The Georgia Bulldogs' Five "Best" Losses to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

by T Kyle King on Nov 26, 2009 8:00 PM EST in Football Comment 7 comments

It goes without saying that any loss by the Georgia Bulldogs to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, no matter what the endeavor, is a bad thing. However, because I consider a Red and Black loss to the Ramblin’ Wreck at historic Grant Field on Saturday to be an inevitability, and because Orson Swindle recently suggested the Doctor’s robot companion K-9 as a successor to Uga VII, I am reminded of the line from "Doctor Who" to the effect that, even out of an evil as great as that of the Daleks, some good must come.

With that in mind, I now provide you with a chronological listing of the five "best" Georgia losses to Georgia Tech:

December 3, 1927: Georgia Tech 12, Georgia 0. Because of the lack of an adequate facility in Athens, the Bulldogs were compelled to play this game in Atlanta for the 18th consecutive series meeting, the last rivalry clash in the Classic City having taken place in 1899. Georgia came into the game undefeated, and, with a Rose Bowl berth on the line, the Bulldogs came up short, much to the disgust of Steadman Vincent Sanford. Sanford immediately began the capital campaign to build a new stadium in Athens, which was dedicated two years later, in the same month and year as the stock market crash. Had the setback suffered in the City Too Busy To Hate not given Sanford the impetus to raise the arena that bears his name, the Great Depression might have delayed the construction of Sanford Stadium by a decade or more.

November 30, 1963: Georgia Tech 14, Georgia 3. Johnny Griffith’s third loss to the Engineers in as many tries brought his all-time ledger against season-ending foes Florida, Auburn, and Georgia Tech to 1-8. The loss was Coach Griffith’s last before alumni pressure forced him from the head coaching post and newly-named Georgia athletic director Joel Eaves tapped the Auburn Tigers’ freshman coach, Vincent Joseph Dooley, to succeed him. Over the course of the next quarter-century, Georgia would go 19-6 over the Bulldogs’ in-state rivals.

November 30, 1974: Georgia Tech 34, Georgia 14. On a dismal cold and rainy day in Athens, the Golden Tornado blew through the Classic City Canines to conclude the worst defensive season in Bulldog history. Erk Russell recognized that changes were needed, so he made alterations to his scheme, enlisted the aid of the Redcoat Band in calling attention to stellar defensive plays, and established the "Junkyard ‘Dawgs," who would win four SEC championships and one national title over the next eight years.

November 25, 2000: Georgia Tech 27, Georgia 15. In keeping with the tradition established with Johnny Griffith, the Bulldogs’ third consecutive loss to the Yellow Jackets required firing the Red and Black’s head coach. Jim Donnan was sent packing and was replaced with Mark Richt, who took seven straight series meetings from the Ramblin’ Wreck while claiming a pair of SEC crowns and winning ten or more games six times in his first eight years.

November 28, 2009: Georgia Tech a lot, Georgia a lot less. I mean, obviously. The final nail in Willie Martinez’s coffin forced the change in Georgia defensive coordinators that ended the Bulldogs’ brief downcycle and got the Mark Richt era back on track.

As negative as I try to be, I still make the effort to look for the silver lining for the men in silver britches, and, right now, this is the best I can do.

Go ‘Dawgs!

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There must be something really wrong with me.

I’m not going to profess to be as knowledgable as most of the folks who comment on Bulldog blogs around the Internet, but I’m about tired of the “Woe is me” attitude I’ve read on the blogs and that I’ve read is taking place in the locker room.

I know Tech is a top 10, one loss team right now. I know that the Dawgs are a five loss team that is really isn’t as good as its record would lead us to believe. However, we are still Georgia, and they are still Tech. Athletically, we’ve got to match up with them. Coaching-wise, who knows. They’ve got a good head coach, and we’ve got a good head coach. Richt learned last year what it means to lose to Tech, and if the guys ont the team can’t man up to play TECH, of all teams, with every ounce of fight they’ve got in them, they weren’t ever really Bulldogs to begin with.

Furthermore, this is a dream season for Tech, and a nightmare for the Dawgs. If our guys can’t take a little bit of pleasure out of tarnishing their season, I’ll be surprised.

I’m going out on a limb, putting on my Bulldog-colored glasses, and I’m calling the Dawgs in an upset. That’s right, plaster it all over the place and flame me to ashes.

Man up, beat Tech, and go Dawgs.

by Father Dawg on Nov 27, 2009 12:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I admire your faith, Father Dawg

(Yes, pun intended.)

Technically, you’re correct… on any given Saturday, any team can beat any other team.

I fear, however, that little short of divine intervention itself can give us the upper hand this year. I would ask you to put a request for said intervention in for us, but I’d like to save up our rations of divine goodwill for 2010, when such “good luck” in one or two key games will hopefully matter far more.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 27, 2009 2:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not saying, "I told you so", but...

those last for play calls show why we’re Georgia and they are Tech.

by Father Dawg on Nov 28, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't spell.

nm.

by Father Dawg on Nov 29, 2009 12:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You are so right

I was mystified when they called 4 straight passes from the 50 yard line with almost 2 full minutes left in the game. Truly inexplicable.

I can’t imagine an explanation for that.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 29, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sneak preview of UGA v Tech gameday chart

UGA kicks-off (via Tech winning coin toss or UGA deferral). Directional kick to right sideline at the 5, Tech returns to 35 were GA defenders are scattered in various patterns as if controlled by old electric football game from the 70’s. Guy with his arms outstretched (used mainly in tight-end / lb formations) hauls Tech returner down at the 40. Nice play Rennie!

Tech smartly moves ball downfield, testing CWM’s bend but don’t run-blitz defense and scores in 5 plays capped by a 22 yard run for a TD. Tech 7 – UGA 0.

On ensuing kick-off, Boykin peddles furiously on sideline while B. Smith fields kick 7 yards deep in endzone. With Chapas flapping his arms…a signal yet to be discussed between the two all year, but Smith assuming it means “Fly down the field Bra’”…Smith returns to the UGA 2 where he is meet by all 11 Tech defenders (their kicker shows amazing speed!).

1st & 10….Cox with da bomb. Incomplete.

2nd & 10….hand-off to King behind Boling, who being unsure of significance of play in overall scheme of things, misses a key block that stops the run after 2 yards.

3rd & 8….Joe drops back in pocket….crowd gasps as 3 defenders are seen bearing down on the ginger assassain for a safety, but JC is still able to fire over the middle to Aron White. Sort of. No one is really sure which receivers are in on that play, but it was supposed to be AJ (last scene in street clothes on sideline) and pass hits Tech lineman in facemask for near interception.

4th & 8….Butler punts to Tech 20 (80 yards!) and coverage team makes the stop at the 50.

Rinse and repeat.

After the game, CMR hugs Willie and says, “You’re not my wife….why are we hugging? And why do you dress like her on gamedays?”

Damon Evans seen outside East endzone gates with tin can and sign reading “Will consider coaching changes for $”

Run Lindsay Run!

by ausdawg85 on Nov 27, 2009 12:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs