The 1985 Fog Bowl -- complete game

[Old South Stands]

The final game played in Grant Field's old horseshoe configuration, against UGA. In 1984, Tech hadn't won over UGA in 7 straight seasons but finally got a big blowout victory over the Dawgs in Athens -- perhaps one of the biggest wins in Tech program history and the game that started the tradition of breaking off pieces of the hedges after a win. The 1985 game made it two in a row over Georgia, but this game was much more tightly contested, and the outcome wasn't entirely certain till near the end. This game is famous for the fog that rolled in during the 2nd half as well as the brilliant kick return by Gary Lee that changed the momentum of the game. Other featured players are Ted Roof, John Dewberry, Pat Swilling, Sammy Lilly & Nate Kelsey, the latter scoring his first college TD during the game (he suffered a vicious out of bounds hit in the 2nd half and had to leave).

For about 38 minutes of this recording, the sound and video do not match up properly, but it's still enjoyable...

 

[Nook Su Kow]

I had the honor of meeting Gary Lee about 4 or 5 years ago. Really nice man.

 

[Supersizethatorder-mutt]

I was there that night, along with my nephew. That was his first Tech - GA game. He ended up graduating from Tech several years later.

 

[jwsavhGT]

There were 4 of us in the old upper south stands. SPOOKY! WONDERFUL! UNBELIEVABLE!

 

[Gtyellowjackets]

Was in the student section that night. GREAT game!

 

[MWBATL]

I had forgotten how early bowl invites went out back then. Both teams already knew where they were bowling.

 

[CornerBlitz]

I was in Tennessee playing in a junior football tournament. A couple of coaches drove back to Atlanta for the game and returned in the middle of the night and woke most of our team to tell us the good guys won. We went out the next morning and destroyed some team from Ohio.

This brings great memories....thanks for sharing.

 

[OldJacketFan]

I was in Tennessee playing in a junior football tournament. A couple of coaches drove back to Atlanta for the game and returned in the middle of the night and woke most of our team to tell us the good guys won. We went out the next morning and destroyed some team from Ohio.

This brings great memories....thanks for sharing.

Was the tournament in Gatlinburg?

 

[CornerBlitz]

Was the tournament in Gatlinburg?

It was! The Turkey Bowl or something. My brother and I played in that tournament for around 12 years straight. We had some great games.

 

[OldJacketFan]

It was! The Turkey Bowl or something. My brother and I played in that tournament for around 12 years straight. We had some great games.

Oh damn, I may know your coaches. Age group 13-14 out of Cobb County by chance?

 

[awbuzz]

Student section of Upper East. Heck of a game. The fog - not of the alcohol variety - made it something special.

 

[AE 87]

Mixers! Shakers! Mixers! Shakers!

 

[bartoma]

Lower East stands... Awesome game... What a night...

I miss football uniforms with sleeves - and that don't look like some superhero outfit...

 

[CornerBlitz]

Oh damn, I may know your coaches. Age group 13-14 out of Cobb County by chance?

We were from Cobb (I still live here). send me a DM if you want some details. Did you coach in the tournament as well?

 

[91Wreck]

Just out of curiosity, why did they tear down the south stands? I never attended a Tech football game until I started school in 1988, so they were gone by the time I got there.

 

[bartoma]

Made way for the Wardlaw Center... Reduced capacity by a fair amount, but they were already pretty bad seats - the horseshoe meant they were low and far removed from the field...

 

[91Wreck]

Just out of curiosity, why did they tear down the south stands? I never attended a Tech football game until I started school in 1988, so they were gone by the time I got there.

Made way for the Wardlaw Center... Reduced capacity by a fair amount, but they were already pretty bad seats - the horseshoe meant they were low and far removed from the field...

Thanks!

 

[SolicitorJacket]

Plus that section of the stadium was in really bad shape....bordering on unsafe if I remember correctly. It was never full and seldom even occupied except when we played Auburn, Tennessee or the dwags.

 

[bartoma]

It was a neat bit of history... I lived in Techwood my first year at Tech and walked past the South stands about every day...

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Made way for the Wardlaw Center... Reduced capacity by a fair amount, but they were already pretty bad seats - the horseshoe meant they were low and far removed from the field...

I saw my first game in the horseshoe. Clemson '84. We won 28 - 24 for one of our 4 wins that year. Took a tour of the old Textile Engineering Building as a high school senior and got free football tickets. Got to hear Frank Howard give a talk. Now that guy knew how to give a talk. Funny guy.