I really don’t like the University of Georgia, and I am not afraid to say it. I was born and raised in a Georgia Tech family and the UGA hatred is pure.
Just a mere glance at red and black … and …. gross.
But man, it’s hard to compete with Georgia’s ability to recruit. But Tech is trying, and doing a pretty decent job several years into Brent Key’s reign on The Flats.
It is inarguable that college football is better when the Georgia-Georgia Tech game means something. College football is better when that game is not a mere tune-up game for Georgia as it sets its eyes on title, while Tech just hopes for a spot in the Dog’s Broken Water Bowl played behind the Dollar General down the street from Ponce City Market.
With the hiring of Key, Tech has made great strides compared to the hard-to-believe-this-is-happening Geoff Collins dark ages featuring Waffle House and unrealized hype.
I have to give Georgia its due. I am 36 and most of my life, the rivalry has never really been one.
Sure, it is storied.
But since my birth in August of 1988, Tech has beaten Georgia just eight times.
Eight.
As a newborn, I suffered through the 24-3 drubbing on November 26, 1988. I was one pissed off baby. But, I really enjoyed the back-to-back victories in 1989 and 1990.
Throughout my childhood living in New Orleans when my father, Tim, worked at the Times Picayune, Georgia dominated the Jackets, winning seven-straight contests in laughable fashion.
Typical Tech, we’d say.
In August of 1998, with dad set to take a job at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the family moved to Peachtree City, Georgia Tech won three-consecutive games against the Bulldogs.
A homecoming gift of sorts? My family is from Peach or Upson Counties originally.
Then, from 2001 to 2007 the Dawgs had their way. Throughout my high school career, I graduated from Starr’s Mill in 2006, it was tough.
In 2008, the day after my first hole-in-one which was an absolutely skulled 5 iron from 180 yards that racked the pin as hard as could be and dropped, I watched a Josh Nesbitt-led option offense upend Georgia 45-42 in Athens. One of the best back-and-forth games in the series.
There were five Georgia victories until the ‘Pick and the Kick’ overtime victory in 2014 in Athens and then the 28-27 victory in Athens two years later. And, well, that’s that.
Georgia has won seven-straight against Tech including the horribly officiated 44-42 loss in eight overtimes last season.
But…. times are changing.
Georgia Tech has pieced together one of the best signing classes in program history and Key is tooling his team with one goal in mind: beat Georgia. Georgia coach Kirby Smart undeniably does not want that to happen.
But in-state talent highlighted each team’s 2025 signing classes and with the resurgence of Georgia Tech’s signing prowess, the rivalry could be entering further into a new, more competitive chapter.
Georgia Tech’s early enrollee class is highlighted by Fellowship’s five-star OT Josh Petty, Cedartown’s four-star CB Tae Harris, Prince Avenue’s four-star DL Christian Garrett, Miller County’s four-star RB JP Powell, Eastside’s three-star S Jayden Barr, Grayson’s three-star EDGE Andre Fuller, Cartersville’s three-star WR Jamauri Brice and Douglass’ three-star OT Xavier Canales.
Those who’ve signed a letter of intent at Tech are four-star CB Dalen Penson (Sandy Creek), four-star IOL Peyton Joseph (Houston County), three-star S Fenix Felton (ELCA), three-star EDGE Carrington Combs (Hebron), three-star RB Shane Marshall (Irwin), three-star WR Cal Faulkner (Lumpkin County), three-star WR Jordan Allen (Buford) and three-star Connor Roush (Wesleyan).
On the wrong side of the rivalry, Georgia and Smart are absolute masters of recruiting. And why wouldn’t they be? A dominant team that’s won two recent national titles and has been one of the better teams in the nation for the past decade.
Georgia’s 2025 class is ranked No. 3 in the nation. Tech’s class is ranked No. 22.
Already in Athens are five-star DL Elijah Griffin (Savannah Chrisitan), five-star EDGE Isaiah Gibson (Warner Robins), five-star OT Juan Gaston (Westlake), five-star LB Zayden Walker (Schley County), four-star EDGE Chase Linton (North Atlanta), four-star TE Elyiss Williams (Camden County), four-star S Todd Robinson (Valdosta), four-star WR CJ Wiley (Milton), four-star CB Jontae Gilbert (Douglass), four-star IOL Cortez Smith (Parkview), four-star WR Landon Roldan (North Oconee), four-star TE Ethan Barbour (Milton) four-star LB Anthony Kruah (Marietta), four-star OT Dennis Uzochukwu (Peachtree Ridge), three-star IOL Mason Short (Evans), three-star RB Bo Walker (Rabun Gap), three-star QB Hezekiah Millender (Clarke Central). Reseason Dinkins (Warner Robins four-star S), Dontrell Glover (Langston Hughes three-star IOL) and Thomas Blackshear (Calvary Day three-star WR) all signed letters of intent.
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