In an infamous game on October 7, 1916, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland College 222-0 in what is considered the most lopsided college football game in history. The match was orchestrated by legendary coach John Heisman, who sought revenge after a previous loss suffered by the Georgia Tech baseball team. Cumberland College, located in Lebanon, Tennessee, was reportedly forced to assemble a team of student volunteers to fulfill a contractual commitment, with the threat of owing $3,000 to Georgia Tech if the game was not played.
Heisman, eager for payback, personally contributed $500 to help cover Cumberland’s travel expenses so the game could take place. Despite being outmatched, “thirteen noble fraternity brothers” took the field for Cumberland to prevent the school from bankruptcy. The game began with Georgia Tech scoring 63 points in the first quarter and 126 points by halftime. The match further included a bizarre play in which the Georgia Tech kicker recovered his own kickoff and scored a touchdown, leading to a final score of 222-0.
The game, which ended with Georgia Tech producing 501 total yards on just 29 offensive plays while Cumberland finished with -28 total yards, is considered one of the oddest in college football history. Despite the overwhelming victory, some argue that the attention generated by the game helped transform Southern schools into college football powerhouses. Georgia Tech was eventually crowned national champion, a significant achievement for a Southern team at the time, while Heisman’s legacy lives on through the prestigious Heisman Trophy awarded to the top player in college football each year.
The humiliating defeat suffered by Cumberland College at the hands of Georgia Tech in 1916 marked a turning point in college football history. The game, orchestrated by legendary coach John Heisman, not only shattered records with a score of 222-0 but also led to long-term benefits for college football in the South. The attention drawn to the game helped elevate Southern schools to the powerhouse status they currently hold in college football, with the Southeastern Conference dominating the sport today.
Despite the one-sided nature of the game, the outcome of the Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland College match on October 7, 1916, has had a lasting impact on the sport of college football. The game, which saw Georgia Tech score 32 touchdowns and Cumberland committing 15 turnovers, including nine fumbles and six interceptions, is remembered as one of the most bizarre in college football history. The overwhelming victory by Georgia Tech not only solidified the team’s status as national champions but also cemented John Heisman’s legacy in the sport, leading to the creation of the prestigious Heisman Trophy awarded to the best player in college football each year.
