Laura and Ward Morse’s Thanksgiving dinner will be like many across the state of Georgia. Two days in advance of the Georgia Tech-Georgia game, the Atlanta couple will sit down with guests who will side with the Bulldogs and others who will align with the Yellow Jackets.
One small distinction: The Morses will be hosts to actual participants in Saturday’s game. They are aunt and uncle to Georgia running back Keith Marshall and Tech B-back Marcus Marshall, Keith’s younger brother. Furthermore, the Marshall brothers will be bringing their friends.
“I think a couple of his teammates are going to be there, and I’m bringing a couple of mine who didn’t have anywhere to go, so it’s going to be interesting,” Marcus Marshall said. “Hopefully, there won’t be too much smack talk. We don’t really do too much of that.”
Diehards of the two teams, Georgia fans who have delighted in Tech’s fall from Orange Bowl champions to 3-8 or Tech fans who have soaked in the fracturing of the Bulldog Nation over coach Mark Richt’s job security, will likely be profoundly disappointed in Keith, a junior who will be turning professional after the season, and Marcus, who is in position to become the first freshman to lead Tech in rushing since Joe Burns in 1998.
They don’t trade barbs with each other. Marcus has been up to Athens to visit his older brother and is friends with Bulldogs such as offensive tackle John Theus and running back Sony Michel. When Marcus was considering Tech, he had Keith’s blessing and encouragement.
“It’s not like he had anything negative to say (about Tech) or anything like that,” Marcus said. “He just kind of supported the decision that was best for me.”
Not divided
The 30 or so t-shirts that their mother Denise created with the help of a designer speak to this kinder take on Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. Several friends and family will populate Bobby Dodd Stadium with white t-shirts celebrating the Marshall brothers. Marcus’ No. 34 is in gold on the left sleeve and Keith’s No. 4 is in red on the right sleeve. On the front, over a graphic of a football with the Tech and Georgia logos, are the words “House United,” a play on the “House Divided” paraphernalia that recognize families joined across rivalries.
“Clearly not going to be divided,” said their father, Warren.
Mom will be wearing her own creation – half of a Tech jersey sewn together with half of a Georgia jersey.
The Marshalls, from Raleigh, N.C., have anticipated this afternoon since Marcus’ commitment to Tech. Keith’s decision to leave Georgia with a year of eligibility remaining (he’ll graduate with a finance degree) means this will be a truly once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Being three years apart, they’ve never competed against each other in any organized activity, although there were less formal battles throughout their childhood.
“It’ll be fun because I never got to play against him, compete against him,” Keith Marshall said. “So it will be fun to hopefully get bragging rights.”
This fall, Warren and Denise have traveled together this season to their sons’ games. Thanks to the proximity of the two schools, serendipitous scheduling of day and night games, bye weeks and Tech’s Thursday night game against Virginia Tech, they haven’t missed too many.
“I think just the opportunity to see both boys on the same weekend is a big enough deal for us,” Warren Marshall said.
Sibling rivalry
They won’t be the first brothers to square off in the Tech-Georgia series. Shawn and Mike Jones are believed to be the last brothers to face each other in the rivalry, Shawn quarterbacking for the Jackets and Mike playing in the Bulldogs’ secondary 1990-92. There have been at least four other brothers who have shared the field in the rivalry – Wally (Georgia) and Billy Williamson (Tech) in 1960-61, Mixon (Georgia) and Donald (Tech) Robinson in 1971, Rex (Georgia) and Steve (Tech) Putnal, in 1971-72 and Tommy (Georgia) and Teddy (Tech) Thurson in 1980-82.
For the older brother, it hasn’t been the season or career that he envisioned. Injuries and the Bulldogs’ talented assembly of tailbacks have prevented him from flourishing. Indeed, he has missed the past two games with a sprained ankle, but is expected to play Saturday. For the younger brother, a promising freshman season in the midst of Tech’s worst season since 1994 offers a hopeful glimpse of the years to come.
Saturday, though, will be a celebration of Keith and Marcus’ intersection for one fleeting moment. And as for the future?
“Even when I’m done playing and he’s still at Tech, I’ll never put on a Tech shirt,” Keith said.
Unity, it would seem, is relative.
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