On Sept. 15, 2012, just before the Yellow Jackets took the field against Virginia, the team’s winningest coach was granted an honor long overdue. A statue of Bobby Dodd now sits on Callaway Plaza, near both the stadium and road that bear his name.
The statue was funded by Dodd’s Boys, a nonprofit group formed by former football players under Dodd.
Dodd was assistant coach under William Alexander from 1931 to 1944, and he was named head coach in 1945, a position he held until 1966. Dodd took on the position of athletics director in 1950 after the death of Alexander and held that position until 1976.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Archives.
Dodd is revered for winning eight straight times against Georgia from 1946 to 1954—the longest winning streak in the rivalry for either team.
Dodd guided the team to a 31-game unbeaten streak from 1951-53, including a perfect 12-0 season in 1952 and the Yellow Jackets’ third national championship. As head coach, he led Tech to 13 bowl appearances, winning nine.
Now Dodd’s legacy lives on, not only in the hearts of all Tech fans and the memories of the Dodd Boys, but in a statue that stands as a reminder of Tech’s football heritage.
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In Dodd We Trust!!
A well deserved honor. Nice to see that players never forget the impact their mentor had on them.