AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 10
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Golden, olden days were better
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I wonder if Tech students and fans cared more about the Yellow Jackets a half century ago. Follow along here …
Pretty amazing response to the previous blog, sent out Tuesday morning in search of long-time fans who might have seen Jake Rudolph’s famous tackle of Alabama running back Bobby Marlow in 1952.
I didn’t hear from anyone in time to include them in the story, but I’ve received several e-mails from older fans with great memories. And there is far more anecdotal evidence in the responses to that blog that although Tech’s golden era in football was 50-plus years ago, a lot of hearts still warm to the memory of that age.
So I started to think about this, especially after talking to Darrell Crawford, who quarterbacks those SEC championship teams at Tech in ‘51 and ‘52. I spoke to him about Rudolph, and his pending funeral.
It is pretty obvious from what Crawford said (and others have said at various times) that much was different. That’s no shock. Gas was cheaper. Cars looked almost completely unlike they do today. Communism, not terrorism or religious fundamentalism, was the anchor around which most fear and loathing were wrapped.
So sure, times have changed. But just how much, and why?
Don’t have time to quantify how much other than to pass along some of Crawford’s thoughts.
He said, “Your classmates, the students, it seems like it was so much more loyal then. Those people kept up with you for years after you left Georgia Tech. They would bring things up [years later]. Us old football players sometimes forget things, but your spectators, students and friends remember in detail.
“I’ve had them come up so many times and tell me about a special play coach Dodd put in for me against Auburn. He called it the Kingsport play, the hidden ball play, and that was the only way we could score against Auburn. Their defense was so great.”
Kingsport, Tenn., was the hometown of Bobby Dodd and Crawford, by the way.
My theories on why the interest in Tech was so much greater is neither revolutionary or original. Obviously, there are so many, many more distractions in this day and age. Students, alumni and potential fans do not have the bombardment of mass media to wade through and distract them, to peel away their interest.
Plus, Tech won and won and won back in the day.
And that was a two-part equation. The Jackets were highly skilled, and by all evidence immensely cohesive.
I’ve opined before that chemistry is the most under-rated element of success. Crawford said nothing to change my mind.
“All of our team had just such a bond,” he said. “For a team to have what we had back then was highly unusual. We had great players, but everybody was on the same wavelength so to speak. When you have that kind of bond, respect, that’s when you have championships.
“Coach Dodd always told us, ‘Men you’re down here at Georgia Tech. We’re not like other schools. It’s unique. We’re going to win, but we’re going to be good students.’ He always used that word unique. Our players were unique to be able to bond together with their talent. Usually you have players that play for themselves.”
Players from the ‘51-‘52 teams are especially committed to one another to this day. Their numbers continue to dwindle, as there is no other way. But they gather regularly, even with the loss last year of former captain and uber-organizer George Morris.
That will continue for a time. I told Darrell I’d like to catch up with him and former teammates this fall, when they gather at an as yet undetermined date. Maybe Steve Hummer could write something about that and do it justice.
“It’s an unofficial board of officers with myself and Dick Inman and Harry Wright and Bucky Shamberger. We are the committee that kind of keeps the team going. George was obvious the primary mover and shaker,” Crawford said.”We miss George. It’s be a great big gold and white wreath [at Rudolph’s funeral], and it will be from the we call it a team, not teams (‘51 and ‘52).
“We still consider ourselves one group. It’s amazing how we still get together. We’re trying to arrange a get-together for this fall. I talked to George Maloof today. I just can’t tell you how unique and unusual it is.”
Unusual indeed, and powerfully reminiscent of a by-gone era, no?
