I am trying to find the obscure NCAA Records that you likely are not aware of and then couple it with the school that set the record really not celebrating it. You may know about this record, but you likely don’t. If you do know about this record, awesome, but keep it quiet so you don’t spoil it for anyone else.

Time to set the scene for this one. One of the most hated rivalries in all of College Football. This rivalry runs deep so deep and these two teams really hate each other, so much they named it Clean Old Fashioned Hate! A rivalry game that is played at the end of the year even though both teams are in different conferences now and pretty much stands the test of time. This game took place on December 1st, 1951 in Grant Field. Here’s your ticket to the game.

We know these two just had an epic EIGHT OVERTIME battle this year, with Georgia getting the win. Sorry Georgia Tech fans, however I have got some news to make you feel better with this seemingly forgotten record.

You may have remembered I wrote about the game with the Most Turnovers Combined, and Most Fumbles lost previously. (I linked it below for you)

There was one record that game couldn’t match, and it happened in this edition of Clean Old Fashioned Hate. You remember the Shockers fumbled 17 times, lost 10, threw 2 interceptions and had a total amount of turnovers of 12. In this game, one team beat the total of 12 turnovers by one and it wasn’t Georgia Tech.

In 1951, Georgia Tech had a record of 9-0-1 heading into this game. Georgia was 5-4 heading into the Clean Old Fashioned Hate game. The Bulldogs were coached by Wally Butts, and I only mention that because his last name was Butts.

Now, neither team’s Wikipedia lists this game as a NCAA Record. No mention of a record setting performance. There was a mention of an SEC record for interceptions, but that was it.

How do you get to 13 turnovers in a game?

Let’s see how Georgia did it.

The Bulldogs took the opening kick, but lost possession on the first play from scrimmage when Pete Ferris recovered Lauren Hargrove’s fumble at the UGA 24-yard line. If you’re going to set a record for turnovers, you likely need to turn it over right away.

Georgia’s George Morris gave the Jackets another chance at a score when he intercepted Zeke Bratkowski’s pass at the Bulldog 13-yard line on their 3rd offensive possession. The Jackets missed a field goal, but Georgia was in a giving mood. A few plays later, Bratkowski lost a fumble to Ray Beck at Georgia’s 17 and the Jackets were threatening again. So on Georgia’s first four possessions, they turned it over three times.

Georgia Tech rolled out to a 34-0 halftime lead. The game was completely out of hand at that point, and the newspapers seemingly stopped paying attention to all the turnovers at that point. We weren’t there back then, but hey, we’re covering it now.

It was like they were minimizing the turnovers at this point! What is with this softening of all of Georgia’s turnovers??? “It shouldn’t have been an interception, they were jumpy, they fumbled often”. Was the Chattanooga Daily Times writer a secret Georgia fan??? Why am I calling out bias in a newspaper article from 1951???

The final box score was pretty insane besides the 48-6 victory for the Wramblin’ Wreck. Georgia attempted to pass the ball 35 times, completed 17 and threw EIGHT interceptions. This went along with Georgia’s FIVE fumbles on the day. Georgia punted the ball seven times. It’s typically not a good day when you have more turnovers than punts.

Georgia’s QB Zeke Bratkowski set four SEC records in this game.

• Most pass attempts of 248 in a season (long been eclipsed)

• Highest average pass yardage per game of 157.8 yards (long been eclipsed)

• Most interceptions in a single game (barely broken in 1969 when John Reaves of Florida threw NINE interceptions against Auburn on November 1, 1969. On 66 attempts compared to only 35 attempts though…)

• Most interceptions thrown in a single season (STILL STANDS, TIED WITH Kurt Page of 1983 Vanderbilt)

Look at Zeke Bratkowski’s Stats on the year here. 46.8% passing, 29 INTs and only 6 TDs.Why was Wally Butts allowing him to throw so much??? (had to mention Butts again)

I will say only three of the top ten passers had more touchdowns than interceptions, though. I’ve got to find a book on the early days of trying to pass the ball because this is hilarious. Bratkowski threw an interception 11.69% of the time he passed (nice). Basically a little more than every one out of ten times he dropped back to pass and the coach was fine with it???

Georgia finished the year 5-5 and set an NCAA record that still stands with 13 Turnovers in a Single Game. Georgia Tech finished 10-0-1 after an Orange Bowl win over #9 Baylor. They were named a National Champion in 1951, but they don’t claim it. Was a 14-14 tie to Duke that bad? True, Duke was 5-4-1, but you have two selectors who picked you.

Also, Tennessee lost to Maryland in their Bowl Game and guess what, Maryland claims the National Title too! Illinois tied 4-3-2 Ohio State and that doesn’t stop them from claiming a National Title. Hell, Michigan State was an Independent and didn’t even play in a Bowl Game, and they claim one. You should claim it even though you won the National Championship in 1952. Make it back to back titles and add it to the banners in the stadium with a note about this NCAA record you forced Georgia to set.

So Georgia Tech fans, when a Georgia fan is trash talking you nowadays, guess what you get to add to your trash talk back now? We made you set an NCAA Record for Most Turnovers in a Single Game.