Aug. 19, 2010
As you know by now, Georgia Tech will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its 1990 national championship this fall. Certainly, the 1990 season was one of the most important seasons in Yellow Jacket football history.
Many of the coaches and players from the 1990 team will reunite here on The Flats Nov. 12-13, the weekend of the Miami game. It should really be a nice event.
But it got us here at Sting Daily thinking, what other Tech football anniversaries can we think about this fall.
105 years ago, in 1905, John Heisman began his first season as Georgia Tech’s headfootball coach. Heisman’s first year was a highly-successful one.His Yellow Jackets went 6-0-1, beat Georgia 46-0, whipped Tennessee45-0 and closed the season with a Thanksgiving Day victory overClemson, 17-12. The only blemish was an 18-18 tie with Sewanee. Allseven games that season were played at home. 100 years ago,in 1910, Georgia Tech fielded an explosive offensive team thatPaul Johnson would be proud of. The Yellow Jackets won theirfirst four games by a combined score of 157-0 including a 36-0shutout of Alabama. 95 years ago, in 1915, the YellowJackets posted an undefeated (7-0-1) record. 90 years ago,in 1920, William Alexander embarked on the first of 25 seasons as Tech’shead football coach. Alexander, who would post a Tech career recordof 134-95-15, guided the Jackets to an 8-1 record in his initialseason including seven shutouts. 65 years ago, in 1945,legendary Bobby Dodd began his first season as head coach. Dodd postedonly two losing seasons in his 22 years as Tech’s head coach,including a 4-6 mark in his first season.The following season, theJackets improved to 9-2. 55 years ago, in 1955, Dodd’s teamwent 9-1-1 and defeated Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl. 30 yearsago, in 1980, Bill Curry began his first year as head coach. He inherited ayoung and depleted roster while facing a remarkably difficultschedule including games against No. 2 Alabama, No. 1 Notre Dameand No. 1 Georgia. The Yellow Jackets struggled to a 1-9-1 record,but Curry’s squad shocked all of college football with a 3-3 tieagainst No. 1-ranked Notre Dame on Nov. 8th in Bobby Dodd Stadium 20 years ago, in 1990, Tech, ofcourse, won a share of the national championship, edging Coloradoin the final UPI poll. Tech’s 41-38 win at Virginia that season(Nov. 3, 1990) marks the last time the Yellow Jackets have knockedoff the nation’s No. 1-ranked team. 10 years ago, in 2000,the Jackets went 9-3 under coach George O’Leary, a season highlighted by a 31-28 win on the roadagainst fifth-ranked Clemson. 5 years ago, in 2005, Techbeat Miami, the nation’s No. 3-ranked team, on the road, 14-10 –one of the biggest victories in Chan Gailey’s tenure as head coach.
