getting us back here. I think that's a good thing," said Barry, who played from '92 through '96, teaming with Forrest on the 1993 ACC Champions. "For Coach Gregory, obviously, he's got a tough hill to climb with how the program's been over the years, trying to reconnect with a lot of the former players and also with the fans. It's a challenging year given the stadium and the reconstruction. So anything that he can do to bring the Tech family back together is a positive." It's a positive step that many former players are eager to embrace, especially as many of them live or still live or work in the Atlanta area. Ferrell, an 11-year NBA veteran and currently the Manager of Player Relations and Programs for the Atlanta Hawks, believes that the new attitude and commitment to its past is as clear as the writing on the wall actually the pictures on the wall in the basketball office. "I was over at the Athletic Association two weeks ago and saw what they had done over there," he said. "Coach Gregory has done a tremendous job of putting a lot of the history back where it should be, on the walls, in his office. So when former players come back they get to see the history, they get to see the legacy, everything that was done in the past and up to the present. It's a tremendous recruiting tool. I can't imagine what it's going to be like when the new building is finished." Harpring, who also played 11 NBA seasons recently built a house in suburban Atlanta. He's excited about similarly re-establishing roots with his alma mater. That means going to more Yellow Jackets games with his two sons and daughter. "I want to go to more games. When the schedule permits I'm definitely going to be coming to them," said Harpring, who had planned on attending Tuesday night's Big TenACC Challenge, but had a prior commitment coaching his six-year-old son's team. Former players wanting to attend games and feeling wanted by the Tech family is an important step in re-establishing what used to be a big-time home-court advantage at AMC. "One of the best things about the old Thrillerdome, it was live. It was exciting. It was loud," he said. "I talked to my friends on other teams and they hated coming to Georgia Tech to play. It was so loud. In the last couple of years I would go to a game and it wasn't the same electric atmosphere. You miss that. One of the big things is getting the student body back because they're going to be the loudest of all the fans. So, I think winning takes care of that and putting a product on the floor that people want to watch will take care of that." Harpring, Barry, Forrest and Ferrell, all agree that Gregory is on the right track even though they, like Gregory, admit the team has ways to go to get back to the glory days. But they're eager to do their part to help it along. "I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of Georgia Tech games," said Ferrell. "It's a fun time. I feel the buzz, like when I was a player. I feel like it's on its way back."