Georgia-Georgia Tech 1999: A Rivalry Game for the Ages
Every great rivalry has that one game. The one that transcends the usual back-and-forth battles and becomes the stuff of legend. It’s the game fans talk about decades later, either with pride or frustration, depending on which side they’re on. For the rivalry known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, that game happened 25 years ago. The final score? Georgia Tech 51, Georgia 48. But that number barely scratches the surface of what made this game unforgettable.
“That was one of the craziest football games that had a little bit of everything in it,” said former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Ted Roof. “If you were just a fan, that would be one of the most entertaining games in the history of the world.”
As the two teams prepare to renew their rivalry this week, Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key, who played in that 1999 game as an offensive lineman, has one goal in mind: to make this rivalry matter again. But even he wouldn’t mind avoiding the kind of stress that game brought.
The Game
For Georgia Tech safety Chris Young, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. “Back then, if we didn’t win that game, it felt like our season didn’t matter because, obviously, the whole state is red and black and only a few Yellow Jacket fans,” he said.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who now leads the Bulldogs, understands the intensity of the rivalry. “It’s a huge game, it’s a rivalry game, it’s the end of the year, it’s inner state, it’s conference. You’re representing your state, your program, and your conference,” he said.
The 1999 game had all the ingredients for an epic showdown. On one side was Georgia Tech’s Heisman candidate quarterback Joe Hamilton, playing his final game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. On the other was Georgia’s young star quarterback Quincy Carter, leading a team desperate for a win after losing two of their last three games.
“It was my last game at Bobby Dodd,” Hamilton recalled. “I was very emotional. Being a senior, a leader, I was the last one to get introduced. I remember running out beside [Georgia Tech mascot] Buzz, hyping the crowd up, and I remember running out to my mom and dad and telling them, ‘I’ve got something in store today. You’re going to see a great game. I am ready to play.’”
Hamilton delivered on his promise, leading Georgia Tech to a 41-24 lead late in the third quarter. But Georgia wasn’t going down without a fight. The Bulldogs clawed their way back to tie the game at 41-41, setting the stage for one of the most controversial endings in college football history.
The Fumble
With the game tied and just seconds left on the clock, Georgia had the ball deep in Georgia Tech territory. Instead of kicking a potential game-winning field goal, Georgia head coach Jim Donnan decided to run one more play, handing the ball off to Jasper Sanks. That’s when chaos erupted.
“Right before the play happened, I can remember Miles Luckie, our center, saying, ‘Hey, man, hold onto the ball,’” Sanks said. “As soon as he said that, the play happened.”
Chris Young, who recovered the fumble, described the moment: “I had outside contain. They run the ball, and I saw old Jasper reach for it. When he reached, all I saw was that ball. That’s all I saw, and I snatched it. I think I blacked out, to be honest with you.”
Georgia fans, however, saw it differently. “He didn’t fumble, he was down,” said former Georgia linebacker Kendrell Bell. “It was obvious. His butt was on the ground, and the guy knocked it out of his hands.”
The officials ruled it a fumble, and the game went into overtime. The controversy surrounding the call would later become one of the catalysts for the introduction of instant replay in college football in 2005.
The Kicks
In overtime, Georgia got the ball first, but Carter’s first throw was intercepted by Georgia Tech’s Marvious Hester. That set up Georgia Tech for a potential game-winning field goal. On third down, kicker Luke Manget’s attempt was blocked, but holder George Godsey recovered the ball, giving Manget another chance. On fourth down, Manget nailed the kick, sealing the victory for Georgia Tech.
“I remember walking off the field because it didn’t even register that I could kick it again,” Manget said. “I kind of had my head down and somebody said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get back out there. You’ve got another chance.’”
The Aftermath
The 1999 game remains a sore spot for Georgia fans, who argue the officials got it wrong. Even referee Al Ford, who made the call, later admitted it was a close play. “It is a bang-bang play, but when you slow it down, no one I have heard or seen has said it would be a fumble,” Ford said in 1999.
For Georgia Tech fans, however, the game is a cherished memory. “The football gods were on our side,” Young said. “With replay these days, I don’t know if they’d have given us that ball. But you can’t change history.”
As the rivalry continues, the 1999 game serves as a reminder of what makes college football so special: the passion, the drama, and the moments that live on forever.
Originally Written by: David Hale
