In the early part of the 20th century the 1917 Georgia Tech Golden Tornadoes were the best of the best.  The Golden Tornadoes, latter became the Rambling Wrecks.

The team was extremely dominating in 1917 as the team scored 491 points and gave up 17.  The team went 9-0-0, had 7 defense shutouts, while scoring over 60 points four times. The opponents they beat played a .627 winning percentage.  Some opposition.  A challenge to the Golden Tornadoes were the Pittsburgh Panthers finishing at 9-0, scoring 230 points and giving up 15 points with 7 shutouts.

By comparing common opponent, one can see the obvious greatness of Georgia Tech:

Against Penn (9-2) Georgia Tech won 41-0; Pittsburgh won 14-6.

The team was a rushing dynamo with a 320.7 offense rushing attack.  All news and other organizations ranked Georgia Tech first.

Starting Lineups:

Offense: (single wing with wrinkles)  A single has an unbalanced line were the two offensive tackles are paired to one side of the center (unbalanced line).  Halfbacks did most the passing.  Quarterbacks were some time runners and mostly blockers,

JOE GUYON-OFFENSE HB-(5) QB-(5) DEFENSE-CB- (5) PA-TB-KB 58.9 Pct. complete for 543 yards and 5 TDs with 2 Int. rushing 618 yards for a 7.4 yard avg. per carry, 9 kickoff returns for a 38.9 avg. and 2 TDs, 10 punt returns for an 18.5 average and a 38.3 punting avg., while kicking 4 XP out of 8 tries.  Passing two-1’s and a 2, rushing has 1 one,  7-15s.  Height 5-11, Weight 190 Age 23.

EVERETT STRUPPER-OFFENSE HB (5) FB (5), CB(5) SS(5) OA  ONE 1, One 2,  10-15s.  Everett rushed for 1,150 yards for an 11.3 per carry ,scored 18 touchdowns rushing (including a 95 yard run. 5-9 156 20

JUDY HARLANS-OFFENSE  FB (3) SS (3) WITH 341 yards rushing for  a 5.8 AVG., Returned kickoffs for 38.9 avg. Returned an Int. 65 yards for a TD.  One 2 with 3 15s. 5-11 178 19

ALBERT HILL-OFFENSE  QB (5) HB (5) CB (5) 669 Yards rushing for a 5.4 avg., returned kickoffs at a 34.6 clip. and passing was 58.3 Pct. with 2 Tds. One 2 with 4 15s and 4-16s.  5-7 164 20

SHORTY GUILL WR (3) HB (3) DE (3) with 3/4 master defense. 9 receptions (led team) for 162 yards and 108 yards rushing for a 9.0 avg.  5-6 161 20

SI BELL-TE (3) DE (3) with 4 catches for 98 yards. 6-1 179 22

PUB PHILLIPS C (5) MLB (5)  Height 6-0 Weight 182 Age 20

DAN WHELCHEL G (3) master 3/4,  OLB-(3) 6-1 198 21

HAM DOWLING G (3) OLB (3) 5-7 172 21

WALKER CARPENTER  OT-(5) TE (3) DT (5) 6-2 184 23; 2 Receptions for 30 yards.

BILL FINCHER OT (4) TE (4) master offense 4/5; master defense 4/5 KA-KO kicked 49 XPs out of 52 tried. No field goals for the team.  6-0 188 20

Basic 44 offense and 44 defense.   Master Offense 44/47 and master defense 44/45.

Real Life scores.

GT—25-0 OVER FURMAN

GT—33-0 OVER WAKE FOREST

GT—41-0 OVER PENN (powerful team of the east losing only to Pittsburgh 14-6 and Georgia Tech)

GT—32-10 OVER DAVIDSON

GT—63-0 OVER WAHINGTON AND LEE (worst defeat in school history)

GT—83-0 OVER VANDERBILT (worst defeat in school history)

GT—48-0 OVER TULANE

GT—98-0 OVER CARLISLE

GT—68-7 OVER AUBURN (for the conference title-a real powerhouse)