Reggie Ball's Number Retired

I guess I should feel sorry for Reggie Ball.

Georgia Tech fans say they’ll be glad to see him graduate. The problem is -- he is their starting quarterback.

OK, Ball didn’t play particularly well in Saturday’s 15-12 loss to the Bulldogs. He lost a fumble that was turned into a wacky touchdown. He threw an interception late in the game. His numbers were awful.

But he wasn’t the only reason Tech lost the game and dropped the sixth straight in the storied rivalry. As I recall, there were lots of other miscues by the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia fans, however, derive a certain amount of glee from Ball’s shortcomings against the Bulldogs in his four years as a starter. He intentionally threw a pass out of bounds on fourth down in the waning moments two years ago while Tech was trying to rally. He threw an interception at the goal line last year while the Jackets were moving in to tie the game late.

Only four jerseys have been retired in the history of Georgia football -- Frank Sinkwich (21), Charley Trippi (62 ), Macon native Theron Sapp (40) and Herschel Walker (34).

A Georgia fan sent me the above photograph.

You’ll probably get a chuckle out of it -- unless you’re a Tech fan.
Photo courtesy of UGA Athletic Association