Georgia Tech, also known as the Georgia Institute of Technology, is a renowned technical institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. With a rich history and a strong presence in the field of science and technology, it is no surprise that Georgia Tech has its own unique mascot. The official mascot of Georgia Tech is the Ramblin' Wreck, which is a 1930 Ford Model A Sports Coupe. This iconic automobile serves as a symbol of the university's traditions, values, and pride. It represents the spirit of Georgia Tech's engineering prowess and innovation. The Ramblin' Wreck has been a beloved mascot since its introduction in 1961.
2023 NATIONAL CHAMPION
Buzz is a fixture of Georgia Tech and collegiate athletics. The idea of Buzz began in 1972 when Judi McNair constructed a Yellow Jacket costume, and in 1980, Buzz was made the official Georgia Tech mascot after Richie Bland ran onto the football field (without permission) during a pep rally. Since then, Buzz has been portrayed by dozens of students, and he remains an official student-athlete and member of the Georgia Tech cheer team. Buzz is an essential member of the Georgia Tech community for promoting school spirit, spreading positivity, and representing Georgia Tech to a national audience.
Buzz is athletic and fearless. From climbing over the stadium, stealing concessions, or crowd surfing, Buzz can do anything. Buzz is mischievous and likes to pull pranks, but he is extremely dedicated to his fans. He always stops for a photo, and he’s constantly giving high fives, fist bumps, and hugs. He loves to dance and is known for his signature stinger shaking. Buzz is full of energy and never stops moving.
Buzz attends all campus sporting events and is central to many gameday traditions including conducting the band at every ¾ mark in a game, beginning pregame activities with the traditional Buzz flip, and performing interactive skits throughout gameday. Outside of athletics, Buzz is a very active member of the Georgia Tech community. Each year, Buzz attends around 300 events on and off campus in addition to GT athletics events. These include campus engagement events, alumni galas, corporate mixers, and charity events. Every April, Buzz competes in Daytona Beach, Florida in the National Cheerleading Association’s Mascot Division. Buzz placed first this 2023 season with his iconic Mario skit and earned the new nickname, National Champion!
The Ramblin' Wreck has been a beloved mascot since its introduction in 1961. It is prominently featured at football games and other sporting events, where it leads the team onto the field with its spirited horn and enthusiastic fans cheering it on. The Ramblin' Wreck is not just a symbol, but a living, breathing embodiment of Georgia Tech's spirit and dedication to excellence.
Buzz Appearances
Thank you for your interest in booking Buzz for your event! Please submit requests by clicking on the “Appearance Request Form” below. Please submit all requests a minimum of two weeks prior to the requested appearance date. Remember that one of Buzz’s traditions is his secret identity.
If Buzz arrives at your event out of the Buzz suit, we ask that you discreetly escort him/her to a secure changing place. Once submitted, your event will tentatively be placed on the Buzz calendar. A Buzz student manager will contact you prior to your event to confirm. Invoices will be sent via email the month following your event.
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Buzz
One of the best parts of being a Yellow Jacket is that we have not only one, but two iconic mascots: The Ramblin Reck and Buzz the Yellow Jacket. We all know and love the hilarious and energetic Yellow Jacket that pumps up the crowds at sporting events and lifts up the spirits of Tech students. A lot has happened to make Buzz what he is today.
The story behind our Yellow Jacket symbol dates back to the early 1900’s when our first athletic teams were fielded. They had yet to choose an official name, so sports writers had taken to giving us nicknames such as The Engineers, the Blacksmiths, the Techs, and the Golden Tornadoes, but the school didn’t officially take up any of these names. It was actually actual yellow jackets that our fans wore in support of our team that gave us the name we go by now. The term Yellow Jackets was used to describe our fans, and in 1905, John Heisman declared that he wanted our team to be known as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
It wasn’t until the 1970’s that a human yellow jacket made its first appearance. In 1972, equipped with a homemade costume, Judy McNair began performing at football games. By 1980, the President of Ramblin’ Reck Club, Mark Loch, received approval from the cheerleading advisor and a grant from SGA to help fund a custom Yellow Jacket costume, equipped with black and yellow fur, white gloves, black tights, and Converse high-tops. The grant also helped send the first official Buzz, Rickie Bland, to mascot camp at Virginia Tech. Buzz officially made his first appearance as a member of the cheerleading squad on October 11, 1980. Rickie Bland brought Buzz to life and set the standard to make Buzz what he is today. Over the years, Buzz has become a staple at Tech athletic events. His antics keep us constantly laughing and he is the envy of all mascots. Nowadays, several students split the duties of performing as Buzz and keep their identities a secret until graduation in order to maintain the tradition of Buzz as one of our beloved mascots!
Mascot for georgia tech
They’re not just outstanding students; they’re Georgia Tech tradition-keepers. Armando Gonzalez and Aaron Burtz are two of just a handful of students who have ever donned black tights, a fuzzy head, and antennae to embody Georgia Tech’s mascot, Buzz.
“It’s hot,” Burtz joked when asked about his memories as mascot. “Really, though, I’ll remember pre-game and seeing the faces of the youngest fans light up when they see Buzz.”
Burtz admits that sometimes he wasn’t sure if they were mesmerized or terrified. Either way, being a secret part of one of the Institute’s most iconic traditions has been an emotional journey.
“You can see on people’s face the moments when they fell in love with Tech, and that’s really special,” Burtz says.
Gonzalez says Buzz’s antics were some of his favorite moments. He recalls being “in-suit” and cutting in line for Chick-Fil-A at the Student Center.
“They forgive me just a few seconds later,” Gonzalez says. “We just have fun with it. You know people feel that energy.”
They both finished their time as Buzz together, earning degrees as Spring 2020 graduates – Gonzalez studied computer science and Burtz mechanical engineering.
Typically, the identities of the students who’ve worn the suit aren’t unveiled until they graduate from the Institute — when another mascot carries them across the stage piggyback-style to receive their degree. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 crisis postponing in-person events, that opportunity will be delayed for these gentlemen.
In the meantime, Gonzalez has moved to the New York metro area where he’ll be working with Disney in software engineering.
“I’ll be working with the Disney+ and ESPN+ platforms,” Gonzalez says. “It’s a cool place to be right now.”
Engineering major Aaron Burtz (L) and computer science major Armando Gonzalez (R) both spent many days and nights during their time at Georgia Tech donning the iconic Buzz mascot uniform.
During his time at Tech, apart from serving as Buzz and as captain of the Georgia Tech cheerleading team, Gonzalez worked full-time for six terms. It’s one of the things he’s most proud of.
For Burtz, the job of FASET leader allowed him the chance to help new students make their transition to Georgia Tech. Also outside of the suit, he researched thrombosis in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a form of life support used in young patients. Over the summer, he’ll be developing a startup he began with Tech classmates while taking part in Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X program. And, in the fall, he won’t be straying far from Tech.
“In October, I’ll start working with Accenture in Tech Square,” said Burtz.
Both he and Gonzalez hope to return for the Class of 2020 Commencement ceremony that’s to be rescheduled to a to-be-determined date — and when that happens, we look forward to seeing them on Buzz’s back.
Watch:
Buzz Needs Your Vote for Mascot Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023
From Bobby Jones to Calvin Johnson, Tech has a proud history of producing hall of famers, and now you have the chance to help a beloved Georgia Tech icon into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Buzz, first introduced in 1980 and a fixture at campus events ever since, is among 18 finalists for the Mascot Hall of Fame’s newest class. The public voting period is open until midnight on Saturday, May 27, and you can vote once a day. The public vote will account for a portion of the final tally, with the Mascot Hall of Fame's executive committee and membership holders making up the remainder. This year’s inductees will be announced on Friday, June 23.
Buzz's competition on the ballot comes from the college and professional ranks, including a fellow Atlanta native –– Freddie Falcon. ACC foes Rameses from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Otto the Orange from Syracuse University and the Blue Devil from Duke University are also vying for a spot.
Whether Buzz is conducting the band, firing up crowds, or performing skits, the Tech mascot overwhelmingly meets the Hall of Fame's criteria of being "unique, fun, and memorable" while demonstrating a major impact on their community.
It’s already been a monumental year for the stinger-shaking mascot, who took first place at the NCA and NDA Collegiate National Cheer and Dance Championship in Daytona Beach in early April.
"Buzz has skyrocketed this year and is racking up the accolades to prove it," said Shana Spann, head cheerleading coach. "He's won Best Mascot 2022 with the CFA Peach Bowl, NCA College Nationals 2023, and is now nominated for the Mascot Hall of Fame. He has been present in the community more than ever with his fun fan interactive gameday skits. We're excited to see what he brings to the 2023-24 season and we are thankful for the Georgia Tech and Atlanta community support of our beloved mascot."
To date, 27 mascots reside in the Mascot Hall of Fame. The first class was inducted in 2005. To learn more, and to cast your daily vote for Buzz, visit mascothalloffame.com.
In addition to the Ramblin' Wreck, Georgia Tech also has another mascot known as Buzz. Buzz is a yellow jacket, which is a type of wasp commonly found in the region. As the official insect of the state of Georgia, the yellow jacket represents resilience, tenacity, and a fierce competitive spirit. Buzz is a fun and energetic character who can be seen cheering on the sidelines at Georgia Tech games and events. With its signature yellow and black striped costume, oversized head, and playful antics, Buzz has become a beloved symbol of school spirit and pride. The combination of the Ramblin' Wreck and Buzz as mascots represents the perfect blend of Georgia Tech's historical roots and its forward-thinking attitude. The Ramblin' Wreck symbolizes the university's commitment to engineering and innovation, while Buzz embodies the fierce competitiveness and passion for excellence that defines Georgia Tech. Overall, the mascots of Georgia Tech play a vital role in fostering a sense of community, pride, and excitement among students, alumni, and fans. They serve as tangible reminders of the university's traditions and values, while also embodying the spirit of progress and determination that Georgia Tech is known for..
Reviews for "Georgia Tech's Mascot: Inspiring Future Generations to Dream Big"
1. Emily - 1 star
I was extremely disappointed with the choice of mascot for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jacket is such an intimidating and unique insect, and I feel like they missed a great opportunity to create a memorable and exciting mascot. Instead, they went for a generic, cartoonish character that lacks personality and fails to represent the strong and distinctive image of the institution. I hope they reconsider and come up with a new, more fitting mascot soon.
2. Matthew - 2 stars
While I understand the intention behind having a mascot for Georgia Tech, I can't help but feel that the execution fell flat. The chosen mascot, the Ramblin' Wreck, looks more like a toy car than a representation of the university. It lacks character and fails to embody the spirit and tradition that Georgia Tech is known for. I believe they could have come up with a more creative and engaging mascot that would have better reflected the history and values of the institution.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
As an alumna of Georgia Tech, I was expecting a mascot that would truly capture the essence of the school. However, I was left disappointed with the choice of the Wreck, which appears more juvenile than inspiring. The lack of a strong, unique mascot diminishes the sense of pride and identity that should come with attending such a reputable institution. I hope that in the future, Georgia Tech reconsiders and selects a mascot that better reflects the excellence and innovation the university represents.
4. Jason - 1 star
The mascot for Georgia Tech is underwhelming and lackluster. The choice of a steam engine does not evoke any sense of excitement or school spirit. Its design is unappealing and fails to stand out among other university mascots. I believe Georgia Tech missed an opportunity to have a strong, memorable mascot that would have better represented the university and its achievements.
5. Elizabeth - 2 stars
I must say that Georgia Tech's mascot choice left me feeling unimpressed. The yellow jacket, while a powerful and intimidating creature, was not utilized to its full potential. The portrayal of the mascot lacks creativity and fails to ignite a sense of pride and excitement. Georgia Tech missed the mark with their mascot selection, and I hope that they reconsider and opt for a mascot that better represents the university's strengths and achievements.