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DUBLIN — Eight years ago, Georgia Tech snuck away with a win in Dublin, coming from behind with 35 seconds remaining to beat Boston College in the Atlanta team’s Irish debut.
On Saturday, the Yellow Jackets moved to 2-0 across the pond after shocking No. 10 Florida State by the same margin — 3 precious points — before a sold-out crowd of some 50,000 spectators at Aviva Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets looked for most of the matchup like a team that unquestionably deserved to be on the field with the defending ACC champions, despite their underdog status.
While soaking up their transformative cross-cultural experience in Ireland, Tech’s coaches made clear this was not a study-abroad program.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but that’s what we like, that’s who we are, that’s what Georgia Tech is — accepting the challenges, embracing the challenges but walking straight into the fight and throwing the first punch, the last punch and every single one in between,” Head Coach Brent Key said at Tech’s “Helluva Block Party” pep rally in Merrion Square Friday.
Tech led 21-14 after the first play of the fourth quarter, a touchdown run by Jamal Haynes that capped an 11-play drive putting the Jackets in the driver’s seat.
The Seminoles answered in kind, putting up their own 75-yard drive to eat 8 minutes off the clock and tie the game with 6:22 to play.
As it had all night, Tech returned to the running game, devouring chunks of yardage to move into field goal range. But an errant second-down snap from the shotgun formation deep in Florida State territory sent quarterback Haynes King scrambling to pick up the fumble. Tech lost 10 yards on the play.
A clutch pass from King to Eric Singleton Jr. restored Tech’s earlier field position and more, setting up Aidin Birr for a 44-yard attempt with five seconds on the clock. Birr drilled the kick, sending Tech fans into a frenzy and handing the legions of fans in garnet and gold a defeat made all the more bitter by the distance traveled to witness it.
The home team in the matchup, Georgia Tech’s logo spanned both end zones, and pyrotechnics flared with each Yellow Jacket score, but the stadium often resounded with the Tomahawk chop, giving Florida State what seemed like an edge from the get-go.
Still, save for a late-third-quarter touchdown drive, Seminole offense never really gained steam after roaring out of the gate, while Tech hit its stride in just the right moment.
An early two-point conversion and a game-tying 59-yard field goal by Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald with one tick left in the first half — his second boot of 50-plus yards to that point — helped keep FSU in the game until the end.
More than 25,000 Americans were said to have traveled to Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, which lived up to its name almost a year to the day after Notre Dame trounced Navy 42-3 in 2023.
Georgia Tech did seem to be the favorite in certain circles of the Irish government, with Minister Dara Calleary declaring his support in a meeting with Tech President Angel Cabrera at Trinity College Thursday.
“I’ve never been in Florida in my life, so I’m Georgia Tech this weekend,” said Mr. Calleary, who visited Georgia Tech last September and spent time at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan also fell in behind the home team away from home thanks to one important intangible: Georgia Tech punter David Shanahan, who hails from County Kerry.
“I’m not supposed to pick sides, but you know what? How can I not support the team that has got an Irishman?” Mr. Geoghegan said at the rally.
Atlanta mayor and Georgia Tech alumnus Andre Dickens added his voice to the chorus, speaking during an on-field interview segment early in the game Saturday.
“We may be thousands of miles away from Georgia, but the spirit of tradition and culture and innovation between these two cities, these two nations, is on display here on this football field, so I’m excited right now.”
Editor’s note: Global Atlanta is traveling on a reporting trip supported by Enterprise Ireland, which helps Irish businesses go global.
