GeorgiaTech

me, that Governor’s Cup trophy, to hold that one year, was going to be humongous because you’re the state champion.”

Talk of bragging rights, “the Cesspool of the South” ( a favored Tech term for Georgia) and “the Joke byCoke” ( howBulldogs refer toBobbyDoddStadium) havehad to be tempered this year, as the Tech- Georgia rivalry was put on a one- year hiatus because of the SEC’s decision to play a conference- only schedule.

This year’s game would have been played Saturday at Sanford Stadium, with the YellowJackets trying to break Georgia’s threegame win streak in the series, including last year’s 52- 7 triumph.

Hamilton yearns for the series to regain its sizzle from his era. From1998- 2001, both teamswere rankedin theTop25 going intothe game, the only four- year stretch when that has occurred.

Hamilton holds the rivalry dear, its importance having been instilled in him by coach George O’Leary. Coaches often fall back on truisms such as taking games oneat a time or valuing eachgame the same. Hamilton said O’Leary didn’t approach it that way.

O’Leary didn’twant to see the color red used within the football facilities, not only for Georgia week, Hamilton said, but throughout the season.

“Everythingwewere doingwas to prepare the team full steam ahead going into the Georgia game,” said Hamilton, who can be heard daily from 9- 11 a. m. on The Fan with Brandon Leak.

Such focus helped the Jackets beat the Bulldogs in three suc

cessive seasons ( 1998- 2000), the first ( and only) time since coach Bobby Dodd’s retirement after the 1966 season.

In his final Tech- Georgia game, Hamilton accumulated 435 yards of offense with four touchdown passes in the last of his 30 wins as a starting quarterback for the Jackets. He still has the miniature replica of the Governor’s Cup trophy that is awarded to the winning team, kept at his mother’s house.

“I’ve been telling her that I’ve been setting up a room so I can get it back,” he said.

Having come to Tech from South Carolina, Hamilton believes he sees the rivalry differently than his in- state teammates did. Where players on both sides grew up dreaming of playing for Tech or Georgia — and of beating their rival — Hamilton did not live it thatway. He quickly understood the passion of it, but he said he reserves his hatred for Georgia only for the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

“I understand the rivalry, but, anytime I see a red truck or a Bulldogs license plate, I don’t want to run them off the road,” he said.

AJC FILE Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton played memorable roles for the Jackets in all three games he played against Georgia, particularly in the 1999win, 51- 48over theBulldogs inovertime.