Photos: The day Tech won the Rose Bowl

Georgia Tech

Photos: The day Tech won the Rose Bowl

Georgia Tech's 1928 season culminated with an appearance in the 1929 Rose Bowl against California and remembered for one of the most colorful plays in college football history.

The 1928 Yellow Jackets football team, known as the "Golden Tornado," won the Southern Conference and was a co-national champion. The 10-0 season culminated with an appearance in the 1929 Rose Bowl against California. Beyond being Tech's first bowl game, it will be remembered for one of the most colorful plays in college football history. (Georgia Tech Archives)

Midway through the second quarter, Georgia Tech's Jack "Stumpy" Thomason fumbled the ball near the 30 yard line. (Georgia Tech Archives)

Cal's Roy Riegels, who also played center, picked up the fumble and started heading toward the Tech goal line. (Georgia Tech Archives)

Cal's Roy Riegels inexplicably spun around and started for his own goal, 65 yards away. Cal teammate Benny Lom caught up with Roy Riegels and turned him around just short of the goal line at Cal's 3 yard line. (Georgia Tech Archives)

A wall of Georgia Tech players caught up Roy Riegels and tackled him at the 1 yard line. (Georgia Tech Archives)

With the play over, the Bears chose to punt rather than risk a play so close to their own end zone. Tech's Vance Maree blocked the punt for a safety, giving Georgia Tech a 2–0 lead. (Georgia Tech Archives)

Roy Riegels walks off distraught after the play, known later as the "Wrong Way" run. He almost missed the rest of the game. Though he stayed in and blocked a Tech punt in the second half. Tech managed six more points and held off the Bears, 8-7, to win its one and only Rose Bowl appearance . (Georgia Tech Archives)

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The 1928 Yellow Jackets football team, known as the "Golden Tornado," won the Southern Conference and was a co-national champion. The 10-0 season culminated with an appearance in the 1929 Rose Bowl against California. Beyond being Tech's first bowl game, it will be remembered for one of the most colorful plays in college football history. (Georgia Tech Archives)