Comparing Collins' Launch at Tech
Back in 1920, William Alexander assumed the head coach position at Georgia Tech. His first team won 8 of its 9 games.The 2019 season is now 3 games in for Georgia Tech, with a 1-2 record to show for new Coach Geoff Collins.
Tech Coach Geoff Collins
Every new coach brings changes. Collins has repeatedly pointed out the he and his staff are overseeing a “monumental transition” as they move toward a more traditional offensive approach, leaving Paul Johnson’s option offense in the Tech football history books. They also want to effect a “rebranding” of Georgia Tech football, emphasizing the strengths of the program, the school and the city of Atlanta, in order to recruit head-to-head successfully with current day college football powers.
So far on the field, the Yellow Jackets have produced a mixed bag of results. They were drummed by Clemson in the opener, but felt somewhat buoyed by the many positives seen in that game. Most recently, the Jackets fell in overtime to the Citadel in a game that was deeply disappointing beyond the loss itself–for the number and nature of mistakes made and for losing at home to a lesser foe whose offensive system closely resembles the very one the Yellow Jackets had just abandoned. Tech’s game in between , against University of South Florida, yielded a narrow win, again with a mix of good and not-so-good.
Looking back into Georgia Tech annals, the first yesr under a new coach has historically been a bit bumpy more often than not. Bobby Dodd’s first team produced a 4-6 record back in 1945. Dodd produced only one other sub-.500 record during his 22 year tenure, that coming in 1950 at 5-6.
His successor, Bud Carson, went 4-6 in his first year, 1967. His next 2 seasons yielded the same mark, before posting a winning season in year 4. He left after year 5 with a 27-27 overall ledger for his time at Tech.
Following Carson, Bill Fulcher had a strong start in 1972, going 7-4-1, before falling to sub .500 the next year, his last.
Former Tech star Pepper Rodgers then brought his version of the triple option offense from UCLA to Georgia Tech in 1974, earning a 6-5 record his first year. Following Rodgers’ departure 6 years later, fellow Tech alum Bill Curry had a rough initial year, going 1-9-1 in 1980 (though that 3-3 tie was an iconic moment in Tech football history, a monumental effort against a Notre Dame team ranked #1 at the time.)
Next came Bobby Ross. His first season saw the Jackets go 2-9 in 1987. But Tech fans recall that just 3 years later, Ross’ 1990 team soared to 11-0-1 to win a share of the national championship, then decided by 2 polls tallying votes by the Associated Press (writers) and United Press International ( coaches) .
After the 1991 season, Bobby Ross left Georgia Tech for the NFL, handing the reins to Bill Lewis who went 5-6 in 1992. His next year was worse, and he then departed Tech during the 1994 season. George O’Leary took over for the final 3 games of 1994 , losing all 3. His first full year in 1995 brought a 6-5 record. O’Leary left Georgia Tech after the 2001 season to become Notre Dame’s head coach–briefly–in a move that became a big story all on its own.
Chan Gailey was hired to replace O’Leary and went 7-6 in his first year, 2002. He left after the 2007 season.
Former Georgia Tech Coach Paul Johnson
2008 saw the arrival of Paul Johnson who went 9-4 in his inaugural season at Tech, posting the most wins for any new coach on the Flats since Alexander guided his Golden Tornado Yellow Jackets to that 8-1 slate 88 years earlier.
Coach William Alexander posted 8 wins in his first season as the Georgia Tech’s head coach in 1920
Coach Geoff Collins’ Yellow Jackets travel to Philadelphia this week to take on Temple, his most recent post. Temple is 2-1 on the young season, having beaten Bucknell and Maryland before falling to Buffalo last Saturday. The Jackets hope to even their 2019 record to 2-2 before coming home to face North Carolina on October 5, beginning a string of 7 consecutive ACC games the following weekend. Tech ends the regular season by playing Georgia in Atlanta.
What will the Jackets’ next 9 games bring? Time alone will tell the story. The ACC looks to be wide open again this year, beyond Clemson, of course. If Collins can mold the team in his vision, perhaps the Jackets can surprise all those who predicted dreary results in the first season for Tech’s new coach.
Patrick Conarro