Sept. 17, 2015
Chris Yandle | Georgia Tech Communications & Public Relations
The year was 1942 and college football was in awe of a Clint Castleberry. Standing at a mere 5-foot-9 and weighing in at 155 pounds, Castleberry was considered by many writers as the most dangerous runner in America.
Castleberry only played one season of college football, but boy, what a season it was. Seventy-three years ago, Castleberry led Georgia Tech to its first win against Notre Dame since 1928, throwing for a touchdown in the Yellow Jackets’ 13-6 win in South Bend.
He earned All-SEC and second-team All-America honors. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting – the highest finish for a freshman at the time.
After the 1942 season was over, Castleberry enlisted in the Army and ultimately went overseas to fight in World War II. His plane is believed to have been shot down and he was ultimately classified as being killed in action on Nov. 23, 1944.
Castleberry’s No. 19 jersey is the only one retired by Georgia Tech Football.
For decades, Georgia Tech had no game footage on Castleberry’s exploits on The Flats. Thanks to the University of Notre Dame’s digital team, they have shared coaches video from the 1942 game in South Bend. Below is a 3:00 clip of highlights, featuring a few runs by No. 19.
One of the great rivalries in college football renews Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium when No. 14 Georgia Tech and No. 8 Notre Dame clash for the 35th time in a series that dates back to 1922. The game is live nationally on NBC, and can heard on the Georgia Tech IMG Sports Network, locally on 680 The Fan, 93.7 FM and nationwide on the GT Gameday App.
