Gator Bowl

1956

Georgia Tech 21

Pitt 14

Georgia Tech Fight Song

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 29 (AP) Georgia Tech's alert Yellow Jackets outlasted Pittsburgh's powerful, determined Panthers 21-14 in a bruising Gator Bowl football game today, giving Coach Bobby Dodd his eighth bowl victory without a loss.

The triumph was Tech's second over Coach Johnny Michelosen's Panthers this year. Tech defeated Pitt 7-0 in New Orleans' Sugar Bowl last New Year's.

The game had been billed as a defensive struggle, and there were moments of terrific goal line guarding. But the ever-threatening attacks of both teams kept the record crowd of 37,683 fans on the edge of their seats throughout.

Tech seemed about to turn the game into a rout, jumping out to a 14-0 lead with only two minutes left in the half. But Pitt scored 16 seconds before intermission on a 42 yard pass from Corny Salvaterra to halfback Dick Bowen, and kept the pressure on the rest of the way.

Halfback Paul Rotenberry intercepted a Salvaterra pass to launch Tech's first scoring drive and get the third and winning marker on a five yard slant inside right end.

Salvaterra, a constant danger with both his running and passing; Ralph Jelic, a pile-driving fullback; and All-America end Joe Walton, a defensive stalwart and feared receiver, were among the outstanding Pitt performers.

Rotenberry, fullback Ken Owen and tackle Carl Vereen were among Tech's stars, along with Wade Mitchell, who turned in a terrific game on defense and won the game's Most Valuable Player award.

Salvaterra was honored in a poll of sports writers as Pitt's top performer.

Pitt wanted this game, wanted it badly, to even the Sugar Bowl score. But Tech's defense-which was the nation's best in points yielded-rose up often enough to thwart a Pitt, tie or victory.

After Tech's first touchdown, scored by Owen on a two-yard slant behind Vereen, Pitt uncorked a 70 yard march which Tech stopped one yard short of the end zone. Jelic's piston-legged power running, frequently from the draw play, and Salvaterra's deceptive "keeper" plays accounted for most of the yardage, with an assist from a pass interference call against Tech. But on fourth down with yards to go, Salvaterra ran into an unyielding wall formed by Owen, Mitchell, Vereen and

Jimmy Johnson.

Stan Flowers, most powerful back on Tech's 'squad, starred in the second scoring march. Taking a pitchout and sweeping right end, big Stan barreled 34 yards before finally being stopped, once wrestling loose from about four tacklers and going for about 15 more yards before being halted.

Flowers' run, the big gamer in the 70 yard march, carried to Pitt's 35, and he and Dick Mattison slammed out most of the remaining yardage on short smashes. Halfback George Volkert threw a six yard running pass which end Jerry Nabors snatched away from Salvaterra for the score.

That's when Pitt caught fire offensively. Jelic sped 30 yards on the draw play and after two a pass efforts failed Salvaterra found Bowen with the 42 yard payoff pitch, which he caught falling into the end zone.

Mitchell protested vigorously, but in vain, that he was unable to cover the receiver because back judge Sam Bartholomew was in the way. But the score stood and, since Pitt's conversion specialist were ineligible to return to action, Salvaterra hit Walton with a pass for the extra point.

Tech's third touchdown came after Bowen fumbled the second half kickoff and end Wesley Gibbs recovered for Tech at the Pitt 37. A 13 yard pass from Mitchell to Rotenberry and a 26 yarder from Mitchell to Nabors were the big gainers, with Mitchell being thrown for losses in between by the hard hitting Pitt line. Rotenberry went the final five off an unbalanced line to the right.

The Panthers , undismayed, came slashing back 70 yards and became the first team to score twice on Tech this year. Jim Theodore started it with a 19 yard sprint to Tech's 49 and Salvaterra hit Walton with a 22 yard heave. Jelic and Salvaterra kept pounding out short yardage until Salvaterra slid over right guard the final two yards.

Pitt was passing desperately in the closing minutes and Mitchell stole one from Walton at Tech's 14. But Tech couldn't run out the clock, and had to weather another brief passing flurry before the final gun sounded.

Tech now has gone to bowls-and won them all-after the last six seasons, a record which probably will stand for all time.

The game was telecast and broadcast nationally by CBS. Stiff winds whip-sawed across the field and fans shivered in the low 60 temperatures.

Georgia Tech's Wade Mitchell prepares to handoff behind his offensive line.

Dick Bowen scores Pitt's first touchdown on a 42 yard pass from Salvaterra.

Attendance- 37,683

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

GT- Owen 2 run (Mitchell kick)

Second Quarter

GT- Nabors 6 yard pass from Volkert (Mitchell kick)

Pitt- Bowen 42 yard pass from Salvaterra (Walton pass from Salvaterra)

Third Quarter

GT- Rotenberry 5 run (Mitchell kick)

Pitt- Salvaterra 2 run (Ragamery kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing

GT- Flowers 4-63, Mattison 11-43

P- Jeric 10-66, Passodelis 10-38

Passing

GT- Mitchell 2-2-39, Volkert 1-1-6

P- Salvaterra 3-10-67

Receiving

GT- Nabors 2-32, Rotenberry 1-13

P- Bowen 1-42, Walton 1-21

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