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6B ♦ TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2006 The passless upset 30 years ago, Tech defeated Notre Dame without a pass (Editor’B note: The fol lowing is excerpted from the 2006 book “Stadium Stories: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets” by Adam Van Brimmer and published by The Globe Pequot Press.) By Adam Van Brimmer Morris News Service Notre Dame’s defenders danced and gyrated. They jumped on each other and whacked on one another’s helmets. It seemed as if they’d just won a national champion ship, not sacked Georgia Tech quarterback Gary Lanier on the second play of regular season game. Lanier got the sack cele bration’s message, though: If you’re going to drop back to pass against this defense, it’s going to be a long afternoon. The Fighting Irish came to Atlanta on Nov. 6, 1976 ranked No. 11 in the coun try. Defensive tackle Bob Golic, who would go on to a Pro Bowl NFL career, anchored one of the nation’s top defenses, and the Irish were heavy favorites against a Georgia Tech team with a 3-4-1 record and a true fresh man at quarterback. Lanier got to his feet slow ly after the sack. He wasn’t hurt. He just needed some time to figure out what hap pened. One second he was carrying out a play-action fake, the next Notre Dame’s Ross Browner was on his back, driving him to the turf. Then came the sack dance. As Browner celebrated, an audible groan escaped from the capacity crowd of 50,079 at Grant Field. Yellow Jacket Coach Pepper Rodgers sighed too and signaled for a time out. As Lanier came off the field, Rodgers turned to his offensive assistant coaches. “That’s the last time they strut on Grant Field,” Rodgers told them. “They’re Georgia sees benefits in playing l-AA schools By MARC WEISZER Morris News Service After Erik Losey and his teammates were knocked around in a lopsided loss at Auburn last season, the senior center approached Western Kentucky ath letic director Wood Selig to express his gratitude. “He was absolutely drained. He had spent every ounce of energy on that field giving up 75 pounds per player across from him and he said, ‘I want to thank you,’ “ Selig said. “I’m looking at him and I’m like, ‘Look at you, and you want to thank me?’“ Selig has given Western Kentucky players chances to play on big stages the past six years: Two games at Kansas State, two at Auburn, a game at Wisconsin and now Saturday’s trip to Sanford Stadium to play Georgia. The Bulldogs will provide a similar platform for other I-AA programs the next three seasons. Next year, it’s Western Carolina. In 2008, Georgia Southern comes to town. Appalachian State visits in 2009. It’s a no-lose situation for Western Kentucky, which earns a $400,000 “guaran tee”, and nearly a no-win situation for Georgia. “We were talking about it in the meeting room, if we beat Western Kentucky by 100, they’re going to be like, ‘Well, that’s what you’re supposed to do’“ receiver Mikey Henderson said. “And if we beat them by a close game, like* 28-14, people will be like, ‘They’re sorry.’ It’s one of those games it seems like lose-lose, but we can learn a lot from play ing them.” Georgia projects making $1.6 million from the Western Kentucky game. Playing I-AA games makes sense for Georgia because it sets up another home game without a return trip. going to have to squat and stop the option from now on. I’m not calling another pass play.” Lanier made it to the side line in time to hear the end of the conversation. “Coach, I don’t have a problem with that. That’s fine with me,” he told Rodgers. Thirty years later, coach and quarterback still recall the conversation the same way. Lanier’s had his share of practice in telling the story: He’s asked about the Notre Dame game dozens of times a year. At football and basketball games. At Georgia Tech club meet ings. On the street. The game made him a pseu do-celebrity and gave him an athlete’s most coveted gift: a claim to fame. Gary Lanier is the quarterback who beat Notre Dame without throw ing a pass. “It’s ironic that you can be remembered for some thing like that,” Lanier said. “You’d think the quarterback would be the last player to be remembered for a game like that.” Lanier’s a part of Georgia Tech lore instead. He became a forgotten player later in his career, losing the starting job his junior season when the Jackets switched from the triple-option offense to an I-formation set. But Tech followers will always recall the day he ran and pitched the Yellow Jackets to a 23-14 upset of the Fighting Irish. Lanier lacked passing prowess. He had the arm and height of a second baseman, not exactly a good combi nation for a major college quarterback. He stood 5-foot -9 - with his cleats on -- and his time in the 40-yard dash never caused a timekeeper to do a double-take. He was so inept as a passer he worked with the flankers, not the quarterbacks, during indi- “More and more schools are wanting home games + the non BCS conferences -j- so it’s becoming a chal lenge,” Georgia associate athletic director Arthur Johnson said. “They want you to return the games.” On the flip side, Georgia ath letic director Damon Evans has upgraded future sched ules with matchups against Colorado, Arizona State, Louisville and Clemson, and the school is close to adding Oregon State for a series, starting next season. Georgia Tech annually is one of the four nonconfer ence games on Georgia’s schedule. “We’re going to get one that has a little bit of a national flavor, and the other three we’ll play good football teams,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “I don’t really distinguish them as I-AA or whatever. Whoever we line up to play, I’m fired up. Let’s go.” The NCAA’s permanent adoption of a 12-game sched ule also means that more I-A teams are looking to schedule I-AA schools. Arizona State, Virginia Tech, Colorado, Maryland, N.C. State and Texas A&M will play I-AA teams this weekend. So is lowa of the Big Ten, which paid Montana SUGARLOAF A Lovely Sidewalk Community In Perry These Homes are quality built all brick homes We have 3 & 4 bedroom homes starting at 131,900 Homes have features such as custom cabinets, fireplace, sod, sprinkler system. Builder is giving a $5,000 bonus if you contract on one of our last 2 completed homes and close within 30 days We have a new loan program available to use that is a 100% loan with no PMI. Information Center open daily Mon, Thur, Fri 12-6 weekdays, Sat 11-5 Sun 1-5. Stop by and visit with Karen or give her a call at 954-HOME (4663) Located on the Perry Parkway right across from the new Court House. Coming Soon Another CARTER-WILKES S/D REMINGTON CHASE CONSTRUCTION, INC. pairclothßealtv ■ & 14781971-2115 331 Margie Irtn, Warner Robins, GA. 31088 Disclaimer: Bonuses based on certain completed homes only Loan program based upon credit and may not apply to all purchasers i * if! jj| V|p| 1 3 # J m a. pna Morris News Service Gary Lanier, pictured, once led Georgia Tech in an upset over Notre Dame. vidual drills at Georgia Tech practices. Rodgers and Lanier often joked about the quarter back’s skills. Lanier would come in the day after a game and tell Rodgers, “Coach, I’ve been watching TY and a forward pass there is when you throw it down the field.” Rodgers always had the same response: “No, a forward pass for you Lanier is a pitch backwards. That’s your best pass.” Lanier arrived at Georgia Tech in August of 1976 figur ing the only passes - forward or backward -- he’d throw that fall would be in practice. His goal? Make the travel squad. Maybe earn a letter. He ended up doing much $650,000 to play, The New York Times reported. “Usually the size of the check is inversely propor tional to the perceived chances of winning by those who offered the checks,” Selig said. Western Kentucky also received a $400,000 pay check from Auburn, which won 37-14. “I have to compliment Damon Evans for his nego tiating skills,” Selig said. “We were talking and he said, ‘How much did you get from Auburn last year?’ I said $400,000.’ • He told me, ‘Well, we can’t pay you a penny more.’ I said ‘Damon, the cost, the travel, the infla tion that’s hit between last year and this year, certainly it’s worth another SIO,OOO or $25,000. He said we can’t pay a penny more. We’ll get eaten alive if we’re paying more than Auburn’s paying.” That money isn’t chump change at a school whose football program has a $2.3 million operating budget, nearly four times less than Georgia’s SB.B million bud get. South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Kentucky also are playing I-AA teams this season. SPORTS more. By the fourth game of the 1976 season, Georgia Tech had lost two quarterbacks to injury. Mike Jolly was the starter, Lanier his back up. The Yellow Jackets played host to Virginia on Oct. 2, 1976. They were winless, but Jolly had led them to a tie with Clemson the week before. He carried that momentum over against the Cavaliers, stak ing the Jackets to an early lead. Early in the second quarter, though, a defender rolled up on Jolly’s ankle. The injury would end not just his sea son but his career. As Jolly was helped from the field, Rodgers looked at Lanier and took a deep breath. To most fans, matchups with I-AA schools draw a collective yawn, and even players prefer matchups with the name schools. “To me, I kind of want to play somebody. like a USC or Colorado or somebody like that at first or close to the beginning of the sea son,” Georgia running back Danny Ware said. “I think that’s a big challenge, just trying to prove how good is the SEC. “Whatever they put on the schedule is who we’ve got to prepare for.” This week it’s Western Kentucky, a team that won the I-AA champi onship in 2002 but is bet ter known at Georgia as the school where basketball coach Dennis Felton previ ously coached. “Playing people like this could be like a warmup, obviously, since it’s the first game of the season and you can see where you’re at,” Henderson said. “I guess it’s a good privilege to have, but you always want to play the best schools and see how we stack up.” <^B lpfe) 9Mw' Please contact the City of Warner Robins, Department of Community Development to see if you qualify for a U.S. Department of HUD funded low (0% to 3%) interest rate loan (Certain income restrictions apply-Maximum income ranges from $32,950f0r a single person to $62,150f0r a family of 8) Apply at Warner Robins City Hall. 100 Watson Blvd. upstairs in the Department of Community Development or call 929-1140 for more details. J 35349 00036365 “It was like he was say ing to himself, Either put in Lanier or fold,” Lanier said. “So he put me in. I didn’t have a whole lot of time to think about it or I probably would have gotten really ner vous.” Lanier made good on the battlefield promotion. Virginia’s defense keyed on the quarterback, which left backs Eddie Lee Ivery and David Sims with open run ning lanes. Lanier pitched it them again and again. Georgia Tech beat Virginia, 35-14, and Lanier came away confident. Despite the early success, no one expected Lanier and the Yellow Jackets to keep the score close against Notre Dame, let alone beat the Irish. Those in Georgia Tech’s locker room believed, though. Notre Dame hadn’t faced an option team all year, and preparing for the unique offense is hard to do in a week of practice, par ticularly late in the season when players are tired and injured. Plus, the Irish came into the game confident. Too confident. And their arrogance grew in the first half. First came the sack of Lanier. Then they took a 14-3 lead with just under two minutes left before halftime. Rodgers and Lanier saw cracks in the Irish defense by the middle of the second quarter. Notre Dame was playing the option well but had become overzealous in outside pursuit. Rodgers began to exploit the weakness following Notre Dame’s second score, calling a cross-buck play. Lanier would fake the hand off on the fullback dive like usual, but instead of rolling down the line on the option, he’d quickly hand the ball to Sims or Ivery coming back the opposite direction. The misdirection con FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, Leverett Road at Houston Lake ’ 971-4112 1 www.pelplanlalioiihonie.ccni j “Nested in the Heart of Cordele - Where Residents are living each day to the Fullest’ , HOME REPAIR LOAN _ City of Warner Robins DOES YOUR HOME NEED REPAIRS? Do you own your home? Do you have equity in your home? Is your home within the limits of the City of Warner Robins? PET PLANTATION, Assisted Living Corfeßa Manor 229-273-1173 Ann Clark. Executive Director JH| :i , Sr Vi c offer many Assisted & Independent Living options! 1307 Blackshear Rd. Cordele, GA 31015 INDEPENDENT LIVING THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL fused the Irish defense, and Georgia Tech scored just before halftime to pull with in 14-10. Rodgers’ halftime speech was short and sim ple. “See these guys aren’t any better than you guys,” he told his team. Georgia Tech’s efficiency continued to fluster the Irish in the second half. Rodgers continued to mix the cross buck into his play-calling in the second half. Sims scored on a 10-yard run to give the Jackets a 16-14 lead with 2 minutes, 59 seconds left in the third quarter. Sims extended Georgia Tech’s lead to nine points midway through the fourth quarter. He scored on a 16- yard run to make the score 23-14. Notre Dame’s backup quarterback threw an inter ception on the ensuing pos session, and Lanier ran out the clock from there. The upset stunned the crowd. Lanier spent the rest of the day celebrating with his family and high school coach, all of whom had come up from Savannah for the game. He went to bed early, though, anxious to get up Sunday morning and read the newspaper headlines. Rodgers told reporters something that made Lanier laugh instead. “Of all the quarterbacks who have beaten Notre Dame, Lanier was the worst,” the coach said. “That was such a great line,” Lanier said. “Pepper was so good to me. He gave me an opportu nity when nobody else would. I was fortunate to be sur rounded by a lot of great players that day, and I think that was the point he was really trying to make.” #1 Noon Buffet SCfflJgSf |.TSC«Km*ttM» Tf wt WMk < ■ 8WB&3 1 > g.v. 00036906 f