They are the yellowjackets . I thought they were the ramblin wreck. What happened?
Engineering school went to heck?
That’s just the fight song, you know. The University of South Carolina doesn’t field the Fighting Zarathustras either.
PS - back in the way-back, I believe they used to be the Georgia Tech Blacksmiths.
I have heard of them being called the ramblin wrecks many times. How long has yellowjackets been the team name. I t has been phrased the ramblin wreck from Geogria Tech are taking on the Spartans of Michigan State for example.
The team name has been the Yellow Jackets since the early 1900’s. “Ramblin’ wreck” is just an informal, alternative nickname. Some schools use their colors as an alternative name–one hears Michigan referred to as the “Maize and Blue”, for example, even though the team name is Wolverines. Or one hears USC called the “Men of Troy” as opposed to the more formal Trojans. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets just happen to be called the Ramblin’ Wreck.
From the university website:
“What’s the origin of the term “Ramblin’ Wreck”?
The words and music for Tech’s world-famous “Ramblin’ Wreck” fight song were inspired by an old folk ballad, “The Sons of the Gamboliers.” The name Ramblin’ Wreck gained widespread acceptance in the 1920s when Tech graduates began building makeshift mechanical buggies to improve a poor transportation system in South America.”
In other words, Ramblin’ Wreck is from the fight song, although there is an old Ford they bring out during games.
Dewey, I’m not sure which university site you got the info on the South America connection but that’s one I’ve never heard before. Ramblin’ Wreck. com, the official Georgia Tech Athletics site ( http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/trads/geot-trads.html ) lists the more familiar stories of the Ramblin’ Wreck having its genesis in a 1914 Ford owned by the Dean of Men in the 1920’s and the Yellow Jacket name first appearing in 1905 as a reference to the attire wore by Tech fans on gameday.
Here’s the true story, or at least one version of it.
From the website of the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Wow. I’m gonna have to call a “revisionist history” penalty on Georgia Tech. As a life long fan I have read many books and articles on the history and traditions of GT athletics and this is the first mention of South America that I have ever heard. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I’ve ever heard any Ramblin Wreck origination story other than the one about the Dean of Men’s vehicle.
Your earlier link doesn’t support your statement.
From your link:
And:
If “Ramblin’ Wreck” was an “established tradition” in 1908, it couldn’t have had its origins in 1927.
In fact, I don’t really see any conflict here between your cite and Dewey’s cite. The song and tradition was in place by 1908. The first application of the term to a particular vehicle was in 1927, and work done by Tech grads in South America spread the concept.