OCTOBER 7

A lot of important things happened on this date in history but this one made my jaw drop.  In a college football game on this date in 1916, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland College 222-0.  It stands as the most lopsided game in American football history.

One of the interesting things about this game was the 'grudge' factor.  Cumberland had defeated Georgia Tech in baseball the previous season by a score of 22-0.  Georgia Tech's embarrassed baseball coach was John Heisman - he was also the football coach.  Yes, this is the same John Heisman after whom the trophy for best college football player of the year is named.  I suppose he was a better football coach than a human being.

You see, Cumberland had stopped their football program before the season started and didn't have a team. Georgia Tech threatened to sue them for breaking their agreement to play a scheduled game.  So, Cumberland drafted some guys off of the campus to play.  During the game, Tech only ran the ball - no passes.  Tech also had no first downs - they scored every time within three plays of getting the ball. You may have guessed, Cumberland never had a first down, either.

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