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DEL.ICIO.USJackets vs. Irish has created classics
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Off and on, Georgia Tech has been playing Notre Dame since 1922, for better or worse, and more times than not, for worse. Anytime Notre Dame is on the schedule, the floodlights go up, trumpets sound, bugles blare and the nation’s eyes are upon you, as they will be the first day of September in South Bend. Only five of the 33 times Georgia Tech has played Notre Dame have the Yellow Jackets come away in celebration.
No, make that six. (We’ll get around to that later.) The series record reads 27-5-1. It’s the “1” that takes the stage here, one of the monumental views I’ve ever had from a press box. And there have been some show-stoppers in this infrequent series. Twice, the Jackets have handed the Irish defeat under the circumspection of Touchdown Jesus.
Take you back to 1942 and a freshman named Clint Castleberry, still a mystical figure in Georgia Tech football history. A local kid, not of national renown, Castleberry so rattled the Irish that Tech upset them in South Bend 13-6 and in the process insured himself of All-America status. Sadly, he never had another season. Somewhere out of North Africa the bomber he was piloting during World War II disappeared, and he was never heard from again. His jersey still hangs among Tech’s display of historic memorabilia.
The fuse was lit, and something was bound to explode in 1953, when Tech, saddling an unbeaten streak of 31 games rode into South Bend. Naturally, the Irish were favored, particularly since Bobby Dodd elected to start a freshman quarterback, Wade Mitchell. The weather was gray. The stadium was stuffed and the heavily bundled spectators were full of negative charm. This was the game in which Frank Leahy failed to appear after halftime, stricken by a pancreatic attack in the locker room. The game turned on a high snap and a blocked punt, and the Irish won 27-14. Names of the perpetrators, one dead, the other long retired, are omitted here in the interest of good sport.
Six years later Georgia Tech returned to South Bend, this time with more exhilirating results. Snow had fallen overnight, and the campus was scenic in its whiteness. Should have been Notre Dame kind of weather, but Marvin Tibbetts took control at quarterback, and with a surge from Taz Anderson, then a fullback, he scored both touchdowns and managed a 14-l0 victory, most definitely an upset.
Tech never won again until 1976, which, it turned out, was not a partcularly good year — Pepper Rodgers’ team put up a 4-6-1 record — but Saturday, Nov. 6 was a good day. It was a rare game in that the Jackets never threw a pass. Gary Lanier, a stubby little quarterback, kept the ball on the ground, and Tech humiliated Notre Dame at Grant Field 23-14. The most memorable view remaining is the sight of the Notre Dame coach Dan Devine striding out on the field holding a fish in his hand for an official to see, one delivered by some knave in the student section. Devine wanted divine intervention, but got none.
Now, about that “1,” the one tie in the series. The year was 1980, Bill Curry’s first as head coach. Tech had beaten Memphis State and no one else. Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, even Tulane had shredded the poor Yellow Jackets. Notre Dame rode into Grant Field No. l in the nation. It was the same day Georgia was playing Florida in the glamour game of the season, the “run, Lindsay, run” game. Nobody was paying attention to Grant Field, except a few devout football Catholics.
Tech’s starting quarterback, Mike Kelley, was hurt. Two replacements came on and got nothing done, but neither did Notre Dame. Curry turned to a player who had been recruited as an end, and sent him in with the cautionary message: “Whatever you do, don’t dare throw a pass.”
The kid — he was from Augusta — maneuvered into field-goal position late in the third quarter, and Johnny Smith kicked a field goal. Incredibly, Tech led 3-0. Late in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame’s Harry Oliver kicked a wobbler through the pipes, and the Irish got out of town with a tie. Since everybody else on our staff wanted to be in Jacksonville, I got the short straw, but I got to see one of the most memorable games of my life.
Oh, the name of the freshman “quarterback” from Augusta — it was Ken Whisenhunt, later an NFL end for the Falcons and Redskins, and now, as you may have noticed, head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. So there you are, and Georgia Tech returns to South Bend to open the season this year. Nothing will ever match the tie of 1980, and as it turned out, Georgia later completed a state sweep. The Bulldogs played Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship, and won.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher, Tech / ACC
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By jacketfan
August 24, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Bisher, I always enjoy your articles be they UGA or Tech articles. Thanks, Jacketfan
By The Big Bug
August 24, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
Furman, You are what college football is all about. Don’t you ever retire.
By **BarkingDawg**
August 24, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
Great Article!!!
Good luck to Tech in South Bend and the ACC. As always, looking forward to our showdown!
By T-Bone
August 24, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
That was also the most memorable I eve saw. I was a Tech student sitting in the student section. I didn’t throw any fish, but several came whizzing over my head.
By StingerSplash
August 24, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
Thanks, Furman, for turning a piece on the Tech-ND series into something about the Bulldogs. Thanks a lot.
By BeachFloridaSunTan
August 24, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this
Furman, being a Dawg fan, I was watching the “run Lindsay run” game while listening to the Tech game. That was a great day. Your articles about college football are my favorites.
By Todd
August 24, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this
Hey! I was at that game. I was 9 years old and I still remember that Tech tied the Irish. I was trying to remember if Joe Montana was the QB then, but I think he was a couple years earlier. Great game though.
By Dennis G. Berdanis
August 25, 2007 5:21 AM | Link to this
I was in Jacksonville during this game and remember hanging around the stadium after the game as they kept announcing the Tech score. You should have heard the roars that went up when the final score was announced.
By Randy
August 25, 2007 5:54 AM | Link to this
Nice article.
By Knute
August 25, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
We have the Golden Dome and Georgia Tech has Tickle Piles. Guess who wins?
By GTYjackets
August 25, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
Wasn’t the famous “Rudy” game against Tech as well? A lot of history in this series even if it hasn’t always been positive for the Jackets. I hope Tech continues to schedule big games like this.
By Pete Roberts
August 25, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
For the record, Tech has never won “under the circumspection of Touchdown Jesus.” The Notre Dame library was not built until 1963.
By Terry
August 25, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
If for no other reason this game will be memorable because of the secrecy surrounding the identity of the ND QB - can Weis keep it quiet until game time? I say he can and I say it’s DJ.
Best to all and to all a good night
By mowreck
August 25, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
If you saw the movie GTYjackets you would know it was Tech. Notre Dame players carried Rudy off the field on their shoulders. The last time ANYONE has been carried off the field at Notre Dame.
By ND Craig
August 25, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
Very nice article!
Were any of the 1976 knaves physics majors? 1977, Irish 69 GT 13. It’s all good!
By chris
August 25, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
My Father is a 60 grad and I have been going to game since 74. That was a game where I put fingernail marks in the metal seats. Great Article. We are heading to Notre Dame this year and I hope you will have a classic article to write about this game too.
By Dave Collier
August 25, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Bisher: Your feelings about Notre Dame dripped throught your article today. Sadly, the undertones bespoke of a meanspirited, bitter person who grew up hating Catholics and especially Our Lady’s University. Try looking forward and not backward. Maybe you will see some wins to feel good about instead of a tie.
Dave Collier ND ‘67
By jim harrigan
August 25, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
Although a lifelong Notre Dame fan from Redondo Beach, California…I’m also a lifelong Furman Bisher fan. What a talent!
By Matt Seng
August 25, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher, Thank you for awakening exciting memories I have of me as a 9 yr. old boy going with his dad to his first college football game. Our hometown Tech team versus our family’s beloved ND team. What amazing energy there was on that day! I don’t remember many plays, but I’ll never forget my awe of the stadium, the passion of the fans, and, of course, flying fish!…huh?, I wondered. My love of college football began on that day. Thanks again. ND ‘93
By jim harrigan
August 25, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
Please excuse the comments of one Dave Collier. There are unreasonable fanatics that can’t comprehend the written word in every fan base. Although they’re usually wearing crimson and gold and from southern California.
By Mike Regan
August 25, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
Minor point perhaps, but the Hesburgh Library at ND(location of the mosaic mural often referred to as “Touchdown Jesus”) was built in the early 1960’s.
By John
August 25, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
Furman —- As one who grew up almost in the shadow of the Golden Dome, I thought your comments about the lore of the ND-GT series were more than fair and certainly respectful to both schools. As grade schoolers, we used to walk home from ND games singing “Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame,” “Hail to the Victors,” “On Wisconsin.” and the greatest fight song from the South, I’m a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech.” Here’s a toast of whiskey clear to Furman Bisher, one of the nation’s greatest sportswriters — John
By Steve
August 25, 2007 7:46 PM | Link to this
StingerSplash:
Hey, man, you want some cheese with that whine? Don’t worry about losses and ties of games past, the Bumbles will have plenty to sob about this year.
Mr. Bisher, you are truly ageless. Yet another great column from one of the best ever to put fingers to keyboard.
Steve 81 Dawg
By Buck Vu
August 25, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this
Great acticle! Remember, 1980 the Bulldogs had the best team money could buy, thus got the death penalty in 1981. The NCAA rarely caughts cheats, so it had to be blatent. 1976 sore winners - GT of Notre Dame “too fat, too slow”. Results in 1977, ND 69 - GT 14.
By Kenski72
August 26, 2007 12:28 AM | Link to this
Furman — Great story as always — just wanted to point out that ND’s Harry Oliver (who had a much more game winning kick against Michigan) passed away about two weeks ago. We Domers will always honor him!
By KUZ
August 26, 2007 4:14 AM | Link to this
GT BLOWS GO IRISH