On this day in history, October 7, 1916, Georgia Tech football beats Cumberland 222-0, the most lopsided game in college football history.
The rout can be traced back to a 22-0 loss the Georgia Tech baseball team, also coached by John Heisman, suffered in the spring of 1915. Heisman suspected that Cumberland had stacked its team with professional ringers, the NCAA reported in its 100th anniversary retrospective of the game in 2016.
Cumberland College had committed to playing Tech but the school suspended its football program before the start of the season.
The almighty dollar proved the deciding factor in making the mismatch happen. Cumberland reportedly would owe Tech $3,000 if the game was not played. Heisman insisted Cumberland come to Atlanta and play the game.
So hungry was Heisman for payback that he reportedly personally chipped in $500 to help Cumberland cover travel expenses, the equivalent of about $13,500 today.
The rout can be traced back to a 22-0 loss the Georgia Tech baseball team, also coached by John Heisman, suffered in the spring of 1915. Heisman suspected that Cumberland had stacked its team with professional ringers, the NCAA reported in its 100th anniversary retrospective of the game in 2016.
Cumberland College had committed to playing Tech but the school suspended its football program before the start of the season.
The almighty dollar proved the deciding factor in making the mismatch happen. Cumberland reportedly would owe Tech $3,000 if the game was not played. Heisman insisted Cumberland come to Atlanta and play the game.
So hungry was Heisman for payback that he reportedly personally chipped in $500 to help Cumberland cover travel expenses, the equivalent of about $13,500 today.
