Some of those who once wore the Old Gold are a little grayer now, but still they gathered Thursday before Georgia Tech’s game against Virginia Tech.
More than 30 former Yellow Jackets football All-Americans and/or Academic All-Americans were brought together as part of the festivities to celebrate Grant Field’s 100th anniversary.
“It shows just how good Georgia Tech football has been, and for a long time,” said Marco Coleman, an All-American as an outside linebacker on Tech’s 1990 national championship team and then honored again in ’91. “It’s not only All-Americans, some of these guys went on to professional football and were Hall of Famers and really made a big mark on the game.”
The group spanned generations, dating to the 1952 squad represented by halfback Leon Hardeman and guard Ed Gossage, through 2011 and ’12 honoree Omoregie Uzzi.
“It’s quite a gathering,” Gossage said.
Bill Curry, honored as a center in 1964, started to connect some of threads of Tech generations.
Growing up, Curry remembers watching two of his Tech heroes, quarterback Wade Mitchell (Academic All-American 1955) and guard Allen Ecker (honored for athletic and academic achievements, 1956).
Across the room sat Dave Watson (All-American, 1962), a member of the team that upset No. 1 Alabama 7-6 in 1962, and a player Curry said beat the stuffing out of him while Curry was learning to play center.
On the other side of the room was coach Dick Inman, who ran Curry up and down the steps at Grant Field when Curry skipped a class as a freshman. It was the last class he ever skipped.
And Curry spotted Leo Tierney, who was a center on the first position group Curry coached in 1976. Tierney was an All-American in 1975 and ’76.
“To see those four groups in a 10-minute time is wonderful,” Curry said. “I can’t remember anything nicer than this.”
Rock Perdoni, an All-American as a defensive tackle in 1969 and ’70, said Coleman was a player he looked forward to meeting again. Curry was the All-American that Coleman said he most wanted to meet. They spent a few minutes chatting near a buffet line at the Georgia Tech Hotel, where the group met. Coleman looks like he can still play, while Curry remains trim.
“Walking through the halls, these were the faces I saw on the walls,” Coleman said. “It’s a privilege and honor to be here with them.”
About two hours before kickoff, the contingent led the team down Yellow Jacket Alley to the stadium. Preceded by the drumbeat and clanging cymbals of the Tech marching band, the graying Jackets even had a herald — former Jacket J.C. Lanier, who held up a sign announcing the All-Americans’ arrival. Decked out in identical white polo shirts, they ambled en masse through a tunnel of Tech fans. Warmly received, they shook hands and pointed at friends.
The group gathered again to be honored at halftime, with former quarterback Joe Hamilton (honored in 1999) receiving the loudest cheers.
Of course, you can take the players off the football field, but you can’t take the football out of the old players.
Asked what they were most looking forward to Thursday, some mentioned seeing old friends. Others mentioned just watching a game.
Most had the same answer.
“I’m looking forward to a victory, most of all,” Gossage said.
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