A tale of two trees that became a trophy

A tree planted in 1888 at the founding of Georgia Tech soldiered over the Institute’s growth for a century and a half. Another tree, a century old, saw the comings and goings of collegians on UGA North Campus until it came down a few years ago. In a twist of happenstance and a grandmother’s love, these trees would merge into a coveted trophy between the two institutions in another version of “clean, old-fashioned hate,” played out on a bridge table, as opposed to the gridiron.

Dr. Matthew Just of the UGA Math Department first learned the game of bridge from his now 94-year-old Grandmother. Holidays and halftimes were filled with fundamental lessons on card etiquette and the subtle language of bridge bidding. A Ph.D. in Mathematics from The University of Georgia would further Dr. Just’s understanding of the subtleties of the game and its probabilities and complexities. He would go on to become a faculty advisor for the UGA Bridge Club… all while two trees laid down more annual rings.

The Georgia Tech white oak beside the staircase leading up to the Tech Tower proudly framed the tower with its large leafy crown for more than a century. Standing 103 feet high and almost as iconic as Tech Tower itself, this majestic hardwood reigned over campus for generations of “engineers.”

The UGA historic North Campus red oak served as an ancient, organic recording device that captured in its rings human restlessness, ecosystem changes, and even galactic events. From the high knoll of UGA North Campus Quad across from Herty Field, this 110-year-old oak found footing in 1909, three years before UGA relocated the football competition to Sanford Stadium. This red oak witnessed the passing of time and students and countless tolls of the UGA Bell.

As a collegiate competition in the bridge between Georgia and Georgia Tech approached, Dr. Just asked his father if he could fabricate a trophy out of these two fallen trees to be passed back and forth among winners. With expedited approvals for logo use by both institutions and even an inlaid bowie bridge of Georgia Tech oak in a crack in UGA contributed red oak… in an ultimate show of sportsmanship, the trophy box, which also serves as a bridge card holder, was quickly fashioned.

On December 2, the competition commenced, and while the Georgia Tech team was heavily favored and would go on to win the match this time, the UGA team surprisingly narrowed the gap to a mere two International Bridge Points (IBP) when the final card was played. Comparable to the brutality of losing by less than a field goal, the UGA bridge team is letting the loss of the coveted trophy motivate them to be ready for the next round with the cross-state rival.