The Georgia Tech school mascot is the yellow jacket, which is a type of wasp commonly found in the Georgia area. The yellow jacket was chosen as the school mascot in 1905 because of its fierce and determined nature. The yellow jacket symbolizes the grit and tenacity of Georgia Tech students, as well as their determination to succeed. The selection of the yellow jacket as the school mascot was a conscious decision to reflect the school's core values of hard work and dedication. The yellow jacket is known for its aggressive nature and its ability to defend itself, much like the students at Georgia Tech. The yellow jacket embodies the spirit and drive of the Georgia Tech community.
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The first topic we’ll discuss at here at GT History is the multiple mascots the Institute has had in its history as well as Tech’s nicknames (i.e. Buzz, the Ramblin’ Wreck, the Golden Tornadoes, the Blacksmiths, the Techs, and the Engineers) and how the colors came to be.
The Colors:
The Georgia Institute of Technology was signed into law on October 13, 1885, and opened its doors to students in 1888. As the fledgling institute struggled to get its feet off the ground, students clamored for extracurricular activities. As they set up a baseball team, the sport of football soon started to grow on the minds of the students.
In 1891, as the rivalry between Tech and UGA in baseball had just started, around 200 Tech students attended the Auburn/Georgia game (obviously rooting for Auburn). Before the game, a committee was formed to decide what colors to wear to the game. They decided upon old gold and white (Tangent: old gold had been one of Georgia’s official colors, but Dr. Charles H. Herty said the color reminded him of yellow which symbolizes cowardice and the university then dropped the color) as a slap in the face to their cross-state rival. This was the start of the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate between the two schools.
Two years later, Tech played their first football game against UGA. In the game, women from the Lucy Cobb Institute for Girls (located in Athens and now a part of the UGA campus) acted as cheerleaders for GT, wearing white and gold-the now official colors of the Institute.
The Nicknames:
The Georgia Tech football team was first referred to as the Tech’s from 1893 until 1910. In 1902, newspapers started calling the team “Blacksmiths” because of the large amount of metal work that was being completed in the Institute’s Mechanical and Manufacturing departments. Starting in 1905, the Atlanta Constitution referred to the team as the “Yellowjackets” (one word) because of the yellow jackets the team’s supporters wore to the games. Some writers still refer to Tech teams as the “Engineers” because of Tech’s Engineering background. However, today’s nickname, and the most pervasive throughout Tech’s history, is the “Yellow Jackets”.
The Mascots:
Buzz and the Ramblin Wreck are the current Georgia Tech mascots. Buzz (seen below) first appeared in 1972 and was reinvented in 1979.
Yellow Jacket Design Through The Years
In 1972, Judi McNair donned a homemade yellow jacket costume and performed at all home games as well as rode on the Ramblin Wreck. In 1979, after McNair graduated, Richie Bland, unaware of McNair’s attempt as Buzz, paid $1,400 for a costume from a theme park costume designer and wore the suit to a football game versus Tennessee without permission from the Institute. In 1980, the character was named Buzz Bee (shortened to Buzz since yellow jackets are not bees) and adopted by the Institute.
The Modern Buzz
The term “Ramblin’ Wreck” refers to the students of the Institute. It has been in use ever since the 1890s when Tech students created makeshift vehicles for use in the jungles of South America (these vehicles were created from whatever the students could find and would keep the engines running). Workers that saw the machines referred to them as the “Rambling Wrecks from Georgia Tech”.
The Early Wreck
The first traces of the modern “Ramblin’ Wreck” go back to Dean Floyd Field. The Dean drove a Ford Model T to and from class from 1916 to 1928. The car fascinated all who saw it because of a large black box attached to the back (the contents of which were never revealed to the students).
In 1960, Dean Jim Dull realized that Tech students were fascinated with classic cars and decided an official “Ramblin’ Wreck” was needed. He employed newspaper adds, radio commercials, and other media to find the perfect pre-war Ford to represent the Institute. One day, Dull looked outside his apartment window (in a building which is now Towers Dorm) to see a Ford Model A (owned by Captain Ted Johnson-a Delta Airlines Pilot) sitting in the parking lot. Johnson and his son had spent two years and $1,800 to refurbish the car (which they found in a junkyard). When Johnson returned to his car after visiting Tech, he found a note on his windshield from Dull, who asked to buy the car to serve as Tech’s mascot. Johnson agreed to donate it to the Institute (eventually returning the $1,000 Dull originally paid him) and the Athletic Association gained ownership in 1961.
The Ramblin’ Wreck was unveiled at the Georgia Tech v. Rice University game on September 30, 1961 (where Tech won 24-0). It now leads the team onto Grant Field at every home game.
The Modern Ramblin' Wreck
yellow jackets
These words come to mind when you think of Georgia Tech Athletics and our historic program in the heart of Atlanta.
Now it’s time to write the next chapter in our storied history as we focus on what makes Georgia Tech the most unique college athletics program in the nation. From defining our colors to the introduction of a new mark, we’re celebrating our past while looking toward the future.
Our tradition defines us, but tomorrow is ours for the taking. This is Georgia Tech.
The yellow jacket embodies the spirit and drive of the Georgia Tech community. In addition to its symbolic meaning, the yellow jacket also serves as a unifying symbol for the Georgia Tech community. Students, alumni, and fans of the school proudly wear yellow jackets to show their support and loyalty to the school.
Up with the White & Gold
True to our history
White & gold - the two colors that define us at Georgia Tech.
Since the first mention of official colors back in April of 1891 to the storied tradition of the Ramblin’ Wreck, white & gold are in our blood. A complementary color of navy blue, rooted deep in the history of Georgia Tech, rounds out the palette.
The First Colors
The Atlanta Constitution article above from April 5, 1891 is the first known reference of school colors - white, blue and gold.
The 1894 gold ring
The earliest known class ring from Tech - bears the seal of the Georgia School of Technology, the original name of Georgia Tech and features the three official colors - white, blue and gold.
Tech Gold
The new Tech Gold is based on the paint scheme of the Ramblin’ Wreck.
Consistent
Represented through a nonmetallic and a metallic color blend - Tech Gold maintains consistency.
The yellow jacket has become synonymous with Georgia Tech and is a recognizable symbol across the campus. Overall, the yellow jacket is the embodiment of the Georgia Tech spirit. It represents the determination, hard work, and resilience of the students and serves as a unifying symbol for the entire community. The yellow jacket is a proud and iconic mascot of Georgia Tech..
Reviews for "The Role of Georgia Tech's School Mascot in Promoting School Athletics"
1. John - 1 star
I really didn't like Georgia Tech's school mascot. In my opinion, it was uninspiring and lacked any real creativity. The mascot costume itself seemed outdated and poorly designed. I couldn't help but feel unenthused whenever I saw it during sporting events. Overall, I was highly disappointed with Georgia Tech's choice of mascot.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
While I understand that school mascots are meant to represent the spirit and values of an institution, I found Georgia Tech's mascot to be quite underwhelming. The mascot lacked uniqueness and failed to create any excitement or enthusiasm. I believe that a strong mascot can greatly contribute to school spirit, but unfortunately, Georgia Tech's mascot fell short in that aspect.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars
Georgia Tech's school mascot didn't leave a lasting impression on me. It seemed like a generic character that lacked originality. The costume design was average at best, and it didn't excite me or make me feel connected to the school. I believe a memorable mascot should evoke a sense of pride and enthusiasm, but Georgia Tech's mascot just didn't do that for me.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I wasn't a fan of Georgia Tech's school mascot. It felt outdated and out of touch with the modern era. The overall design and execution seemed lackluster, without any charm or charisma. I think a school mascot should be more engaging and relatable, but unfortunately, Georgia Tech's mascot fell short in that aspect. Overall, I was unimpressed with their choice of mascot.