Schedule
Georgia Tech played a practice game against the Atlanta Athletic Club on October 10, 1899, which ended in a 0–0 tie (this game was originally scheduled for October 7 but had to be postponed due to inclement weather). Only fifteen minute halves were played. In fact, several of the Atlanta players were unable to get off from work to play and an outsider had to be asked to join in order for the team to field the eleven requisite players. Georgia Tech had also started plans for a game against a localGame summaries
The first game of the season for both schools was the fifth meeting in the rivalry, with Auburn winning all four previous games and averaging over 47 points per game. It was expected that the 1899 match would be close and Auburn had been a little uneasy in the lead-up to the game. However, once the game began, it was clear that Georgia Tech was entirely outclassed as Auburn scored twice in the first few minutes of the game and Auburn was able to rush through Tech's line like it "was nothing but a piece of tissue paper". Auburn scored 20 in the first half and 43 in the second in what was called the "Cyclonic Waterloo for the Techs" and "probably the worst defeat that any football team ever received" by one Alabama paper. The Atlanta papers were more kind, stating that Georgia Tech had played well and looked like "the best team the Techs have ever sent out". It was a clean match without any injuries, but the warm weather affected the play. With the 63 to 0 loss, Tech's high expectations for the season were severely humbled. Georgia Tech had already played a practice game against the Atlanta Athletic Club to a 0–0 tie on October 10. The teams had also played a match the previous season with the Atlantans winning 11–0. Admission to the game was twenty-five cents, which included a return ticket to the fair grounds at the park. The crowds were very rowdy and at times they rushed onto the field looking for fights. The game was called exciting, hard-fought, and scrappy, but no one that was played in the style of trained college players, equally poorly by both sides. Coach Nalley was also criticized for calling plays and adjustments to his team, which was considered unsportsmanlike. The ball remained in the Georgia Tech half almost the entire game with Atlanta having long runs of 25 and 30 yards. The Techs never threatened Atlanta's goal. However, Tech's defense prevented Atlanta from scoring a touchdown including one defensive stop at its 1-yard line. Sullivan, Tech's right halfback, performing outstanding tackling and defensive work. The only score of the game occurred on a first-half safety as Atlanta tackled Merritt in Tech's own endzone. The game was called after ten minutes into the second half due to darkness, with Atlanta winning by a score of 2 to 0. While in Atlanta to play (and ultimately defeat) Georgia, Sewanee made arrangements to play Georgia Tech as well and the game was scheduled two days after its Georgia match. The 1899 Sewanee team was one of the best teams of all time, finishing with a 12–0–0 record and shutting out all but one team. At one stretch of the season, Sewanee shutout five teams in six days. This was Georgia Tech's first time playing Sewanee. The teams played twenty-minute halves in weather "too warm for football". The game did not start off well for the Techs: in the first minute, Cunningham threw the snap over Merritt's head, and while he was able to recover it, his punt attempt was blocked and returned by Sewanee for a touchdown. Sewanee was the better team from the beginning of the game and was able to run around the right end effectively the entire game. Tech's captain, Wooley, did manage to block a Sewanee punt on their ten-yard line, but the team could not fall onto the ball in time. For their part, Sewanee made several long runs including those by Seibles of 35, 60, and 80 yards and Tech was unable to stop the running attack. The half ended with Sewanee leading 27 to 0. In the second half, Sewanee substituted four players but continued to hold its line. Tech Coach Nalley substituted Maddox for Merritt at fullback, who played very well. Sullivan and Pete Wooley, Tech's captain, also showed great skill and effort. Overall, Tech played much better in the second half. At one point, Tech got within ten yards of Sewanee's goal but were stopped. Sewanee could only manage one touchdown in the second half and one the game 32 to 0. Georgia entered the game 1–1–0 with a win against Clemson and a loss against Sewanee. This was the fourth chapter in their rival with Georgia holding a 1–2–0 record for their three previous matches. Two twenty-five minute halves were used. The game was played under oppressively warm weather, and both teams slowed in the second half. Georgia took the opening drive in for a touchdown, setting the tone for the game. It was able to used outside runs around the right end to move the ball at ease. By the end of the first half, Georgia was already leading 22 to 0. In the second half, Tech team played much better on defense, led by the play of its fullback, Maddox, and stopped Georgia on downs twice on the five yard line. Georgia was held without an offensive touchdown in the second half, but scored twice on blocked punts. Georgia Tech's best offensive player was its right halfback, Sullivan, but the team did not threaten to score. Georgia was victorious with a score of 0–33. Following the game, Georgia Tech PresidentPlayers
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References
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