GEORGIA TECH (2-2, 0-2 ACC) at NORTH CAROLINA (3-1, 1-1 ACC)
Sept. 30, 2000 * 3:30 p.m. * Kenan Memorial Stadium * Chapel Hill, N.C.
Records
Georgia Tech: 2-2, 0-2 ACC
North Carolina: 3-1, 1-1 ACC
Rankings
Both teams unranked
Series
Tied 16-16-3
Last Meeting (10-9-99 in Atlanta): Tech 31-24 (ot)
Last North Carolina win: 1997, 16-13 in Atlanta
Television
The game will be regionally televised on ABC with announcers Sean McDonough and Ed Cunningham and Leslie Gudel on the sideline.
Radio
The Georgia Tech ISP Network includes 40 affiliates in five states, including WGST (AM-640) in Atlanta.
Wes Durham is in his sixth season as Tech’s play-by-play voice, while legendary Tech quarterback Kim King is in his 27th year as color analyst.
ON THE INTERNET
A TotalCast of all Georgia Tech football games is available on the official website of Tech athletics, ramblinwreck.com. Tech radio broadcasts are also available on broadcast.com, featuring the call of Wes Durham and Kim King.
ALL-TIME RECORD
Now in its 108th season of intercollegiate football, Georgia Tech has an all-time record of 594-403-43 (.592). Entering the 2000 season, Tech ranked 21st among Division I-A teams in all-time victories.
HEAD COACH GEORGE O’LEARY
Now in his sixth full season as Georgia Tech’s head coach, George O’Leary was officially named the Institute’s 10th head coach on Nov. 28, 1994, three weeks after being elevated from defensive coordinator to interim head coach.
The 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, O’Leary originally joined the Tech staff in 1987 and spent five years as defensive coordinator under former head coach Bobby Ross. He then coached two seasons (1992-93) under Ross with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers before returning to Tech as defensive coordinator in January of 1994.
A 31-year veteran of professional, college and prep coaching, O’Leary has a record of 38-27 (.585), including 25-19 (.568) in ACC games.
THE SERIES VS. NORTH CAROLINA
Georgia Tech has won two in a row and three of the last five meetings in the series with North Carolina, which is knotted at 16-16-3. Tech won last year’s game, 31-24 in overtime, and also won the last meeting in Chapel Hill, 43-21 in 1998. The Tar Heels’ last win in the series was a 16-13 victory in Atlanta in 1997, while its last home win was a 16-0 shutout in 1996.
Tech has not enjoyed much success at North Carolina. The Jackets’ 43-21 win at Kenan Stadium in 1998 was their first win win in Chapel Hill since 1945, ending a nine-game winless streak. The Jackets are 5-9-3 on UNC’s home field.
LAST MEETING WITH NORTH CAROLINA
In 1999 in Atlanta, all-America quarterback Joe Hamilton drove the Yellow Jackets in position for the last-second tying field goal and then scored on a six-yard run in the first overtime to give Georgia Tech a 31-24 victory over North Carolina in the first overtime game in school history. After a fourth-down stop by the Tech defense, the Jackets took over on their own two-yard line with 1:10 left. Hamilton, who was 14-for-26 for 273 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 77 yards and one score, engineered a 79-yard, 10-play drive to set up Luke Manget’s 36-yard field goal with just five seconds left. Kelly Campbell, who caught passes of 32 and 35 yards on the tying drive, finished with seven catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
In 1998, Tech earned its first win in Chapel Hill since 1945 with a 43-21 decision keyed by Hamilton, who passed for 303 yards and three touchcowns.
INTERCEPTION-LESS STREAK ENDS AT 120
George Godsey threw his first interception of the season against NC State on his 117th pass attempt. Counting his last four passes of 1999, Godsey’s string of 120 consecutive passes without an interception is the third-longest in school history.
161 Joe Hamilton UNC 1997 - Boston Col. 1998122 Shawn Jones Stanford 1991 - NC State 1998120 George Godsey NC State 1999 - NC State 2000103 Joe Hamilton Boston Col. 1998 - NC State 1998
SEVEN SACKS VS. PACK
The Georgia Tech defense collected seven quarterback sacks against NC State, the Yellow Jackets’ best total since a seven-sack effort against Maryland in 1997.
Tech now has 14 sacks on the season, led by Greg Gathers with four and Recardo Wimbush and Daryl Smith with three each. The Jackets had 16 sacks all of last season.
GATHERS NAMED DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Sophomore defensive end Greg Gathers was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play in Georgia Tech’s 40-13 win over Navy. Gathers recovered a fumbled and returned it six yards for a touchdown and also caused another fumble that Tech recovered. The LaPlace, La., native had six tackles in the game, with one sack and two other tackles for loss.
DAN THE MAN
Georgia Tech punter Dan Dyke ranks fourth in the nation with a 45.3-yard average. The sophomore from Winter Springs, Fla., has put six punts inside the 20-yard line and has helped Tech rank second nationally with a net of 43.2 yards per kick.
RUN DEFENSE IMPROVED
Georgia Tech ranks 14th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 78.0 yards rushing per game. Three of the Yellow Jackets’ four opponents have been held to 73 yards or fewer, with only Navy’s option attack (165 yards) topping the 100-yard mark. Tech’s opponents are averaging 2.2 yards per rush.
GOOSE IS GOLDEN IN FOURTH QUARTER
Quarterback George Godsey has done some of his best work in the fourth quarter. Through four games, Goose has completed 28 of 38 passes for 280 yards and five touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Against UCF, Godsey guided the Jackets to two touchdowns in the final four minutes in Tech’s 21-17 victory. He entered the game with the Jackets trailing 17-7 and facing third-and-18 at their own 35-yard line, and completed seven of nine passes for 92 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown pass to Kelly Campbell and then a one-yard scoring toss to Brian Lee for the game-winner with 38 seconds left.
Godsey completed 13 straight fourth quarter passes against Florida State, passing for 128 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jon Muyres that brought the Jackets within five points with 4:50 to play.
Against NC State, he drove the Jackets 50 yards in 10 plays and threw a seven-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to tie the game with 1:20 left and force overtime.
RELIEF PITCHERS
Although George Godsey has firmly established himself as Georgia Tech’s starting quarterback, backups Andy Hall and Jermaine Crenshaw were effective when called upon against Central Florida and Florida State, respectively.
Against Florida State, Crenshaw first entered the game late in the first quarter and at times in the second half, he alternated plays with Godsey. He completed four of five passes for 30 yards while rushing for 36 yards on nine attempts.
Hall was inserted for series in the second and fourth quarters against UCF and completed four of nine passes for 37 yards while netting 24 yards rushing. He also saw action with the second team late in Tech’s 40-13 win over Navy.
THE GOOSE GAGGLE
George Godsey’s younger brother Gary, a sophomore at Notre Dame, is now the Fighting Irish starting quarterback after Arnaz Battle suffered a broken wrist against Nebraska.
On Sept. 16, the first week in which both brothers startered, George completed 10 of 19 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in Tech’s win over Navy, while Gary was 15-for-24 for 158 yards and one touchdown rushing in the Fighting Irish’s win over Purdue.
But don’t refer to Gary as the little brother. He stands 6-7 and 239 pounds, compared to George’s 6-2, 205-pound frame. Their older brother, Greg, played football at the Air Force Academy, and their father played offensive tackle for Bear Bryant at Alabama.
John and Barbara Godsey planned their travel before the season so that at least one of them would be at every one of their sons’ games.
CAMPBELL EYES TD RECORD
With his next touchdown catch, junior flanker Kelly Campbell will tie the Georgia Tech career record. Campbell caught his 13th career touchdown with a 50-yard score last week against Navy. The Tech record of 14 is shared by Campbell’s former teammate Dez White, Gary Lee and Buck Martin.
Last fall, Campbell shattered Tech’s season records with 69 receptions for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns. He now ranks 8th in Rambling Wreck annals in career receptions (96) and 8th in yardage (1,439).
CAREER RECEPTIONS Years Rec. Needs 1. Harvey Middleton 1994-97 165 70 2. Bobby Rodriguez 1989-92 115 20 Jerry Mays 1985-89 115 20 4. Robert Lavette 1981-84 114 19 5. John Sias 1966-68 110 15 6. Jimmy Robinson 1972-74 101 6 7. Derrick Steagall 1993-97 99 4 8. Kelly Cambpell 1998- 96 CAREER RECEIVING YARDS Years Yds Needs 1. Harvey Middleton 1994-97 2,291 853 2. Dez White 1997-99 1,833 395 3. John Sias 1966-68 1,727 289 4. Bobby Rodriguez 1989-92 1,681 243 5. Derrick Steagall 1993-97 1,639 201 6. Jimmy Robinson 1972-74 1,633 195 Greg Lester 1987-91 1,633 195 8. Kelly Campbell 1998- 1,439CAREER RECEIVING TD Years Yds Needs 1. Dez White 1997-99 14 2 Buck Martin 1950-52 14 2 Gary Lee 1983-86 14 2 4. Kelly Campbell 1998- 13 Harvey Middleton 1994-97 13 Jimmy Robinson 1972-74 13 Greg Lester 1987-91 13
INSPIRED DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE VS. UCF
Georgia Tech’s defense held UCF to 255 yards of total offense, the best performance by the Yellow Jackets since allowing just 246 yards to North Carolina in the third game of the 1996 season. Seventy-nine of UCF’s yards came on one long touchdown pass.
Tech gave up just eight yards rushing to the Golden Knights, the fifth-best single-game performance in school history and the best since harrassing Maryland into a school-record minus-30 yards in 1995.
PUNTING PROWESS
Punter may be the deepest position on the Georgia Tech team. In the season opener against UCF, sophomore transfer Chris Morehouse made his Tech debut and punted nine times for a 45.1-yard average. Last year’s starter Dan Dyke returned to the lineup against Florida State and has averaged 45.3 yards a kick.
The two have combined to average 45.2 yards per punt, and the Yellow Jackets rank second nationally with a net of 43.2 yards per punt.
Beginning with the 1997 season, Tech puntersRodney Williams, Dan Dyke and Chris Morehousehave averaged 44.1 yards per kick.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Georgia Tech has won 12 of its last 14 home games, with both defeats coming at the hands of Florida State (2000 and 1998). In 10 of those 12 home wins, Tech has scored 40 or more points.
SEASON OPENER, TAKE TWO
In one of the oddest happenings in Georgia Tech’s storied football history, the Yellow Jackets scheduled season opener Aug. 27 at 10th-ranked Virginia Tech in the BCA Bowl was not played due to lightning in Blacksburg, Va. Just seconds before the scheduled 8:05 p.m. kickoff, with the teams already on the field for the start of the game, a sudden bolt of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder, chased the teams to their respective locker rooms.
The teams remained cloistered as heavy rain flooded the field and lightning continued to flash, even striking a car in the adjacent parking lot. At approximately 9 p.m., athletics directors Dave Braine of Georgia Tech and Jim Weaver of Virginia Tech, along with referee Dan Blum and BCA Bowl organizers, made the decision not to play that night, and the game was later cancelled.
No one associated with Rambling Wreck football could recall another Georgia Tech game being postponed or cancelled. The last time the Yellow Jackets had a game delayed by lightning was against Florida at Grant Field in 1980. That contest, a 45-12 victory for the Gators, was stopped midway through the second quarter and delayed for 22 minutes.
DYKE A CANDIDATE FOR RAY GUY AWARD
Georgia Tech punter Dan Dyke has been named to the preseason watch list for the inaugural Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top collegiate punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The National Selection Committee will announce ten semi-finalists by Nov. 8, with three finalists to be announced Nov. 30.
Dyke, a sophomore from Winter Springs, Fla., is fourth in the nation in punting with a 45.3-yard average, while Tech is second in net punting. Last fall, Dyke averaged 43.8 yards per kick and helped the Jackets rank 12th in the nation in net punting. The Electrical Engineering major was also named to GTE Academic All-America first team.
O’LEARY CLIMBS COACHING CHARTS
In his sixth full season as the Georgia Tech head coach, George O’Leary has a record of 38-27 (.585). He already ranks fourth in victories by a Tech head coach. Only the Hall of Fame trio of John Heisman (102-29-7, 16 seasons), William Alexander (134-95-15, 25 seasons) and Bobby Dodd (165-64-8, 22 seasons) have won more games on the Flats than O’Leary.
O’Leary’s winning percentage of .585 is bettered only by Heisman (.779) and Dodd (.713).
FRIEDGEN WINS BROYLES AWARD
Georgia Tech’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ralph Friedgen was honored as the nation’s top assistant coach with the 1999 Broyles Award.
Friedgen, who was a finalist for the award in 1998, directed a unit that led the nation in total offense (509.0) while ranking second in scoring (40.7) and setting 59 school records. Friedgen tutored Heisman Trophy runner-up and consensus all-America quarterback Joe Hamilton, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The award is given in honor of long-time Arkansas head coach and Georgia Tech graduate Frank Broyles, who played for the Rambling Wreck from 1943-46 and then was a Tech assistant coach under Bobby Dodd as offensive coordinator from 1951-56 before becoming the Razorbacks’ head coach.
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE
Georgia Tech’s Nov. 9 game against Virginia will be the second of two ESPN Thursday night games for the Yellow Jackets this fall. The Rambling Wreck fell at NC State, 30-23 in overtime, on Sept. 21 in Raleigh, N.C.
Tech, which also played two ESPN Thursday night games in 1996, has a 5-5 record in such games, including this year’s loss to the Wolfpack.
Tech’s game against Virginia will be the Jackets’ 11th exposure on on ESPN’s prime-time package and will equal Texas A&M for the most Thursday night appearances.
In addition to the nine ESPN dates, the Jackets have also played two other Thursday prime-time games in recent years, defeating Virginia, 31-27, in 1983 on TBS and falling to Arizona, 20-19, in 1995 on Prime. Counting Thanksgiving, Tech’s record on Thursday is 27-18-2.
ESPN THURSDAY NIGHT GAMESYear Opponent Result Att1991 #20 Virginia hW 24-21 42,1921993 #25 Virginia hL 35-14 42,1001994 #7 Arizona hL 19-14 45,1121995 #16 Maryland hW 31-3 44,1371996 Duke hW 48-22 44,1451996 at Maryland aL 13-10 22,5101997 #5 North Carolina hL 16-13 45,1261998 at Clemson aW 24-21 62,0001999 Maryland hW 49-31 44,6122000 at NC State (ot) aL 30-23 49,857
MOST THURSDAY NIGHT APPEARANCES
Texas A&M — 11
Georgia Tech — 10
Texas — 10
San Diego State 9
THREE STRAIGHT BOWL BERTHS
Georgia Tech has earned three consecutive bowl berths, a first for the program since the 1970-71-72 seasons. The Yellow Jackets defeated West Virginia in the 1997 Carquest Bowl and then Notre Dame in the 1999 Toyota Gator Bowl before falling to Miami in last year’s Gator Bowl.
The Yellow Jackets have not played in four straight bowl games since winning six in a row from 1951-56.
NATION’S BEST BOWL RECORD
Despite falling to Miami in last year’s Toyota Gator Bowl, Georgia Tech still owns the nation’s top record in bowl games. Tech’s record now stands at 19-9 for a winning percentage of .679. Penn State is second with a 23-11-2 (.667) record.
Tech ranks sixth all-time in bowl victories with 19 and 13th in appearances with 28.
In 1955, the Jackets became the first team to win each of the four traditional major bowlsRose, Orange, Sugar and Cottonand Tech remains one of only five schools to accomplish this feat. Alabama (1962), Notre Dame (1975), Georgia (1960) and Penn State (1995) are the others.
BEST BOWL WINNING PERCENTAGE 1. GEORGIA TECH 19-9 .679 2. Penn State 23-11-2 .667 3. Florida State 17-9-2 .643 4. Southern Cal 25-14 .641 5. Oklahoma 20-12-1 .621
ON THE MOVE
Head coach George O’Leary made two position changes following the final preseason scrimmage. Junior Ross Mitchell, who started the last six games of 1999 at middle linebacker, moved to fullback to add depth behind starter Ed Wilder. Mitchell made 53 tackles and four tackles for loss last fall. Before the move, he had been slotted behind starter Matt Miller, who was injured last season. Mitchell’s move also opens up a backup spot for highly touted freshman linebacker Hobie Holiday.
Sophomore Gary Johnson moved from fullback to defensive tackle. Johnson came to Tech as linebacker but was inserted at fullback last season and was used primarily as a blocker.
TRUE FRESHMEN MAKE AN IMPACT
Georgia Tech’s highly regarded freshman class has already made an impact as 10 true freshmen have seen action. The freshmen who have made the biggest splash are linebacker Daryl Smith and cornerback Jonathan Cox, both of whom are now in the starting lineup.
Smith is Tech’s second-leading tackler with 34 hits, including six tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. Cox has 10 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups.
Linebackers Hobie Holiday and Keyaron Fox, strong safety Sterling Green, cornerback Tony Hollings, wide receivers Nate Curry and Jonathan Smith, tight end John Paul Foschi and guard Leon Robinson have also played.
COOL HAND LUKE
Sophomore placekicker Luke Manget is a perfect 63-for-63 on extra points in his career. The school record for consecutive extra points is 70 by Sisson over the 1989-91 seasons.
After just 15 games, Manget, who is 16-for-23 on field goals, ranks 9th in Tech history in career points by kicking with 111.
He booted a career-long 50-yard field goal against NC State.
As a freshman last fall, Manget stepped into the placekicking job and set a school scoring record for kickers with 86 points. Manget hit 11 of 16 field goals and 53 extra points to break Scott Sisson’s 1990 record of 84 points. Manget’s most memorable moments were against North Carolina, when his 36-yard field goal with five seconds left sent the game into overtime, and Georgia, when he booted the game-winning, 38-yard field goal in overtime.
CAREER POINTS BY KICKING Player Years PAT FG Pts 1. Scott Sisson 1989-92 119 60 299 2. David Bell 1983-86 76 32 172 3. Johnny Smith 1977-80 75 28 159 4. Brad Chambers 1995-98 77 27 158 5. Ron Rice 1980-83 63 29 150 6. Thomas Palmer 1985-88 54 28 138 7. Dave Frakes 1994-97 49 26 127 8. Billy Lothridge 1961-63 51 21 114 9. Luke Manget 1999- 63 16 111
WELCOME BACK
Georgia Tech welcomes the return of two players who missed all or most of the 1999 season due to injury.
Tailback Joe Burns was Tech’s leading rusher in 1998, but he missed almost all last season with a broken ankle suffered in the season’s second game against Florida State. Burns, a sophomore from Thomasville, Ga., rushed for 474 yards on 98 carries as a freshman in 1998 and then had 87 yards on 14 carries as well as seven catches for 96 yards before being injured against the Seminoles.
Junior linebacker Matt Miller also returns after missing all of the 1999 season with a knee injury. The Alpharetta, Ga., native suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament late in the 1998 season and was not fully healed last fall. He had 65 tackles in 10 games in 1998.
ONE-TWO PUNCH AT TAILBACK
Georgia Tech returns a strong one-two punch at tailback with sophomore Joe Burns and junior Sean Gregory. Together they have accounted for 1,836 career yards rushing.
Burns was Tech’s leading rusher as a freshman in 1998 with 474 yards and five touchdowns on just 98 carries, including a career-best 179 yards rushing against Maryland. He missed most of last season, however, after suffering a broken ankle in the second game against Florida State. Burns has career totals of 818 yards rushing and seven touchdowns along with 33 receptions for 323 yards and one touchdown.
Gregory entered 1999 as Tech’s third-team tailback but became the starter after season-ending injuries to Burns and senior Phillip Rogers. He was Tech’s leading rusher with 837 yards on 171 carries (4.9-yard average). His 13 touchdownsincluding the game-winner against Duke on a 19-yard run with 2:56 leftled the team and were the third-best season total in Tech history. He topped the 100-yard mark four times, gaining 150 yards against UCF, 113 against NC State, 119 versus Virginia, and 101 against Clemson. He became the first Tech back to rush for 100 yards in three straight games since Jerry Mays in 1989. His career totals are 1,018 yards rushing and 14 TDs.
IN THE RED ZONE
On eight red zone possessions (first down at or inside the 20-yard line), the Georgia Tech offense has scored points seven times, including six touchdowns and one field goal.
The Tech defense has allowed three touchdowns and two field goals on seven opponent red zone possessions.
BROTHERLY LOVE
For the second year in a row, Georgia Tech will have a pair of brothers in the starting lineup in senior receiver Jon Muyres and his younger brother Jeremy, a sophomore free safety. The oldest Muyres brother, Jeffrey, was a starting defensive back at Wake Forest who finished his career in 1998.
In 1999, Phillip (now graduated) and Nick Rogers were the first pair of brothers to start for the Yellow Jackets at the same time since Randy and Danny Rhino in 1974.
Recent brother combinations to play for the Jackets:
Rogers: Phillip (TB, 1995-99) & Nick (DE, 1998-present)
Muyres: Jon (SE, 1996-present) & Jeremy (FS, 1999-present)
Williams: Rodney (P, 1995-98) & Marlon (OLB, 1990-93)
Stallworth: Dexter (QB, 1994-96) & Cedric (CB, 1985-88)
Travis: Mike (DB, 1982-85)& Scott (LB, 1990-92)
Harrison: Anthony (DB, 1983-86) & Danny (LB, 1987-89)
Swilling: Pat (OLB, 1982-85) & Darrell (LB, 1988-91)
Malone: Ralph (DT, 1982-85) & George (OLB, 1985-88)
Rhino: Randy (DB, 1972-74) & Danny (DB, 1974-76)
LIKE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, LIKE SON
Georgia Tech sophomore cornerback Kelley Rhino is the son of one of the greatest players in Rambling Wreck history, Randy Rhino, the only three-time all-America in Tech history. Randy, a defensive back and punt return specialist, earned all-America honors in 1972-73-74. Kelley’s grandfather, Chappell Rhino (1950-52), and uncle Danny Rhino (1974-76) also starred for the Rambling Wreck.
Some prominent father-son combos in Tech history:
SON FATHER Kelley Rhino (RB, 1999) Randy Rhino (DB, 1972-74) Randy Rhino (DB, 1972-74) Chappell Rhino (1950-52) Coleman Rudolph Jack Rudolph (1957-59) (DT, 1989-92) Jay Martin (SS, 1986-90) Billy Martin (E, 1961-63)
O’Leary is Tech’s 10th Head Coach
Even though Georgia Tech has played football for more than 100 years, head coach George O’Leary is just the 10th full-time head coach in Rambling Wreck history.
Only UNLV (7), Florida State (8), Air Force (8) and Houston (9) have had fewer head coaches than Tech, but none began playing football before 1946. By comparison, the Jackets’ 10 full-time head coaches have spanned a period of 96 years (1904-99). In fact, from 1904 through 1966, Tech employed just three coaches in John Heisman (1904-19), William Alexander (1920-44) and Bobby Dodd (1945-66), all of whom are in the Hall of Fame.
NO ROOM TO RUN
Stopping the run means usually means success for Georgia Tech under head coach George O’Leary. Since O’Leary took over in 1995, the Jackets have held 21 opponents under 100 yards rushing, and Tech is 17-4 in those games.
Game Result Yds (Att.)NC State, 2000 L, 23-30 66 (31)Florida State, 2000 L, 21-26 73 (34)UCF, 2000 W 21-17 8 (26)NC State, 1999 W 48-21 94 (33)Maryland, 1999 W 49-31 89 (36)Central Florida, 1999 W 41-10 92 (29)Georgia, 1998 W 21-19 91 (28)Wake Forest, 1998 W 63-35 61 (26)West Virginia, 1997 (Carquest Bowl) W 35-30 56 (22)Maryland, 1997 W 37-18 99 (41)Florida State, 1997 L 38-0 98 (29)Wake Forest, 1997 W 28-26 55 (22)Central Florida, 1996 W 27-20 52 (36)Duke, 1996 W 48-22 83 (31)Wake Forest, 1996 W 30-10 22 (19)Wake Forest, 1995 W 24-23 30 (17)North Carolina, 1995 W 27-25 68 (24)Duke, 1995 W 37-21 72 (24)Maryland, 1995 W 31-3 -30 (24)Arizona, 1995 L 20-19 13 (28)Furman, 1995 W 51-7 47 (35)
O’LEARY RUNS THE SHOW
Of the ten best single-game performances by the Georgia Tech defense against the run, George O’Leary has been involved in six of them, either as head coach or defensive coordinator.
Tech’s school record for rushing yards allowed is minus-30 yards against Maryland in 1995, O’Leary’s first full season as head coach. That performance broke the previous record of minus-20 yards set against Maryland in 1990, when O’Leary was defensive coordinator. Other top games in the O’Leary era include eight yards by UCF in 2000, 10 yards by Duke in 1991, 13 by Arizona in 1995 and 22 by Wake Forest in 1996.
OLDEST, AND WINNINGEST, I-A STADIUM
Built in 1913 and now in its 88th season, Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field is the oldest on-campus stadium in NCAA Division I-A. In fact, the only older on-campus facilities in the nation are Harvard Stadium and Penn’s Franklin Field. The next oldest I-A stadium is Mississippi State’s Scott Field, built in 1915. Tech has a record of 395-164-23 (.699) at its home facility.
Not only is Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field the oldest on-campus stadium, but it is also the site of more victories by the home team than any other facility. Since 1913 Georgia Tech has 394 wins at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field, leading Tennessee (378) and Harvard (375).
Oldest Stadiums
Division I-A Only
Georgia Tech (Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field) — 1913
Mississippi State (Scott Field) – 1915 Cincinnati (Nippert Stadium) — 1916 Wisconsin (Camp Randall Stadium) — 1917 Washington (Husky Stadium) — 1920
All Stadiums
Penn (Franklin Field) — 1895
Harvard (Harvard Stadium) — 1903
Georgia Tech (Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field) — 1913
Yale (Yale Bowl) — 1914
Mississippi State (Scott Field) — 1915
WINNING RECORDS VS. SIX ACC FOES
The only Atlantic Coast Conference school to post a winning record against Georgia Tech is Florida State. Tech’s all-time records against each ACC school: Clemson, 42-20-2; Duke, 37-29-1; Florida State, 7-9-1; Maryland, 9-3; North Carolina, 16-16-3; NC State, 12-8; Virginia, 11-10-1; Wake Forest, 16-6.
EXPERIENCED COACHING STAFF
Georgia Tech’s coaching staff has eight years of experience in the National Football League, led by Ralph Friedgen’s five years (1992-96) with the San Diego Chargers. Friedgen served as offensive coordinator his final three years in San Diego, including the Super Bowl season of 1994. Head coach George O’Leary spent two years (1992-93) as the Chargers’ defensive line coach. Tight ends coach Eddie Wilson was on the Kansas City Chiefs’ staff in 1974.
GEORGIA TECH 21, UCF 17
Georgia Tech rallied with two touchdowns in the final 3:48 to defeat Central Florida, 21-17, at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field in the season opener for both teams. Junior quarterback George Godsey tossed three touchdown passes in his debut, including a one-yard strike to tight end Brian Lee for the game-winner with just 38 seconds left.
With the Jackets trailing 17-7 and facing third-and-18 at their own 35-yard line, Godsey found Jon Muyres for 27 yards and a first down and then hit Kelly Campbell for a 23-yard scoring pass to pull the Jackets within 17-7 with 3:48 to play. Tech’s defense held, and the Jackets took over at the UCF 49 with 3:05 left. Godsey completed four passes to move Tech to a first down at the five before hitting Lee on third-and-one. For the game, Godsey was 19-for-31 for 189 yards and three touchdowns.
FLORIDA STATE 26, GEORGIA TECH 21
Georgia Tech keeps getting closer to Florida State, but the Yellow Jackets fell to the Seminoles for the ninth straight time, 26-21, Sept. 9 in Atlanta. Joe Burns’ eight-yard touchdown run gave the Yellow Jackets a 15-12 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter, marking the first time Tech has led FSU in the second half since 1992, when the Jackets were ahead 24-14 with four minutes to play before falling 29-24. But FSU answered with a pair of touchdown drives led by quarterback Chris Weinke, who hit 25 of 38 passes for 443 yards.
Trailing 26-15, Tech fought back as quarterback George Godsey completed 13 straight passes in the fourth quarter, including a 27-yard touchdown to Jon Muyres with 4:50 to play to bring the Jackets within five. Tech’s defense forced a punt to give Tech possession with 2:36 to play, but the Jackets’ final threat ended on fourth-and-three at the FSU 40 when Godsey’s pass fell incomplete.
Godsey was 18-for-32 for 189 yards, and backup Jermaine Crenshaw provided a spark, completing four of five passes for 30 yards and rushing for 36 yards. The game featured a ghastly 34 penalites, including 19 for a school-record 140 yards by the Jackets.
GEORGIA TECH 40, NAVY 13
Quarterback George Godsey threw three touchdown passes, including 11 and 10-yard strikes to Will Glover, as the Yellow Jackets defeated Navy, 40-13, at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field. Tech led just 13-6 at the half, but after Godsey hit Kelly Campbell for a 50-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter, defensive end Greg Gathers returned a fumble six yards for a touchdown and Brett Basquin recovered a fumbled punt at the Navy one-yard line to set up Sidney Ford’s touchdown run.
NC STATE 30, GEORGIA TECH 23 (OT)
Koren Robinson caught three touchdown passes from Philip Rivers, including the game winner in overtime, to give undefeated NC State a 30-23 victory over Georgia Tech in an ESPN Thursday night game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.
Tech’s George Godsey, who completed 24 of 43 passes for 226 yards, tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Watkins with 1:20 left to force overtime. State scored first and held on for the victory when Godsey’s fourth down pass fell incomplete.
Tech led 13-0 at the half, but tailback Sean Gregory fumbled at the one-yard line and NC State’s James Washington recovered for a touchdown to begin the Wolfpack’s comeback. Rivers was 21-for-36 for 262 yards.
