Jan. 17, 2003
Eight games against teams that participated in bowl games, the renewal of one of the South’s oldest rivalries, and a nationally-televised opener highlight Georgia Tech’s 2003 football schedule, announced Friday by the Atlantic Coast Conference office.
Coming off their sixth consecutive winning season and sixth straight bowl berth, the Yellow Jackets will open their 111th season by playing in one of the first games of the 2003 season. Tech travels to Brigham Young on Thursday, Aug. 28 for a contest that will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Tech’s six-game home slate is one of the most attractive in recent history as the Yellow Jackets entertain five teams that played in bowl games in 2002.
For the first game in the newly expanded, 55,000-seat Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field, Tech hosts Auburn on Sept. 6 in the long-anticipated renewal of a rivalry that dates back to 1892 but has been dormant for 15 years. The two schools have met 90 times, including every year from 1905 through 1987, when the Tigers defeated Tech, 20-10, in the last meeting.
In addition to the Auburn game, Tech’s home schedule is highlighted by a third straight Thursday night, nationally televised matchup with Maryland on Oct. 23 as well as the traditional season-ending rivalry game against Georgia on Nov. 29.
Clemson (Sept. 20), NC State (Oct. 4) and North Carolina (Nov. 15) also visit Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field next fall.
“This is obviously one of the most challenging schedules that Georgia Tech has had in quite some time,” said second-year head coach Chan Gailey. “It’s got some great home games, and with our new stadium, it will be an exciting time at Bobby Dodd Stadium this fall.
“The great thing about our stadium is that through the years, it’s changed but it hasn’t changed. The tradition and the history are a very big part of Bobby Dodd Stadium, and yet it has been upgraded to today’s standards. I think everyone is excited about our new stadium and the games that we will play there next fall.”
Following the trip to BYU, Tech’s road schedule also includes visits to Florida State (Sept. 13), Vanderbilt (Sept. 27), Wake Forest (Oct. 11), Duke (Nov. 8) and Virginia (Nov. 22).
With the Thursday night games against BYU and Maryland, Tech already has two national television dates. Game times and additional television coverage are to be announced.
2003 GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL SCHEDULEAug. 28, at Brigham Young (Thursday)Sept. 6, AUBURNSept. 13, at Florida StateSept. 20, CLEMSONSept. 27, at VanderbiltOct. 4, NC STATEOct. 11, at Wake ForestOct. 23, MARYLAND (Thursday)Nov. 8, at DukeNov. 15, NORTH CAROLINANov. 22, at VirginiaNov. 29, GEORGIA
