AFM Home | Back Issues | February 2002 | Words of Wisdom Words of Wisdom Bobby Dodd The address for the Georgia Tech football office is 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW. The mere fact that a school would honor a coach with a street name speaks volumes of the accumulated respect and reverence the institution has for the coach. But, naming a street on campus after Coach Dodd hardly begins to tell the story of the adoration this distinguished gentleman of southern football has from all associated with Rambling Wreck football. From 1945 through 1966, Dodd walked the sidelines in Atlanta with a calmness and grace that made him one of the south’s greatest coaching icons. His 165-64-8 record, 1952 national championship, and eight straight bowl game victories make him easily the best coach in Georgia Tech history. Yet, his unconventional practice methods (playing volleyball, non-contact drills, etc.) for the time made him an enigma to many. “You have to listen to your assistant coaches. They’re young and aggressive and always look for ways to improve.” “The key to my training was to let the boys off as much as possible.” “There is no point in rough scrimmages before a bowl game. Your top players learn nothing playing against the third team and you risk injury.” “A man who played regularly for me never had to come out for spring practice the following year. He didn’t need it.” “You have to brainwash your players.” “It’s tragic to see the situation football coaches get into when they start losing. They can be hated by the student body and finally browbeaten under the terrific pressure to do anything.” “Practice hard, but avoid the drudgery. Make the practice routine fun.” “I’d rather face the lions in the Coliseum than the Tigers in Baton Rouge.” “If you think you’re lucky, you are.”