Founders Day at Georgia Tech; Commemorating 100 Years!
On Saturday April 6th, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Men's Lacrosse Team closed out their regular season schedule on Saturday against the Georgia Bulldogs. The rivalry game took on even more meaning as the Jackets celebrated Founder's Day Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of modern lacrosse in the State of Georgia at Georgia Tech by Dr JB Crenshaw, a former distinguished member of the Georgia Tech Faculty.
Reverend Dr Laurence McCollough, the grandson of Dr Crenshaw, his wife, and seven members of his family attended as special guests along with Mr. Lou Corsetti of US Lacrosse
Dr. Crenshaw, a former varsity Lacrosse player at Johns Hopkins, had extensive Lacrosse contacts dating to his days starting in the goal for the 1893 Blue Jay's team when he founded Lacrosse at Georgia Tech in 1924. At the time, the sprort was going through a period of rapid expansion in the Eastern United States.
Dr. Crenshaw was intent on building a strong program. His experience at Johns Hopkins in the early days, his extensive lacrosse contacts, combined with his prior experience with Athletic Administration enabled him to begin to build a serious lacrosse program at Georgia Tech. The Jackets went on from a two game "startup" season in 1924 to a program that began to compete nationally until the Great Depression forced its ultimate cancelation in the early 1930s. Those early years were highlighted by a contest in Atlanta versus Syracuse in 1927, a Orangemen team that went on to win the National Championship. Dr. Crenshaw played an aggressive schedule in the early 1930s including Virginia, Johns Hopkins, (the defending national champions), Maryland, Penn, United States Naval Academy and the Mount Washington Lacrosse Club.
Like many lacrosse programs during the Great Depression, Georgia Tech was forced to cease playing in the mid-1930s. 35 to 40 years later modern lacrosse was restored in the State of Georgia at Georgia Tech as a club sport in 1971.
The setting for the game was perfect on a sun splashed Roe Stamps Field. Fans were lined up four deep on the sideline with additional spectators packing the stands and upper parking deck. The Pep Band and Ramblin' Wreck both made appearances adding to the game day atmosphere.
In front of the large and raucous crowd the game was intense and back and forth. Georgia Tech was dominant early racing out to a 7-2 lead midway through the second quarter. The Bulldogs would not relent however, and they scored the final two goals of the half to bring the score to 7-4 in favor of the Jackets.
At halftime Mr. Len Contardo representing Georgia Tech, presented Dr Laurence McCollough a commemorative plaque honoring his grandfather Dr Crenshaw for his service and his impact as both a lacrosse visionary one hundred years ago and a strong part of Georgia Tech history in many other areas.
In the third quarter the Georgia Bulldogs came out determined dominating play with long possessions. The Bulldogs scored six goals to the Jackets one to take a two-goal lead into the third quarter break. The Jackets, facing adversity, had to look inward to regain their composure.
The defense played connected lacrosse in the fourth quarter, turning away the Bulldog dodgers backed up by great goalie play. Midway through the fourth quarter the Jackets bench and their fans and erupted as Tech put on a three-goal run in 70 seconds that put the Jackets ahead by two with 7:20 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs responded with a goal of their own to cut the lead to one before Tech added another of their own to complete a 5 to 1 scoring advantage in the quarter to secure the hard fought win.
A momentous day of lacrosse, Dr Crenshaw would be proud of both teams and the enthusiastic fans!
