A Case Where History Didn’t Repeat Itself

On this day in 1916, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland, 222-0, the largest margin in college football history.

Reporter Morgan Blake covered the game for the Atlanta Journal. Blake wrote: “It must be admitted that the tremendous score was due more to the pitifully weak opposition than to any unnatural strength on the part of the victors. In fact, as a general rule the only thing necessary for a touchdown was to give a Tech back the ball and holler, ‘Here he comes’ and ‘There he goes.’ ”

Add 222-0: Cumberland dominated the passing game, completing five of seven throws for 12 yards. Georgia Tech did not attempt a pass. However, the Yellow Jackets outgained Cumberland on the ground, 528 yards to 20.

Last add 222-0: Cumberland, located in Lebanon, Tenn., resumed football this season after dropping the sport in 1949.

At a preseason practice, Atlanta Journal writer Jack Wilkinson mentioned the 1916 debacle to Bulldog cornerback David Collins.

Said Collins: “Ain’t nobody gonna beat us , 222-0 . . . at least I hope not.”

In its opener, Cumberland lost to Campbellsville (Ky.), 34-0. Saturday, the Bulldogs defeated Tennessee Wesleyan, 37-11, to improve their record to 1-3.

Trivia time: Who won the 1989-90 Continental Basketball Assn. championship?

Exclusive club: A reporter recently asked Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Barry Bonds whether he was excited about joining the “30-50 club” for home runs and stolen bases in a season.

Bonds said he was more excited about becoming the first player to hit .300, drive in 100 runs, score 100 runs, hit 30 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.

Bonds reasoned: “If I do something nobody’s ever done, who can they compare me to in arbitration?”

Bake sale canceled: Where’s Al Davis when New Milford, Conn., needs him? The lights at the town’s high school football field have been repossessed.

The local booster club bought the lights for $84,000 in 1985 but since then has paid only $24,000.

The club was raising $50 a game to pay for the lights but eventually gave up. Neighbors complained that the lights were too high and too bright.

And why bother heading off the repo man when one of this year’s team captains, William Granata Jr., said: “I’d rather play on a Saturday afternoon.”

Stump the expert: If there ever was any doubt that Ohio is the football heartland of America, it was laid to rest recently in the sports section of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

In his daily “Glad You Asked” feature, Chuck Heaton tackled this question from reader Ernest Harris of Lucasville, Ohio: “If a team tries a field goal on first down and misses, does it retain the ball for the other three downs?”

Well? (No.)

Trivia answer: The LaCrosse (Wis.) Catbirds.

Quotebook: Tampa Bay Coach Ray Perkins on running back Gary Anderson: “He’s a great player. He ceases to amaze me every day.”