Eddie McAshan

coit

coit

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Em Diggity mentioned him in his Orange Bowl previous video and I must admit that I was not aware of this man's story. Seems that in Atlanta, a guy like this would merit a little more attention.

Here's a story from 1990 and our march to the national championship about him.

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19901230&slug=1111983

During those tense years when Southern college football was still largely segregated, mistakes - even misunderstandings - weren't tolerated. When it came to crossing the color barrier, you could step over the line, but not out of line.

``One of the first things you learned at Georgia Tech is that `Ma Tech' is unforgiving,'' said Karl Barnes, a teammate during the 1971-72 seasons. ``Ma Tech would knock you down, and the strong would get back up and keep going.''

McAshan and Ma Tech kept going, but in opposite directions, an estrangement that has lasted nearly two decades.

Now, in hope of healing the wound, Barnes and four other black Georgia Tech alumni have started a scholarship fund in McAshan's name.

Ostensibly, the scholarship recognizes McAshan's perseverance in obtaining his college degree in 1979, seven years after leaving the football program. In reality, it provides common ground on which McAshan and Georgia Tech can reunite. McAshan's reputation is restored; Georgia Tech's integrity is preserved.

``The net result is to get Eddie and Georgia Tech back together. That's the intent,'' Barnes said. ``This is to lay to rest the whole issue of Eddie McAshan and Georgia Tech.''
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Here's a really good 2010 article that Coley Harvey wrote:

http://www.macon.com/2010/11/25/1353052_mcashans-spot-in-history-secure.html?rh=1


At Gainesville High School, where he was among the first group of black students to enroll, McAshan built a reputation for being one of Florida’s best young quarterbacks.

“He had good speed, a great throwing arm, and he was a great leader,” Jack Thompson, Georgia Tech’s recruiting director in 1968, said earlier this fall.

Thompson was charged that season with coordinating recruiting visits and spending, in some cases, several days at a time with potential recruits. That, of course, was long before the NCAA began clamping down on recruiting and occurrences that would be deemed today as violations.

“We spent a lot of time in Gainesville. We had somebody in Gainesville almost constantly,” Thompson said. “I was there probably four or five times, and you had other coaches that were there as often or more.”

Thompson now serves as associate director of athletics in charge of development at Georgia Tech. Specifically, he coordinates the Alexander-Tharpe Fund.

When it came to race, and knowing that McAshan would be the Yellow Jackets’ first black player, Georgia Tech coaches did not worry.

According to Thompson, they were more concerned about his ability to launch a perfect spiral instead of his skin color and any fallout fans and players might have about his addition to the team.

“We looked at Eddie as a quarterback,” Thompson said. “Rather than just a black quarterback, he was very talented and a bright young man. That was what went into play when recruiting him.”
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And the uni pics I posted in that thread.

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GTgrad86 said:
Is that Coach Bill Fulcher ?
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I believe so, or, maybe not.... The article mentions that he suspended Eddie because he sat out of a practice because the school wouldn't grant him a couple of extra tickets for the UGA game his Sr year or something like that.


I added another article from 2010 in the OP. A really nice one written by Coley Harvey.
 
I was in school when McAshan was recruited and arrived. As much hype as Vad had in recent years.
 
GTgrad86 said:
Is that Coach Bill Fulcher ?
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Definitely is Coach Bud Carson (as well as the correct shade of gold for the throwback gold jerseys).

Unfortunately, it was a prickly period for both Eddie McAshan in the early transitional period for Southern teams and Coach Carson succeeding Coach Dodd and his last season going to Orange Bowl.
 
SoCal Jacket said:
Unfortunately, it was a prickly period for both Eddie McAshan in the early transitional period for Southern teams and Coach Carson succeeding Coach Dodd and his last season going to Orange Bowl.
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My first year was '67 the same as for Carson. It was a tough time following Dodd. Jerry Glanville was on that staff, and did the Wednesday (?) "lunch and learn" av discussions with students. Very informative.
 
McAshan could make some great plays and then some head scratchers. I think it was Rice where he threw six interceptions.
 
coit said:
Em Diggity mentioned him in his Orange Bowl previous video and I must admit that I was not aware of this man's story. Seems that in Atlanta, a guy like this would merit a little more attention.
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Our school sits on more tradition second only to TAMU, yet we don't use it to build a brand. It's pathetic.
 
olgoldandwhite said:
McAshan could make some great plays and then some head scratchers. I think it was Rice where he threw six interceptions.
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Don't know about 6 int's but he definitely rallied us for the tie.

I posted this years ago, but I was Eddie's mother's escort at senior day that year. I was a freshman manager and she showed up without an escort so I hoofed it back to the dorm and put on my coat and tie and sat with her on the sidelines that day.

Eddie was really quiet guy. Hardly ever heard him say much at practice. Pee Wee Barnes was a walkon and ton of fun. Only other blacks on the team I remember were TB Greg Horne, LB Joe Harris and TB Cleo something. Cleo was the most outgoing, followed by Greg. Joe was also pretty quiet.

Pepper opened the floodgates to black players at Tech. Reggie White, Lucious Sanford, David Sims, Adrian Rucker. Wish I could remember them all.
 
JacketFan77 said:
Wow. This is great. Thanks, old timer.
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McAshan was a douche bag. I was there when he was there. He cried racism when he couldn't get EXTRA tickets and basically forfeited the Georgia game for us. Then with our back-up we went to the Liberty Bowl and upset Iowa State. Eff him, and his handlers.
 
Yukonwreck said:
McAshan was a douche bag. I was there when he was there. He cried racism when he couldn't get EXTRA tickets and basically forfeited the Georgia game for us. Then with our back-up we went to the Liberty Bowl and upset Iowa State. Eff him, and his handlers.
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I tend to try to be a little more empathetic of people that had to go through what he must've endured. Given how racist some folks are today, I can only imagine how bad it was then.
 
Yukonwreck said:
McAshan was a douche bag. I was there when he was there. He cried racism when he couldn't get EXTRA tickets and basically forfeited the Georgia game for us. Then with our back-up we went to the Liberty Bowl and upset Iowa State. Eff him, and his handlers.
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You really are one miserable SOB, aren't you :squint:
 
ramblinwise1 said:
Don't know about 6 int's but he definitely rallied us for the tie.

I posted this years ago, but I was Eddie's mother's escort at senior day that year. I was a freshman manager and she showed up without an escort so I hoofed it back to the dorm and put on my coat and tie and sat with her on the sidelines that day.

Eddie was really quiet guy. Hardly ever heard him say much at practice. Pee Wee Barnes was a walkon and ton of fun. Only other blacks on the team I remember were TB Greg Horne, LB Joe Harris and TB Cleo something. Cleo was the most outgoing, followed by Greg. Joe was also pretty quiet.

Pepper opened the floodgates to black players at Tech. Reggie White, Lucious Sanford, David Sims, Adrian Rucker. Wish I could remember them all.
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That Rice game was wild. Yeah, Eddie threw 6 picks but he also threw 6 TDs.

Cleo was Cleo Johnson. Quick - fast feet. He actually made it with the Cowboys for a while.
 
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