College football attendance continues to decline

Go4Tech

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
124
Location
Los Angles, CA
Ok sharp historians, when did Tech get the Yellow Jackets nickname? Believe is was in the twenties (thanks to ANAK) and a trip home from Athens.

The song played above includes the reframe “Go Jackets”. Would believe this not to be a time appropriate piece.

Maybe someone can dial up the way back machine and find time appropriate versions.....
 
Last edited:

MikeJackets1967

Helluva Engineer
Messages
14,844
Location
Lovely Ducktown,Tennessee
Ok sharp historians, when did Tech get the Yellow Jackets nickname? Believe is was in the twenties (tanks to ANAK) and a trip home from Athens.

The song played above includes the reframe “Go Jackets”. Would believe this not to be a time appropriate piece.

Maybe someone can dial up the way back machine and find time appropriate versions.....
1906 Cartoon in Atlanta Journal i do believe

 

AE 87

Helluva Engineer
Messages
13,030
Up With The Navy
And so its up with the Navy boys,
Down with the foe.
Good old Navys out for a victory.
Shell shoot her backs around the grey legs line;
A hot time is coming up,
Oh brother mine,
And so its up with the Navy, boys
Down with the foe,
Good old Bill will triumph today
And the bray of the mule will be heard
From the field
When the Army line begins to yield.
And so its yield

http://starzfun82.tripod.com/summerseminar2003/id7.html
 
Messages
13,443
Location
Augusta, GA
Up With The Navy
And so its up with the Navy boys,
Down with the foe.
Good old Navys out for a victory.
Shell shoot her backs around the grey legs line;
A hot time is coming up,
Oh brother mine,
And so its up with the Navy, boys
Down with the foe,
Good old Bill will triumph today
And the bray of the mule will be heard
From the field
When the Army line begins to yield.
And so its yield

http://starzfun82.tripod.com/summerseminar2003/id7.html
Any idea when that song was first used there?
 
Messages
13,443
Location
Augusta, GA
Ok sharp historians, when did Tech get the Yellow Jackets nickname? Believe is was in the twenties (thanks to ANAK) and a trip home from Athens.

The song played above includes the reframe “Go Jackets”. Would believe this not to be a time appropriate piece.

Maybe someone can dial up the way back machine and find time appropriate versions.....
The term "yellow jackets" was first used in reference to the actual yellow jackets that men wore to the games. At that time it had nothing to do with the insect. I will have to check "Dress Her in White and Gold" or similar books to confirm the dates, but I think it was pre-Heismann
 
Messages
13,443
Location
Augusta, GA
From RamblinWreck.com (http://www.ramblinwreck.com/trads/geot-trads.html)

The Yellow Jacket nickname and mascot are two of the most beloved trademarks of Georgia Tech athletic teams, but many conflicting accounts exist as to the origins and beginnings of the Yellow Jacket. One thing that is clear, however, is that the nickname did not grow out of the familiar six-legged insect, but instead that the insect mascot, known as "Buzz," grew out of the nickname.

As far as can be determined, the first reference to Tech students as "Yellowjackets" appeared in the Atlanta Constitution in 1905 and came into common usage at that time.

Historians say the name, spelled as one word, was first used to describe supporters who attended Tech athletic events, dressed in yellow coats and jackets. The actual mascot was conceived at a later date, still undetermined.

Other common nicknames which have applied to Georgia Tech teams include Engineers, which is still used by some writers; the Techs, the first known nickname which was phased out sometime around 1910; and the Blacksmiths, which was common between 1902 and 1904 and is thought to be an invention of sportswriters at the time.

The Golden Tornado is another former nickname thought to be created by sportswriters when John Heisman led Tech to its first national championship in football in 1917. Tech was the first team from the South to earn the honor bestowed by the International News Service, and any team thereafter which approached the same level of excellence was referred to as the Golden Tornado. The nickname was used as late as 1929, when Tech defeated California in the Rose Bowl.
 

MikeJackets1967

Helluva Engineer
Messages
14,844
Location
Lovely Ducktown,Tennessee
From RamblinWreck.com (http://www.ramblinwreck.com/trads/geot-trads.html)

The Yellow Jacket nickname and mascot are two of the most beloved trademarks of Georgia Tech athletic teams, but many conflicting accounts exist as to the origins and beginnings of the Yellow Jacket. One thing that is clear, however, is that the nickname did not grow out of the familiar six-legged insect, but instead that the insect mascot, known as "Buzz," grew out of the nickname.

As far as can be determined, the first reference to Tech students as "Yellowjackets" appeared in the Atlanta Constitution in 1905 and came into common usage at that time.

Historians say the name, spelled as one word, was first used to describe supporters who attended Tech athletic events, dressed in yellow coats and jackets. The actual mascot was conceived at a later date, still undetermined.

Other common nicknames which have applied to Georgia Tech teams include Engineers, which is still used by some writers; the Techs, the first known nickname which was phased out sometime around 1910; and the Blacksmiths, which was common between 1902 and 1904 and is thought to be an invention of sportswriters at the time.

The Golden Tornado is another former nickname thought to be created by sportswriters when John Heisman led Tech to its first national championship in football in 1917. Tech was the first team from the South to earn the honor bestowed by the International News Service, and any team thereafter which approached the same level of excellence was referred to as the Golden Tornado. The nickname was used as late as 1929, when Tech defeated California in the Rose Bowl.
The Techs has a nice ring to it;)
 

Heisman's Ghost

Helluva Engineer
Messages
4,938
Location
Albany Georgia
The term "yellow jackets" was first used in reference to the actual yellow jackets that men wore to the games. At that time it had nothing to do with the insect. I will have to check "Dress Her in White and Gold" or similar books to confirm the dates, but I think it was pre-Heismann
This is my understanding as well. I am not sure if it pre dates Heisman or not. Grant Field was built in 1913 and the nickname was in common usage by that time.
 

Heisman's Ghost

Helluva Engineer
Messages
4,938
Location
Albany Georgia
From RamblinWreck.com (http://www.ramblinwreck.com/trads/geot-trads.html)

The Yellow Jacket nickname and mascot are two of the most beloved trademarks of Georgia Tech athletic teams, but many conflicting accounts exist as to the origins and beginnings of the Yellow Jacket. One thing that is clear, however, is that the nickname did not grow out of the familiar six-legged insect, but instead that the insect mascot, known as "Buzz," grew out of the nickname.

As far as can be determined, the first reference to Tech students as "Yellowjackets" appeared in the Atlanta Constitution in 1905 and came into common usage at that time.

Historians say the name, spelled as one word, was first used to describe supporters who attended Tech athletic events, dressed in yellow coats and jackets. The actual mascot was conceived at a later date, still undetermined.

Other common nicknames which have applied to Georgia Tech teams include Engineers, which is still used by some writers; the Techs, the first known nickname which was phased out sometime around 1910; and the Blacksmiths, which was common between 1902 and 1904 and is thought to be an invention of sportswriters at the time.

The Golden Tornado is another former nickname thought to be created by sportswriters when John Heisman led Tech to its first national championship in football in 1917. Tech was the first team from the South to earn the honor bestowed by the International News Service, and any team thereafter which approached the same level of excellence was referred to as the Golden Tornado. The nickname was used as late as 1929, when Tech defeated California in the Rose Bowl.

Yes, this pretty much covers it. The only college team with such a confusing history of nicknames that I can think of is Auburn which at various times was known as the Plainsmen, Tigers and who knows what else.
 
Top