Since it is out there let's put some perspective into Tech football from 1978-1986. In 1978 we had a really good team that was filled with guys that could play. But as is always forgotten, we play a very difficult schedule. We won 7 games that year but lost to ranked Notre Dame, ranked UGA, and Purdue in the bowl. In 1979 we had lost a lot of players but as usual had a brutal schedule that included, Notre Dame, Florida, Alabama. we were 4-6-1.
1980 brings a coaching change but the schedule again is the hardest in the Nation. We still beat number 1 Notre Dame and 1981 brings hope knocking off Alabama in game 1 and the debut of Robert Lavette. We go 1-10. In 1982 we go 6-5, a bowl team by today's standards. In 1983 we step back going 3-8 but almost beat UGA. 1984 the tide has changed and we end up 6-4-1. Some big wins but tough losses. 1985, this team was a monster and only lost to Bo Jackson and Auburn and a very good UVA team. Frankly today that team would probably land top 10.
The notion of leaving Div 1 was not a very wide talked about notion. We had just joined the ACC and knew that we would start to see a move away from an SEC type schedule. Our cross state rival was only 6-5 in 1979. Then they got probably the greatest college football player in history at a time when a tailback could win every game for you. When Walker left, UGA was still very good, but the level that they were playing dropped.