# georgia tech **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607 "2006-12-02T18:52:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/1 "2006-12-02T18:52:39Z")
They are the yellowjackets . I thought they were the ramblin wreck. What happened? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/2 "2006-12-02T18:54:43Z")
Engineering school went to heck? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/3 "2006-12-02T19:46:35Z")
That’s just the fight song, you know. The University of South Carolina doesn’t field the Fighting Zarathustras either. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/4 "2006-12-02T19:50:56Z")
PS - back in the way-back, I believe they used to be the Georgia Tech Blacksmiths. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/5 "2006-12-02T22:05:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/6 "2006-12-02T23:30:18Z")
The team name has been the [Yellow Jackets](http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/trads/geot-trads.html) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/7 "2006-12-02T23:33:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/8 "2006-12-04T14:47:21Z")
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](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. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/9 "2006-12-04T14:57:25Z")
[Here’s the true story](http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~magi/personal/humour/General_Audience/George%20the%20Turk.html), or at least one version of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/10 "2006-12-04T15:01:33Z")
[QUOTE=Doctor Jackson] 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. [/QUOTE] From the [website](http://www.gatech.edu/about-tech/history-traditions.php) of the Georgia Institute of Technology. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/11 "2006-12-05T15:13:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/georgia-tech/382607/12 "2006-12-05T15:45:07Z")
[QUOTE=Doctor Jackson] 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. [/QUOTE] Your earlier link doesn’t support your statement. From your link: > [@](#): > > By the early 1900s, “Ramblin’ Wreck” was an established tradition. The earliest existing published version of the song appeared in the Blueprint, the Institute’s yearbook, in **1908**. (my bold) And: > [@](#): > > The first reference to a Rambling Wreck **vehicle** on campus was applied to a 1914 Ford owned by Floyd Field, Dean of Men. The Technique student newspaper was the first published reference to the car as the “Rambling Wreck” in **1927**. (my bold) 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.