1896 Georgia Tech football team

1896 Georgia Tech football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–2–1
Head coach
CaptainWright
Home stadiumBrisbine Park
Seasons
← 1894
1897 →
1896 Southern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Centre   –   6 – 0 – 1
Texas A&M   –   2 – 0 – 1
Oklahoma   –   2 – 0 – 0
North Carolina A&M   –   1 – 0 – 0
Virginia   –   7 – 2 – 2
VPI   –   5 – 2 – 1
Navy   –   5 – 3 – 0
Arkansas   –   2 – 1 – 0
Clemson   –   2 – 1 – 0
Columbian   –   2 – 1 – 0
Georgia Tech   –   2 – 2 – 1
Add-Ran   –   1 – 1 – 1
Centenary   –   1 – 1 – 0
VMI   –   3 – 4 – 0
North Carolina   –   3 – 4 – 1
Furman   –   2 – 3 – 0
Ole Miss   –   1 – 2 – 0
West Virginia   –   3 – 7 – 2
South Carolina   –   1 – 3 – 0
Erskine   –   0 – 1 – 0
William & Mary   –   0 – 2 – 0
Davidson   –   0 – 1 – 0
Delaware   –   0 – 6 – 0

The 1896 Georgia Tech football team represented the Georgia School of Technology during the 1896 college football season. After not fielding a team during the previous year, 1896 featured Georgia Tech's fourth season of football. The team was nicknamed the Techs.[1]

Over the summer, newly elected Georgia Tech President Lyman Hall developed plans to pay more attention to athletes than the school had done previously. He initiated the hiring of new professors including one specifically to be placed in charge of training the football and baseball teams. More attention was to be paid to athletes over the next season than ever before, which included the overhaul of the school's gymnasium.[2] J. B. Wood, a formal football captain at Central University, was selected for the role and arrived on campus on September 15.[3] He would serve as Georgia Tech's coach for the next two years. The fervor led to high expectations for the upcoming season and many students arrived at school early to begin training.[4]

The team was made up of only underclassmen and there were early concerns about their lack of experience. Frank Ogletree, the fullback, and West, the Center, were the only returnees from the 1894 season and Ogletree rarely took the field. Wright, the Quarterback, was named captain.[5] Coach Wood said of the team: "Although the team is rather lightweight, averaging about 155 pounds, and is made up almost entirely of raw material, I fee confident that they will make a creditable showing on the gridiron. The men put up a game always snappy and clever, and should, I think, win at least a majority of the games played this season."[6]

Georgia Tech used the colors of old gold and white, and its fans shouted the following cheer:[7] 

  Teckity–Teck Hoo-reck!  Hoo-reck!
  Tecikty-Teck Hoo-reck!  Hoo reck!
  Boom–rah!  Boom–rah!  GEORGIA!

With a 2-2-1 record, the season was a competent return to football for Georgia Tech. While Tech performed adequately against its lesser opponents, its easy defeat by Auburn showed that it was not ready to play against the power football schools of the south. Unfortunately, the season did not give Georgia Tech any momentum in its football program as the team would not win another game until the 1901 season.

  1. ^ "Auburn Won from the Techs". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. November 8, 1896.
  2. ^ "Will Be a Great Year for the Tech". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. June 26, 1896.
  3. ^ "The "Teck" Ready to Open". The Atlanta Journal. Atlanta, Georgia. September 10, 1896.
  4. ^ "But One Week More". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. August 31, 1896.
  5. ^ "Auburn Won from the Techs". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. November 8, 1896.
  6. ^ "Gridiron Gossip: Season Is Here". The Atlanta Journal. Atlanta, Georgia. October 17, 1896.
  7. ^ ""Techs" vs. Mercer". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. November 21, 1896.