Thanksgiving memories: Bullpups vs. Baby Jackets
For many years, Thanksgiving in this state meant the Bullpups vs. the Baby Jackets. Here’s a reminiscence of those days that a lot of you enjoyed back when I first wrote it in 2006. Happy Thanksgiving!
Fran Tarkenton played as a freshman in the 1957 Thanksgiving classic. (Georgiadogs.com)
“Strong legs will run that weak legs may walk.”
For six decades, that slogan, reputed to have been coined by The Atlanta Constitution’s legendary Ralph McGill, summed up the annual Thanksgiving Day meeting between the freshman Bullpups and Baby Jackets to benefit Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital.
Back in the days before freshmen were eligible to play on the varsity, this game held every year at Grant Field was a really big deal, drawing national attention. In its heyday, it regularly drew crowds of 40,000 people willing to postpone Thanksgiving dinner in order to preview the stars of tomorrow. (More than a few probably spoiled their appetites with a post-game visit to the Varsity.) The game was even broadcast on the radio!
UGA’s first Heisman Trophy winner, Frank Sinkwich, who ran for more than 200 yards in the 1939 Scottish Rite Classic, once said that the freshman game he played at Grant Field was a greater thrill for him than playing in the Rose Bowl for the varsity. That ‘39 team was such a high-powered outfit they were dubbed the “Point-a-Minute Bullpups.”
After Vince Dooley introduced the red helmets with the “G” on the side, the tradition was that the Bullpups played their earlier games in plain red helmets, only getting the “G” for the special Thanksgiving Day game.
I only went to the Thanksgiving classic once, but I remember it well. It was the 1966 game and our Sunday school class came over from Athens because former AHS Trojans star Paul Gilbert was quarterbacking the Bullpups. After we took our seats in Grant Field, we loudly started comparing the venue with newly renovated and expanded Sanford Stadium, and the Jackets fans above us pelted us with popcorn boxes. Hey, when you’re 14 years old, that’s big-time fun!
Athens folks also were very excited about the Bullpups my freshman year of 1970 because another AHS hero, Andy Johnson, was battling Don Golden of Valdosta for the Pups’ QB job. I remember the freshman games earlier in the season that year drew larger crowds than the normal few hundred to Sanford Stadium because Athens businessmen were closing up shop early to go watch Andy play.
Back then, the Thanksgiving classic was a major media event, and a few days before the game the players would visit the kids at the hospital, which always made a big impression on both the athletes and the patients. The Shriners, who were involved in fund-raising for the hospital, entertained at halftime of the game. In years when the varsity teams played on Thanksgiving Day, the Bullpups and Baby Jackets usually met the Saturday before the holiday.
After the rule change in 1972 allowed frosh to play on the varsity, the annual Bullpups-Baby Jackets match lost much of its luster, and it became a junior varsity game in 1974.
After becoming a JV team, the Bullpups generally played only two to four games a season, mostly against junior colleges like Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Tennessee Military Institute and Georgia Military College (aside from the annual meeting with the Baby Jackets).
Those JV teams featured some scholarship players, but they were mostly made up of bench-warmers and walk-ons. Some years in the late ’80s the Baby Jackets didn’t have enough players to field a team and had to enlist volunteers from the student body to fill out their roster.
From 1933 to 1993, the Bullpups-Baby Jackets game raised $6 million for Scottish Rite. Because it was a charity affair, even in later years as many as 50,000 tickets would be sold, even though only about 8,000 to 10,000 fans actually bothered to show up for the game once it was no longer an all-freshman showcase.
Georgia won the first game played in 1933 and the last two games played in ‘92 and ‘93. The score of that last game was 21-14, with QB Brian Smith leading the Pups before a crowd of 10,142. After that, the game was killed by the two schools because of NCAA scholarship limitations. The overall record in the Scottish Rite Classic was 28 wins for the Bullpups, 30 for the Baby Jackets and one tie. No games were played in 1943-44.
Interestingly, the Governor’s Cup went to the winner of the Scottish Rite game. That trophy was retired in a “legends” alumni game in 1994, the year after the last Bullpups-Baby Jackets meeting, and a new Governor’s Cup was introduced to designate the winner of the varsity game starting in 1995. The NCAA officially designated the varsity game as a “special event,” allowing Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center (now part of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) to present the cup to the winner and give commemorative gifts to the players.
I miss the Bullpups. Considering how many incoming freshmen are redshirted anyway these days, it’s a shame that the JV game and all it did for the children’s hospital couldn’t have continued in some form, even if it was strictly the redshirts and scout team players participating.
I think they’d get something more valuable than just playing time from the experience.
(Special thanks to Mark, Tim, Carl, Dan and Joel for reminiscing with me about the Bullpups.)
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87 comments Add your comment
Carlton Powell
November 26th, 2009
9:05 am
Probably one of the greatest traditions in college sports. And all for a cause that no one can dispute was worthy. Whereas, I grew up in a true Bulldog family, we never got into the name calling and disrespectfullness many fans seem to wallow in. Many of my parents friends were Tech grads, and they all went to the Tech-GA games together. Furthermore, my father in law is a Tech grad, and at 85 years young will be joining us shortly for Thanksgiving dinner and all the day’s activities. Just prior to this writing, as my bride was putting the finishing touches on getting the T-Giving bird in the oven, she was recalling attending the game with her dad as a youngster growing up in Sandy Springs, the returning home for a marvelous T-Giving dinner. Life gets no better. As we all gather for the days celebration of family and friends, I will also give thanks for having been able to be alive and remember what was, in many ways, a simplier time, but also a very good one. Let us all never forget that “strong legs ran so that weak one’s could.” Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Frank Lane
November 26th, 2009
9:22 am
What about petitioning the NCAA for a Red Shirt game on Thanksgiving Day to give the held out players a chance on the field?
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 26th, 2009
9:25 am
Enter your comments here
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 26th, 2009
9:46 am
THE BOOGIE MAN COMETH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
November 26th, 2009
9:55 am
Not here ” Boogie Man”, please?
Technophobia
November 26th, 2009
10:23 am
Too bad this tradition had to die.
45ACP
November 26th, 2009
10:30 am
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.
GO DAWGS!
fred preddy
November 26th, 2009
11:18 am
As a Tech student’53-’57, and NC resident, I never went home for Thanksgiving—the freshman game was something very special.If you younger “guys” let our traditions slide further…keep looking over your shoulder for me. I’ll be the one in a gold rat cap yelling, “to hell with Georgia”.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING all.
Rick Haas
November 26th, 2009
11:28 am
Bill, Thank You for the wonderful trip down memory lane. I was fortunate to be a part of the 1968 game as a UGA walk-on freshman. However, it was so much more than just a game. It was the best Thanksgiving of my life. Most 18 year old kids think they are invincible and take so many things for granted. After visiting the children at Scottish Rite Hospital I think we all left understanding how lucky we were to have our health and strong legs and that maybe our efforts on the field were not just to win a game, but to help weak legs someday walk again. I hope families sitting down for their Thanksgiving meal today that have good health will truly realize how fortunate and thankful they should be.
shane#1
November 26th, 2009
11:40 am
I remember the Thanksgiving Day game very well. It is a shame that CFB has become such a big business. The Sixties were truly the best of College Football. Happy Thanksgiving to all the members of TGC and all fans of all teams. Let’s give thanks for all those overseas serving their country. I thank God that those few still lay their lives on the line so that the rest of us can remain free to enjoy this great land.
Gene
November 26th, 2009
12:05 pm
Businesses used to get block tickets for those freshman games, and there were plenty of opportunities to attend. There were no developmental courses, and players actually attended class and most graduated. Now freshmen have agents and are already looking for NFL money. Things have certainly changed for the worse.
ts
November 26th, 2009
12:33 pm
I remember going to that game as a kid. My family used it to get us out of the house so Gradma could finish cooking Thanksgiving dinner without us in her way. It was great!
The Dude (Andrew Sherwin)
November 26th, 2009
12:35 pm
Tech fan here, great article Bill. I’ve learned a lot this week about the history of the rivalry. To those who “got smart” and went to UoG… really?
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 26th, 2009
12:44 pm
LETS JUST LET THE BIG DAWGS EAT .TECH DIDNT SHOW UP FOR THOSE GAMES ,EITHER
Mr. P
November 26th, 2009
12:45 pm
I remember going to the game as a 5 year old with my dad (UGA class of ‘61) and my 2 brothers. I asked my dad “Could he buy my one of those neat yellow and black pom poms?” He then told me I would be walking home. I knew then who I could root for from then on. I continued to go throughout the years with my brothers and friends. This game made me a Georgia Bulldog!
W$ZOT
November 26th, 2009
1:15 pm
All through the 60’s we went to this game, and it was a great tradition. We would go to my maternal grandmothers for lunch, head for the game, then go to my paternal grandparents for dinner, they only lived about 2 miles from Grant Field. Sometimes we would go to the Yellow Jacket Drive In or the Varsity, and one year we went to see the Sound of Music at the FOX. GO JACKETS!!!!!
GT1973
November 26th, 2009
1:37 pm
As the son and grandson of Tech alumni, I remember fondly many Thanksgiving days with my grandparents attending the Freshman game at Grant Field before TG dinner at my grandparents’ house in Druid Hills. As someone else mentioned, seeing the Shriners Parade was a big thrill as a kid too. I also remember the photos in the AJC and the stories about the players from both schools visiting the children at Scottish Rite back when the hospital was in Decatur. I later became a Tech alumnus myself as well as the father of a 4th generation Yellow Jacket too. Too bad I could not pass on this marvelous Thanksgiving tradition that was part of my childhood. Nevertheless, I am proud to continue to support CHOA as one of my favorite charities even without a TG Day football game to attend.
Saint Simons
November 26th, 2009
2:11 pm
This year’s bullpups will get slaughtered AGAIN by the BEST team playing. Enjoy your turkey you mutts because you are going to get your teeth kicked in this weekend. Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
dawg149
November 26th, 2009
2:22 pm
As good as everyone thinks college football is now, its ruined, compared to this time when frosh were ineligible for varsity play. Why? Because guys then went to play full-term for “their school” not their pocketbooks. You could follow guys thru college by their number, not their presummed number of years eligibility. The Ga-Tech frosh game was an honor to play in and joy to watch every Thanksgiving morning. A TRULY LOST GEM. It was, as most things back then, the way it should be. This, coming from a 49 yr old dawg who remembers the good ole “clean old fashion hate”. Enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone, and the only game left in town now, Saturday night. Go Dawgs!!
dawg149
November 26th, 2009
2:28 pm
Saint Simons I swear to God. Saturday night is gonna be tough to swallow!!!!!!!!!!!
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 26th, 2009
2:35 pm
TELL EM DAWG 149
flagboy?
November 26th, 2009
2:51 pm
nice read.
and raising 6 million dollars. . . i’m sure the NCAA would find some reason this would just be totally unacceptable nowadays.
and saint simons. . where nearly all the other posts are distinguished and well-spoken, you prove to be the exception to the rule. well done.
Not Disappointed!
November 26th, 2009
3:13 pm
Hey Bill! I didn’t know you had it in you. Awesome read! I remember those game. Oh my, you really got the tech guy with a tear and a smile in his eye. Well, going back for some more Turducken or Fried Turkey.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” Ramblin Wreck!
Saint Simons
November 26th, 2009
5:05 pm
How much should be donated to charity this year? How about 45 to 42 dollars??? Hahahahahahaha!!!!
Buckhead Bulldog
November 26th, 2009
5:56 pm
Saint Simons- That was actually kinda funny, even for you.
Dawg Trainer
November 26th, 2009
6:49 pm
This is a great article. It brings back great memories of the Thanksgiving classic. Even when I attended Georgia Tech I remember having to solicit freshman students to play in order to field a team.
This tradition needs to be rekindled. Not sure whether UGA and Tech could play redshirts in a game like this or not but there needs to be a way to make this happen. Even if all the players come from the student body it could work. It was not only a very fun game to watch but it raised money for a very good cause.
Saint Simons Is A Broken Record
November 26th, 2009
7:14 pm
I can’t wait until after Saturday, for the next year Saint Simons is going to be on every blog chanting 54-48 or whatever the score is that we loose by on Saturday. I loved reading the Tech fan’s comments on this blog, most of which were very classy and fun to listen to. While most Tech fans are educated classy people that I enjoy talking football with, Saint Simons is a complete idiot with no originality. Regardless of all the great fans, it only takes one pencil protector nerd like Saint Simons to make all Tech fans look complete Geeks with no life. I wish Tech fans would just apologize for Saint Simons,
Perhaps this type of annoying behavior will help the Dawgs dig deep and find some discipline and pull an upset out of nowhere?!! Unfortunately, I think we did that with South Carolina and Arizona State. CMR should have managed expectations better from the begining of the year, look at how many Freshman and Sophomores we have starting. If they would have said we are an extremely young team and are rebuilding this year, perhaps the reality of what this team really is wouldn’t have been to bad.
If nothing else, it does give us a new defensive coordinator?
BAMADAWG
November 26th, 2009
7:35 pm
THANKS, IT GOT ME STARTED AS A DAWG FAN AND I HAVE ATTENDED OVER 150 UGA GAMES. GO DAWGS
walk on
November 26th, 2009
7:39 pm
Goff killed the game as well as the Clemson series. Too big time for walkons- could not handle a big rivalry with Clemson.
instate
November 26th, 2009
10:24 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8GuH9oDHrU
John
November 27th, 2009
12:01 am
I remember playing in 1988. What a thrill as a scout teamer/walk on. Unfortunately as a receiver I had more tackles than receptions, but I did get my name called out over the PA at Grant Field! I will never forget the expereience including the visit to the Childrens Hospital. Those kids faces lit up when you went into there room and the parents were even more appreciative. It was a very good thing!!!
Dawg Trainer
November 27th, 2009
12:14 am
I agree John. I even remember the tickets to the game were very inexpensive but almost all of the proceeds went to the Children’s Hospital. Sure wish we could get this going again. I think both sides would support a game late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day!
DawgVoiceofReason
November 27th, 2009
12:48 am
DAWG87,
As others have said, UGA would be much better off if people like you would just go away. Find another team, any team or better still go follow synchronized swimming. You’re NOT a Dawg, you’re not a football fan and you disgrace the Dawg nation with the use of “Dawg” in your handle. There is no execuse for the attitude expressed below.
November 25th, 2009
5:05 pm
Good thing they discontinued that game. Losing once this week to Tech is enough.
DawgVoiceofReason
November 27th, 2009
1:00 am
Bill,
I enjoyed the article. Thank you for the reminder of a great event from my childhood.
War Eagle
November 27th, 2009
1:39 pm
Did Wade Mitchell ever play in Tech-UGA frosh game? I remember him starting as a freshman against Notre `Dame…This was an all classic football game. The one time I did attend, it seems like they announced 45,000 at the game?
SEC Watch
December 2nd, 2009
12:14 am
RE: Bill King
Do any of you actually care what a fat old man who gets his jollies calling 18-21 year old athletes in the disadvantaged ACC nerds? After you scrabled to an unexpected win last Saturday, do you need this underemployed loser to help you embarass yourselves to the rest of the SEC?
He’s a typical UGA redneck fan. He may have gone to UGA back in the day when breathing was the only prerequisite to getting in, but now would be your typical West Georgia or Perimeter loser wearing UGA clothing.
Chandler McGilvray
December 2nd, 2009
10:17 am
I played in the 1959 game, for Georgia, and it was one of the most tremindous events in my life. It was a game that was a sell out,as usual,at Grant Field. Up until then I had never played in front of so many. We won on a last second pass going for two points after a blocked punt for a touchdown. We won 8-7. I had played in some big high school games too-Northside vs Columbus for the state AAA title in 1957—but nothing like the tech game. I never came out of the game. Played both ways and special teams too. I was dead after it was over–but it was well worth it. There are other memories too–Scottish Rite Hospital and all those special kids–lunch with the tech team the day before at the Capital City Club and more. GO DAWGS