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155-471: Some of the traditions are well-known, the most notable being the now-banned tradition of stealing the "T" from Tech Tower. Tech Tower , Tech's historic primary administrative building, has the letters TECH hanging atop it on each of its four sides. A number of times, students have orchestrated complex plans to steal the huge symbolic letter T, and on occasion have carried this act out successfully. One especially well-known tradition that has existed nearly since

310-592: A Shop Building, in which " boiler and engine rooms, wood shop , machine shop , forge room and foundry " were located. Both buildings boasted towers and edifices of similar design. The complementary names and purposes of these buildings reflected the School's founding principles of valuing both theory and practice , while their similar appearance emphasized the equal standing of these principles. Construction work, contracted by Angus McGilvray with his low bid of US$ 43,250 ($  1.47 million in 2024), began with

465-733: A T off of the sign in front of Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium . The 'T' was later dropped off at night to the Georgia Tech Police Department. The Georgia Tech president returned it to the Virginia Tech president in September 2012 along with an apology. Similar copycat crimes have occurred on the Georgia Tech campus. In late 2001, a group of Georgia Tech students calling itself the "Caldwell Liberation Army" stole 32 'T's from signs on 16 campus buildings over

620-626: A ceremony presided over by Tech president G. Wayne Clough . Although neither she nor her husbands attended Georgia Tech as a student, Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans was a longtime benefactor of the Institute, contributing over $ 340 million through her philanthropic organization, the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation. Tech Tower's continuous use since its completion in 1888 has required occasional maintenance and refurbishment. It underwent extensive renovations in 1965 with

775-667: A duty which the Reck has performed since 1961. The Ramblin' Reck is mechanically and financially maintained on campus by students in Ramblin' Reck Club. The first mechanical Reck was a 1914 Ford Model T owned by Dean Floyd Field. Until the current Reck was donated to the school in 1961, most of the early Ramblin' Recks were owned by students, faculty or alumni. The modern Reck has donned a number of different paint jobs and has had several restorations and modifications made to it. These changes were made by various individuals and organizations over

930-516: A field goal/safety and preceded by " Up With the White and Gold " after a touchdown) in a football game, and frequently during timeouts at basketball games. The title refers to the Ramblin' Wreck , one of Tech's mascots and a nickname for Tech students. Oh, sons of Tech arise behold The banner as it reigns supreme For from on high the White and Gold Waves in its triumphant gleam, The spirit of

1085-569: A focus on remodeling the building's interior layout. During this time, the library and chapel were replaced with modern office space and furnishings. In contrast, efforts directed towards the exterior of the building have aimed to preserve its historic appearance. A restoration project called the "Tech Tower Renovation" began in 1987, spearheaded by alumnus Eugene M. "Gene" Clary's gift of new copper shingles with which to replace Tech Tower's aging roof tiles. Clary first suggested gold-colored shingles, but John Patrick Crecine , Georgia Tech's president at

1240-659: A giant gold starter pistol for the Mini 500 tricycle race. The Wreck's next task is to lead the racers out of the starting line in the Freshman Cake Race . On the day of the Homecoming football game, the Wreck leads the Ramblin' Wreck Parade , then leads the football team onto the field. The car is also present at every Freshman Orientation (FASET), Earth Day festival, and other campuswide events. A ride in

1395-549: A highway accident on June 22, 2007, on Interstate 75 in Monroe County , about 60 miles south of Atlanta . Though trailered, the crash caused severe damage to the body and top of the Ramblin' Wreck, while the Ford Expedition and trailer in tow were both wrecked. Fourth-year Polymer, Textile, and Fiber Engineering major John Bird was driving, with his younger brother Matt, and recalled for the press: Something in

1550-479: A large black box fastened to the rear end by a buggy wheel hoop. The black box's contents were never revealed to the student body and the box became part of the mystique of the Old Ford. The student body initially nicknamed the vehicle "Floyd's Flivver" but eventually began to call the car the "Ramblin' 'Reck." The first mention of Field's Ford as a Ramblin' 'Reck was in 1926 when he performed an overhaul of

1705-675: A long life; he earned several degrees, fought in World War II, and almost won Time ' s 2001 Person of the Year award. Georgia Tech is also known for the largest margin of victory in a football game, achieved in their 222-0 thrashing of Cumberland University in the 1916 Cumberland vs. Georgia Tech football game . Tech's historic and primary administrative building, Tech Tower , has the letters TECH hanging atop it on each of its four sides. Since 1969, students on several occasions have orchestrated complex plans to scale Tech Tower and steal

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1860-500: A major off body restoration in the Spring of 2000 that saw the car repainted and the engine rebuilt. Pete George, although several years retired, aided Reck Club in its restoration providing funding and labor to the 2000 restoration. After the restoration, a small modification replaced the electrical generator with a more efficient Nu-Rex alternator . Reck Club coordinated their second major restoration following damage incurred during

2015-522: A marble drinking fountain, was donated in 1911 by the Class of 1903 and is situated east of Tech Tower's main entrance. Also near the main entrance to Tech Tower is a marbled pair of benches donated by the Class of 1925 in memory of those who died in World War I . A few feet away stands a marbled bench memorial to Paul Howes Norcross, a 1902 Georgia Tech alumnus and former ASCE president who perished in

2170-553: A need for an official Ramblin' Wreck when he observed the student body's fascination with classic cars. Fraternities, in particular, would parade around their House Wrecks as displays of school spirit and enthusiasm. It was considered a rite of passage to own a broken down vehicle. In 1960, Dull began a search for a new official symbol to represent the institute. He specifically wanted a classic pre- war Ford. Dull's search would entail newspaper ads, radio commercials, and other means to locate this vehicle. The search took him throughout

2325-524: A number of freshmen, most notably those in the marching band , wear gold caps known as RAT caps at each football game. RAT is short for Recruit At Tech , although recently the Student Government has begun incorrectly using "Recently Acquired Tech Students" or "Recently Acquired Techie". The RAT caps are decorated with the football team's scores, the freshman's name, hometown, major, expected graduation date, and "To HELL With Georgia" emblazoned on

2480-563: A parade of contraptions was created to subdue student protests. The parade has run every year since 1932 except for the years of 1942-1943. The American fuel shortage caused by World War II stopped the parade. In 1944, the parade was renewed except the contraptions had to be human powered . Gasoline power was allowed again in 1946. The Freshman Cake Race is a foot race from the Russ Chandler Stadium to Bobby Dodd Stadium that takes place before sunrise (about 6:00 am) on

2635-629: A particular emphasis on mediating campus-wide sporting events. The Bull Dogs utilized their Cake Race ties to the Athletic Association in order to coordinate the first intramurals on the athletic playing fields. The Bull Dogs also aided in spirit and tradition upkeep on campus by aiding in Ramblin' Wreck Parade judging, homecoming queen selection, and homecoming dance planning. Despite the Bull Dogs roles in homecoming celebrations, their intramural coordination became their primary focus by

2790-405: A period of two nights. The students, who were not caught, vandalized the signs to express their bitterness at being displaced from Caldwell Residence Hall while renovations were taking place. In February 2006, it was noticed that small vinyl 'T' stickers were being stolen from informational signs located around the Georgia Tech campus, creating confusion for visitors and new students. According to

2945-546: A slightly stretched GT emblem on the door, a Tech helmet on the rear quarter panel, and a 1952 version of the Yellow Jacket on the front quarter panel. According to Tech lore, Bobby Dodd was so enamored with the Lincoln gold, he changed the football helmet and uniform color to match the new Ramblin' Wreck paint scheme. The biggest structural change was a support system attached to the car's frame. The support system runs

3100-533: A track and cross country coach. The race founder is alumnus L. McTier "Mac" Anderson, class of 1967. The first race in 1973 was 3 miles long and was expanded to 3.14 miles after 1975—hence the Pi Mile. In 2002, the race distance was slightly shortened to 5 kilometers , intendedly to attract more runners. Another race tradition is the Ghost Run, where all the entrants sign up as George P. Burdell ; participants pay

3255-402: A twelve game win streak in homecoming contests. Tech is 44-13-1 since 1949 in its homecoming football games. The Mini 500 is a tricycle race held during homecoming every year that requires teams to complete laps around Peters Parking Deck on East Campus. Men must complete 15 laps, while women must complete 10. There are mandatory pit stops in which the front tire must be rotated 3 times during

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3410-531: A year at the new mid-campus stadium. A symbol of the institute's academic and collegiate tradition, the old Model A is often dispatched to special events on campus. It is always present when new buildings are opened or dedicated. On December 5, 2006, the Wreck became the first car to drive across the new Fifth Street Bridge . Every spring, the Institute holds a ceremony, known as When the Whistle Blows, to honor students, staff, and faculty who died during

3565-399: Is a lasting bond; Oh may we be united Till the victory of life is won! At every football game and every home basketball game, the fans of Georgia Tech perform an unusual dance at the end of the 3rd quarter in football and during the second to last television timeout of basketball. The dance is a simple bobbing motion which alternates every other person (simulating the up-and-down motion of

3720-597: Is a parade of classic cars and engineering oddities held before every homecoming football game. There are three classes of vehicles, which participate in the competition. The first class is known simply as classic cars and these are vehicles over a certain age limit (currently 25 years). The second class is known as fixed bodies and these vehicles are normal cars, which have only been cosmetically modified retaining their original drive train . These are often themed, but are distinctly different from floats and are prohibited from being "pseudo-wrecks displaying pomps". The third class

3875-420: Is a spirit group consisting of 900 Georgia Tech students found seated along the north end zone during home football games and on the court during basketball games. The Swarm was started by Suzanne "Suzy Swarm" Robinson of the Ramblin' Reck Club in 1996 to increase the amount of student participation in the stands. The Swarm was only 250 members when it began in 1996. The group increased to 650 members by 2001 and

4030-443: Is a white globe with the classic Tech T painted on it. There are two golden nylon pennants emblazoned with the words "To Hell With Georgia" and "Give 'Em Hell Tech" fastened to the front bumper. The driver of the Ramblin' Wreck is an elected position within Ramblin' Reck Club. This position is determined after every football season. The driver manages the car's public appearances and maintenance. There have only been 46 drivers of

4185-503: Is among the all-time greatest rituals. Today, stealing the 'T' is prohibited and is officially punishable with expulsion, although this has not happened in practice. After a Georgia Tech visitor was accidentally killed while climbing the Alexander Memorial Coliseum in 1999, Institute President G. Wayne Clough banned stealing of the 'T' and the climbing of any Institute building, due to the risk of fatal falls and

4340-504: Is built in the Victorian style with Romanesque Revival influences. The building's original specifications, according to Georgia Tech's first Annual Catalogue Announcement published in 1889, are listed as 130 ft (40 m) wide and 120 ft (37 m) deep. It is constructed primarily of red brick and trimmed with granite . The gabled roof, originally terra cotta , was later replaced by copper shingles. The main complex of

4495-413: Is contraptions. Here, wheel-driven vehicles (that is, those using a conventional drive train ) are banned; human power has been used instead, as has propeller drive and jet engines . Judging criteria include both creativity and effective operation. The Wreck parade dates back to 1929 when The Technique began an "Old Ford Race" to Athens. In 1932, the race was deemed unsafe by the administration so

4650-543: Is currently 900 members strong. All Swarm members donate to the Alexander-Tharpe fund and are given gold T-shirts before every football and basketball season. One of the more popular traditions amongst Swarm members is the "Running of the Swarm". Because all Swarm seating is general admission, there are no reserved seats. The Swarm members must run once the gate is opened to get the best seats. A flashcard display

4805-413: Is distinguished by its old gold body and white soft top. The soft top has a chrome support strut , which features a brass classic Tech T and 1952 yellow jacket . The body also has two solid white runningboards, which run the length of the vehicle. The running boards support cheerleaders or the occasional Tech student looking for a ride. The interior upholstery is solid white vinyl . The gear shifter knob

Traditions of the Georgia Institute of Technology - Misplaced Pages Continue

4960-429: Is named after Tech Tower. Kessler Campanile , a stylized bell tower built on the Georgia Tech campus as part of an Institute-wide branding campaign in the mid-1990s, was designed to look like a modernized version of Tech Tower. The campanile is now featured in all Georgia Tech logos, though some have argued that Tech Tower itself would be a more appropriate symbol. Students have stolen the huge, symbolic letter 'T' on

5115-596: Is performed at every home football game by students. The flashcard section was first formed in 1957 by an organization known as the Block-T Club. The idea for a flashcard section and group to organize its efforts was conceived by members of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Through the support of Ramblin' Reck Club the first flashcard section featured 400 freshmen and highly coordinated flashcard images. The original flashcard sections were completely voluntary but afterwards,

5270-442: Is split up by gender. The winners receive cakes baked by faculty, alumni, or students, and all participants receive cupcakes. The winners also receive a kiss from Mr. or Ms. Georgia Tech at the homecoming half-time show. The race began as a cross-country race in 1911. In 1913, the winners received cakes from wives, mothers, and other women affiliated with Tech. The race was initially mandatory for all students. The Ramblin' Reck Club

5425-519: Is the architectural anchor of the Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District , a landmark of tradition and school spirit, and the present-day administrative hub of the Institute. It has been the site of many ceremonies and important events, including a visit by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and its dedication in honor of Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans , "Tech's greatest benefactor ." Lighted signs spelling TECH hang on each of

5580-678: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . The Wreck has also been featured in The New York Times and the Associated Press . Local newspapers such as the Cherokee Times , Augusta Chronicle , and Gwinnett Daily Post have also printed articles about the Wreck. In the week prior to the 2007 home opener, the Ramblin' Wreck was featured on ESPN First Take . ESPN showed old clips of

5735-537: The Norman boat disaster of May 8, 1925. The headstone of Sideways the dog is located near Tech Tower's rear entrance, as is an informational placard detailing Tech Tower's early history, donated by the Class of 1932. A staircase donated by the ANAK Society in 1921 connects Tech Tower to the adjacent D. P. Savant Building via a continuous sidewalk. Finally, a steam-driven air compressor , colloquially known as

5890-711: The Georgia Military Academy . The two spent two years and over $ 1,800 restoring the vehicle. Johnson used spare parts from many different sources to refurbish the rusty hulk. He bought the mahogany dash from a parts dealer in Caracas, Venezuela and used Convair 440 aluminum sheets to replace the flooring. After Craig graduated from high school, he attended Florida State on a track scholarship. In 1960, Craig's track team would be in Atlanta competing against Tech. Johnson, wanting to see his son compete, took

6045-457: The University of Georgia has stolen the Reck on at least two occasions. Several replica or "false" Recks are owned by alumni, or are used for display and do not run. The official Ramblin' Reck is considered the only "true" Reck, and no backups or replacements exist. The term "Ramblin' Wreck" has been used to refer to students and alumni of Georgia Tech much longer than the car that now bears

6200-591: The deans of the College of Engineering and the College of Sciences have offices in Tech Tower. Tech Tower is considered an iconic representation of Georgia Tech and of higher education in Atlanta . It is often featured in marketing materials and merchandise for the Institute and its silhouette is recognized throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area . The Tower , Georgia Tech's undergraduate research journal,

6355-496: The "Mystic Marauders" or the "Sneaky Four." Pervasive rumors of a detailed plan held in the Institute's archives to execute "the perfect T theft," crafted by an unnamed Georgia Tech fraternity , are apparently spurious. The 'T' was first stolen in April 1969 by a secret group of Georgia Tech fraternity brothers calling themselves the "Magnificent Seven". Inspired by a similar prank that had taken place in 1968 at Harvard University ,

Traditions of the Georgia Institute of Technology - Misplaced Pages Continue

6510-751: The "steam engine," sits prominently at the top of the hill near Tech Tower as a reminder of the school's industrial roots. As its official name suggests, Tech Tower is primarily used for administrative purposes. It houses the Office of the Registrar , the Office of Capital Planning and Space Management (CPSM), the Internal Auditing Department, and offices for the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL). In addition,

6665-402: The 'T' from Tech Tower has varied over the years. When the 'T' was first stolen in 1969, interim Institute President Vernon Crawford was so upset he considered canceling classes until it was returned. Afterwards, subsequent presidents opted to turn a blind eye to the practice, with one president, John Patrick Crecine , going so far as to endorse it. I think stealing the 'T' off the Tech Tower

6820-515: The 'T' from its mount but were caught in the act by authorities when the removal triggered an alarm. In October 2005, a replica of the 'T' was stolen from the Student Services Building and returned two days later. Around midday on March 18, 2014, it was discovered that the north-facing 'T' had been stolen from Tech Tower. In this case, the thief admitted guilt after detectives approached him at his residence that afternoon, and

6975-407: The 'T' occurred over the summer of 1999. The 'T' on the north face of Tech Tower was stolen by a group of "six or seven people" on the morning of June 3, 1999. The perpetrators wrote a letter detailing the theft to the editorial staff of The Technique , Georgia Tech's student newspaper. The letter, an abridged version of which was subsequently printed in the summer issue of The Technique , described

7130-526: The 1960s. With the planning of the Student Athletic Center , intramurals were placed under official Institute control rather than the Bull Dogs and in 1969 the Bull Dogs were disbanded, relinquishing all homecoming duties to Ramblin' Reck Club and the student government. The Georgia Tech Bands are student musical groups fielded at many of the home athletic and schoolwide events. None of the musicians receive scholarships for participating in

7285-487: The 2007 season against the Samford Bulldogs . In 1987, the Ramblin' Wreck and Dean Jim Dull were featured on ABC-TV 's morning show. Dean Dull shouted into the camera, "I'm Dean of Students Jim Dull and I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech. Good Morning, America!" Dull was on the show because he had won a make-a-wish contest. All he wanted was for the Ramblin' Wreck, gold-clad students, and himself to be on

7440-627: The ABC morning show and ABC granted the wish. The Ramblin' Wreck has been featured in several newspapers, magazines, and books. The Ramblin' Wreck is portrayed leading the Georgia Tech football team onto the field on the cover of Al Thomy's 1973 work Ramblin' Wreck – A Story of Georgia Tech Football . Pete George's 1982 refurbishment was featured in the November 1983 edition of the Ford Times. The June 1986 edition of Cars & Parts Magazine featured

7595-573: The Academic Building in June 1887; the building was completed in September 1888. The Shop Building, completed shortly afterward, was destroyed by fire in 1892 and rebuilt more modestly without a tower. Following this, the Academic Building, later known as Tech Tower, became the oldest building on the Georgia Tech campus, a distinction it continues to hold more than a century later. On October 20, 1905, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt visited

7750-531: The Alexander-Tharpe Fund. The Ramblin' Wreck was officially transferred to the Athletic Association on May 26, 1961. The Ramblin' Wreck was unveiled September 30, 1961, at Grant Field in front of 43,501 Tech fans, as it led the team onto the field against Rice University . The team prevailed 24–0 and the Wreck became an instant success within the Tech family. The Wreck has since led the team onto

7905-630: The Fall 2017 semester, the Whistle blew five minutes before the hour, every hour from 8:55 am to 5:55 pm, but following a modification of the class schedule, the whistle now follows a modified blowing schedule. The Faculty newspaper is also named The Whistle . Georgia Tech has an ongoing rivalry with the University of Georgia , often simply called "Georgia" for short. The rivalry was called Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate by Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist and UGA supporter, Lewis Grizzard. An annual issue of

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8060-604: The Georgia Tech Cable Network (GTCN), produced a show, about the history of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate 'To Hell With Georgia' . If one student asks the word from another ("What's the Good Word?"), the response is always "To Hell with Georgia!" If asked about the Bulldogs ("How 'bout them Dawgs?"), an old tagline from the "University of Georgia" expression, the correct answer is, "Piss on 'em!" Every year,

8215-548: The Georgia Tech Master Plan of 1997, the area was made "more pedestrian-friendly " with the removal of access roads and the addition of landscaping improvements, benches, and other facilities. Further renovations to Tech Tower were completed during 2015–2016, which cost $ 7.5 million, and addressed fire, safety, and accessibility issues. These renovations were designed to improve occupant safety and comfort and also improve building energy efficiency. Tech Tower

8370-650: The Georgia Tech Student Government Association (SGA) launched a "Keep the 'T' in Tech" campaign to discourage thefts of 'T's from signage around the campus. The week-long campaign took place from September 26–30 and included an online petition to be published in The Technique , an open forum for discussing the issue, an amnesty day for returning stolen 'T's, and "Live the True Tradition," an evening event focused on

8525-439: The Georgia Tech Student Government Association (SGA), 'T' thefts across campus cost the Institute over $ 100,000 from 2010–11. The SGA discouraged these thefts, which they emphasized did not constitute a true Georgia Tech tradition: "The tradition is stealing the 'T' from Tech Tower – no other 'T's were ever a part of this tradition." The campaign drew national press coverage. The Georgia Tech administration's position on stealing

8680-426: The Georgia Tech campus. On the steps of Tech Tower, Roosevelt presented a speech about the importance of engineering education. He then shook hands with each of the 500 students present. Georgia Tech's Class of 1922 installed the famous TECH signs on all four sides of Tech Tower in 1918, giving rise to the building's present nickname. Their purpose, as defined by the donors during their first year at Georgia Tech,

8835-555: The Goldfellas occurred in the 2007 football game against rival University of Georgia with over 80 Tech students painted up with the Goldfellas for the event. Oh well it's up with the White and Gold, Down with the Red and Black, Georgia Tech is out for a victory. We'll drop the battle-axe on Georgia 's head, When we meet her our team is sure to beat her. Down on the old farm there will be no sound Till our bow-wows rip through

8990-544: The Institute newspaper, The Technique , focuses on this rivalry with an issue that spoofs The Red and Black , the newspaper of the University of Georgia. As a dig at the rival school, the Technique will typically refer to it as "the university (sic) of Georgia" (sometimes shortened to "u(sic)GA") in articles. " To Hell With Georgia " (abbreviated "THWG" or "THWUGA"or "THWg") is also known as "The Good Word." In 2009,

9145-517: The Institute released a notice that those who stole the 'T' would be harshly punished, and therefore the 'T' remains to this day at an undisclosed location. The replacement 'T' on the north face of Tech Tower was stolen on May 28, 2001 by three students, two of whom were found guilty of numerous conduct code violations by the Undergraduate Judiciary Cabinet and subsequently suspended. The students had successfully removed

9300-505: The Model A to Tech campus, parked it near Towers dormitory, and went to watch Craig compete. When Johnson returned to his car, he found a note from Dean Dull attached to his windshield. Dull's note offered to purchase the car to serve as Georgia Tech's official mascot. Johnson, after great deliberation, agreed to take $ 1,000, but eventually returned the money in 1984 so that the car would be remembered as an official donation to Georgia Tech and

9455-632: The RAT rules in 1965. By 1967, the Club was given a more wholesome duty. Reck Club was given charge of the Ramblin' Wreck in 1967 following the disbandment of the Student Council's Reck Committee. A member from Reck Club known as the wreck driver has been elected annually since 1967 to drive the Wreck onto Grant Field for football games and other school functions. Reck Club was the first group to make attempts at humanoid mascots on Tech Campus. The first

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9610-574: The Ramblin' Wreck and the raffle for the Centennial Wreck. The December 1991 Car Collector & Car Classics featured the Wreck on the cover after the National Championship season. The December 2007 Bellsouth Real White Pages for Greater Atlanta featured the Ramblin' Wreck with censored flags. The Ramblin' Wreck has been featured numerous times in Tech's student newspaper, The Technique , and Atlanta's primary newspaper,

9765-399: The Ramblin' Wreck in its history. Lisa Volmar, an industrial engineering major, was elected the driver in 1984 and she was the first female driver after 23 consecutive years of male-only drivers. The name can be spelled either Ramblin ' Reck or Ramblin ' Wreck . In all spellings, there is no g in Ramblin ' . The first references to the 1930 Model A (1961) spelled

9920-535: The Ramblin' Wreck. In its history, the Wreck has appeared at a number of away games and other events away from the Georgia Tech campus. Many of these trips resulted in damage to the Reck or other interesting anecdotes. The first away game for the Ramblin' Wreck was the 1961 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide . The Wreck was freighted by Southern Railway to Birmingham, Alabama . At the time, Alabama played its home games at Legion Field . Before

10075-414: The Ramblin' Wreck. The fight song for Georgia Tech " I'm a Rambling Wreck " begins with the lyrics, "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer." The song is sung at sporting events, official school functions, and always at the end of every graduation ceremony. A steam whistle that blows at various times throughout the day to mark the end of classes. This tradition is a hold over from

10230-659: The Reck Club until his mysterious disappearance in 1975. The Ramblin' Reck Club today oversees several homecoming traditions such as the Freshman Cake Race, the Mini 500, and the Wreck Parade. Reck Club also serves as a bridge between Georgia Tech Athletics and the Georgia Tech student body organizing the Swarm cheering section, pep rallies, flashcards sections, and other spirit related events. The Bull Dog Club

10385-530: The South end zone goalpost. Occasionally, the Goldfellas will attend home basketball, volleyball, or other sporting events. The group had its origins in the 1998 Georgia Tech football season, when a group of guys painted up for the homecoming game against the favored Virginia Cavaliers, the second of the fabled 41-38 games. The Jackets upset the Cavaliers and the tradition was started and passed on by residents in

10540-465: The Swarm maintained the tradition as a mandatory requirement of being a member of Swarm. Currently, the flashcard display is no longer performed due to difficulty coordinating it. It was last performed in the 2011 football season. The Goldfellas are a group of Georgia Tech superfans who paint their entire bodies yellow, spelling out words and phrases in black letters on their chests. These painted fans attend every home football game and are located behind

10695-481: The Tech Tower's TECH signs a number of times. The 'T' is then returned at the halftime of the homecoming football game, and the students' achievement celebrated. Tradition dictates that the first 'T' to be stolen should be the one facing east, as this can most easily be seen from the Downtown Connector . The groups of students responsible for 'T' thefts generally assume dramatic pseudonyms, such as

10850-552: The Thrasher cup. The band has some of the richest traditions on campus, including a strict enforcement of RAT caps amongst first year band members, no matter their actual year in college. The first Georgia Tech bands were formed in 1908 and led by "Biddy" Bidez . Bidez lead the group until his graduation in 1912. He was succeeded by another student named Mike Greenblatt who continued in Bidez's footsteps until 1913. Greenblatt wrote

11005-554: The Wreck Drivers and Reck Club. In 1994, the Hapeville Plant ended their relationship with Reck Club. Since then, the Wreck has been student maintained with the assistance of local Atlanta garages. The Wreck has had numerous mechanical and cosmetic repairs over the years since Pete George's initial full rebuild. After 1994, Reck Club restored the wheels and brakes to original Model A specifications. Reck Club performed

11160-461: The Wreck leading the football team onto the field and discussed the possibility of the Wreck not making the football opener after 45 consecutive years of never missing a game. The Ramblin' Wreck was featured prominently on the October 18, 2007 episode of Jim Cramer 's Mad Money . Cramer exited the Wreck's passenger door to start the show and one of Cramer's trademark soundboards was attached to

11315-467: The Wreck serves as a gift to many retiring faculty and staff; a ride onto Grant Field is one of the greatest honors Georgia Tech can bestow. Kim King , for example, received this honor on October 2, 2004, during halftime of the Miami game. There are several lesser known details about the Wreck that are easily missed when it rambles down Techwood Drive. Specific physical details and the actual person behind

11470-564: The Wreck's police escort abandoned the car. The vehicle appeared relatively unprotected and was approached by UGA students attempting to vandalize it. The Tech students responsible for the car's safekeeping frightened the encroaching Bulldog fans away by producing a concealed 9 mm pistol . The farthest trips the Ramblin' Wreck has ever traveled from Atlanta were the 1970 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas , and Denver , Colorado , in 1990 for Tech's NCAA Final Four appearance against UNLV . The Wreck

11625-400: The Wreck, making the position of Wreck driver one of the most prestigious positions in all of Georgia Tech's student organizations. The driver gets to add their own personal touch every year to the Wreck. The front license plate is chosen by the driver every year and the radiator cap is replaced yearly, as well. The cap is typically a flying quail or a wreath . After each driver's term,

11780-559: The Wreck. This trip took the Wreck up to Knoxville for a game against the Tennessee Volunteers . After Tech won the game, the Wreck was stored overnight in Neyland Stadium . Administrators and Tennessee's Athletic Director Bob Woodruff promised Georgia Tech Athletics that the Wreck would be safe. They were wrong. Tennessee students broke into the storage area and painted the Wreck orange. They wrote "Go Vols" in

11935-514: The Yellow Jacket football team onto Alltel Stadium 's field for Tech's first appearance in the ACC title game, as well as performing the same duty in their second appearance and first win in the ACC championship game in 2009. The Wreck has also been to the Orange Bowl , Gator Bowl , All-American Bowl , Sun Bowl , Peach Bowl , Citrus Bowl , and Champs Sports Bowl . On June 15, 2007, the Wreck

12090-429: The administration used to turn a blind eye to this practice, it is now officially discouraged, due to the risk of fatal falls and the potential for damage to the building, and equated to criminal activity (trespassing and theft). In recent years, this has become a serious offense, and perpetrators today would face a hefty fine to repair damages done to the building and a minimum of a semester-long suspension for attempting

12245-494: The air; When the battle is over Georgia's team will be found With the Yellow Jackets swarming around! "(I'm a) Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" is Georgia Tech's fight song . The composition is based on Son of a Gambolier by Charles Ives (1895), and the lyrics are based on an old English and Scottish drinking song of the same name. "Ramblin' Wreck" is played after every Georgia Tech score (directly after

12400-417: The area began to refer to these vehicles and the men who drove them as "Rambling Wrecks from Georgia Tech." The first "mechanical mascot" at Georgia Tech was a 1914 Ford Model T owned by Dean Floyd Field. Field drove the car to and from class every day from 1916 until 1928. Field cared so much for the car that he even nicknamed it "Nellie". The vehicle was distinguished by its metallic black paint job and

12555-506: The assorted bands meaning the bands are composed entirely of volunteers. Every home football game and most away games include a 300 member Georgia Tech marching band performing during dead ball time and half-time . The GT Bands also field smaller pep bands at home basketball , ice hockey , and volleyball games. The bands are known to follow teams for special events such as bowl games and basketball tournaments . The ice hockey pep band in particular travels to Savannah every year for

12710-404: The athletic association, the vehicle was sold from the athletic association to the institute for zero dollars in 1987. The transaction further solidified Reck Club's responsibilities over the car but also made the car more than simply a football mascot. The Old Ford was officially an institute icon. After Pete George's retirement in 1987, the upkeep of the Wreck fell directly upon the shoulders of

12865-516: The back of the cap. It is important that 'HELL' should be in all capital letters, while 'Georgia' should be all lowercase. Students who intend to utilize the cooperative education program circle the top button on the cap, and fill it in once they have completed their involvement. The tradition began in 1915, and freshmen were required to wear the RAT caps every day until the Thanksgiving weekend game with UGA (if Georgia Tech won) or until end of

13020-506: The behest of Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen . Following successful thefts, the T would then be returned at the halftime of the homecoming football game or would be returned to the lawn of the president's mansion, and the student's achievement would be celebrated. Tradition dictates that the first T to be stolen should be the one facing east, as this can most easily be seen from the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector . Although

13175-420: The building stands four stories high plus a basement. The tower portion stands seven stories high and is topped with four lighted TECH signs (one on each side) and a high pitched roof. The main entrance to the building is accessed by ascending a small staircase and entering a small porch which forms the base of Tech Tower. Most of the building's windows are simple rectangular frames, with the exception of those on

13330-463: The car's engine, body, and paint job with the help of the campus machine shop. Dean Field found a love for travel with his Model T. He took it all the way to California for seminars on mathematics and education. However, in 1927 rumors began to abound campus that Field was going to buy a Model A. Field quelled the rumors with a personal interview in the last issue of the 1927 Technique . By September 1928, Field felt he could not travel as much with

13485-587: The cheering Throng Resounds with joy revealing A brotherhood in praise and song In memory of the days gone by. Oh, Scion of the Southland In our hearts you shall forever fly! We cherish thoughts so dear for thee Oh Alma Mater in our pray'r. We plead for you in victory And in the victory we share, But when the battle seems in vain Our spirits never falter We're ever one in joy or pain And our union

13640-437: The course of the race. Because the average racer weighs more than the average 5-year-old, the car is allowed one support brace to be welded onto the frame. The race traces its roots back to the early 1960s, when fraternity pledges were forced to ride tricycles around campus as a form of hazing. The race was eventually formalized in 1969, and rules were instituted to make the Mini 500 an instant classic. The Ramblin' Wreck Parade

13795-459: The dilapidated Model T. To the dismay of the student body the vehicle was discarded by Dean Field in 1928 and a Model A was purchased. Field's Model A lasted until 1934 in which he bought a Ford V8 . He would drive over 122,000 miles (196,300 km) in all three cars during his Georgia Tech tenure of 1900–1945. In memoriam to his retired " Tin Lizzie ", Dean Field started "an Old Ford Race" from

13950-499: The disbandment of the Yellow Jackets. A new traditions club was actively pursued by Anak to instill the rich Tech tradition into new freshmen. The new club was the Ramblin' Reck Club and it was established in late July 1945. The first order of business for the new Ramblin' Reck Club was to stage a Pep Meeting and traditions review for new freshmen. Reck Club was designed to prevent political domination by individual social fraternities as Yellow Jacket Club had been. Membership in Reck Club

14105-440: The driver gets to keep the two pennants, too. Dean Dull initiated a group known as the Ramblin' Wreck Committee of the Student Council to aid in his search for a mascot. When the Wreck was found in 1961, the Ramblin' Wreck Committee was chaired by Dekle Rountree. Rountree would drive the Wreck for school functions and Student Council fundraisers. He was also the first person to drive the Ramblin' Wreck onto Grant Field. Don Gentry,

14260-476: The event. The Technique, Blueprint, and Omicron Delta Kappa rejuvenated the major event but the Yellow Jackets' reputation was severely tarnished. On May 8, 1945 the Yellow Jacket Club staged a last-ditch effort to reorganize the traditions club but by July 14, 1945 the club was disbanded. When new freshmen arrived on campus in 1945, the student body was concerned that traditions would be lost with

14415-426: The feat, if not outright expulsion. Security features such as security cameras, pressure sensitive roof tiling, and fiber optic cabling running throughout the letters have been added to the T to help prevent its theft and aid in catching the perpetrators. In 1999, the T was successfully stolen by a group of "six or seven people" on the morning of June 3. The location of that T is still unknown. In 2001, two members of

14570-491: The fee and get a T-shirt but do not have to run. Part of the race is run along the Tyler Brown Pi-Mile Trail, a 3.14-mile running course around well-lit areas of the Georgia Tech campus, designated with disc-shaped markers and maps along the way. Tyler Brown was a former Student Government Association president who ran daily for ROTC and pushed heavily for a well-lit and safe running trail. Tyler Brown

14725-435: The field for every home game. The current color scheme was selected in 1974 by then athletic director and former head coach Bobby Dodd . The original Wreck decor featured a wooden GT shield on both the driver- and passenger-side doors. This shield was removed during Dodd's revitalization of the old Model A. Dodd chose an old gold paint from a Lincoln car paint catalogue as the base for the new color scheme. He also placed

14880-451: The first versions of "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech". The first professional band director was Frank "Wop" Roman. Roman is noted for writing Tech's Alma Mater as well as "Up With the White and Gold". Roman copyrighted "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" in 1919 and led the bands until his death in 1928. Since Roman there have been seven professional band directors. The directors have had varying levels of success and longevity. The Swarm

15035-425: The four sides of the seven-story central tower, dominating the building's facade and visible from many parts of the Georgia Tech campus and surrounding area. Georgia Tech students have several times stolen the letter 'T' from one of these signs, a prank once tolerated but now strictly forbidden. In 1887, the state of Georgia acquired 9 acres (3.6 ha) of land from Atlanta pioneer Richard Peters that would form

15190-419: The fraternity Beta Theta Pi were caught and suspended in an attempt to steal the T. In October 2005, a replica of the T was stolen from the Student Services Building and returned two days later. Despite the lack of physical danger involved in stealing the spare T, the theft was still strongly criticized. The most recent successful theft of the T occurred during Georgia Tech's spring break on March 18, 2014, which

15345-452: The game, the current driver Dekle Rountree decided to traverse the slope up to visit Birmingham's Vulcan statue . The trip to Birmingham was such a success, a trip to Jacksonville for Tech's Gator Bowl appearance against Penn State was organized, as well. These were the first road and bowl game appearances for the Wreck in its illustrious career. In 1963, the Ramblin' Wreck Committee and Ramblin' Reck Club organized another road trip for

15500-476: The heads of the familiar team of Clydesdale horses ) and is performed to the tune of an old Budweiser jingle . The Georgia Tech additional lyrics are as follows: The Dean George C. Griffin Pi Mile 5K Road Race is run annually in the spring on the Georgia Tech campus. One of the longest continually running races in Atlanta, it is named after former dean of students, George C. Griffin, in honor of his tenure as

15655-433: The huge symbolic letter T off the building. The 'T' was first stolen in April 1969 by a secret group of Georgia Tech students calling themselves the "Magnificent Seven." The students, who were inspired by a similar prank that had taken place in 1968 at Harvard University , planned the theft as a means of commemorating Institute President Edwin D. Harrison 's retirement. The 'T' was returned several days later via helicopter at

15810-494: The intersection of North Avenue and Techwood Drive in Atlanta to the intersection of Hills Street and Prince Avenue in Athens . The race was sponsored by the Technique , which nicknamed the event the "Flying Flivver Race." The finish line was facilitated by the University of Georgia student newspaper The Red and Black . The only rule of the race was that the car had to be a pre-1926 4-cylinder motor car. The fastest time in

15965-496: The jungles of Panama . These devices and their creators were nicknamed Ramblin' Wrecks from Georgia Tech. Since then the term Ramblin' Wreck has been applied to a graduate or current student of Georgia Tech. The actual Ramblin' Reck is a 1930 Ford Model A Sports Coupe first acquired by then-associate dean of students James E. Dull , in 1961. The first Ramblin' Wreck mascot reference was in 1926 to Dean Floyd Field's 1914 Ford Model T . Sports teams of Georgia Tech are also called

16120-417: The late 1890s was stolen in 1902. The whistle was returned to Dean Griffin in 1949 as a retirement gift. The second theft of the whistle occurred in 1963, when a group of students nicknamed the "Magnificent 7" stole the whistle. Fearing Institute repercussions, the group returned the whistle in the spring of 1964. The whistle was again stolen in 1978 by a group nicknamed the "Committee of Five". The whistle

16275-483: The length of the running boards and allows the increased weight of cheerleaders or Reck Club members standing on the running boards. From 1973 to 1987, 1947 IE alum Pete George maintained the Ramblin' Wreck at the Hapeville Ford Plant. George would mastermind the 1974 change of colors as well as a major refurbishment of the Wreck in 1982 in time for Georgia Tech's 1985 centennial celebration. The car

16430-479: The many traditions that they are introduced to is that freshmen cannot touch the Wreck until the completion of their first year. This rule originated in the 1963 edition of the RAT Rules . If a freshman touches the Wreck between convocation and the last day of classes in the Spring, they will receive bad luck throughout their college career and GT will be cursed to lose to UGA in football that year. The Wreck

16585-403: The morning of the homecoming game. This distance is about a one-half mile, so the crowd of several hundred participants engages in a mad sprint over the relatively short distance. The race runs through the middle of the campus's Greek sector and is often subject to tampering by fraternity students. The competitors are supposed to be freshmen (students with less than 30 hours of credit), and the race

16740-524: The name Pilgrim's and was originally located on the corner of North Avenue and Techwood Drive. Its name changed to Junior's Grill in 1958, and it moved locations twice since then. Due to the need to construct apartments for the 1996 Summer Olympics , the restaurant was forced to close and vacate its North Avenue location in October 1993; in February 1994, it reopened in the Bradley Building. It

16895-441: The name has been in existence. The expression has its origins in the late 19th century and was used originally to refer to the makeshift motorized vehicles constructed by Georgia Tech engineers employed in projects in the jungles of Central America. The Wrecks were constructed from whatever the engineers could find—mostly old tractor and automotive parts—and were kept running by the engineers' ingenuity and creativity. Other workers in

17050-447: The now-defunct Area II dormitories. Each member is given a unique face design that is retired upon his graduation. The group is not considered an official club as its members do not bow to any charters and are not affiliated with Swarm. The Goldfellas take pride in their complete lack of clothing besides a yellow wig and gym shorts. The group never sits during the course of a football game, not even during halftime. The largest gathering of

17205-466: The original campus of what was then called the Georgia School of Technology, as well as the site of its first two structures. The state hired the well-known architectural firm Bruce & Morgan to design an Academic Building, containing "ample accommodations in halls, offices, apparatus rooms, recitation and lecture rooms, free hand and mechanical drawing rooms, library and chapel," as well as

17360-703: The original campus were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District . Near the entrance to Tech Tower, a Georgia historical marker maintained by the Georgia Historical Society commemorates this listing as well as the early history of the Georgia Tech campus. On May 22, 1998, Tech Tower was officially renamed the Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Administration Building in

17515-405: The paint and covered the gold wheels with paint, as well. After the incident, Georgia Tech sent a bill to Tennessee's Athletic Department asking for restitution. Woodruff was believed to have aided the students in their efforts after he openly contested the officiating of the football contest. In 1976, Tech students took the Wreck to Athens for the annual football game with UGA. After the game,

17670-459: The parade's continuous operation occurred with the onset of World War II. There were no parades from 1942 to 1943 and when the parade did continue in 1944, all Wrecks had to be human powered. In 1946, the Ramblin' Wreck Parade was allowed to operate combustion engines again. The rules instituted in the 1946 Wreck Parade still remain as the parade has become the featured event for all Tech homecomings. Dean of Student Affairs Jim Dull recognized

17825-449: The post because of negative pressure from the GT administration). The tradition of stealing the 'T' from Tech Tower has inspired copycat crimes involving other signage. During a Georgia Tech– NC State football game on November 4, 2006, the second 'T' from a large nc state university banner mysteriously vanished from the upper deck of Carter–Finley Stadium where it had been hanging. It

17980-402: The potential for damage to the building. Clough also expressed concern over the "incredibly expensive liability litigation" Georgia Tech could face in the event of an accident. To discourage climbing, security features such as pressure-sensitive roof tiling, fiber optic cabling running throughout the letters, and an audible alarm have been added to the 'T' to help prevent its theft. In 2011,

18135-437: The preceding week – so that he would have what every Tech man needed, his own glowing yellow T for a conversation piece. On the evening of November 6, 1997, the 'T's were nearly stolen from the north, south and west sides of Tech Tower by five students wielding hacksaws, tin snips, and rappelling equipment. The students were caught by Georgia Tech police acting on a tip provided by an anonymous informant. The stolen north 'T'

18290-478: The president of Reck Club in 1961, was the first student to drive the Wreck as he aided in retrieving the Model A from Ted Johnson's home. The Wreck was always maintained by Reck Club but the complete transition of control occurred between 1964 and 1967. During this period, Reck Club was relieved of its RAT rules enforcement duties and given more wholesome jobs of maintaining the Wreck, upholding traditions, and generating school spirit. Four women have officially driven

18445-429: The previous year. The Georgia Tech Whistle is blown once for each person who died, and once more to salute Georgia Tech alumni and friends who may also have died. A procession of the military escort, led by the Ramblin' Wreck, leads up to the ceremony, during which the Wreck is parked next to the speaker's stage. During Tech Homecoming, the Ramblin' Wreck has several duties. Several days before Homecoming, it acts as

18600-622: The process of stealing the 'T' by lowering it via a rope and moving it to a secret location. The letter also included a photograph of the 'T' "on vacation" in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia . Finally, the perpetrators indicated plans to return the 'T' during the Georgia Tech Homecoming Parade, according to tradition, as long as no criminal charges would be brought against them. The letter was signed by fictitious Georgia Tech alumnus George P. Burdell . However,

18755-456: The race was achieved by an Essex which completed the 79-mile (126 km) race in 1 hour and 26 minutes or 55 mph (88 km/h). The Tech administration disliked the perilous race and reduced the race to a more peaceful and regulated parade of contraptions known as the Ramblin' Wreck Parade after races were completed in 1929 and 1930. The Yellow Jacket Club facilitated the first official Ramblin' Wreck parade in 1932. The only break in

18910-411: The reason. Georgia Tech Homecoming is a celebration held once a year for alum of the Institute to return to campus and take part in several festivities and Institute traditions. The themed homecoming festivities all lead up to a Saturday football contest. The events are usually led off with various Greek sports tournaments followed by the Mini 500, Freshman Cake Race, and the Wreck Parade. Every year

19065-602: The roof is torn up... but the motor is fine and all the wheels are fine." Bird had stated that both his brother and he got whiplash from the crash, one of Matt's legs was bruised, and "it also could have been a lot worse." The Ramblin' Wreck has led the Yellow Jacket football team onto Grant Field almost 300 games. It also makes appearances for other Georgia Tech sports teams: it is often seen before big basketball games at Hank McCamish Pavilion , occasionally parked outside of Russ Chandler Stadium during warm weekend baseball series, and has attended several softball games

19220-409: The school year (if Georgia Tech lost). If Tech did not play UGA that year, freshmen were allowed to stop wearing their caps after a homecoming game victory. If the team lost, then the previously stated rules applied. Freshmen caught not wearing the cap faced varying degrees of hazing , including having their hair shaved into the shape of a letter tee ("T") or a T-cut. Anti-hazing laws in the 1960s led to

19375-420: The school's establishment is Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate , Georgia Tech's heated, long-standing and ongoing rivalry with the University of Georgia . The first known hostilities between the two schools trace back to 1891. Several legends originated at Georgia Tech. George P. Burdell , Tech's ever-present fictional student, was created in 1927 when a student filled out two application forms. Burdell went on to lead

19530-532: The state and country, but no suitable vehicle was found until the autumn of 1960. Dean Dull spotted a polished 1930 Ford Model A outside of his apartment located in Towers Dormitory . The owner was Captain Ted J. Johnson, Atlanta's chief Delta Air Lines pilot. Johnson had purchased the car from a junkyard in 1956. Johnson and his son, Craig, would restore the car as a father-son project while Craig attended

19685-494: The student body elects a Mr. and Ms. Georgia Tech. These are two individuals who have excelled in academics and extracurriculars on Tech campus. The titles changed from homecoming king and queen to Mr. and Ms. Georgia Tech in 1987 at the request of Dean James E. Dull . The first homecoming was organized by ANAK in 1916. In 2008, Georgia Tech hosted the Virginia Cavaliers for its 92nd homecoming celebration and ended

19840-451: The students planned the theft as a means of commemorating Institute President Edwin D. Harrison 's retirement. The 'T' was returned several days later via helicopter at the behest of Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen . A high point of the celebration came when Tech students unveiled and presented to Harrison a 5 ft-tall (1.5 m) T – a part of the four Tech signs around the top of the administration building that had mysteriously disappeared

19995-425: The task. The Yellow Jacket Club helped facilitate the Freshman Cake Race and helped to organize the first Wreck Parades in 1932. The Yellow Jacket Club were the strict student enforcement of the freshmen RAT rules as well. The Yellow Jacket Club maintained prestige and political power on campus until late 1944. The Yellow Jacket Club was in charge of the 1945 school-wide Spring Social and failed to properly organize

20150-509: The third floor, which are arched. The entire complex sits on the crest of a tree-dotted hill, giving it the appearance of being larger than it actually is. As the oldest building on the Georgia Tech campus, Tech Tower has accumulated a number of peripheral monuments and sites of interest over the years. Two walkways encircle the building, including the Tower Walk, donated by the Class of 1950 in 2000. Georgia Tech's first class memorial,

20305-469: The time, insisted on copper shingles to match the building's original construction materials. One of these shingles and a small marker inside the Tech Tower entrance lobby commemorate Clary and his donation. Additional restoration of Tech Tower's exterior and the Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District, funded by the Class of 1950 and Class of 1975, began in 2000. As part of Phase I of

20460-482: The trade school days, originally used to mark the end of a shift in the shops; now it is used both to mark the end of classes and as a fifteen-minute warning to the beginning of the next classes. It is also blown when Georgia Tech's football team scores a touchdown or wins a game, and at each spring's "When the Whistle Blows" remembrance ceremony. Although not as popular as "stealing the T", the whistle has been stolen several times. The first ever Tech whistle installed in

20615-445: The tradition of stealing the 'T' from Tech Tower. Ramblin%27 Reck The Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech is the 1930 Ford Model A Sport coupe that serves as the official mascot of the student body at the Georgia Institute of Technology . The Wreck is present at all major sporting events and student body functions. Its most noticeable role is leading the football team into Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field ,

20770-408: The trailer failed, and the trailer pulled us off the road going 70 miles an hour. We went perpendicular to the lanes of traffic, and we crashed into a ditch on the side of the road... There wasn’t any fishtailing... The trailer just snapped and made a 90 degree turn, and I just said ‘Matt, hold on’ and we hit the ditch. The whole thing lasted about 2 seconds... The left side is smashed up pretty good and

20925-533: The virtual elimination of the tradition, although the use of RAT caps is still actively maintained by the marching band. The RAT rules enforced by upperclassmen and in particular the Ramblin' Reck Club are presented in the July 17, 1964, edition of the Technique . The rules are listed below: Junior's Grill was a restaurant located in East Campus next to Tech Tower . The restaurant was first opened in 1948 under

21080-405: The wheel are often missed or overlooked. The Wreck is financially maintained through Ramblin' Reck Club appearances and fundraisers. There is no official source of funding from the institute, Athletic Association, or Alumni Association. This gives the Wreck a unique level of independence that is atypical amongst college mascots. When a freshman first reaches campus for FASET (orientation), one of

21235-400: The word Reck while the first references to the 1914 Model T owned by Dean Field spelled the word ' Reck (1925). Ramblin' Reck Club has spelled the word Reck since their 1945 club charter. The institute has adopted the spelling Ramblin' Wreck and holds a trademark on the phrase. Reck Club still refers to the Ramblin' Wreck as the Ramblin' Reck while most other agencies refer to it as

21390-526: The years, including Bobby Dodd and Georgia Tech Alumnus Pete George, who worked at the Ford plant in Hapeville, Georgia . The upkeep of the Reck has been the sole responsibility of Ramblin' Reck Club and the Reck driver since 1968. The Ramblin' Reck has been the target of several pranks perpetrated by rival schools; the University of Tennessee once provided the Reck with an unsolicited new paint job, and

21545-650: Was killed in action in Iraq on September 14, 2004. The trail was completed in December 2004 and was dedicated in his honor in April 2005. Stealing the T The Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Administration Building , commonly known as Tech Tower , is a historic building and focal point of the central campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta , Georgia, United States. Located at 225 North Avenue NW in Midtown Atlanta , it

21700-404: Was a bee costume donned by Judi McNair of Reck Club. She sported her bee costume to home basketball games and pep rallies. In 1973, a spandex -clad hero named T-Man and his faithful sidekick T patrolled campus in search of opposing mascots and fans. T-Man would perform spirit skits at pep rallies and home basketball games. Often seen riding in the Ramblin' Wreck, T-Man was an anonymous member of

21855-506: Was a shield with a football helmet wearing yellow jacket. This was replaced with a white generic naugahyde Ford tire cover. The blackwall tires and brakes were replaced with whitewall tires and modified brakes. The Wreck experienced a major transition of ownership after the Centennial Celebration. Since Reck Club had financially maintained the vehicle for so long and Reck Club fell under the dean of students rather than

22010-513: Was also stolen in 1969 and 1997. Both times the whistle was returned almost immediately after its theft. In 1969, the whistle was given to the student body president as a graduation gift a month after its theft and the 1997 theft was solved when President Clough found the whistle on his lawn a day after its theft. The current steam whistle, located near Tech Tower , was built by the GTRI Machine Shop and installed in 2004. Prior to

22165-449: Was an honor society created in 1910 originally as a social branch of Tech's Koseme Society. The Bull Dogs first major role was facilitating the first cross country races that eventually evolved into the Freshman Cake Race. The Bull Dogs only admitted rising juniors and seniors into their ranks in order to maintain prestige and honor in the club. The Bull Dogs rise to Institute prominence also led to their eventual demise. The Bull Dogs put

22320-422: Was completely disassembled, rebuilt, and repainted by late 1982. There were a few noticeable changes to the Ramblin' Wreck after the 1982 refurbishment. An aftermarket chrome stone guard was added to protect the grill, The emblems on the side were removed and replaced by a basic GT decal on the doors. The 1952 Yellow Jackets were moved to the front tire wells. The white horn was chromed over. The old tire cover

22475-528: Was erected in 1888 as the Academic Building , with classrooms to complement the hands-on training in the adjacent shop building. It was the second edifice completed on the Georgia Tech campus and it is the oldest surviving one. Tech Tower has achieved local, cultural, and historical significance. Monuments and plaques commemorating philanthropy towards Georgia Tech adorn the building and surrounding landscape. The red brick, Victorian-style building

22630-465: Was founded in 1930 as the Yellow Jacket Club to help bolster school spirit. Coach William Alexander found campus spirit to be particularly low during the Great Depression . His successful football program and the other athletic teams had very few student fans attending the games. In 1930, Alexander approached Professor Fred Wenn about organizing and founding such a club, who agreed to take up

22785-672: Was freighted by van 1,400 miles (2,250 km) to Denver Coliseum . Along the way, a television crew documented the trip and broadcast the Wreck's expedition during the Final Four promotions. The last major road trips for the Ramblin' Wreck were to the 2004 Final Four in San Antonio , the 2006 ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville, Florida , and the 2009 ACC Championship Game in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium . The Wreck led

22940-413: Was involved in an accident while being towed to a wedding south of Atlanta in a covered car trailer. The trailer failed while carrying the Wreck, in turn causing the truck and trailer to run off the road and into the roadside ditch. The Wreck fell over inside the trailer, causing damage to its side and roof. Despite the severe body damage (in excess of $ 30,000), the Wreck was repaired for the first game of

23095-564: Was limited to two individuals per fraternity or military ROTC program. A group known as the T-Club was charged with upholding the RAT rules with incoming freshmen. Four years after Tech became coed, Reck Club became the first non- faith-based organization on campus to admit a female member. Paula Stevenson was the club's first female member in 1956. Under Reck Club, the strict RAT rules slowly faded away. Anti-hazing laws severely diminished Reck Club's ability to punish Tech freshmen for disobeying

23250-517: Was owned and operated by Tommy Klemis, an electrical engineering graduate of Georgia Tech. The restaurant housed pieces of Tech history, including aerial photographs of campus from various years, assorted Georgia Tech memorabilia, portraits of prominent individuals in Tech's history, and a section of the goalpost from Tech's 1990 National Championship game in the Citrus Bowl . Junior's Grill closed permanently in April 2011, citing slow business as

23405-487: Was recovered in the back of a blue Ford Explorer that was parked at the Copper Kettle on Howell Mill Road, also in response to an anonymous tip. Each student was required to pay $ 2,446.75 in damages ($  4,644 in 2024) although criminal charges were not filed. The Georgia Tech Office of Facilities reinstalled the 'T' on January 31, 1998, 87 days after its attempted theft. One of the most theatrical thefts of

23560-424: Was suspended through the following summer, while also having to pay a restitution fee and tuition to retake his nearly completed Spring 2014 classes. To handle this financial burden, the restitution fee alone totaling $ 14,823.98, a GoFundMe was created by a friend of the thief that was well known on campus, to assure its legitimacy, without revealing the thief's identity (the friend's name has since been removed from

23715-490: Was the first time since 1999 that it had been successfully stolen. The term Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech refers to either current students or alumni, the school mascot (also referred to as the Ramblin' Reck), or the various sports teams. Georgia Tech alumni, working on the construction of the Panama Canal , were called Ramblin' Wrecks for the ingenious machines that they devised to transport themselves in and out of

23870-488: Was to "light the spirit of Tech to the four points of the compass ." The signs were originally made of wood and painted white and gold – the Institute colors. In the 1930s, lightbulbs were affixed to the signs to illuminate them more effectively than the earlier ground-based spotlights. In 1949, the TECH signs were supplemented by neon lighting in metal frames. In 1978, Tech Tower and the surrounding 9 acres (3.6 ha) of

24025-405: Was widely assumed across the Tech campus that the prank was pulled off by a group of Georgia Tech students in an homage to the longstanding Tech Tower tradition; however, it is possible that the T in the banner came loose and fell to the stands below. Another copy cat incident occurred some time after the 2012 football game with Virginia Tech when vandals, believed to be Yellow Jacket fans, pried

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