There are certain gems along the college football landscape, and one of the finest sits amongst the urban sprawl of Atlanta. The Georgia Institute of Technology houses the oldest active stadium in the sport. Open in 1913, Bobby Dodd Stadium has hosted some of college football’s most memorable moments and historic sports figures. The stadium’s namesake, Bobby Dodd, is celebrated for his high levels of success. The coach of the year trophy is named after him. Coach John Heisman (yes, THAT Heisman) is so revered that his name now adorns one of sports’ most coveted trophies.
But, Georgia Tech does not reside in history. It holds a vibrancy and electricity that rivals most current venues. The campus provides a charming oasis from the hustle bustle of downtown. However, game day becomes saturated with activity beginning at Yellow Jacket Alley on Brittain Drive where the team is unloaded off buses and greeted by a sea of fans that extends clear to Bobby Dodd. Leading the team is the Georgia Tech marching band playing one of college football’s most recognizable fight songs, “Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech.” Right beside the band is the mascot, Buzz – a beloved figure on campus. Continuing along Yellow Jacket Alley is perhaps one of the greatest icons in college football – a 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe painted gold and white and donning two flags that read “Give ‘Em Hell Tech” and “To Hell With georgia.” Georgia Tech’s hatred for their rival up the road is well documented throughout campus and most notably on this car known as the Ramblin’ Wreck. The parade of players down Brittain Drive is one of the most colorful and festive traditions kicking off a football Saturday and the energy it generates spills over into all the festivities of game day.
Once the Yellow Jacket Alley celebration is concluded, the party disperses throughout the school grounds. The band regroups a short while later at the Kessler Campanile – a central spot on campus. Fans gather to take in the sounds and sing along to “I’m a ramblin’ wreck from Georgia Tech and a helluva engineer!” From here, the band breaks up and regathers once more to march toward Bobby Dodd Stadium led by Buzz and the Ramblin’ Wreck. The pregame concludes with one last blast of the fight song on the stadium steps before everyone piles into this historic venue.
Few stadiums in the country can boast a skyline view like Bobby Dodd. The skyscrapers of Atlanta have looked down upon years of history while providing a stunning perspective for fans. The energy in Bobby Dodd Stadium awakens the spirit of this stadium’s past while celebrating the excitement of its present. The fans here know how to engineer a perfect blend of both. However, there won’t be much time to ponder the past once the football team explodes out of the tunnel lead by the Ramblin’ Wreck. Since 1961, this jewel of college football has been leading Tech teams into the stadium and making spectators leap from their seats. Fans at Georgia Tech enormously appreciate the time honored traditions here, and this restored old Ford is a symbol of how this great engineering school has preserved the grandeur of everything sacred on campus. From the stadium’s centennial plus history to the Tech Tower standing adjacent to the stadium grounds since 1888, Georgia Tech is proven as one of college football’s most honored venues.
