| Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1892; 133 years ago | ||
| Athletic director | Ryan Alpert | ||
| Head coach | Brent Key 3rd season, 27–18 (.600) | ||
| Stadium | Bobby Dodd Stadium (capacity: 51,913) | ||
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia | ||
| Conference | ACC | ||
| All-time record | 772–548–43[1][2] (.582) | ||
| Bowl record | 26–20–0 (.565) | ||
| Claimed national titles | |||
| 1917,1928,1952,1990 | |||
| Unclaimed national titles | |||
| 1916,1951,1956 | |||
| Conference titles | |||
| SIAA:1916,1917,1918,1920,1921 SoCon:1922,1927,1928 SEC:1939,1943,1944,1951,1952 ACC:1990,1998,2009 | |||
| Conference division titles | |||
| ACC Coastal:2006,2008,2009,2012,2014 | |||
| Consensus All-Americans | 21 | ||
| Rivalries | Alabama (rivalry; dormant) Auburn (rivalry; dormant) Clemson (rivalry) Georgia (rivalry) Tennessee (rivalry) Vanderbilt (rivalry; dormant) Virginia Tech (rivalry) | ||
| Current uniform | |||
 | |||
| Colors | Tech gold and white[3] | ||
| Fight song | "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" and "Up With the White and Gold" | ||
| Mascot | Buzz, TheRamblin' Wreck[4] | ||
| Marching band | Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band | ||
| Outfitter | Adidas | ||
| Website | ramblinwreck.com | ||
TheGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets football program represents theGeorgia Institute of Technology inAmerican football. The team competes in theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) of theFootball Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level of theNCAA. Georgia Tech has fielded a team since 1892 and holds an all-time record of 772-548-43.[5][6] The Yellow Jackets play at the historicBobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field inAtlanta, Georgia. The Yellow Jackets claim fournational championships across four decades. The program has also won 16 conference titles.
Among the team's former coaches areJohn Heisman, for whom theHeisman Trophy is named, andBobby Dodd, for whom theBobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award and theschool's stadium are named. Heisman coached the team that wonthe most lopsided game in football history (222–0), guided Georgia Tech to an undefeated 12–0–1 record in theGeorgia Tech–Clemson football rivalry, and led the Jackets to a national championship. Dodd also led the Jackets to a national championship and oversaw their longest winning streak against theGeorgia Bulldogs—8 straight games—in Tech's longest-running rivalry, calledClean, Old-Fashioned Hate (COFH).
In the 21st century, Georgia Tech has played in theACC Championship Game four times:2006,2009,2012, and2014.
A number of successful collegiate and professional football players have played for Tech. The program has produced 48 first-teamAll-Americans and over 150 alumni who have played in theNFL. Some of the most notable players the school has produced areCalvin "Megatron" Johnson,Maxie Baughan,Demaryius Thomas,Keith Brooking,Joe Hamilton,Joe Guyon,Pat Swilling andBilly Shaw.
Tech began its football program with several students forming a loose-knit troop of footballers called the Blacksmiths. On November 5, 1892, Tech played its first football game againstMercer University. The team lost to Mercer 12–6 inMacon, Georgia.[n 1] Tech played two other games during their first season and lost both of them for a season record of 0–3. Discouraged by these results, the Blacksmiths sought a coach to improve their record.Leonard Wood, anArmy officer and Atlantan, heard of Tech's football struggles and volunteered to player-coach the team.[8] Over the span of 1892–1903, Tech only won 8 games, tied in 5, and lost 32.[9] In 1893, Tech played against the University of Georgia for the first time. Tech defeated Georgia 28–6 for the school's first-ever victory. The angry Georgia fans threw stones and other debris at the Tech players during and after the game. The poor treatment of the Blacksmiths by the Georgia faithful gave birth to the rivalry now known asClean, Old-Fashioned Hate.[10][11] In 1902,Jesse Thrash was the team's firstAll-Southern selection. He began the season as a sub and closed it as the undisputed star of the Tech team.[12]
Oliver Jones Huie was selected by Ga Tech's athletic association to coach the football team for the 1903 season when the team won 3 and lost 5 games. A professional coach was desperately needed if Tech wished to build a truly competitive football program. The first game of the 1903 season was a 73–0 destruction at the hands ofJohn Heisman'sClemson; shortly after the season, Tech offered Heisman a coaching position.
John Heisman put together 16 consecutive non-losing seasons, amassed 104 wins, including three undefeated campaigns and a 32-game undefeated streak. From 1915 to1918 Georgia Tech went 30–1–2 and outscored opponents 1611–93 utilizing hisjump shift offense.[n 2] He would also muster a 5-game winning streak against the hated Georgia Bulldogs from 1904 to 1908 before incidents led up to the cutting of athletic ties with Georgia in 1919.[10] Heisman was hired by Tech for $2,250 a year and 30% of the home ticket sales. Heisman would not disappoint the Tech faithful as his first season was an 8–1–1 performance, the first winning season since 1893.[13] One source relates: "The real feature of the season was the marvelus advance made by the Georgia School of Technology which burst from fetters that kept it in the lowest class for ten years."[14]
His team posted victories overGeorgia,Tennessee,University of Florida at Lake City, andCumberland, and a tie with his last employer,Clemson. He suffered just one loss, to another first year coach,Mike Donahue ofAuburn. The1905 team went 6–0–1. The1906 team beat Auburn for the first time. Stars of this early period for Tech includeLob Brown andBilly Wilson. The1907 and1908 teams were led by"Twenty Percent" Davis.Pat Patterson was All-Southern in1910. Patterson wascaptain in1911, a season in which future coachWilliam Alexander was a reserve quarterback. Heisman helped students constructGrant Field in1913, whenAlf McDonald wasquarterback. The1915 team went undefeated.
Arguably the most notable game of Heisman's career was the most lopsided victory in college football history. In 1916,Cumberland College ended its football program and attempted to cancel a scheduled game with Heisman's Jackets. Heisman, however, was seeking vengeance for a 22–0 baseball loss to Cumberland in the spring of 1916, a game in which Heisman suspected Cumberland of hiring professional players to pose as Cumberland students. Heisman refused the game's cancellation and Cumberland mustered up a group of commonfolk to play Tech.[15] Techwon 222–0.[16] Neither team achieved a first down other than a touchdown, as Cumberland either punted or turned the ball over before a first down and Tech scored on almost every play from scrimmage.[15] Jim Preas, Tech's kicker, kicked 16 point after tries, which is still a record for a single game.
In1917 Tech won its firstnational championship behind thebackfield ofEverett Strupper,Joe Guyon,Al Hill, andJudy Harlan. It was the first national title for a Southern team, and for many years the "Golden Tornado" was considered the finest team the region ever produced. Strupper and captainWalker Carpenter were the first two players from theDeep South ever selected first-teamAll-American. Heisman challengedPop Warner's undefeated Pittsburgh team to a decisive national championship game, but he declined. In the next season of 1918, Tech lost a lopsided game toPitt 32–0. CenterBum Day became the first player from the south selected forWalter Camp's first team. In1919,Auburn upset Tech for the SIAA crown. By 1919, Heisman had divorced his wife and felt that he would embarrass his wife socially if he remained in Atlanta.[17] Heisman moved to Pennsylvania, leaving Tech in the hands of William Alexander.[18]
William Alexander had attended Georgia Tech and after graduating as valedictorian of his class in 1912, taught mathematics at Tech and served as Heisman's assistant coach.[18] In1920, he was given the job of head coaching Tech's football team. Alexander retained Heisman's 'jump shift' offense, and in his first season he saw Tech win an SIAA title behind captainBuck Flowers, the first Georgia Tech player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Tech suffered its only loss again to Warner's Pitt, and finished the season with a win over rival Auburn.[19][20] TackleBill Fincher made Camp's first team All-America.[n 3]
The1921 and1922 teams also claimed SIAA titles. The 1921 team suffered its only loss to undefeated, eastern powerPenn State. Tech was captained by fullback Judy Harlan. Future Tech fullback Sam Murray was asked about a certain strong runner in the 1930s, "He's good. But if I were playing again, I would have one wish – never to see bearing down upon me a more fearsome picture of power than Judy Harlan blocking forRed Barron."[22] Barron ran for 1,459 yards on the season.[23]
From1923 to1925, though Tech failed to claim a conference title, it had one of its best-ever players: fullbackDoug Wycoff, "the outstanding back of the South for the past two years."[24] Coach Alexander recalled "The work of Douglas Wycoff againstNotre Dame two years in succession was brilliant in the extreme, as was his plunging against Penn. State when we defeated them twice."[25][n 4] Tech and UGA renewed their annual rivalry game in 1925 after an eight-yearhiatus. Quarterback Ike Armstrong thought the game clock read five seconds remaining in the game when in actuality it was five minutes. Williams set up his offense for a field goal and kicked it to put Tech up 3–0 on first down. Luckily for Williams, Tech won 3–0.
In 1927, Alexander instituted "the Plan." Georgia was highly rated to start the1927 season, known as the "dream and wonder team", and justified their rating throughout the season going 9–0 in their first 9 games. Alexander's plan was to minimize injuries bybenching his starters early no matter the score of every game before the UGA finale. On December 3, 1927, UGA rolled into Atlanta on the cusp of a national and conference title. Tech's well rested starters were helped by the rain and shut out the Bulldogs 12–0, ending any chance of UGA's first national title, while netting the SIAA title.[27]
Alexander's1928 team amassed a perfect record and won the school's second national title. The team was led at center by captainPeter Pund and upsetNotre Dame. "I sat at Grant Field and saw a magnificent Notre Dame team suddenly recoil before the furious pounding of one man–Pund, center", said legendary coachKnute Rockne. "Nobody could stop him. I counted 20 scoring plays that this man ruined."[28] The 1928 team was also the very first Tech team to attend a bowl game. The team was invited to theRose Bowl to playCalifornia.[n 5] The game was a defensive struggle, with the first points scored after a Georgia Tech fumble. The loose ball was scooped up by California centerRoy Riegels and then accidentally returned in the wrong direction. Riegels returned the ball all the way to California's 3-yard line. After Riegels was finally stopped by his own teammate at the 1-yard line, he was swarmed by a group of Tech players. The Bears opted to punt from the end zone. The punt was blocked and converted by Tech into a safety giving Tech a 2–0 lead.[n 6] Cal scored a touchdown and a point after but Tech would score another touchdown to win the game 8–7. This victory made Tech the 10–0 undefeated national champion of1928.[29][30][n 7] Coach Alexander found campus spirit to be particularly low during theGreat Depression. His football program (and the other athletic teams) had very few student fans attending the games. He helped to establish a spirit organization known as the Yellow Jacket Club in1930 to bolster student spirit.[32] The group would later become theRamblin' Reck Club. Georgia Tech football declined following the 1928 championship, and did not post another winning record until 1937. The1939 team was SEC co-champion. The only retired jersey in Georgia Tech football history is No. 19.[33] The number belonged to Tech halfbackClint Castleberry. Castleberry played on the No. 5 ranked 1942 Tech team as a true freshman and was third place in the 1942Heisman Trophy voting. After ending his freshman year at Tech, Castleberry elected to join the war effort and signed up for theArmy Air Corps. While co-piloting aB-26 Marauder over Africa, Castleberry, his crew, and another B-26 disappeared and were never heard from again.[n 8] Castleberry has been memorialized on Grant Field ever since, with a prominent No. 19 on display in the stadium.[33] The1943 and1944 teams won SEC titles. Coach Alexander finally retired in 1944 after winning 134 games as head coach and taking Tech to the Rose Bowl,Orange Bowl,Cotton Bowl Classic, andSugar Bowl. To this day, Alexander has the second most victories of any Tech football coach. The record for most coaching victories in Tech history is still held by Alexander's then coordinator and eventual successorBobby Dodd.
PresidentBlake R Van Leer believed athletics were an important part of collegiate life, he championed that belief with public support of coaches like Dodd. Van Leer was recorded being proud of Dodd's accomplishments, celebrating him among peers and being a supporting friend.[35]Bobby Dodd took over the Georgia Tech football program following Coach Alexander's retirement in 1944. He did not believe in intense physical practices but rather precise and well executed practices. Dodd's philosophy translated to winning. He set the record for career wins at Tech at 165 career coaching wins including a 31-game winning streak from 1951 to 1952.[36] He also managed to capture two Southeastern Conference Titles and the 1952 National Title, which concluded a 12–0 perfect season andSugar Bowl conquest of previously undefeated, seventh rankedOle Miss[36] in a season that also included victories overOrange Bowl champions, 9th ranked,Alabama; 15th rankedGator Bowl championsFlorida Gators football; 16th rankedDuke; and a 7–4 rival Georgia. While 9–0Michigan State would capture the AP and UP titles, the Yellow Jackets' were ranked first in the International News Service poll. Dodd also understood the deep-seated rivalry with the University of Georgia. His teams won 8 games in a row over the Bulldogs from 1949 to 1956 outscoring the Bulldogs 176–39 during the winning streak.[37] This 8–game winning streak against Georgia remains the longest winning streak by either team in the series. Dodd would finish his career with a 12–9 record against the Bulldogs.[37] In 1956, much controversy preceded the1956 Sugar Bowl. Segregationists tried to keep Pitt fullback/linebackerBobby Grier from playing because he was black. Georgia's governorMarvin Griffin privately met with Coach Dodd and Georgia Tech President Van Leer, where he told them the game could go on without pushback. Immediately after, the governor issued a telegram stating the South stands in Armageddon and publicly threatened to remove funding if Georgia Tech's president Van Leer did not cancel the game. Dodd, along with his team, publicly supported moving forward with the game. President Van Leer threatened to resign in a show of support. Ultimately, Bobby Grier played, making this the first integrated Sugar Bowl and is regarded as the first integrated bowl game in theDeep South.[38]
Dodd's tenure included Georgia Tech's withdrawal from theSoutheastern Conference.[36] The initial spark for Dodd's withdrawal was a historic feud withAlabama Crimson Tide CoachBear Bryant.[39] The feud began when Tech was visiting the Tide atLegion Field inBirmingham in 1961. After a Tech punt, Alabama fair-caught the ball.Chick Granning of Tech was playing coverage and relaxed after the signal for the fair catch.Darwin Holt of Alabama continued play and smashed his elbow into Granning's face causing severe fracturing in his face, a broken nose, and blood-filled sinuses. Granning was knocked unconscious and suffered a severeconcussion, the result of which left him unable to play football ever again. Dodd sent Bryant a letter asking Bryant to suspend Holt after game film indicated Holt had intentionally injured Granning.[39] Bryant never suspended Holt. The lack of discipline infuriated Dodd and sparked Dodd's interest in withdrawing from the SEC.[40] Another issue of concern for Dodd was Alabama's and other SEC schools' over-recruitment of players.[39] Universities would recruit more players than they had roster space for. During the summer practice sessions, the teams in question would cut the players well after signing day thus preventing the cut players from finding new colleges to play for. Dodd appealed the SEC administration to punish the "tryout camps" of his fellow SEC members but the SEC did not. Finally, Dodd withdrew Georgia Tech from the SEC in 1964.[39] Tech would remain an independent likeNotre Dame andPenn State (at the time) during the final four years of Dodd's coaching tenure. In 1967, Dodd passed the head coach position to his favorite coordinator,Bud Carson. Dodd simply retained hisathletic director position, which he had acquired in 1950. He would not retire from athletic directing until 1976.
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Bud Carson was Tech's defensive coordinator in1966. His job was to appease the Tech fan base Bobby Dodd had accumulated. Carson was not the charismatic leader like Dodd but rather a strategy man that enjoyed intense game planning. Carson's most notable achievements included recruiting Tech's first everAfrican American scholarship athlete and being the first Tech head coach to be fired. Carson recruitedEddie McAshan to play quarterback in 1970.[41] After several Summer practices, McAshan won the starting quarterback job and became the first African American quarterback to start for a majorSoutheastern university.[41] This decision initially polarized Georgia Tech's fan base, but after winning his first 4 starts and leading Tech to a 9–3 season after three straight 4–6 seasons, McAshan won the hearts of the Tech faithful. McAshan's besting of UGA in the annual rivalry game made McAshan a fixture on campus. The following season, however, led to Carson's demise. In1971, Tech went 6–6 and a fan base used to Bobby Dodd's 8 wins per season average forced Carson out byJames E. Boyd's hand. Carson went on to form theSteel CurtainPittsburgh Steelers defense.
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Bill Fulcher supplanted Bud Carson. Fulcher appeared to be the right choice but quit after two seasons, overwhelmed by racial incidents. Fulcher's tenure included a terrible feud with Eddie McAshan, which peaked before the 1972 UGA game. McAshan had requested additional tickets for the game so that his family could attend. Fulcher refused the ticket request and McAshan sat out of practice in protest.[41] Fulcher responded by suspending the quarterback for the UGA game and the upcomingLiberty Bowl. The story exploded on the national scene whenJesse Jackson attended the UGA game, allowing McAshan to sit with him outside of thestadium in protest.[41]
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AlumnusPepper Rodgers was hired soon after Fulcher quit, hired away fromUCLA. Like Carson and Fulcher, he simply could not return Tech to its national prominence of Dodd's era; in six seasons, his overall record was 34–31–2 (.522).[42] Rodgers' flamboyant demeanor shortened his welcome at the school, and athletic director Doug Weaver replaced him withBill Curry after the1979 season. Homer Rice became athletic director and attempted to reinvigorate Tech's program by joining theAtlantic Coast Conference in1980.
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AlumnusBill Curry had no experience as a head coach, but was a refreshing change after the flamboyant Rodgers. Curry's early years saw Tech reach its lowest point in modern history. His first two Tech teams in1980 and1981 went 2–19–1 (.114), with the only bright spots being a brilliant 24–21 road victory over Bear Bryant'sAlabama team at Legion Field to open the 1981 season and a 3–3 slug fest in 1980 with top-rankedNotre Dame at Grant Field. Things had gotten so bad, they could only get better.[43]
Curry slowly rebuilt the team, restored a winning mentality to the Georgia Tech fan base; Tech won nine games in1985, including a 17–14 victory overMichigan State in theAll American Bowl. Tech's 1984–1985 teams featured the "Black Watch" defense; created by defensive coordinatorDon Lindsey, it featured linebackersTed Roof and Jim Anderson, safety Mark Hogan, and linemanPat Swilling.[44][45] The elite defensive players were awarded black stripes down the center of their helmets and black GT emblems on the side of their helmets.[45] Curry's leadership and ability to build a winning program sparked interest from the Crimson Tide and Alabama hired Curry away from Tech in1986.[46]
After Curry's departure, Tech hired the talentedMaryland Terrapins CoachBobby Ross,[47] who departed a Maryland athletic program in turmoil after theLen Bias tragedy.[48] Bobby Ross came from Maryland after winning three ACC titles over four years. Ross' first season at Tech experienced a severe talent vacuum after Curry's departure, and the players Ross inherited resisted the changes he demanded. The team only won two games, and Ross contemplated ending his coaching career after a humbling loss to Wake Forest in 1987. Ross decided to remain at Tech and continued to rebuild Tech's program. The turning point came in 1989 with the recruitment ofShawn Jones and several other key freshman. After two seasons and only five total wins, Jones helped the Jackets rebound at the end of the 1989 season.[49] In Jones' sophomore season, Tech powered through their schedule and won the ACC. The four-game unbeaten streak in1989 extended all the way through1990 and into the 1991 Citrus Bowl. The key victory in the streak was a huge 41–38 come from behind upset victory over then No.1 ranked Virginia in Charlottesville before a nationwide TV audience. Tech demolished Nebraska 45–21 in the 1991 Citrus Bowl, finishing the season 11–0–1, and earning ashare of the 1990 National Title with theColorado Buffaloes.[50][51] Tech's winning streak ended against Penn State in the 1991 Kick Off Classic. Ross and Jones never replicated that 1990 season but managed to win 8 games in 1991 making Shawn Jones one of the most heralded quarterbacks in Tech history. Ross was offered a head coach position after the1991 season for theSan Diego Chargers, which he took.[52]
After first considering Ross assistant coaches, Ralph Friedgen and George O'Leary, Tech hiredBill Lewis away from East Carolina soon after Ross' departure.[53] When Lewis was hired, the Tech faithful hoped he would continue to build on Ross' success. He had just led East Carolina to an 11–1 record and a final ranking of ninth in the nation. However, Lewis' first season at Tech in1992 saw the Jackets collapse to only a 5–6 record just two years removed from a national championship. Preseason All-AmericanShawn Jones suffered from nagging injuries, leaving Tech's offense inept. After Jones' fourth year ran out,redshirt freshmanDonnie Davis stepped in to fill his shoes in1993, which saw another 5–6 season. In just two years, Lewis had completely squandered the successful momentum established by Bobby Ross. During the Summer of '94,George O'Leary was rehired as defensive coordinator. With Davis injured in spring practice, Lewis recruitedTom Luginbill as his replacement. Luginbill was a proficient passer atPalomar College, ajunior college in California, and his first two games in1994 showed promise. Tech almost upsetArizona who was projected as the No. 1 team in the nation bySports Illustrated and won 45–26 overWestern Carolina. However, Tech lost its next six games before Lewis was fired with three games remaining in the season.[54] O'Leary was named interim coach for the rest of the season.[55]
Georgia Tech lost their final three games, including a 48–10 drubbing at the hands of Georgia. Despite this, Tech dropped the "interim" tag from O'Leary's title and named him head coach in1995. O'Leary's first season saw Senior Donnie Davis return as starter and Tech won 6 games. O'Leary's second season saw the emergence ofJoe Hamilton as starter when Brandon Shaw struggled in his first two starts. Hamilton would eventually lead the Jackets back to bowl contention and Tech attended its first bowl in six years, the 1997Carquest Bowl. Hamilton's prowess as a runner and passer thrilled the Georgia Tech fans. Offensive coordinatorRalph Friedgen utilized a complex offense with Hamilton that featuredoption football mixed in with complex timing routes. Hamilton racked up yardage, touchdowns, and wins for Tech. In1998, Hamilton and Tech's high powered offense won 10 games and a season ending victory over Notre Dame in theGator Bowl. Hamilton's senior year put him on the national stage. He was a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy against rushing phenomenonRon Dayne. Hamilton passed for over 3,000 yards and rushed for over 700 yards.[56] But while Hamilton dazzled, the Georgia Tech defense was a liability (they allowed around 28 points per game), and may have ultimately cost Hamilton the 1999 Heisman Trophy. In a late-season, nationally televised game againstWake Forest, Tech gave up 26 points and Hamilton threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. As an indirect result, Dayne went on to win the Heisman (Joe was runner-up). Hamilton's Georgia Tech career ended on a sour note in the 2000Gator Bowl against theMiami, where the Jackets lost 28–13.[57] The following season,redshirt junior George Godsey, a more traditional pocket passer, succeeded Hamilton at the helm of Tech's powerful offense. The drop-off was minimal—Godsey continued where Hamilton left off, winning 9 games in2000 and 8 games in2001. In 2000, Godsey also led Tech to their third straight victory over the archrival Georgia Bulldogs.[58]
The end of the 2001 season saw George O'Leary entertain a coaching offer from Notre Dame afterBob Davie announced resignation as Irish head coach.[59] O'Leary was eventually awarded the position, but it was revoked shortly thereafter when Notre Dame discovered that O'Leary had fabricated several aspects of his resume.[60] He claimed to have played three years for theUniversity of New Hampshire and to have attained a master's degree fromNew York University; in actuality, he had attended NYU but did not graduate, and he never played a down of New Hampshire football.[61][62] Following O'Leary's departure,Mac McWhorter was named interim head coach for Georgia Tech's bowl game, a victory overStanford in the2001 Seattle Bowl.
The following spring,Chan Gailey was hired to replace O'Leary as Georgia Tech's head coach.[63]Chan Gailey came to Georgia Tech in 2002 after head coaching stints with theDallas Cowboys,Samford Bulldogs, andTroy Trojans. Gailey's first team in2002 managed to win seven games under the quarterbacking ofA.J. Suggs. The most notable game of the 2002 season was an upset of National Title ContenderNorth Carolina State. Georgia Tech rallied in the fourth quarter to upset NC State and endPhilip Rivers's Heisman Trophy hopes. In2003, eleven Georgia Tech players were found academically ineligible.[64] Despite the academic losses and the playing of true freshmanReggie Ball, Gailey would lead Tech to a seven-win season and humiliation of Tulsa in theHumanitarian Bowl.P.J. Daniels racked up over 300 yards rushing in the effort.
2004 and2005 saw Georgia Tech improve talent and skill wise but Tech won seven games again. StarCalvin Johnson arrived as a true freshman in 2004. His performance against Clemson in 2004 helped cement Johnson's place in the annals of all-time Tech greats. Two off-the-field problems affected the Yellow Jackets' 2005 season. First,Reuben Houston, a startingcornerback, was arrested for possession of over 100 pounds ofmarijuana. Houston was dismissed from the football team immediately following this arrest but a later court order forced Coach Gailey to allow Houston to return to the team. Houston would see little playing time following the court order.[65][66] At the end of the2005 season, an NCAA investigation found that 11 ineligible players had played for the Yellow Jackets between the 1998 and 2005 seasons.[67] These players played while not making progress towards graduation on the NCAA-approved schedule. The football victories for that season were initially revoked, and Georgia Tech was put on two years of NCAA probation. Twelve football scholarships were stricken from Georgia Tech's allotment for the 2006 and 2007 freshman classes.[68] The Georgia Tech Athletic Department appealed this decision by the NCAA, and the records were restored but scholarship reductions and probation remained.[69] Athletic Director Dave Braine retired in January 2006, and Dan Radakovich was hired as athletic director. Gailey's most successful year at Georgia Tech was in2006 with nine victories and the ACC Coastal Division championship. TheYellow Jackets football team reached its first New Year's Bowl since the 1999 Gator Bowl and played theWest Virginia Mountaineers in the Gator Bowl.Tashard Choice led the ACC in rushing yards andCalvin Johnson led the ACC in receptions and receiving yardage. After an impressive 33–3 victory at Notre Dame to open the 2007 season, the team slid to finish 7–6. On the morning of Monday, November 26, 2007, Gailey was fired from the Yellow Jackets, two days after another heartbreaking loss to theUniversity of Georgia.[70] The Yellow Jackets' Athletic Department hiredPaul Johnson, then the head coach atNavy and formerGeorgia Southern head coach, as Gailey's replacement on December 7, 2007.[71]
On Friday, December 7, 2007, less than two weeks after Georgia Tech announced the firing of Chan Gailey,Paul Johnson was announced as the new Georgia Tech head football coach.[71] Johnson was hired under a seven-year contract worth more than $11 million. Johnson immediately began installing his uniqueflexbone option offense at Georgia Tech.[72] By the regular season's end, Johnson had led the Yellow Jackets to a 9–3 record including an ACC Coastal Division Co-Championship and a 45–42 win in Athens, Georgia over arch-rival UGA, Tech's first win against the Bulldogs since 2000.[73] In recognition of his accomplishments in his first season, Johnson was named 2008 ACC Coach of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association as well as the CBSSports.com coach of the year.[74][75]
Several weeks after Johnson's defeat of rival Georgia, Georgia Tech rewarded Johnson with a new contract worth $17.7 million, a 53% raise that made him the second highest paid coach in the ACC before he had even completed his first year in the conference.[76] In 2009, Johnson led the Yellow Jackets to historic wins over Florida State in Tallahassee, No. 4 Virginia Tech (breaking an 0–17 losing streak to top five opponents at Grant Field in the past 47 years), and Virginia in Charlottesville. The jackets went on to defeat theClemson Tigers to make themACC champions, a title that would be vacated on July 14, 2011, due to NCAA infractions.[77] The Yellow Jackets went on to lose to Iowa in theOrange Bowl, 24–14. Georgia Tech had another significant win over theNo. 5 Clemson Tigers on October 29, 2011, giving the Tigers their first defeat of the season and enabling QBTevin Washington to rush for 176 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown, breaking a school record.[78] In 2012,Georgia Tech was declared the winner of the ACC Coastal Division on November 19, 2012, clinching it with a victory overDuke 42–24 and finishing with a 5–3 ACC record. Georgia Tech played againstFlorida State in the2012 ACC Championship Game, which was coach Paul Johnson's second appearance in the title game. The Yellow Jackets lost to the Seminoles 21–15.[79][80][81]
The2014 Yellow Jackets, despite being predicted to finish 5th in Coastal Division by ESPN, garnered a 10–2 regular season record (6–2 ACC),[82] including wins over then No. 19Clemson and No. 9Georgia to finish the regular season ranked No. 11 by the recently createdCollege Football Playoff Committee. The highlight of the season was an overtime thriller that lead to the defeat of the Bulldogs in Athens, featuring Harrison Butker's 53-yard field goal that sent the game into overtime, a 1-yard rushing touchdown by RBZack Laskey, and a game clinching interception of UGA quarterbackHutson Mason's throw by cornerbackD.J. White.[83] Georgia Tech met No. 4Florida State in the2014 ACC Championship Game inCharlotte, North Carolina, losing 37–35.[84] Following their conference championship, Florida State was chosen in the top four (ranked No. 3), under which circumstance theOrange Bowl selected Georgia Tech (now No. 12) as its replacement to face the No. 7Mississippi State Bulldogs on December 31, 2014.[85] Justin Thomas led the Jackets to a dominating 49–34 win for the Yellow Jackets, finishing the season 11–3, No. 8 in AP poll and No. 7 in the American Coaches Poll.
The 2015 season showed the Yellow Jackets a 3–9 record, after numerous injuries throughout the entire year. Their only notable win was a 22–16 upset overNo. 9 Florida State on Tech's Homecoming Night, when the Yellow Jackets blocked an attempted field goal by Florida State KickerRoberto Aguayo, which was picked up by Lance Austin and returned for the game-winning touchdown. This was later coined the "Miracle on Techwood Drive".[86][87] 2015 year marked the first year since 1996 that Georgia Tech did not make a bowl appearance. The next year, 2016, marked a bounce-back season, with the Yellow Jackets, led by team captain Justin Thomas, posting a 9–4 record, including a win overKentucky in theTaxSlayer Bowl. 2016 also saw a 28–27 victory overGeorgia in Athens featuring a 14-point comeback in the 4th quarter topped off by a 6-yard TD rush on third down by Qua Searcy, with 30 seconds left in the game. The Yellow Jackets took a step back in 2017, finishing 5–6 (4–4 ACC) with close losses toTennessee (42–41 in 2OT) at theChick Fil A Kickoff Game in the newly constructedMercedes-Benz Stadium, and atMiami (25–24). Despite starting the 2018 season 1–3, the Yellow Jackets rallied to finish the regular season 7–5. The most notable victory was that against rivalVirginia Tech, making Georgia Tech the only conference opponent to win three consecutive games inLane Stadium againstVirginia Tech.[88] The season ended with the2018 Quick Lane Bowl, where the Jackets fell 34–10 to theMinnesota Golden Gophers.[89] Johnson announced his retirement on November 28, 2018, effective following the team's bowl game.[90] Geoff Collins was named Johnson's replacement on December 7, 2018.[91]
Geoff Collins was announced on December 7, 2018, as the new head coach, to replace the retiring Paul Johnson, starting the 2019 season.[92] Collins was hired under a seven-year contract worth more than $23 million.[93] Geoff Collins, a native ofConyers, Georgia, was previously the head coach atTemple, defensive coordinator at Mississippi State and Florida, and previously worked with Georgia Tech as a graduate assistant and recruiting coordinator.[94] In his first season the Jackets experienced several significant losses. A loss againstThe Citadel was the Jackets' first loss against anFCS opponent since1983, and a 45–0 loss toVirginia Tech was the Jackets' first shutout loss at Bobby Dodd Stadium since1957.[95][96] Geoff Collins was fired from Georgia Tech along with athletic directorTodd Stansbury on September 25, 2022, after three 3-win seasons and a 1–3 start in 2022. His final record at Georgia Tech was 10–28, one of the worst coaching records in Georgia Tech history.[97]
Brent Key, a Georgia Tech alumnus and football letterwinner who at the time was the OL coach, was named the interim for the rest of the 2022 season.
Key led the Yellow Jackets to a 4–4 record over the final eight games of the 2022 season. The four wins included two road victories over nationally ranked opponents – a 26–21 win at No. 24 Pitt in his first game at the helm on October 1 and a 21–17 triumph at No. 13 North Carolina on November 19. The Jackets overcame a plethora of injuries (which included its top two quarterbacks.) to finish 5–7 overall and 4–4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play after a 1–3 start. The overall and conference win totals were Tech's highest since 2018, as was its fourth-place finish in the ACC Coastal Division standings. Key's Jackets also defeated the three teams that finished ahead of them in the coastal division. (North Carolina, Pitt and Duke).
On Tuesday November 29, 2022 the interim tag was stripped and Key was named Georgia Tech's 21st head football coach. One of Key's most memorable wins came on October 7, 2023, when following an embarrassing loss to Bowling Green the week prior, the Yellow Jackets defeated the then 17th ranked Miami Hurricanes'. Miami could have won the game by taking a knee, but they ran the ball before fumbling with 26 seconds left. Tech drove 74 yards in four plays to win the game on a last second 44-yard touchdown pass from Haynes King to Christian Leary. It was Key's third win over a ranked ACC opponent on the road.
Tech finished the 2023 regular season at 6–6 and made its first bowl since 2018. The Jackets went 5–3 in ACC play and finished 4th in the conference. They then defeated UCF 30–17 in theGasparilla Bowl to finish 7–6. It was their first winning season since 2018 and their first bowl win since 2016.
The Yellow Jackets began the 2024 campaign against the 9th-rankedFlorida State Seminoles in Week 0. Tech and FSU played in theAer Lingus Classic atAviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Tech upset the Seminoles 24–21, with the game-winning field goal being kicked by sophomore kicker Aiden Birr with no time left on the clock. Tech then beat crosstown foeGeorgia State 35–12 the next week in the first ever meeting between the two Atlanta programs.
Tech started 5–2 through the first seven games, then starting quarterback Haynes King got injured in the win overNorth Carolina which led to a two game losing skid. Haynes King returned for the homecoming game against #4Miami, however Tech also played freshmanAaron Philo for long passing situations as King's right shoulder was not fully healed. The Yellow Jackets pulled off their biggest upset in 15 years when they knocked the Hurricanes from the ranks of the unbeaten, winning 28–23 in front of a raucous crowd.
Tech's encore performance yielded a narrow 30–29 win against theNC State Wolfpack on November 21, 2024. On November 29, 2024, the Yellow Jackets battled #6Georgia, losing 44–42 after 8 overtimes, the second most overtimes played in FBS history as of December 2024.[98] In his first full game since recovering from a shoulder injury, quarterback Haynes King produced 413 yards of total offense – comprising 303 passing and 110 rushing yards – and 5 touchdowns. Eric Singleton, Jr. had 8 catches for 86 yards, with Jamal Haynes carrying the ball 13 times for 91 yards.[99] Tech was defeated byVanderbilt in theBirmingham Bowl, 35-27.
Georgia Tech has been namednational champions seven times by NCAA-designated major selectors, including theCoaches' Poll national championship in1990.[102]: 111–114 [103] Georgia Tech claims the 1917, 1928, 1952, and 1990 championships.[104]: 149–150
| Season | Coach | Selectors | Record | Bowl | Result | Final AP | Final Coaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | John Heisman | Billingsley,Helms,Houlgate,NCF | 9–0 | – | – | – | – |
| 1928 | William Alexander | Berryman, Billingsley,Boand,Football Research, Helms, Houlgate, NCF,Parke Davis,Poling,Sagarin (ELO-Chess) | 10–0 | Rose Bowl | W 8–7 | – | – |
| 1952 | Bobby Dodd | Berryman, Billingsley,INS, Poling, Sagarin (ELO-Chess) | 12–0 | Sugar Bowl | W 24–7 | No. 2 | No. 2 |
| 1990 | Bobby Ross | Dunkel,FACT, NCF, Sagarin (ELO-Chess),UPI Coaches | 11–0–1 | Citrus Bowl | W 45–21 | No. 2 | No. 1 |
Georgia Tech has won 16 conference championships, nine outright and seven shared. Their 2009 ACC championship was later vacated by the NCAA.[105][106]
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | SIAA | John Heisman | 8–0–1 | 5–0 |
| 1917 | 9–0 | 4–0 | ||
| 1918 | 6–1 | 3–0 | ||
| 1920† | William Alexander | 8–1 | 5–0 | |
| 1921† | 8–1 | 4–0 | ||
| 1922† | Southern | 7–2 | 4–0 | |
| 1927† | 8–1–1 | 7–0–1 | ||
| 1928 | 10–0 | 7–0 | ||
| 1939† | SEC | 8–2 | 6–0 | |
| 1943 | 8–3 | 3–0 | ||
| 1944 | 8–3 | 4–0 | ||
| 1951† | Bobby Dodd | 11–0–1 | 7–0 | |
| 1952 | 12–0 | 7–0 | ||
| 1990 | ACC | Bobby Ross | 11–0–1 | 6–0–1 |
| 1998† | George O'Leary | 10–2 | 7–1 | |
| 2009‡ | Paul Johnson | 11–3 | 7–1 |
† Co-champions
‡ Vacated by the NCAA
Georgia Tech has won five division championships, with four of those leading to an appearance in theACC Championship Game.
| Year | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | ACC Coastal | Chan Gailey | Wake Forest | L 6–9 |
| 2008† | Paul Johnson | N/A lost tiebreaker toVirginia Tech | ||
| 2009 | Clemson | W 39–34 | ||
| 2012† | Florida State | L 15–21 | ||
| 2014 | Florida State | L 35–37 | ||
† Co-champions
List of Georgia Tech head coaches.[107]
† Interim
Georgia Tech has appeared in 47 bowl games and compiled a record of 26–21.[108] Georgia Tech's first four bowl game appearances, the Rose Bowl (1929), Orange Bowl (1940), Cotton Bowl Classic (1943), and Sugar Bowl (1944), marked the first time a team had competed in all four of the Major Bowl Games.[109]
† Interim
‡New Year's Six Bowl Game
The Yellow Jackets play their home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon his hiring in 1904, John Heisman insisted that the Institute acquire its own football field. Grant Field was constructed to appease Heisman as well as bring a true home field advantage to Tech football.[110]
From 1893 to 1912, the team used area parks such as Brisbane Park,Ponce de Leon Park, andPiedmont Park as the home field.[111] Georgia Tech took out a seven-year lease on what is now the southern end of Grant Field, although the land was not adequate for sports, due to its unleveled, rocky nature. In 1905, Heisman had 300convict laborers clear rocks, remove tree stumps, and level out the field for play; Tech students then built a grandstand on the property. The land was purchased by 1913, andJohn W. Grant donated $15,000 towards the construction of the field's first permanent stands; the field was named Grant Field in honor of the donor's deceased son, Hugh Inman Grant.[111][112]
The stadium now sits amongst a unique urban skyline and is among the oldest Division I FBS football stadiums. In fact, the only Division I stadiums older areFranklin Field at theUniversity of Pennsylvania andHarvard Stadium.[113] Grant Field was natural grass until 1971. Theastroturf was replaced by grass in 1995.[110] The stadium officially holds 55,000 but has held up to 56,412 in 2005[114] and 56,680 in 2006.[115]
On February 26, 2019, Georgia Tech officials unveiled plans to hold one home game per season from 2020 to 2024 (five games total) atMercedes-Benz Stadium, located less than one mile from theGeorgia Tech main campus, with the series dubbed "Mayhem at MBS". However, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, on July 30, 2020, the 2020 game against Notre Dame was moved back to Bobby Dodd Stadium and the agreement with MBS was extended to six years, running through 2026, comprising six games.[116][117][118][119]
The interlocking GT logo was created in 1967 at the request of Bobby Dodd. One of the varsity players was asked to design a logo for the helmets. Several variations of the design were submitted, including a yellow jacket design. The yellow jacket was not submitted because to make the insect look mean it would have to be stinging and therefore flying backwards. The interlocking GT was selected during the summer of 1967 and formalized into decals for the helmets. Over the years it became the official logo for Georgia Tech Athletics.[120]
When head coach Paul Johnson was hired in 2008, the Yellow Jackets adopted a new uniform style. One year later, the uniforms were altered to change the yellow to gold. A year after that, the uniforms were altered again. This time, the team adopted separate white uniforms for both home and away games, while retaining the previous styles' navy and gold jerseys for occasions when the Yellow Jackets could not wear white at home.[citation needed]
In 2018, after nearly 40 years of being with Russell Athletic, Georgia Tech switched to Adidas. With the change came more consistent branding across all sports and a custom shade of gold for the team as well as new uniforms that entwine progressive and traditional elements. The uniforms were updated in 2022 with a more classic look.
TheCrimson Tide and the Yellow Jackets have played 52 times in a rivalry that dates back to 1902.[121] With the exception of a four-year break during World War II (1943–1946), they squared off annually from 1922 to 1963 as members of theSouthern Conference (1922–1932) andSoutheastern Conference (1933–1963). The rivalry continued for one season after Georgia Tech withdrew from the SEC in 1964, then was renewed again with games in six-straight seasons from 1979 to 1984. With 52 previous meetings, Alabama is Georgia Tech's fifth-most-common all-time opponent (behind only Georgia – 114 meetings, Auburn – 92, Duke – 87 and Clemson – 85).[122] 36 years after their last meeting, Alabama and Georgia Tech announced in January 2020 that they are set to renew the rivalry in 2030 and 2031, so by the time they meet up again, it’ll have been 46 years since the last time they played each other.[123] Alabama leads the series 28–21–3, and the Yellow Jackets won the last matchup 16–6 in 1984.
The Yellow Jackets have played theAuburn Tigers more than 90 times in football, and the series of football games between the two is the second-oldest in the Southeast. Auburn Univ. or A.P.I. is by far Georgia Tech's second-most-often played opponent in football.[124] The rivalry is also intense in basketball, baseball, etc.
The first game took place on November 25, 1892, inAtlanta, Georgia. They played in theSIAA until it was defunct in 1922, before joining theSoutheastern Conference. This rivalry lost some luster when the Georgia Tech Athletics discarded its membership in theSoutheastern Conference in1963 to become an independent institute. However, the Yellow Jackets continued their annual series of football games with the Auburn Tigers through1987. Georgia Tech and Auburn play football games in occasional years, and games in other sports regularly. Even though the Yellow Jackets have joined the Atlantic Coast Conference for all sports in recent decades, from a historical perspective, the Auburn Tigers are Georgia Tech's second-highest sports rivalry, behind only the Georgia Bulldogs.[124] Auburn leads in the all-time series 47–41–4 with the last game played in 2005.[125]
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and theClemson Tigers have the fourth-most-played series in Georgia Tech football history. They have been rivals since 1898 and Clemson is Tech's closest opponent, geographically, in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Also, in the ACC's new two-division arrangement, each team has one football opponent in the opposite division which has been selected as the two teams' official cross-division rival, they played every year until 2024. The Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers are one of these six pairs.[126] In addition to their geographical closeness and the Heisman connection, the Georgia Tech – Clemson pairing is also a logical one because of both schools' long history in engineering, technology, and science education. Recently, the game has become known for last-minute, extremely close finishes. From 1996 to 2001, each of the six games was decided by exactly three points.
In1977 (before the Yellow Jackets had even joined the ACC), this football series was being considered for termination by the administration of Georgia Tech. Clemson football fans, in an effort to show their economic impact on the Atlanta, Ga., area, brought with them to Atlanta large stockpiles oftwo-dollar bills that were stamped with Clemson Tiger Paws.[127] Georgia Tech leads Clemson in the all-time series 50–36–2.[128]
Georgia Tech's fight songs and cheers are tailored to belittle theGeorgia Bulldogs, and the perennial catch-phrase for Georgia Tech fans for many decades has been "To Hell With georgia [sic]". Georgia Tech and the Univ. of Georgia have played each other in football over 100 times (and hundreds more times in basketball, baseball, track and field, tennis, etc.) and this rivalry has become known asClean, Old-Fashioned Hate. They have been heated rivals since 1893. The annual football game is by far the most important game on the schedule for most Georgia Tech sports fans. The winner of this game takes home the GeorgiaState Governor's Cup. Georgia Tech trails Georgia in the all-time series 72–41–5 through the 2024 season.[129]
Georgia Tech andTennessee hadn't met since 1987 until losing a heart breakingLabor Day game in Atlanta in 2017 that renewed the rivalry between the two.[130] When Georgia Tech was part of theSoutheastern Conference they played annually. After Georgia Tech left the SEC in 1964, the teams still met until 1987. The series dates back to 1902 and Tennessee leads the series 25–17–2 with the last game played in the 2017 season.[131]
The Yellow Jackets and theVanderbilt Commodores first met in 1892 inAtlanta, Georgia with Vanderbilt winning 20–10.[132] Since 1924, the winning team in the series has received a silver-plated cowbell with the year and final score of each game engraved on it. The trophy was created by Ed F. Cavaleri was described by the Atlanta Constitution as “a faithful Georgia Tech supporter though he did not attend the Jacket institution,” according to Georgia Tech's website. Cavaleri purchased a cowbell at an Atlanta hardware store to use as a noise-maker while on his way to a game in 1924. The Commodores defeated Georgia Tech 3–0, however another fan in attendance suggested that Cavaleri award the bell to the winning team. The tradition was born and Cavaleri attended every game between the two teams from 1924 to 1967.[133] The cowbell has a gold plate screwed into each side, with “GEORGIA TECH-VANDERBILT FOOTBALL TROPHY” inscribed at the top. Three columns list the year of each game, Georgia Tech's points scored and Vanderbilt's points scored. The results of the games from 1924 to 1967 are engraved on one side; the results from 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2016 are on the other.[134] Georgia Tech is 20–16–3 against Vanderbilt in 39 games. The Commodores won the last matchup 35–27 in the2024 Birmingham Bowl.
The rivalry withVirginia Tech has grown considerably since Virginia Tech entered the ACC. In previous years, the teams played infrequently. The intra-conference game has often seen both teams ranked and the outcome has played a key part in determining the winner of the ACC Coastal Division. Since the ACC switched to Division format in 2005, the winner of this game has gone on to win the Coastal Division all but once, with VT winning six times and GT winning four times.[135] Dubbed theBattle of the Techs, the game has seen some very close, very intense match-ups.[136]
Virginia Tech leads the series 12–9.[137]
TheBlue Devils and the Yellow Jackets have played 90 times in a series that dates back to 1933 and every year uninterrupted until 2023.[138] There was a long period of Duke dominance in the series from 1936 to 1945. The Blue Devils won all but one matchup including a six-game win streak, the longest in the series for Duke. The win streak also came in the glory days for Duke football, as the 1930s and 1940s featured the best Duke football teams. From 1946 to 1984, the series would be rather back and forth, teams exchanging periods of dominance over the other. Heading into the 1984 season, the series was deadlock at 25–25–1. But since then it has been nearly all Georgia Tech. In the 36 matchups since 1984, the Jackets have walked away with 26 victories, the Blue Devils have won just ten.[139] Duke is Georgia Tech's third-most common opponent all-time (behind only Georgia – 113 meetings and Auburn – 92).[140] Georgia Tech leads the series 55–35–1. This game decided the ACC Coastal Division champion in 2014. Although Duke won the game 31–25, they had a loss to Miami beforehand followed by losses to Virginia Tech and rival North Carolina, which allowed the Yellow Jackets to claim the division title and a trip to Charlotte for the ACC Championship as they just had 2 conference losses whereas Duke had 3. Georgia Tech won the last matchup 24–14 in Atlanta in 2024. The series will continue in 2025 in Durham and in 2026 in Atlanta. It is occasionally missed due to the ACC's new scheduling format, not being played in 2023 and 2027.[141][142]
This series began in 1922. TheFighting Irish were a longtime rival of the Yellow Jackets and the two teams met periodically on an annual basis over the years, particularly from 1963 to 1981 when both schools were independents following Tech's departure from the Southeastern Conference. The 1975 Georgia Tech-Notre Dame game marked the sole appearance in an Irish uniform ofRudy Ruettiger, the subject of the filmRudy. When Georgia Tech joined the Atlantic Coast Conference beginning in 1982, they were forced to end the series after 1981 because of scheduling difficulties. Consequently, the two teams have met very infrequently since then. Georgia Tech was the opponent in the inaugural game in the newly expanded Notre Dame Stadium in 1997, then a year later they met again in the Gator Bowl. The Fighting Irish and Yellow Jackets met in the 2006 and 2007 season openers and split both games. The rivalry resumed in 2015 with a 30–22 Irish win in South Bend, and will continue on a semi-regular basis as Georgia Tech and Notre Dame are scheduled to face off five times in the next ten years starting in 2020.[143] Notre Dame is played Georgia Tech atMercedes-Benz Stadium in 2024, beating Tech 31–13. Georgia Tech traveled to South Bend in 2021, and is set to return for the next contest again Notre Dame in 2027.[144] Notre Dame leads the series 29–6–1.[145]
The Yellow Jackets and theTulane Green Wave first met on November 4, 1916, inAtlanta, Georgia. Tulane was the opponent at Bobby Dodd Stadium for the Jackets’ first-ever televised football game — a 13–7 win over the Green Wave on WSB-TV on Oct. 2, 1948.[146] Tulane is the seventh-most frequent opponent for Georgia Tech (50 meetings).[147] Tulane and Georgia Tech spent most of their athletic histories as members of the same conference: they were among the first to join theSIAA in 1894 then Georgia Tech left in 1921 and Tulane in 1922 to join theSouthern Conference. Both schools moved yet again in 1932 to charter theSoutheastern Conference, of which they were members until Tech's departure in 1963 to become independent. Tulane followed suit in 1966, but they played each other yearly until 1982.[citation needed] Georgia Tech is now a member of theAtlantic Coast Conference, while Tulane is a member of theAmerican Athletic Conference. The rivalry was renewed on September 6, 2014, in the first football game played onTulane's campus sinceTulane Stadium was torn down in 1980. Georgia Tech leads the series 37–13. The Yellow Jackets won the last matchup 65–10 in 2015.
Georgia Tech has had several players receive votes in theHeisman Trophy balloting.Eddie Prokop finished fifth in the 1943 Heisman voting,[154] Lenny Snow was fourteenth in1966,[155]Eddie Lee Ivery was eighth in1978,[156] andCalvin Johnson was tenth in 2006.[157]Billy Lothridge is the only Tech player to receive votes in multiple years. He was eighth in1962 and runner-up in1963.[155]Clint Castleberry was the only freshman in the history of the Heisman to finish as high as third untilHerschel Walker's third-place finish in1980.[158] Castleberry and Walker, however, were both surpassed in2004 by true freshmanAdrian Peterson's Heisman runner-up season.Joe Hamilton tied Lothridge's runner-up status in 1999.[159]
| Year | Name | Position | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Clint Castleberry | HB | 3rd |
| 1943 | Eddie Prokop | QB | 5th |
| 1963 | Billy Lothridge | QB | 2nd |
| 1999 | Joe Hamilton | QB | 2nd |
Georgia Tech has fielded 50 First TeamAll-Americans. The first All-Americans at Tech were Walker Carpenter andEverett Strupper in 1917 while the most recent were Durant Brooks in 2007,[160] Michael Johnson in 2008, Derrick Morgan in 2009, and Shaquille Mason in 2014.
Four Georgia Tech players have been awarded the highest collegiate award possible for their position. Joe Hamilton won the Davey O'Brien Award after his senior season in 1999, Calvin Johnson won the Fred Biletnikoff Award after his junior season in 2006, and Durant Brooks and Pressley Harvin III won the Ray Guy Award in 2007 and 2020 respectively. Hamilton and Johnson were the only Tech players to be named ACC Player of the Year until Jonathan Dwyer received the honor in 2008.[161]
| Name | Award | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Hamilton | O'Brien | 1999 |
| Calvin Johnson | Biletnikoff | 2006 |
| Durant Brooks | Ray Guy | 2007 |
| Pressley Harvin III | Ray Guy | 2020 |
Georgia Tech has had four coaches and 14 players inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame just down the street inAtlanta.[162][163] Coaches Heisman, Alexander, Dodd, and Johnson were inducted in the 1954, 1951, 1993, and 2023 classes respectively.
| Name | Position | Played | Inducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxie Baughan | C | 1957–1959 | 1988 |
| Ray Beck | G | 1948–1951 | 1997 |
| Bobby Davis | T | 1944–1947 | 1978 |
| Bill Fincher | E, T | 1916–1920 | 1974 |
| Buck Flowers | HB | 1918–1920 | 1955 |
| Joe Guyon | HB, T | 1917–1918 | 1971 |
| Joe Hamilton | QB | 1996–1999 | 2014 |
| Calvin Johnson | WR | 2004–2006 | 2018 |
| George Morris | C | 1950–1952 | 1981 |
| Larry Morris | C | 1951–1954 | 1992 |
| Peter Pund | C | 1926–1928 | 1963 |
| Randy Rhino | S | 1972–1974 | 2002 |
| Everett Strupper | HB | 1915–1917 | 1972 |
| Pat Swilling | DE | 1982–1985 | 2009 |
Georgia Tech has over 150 alumni that have played in theNational Football League.[164] Tech has had ten players selected in the first round of the NFL draft since its inception in 1937.[165] The first Georgia Tech player ever to be drafted was Middleton Fitzsimmons in 1937. He was drafted 2nd in the 10th round by theChicago Bears.[166] The first Tech player selected in the first round was Eddie Prokop in 1945 and the most recent first round Yellow Jackets were Demaryius Thomas and Derrick Morgan in 2010.[165]
| Name | Position | Year | Overall pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Prokop | QB | 1945 | 4 | Boston Yanks |
| Larry Morris | LB | 1955 | 7 | L.A. Rams |
| Rufus Guthrie | OG | 1963 | 10 | L.A. Rams |
| Kent Hill | OG | 1979 | 26 | L.A. Rams |
| Eddie Lee Ivery | RB | 1979 | 15 | Green Bay Packers |
| Marco Coleman | DE | 1992 | 12 | Miami Dolphins |
| Keith Brooking | LB | 1998 | 12 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Calvin Johnson | WR | 2007 | 2 | Detroit Lions |
| Demaryius Thomas | WR | 2010 | 22 | Denver Broncos |
| Derrick Morgan | DE | 2010 | 16 | Tennessee Titans |
Three Yellow Jackets have been inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame.[167] Joe Guyon played professional football from 1920 to 1927. Guyon was a collegiate teammate ofJim Thorpe atCarlisle Indian Industrial School before transferring to Georgia Tech. His playing career began with theCanton Bulldogs and finished with theNew York Giants. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the class of 1966.[168] Billy Shaw played professional football for theBuffalo Bills from 1961 to 1969. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the class of 1999.[169] Calvin Johnson played for theDetroit Lions from 2007 to 2015. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the class of 2021, his first year of eligibility.[170]
| Name | Position | Played | Inducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Guyon | HB, T | 1920–1927 | 1966 |
| Billy Shaw | OG | 1961–1969 | 1999 |
| Calvin Johnson | WR | 2007–2015 | 2021 |
| No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure | Year retired | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Clint Castleberry | HB | 1942 | [33] |
Announced schedules as of August 20, 2025.[171][172] With the ACC announcing a 17-team schedule, Georgia Tech plays the following games with no annual rival. Georgia Tech plays each team in the ACC at minimum once every 4 years.
1. The 2025 game with Notre Dame will be played atMercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA
"It seems to us that one name is left out in this collection, who may have been the best all-around player theSouth has had. "We have reference to Doug Wycoff of Tech who, for three straight years, was practically the unanimous all-Southern football choice, despite the fact that Georgia Tech had very lean years during his period of play at this institution. If Wycoff had been flanked by such a pair of halfbacks asRed Barron andBuck Flowers, orThomason andMizell while he was with the Jackets, he would have been an all-American. As it was he had to carry all of the offensive load and on the defense he was a wheelhorse. He was a great punter and passer. If Wycoff was not the best all-around player the South had produced then he was very close to the peak."
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Seifried, C.S., & Kellison, T. (2019). The Modernization of Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Georgia Historical Quarterly, 103(2), 94–126.
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