By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
LSU and Georgia Tech will meet in the 2000 Peach Bowl on Dec. 29 to rekindle an old SEC rivalry. The two teams haven’t met since 1963, Georgia Tech’s last year in the Southeastern Conference. After a stint as an independent, Georgia Tech now competes in the ACC.
The first time the two teams met was in the midst of World War I. In 1915 LSU and Georgia Tech squared off for a regular season game in New Orleans. The Yellow Jackets crushed the Tigers 36-7 in a lopsided victory.
It would be 12 years before the two teams would meet again in Atlanta where Georgia Tech defeated LSU 23-0. In 1942, the two teams met for the third time 15 years later and Georgia Tech reminded LSU of why they hadn’t been on the schedule for 15 years with a 42-7 thrashing of LSU in 1943.
It wouldn’t be until 1945, ironically during WWII, when LSU claimed their first victory over Georgia Tech with a 9-7 SEC victory in Atlanta.The win ended a four-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets.
The Yellow Jackets began another winning streak in 1946 against the Tigers. Between 1946 and 1956, Georgia Tech won six straight games against LSU in which they outscored the Tigers by a combined 140 to 41. Commanding victories by Georgia Tech included 26-7, 13-0, 25-7, and 39-7 wins over the Tigers.
Disgruntled LSU fans thought it would take another World War before LSU could overcome their troubles with Georgia Tech. However, LSU was about to turn the tables against Georgia Tech in the series.
In 1957, LSU coached by Paul Dietzel and on the verge of a National Championship, defeated the Yellow Jackets 20-13 in Tiger Stadium. LSU finished strong winning three-out-of four battles against Georgia Tech in the waning years of the Yellow Jackets’ SEC affiliation. The only loss was a 6-2 “barn-burner” in Atlanta in 1960.
The last game was a 7-6 LSU victory in 1963. In 1964, Georgia Tech left the SEC and the two teams haven’t met since. Each of the last three times the teams met, Georgia Tech was ranked in the top 10 in the nation and each time, the Tigers overcame the odds.
The 1962 10-7 win over Georgia Tech was one of the first LSU games to be televised. It was only the seventh televised game in school history and LSU’s first ever appearance on CBS.
The most notable game between the two teams was the clash in 1961.
Georgia Tech was ranked No. 3 in the country coming into a sold out Tiger Stadium of more than 66,000 roaring fans on the night of October 7, 1961.
LSU jumped on the Yellow Jackets early when Jimmy Field faked a pitch to LSU fullback Earl Gros and ran a keeper off right tackle for a touchdown. The extra point was good and LSU led 7-0 with 6:02 left in the first half.
LSU added another score late in the first half. LSU defender Buddy Hanic, intercepted Georgia Tech quarterback Stan Grann’s pass and returned it 21 yards down to the Yellow Jacket 29-yard line. LSU quarterback Lynn Amedee then connected with Ray Wilkins on a 17-yard pass to put the Tigers in field goal range. With nine seconds left, Wendell Harris kicked a 22-yard field goal and LSU went into the lockeroom with a 10-0 halftime lead.
To start the second half, Georgia Tech and their high-powered offense came out stinging. Behind a 44-yard pass from Bill Lothridge to Billy Williamson, they drove the ball down to the LSU 1-foot line. On fourth down Georgia Tech went for it but were turned away by a tough LSU defense.
Mike McNames was dropped for a two-yard loss on fourth down and Georgia Tech never threatened again. The Tigers held on to win 10-0.
It was an impressive shutout for the Tigers. Georgia Tech was revered as having one of the best offenses in the country coming into the game and LSU humbled the vaunted Yellow Jacket attack, allowing only 156 yards of total offense. The LSU defense was criticized for its two lack luster performances prior to the Georgia Tech game, but that night the LSU defense ended any speculation of a soft defense in Tiger Town.
Almost 40 years later, the two teams will clash in the Peach Bowl. LSU won the first Peach Bowl in 1968 with a 31-27 victory over Florida St.
The 2000 version of LSU-Georgia Tech is somewhat similar. Georgia Tech boasts the No. 13 ranking in the country and is currently riding a seven-game winning streak. Much like in 1961, they have a high-powered offense. Led by quarterback George Godsey and a slew of talented receivers, Georgia Tech averages an impressive 435.4 yards per game.
However, the Yellow Jackets can run the ball well too, averaging 164.1 yards per game. It will be a big challenge for the LSU defense to stop the Yellow Jackets in the Georgia Dome. Hopefully, this year’s meeting can rekindle some fond memories for Tiger Fans.