A Historical look at Clemson and Georgia Tech on the Gridiron

Clemson and Georgia Tech have had quite a history of football together, with many memorable games in recent memory. There has been everything from College Gameday atmospheres to walk-off winners, and everything in between.

The two schools have even shared a coach, with John Heisman coaching at both. The two teams met for the first time in 1898 in Augusta, Georgia, and that is where Clemson Historian Sam Blackman began our Way Back Wednesday segment on Clemson Sports Talk. 

"The first two meetings were played at neutral sites. The first meeting in 1898 was played in Augusta, Georgia on Thanksgiving Day and Clemson won 23-0. In 1899, Clemson and Georgia Tech met in Greenville, South Carolina on Thanksgiving day and Clemson won 41-5. In that game, there was a Clemson player named W.C. Forsythe. He faked an end run with his headgear tucked under his arm. The whole Georgia Tech team pursued him while mister M.N. Hunter ran 40 yards down the sideline on the other side alone and untouched for a touchdown."

In 1902, the teams met for the first time in Atlanta. This is where legendary coach John Heisman pulled out a little trick play of his own before the game, as Blackman explained to us. 

"The week before the game, Heisman gathered some Clemson cadets and football reserves and told them to go to Atlanta and enjoy the big city, and to have a grand time, but I want you to pose as the Clemson Tiger football team. Many Georgia Tech supporters saw the imposter Clemson team arrive at the train station and were surprised by their friendliness and willingness to celebrate and live it up the day before a football game. As soon as they checked into the quarters, the Clemson cadets posing as the Tiger football team started hitting the Atlanta night spots to have a big Friday night party. Tech fans began to help the Tigers celebrate by buying them beverages and finding them nice dancing partners. In the meantime, the Tech fans and supporters started making large wagers that Tech would win big. No one could win after a night like those assumed Clemson football players had. So on game day, coach Heisman arrived in Atlanta with the real Clemson football team. They had spent the night north of town in a little town called Lula, Georgia and they had a very restful night. The real Clemson team had a real easy day; they beat Georgia Tech 44-5. Georgia Tech supporters, along with their wallets, were just stunned and could not believe that Georgia Tech lost. They finally found out that the real Clemson team had spent the night in Lula, and they had been entertaining imposters."

Clemson won easily in Atlanta in 1902 as well as 1903, when they crushed the Yellow Jackets 73-0. The 1902 game began a streak of 41 games in which Clemson was forced to play in Atlanta, something that has been a point of contention among Clemson fans in the rivalry. Blackman broke down the reasoning behind that, as well. 

"I asked coach Howard a few years ago why Clemson played in Atlanta all the time. He said, 'Well, we had to. We needed the money. Going to Georgia Tech was like playing in a bowl game, it was a good payday for us.'" 

In the name of fairness, Clemson wanted Georgia Tech to start traveling to play games in Clemson, but Tech refused. This almost caused the series to end in 1977 when it was announced that would be the last game of the series. This game was played in Atlanta as well, and the Clemson administration had some big ideas about how Clemson could make a splash, and this sparked a new Clemson tradition. 

"George Bennett, who was the executive director of IPTAY, emphasized to the Clemson faithful, let's show those people how much money Clemson fans bring to Atlanta and how important it is to their local economy. He asked Clemson fans to take two dollar bills, and that's where that two dollar bill tradition started. They wanted to make an impact and show people how much money Clemson brings into town...a lot of people spent two dollar bills because it made them angry that Tech didn't want to come to Clemson."

Of course, Tech would join the ACC in 1978 and would be forced to travel to Clemson from then on, leading to some big games to take place, both in Atlanta and in Clemson. With Tech being 4-2 and Clemson 6-1, you can expect another big one under the lights in Death Valley on Saturday.