With Notre Dame coming to town on Saturday to play Georgia Tech, it reminds me of several memorable games from back in the late 1970’s. As a freshman rat at Tech in the fall of 1977, I remember the stories the upperclassmen told of the great upset in 1976. I went to the games in 1978 and 1980.
1975: this GT @ Notre Dame was called “The Rudy Game”. Up 24-3, the Irish subbed in bench player Rudy Ruettiger for the last play of the game. He may have “helped” to sack GT QB Rudy Allen. Years later ND QB Joe Montana said that most of the other players hadn’t even realized Ruettiger had been in on the play. “Rudy who?” asked Montana.
1976: Tech scheduled #11 ranked Notre Dame for homecoming – and beat the Irish without ever throwing a pass. On the first play of the game, true freshman GT QB Gary Lanier was sacked by All-American ND DE Ross Browner. Disgusted, GT head coach Pepper Rodgers vowed to not throw a pass for the rest of the game. Tech’s wishbone offense rushed for 368 yards. GT safety Don Bessilieu contained RB Vegas Ferguson (below). Final score: GT 23 Notre Dame 14.
1977: GT traveled to South Bend for a rematch. Late in the game Pepper pulled out his white handkerchief and waved it across the field at Notre Dame head coach Dan Devine – who shook his head no. QB Joe Montana had a big day. Final score Notre Dame 69, Tech 14.
1978: at Grant Field, Montana and the Irish routed the Irish 38-21. During the game Tech fans threw whiskey bottles and fish at the Irish, delaying the game as Devine gathered his team at midfield. After the game Devine wasn't too chummy with Pepper.
1979: Notre Dame beat the Jackets 21-13 in South Bend.
1980: Tech hosted #1 Notre Dame, and started converted tight end Ken Whisenhunt (a freshman) at QB (above). The Jackets tied the Irish 3-3. Later that afternoon in Jacksonville, #2 Georgia played Florida. QB Buck Belue scrambled and completed a pass to WR Lindsey Scott, who then outran the Gator secondary for the game-winning touchdown. The win catapulted the Dawgs to the number one ranking, and on New Years they beat the Irish for the national championship. Young Whisenhunt was moved back to tight end, then played for the Redskins, Falcons, and Jets. Later Whisenhunt head coached the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl.
1981: Notre Dame 35 Georgia Tech 3, in South Bend. The teams did not play again for 16 years.
The Tech/Notre Dame series goes back one hundred years.
After the Jackets left the SEC they became an independent like Notre Dame, and played teams like USC, Pitt, Auburn, Tennessee, Clemson, Miami, and Duke.
The great Calvin Johnson played against the Irish.
Whether GT QB Haynes King will be able to play Saturday will be a game time decision. King’s passing and running makes defenses unable to stack up against the run (and pass), and requires a defender to be assigned to King – so more Tech receivers are open on their pass routes. Otherwise the Irish can stack the line and play the run.
BOB GIBSON [SABR Bio] was the first National League pitcher to top the 3,000-strikeout mark. On 17-Jul-1974, Gibson struck out CIN’s OF Cesar Geronimo in the 2nd inning. It was the 1st of his 4 strikeouts that day, the 3,000th of his career. He would finish his playing career the following season with 3,117 K. Today he ranks 4th in the NL, 16th overall. He later coached the Braves, Mets, and Cardinals. His coaching record is here. ATL – NYM – STL. His seven consecutive victories in World Series games is an all-time pitching record: two in 1964 (WS MVP), three in 1967 (WS MVP), and two in 1968. He started 9 World Series games and completed all of them.
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