Bobby Dodd

[Deleted member 6494]

The book "Dodd's Luck" Condensed

CHAPTER 1

Bobby Dodd was born in Galax, Virginia. Named Robert Lee Dodd, after General Robert E. Lee, Dodd claimed Galax as his home and always referred to himself as a Virginian.

Galax is a Mountain Town in Virginia, and the Appalachian Trail runs straight through the main street. Electricity came to Galax the same year Dodd was born there.

There was a large lot adjacent to the Dodd house, where the local kids played tackle football, three or four to a side. Bobby also loved baseball and played on the neighborhood teams. He would often grab his fishing pole and go fishing.
His Dad taught him the art of playing cards, shooting pool, and gymnastics.

When Bobby was an assistant at Tech, he would bet players a milkshake he could walk on his hands, ten yards, faster than they could. He generally won. Dodd’s family owned the only pool table in town. Dodd played the violin, but not too well, so he switched to the ukulele.

His days in Galax were prior to the age of high school attendance.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

The book "Dodd's Luck" Condensed

CHAPTER 1

Bobby Dodd was born in Galax, Virginia. Named Robert Lee Dodd, after General Robert E. Lee, Dodd claimed Galax as his home and always referred to himself as a Virginian.

Galax is a Mountain Town in Virginia, and the Appalachian Trail runs straight through the main street. Electricity came to Galax the same year Dodd was born there.

There was a large lot adjacent to the Dodd house, where the local kids played tackle football, three or four to a side. Bobby also loved baseball and played on the neighborhood teams. He would often grab his fishing pole and go fishing.
His Dad taught him the art of playing cards, shooting pool, and gymnastics.

When Bobby was an assistant at Tech, he would bet players a milkshake he could walk on his hands, ten yards, faster than they could. He generally won. Dodd’s family owned the only pool table in town. Dodd played the violin, but not too well, so he switched to the ukulele.

His days in Galax were prior to the age of high school attendance.

CHAPTER 2​

​

Prior to his high school days, the Dodd family moved to Kingsport, Tennessee. Bobby came out of the closet as a pool shark at Kingsport. He was already a pool shark but kept it quiet in Galax. In Kingsport, he openly challenged anyone for money at Bill Richardson’s Pool Room. He was 12 years old and was beating all comers, even the aces of 35, 40, and 45 years of age. He became so dominant; he was banned from the Pool Room. Dodd made a lot of money playing pool in Kingsport.​

​

Dodd was good at pool, badminton, tennis, golf, and anything he decided to conquer in his lifetime. Kingsport High School had just organized their first football team when Dodd moved there. He played on the first team as a seventh grader.​

​

Bobby was 12 years old and weighed 100 pounds. Kingsport lost the first game 59-0 and went 1-7-1 for the season. Dodd was too little for a football uniform, so, he wore union-alls. His mother sewed padding into the outfit. Few players had helmets because they were too expensive. Dodd was the second-string end that year.​

​

The next year, Kingsport, hired its first legitimate coach, LeRoy Sprankle. Sprankle coached football, basketball, baseball, track, and gymnastics for the next 13 years at Kingsport. Kingsport went 8-1-1 the next year and won the 1923 Mythical Tennessee State High School Championship (MTSHSC). Kingsport won two of the games 153-19 and 95-0.​

​

In 1924, the team was undefeated until the last game. Kingsport lost the last game 6-20, missing out on the MTSHSC for that year. In 1925, Kingsport won 10 of 11 and outscored opponents 433-22. Kingsport finished Dodd’s senior year 7-2 and outscored opponents 550-18.​

​

During the years at Kingsport, Dodd became the star of the basketball team, football team, and the gymnastic team. He was good in baseball, played second and third base, and batted in the cleanup position.​

​

He made the track team as a high jumper and pole-vaulter. He was a good swimmer and was known as a great dancer.​

​

Dodd was slow and all the linemen could out-run him. He used his brain as an advantage to compete against opponents. He was quick to spot a weakness in an opponent and attacked that spot, regardless of the sport.​

​

Dodd was well known as the laid-back type. He had been competing in a checker game and was taking too long for his next move. His opponent became irritated and demanded Dodd make a move. Dodd looked up with a smile and said, “I am resting from my last move”.​

​

Dodd hated studying and went to classes only to stay eligible for sports. The only requirement for eligibility during those years was class attendance. Grades were arbitrary. Teachers (mostly ladies) loved him, and said Dodd was a very nice boy, gave no trouble, but would not study. He owned no books.​

​

Bobby was in high school six years and had only 14 credits. During Dodd's senior year, the principal told Bobby he needed 16 credits to pass and become eligible for college. He had never considered college but realized his days of football were over unless college was an option.​

​

The principal agreed to give two additional credits if Bobby would pass all subjects for the senior year. For the first time, Bobby got some books, started studying, passed all his subjects, and received the extra two credits.​

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 2​

​

Prior to his high school days, the Dodd family moved to Kingsport, Tennessee. Bobby came out of the closet as a pool shark at Kingsport. He was already a pool shark but kept it quiet in Galax. In Kingsport, he openly challenged anyone for money at Bill Richardson’s Pool Room. He was 12 years old and was beating all comers, even the aces of 35, 40, and 45 years of age. He became so dominant; he was banned from the Pool Room. Dodd made a lot of money playing pool in Kingsport.​

​

Dodd was good at pool, badminton, tennis, golf, and anything he decided to conquer in his lifetime. Kingsport High School had just organized their first football team when Dodd moved there. He played on the first team as a seventh grader.​

​

Bobby was 12 years old and weighed 100 pounds. Kingsport lost the first game 59-0 and went 1-7-1 for the season. Dodd was too little for a football uniform, so, he wore union-alls. His mother sewed padding into the outfit. Few players had helmets because they were too expensive. Dodd was the second-string end that year.​

​

The next year, Kingsport, hired its first legitimate coach, LeRoy Sprankle. Sprankle coached football, basketball, baseball, track, and gymnastics for the next 13 years at Kingsport. Kingsport went 8-1-1 the next year and won the 1923 Mythical Tennessee State High School Championship (MTSHSC). Kingsport won two of the games 153-19 and 95-0.​

​

In 1924, the team was undefeated until the last game. Kingsport lost the last game 6-20, missing out on the MTSHSC for that year. In 1925, Kingsport won 10 of 11 and outscored opponents 433-22. Kingsport finished Dodd’s senior year 7-2 and outscored opponents 550-18.​

​

During the years at Kingsport, Dodd became the star of the basketball team, football team, and the gymnastic team. He was good in baseball, played second and third base, and batted in the cleanup position.​

​

He made the track team as a high jumper and pole-vaulter. He was a good swimmer and was known as a great dancer.​

​

Dodd was slow and all the linemen could out-run him. He used his brain as an advantage to compete against opponents. He was quick to spot a weakness in an opponent and attacked that spot, regardless of the sport.​

​

Dodd was well known as the laid-back type. He had been competing in a checker game and was taking too long for his next move. His opponent became irritated and demanded Dodd make a move. Dodd looked up with a smile and said, “I am resting from my last move”.​

​

Dodd hated studying and went to classes only to stay eligible for sports. The only requirement for eligibility during those years was class attendance. Grades were arbitrary. Teachers (mostly ladies) loved him, and said Dodd was a very nice boy, gave no trouble, but would not study. He owned no books.​

​

Bobby was in high school six years and had only 14 credits. During Dodd's senior year, the principal told Bobby he needed 16 credits to pass and become eligible for college. He had never considered college but realized his days of football were over unless college was an option.​

​

The principal agreed to give two additional credits if Bobby would pass all subjects for the senior year. For the first time, Bobby got some books, started studying, passed all his subjects, and received the extra two credits.​

CHAPTER 3​

Tennessee offered a scholarship, but Dodd decided he would attend Vanderbilt. He practiced for ten days there before finding out his grades were not sufficient to enter Vanderbilt. He had already turned down Tennessee, so he visited Georgia Tech and found out he was too dumb to attend here. He and his buddy decided to try Georgia. Dodd said, “anybody can get into the University of Georgia".

Neyland contacted Dodd and told him the offer was still open at Tennessee. Neyland was mad at Dodd, but wanted Dodd’s buddy, and neither would attend a college without the other. Dodd played freshman football, baseball, and basketball at Tennessee. The freshman football team went undefeated.

As a freshman, Bobby played basketball for the Sigma Nu team and helped them win the Interfraternity Basketball Tournament. He entered the Interfraternity Track Meet for the shot-put, javelin throw, and discus throw, high jump, and pole vault competitions. He came in first or second in all of them. No matter what sport, he always wore #17 on his jersey.

Dodd and seven of the freshmen football players became starters for the Varsity the following year. Football had the one-platoon system at that time, so Dodd had to play both offense and defense. Tennessee did not lose but tied one game. They also beat two teams, Alabama and Florida that had been listed as unbeatable.

Florida was the last game of the year. If Florida wins and they were highly favored and would go to the Rose Bowl. Tennessee's planned offense was producing nothing, so Dodd started making up plays in the huddle. Neyland did not like it one bit. Dodd would call one of his own plays, look at Neyland on the bench, and just laugh at him.

All of Dodd’s plays worked, and his creative play calling won the game for Tennessee and provided the upset. The win knocked Florida out of the Rose Bowl and allowed Georgia Tech to take its place. Tech won the Rose Bowl with the help of the famous Roy Riegels play. Tennessee finished Dodd’s first varsity year with a 9-0-1 record.

After the football season, Dodd played varsity basketball and was the team captain. Dodd said he always loved basketball more than football, because there were more games.. Since Dodd was slow, basketball was more favorable to his style of play than football.

Dodd loved milk and soft foods because he had bad teeth, and hard foods hurt his teeth. At age 60, he loved to soak bread in milk and eat it. He claims he was the only man in America that chewed his milk.

Bobby still gambled while in college on the putt-putt course and at the ping pong table. He seldom lost, and the betting money supplemented his monthly scholarship income.

The following year Tennessee was 9-0-1 again and narrowly missed the Rose Bowl. Tennessee outscored their opponents 330-19.

At the end of the season Dodd was chosen to play for the North Squad in the first Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital Benefit at Grant Field. Since it cost a lot of money to bring football players from all over the country, the benefit game made no money for the hospital. The Scottish Rite game was Dodd's only game played at Tech. The game was changed after that year pitting the freshmen of Tech and UGA.

Bobby Jones, the golfer, attended the Scottish Rite game and noticed Dodd’s kicking form. Jones stated, “Dodd’s leg motion, while punting, is as nearly perfect a golf stroke as I have ever seen”.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 3​

Tennessee offered a scholarship, but Dodd decided he would attend Vanderbilt. He practiced for ten days there before finding out his grades were not sufficient to enter Vanderbilt. He had already turned down Tennessee, so he visited Georgia Tech and found out he was too dumb to attend here. He and his buddy decided to try Georgia. Dodd said, “anybody can get into the University of Georgia".

Neyland contacted Dodd and told him the offer was still open at Tennessee. Neyland was mad at Dodd, but wanted Dodd’s buddy, and neither would attend a college without the other. Dodd played freshman football, baseball, and basketball at Tennessee. The freshman football team went undefeated.

As a freshman, Bobby played basketball for the Sigma Nu team and helped them win the Interfraternity Basketball Tournament. He entered the Interfraternity Track Meet for the shot-put, javelin throw, and discus throw, high jump, and pole vault competitions. He came in first or second in all of them. No matter what sport, he always wore #17 on his jersey.

Dodd and seven of the freshmen football players became starters for the Varsity the following year. Football had the one-platoon system at that time, so Dodd had to play both offense and defense. Tennessee did not lose but tied one game. They also beat two teams, Alabama and Florida that had been listed as unbeatable.

Florida was the last game of the year. If Florida wins and they were highly favored and would go to the Rose Bowl. Tennessee's planned offense was producing nothing, so Dodd started making up plays in the huddle. Neyland did not like it one bit. Dodd would call one of his own plays, look at Neyland on the bench, and just laugh at him.

All of Dodd’s plays worked, and his creative play calling won the game for Tennessee and provided the upset. The win knocked Florida out of the Rose Bowl and allowed Georgia Tech to take its place. Tech won the Rose Bowl with the help of the famous Roy Riegels play. Tennessee finished Dodd’s first varsity year with a 9-0-1 record.

After the football season, Dodd played varsity basketball and was the team captain. Dodd said he always loved basketball more than football, because there were more games.. Since Dodd was slow, basketball was more favorable to his style of play than football.

Dodd loved milk and soft foods because he had bad teeth, and hard foods hurt his teeth. At age 60, he loved to soak bread in milk and eat it. He claims he was the only man in America that chewed his milk.

Bobby still gambled while in college on the putt-putt course and at the ping pong table. He seldom lost, and the betting money supplemented his monthly scholarship income.

The following year Tennessee was 9-0-1 again and narrowly missed the Rose Bowl. Tennessee outscored their opponents 330-19.

At the end of the season Dodd was chosen to play for the North Squad in the first Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital Benefit at Grant Field. Since it cost a lot of money to bring football players from all over the country, the benefit game made no money for the hospital. The Scottish Rite game was Dodd's only game played at Tech. The game was changed after that year pitting the freshmen of Tech and UGA.

Bobby Jones, the golfer, attended the Scottish Rite game and noticed Dodd’s kicking form. Jones stated, “Dodd’s leg motion, while punting, is as nearly perfect a golf stroke as I have ever seen”.

CHAPTER 4​

There is no way I can describe Dodd’s senior year. It is imperative you read Chapter Four for yourself.

Each summer, Dodd returned home to work and help his widowed mother. He played baseball on the weekends with the mill team. In the summer of 1930, he played some semi-pro baseball in Logan, West Virginia.

One summer some friends persuaded him to enter the Kingsport Tennis Tournament. It was the first time Dodd had ever played tennis, and he won the tournament. There was also a bridge tournament event. He and one of his friends entered the bridge tournament and won it.

Dodd’s senior season record at Tennessee ended with a 9-1 record. The three-year record with Dodd at quarterback for Tennessee was 27-1-2. His feats can be read from the book and are legendary. I would have to type the entire chapter to cover them.

Tennessee had beaten a strong North Carolina team 9-7 during the year, and Georgia Tech had to play North Carolina as their next game. Mack Tharpe came to talk with Neyland about the strategy Tennessee used against UNC. Neyland did not have time and referred the task to Dodd.

Mack Tharpe returned to Atlanta and told Alexander, “I have just talked with the smartest quarterback I have ever known. Tharpe told Alexander, “You had better hire him as an assistant before someone else gets him”.

Malcolm Johnson, a prominent sports-writer of that era, said Bobby Dodd was a magician with the football. Josh Cody, Temple University coach, said Dodd was one of the greatest backs he ever saw. He said Dodd was the greatest faker with a football that has ever lived.

Edwin Camp, nicknamed Old Timer, and a longtime editor of the Atlanta Journal stated, “Bobby Dodd defeated a strong Vanderbilt team 13-0 on Saturday”. Without Dodd, Old Timer wrote, Tennessee would be a fair team, full of fight, but would have lost to Vanderbilt by three touchdowns. One of Dodd’s punts went 69 yards and went out of bounds on Vanderbilt’s four-yard line.

Old Timer rattled off a bunch of great football players including Jim Thorpe, George Gipp, and Red Grange, but stated, “Never, have I seen the equal of Robert Lee Dodd".

It has been said that Neyland was the coach Monday through Friday, but Dodd was the coach on Saturdays. Neyland called Dodd, “the greatest competitor I have ever coached”. Dan Mcgugin, the coach of Vanderbilt, said Dodd was one of the great quarterbacks of football history.

Tennessee had two great backs, McEver and Hackman. Wallace Wade, coach at Alabama, said, “I respect McEver and Hackman, but I fear Dodd”.

Tech brought Dodd to Atlanta for an interview with Alexander and the Tech committee. Tech had just lost an assistant, and was looking for a new one who would one day succeed Alexander. Wallace Wade had just left Alabama to coach at Duke and wanted Dodd as his assistant. Also, Neyland was going to make Dodd an assistant at Tennessee.

Dodd accepted the offer from Tech but told them he would not be available until after the basketball season. The Southern Conference Tournament was held in Atlanta, and Tennessee lost to Georgia Tech. Dodd never returned to Tennessee, and began as an assistant football coach at Tech the day after the tournament.

Dodd made the All-America football team in his senior year consisting of 13 players, because of one-platoon football. It has been reported that making the All-American team was very difficult for a player from the South. The South was considered bush league, and the press was more prominent in the North and East. There were no TV games, so the high profile sports writers and high profile coaches determined the AA candidates.

 

[TechBurn]

WOW!! Knew he was a great coach, but had no idea about his playing abilities!!!
Thanks!!

 

[bobongo]

WOW!! Knew he was a great coach, but had no idea about his playing abilities!!!
Thanks!!

Bobby Dodd is one of only four inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both player and coach.

College Football Hall of Fame Trivia

College Football Hall of Fame Trivia

footballfoundation.org

4 Inducted as Both a Player and a Coach

• Bobby Dodd (Player at Tennessee; Coach at Georgia Tech)
• Steve Spurrier (Player at Florida; Coach at Duke, Florida, South Carolina)
• Amos Alonzo Stagg (Player at Yale; Coach at Springfield [MA], Chicago [IL], Pacific [CA])
• Bowden Wyatt (Player at Tennessee; Coach at Wyoming, Arkansas, Tennessee)

 

[Deleted member 6494]

WOW!! Knew he was a great coach, but had no idea about his playing abilities!!!
Thanks!!

I don't know how the duplicate postings appeared, but I can't seem to delete them.

CHAPTER 4​

There is no way I can describe Dodd’s senior year. It is imperative you read Chapter Four for yourself.



Each summer, Dodd returned home to work and help his widowed mother. He played baseball on the weekends with the mill team. In the summer of 1930, he played some semi-pro baseball in Logan, West Virginia.



One summer some friends persuaded him to enter the Kingsport Tennis Tournament. It was the first time Dodd had ever played tennis, and he won the tournament. There was also a bridge tournament event. He and one of his friends entered the bridge tournament and won it.



Dodd’s senior season record at Tennessee ended with a 9-1 record. The three-year record with Dodd at quarterback for Tennessee was 27-1-2. His feats can be read from the book and are legendary. I would have to type the entire chapter to cover them.



Tennessee had beaten a strong North Carolina team 9-7 during the year, and Georgia Tech had to play North Carolina as their next game. Mack Tharpe came to talk with Neyland about the strategy Tennessee used against UNC. Neyland did not have time and referred the task to Dodd.



Mack Tharpe returned to Atlanta and told Alexander, “I have just talked with the smartest quarterback I have ever known. Tharpe told Alexander, “You had better hire him as an assistant before someone else gets him”.



Malcolm Johnson, a prominent sports-writer of that era, said Bobby Dodd was a magician with the football. Josh Cody, Temple University coach, said Dodd was one of the greatest backs he ever saw. He said Dodd was the greatest faker with a football that has ever lived.



Edwin Camp, nicknamed Old Timer, and a long-time editor of the Atlanta Journal stated, “Bobby Dodd defeated a strong Vanderbilt team 13-0 on Saturday”. Without Dodd, Old Timer wrote, Tennessee would be a fair team, full of fight, but would have lost to Vanderbilt by three touchdowns. One of Dodd’s punts went 69 yards and went out of bounds on Vanderbilt’s four-yard line.



Old Timer rattled off a bunch of great football players including Jim Thorpe, George Gipp, and Red Grange, but stated, “Never, have I seen the equal of Robert Lee Dodd".



It has been said that Neyland was the coach Monday through Friday, but Dodd was the coach on Saturdays. Neyland called Dodd, “the greatest competitor I have ever coached”. Dan Mcgugin, the coach of Vanderbilt, said Dodd was one of the great quarterbacks of football history.



Tennessee had two great backs, McEver and Hackman. Wallace Wade, coach at Alabama, said, “I respect McEver and Hackman, but I fear Dodd”.



Tech brought Dodd to Atlanta for an interview with Alexander and the Tech committee. Tech had just lost an assistant, and was looking for a new one who would one day succeed Alexander. Wallace Wade had just left Alabama to coach at Duke and wanted Dodd as his assistant. Also, Neyland was going to make Dodd an assistant at Tennessee.



Dodd accepted the offer from Tech, but told them he would not be available until after the basketball season. The Southern Conference Tournament was held in Atlanta, and Tennessee lost to Georgia Tech. Dodd never returned to Tennessee, and began as an assistant football coach at Tech the day after the tournament.



Dodd made the All-America football team in his senior year consisting of 13 players, because of one-platoon football. It has been reported that making the All-American team was very difficult for a player from the South. The South was considered bush league, and the press was more prominent in the North and East. There were no TV games, so the high profile sports writers and high profile coaches determined the AA candidates.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

I don't know how the duplicate postings appeared, but I can't seem to delete them.

CHAPTER 4​

There is no way I can describe Dodd’s senior year. It is imperative you read Chapter Four for yourself.



Each summer, Dodd returned home to work and help his widowed mother. He played baseball on the weekends with the mill team. In the summer of 1930, he played some semi-pro baseball in Logan, West Virginia.



One summer some friends persuaded him to enter the Kingsport Tennis Tournament. It was the first time Dodd had ever played tennis, and he won the tournament. There was also a bridge tournament event. He and one of his friends entered the bridge tournament and won it.



Dodd’s senior season record at Tennessee ended with a 9-1 record. The three-year record with Dodd at quarterback for Tennessee was 27-1-2. His feats can be read from the book and are legendary. I would have to type the entire chapter to cover them.



Tennessee had beaten a strong North Carolina team 9-7 during the year, and Georgia Tech had to play North Carolina as their next game. Mack Tharpe came to talk with Neyland about the strategy Tennessee used against UNC. Neyland did not have time and referred the task to Dodd.



Mack Tharpe returned to Atlanta and told Alexander, “I have just talked with the smartest quarterback I have ever known. Tharpe told Alexander, “You had better hire him as an assistant before someone else gets him”.



Malcolm Johnson, a prominent sports-writer of that era, said Bobby Dodd was a magician with the football. Josh Cody, Temple University coach, said Dodd was one of the greatest backs he ever saw. He said Dodd was the greatest faker with a football that has ever lived.



Edwin Camp, nicknamed Old Timer, and a long-time editor of the Atlanta Journal stated, “Bobby Dodd defeated a strong Vanderbilt team 13-0 on Saturday”. Without Dodd, Old Timer wrote, Tennessee would be a fair team, full of fight, but would have lost to Vanderbilt by three touchdowns. One of Dodd’s punts went 69 yards and went out of bounds on Vanderbilt’s four-yard line.



Old Timer rattled off a bunch of great football players including Jim Thorpe, George Gipp, and Red Grange, but stated, “Never, have I seen the equal of Robert Lee Dodd".



It has been said that Neyland was the coach Monday through Friday, but Dodd was the coach on Saturdays. Neyland called Dodd, “the greatest competitor I have ever coached”. Dan Mcgugin, the coach of Vanderbilt, said Dodd was one of the great quarterbacks of football history.



Tennessee had two great backs, McEver and Hackman. Wallace Wade, coach at Alabama, said, “I respect McEver and Hackman, but I fear Dodd”.



Tech brought Dodd to Atlanta for an interview with Alexander and the Tech committee. Tech had just lost an assistant, and was looking for a new one who would one day succeed Alexander. Wallace Wade had just left Alabama to coach at Duke and wanted Dodd as his assistant. Also, Neyland was going to make Dodd an assistant at Tennessee.



Dodd accepted the offer from Tech, but told them he would not be available until after the basketball season. The Southern Conference Tournament was held in Atlanta, and Tennessee lost to Georgia Tech. Dodd never returned to Tennessee, and began as an assistant football coach at Tech the day after the tournament.



Dodd made the All-America football team in his senior year consisting of 13 players, because of one-platoon football. It has been reported that making the All-American team was very difficult for a player from the South. The South was considered bush league, and the press was more prominent in the North and East. There were no TV games, so the high profile sports writers and high profile coaches determined the AA candidates.

CHAPTER 4​

There is no way I can describe Dodd’s senior year. It is imperative you read Chapter Four for yourself.



Each summer, Dodd returned home to work and help his widowed mother. He played baseball on the weekends with the mill team. In the summer of 1930, he played some semi-pro baseball in Logan, West Virginia.



One summer some friends persuaded him to enter the Kingsport Tennis Tournament. It was the first time Dodd had ever played tennis, and he won the tournament. There was also a bridge tournament event. He and one of his friends entered the bridge tournament and won it.



Dodd’s senior season record at Tennessee ended with a 9-1 record. The three-year record with Dodd at quarterback for Tennessee was 27-1-2. His feats can be read from the book and are legendary. I would have to type the entire chapter to cover them.



Tennessee had beaten a strong North Carolina team 9-7 during the year, and Georgia Tech had to play North Carolina as their next game. Mack Tharpe came to talk with Neyland about the strategy Tennessee used against UNC. Neyland did not have time and referred the task to Dodd.



Mack Tharpe returned to Atlanta and told Alexander, “I have just talked with the smartest quarterback I have ever known. Tharpe told Alexander, “You had better hire him as an assistant before someone else gets him”.



Malcolm Johnson, a prominent sports writer of that era, said Bobby Dodd was a magician with the football. Josh Cody, Temple University coach, said Dodd was one of the greatest backs he ever saw. He said Dodd was the greatest faker with a football that has ever lived.



Edwin Camp, nicknamed Old Timer, and a long time editor of the Atlanta Journal stated, “Bobby Dodd defeated a strong Vanderbilt team 13-0 on Saturday”. Without Dodd, Old Timer wrote, Tennessee would be a fair team, full of fight, but would have lost to Vanderbilt by three touchdowns. One of Dodd’s punts went 69 yards and went out of bounds on Vanderbilt’s four-yard line.



Old Timer rattled off a bunch of great football players including Jim Thorpe, George Gipp, and Red Grange, but stated, “Never, have I seen the equal of Robert Lee Dodd".



It has been said that Neyland was the coach Monday through Friday, but Dodd was the coach on Saturdays. Neyland called Dodd, “the greatest competitor I have ever coached”. Dan Mcgugin, the coach of Vanderbilt, said Dodd was one of the great quarterbacks of football history.



Tennessee had two great backs, McEver and Hackman. Wallace Wade, coach at Alabama, said, “I respect McEver and Hackman, but I fear Dodd”.



Tech brought Dodd to Atlanta for an interview with Alexander and the Tech committee. Tech had just lost an assistant, and was looking for a new one who would one day succeed Alexander. Wallace Wade had just left Alabama to coach at Duke and wanted Dodd as his assistant. Also, Neyland was going to make Dodd an assistant at Tennessee.



Dodd accepted the offer from Tech, but told them he would not be available until after the basketball season. The Southern Conference Tournament was held in Atlanta, and Tennessee lost to Georgia Tech. Dodd never returned to Tennessee, and began as an assistant football coach at Tech the day after the tournament.



Dodd made the All-America football team in his senior year consisting of 13 players, because of one-platoon football. It has been reported that making the All-American team was very difficult for a player from the South. The South was considered bush league, and the press was more prominent in the North and East. There were no TV games, so the high profile sports writers and high profile coaches determined the AA candidates.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 7​

In 1945, Bobby Dodd became head coach at Georgia Tech at a salary of $8,400 a year. The same year he became head coach, the government withdrew the Navy V-12 program, and Tech’s players in the military had not yet returned.

This handed Dodd a big blow in his first season, and Tech's record was 4-6. Dodd was disappointed with the record for his first team, but later stated it was pretty good considering the talent at Tech for that year.

He immediately hired a high school coach from Madison, Kentucky, who was beating all the other high school teams with the “T” formation. Dodd did not have a quarterback to run the “T”, so he took the starting center, Ed Holtsinger, and made him the “T” quarterback.

Some players returned from the war in 1946, and Frank Broyles was one of the returnees. Dodd lightened up practice and tried to make football fun. The team would have competitive races for exercise and played touch football to stay in shape. The coaches also participated in the touch games.

Tech was 9-2 and beat St Mary’s in the Oil Bowl 41-19. Tech also experienced their first airline trip, when they flew to LSU and played against the famous quarterback, Y.A. Tittle. It was a huge upset by Tech over LSU. As a Tech halfback ran down the sidelines for another TD in the fourth quarter, an LSU athletic official, disgustedly, threw the main light switch casting the stadium into darkness. Tech won 26-7, and the extra point was never attempted. The game was called because of darkness.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 7​

In 1945, Bobby Dodd became head coach at Georgia Tech at a salary of $8,400 a year. The same year he became head coach, the government withdrew the Navy V-12 program, and Tech’s players in the military had not yet returned.

This handed Dodd a big blow in his first season, and Tech's record was 4-6. Dodd was disappointed with the record for his first team, but later stated it was pretty good considering the talent at Tech for that year.

He immediately hired a high school coach from Madison, Kentucky, who was beating all the other high school teams with the “T” formation. Dodd did not have a quarterback to run the “T”, so he took the starting center, Ed Holtsinger, and made him the “T” quarterback.

Some players returned from the war in 1946, and Frank Broyles was one of the returnees. Dodd lightened up practice and tried to make football fun. The team would have competitive races for exercise and played touch football to stay in shape. The coaches also participated in the touch games.

Tech was 9-2 and beat St Mary’s in the Oil Bowl 41-19. Tech also experienced their first airline trip, when they flew to LSU and played against the famous quarterback, Y.A. Tittle. It was a huge upset by Tech over LSU. As a Tech halfback ran down the sidelines for another TD in the fourth quarter, an LSU athletic official, disgustedly, threw the main light switch casting the stadium into darkness. Tech won 26-7, and the extra point was never attempted. The game was called because of darkness.

CHAPTER 8​

Tech started the 1947 season with a game against Tennessee at Grant Field. Tech beat Neyland’s Tennessee team 27-0. It was the worst defeat for Neyland at that time. His teams had never given up four touchdowns in a game.

Tech beat Georgia 7-0, beat Kansas in the Orange Bowl 20-14, and finished with a national ranking of 10. Tech’s record for the year was 10-1.

Tech won its first six games in 1948 and then lost three out of the last four. They lost 6-13 to Tennessee, 12-14 to Alabama, and 13-21 against Georgia. There were few bowl games then, so Tech stayed home for the bowls with a 7-3 record.

Dodd was still winning money from golf. He became the best putter around and would bet any one he could beat them. He could even beat Bobby Jones putting. His salary at Tech was $25,000 a year, but he deposited $69,000 into his account for the year.

You will have to read the story of Dodd, Graves, and Ellis in the Orange Bowl Parade. Dodd gives up golf and takes up Tennis.

The 1948 season was mediocre. The two biggest highlights were the Tennessee and Georgia games. Tech beat Tennessee and Neyland 30-13 at Knoxville. Tech also beat Georgia 7-0, but had to sit home for the bowl season with another 7-3 season.

Dodd calls the 1950 season his worst year. He was ready to quit coaching because of the 5-6 record. He was embarrassed because Tech lost to VMI 13-14 at Grant Field, and to Alabama 54-19. The only saving grace for the season was another 7-0 win against Georgia in Athens.

Dodd had to fire two of his best friends and coaches at the end of the year. He retained Ray Graves, hired Whitey Urban, Lewis Woodruff, Frank Broyles, Jack Griffin, and Tonto Coleman. Dodd was the first coach to turn total coaching responsibilities over to his assistants. He began coaching the coaches in 1951.

The two-platoon system was adopted in 1951. It was tailor-made for Dodd’s style of coaching. Dodd discovered Eddie LeBaron was coaching a new offense called the Belly Series. He contacted Lebaron and studied the system. Dodd installed the Belly Series offense at Tech for the 1951 season.

Dodd made it a priority for his assistant coaches, that above all else, he wanted all of his players to be happy. He wanted them to enjoy Georgia Tech and Georgia Tech football.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 8​

Tech started the 1947 season with a game against Tennessee at Grant Field. Tech beat Neyland’s Tennessee team 27-0. It was the worst defeat for Neyland at that time. His teams had never given up four touchdowns in a game.

Tech beat Georgia 7-0, beat Kansas in the Orange Bowl 20-14, and finished with a national ranking of 10. Tech’s record for the year was 10-1.

Tech won its first six games in 1948 and then lost three out of the last four. They lost 6-13 to Tennessee, 12-14 to Alabama, and 13-21 against Georgia. There were few bowl games then, so Tech stayed home for the bowls with a 7-3 record.

Dodd was still winning money from golf. He became the best putter around and would bet any one he could beat them. He could even beat Bobby Jones putting. His salary at Tech was $25,000 a year, but he deposited $69,000 into his account for the year.

You will have to read the story of Dodd, Graves, and Ellis in the Orange Bowl Parade. Dodd gives up golf and takes up Tennis.

The 1948 season was mediocre. The two biggest highlights were the Tennessee and Georgia games. Tech beat Tennessee and Neyland 30-13 at Knoxville. Tech also beat Georgia 7-0, but had to sit home for the bowl season with another 7-3 season.

Dodd calls the 1950 season his worst year. He was ready to quit coaching because of the 5-6 record. He was embarrassed because Tech lost to VMI 13-14 at Grant Field, and to Alabama 54-19. The only saving grace for the season was another 7-0 win against Georgia in Athens.

Dodd had to fire two of his best friends and coaches at the end of the year. He retained Ray Graves, hired Whitey Urban, Lewis Woodruff, Frank Broyles, Jack Griffin, and Tonto Coleman. Dodd was the first coach to turn total coaching responsibilities over to his assistants. He began coaching the coaches in 1951.

The two-platoon system was adopted in 1951. It was tailor-made for Dodd’s style of coaching. Dodd discovered Eddie LeBaron was coaching a new offense called the Belly Series. He contacted Lebaron and studied the system. Dodd installed the Belly Series offense at Tech for the 1951 season.

Dodd made it a priority for his assistant coaches, that above all else, he wanted all of his players to be happy. He wanted them to enjoy Georgia Tech and Georgia Tech football.

CHAPTER 9​

The 1951 season actually started with the signing of a high school player named George Morris. Bobby Dodd always asserted that George Morris was the best football player he ever coached.

As practice began for the 1951 season, Dodd needed a place kicker and asked Broyles who was the best, Glenn Turner or Pepper Rodgers. Broyles responded, “no question about it, Glenn Turner”.

Dodd told Broyles to follow him. Dodd asked Turner, “If I choose you as the kicker can you do it”? Turner replied, “I’ll give it my best effort, coach”. Dodd and Broyles walked over to Pepper, and Dodd repeated the question. Pepper answered, “Coach, I’ll never miss”. Dodd chose Pepper.

The 1951 season started with Tech beating SMU 21-7 and Florida 27-0. The next game was against a strong Bear Bryant coached Kentucky team. Tech defeated Kentucky 13-7.

Dodd had previously gone to Kentucky to help Bryant install the “T” formation offense. They became friends until the Chick Granning incident. When Bryant would come to Atlanta, he would use Dodd’s card to get into the Capital City Club for fine dining.

Tech easily beat LSU 25-7 but had a strong Auburn team up next with a safety named Vince Dooley. The assistant coaches were perplexed because they could find no weakness in the Auburn defense. Dodd came into the room and studied the film with them for a short while and told them how to beat Auburn’s defense. Tech beat Auburn 27-7 with the plays Dodd designed for the game.

Tech beat Vanderbilt in the mud at Nashville 8-7. The only blemish for the year was a 14-14 tie with Duke and the great coach, Wallace Wade. Tech easily defeated VMI 34-7 and Alabama 27-7.

Tech destroyed Georgia and their great quarterback Zeke Bratkowski 48-6 and increased Tech’s streak to three in a row over Georgia. Tech intercepted Bratkowski eight times in the game.

Tech beat Baylor in the Orange Bowl game 17-14 with Pepper Rodgers kicking the winning field goal in the latter part of the fourth quarter.

Dodd always let his players have fun and enjoy the sights at bowl games. His practices were efficient, but light for bowl games. Tech finished 11-0-1 and placed 5th in the national polls.

During Spring Practice for 1952, Woody Hayes came to Atlanta, climbed up in Dodd’s tower to see Dodd’s team practice. He looked at the defensive players and told Dodd, “I don’t see how you will win a game with those small defensive players”. The 1952 season, using the small players, is covered in the next chapter.

Georgia Tech and Bobby Dodd was the most popular event in Atlanta during the early fifties and the years that followed. There were no national TV games on Saturdays, and no pro sports in Atlanta. All eyes were turned to Tech football on Saturdays.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 9​

The 1951 season actually started with the signing of a high school player named George Morris. Bobby Dodd always asserted that George Morris was the best football player he ever coached.

As practice began for the 1951 season, Dodd needed a place kicker and asked Broyles who was the best, Glenn Turner or Pepper Rodgers. Broyles responded, “no question about it, Glenn Turner”.

Dodd told Broyles to follow him. Dodd asked Turner, “If I choose you as the kicker can you do it”? Turner replied, “I’ll give it my best effort, coach”. Dodd and Broyles walked over to Pepper, and Dodd repeated the question. Pepper answered, “Coach, I’ll never miss”. Dodd chose Pepper.

The 1951 season started with Tech beating SMU 21-7 and Florida 27-0. The next game was against a strong Bear Bryant coached Kentucky team. Tech defeated Kentucky 13-7.

Dodd had previously gone to Kentucky to help Bryant install the “T” formation offense. They became friends until the Chick Granning incident. When Bryant would come to Atlanta, he would use Dodd’s card to get into the Capital City Club for fine dining.

Tech easily beat LSU 25-7 but had a strong Auburn team up next with a safety named Vince Dooley. The assistant coaches were perplexed because they could find no weakness in the Auburn defense. Dodd came into the room and studied the film with them for a short while and told them how to beat Auburn’s defense. Tech beat Auburn 27-7 with the plays Dodd designed for the game.

Tech beat Vanderbilt in the mud at Nashville 8-7. The only blemish for the year was a 14-14 tie with Duke and the great coach, Wallace Wade. Tech easily defeated VMI 34-7 and Alabama 27-7.

Tech destroyed Georgia and their great quarterback Zeke Bratkowski 48-6 and increased Tech’s streak to three in a row over Georgia. Tech intercepted Bratkowski eight times in the game.

Tech beat Baylor in the Orange Bowl game 17-14 with Pepper Rodgers kicking the winning field goal in the latter part of the fourth quarter.

Dodd always let his players have fun and enjoy the sights at bowl games. His practices were efficient, but light for bowl games. Tech finished 11-0-1 and placed 5th in the national polls.

During Spring Practice for 1952, Woody Hayes came to Atlanta, climbed up in Dodd’s tower to see Dodd’s team practice. He looked at the defensive players and told Dodd, “I don’t see how you will win a game with those small defensive players”. The 1952 season, using the small players, is covered in the next chapter.

Georgia Tech and Bobby Dodd was the most popular event in Atlanta during the early fifties and the years that followed. There were no national TV games on Saturdays, and no pro sports in Atlanta. All eyes were turned to Tech football on Saturdays.

CHAPTER 10​

The 1952 season opened with wins of 54-6 over The Citadel, Florida 17-14, and SMU in Dallas 20-7. The next three games were shutouts against Tulane 14-0, Auburn 33-0, and Vanderbilt 30-0.

Tech beat Duke 28-7, and then Earl Blaik and his Army team 45-6. Dodd claims he hated to beat Army so badly because of Earl Bliak's previous great teams with Glen Davis and Doc Blanchard.

The next game Tech beat Alabama 7-3. Dodd calls it one of the greatest games ever played at Grant Field. Tech shut out FSU 30 after the Alabama game.

Georgia was beating Tech in the last game of the year 7-3 in the third quarter. Tech had fourth and four on Georgia’s ten yard line. Dodd told Broyles to put Chapel Rhino in the game as a back. The QB would pitch to Rhino and he had the option of running or throwing the ball.

Broyles protested vigorously, because Rhino had played only 30 minutes all year, and had not even practiced that play. Dodd insisted, and Rhino threw it for a TD to give Tech the lead 10-7. Tech won the game 23-9, its fourth in a row over Georgia.

Dodd's mystique made his players think he could do anything. One day, during practice, the punters were trying to kick the ball out of bounds inside the ten-yard line. Broyles was coaching them, and Dodd was watching from the tower. The punters were having a terrible time, so Dodd climbed down from the tower to help them.

He was demonstrating how to hold the ball and the angle of the kick. He said, “see my chair up in the tower, I will demonstrate the motion and kick this football in the chair". Broyles thought Dodd had bit off more than he could chew, but Dodd punted the ball, and it landed dead center of the chair.

The mystique always followed Dodd. When he played for Tennessee, Neyland was showing the punters how to kick. Neyland put his hat downfield and said, “Now punt the ball and hit my hat”. Dodd punted the ball, and it landed dead center of Neyland’s hat. Dodd grinned and said, “You mean like that coach”.

Tech is now 11-0, undefeated, and has a choice of the Sugar or Orange Bowl. Dodd wants to go to the Orange and play Syracuse. He told the team they would not have any trouble beating Syracuse and could enjoy the festivities better in the Orange Bowl. Ole Miss would be the opponent in the Sugar, and Dodd did not want to play them. Ole Miss was very strong and undefeated.

The team voted against Dodd and wanted to go to the Sugar Bowl. Dodd was mad at the team and the other coaches until after the Sugar Bowl. He feared Ole Miss and Johnny Vaught, and just knew Tech would blow the opportunity to go undefeated. Tech beat Ole Miss 24-7 because the players were so afraid Dodd would still be mad if they did not win the Sugar Bowl game.

The 1952 Tech team was the most dominating team in Tech history. Tech was voted number one team by the International News Service, but Michigan State was the choice of the AP and UPI with a 10-0-1 record. Dodd claims he could have beaten Michigan State with his team.

Tech outscored their opponents 325-59. Six Tech players were named to the All-America team, four on offense and two on defense. Three others were named to the All Southeastern Conference team. At that time, it was claimed the 1952 was the greatest team in Georgia Tech history.

The little defensive players, Woody Hayes said would not win a game that year for Tech, had won all twelve.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 10​

The 1952 season opened with wins of 54-6 over The Citadel, Florida 17-14, and SMU in Dallas 20-7. The next three games were shutouts against Tulane 14-0, Auburn 33-0, and Vanderbilt 30-0.

Tech beat Duke 28-7, and then Earl Blaik and his Army team 45-6. Dodd claims he hated to beat Army so badly because of Earl Bliak's previous great teams with Glen Davis and Doc Blanchard.

The next game Tech beat Alabama 7-3. Dodd calls it one of the greatest games ever played at Grant Field. Tech shut out FSU 30 after the Alabama game.

Georgia was beating Tech in the last game of the year 7-3 in the third quarter. Tech had fourth and four on Georgia’s ten yard line. Dodd told Broyles to put Chapel Rhino in the game as a back. The QB would pitch to Rhino and he had the option of running or throwing the ball.

Broyles protested vigorously, because Rhino had played only 30 minutes all year, and had not even practiced that play. Dodd insisted, and Rhino threw it for a TD to give Tech the lead 10-7. Tech won the game 23-9, its fourth in a row over Georgia.

Dodd's mystique made his players think he could do anything. One day, during practice, the punters were trying to kick the ball out of bounds inside the ten-yard line. Broyles was coaching them, and Dodd was watching from the tower. The punters were having a terrible time, so Dodd climbed down from the tower to help them.

He was demonstrating how to hold the ball and the angle of the kick. He said, “see my chair up in the tower, I will demonstrate the motion and kick this football in the chair". Broyles thought Dodd had bit off more than he could chew, but Dodd punted the ball, and it landed dead center of the chair.

The mystique always followed Dodd. When he played for Tennessee, Neyland was showing the punters how to kick. Neyland put his hat downfield and said, “Now punt the ball and hit my hat”. Dodd punted the ball, and it landed dead center of Neyland’s hat. Dodd grinned and said, “You mean like that coach”.

Tech is now 11-0, undefeated, and has a choice of the Sugar or Orange Bowl. Dodd wants to go to the Orange and play Syracuse. He told the team they would not have any trouble beating Syracuse and could enjoy the festivities better in the Orange Bowl. Ole Miss would be the opponent in the Sugar, and Dodd did not want to play them. Ole Miss was very strong and undefeated.

The team voted against Dodd and wanted to go to the Sugar Bowl. Dodd was mad at the team and the other coaches until after the Sugar Bowl. He feared Ole Miss and Johnny Vaught, and just knew Tech would blow the opportunity to go undefeated. Tech beat Ole Miss 24-7 because the players were so afraid Dodd would still be mad if they did not win the Sugar Bowl game.

The 1952 Tech team was the most dominating team in Tech history. Tech was voted number one team by the International News Service, but Michigan State was the choice of the AP and UPI with a 10-0-1 record. Dodd claims he could have beaten Michigan State with his team.

Tech outscored their opponents 325-59. Six Tech players were named to the All-America team, four on offense and two on defense. Three others were named to the All Southeastern Conference team. At that time, it was claimed the 1952 was the greatest team in Georgia Tech history.

The little defensive players, Woody Hayes said would not win a game that year for Tech, had won all twelve.

CHAPTER 11​

The 1953 season started with a huge thud. The rules committee voted to return to one-platoon football. Dodd was furious! His contention was, "the return to one-platoon football takes the coaching out of football and favors schools with the advantage of getting the best all-around athletes".

Dodd had about six players out of the 22 offensive and defensive players that could play both ways. Neyland and Former Michigan coach, Fritz Crisler, were responsible for the return to one-platoon football.

Tech opened the 53 season with a 53-0 win over Davidson and tied Florida 0-0 in a hurricane at Florida. Tech beat SMU in an unusual game 6-4. Dodd ordered two intentional safeties to get the free kicks and keep SMU away from Tech’s goal at the end of the game.

We then beat Tulane 27-13 and Auburn 36-6. Tech and Dodd were undefeated in its last 31 games but had to travel to Notre Dame the next week. Notre Dame stopped Tech’s winning streak at 31 games. Notre Dame passed for one nine-yard TD. It was the first pass for a TD against Tech in the last 22 games. Notre Dame finished the season 9-0-1.

Tech recovered from their loss to ND and beat Vanderbilt 43-0 and Clemson 20-7. They lost the chance to repeat as SEC champ, when Alabama beat us 6-13 at Legion Field in Birmingham.

The regular season ended with a tough 13-10 win over Duke and the fifth straight win over Georgia 28-12. Pepper Rodgers ran for one TD and passed for another in the win over Georgia.

Tech beat West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl 42-19. West Virginia had a linebacker named Sam Huff and a fullback named Joe Marconi, who later played for the Chicago Bears. West Virginia scouted Tech and announced to the team, “Tech could not pass”.

Dodd told Pepper, just before the game, to come out passing. Pepper threw a bomb for a TD on the first possession. Pepper kept throwing and set three Sugar Bowl records, 35 pass attempts, 20 completions, and 268 passing yards. Tech had a total of 438 yards of offense for the game. It was Dodd’s fifth bowl game without a loss. Georgia Tech finished the season 9-2-1.

“Bobby Dodd on Football” was published in 1954. It was written to help new coaches, mostly those at the high school level. Dodd had three basic rules, in-your-room curfew by eleven O’clock during the season, no drinking, and church attendance on Sunday.

The 1954 season started with a 28-0 victory over Tulane, and a loss to Florida 12-13 in the second game. Tech narrowly beat SMU 10-7 and then defeated LSU 30-20. Tech beat Auburn 14-7 for the 13th consecutive time. Tech was upset at Grant Field the next Saturday 6-13 by Kentucky.

Dodd was more upset the following week, as he had to dismiss one his most gifted backs for breaking rules. Leon Hardeman at 5’ 6” may have been the best back, pound for pound, to ever play at Tech. Teas was hot on Hardeman's trail and was close to breaking his record when Dodd dismissed Teas from the team. Teas was very fast and possessed the entire package of an offensive back. It was a difficult decision for both Dodd and Teas.

Tech was beating Duke in Durham the next week 20-0 at the half. I personally listened to this game on the radio, and it was the most shocking game I remember. Tech dominated the first half, but Duke came back and completely dominated the second half and beat Tech 20-21. I was shell-shocked at the results of this game.

Tech manhandled Tennessee 28-7 and beat Alabama 20-0 the following week. The last game was the annual Georgia/Georgia Tech game. It was played in Athens in mud six inches deep.

Dodd was well known for his quick-kicks and did this on third, second, and even first down in the mud at Athens. He wanted to keep Georgia bottled up and play defense. He told his players, "Do not wait for fourth down to punt".

There is a quote in Dodds Luck by George Matthews, “Dodd would often punt on third down, much to the chagrin of the Grant Field crowd, which howled in protest, even in victory, when Dodd punted early”. I was at some of the games, and the howls were boos. I stated on the Hive the fans even booed Dodd when he punted on third downs, and several of the Hivers called me a liar. I was there and know for a fact Dodd was booed for his third down punts. I say let them read the facts of Dodd’s own book.

Finally, Georgia got close enough and kicked a field goal to lead 3-0. Tech kicked to Georgia to begin the second half, and Georgia fumbled on their 19. Tech threw a TD pass on the first play after the fumble and won the game 7-3. Every time Tech would get the ball, they would punt back to Georgia and play defense on Georgia’s side of the 50.

We had just won our 6th straight game over Georgia. Tech defeated Arkansas 14-6 in the Cotton Bowl for Dodd’s fifth straight bowl win and 6th bowl without a loss. Tech finished the season 8-3.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 11​

The 1953 season started with a huge thud. The rules committee voted to return to one-platoon football. Dodd was furious! His contention was, "the return to one-platoon football takes the coaching out of football and favors schools with the advantage of getting the best all-around athletes".

Dodd had about six players out of the 22 offensive and defensive players that could play both ways. Neyland and Former Michigan coach, Fritz Crisler, were responsible for the return to one-platoon football.

Tech opened the 53 season with a 53-0 win over Davidson and tied Florida 0-0 in a hurricane at Florida. Tech beat SMU in an unusual game 6-4. Dodd ordered two intentional safeties to get the free kicks and keep SMU away from Tech’s goal at the end of the game.

We then beat Tulane 27-13 and Auburn 36-6. Tech and Dodd were undefeated in its last 31 games but had to travel to Notre Dame the next week. Notre Dame stopped Tech’s winning streak at 31 games. Notre Dame passed for one nine-yard TD. It was the first pass for a TD against Tech in the last 22 games. Notre Dame finished the season 9-0-1.

Tech recovered from their loss to ND and beat Vanderbilt 43-0 and Clemson 20-7. They lost the chance to repeat as SEC champ, when Alabama beat us 6-13 at Legion Field in Birmingham.

The regular season ended with a tough 13-10 win over Duke and the fifth straight win over Georgia 28-12. Pepper Rodgers ran for one TD and passed for another in the win over Georgia.

Tech beat West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl 42-19. West Virginia had a linebacker named Sam Huff and a fullback named Joe Marconi, who later played for the Chicago Bears. West Virginia scouted Tech and announced to the team, “Tech could not pass”.

Dodd told Pepper, just before the game, to come out passing. Pepper threw a bomb for a TD on the first possession. Pepper kept throwing and set three Sugar Bowl records, 35 pass attempts, 20 completions, and 268 passing yards. Tech had a total of 438 yards of offense for the game. It was Dodd’s fifth bowl game without a loss. Georgia Tech finished the season 9-2-1.

“Bobby Dodd on Football” was published in 1954. It was written to help new coaches, mostly those at the high school level. Dodd had three basic rules, in-your-room curfew by eleven O’clock during the season, no drinking, and church attendance on Sunday.

The 1954 season started with a 28-0 victory over Tulane, and a loss to Florida 12-13 in the second game. Tech narrowly beat SMU 10-7 and then defeated LSU 30-20. Tech beat Auburn 14-7 for the 13th consecutive time. Tech was upset at Grant Field the next Saturday 6-13 by Kentucky.

Dodd was more upset the following week, as he had to dismiss one his most gifted backs for breaking rules. Leon Hardeman at 5’ 6” may have been the best back, pound for pound, to ever play at Tech. Teas was hot on Hardeman's trail and was close to breaking his record when Dodd dismissed Teas from the team. Teas was very fast and possessed the entire package of an offensive back. It was a difficult decision for both Dodd and Teas.

Tech was beating Duke in Durham the next week 20-0 at the half. I personally listened to this game on the radio, and it was the most shocking game I remember. Tech dominated the first half, but Duke came back and completely dominated the second half and beat Tech 20-21. I was shell-shocked at the results of this game.

Tech manhandled Tennessee 28-7 and beat Alabama 20-0 the following week. The last game was the annual Georgia/Georgia Tech game. It was played in Athens in mud six inches deep.

Dodd was well known for his quick-kicks and did this on third, second, and even first down in the mud at Athens. He wanted to keep Georgia bottled up and play defense. He told his players, "Do not wait for fourth down to punt".

There is a quote in Dodds Luck by George Matthews, “Dodd would often punt on third down, much to the chagrin of the Grant Field crowd, which howled in protest, even in victory, when Dodd punted early”. I was at some of the games, and the howls were boos. I stated on the Hive the fans even booed Dodd when he punted on third downs, and several of the Hivers called me a liar. I was there and know for a fact Dodd was booed for his third down punts. I say let them read the facts of Dodd’s own book.

Finally, Georgia got close enough and kicked a field goal to lead 3-0. Tech kicked to Georgia to begin the second half, and Georgia fumbled on their 19. Tech threw a TD pass on the first play after the fumble and won the game 7-3. Every time Tech would get the ball, they would punt back to Georgia and play defense on Georgia’s side of the 50.

We had just won our 6th straight game over Georgia. Tech defeated Arkansas 14-6 in the Cotton Bowl for Dodd’s fifth straight bowl win and 6th bowl without a loss. Tech finished the season 8-3.

CHAPTER 12​

Georgia Tech opened the 1955 season against Miami, Florida in the first nationally televised football game in color. Tech won the televised game 14-6, and then beat Florida 14-7, SMU 20-7, and LSU 7-0.

Auburn eked out a victory, 12-14, in the fifth game of the year, breaking a 14-game losing streak to Tech. Auburn was the only team all year to score more than one TD against Tech. Florida State and Duke were shut out 34-0 and 27-0 in the following games.

Tennessee tied us 7-7 in the 8th game of the year, but Tech came back and defeated Alabama 26-2. The last game of the season was a 21-3 victory over Georgia, running Tech’s streak of victories against the Dogs to seven.

Then, all hell broke loose in the South. Southern teams had played a few of the Northern teams in segregated stadiums with black players on the opposing squads. There had been no games in the South against black players at that time.

Tech accepted an offer to play Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl. Joe Paterno, later, told Dodd the Pittsburgh team was the best college team Paterno had ever seen. Not only was Tech to play such a powerful team, but one of Pittsburgh’s best players was black.

The governor of Georgia, the State university regents, the Citizen’s Council of New Orleans, and the whole anti-segregationist movement in the South were up in arms and wanted Dodd to withdraw from the game. Some of the State leaders wanted to cut off State economic support for Georgia Tech if they played Pittsburgh in New Orleans.

Dodd and his players wanted to play Pittsburgh. Since Atlanta was the big city of the South, this game would become a trial test of the integration of black and white players in college sports in the South.

Dodd said, “It is not fair, and it is time the barrier was broken”. Dodd stated, “I have given my word to play the game, and we intend to go through with the contract”.

Tech cannot claim to be pure in its student’s behavior. About two thousand students demonstrated in a march to the capitol, tore up historical markers, destroyed parking meters, damaging police cars, smashed doors to get into the capitol building, and trashed the capitol building. The demonstration was in favor of Tech playing in the bowl game.

Dodd prevailed, the Board of Regents finally gave Tech permission to play, and the door to college segregation in the South had been broken by Dodd’s insistence to play Pittsburgh in the bowl game.

Tech defeated Pittsburgh 7-0. It was Dodd’s 5th bowl victory in a row and gave him an overall record of 7-0 in bowl games. Tech finished the year 9-1-1, lost one game by two points, tied Tennessee, and finished 7th in the national rankings.

Tech won the first six games of the next season, 1956, beating Kentucky 14-6, SMU 9-7, LSU 39-7, Auburn 28-7, Tulane 40-0, and Duke 7-0.

The next game at Grant field has been called the greatest defensive game ever played in the South. Number 3 Tennessee was matched against number 2 Georgia Tech.

Tennessee won on a fluke play when both Wade Mitchell and Paul Rotenberry ran together trying to intercept a pass to Tennessee’s Buddy Cruze. Both players had a chance to intercept the pass but ran together. Cruze caught the pass and ran it to the one-yard line of Tech. Tennessee scored on the next play, and defeated Tech 0-6.

Tech finished the season shutting out Alabama, Florida, and Georgia 27-0, 28-0, and 35-0. Tech had just defeated Georgia for the 8th consecutive year.

Tech had a choice of the Sugar, Orange, or Cotton Bowls. Dodd surprised everyone by turning the major bowls down to play in the Gator Bowl. Dodd had a group of friends involved with the Gator Bowl, who wanted Tech to help the Gator Bowl gain prestige and become a major bowl.

Dodd elected to help his friends and committed to the Gator Bowl. Tech had a rematch with Pittsburgh and beat them 21-14. Dodd had run his consecutive bowl record to six in a row and 8-0 overall. He was declared the “Bowl Master”. Tech’s record for the year was 10-1, and the team was ranked 4th nationally.

At the end of the season, Texas interviewed Dodd for the job at Texas. Dodd was making $35,000 per year at Tech. A multi-millionaire from the Texas committee told Dodd he would make Dodd a millionaire, if he would take the job. Dodd eventually turned him down to stay at Tech.

Dodd recommended Darrell Royal to the committee, and Royall became the Texas head coach for the next 22 years.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 12​

Georgia Tech opened the 1955 season against Miami, Florida in the first nationally televised football game in color. Tech won the televised game 14-6, and then beat Florida 14-7, SMU 20-7, and LSU 7-0.

Auburn eked out a victory, 12-14, in the fifth game of the year, breaking a 14-game losing streak to Tech. Auburn was the only team all year to score more than one TD against Tech. Florida State and Duke were shut out 34-0 and 27-0 in the following games.

Tennessee tied us 7-7 in the 8th game of the year, but Tech came back and defeated Alabama 26-2. The last game of the season was a 21-3 victory over Georgia, running Tech’s streak of victories against the Dogs to seven.

Then, all hell broke loose in the South. Southern teams had played a few of the Northern teams in segregated stadiums with black players on the opposing squads. There had been no games in the South against black players at that time.

Tech accepted an offer to play Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl. Joe Paterno, later, told Dodd the Pittsburgh team was the best college team Paterno had ever seen. Not only was Tech to play such a powerful team, but one of Pittsburgh’s best players was black.

The governor of Georgia, the State university regents, the Citizen’s Council of New Orleans, and the whole anti-segregationist movement in the South were up in arms and wanted Dodd to withdraw from the game. Some of the State leaders wanted to cut off State economic support for Georgia Tech if they played Pittsburgh in New Orleans.

Dodd and his players wanted to play Pittsburgh. Since Atlanta was the big city of the South, this game would become a trial test of the integration of black and white players in college sports in the South.

Dodd said, “It is not fair, and it is time the barrier was broken”. Dodd stated, “I have given my word to play the game, and we intend to go through with the contract”.

Tech cannot claim to be pure in its student’s behavior. About two thousand students demonstrated in a march to the capitol, tore up historical markers, destroyed parking meters, damaging police cars, smashed doors to get into the capitol building, and trashed the capitol building. The demonstration was in favor of Tech playing in the bowl game.

Dodd prevailed, the Board of Regents finally gave Tech permission to play, and the door to college segregation in the South had been broken by Dodd’s insistence to play Pittsburgh in the bowl game.

Tech defeated Pittsburgh 7-0. It was Dodd’s 5th bowl victory in a row and gave him an overall record of 7-0 in bowl games. Tech finished the year 9-1-1, lost one game by two points, tied Tennessee, and finished 7th in the national rankings.

Tech won the first six games of the next season, 1956, beating Kentucky 14-6, SMU 9-7, LSU 39-7, Auburn 28-7, Tulane 40-0, and Duke 7-0.

The next game at Grant field has been called the greatest defensive game ever played in the South. Number 3 Tennessee was matched against number 2 Georgia Tech.

Tennessee won on a fluke play when both Wade Mitchell and Paul Rotenberry ran together trying to intercept a pass to Tennessee’s Buddy Cruze. Both players had a chance to intercept the pass but ran together. Cruze caught the pass and ran it to the one-yard line of Tech. Tennessee scored on the next play, and defeated Tech 0-6.

Tech finished the season shutting out Alabama, Florida, and Georgia 27-0, 28-0, and 35-0. Tech had just defeated Georgia for the 8th consecutive year.

Tech had a choice of the Sugar, Orange, or Cotton Bowls. Dodd surprised everyone by turning the major bowls down to play in the Gator Bowl. Dodd had a group of friends involved with the Gator Bowl, who wanted Tech to help the Gator Bowl gain prestige and become a major bowl.

Dodd elected to help his friends and committed to the Gator Bowl. Tech had a rematch with Pittsburgh and beat them 21-14. Dodd had run his consecutive bowl record to six in a row and 8-0 overall. He was declared the “Bowl Master”. Tech’s record for the year was 10-1, and the team was ranked 4th nationally.

At the end of the season, Texas interviewed Dodd for the job at Texas. Dodd was making $35,000 per year at Tech. A multi-millionaire from the Texas committee told Dodd he would make Dodd a millionaire, if he would take the job. Dodd eventually turned him down to stay at Tech.

Dodd recommended Darrell Royal to the committee, and Royall became the Texas head coach for the next 22 years.

CHAPTER 13​

From 1951-56, the record was 59-7-3, a winning percentage of .894. Tech went 23 straight games at Grant Field without losing, and had a record, for the same period at home, of 34-3-2 or a .919 winning percentage. Grant Field became known as Grant’s Tomb, and the joke of the era was, “who is buried in Grant’s Tomb”? Of course, the answer was, “Everybody”.

Tech was continually adding seats to Grant Field, only to have it packed and fans howling for more tickets. Dodd said Tech could have sold 20 to 25 thousand more tickets each Saturday, if they had the room to seat the fans. Tech was the only game in town on Saturday.

Tech lost the entire backfield and seven of the top eight backs to graduation in 56. Only two linemen returned for the 57 campaign. Since it was still one-platoon football, most of the top athletes were attending the bigger schools, and Tech’s squad had dwindled to a team with little talent. The 1957 team went 4-4-2, scored only 75 points, allowed only 71 points, and shut out four teams.

The Board of Regents had previously voted to move the easiest courses at Tech to the University of Georgia. They were removed from Tech, and most of the players were majoring in the easier subjects. The other colleges in the South began taking a copy of the calculus book to the homes of potential Tech recruits and would tell the recruits they would be required to pass that course at Tech.

(My comment: I wonder how much the game against Pittsburgh had to do with the Board of Regents decision to move some courses from GT to UGA?)

Some of the schools around the South began cheating (paying players to attend their school) and were getting the top athletes via the money route. Auburn was one of the teams, but not the only one. Auburn won the national championship in 1957, but had to forfeit the honor because of a cheating scandal.

Dodd reported Auburn for paying players, and the Auburn coaches hated Dodd for his part in their loss of the national championship. Dodd told all the coaches he would report any of their teams to the commissioner for cheating at recruiting. Dodd stated, “If you find me cheating, turn me in, because, I am certainly going to turn you in”.

One person at Auburn admired Dodd, studied Dodd’s coaching methods, and read everything he could about Dodd’s coaching philosophy. He studied all aspects of Bobby Dodd’s coaching and the coaching tactics of Bear Bryant. He stated, “If you want to be the best, learn from the best”, so he studied Dodd and Bryant. He used the best from both coaches in his own career. His name was Vince Dooley.

As good as his teams were in the early fifties, Tech was mediocre, at best, in the latter part of the fifties. This really upset Dodd and he was depressed during this time, because he did not like to lose.

Dodd and Tech’s records from 57 through 60 were 4-4-2, 5-4-1, 6-5, and 5-5. In 1957, Theron Sapp ended the drought for Georgia against Tech. Sapp scored the touch-down allowing Georgia to win 7-0. Georgia went on a spree and won four in a row before losing again to Tech.

Tech lost to Georgia in those four years 0-7, 3-16, 14-21, and 6-7. Dodd lost his first bowl game in 59 to Arkansas 7-14.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 13​

From 1951-56, the record was 59-7-3, a winning percentage of .894. Tech went 23 straight games at Grant Field without losing, and had a record, for the same period at home, of 34-3-2 or a .919 winning percentage. Grant Field became known as Grant’s Tomb, and the joke of the era was, “who is buried in Grant’s Tomb”? Of course, the answer was, “Everybody”.

Tech was continually adding seats to Grant Field, only to have it packed and fans howling for more tickets. Dodd said Tech could have sold 20 to 25 thousand more tickets each Saturday, if they had the room to seat the fans. Tech was the only game in town on Saturday.

Tech lost the entire backfield and seven of the top eight backs to graduation in 56. Only two linemen returned for the 57 campaign. Since it was still one-platoon football, most of the top athletes were attending the bigger schools, and Tech’s squad had dwindled to a team with little talent. The 1957 team went 4-4-2, scored only 75 points, allowed only 71 points, and shut out four teams.

The Board of Regents had previously voted to move the easiest courses at Tech to the University of Georgia. They were removed from Tech, and most of the players were majoring in the easier subjects. The other colleges in the South began taking a copy of the calculus book to the homes of potential Tech recruits and would tell the recruits they would be required to pass that course at Tech.

(My comment: I wonder how much the game against Pittsburgh had to do with the Board of Regents decision to move some courses from GT to UGA?)

Some of the schools around the South began cheating (paying players to attend their school) and were getting the top athletes via the money route. Auburn was one of the teams, but not the only one. Auburn won the national championship in 1957, but had to forfeit the honor because of a cheating scandal.

Dodd reported Auburn for paying players, and the Auburn coaches hated Dodd for his part in their loss of the national championship. Dodd told all the coaches he would report any of their teams to the commissioner for cheating at recruiting. Dodd stated, “If you find me cheating, turn me in, because, I am certainly going to turn you in”.

One person at Auburn admired Dodd, studied Dodd’s coaching methods, and read everything he could about Dodd’s coaching philosophy. He studied all aspects of Bobby Dodd’s coaching and the coaching tactics of Bear Bryant. He stated, “If you want to be the best, learn from the best”, so he studied Dodd and Bryant. He used the best from both coaches in his own career. His name was Vince Dooley.

As good as his teams were in the early fifties, Tech was mediocre, at best, in the latter part of the fifties. This really upset Dodd and he was depressed during this time, because he did not like to lose.

Dodd and Tech’s records from 57 through 60 were 4-4-2, 5-4-1, 6-5, and 5-5. In 1957, Theron Sapp ended the drought for Georgia against Tech. Sapp scored the touch-down allowing Georgia to win 7-0. Georgia went on a spree and won four in a row before losing again to Tech.

Tech lost to Georgia in those four years 0-7, 3-16, 14-21, and 6-7. Dodd lost his first bowl game in 59 to Arkansas 7-14.

CHAPTER 14​

The 1960 season started off fairly well with victories against Kentucky and Rice, but an emotional saga lay ahead for the Dodd’s. Bobby Dodd Jr. had made the High School All American team and naturally assumed he would attend Georgia Tech and play for his Dad's team.

Dodd did not think it proper to coach his own son, so he convinced Bobby Jr. to attend Florida and play for Ray Graves. As fate would have it, Bobby Dodd Jr. was the key element in Tech’s loss to Florida in the third game of the year. Tech lost to Florida and Bobby Dodd Jr. 17-18.

In the 5-5 season of 1960, Tech had lost five games by a total of 11 points. It was a disappointing season for Dodd. The Florida game was one of the most emotional games for the Dodd family. Dodd was disappointed by the loss, but proud of his son. Bobby Dodd Jr. was thrilled to win, but felt sad it was against his Dad.

Most of chapter 14 was devoted to the tale of Bobby Dodd Jr. and the Florida game.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 14​

The 1960 season started off fairly well with victories against Kentucky and Rice, but an emotional saga lay ahead for the Dodd’s. Bobby Dodd Jr. had made the High School All American team and naturally assumed he would attend Georgia Tech and play for his Dad's team.

Dodd did not think it proper to coach his own son, so he convinced Bobby Jr. to attend Florida and play for Ray Graves. As fate would have it, Bobby Dodd Jr. was the key element in Tech’s loss to Florida in the third game of the year. Tech lost to Florida and Bobby Dodd Jr. 17-18.

In the 5-5 season of 1960, Tech had lost five games by a total of 11 points. It was a disappointing season for Dodd. The Florida game was one of the most emotional games for the Dodd family. Dodd was disappointed by the loss, but proud of his son. Bobby Dodd Jr. was thrilled to win, but felt sad it was against his Dad.

Most of chapter 14 was devoted to the tale of Bobby Dodd Jr. and the Florida game.

CHAPTER 15

The 1961 season opened in California with Tech defeating Southern Cal 27-7. The next week was also a winner over Rice 24-0 and then a loss at LSU 10-0. The LSU loss was followed by a shut out over Duke 21-0, a win over Auburn 7-6, and two more shutouts against Tulane 35-0 and Florida 20-0. Tech lost a close game in Knoxville to Tennessee 6-10 prior to the Alabama game.

All hell broke out in the fourth quarter against Alabama in Legion Field the next week. During the fourth quarter, Tech punted to the Tide’s Billy Richardson. Richardson signaled for a fair catch and caught the ball. Chick Graning, of Tech, was near the sidelines covering against a possible run up the sideline. Graning relaxed after Richardson made the fair-catch.

Darwin Holt of Alabama kept coming and drove his elbow up under Graning’s face mask and trotted off the field. Graning lay unconscious on the field, his playing days over. The damage was fracture of the facial bones, five missing front teeth and the remainder of the front teeth broken, fracture of the nasal bone, fracture of the right maxillary sinus and sinus filled with blood, fracture of the bone beneath the right eye, cerebral concussion, and possible fracture of the base of the skull.

Films of the game showed it was deliberate. There had been other incidences with Holt in other games of excessive and unnecessary roughness. Holt had also bitten Billy Williamson on the leg in the same game.

Dodd wanted Bryant to suspend Holt for several games to insure he would learn to play the game without intentionally trying to maim other players. Bryant refused and Dodd was livid over the incident and Bryant’s unwillingness to correct the situation. Dodd became angry with Bryant, and it was years before the two buried the hatchet regarding the incident. Dodd never could reconcile himself to accept Bryant’s standard of coaching his players.

Dodd has always insisted the Holt-Graning incident had nothing to do with the termination of the series between Alabama and Tech. Dodd said the decision was made prior to that game. He had already informed the Bear of the termination of the series.

Tech rebounded from the Alabama defeat to beat Georgia 22-7 and end Georgia’s four-year reign of the Jackets.

The season ended in the Gator Bowl with an exceptional Penn State team defeating Tech 30-15. Tech wound up with a 7-4 season, its best record since 1956

The 1962 team had an exceptional quarterback named Billy Lothridge. Lothridge and his high school team-mate, Billy Martin, came to Tech out of Gainseville High School in Georgia. Lothridge to Martin would be an oft-repeated phrase at Tech.

Tech won the first two games against Clemson 26-9 and Florida 17-0, then the Jackets lost a heartbreaker at LSU 7-10, as Jerry Stovall returned a punt 97 yards against the Jackets. Tech shut out Tennessee; they stumbled at Auburn 14-17. The Jackets easily defeated Tulane 42-12 and Duke 20-9, but tied FSU 14-14.

Tech beat Alabama and Joe Namath at Grant field 7-6 in a big upset and atoned for the loss of the previous year. Tech destroyed Georgia in the final game of 1962 by the score of 37-6. Dodd lost his third bowl game 10-14 to Missouri in the Blue Bonnet Bowl. Tech’s record for the year was 7-3-1.

Tech had a record of 7-3 for 1963, as Billy Lothridge was runner-up to Roger Staubach in the Heisman balloting. Both Lothridge and Martin were on the All American team. The Jackets beat Florida 9-0, Clemson 27-0, lost to LSU 6-7, beat Tennessee 23-7, lost to Auburn 21-29, beat Tulane 17-3, Duke 30-6, FSU 15-7, lost to Alabama 11-27, and ended the season with a 14-3 win over Georgia.

Chapter 15 will be continued in the next post. It will cover the reason Dodd decided to pull out of the Southeastern Conference.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CHAPTER 15

The 1961 season opened in California with Tech defeating Southern Cal 27-7. The next week was also a winner over Rice 24-0 and then a loss at LSU 10-0. The LSU loss was followed by a shut out over Duke 21-0, a win over Auburn 7-6, and two more shutouts against Tulane 35-0 and Florida 20-0. Tech lost a close game in Knoxville to Tennessee 6-10 prior to the Alabama game.

All hell broke out in the fourth quarter against Alabama in Legion Field the next week. During the fourth quarter, Tech punted to the Tide’s Billy Richardson. Richardson signaled for a fair catch and caught the ball. Chick Graning, of Tech, was near the sidelines covering against a possible run up the sideline. Graning relaxed after Richardson made the fair-catch.

Darwin Holt of Alabama kept coming and drove his elbow up under Graning’s face mask and trotted off the field. Graning lay unconscious on the field, his playing days over. The damage was fracture of the facial bones, five missing front teeth and the remainder of the front teeth broken, fracture of the nasal bone, fracture of the right maxillary sinus and sinus filled with blood, fracture of the bone beneath the right eye, cerebral concussion, and possible fracture of the base of the skull.

Films of the game showed it was deliberate. There had been other incidences with Holt in other games of excessive and unnecessary roughness. Holt had also bitten Billy Williamson on the leg in the same game.

Dodd wanted Bryant to suspend Holt for several games to insure he would learn to play the game without intentionally trying to maim other players. Bryant refused and Dodd was livid over the incident and Bryant’s unwillingness to correct the situation. Dodd became angry with Bryant, and it was years before the two buried the hatchet regarding the incident. Dodd never could reconcile himself to accept Bryant’s standard of coaching his players.

Dodd has always insisted the Holt-Graning incident had nothing to do with the termination of the series between Alabama and Tech. Dodd said the decision was made prior to that game. He had already informed the Bear of the termination of the series.

Tech rebounded from the Alabama defeat to beat Georgia 22-7 and end Georgia’s four-year reign of the Jackets.

The season ended in the Gator Bowl with an exceptional Penn State team defeating Tech 30-15. Tech wound up with a 7-4 season, its best record since 1956

The 1962 team had an exceptional quarterback named Billy Lothridge. Lothridge and his high school team-mate, Billy Martin, came to Tech out of Gainseville High School in Georgia. Lothridge to Martin would be an oft-repeated phrase at Tech.

Tech won the first two games against Clemson 26-9 and Florida 17-0, then the Jackets lost a heartbreaker at LSU 7-10, as Jerry Stovall returned a punt 97 yards against the Jackets. Tech shut out Tennessee; they stumbled at Auburn 14-17. The Jackets easily defeated Tulane 42-12 and Duke 20-9, but tied FSU 14-14.

Tech beat Alabama and Joe Namath at Grant field 7-6 in a big upset and atoned for the loss of the previous year. Tech destroyed Georgia in the final game of 1962 by the score of 37-6. Dodd lost his third bowl game 10-14 to Missouri in the Blue Bonnet Bowl. Tech’s record for the year was 7-3-1.

Tech had a record of 7-3 for 1963, as Billy Lothridge was runner-up to Roger Staubach in the Heisman balloting. Both Lothridge and Martin were on the All American team. The Jackets beat Florida 9-0, Clemson 27-0, lost to LSU 6-7, beat Tennessee 23-7, lost to Auburn 21-29, beat Tulane 17-3, Duke 30-6, FSU 15-7, lost to Alabama 11-27, and ended the season with a 14-3 win over Georgia.

Chapter 15 will be continued in the next post. It will cover the reason Dodd decided to pull out of the Southeastern Conference.

CONTINUANCE OF CHAPTER 15​

Bobby Dodd insisted there was no other reason he left the SEC, other than the 140 Rule. The 140 Rule stated a college program could only have 140 football and basketball players on scholarship at any one time. The teams were allowed to sign up to 45 players a year, but could not exceed the 140 Rule.

Dodd would not allow any of the football players choosing Tech to be dismissed from Tech, because they were not good players. Dodd said, “it is not the recruits fault for not making the squad, it was the coaches fault for misjudging their talents”. If a recruit came to Tech, he would stay on a football scholarship until he graduated.

Dodd would sign about 30-32 players a year to meet the guidelines, but the other schools in the SEC were offering 45 scholarships a year. Those players, not good enough to fall under the 140 Rule, had their scholarships withdrawn and sent packing before the end of each year. Dodd insisted, the recruiting of athletes by this method amounted to nothing more than a tryout for a scholarship.

Dodd thought it unfair and would not withdraw scholarships from his players. He wanted the SEC to limit the amount of scholarships to about 32 per year. This would keep the other schools from offering 45 scholarships, picking the best, and sending the rest packing.

A vote was to be taken by the presidents of the colleges on the issue, and Dodd made it clear, Tech would have to leave the SEC unless the rule was changed. Dodd said he would live with 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 recruits per year as long as he did not have to chase any of his players off.

The presidents were split six for Dodd’s position and six against. Bear had promised Dodd he would get his president to vote for Dodd’s position, which would have changed the rule. When the meeting was held, Bryant did not show up and the Alabama president voted against Dodd’s position and the 140 Rule was upheld. Tech’s president immediately walked to the podium and announced Tech was withdrawing from the SEC. Bryant never told Dodd why he reneged on his promise.

Some years later there was a movement to get Tech back into the SEC, but the two main schools to fight it the most and keep Tech from re-entering the SEC were Georgia and Auburn.

The ACC immediately offered Tech the opportunity to join its conference, but Dodd thought Tech could not compete in basketball in the ACC. Dodd decided to try the independent route as Notre Dame, Miami, and Penn State were faring well as independents. Tech was well known as a football power at that time, so Dodd figured the independent route would be the best for Tech.

1964 was Tech’s first year as an Independent, and Tech ended the season 7-3, with most of the games played against SEC teams. Tech won its first seven games against Vanderbilt 14-2, Miami (FL) 20-0, Clemson 14-7, Navy 17-0, Auburn 7-3, Tulane 7-6, and Duke 21-8. Tech then lost it last three games against Tennessee 14-22, Alabama 7-24, and Georgia 0-7.

The loss to Georgia was to a young new coach at UGA named Vince Dooley.

Tech tied the first game of the 1965 season against Vanderbilt 10-10, then lost the next game to Texas A&M 10-14. Tech then won five straight against Clemson 38-6, Tulane 13-10, Auburn 23-14, Navy 37-16, and Duke 35-23. Tennessee defeated the Jackets 7-21, Tech beat Virginia 42-19, and lost to Vince Dooley and Georgia in the last game of the regular season 7-17.

Tech defeated Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl 31-21 and Tech set records in the Gator Bowl for rushing yardage. Lenny Snow set the Gator Bowl record for rushes (33) and yardage (139). The Jackets gained 364 yards rushing in the game. Tech ran the ball 79 times for 23 first downs, also Gator Bowl records.

During the 1965 year, the young lefthander, Kim King, obliterated the school single season total offensive mark with 1,676 yards. He also set a record for 319 yards passing against Virginia. Kim King set 13 school records at GT for the year. It has to be kept in perspective that this was in the days of three yards, a cloud of dust, and a lot of defenses.

This was the 9th Bowl victory for Bobby Dodd and his last Bowl victory.

Chapter 16 Next: Dodd’s last year as head coach at Georgia Tech.

 

[Deleted member 6494]

CONTINUANCE OF CHAPTER 15​

Bobby Dodd insisted there was no other reason he left the SEC, other than the 140 Rule. The 140 Rule stated a college program could only have 140 football and basketball players on scholarship at any one time. The teams were allowed to sign up to 45 players a year, but could not exceed the 140 Rule.

Dodd would not allow any of the football players choosing Tech to be dismissed from Tech, because they were not good players. Dodd said, “it is not the recruits fault for not making the squad, it was the coaches fault for misjudging their talents”. If a recruit came to Tech, he would stay on a football scholarship until he graduated.

Dodd would sign about 30-32 players a year to meet the guidelines, but the other schools in the SEC were offering 45 scholarships a year. Those players, not good enough to fall under the 140 Rule, had their scholarships withdrawn and sent packing before the end of each year. Dodd insisted, the recruiting of athletes by this method amounted to nothing more than a tryout for a scholarship.

Dodd thought it unfair and would not withdraw scholarships from his players. He wanted the SEC to limit the amount of scholarships to about 32 per year. This would keep the other schools from offering 45 scholarships, picking the best, and sending the rest packing.

A vote was to be taken by the presidents of the colleges on the issue, and Dodd made it clear, Tech would have to leave the SEC unless the rule was changed. Dodd said he would live with 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 recruits per year as long as he did not have to chase any of his players off.

The presidents were split six for Dodd’s position and six against. Bear had promised Dodd he would get his president to vote for Dodd’s position, which would have changed the rule. When the meeting was held, Bryant did not show up and the Alabama president voted against Dodd’s position and the 140 Rule was upheld. Tech’s president immediately walked to the podium and announced Tech was withdrawing from the SEC. Bryant never told Dodd why he reneged on his promise.

Some years later there was a movement to get Tech back into the SEC, but the two main schools to fight it the most and keep Tech from re-entering the SEC were Georgia and Auburn.

The ACC immediately offered Tech the opportunity to join its conference, but Dodd thought Tech could not compete in basketball in the ACC. Dodd decided to try the independent route as Notre Dame, Miami, and Penn State were faring well as independents. Tech was well known as a football power at that time, so Dodd figured the independent route would be the best for Tech.

1964 was Tech’s first year as an Independent, and Tech ended the season 7-3, with most of the games played against SEC teams. Tech won its first seven games against Vanderbilt 14-2, Miami (FL) 20-0, Clemson 14-7, Navy 17-0, Auburn 7-3, Tulane 7-6, and Duke 21-8. Tech then lost it last three games against Tennessee 14-22, Alabama 7-24, and Georgia 0-7.

The loss to Georgia was to a young new coach at UGA named Vince Dooley.

Tech tied the first game of the 1965 season against Vanderbilt 10-10, then lost the next game to Texas A&M 10-14. Tech then won five straight against Clemson 38-6, Tulane 13-10, Auburn 23-14, Navy 37-16, and Duke 35-23. Tennessee defeated the Jackets 7-21, Tech beat Virginia 42-19, and lost to Vince Dooley and Georgia in the last game of the regular season 7-17.

Tech defeated Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl 31-21 and Tech set records in the Gator Bowl for rushing yardage. Lenny Snow set the Gator Bowl record for rushes (33) and yardage (139). The Jackets gained 364 yards rushing in the game. Tech ran the ball 79 times for 23 first downs, also Gator Bowl records.

During the 1965 year, the young lefthander, Kim King, obliterated the school single season total offensive mark with 1,676 yards. He also set a record for 319 yards passing against Virginia. Kim King set 13 school records at GT for the year. It has to be kept in perspective that this was in the days of three yards, a cloud of dust, and a lot of defenses.

This was the 9th Bowl victory for Bobby Dodd and his last Bowl victory.

Chapter 16 Next: Dodd’s last year as head coach at Georgia Tech.

CHAPTER 16​

In 1966, Bobby Dodd and Georgia Tech won the first nine games of the season against Texas A&M 38-3, Vanderbilt 42-0, Clemson 13-12, Tennessee 6-3, Auburn 17-3, Tulane 35-17, Duke 48-7, Virginia 14-13, and Joe Paterno and his Penn State team 21-0.

The final season of Bobby Dodd was marred by another loss to Vince Dooley and Georgia 14-23, and a loss to Ray Graves and Florida in the Orange Bowl 12-27. Tech finished Dodd’s final season with a 9-2 record. Dodd’s final bowl record fell to 9-4. At one time, Dodd’s bowl record was a perfect 8-0.

Dodd had already informed Furman Bisher, halfway through the season, he would retire at the end of the season. Furman Bisher kept it a secret at the request of Dodd.

There were many reasons Dodd decided to retire at the end of the season, but one of the major reasons was his health. He had been having problems with his liver and prostate since the middle of the prior year. He conferred with his doctor and decided to make the decision. During that final year, he often had a fever of 104*. He spent many nights walking the whole night, because he could not sleep.

Most of chapter 16 deals with the retirement and the many accolades associated with his retirement. It is well worth reading, but it would be hard to condense the accolades into a shortened form. Suffice it, to say, Dodd was the most respected individual to ever have a place in the history of Tech.

It tells of many aspects of Dodd, including his career as AD and the coaches that followed Dodd. There is a short history of Carson, Fulcher, Rodgers, Curry, and a lot of insight into each coach and the problems during that era.

It tells of many of the players and friends associated with Dodd at that time. It tells of Dodd's prostate cancer surgery and his recovery.

It is left up to you to find a copy of the book somewhere and read it. You will be thrilled and exhilarated by some of the passages in chapter 17. You will laugh at some of the passages, and you will also shed a tear or two from some of the passages.

Above all, you will gain a tremendous insight into the real glory days of Tech football and the pride of those that witnessed those days and had the good fortune to know Bobby Dodd.

In chapters 1-16, I have included only a very small part of each chapter. There is a huge amount of good information in those chapters that will enrich the life of both Tech and other football fans who read the material in each chapter.

Dodd's Luck is one of the best of many books I have read. The one thing that is apparent in the book, Dodd was a very unusual person, true, honest, and dedicated to serving the young men he coached.

I doubt if there has ever been a coach in college football as good a coach, in all respects, as Bobby Dodd. Any fan of Tech football, or student that has attended Tech, should feel proud of Dodd's part in Tech history.