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A& M game in Austin was made more impactful when I was able to spend time the day before the game with Darrell Royal, the longtime coach of the Longhorns.

I have seen every Georgia- Georgia Tech game since 1956 as the drought was about to be broken. That frustrating streak was coming to an end as I was arriving on campus.

The breaking of the streak on Grant Field in 1957 will always be a memorable flashback for me. I had gotten to know several of the Bulldog players including Theron Sapp, the unforgettable hero of the game. He scored the only touchdown of the day. Talk about storming the field, no constituency has ever been so moved like Georgia fans that day. A sea of red formed the entire length of the field.

Little did anyone know that that day forward, Georgia would dominate the ancient series like it has never been dominated before. There have two seven-year streaks brought about by the men in Red and Black. Vince Dooley had a 19-6 record in his time at Georgia which brought balance to the series as Tech was playing as an Independent before joining the Atlantic Coast Conference. Mark Richt’s record of 13-2 is the best, percentagewise, of any coach who has coached in the series, ten seasons or more.

When Tech resigned from the conference in 1964, the rivalry lost some of its edge, but it still is an important game on the schedule. I have had some older friends who would rather beat the Jackets than any team on the schedule.

Since Vince Dooley arrived in Athens, the longest win streak for Tech has been two games, and the Bulldogs hold a sensational lead in the series, 44-14.

Somewhere, my friend “Kid” Terrell is smiling.