A story has long connected two Atlanta institutions: The Coca-Cola Company and Georgia Tech during the days when John Heisman coached Tech’s football team.
It suggests that somewhere between the boardroom and the gridiron, the structure of the game itself may have shifted from a game played in two halves, to a game played in four quarters.
According to the story, Coca-Cola’s founder Asa Candler had a plan to sell more Cokes during college football games. All he needed was a helping hand from football legend John Heisman.
In this week’s Stories of Atlanta, we revisit the birth of modern football and explore how Coca-Cola became intertwined with the sport at a pivotal moment in its history.
Some connections change a city. Others change the way we experience a game. You be the judge.
