The rivalry known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” is one of a handful of instate matchups between schools from the ACC and SEC played during the final week of the regular season. There was, however, a time when Georgia and Georgia Tech shared a conference.
On this day 95 years ago, the Southern Conference was on the line as the teams met in Atlanta. Georgia Tech knocked Georgia from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 12-0 shutout at Grant Field.
Setting the Stage
Then known as the Golden Tornado, Georgia Tech was 7-1-1 overall and 6-0-1 in conference as it arrived on Dec. 3, 1927. Over its first nine games, only three teams managed to score against head coach William Alexander’s team.
Known as the “dream and wonder team,” Georgia was a perfect 9-0 and ranked No. 1 by the Dickinson system. Like Georgia Tech, the Bulldogs had kept six of their nine opponents off the scoreboard.
Against the Southern Conference, Georgia was 6-0. On a rain-soaked field, the Golden Tornado got the job done in front of a record crowd of 38,000.
Georgia Tech Wins It
Unsurprisingly, the game was dominated by the defenses. Georgia, however, finished with 189 yards of offense to 129 for Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs also held the edge in first downs, 10-4.
In the end, six Georgia turnovers, would loom large.
More than a third of Georgia Tech’s yards came on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Warner Mizell to Bob Durant in the second quarter. Georgia Tech took a 6-0 lead into the locker room and extended it to 12-0 after a touchdown run Stumpy Thomason. Thomason had set up the score with a 57-yard interception return.
The Bulldogs would mount no serious threat.
Story:
The Oakland Tribune
In Hindsight
Despite the loss, some selectors still named Georgia as the national champions. The Bulldogs, however, didn’t claim their first national championship until 1942.
As for Georgia Tech, it has won conference championships in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Southern Conference, SEC and ACC. By the mid-1930s, Georgia Tech dropped the Golden Tornado nickname for the present nickname of Yellow Jackets. Regardless, it swarmed past undefeated Georgia to clinch the SoCon title on this day 95 years ago.
Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fifth Quarter. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. Follow all of Mike’s work by liking his Facebook page.