Lee excited to see his son create his own legacy at Tech

Former Georgia Tech receiver Gary Lee etched his name in Yellow Jacket fans memories in the early 1980s with his electric play on the field and famous kick return against UGA in 1985 and now the former star will get to watch his son Clayton Powell-Lee create his own legacy in the White and Gold.

Lee spoke to JOL after his son's commitment to Tech about that legacy and what it means to see another generation of his family on the Flats playing on Grant Field in Bobby Dodd Stadium.

The day that his son got the Tech offer, is something that sticks out when Lee reflects on the crazy lead-up to the commitment.

"It was late at night and he called me and I was wondering why he was up so late and he said, 'dad I got it.' So I made it clear to him, I don't want you to do it to be like me. I didn't twist anyone's arm either, he worked hard and is a great academically inclined student, we are planning for his future after football. We always talk about what he is going to do with the rest of his life, but it was a great feeling for my child to be able to accept something from Georgia Tech," Lee said.

The ties to Tech went well beyond Lee's playing days as Powell-Lee joined his father at Tech games for all of his life both at home and on the road.

"We have season tickets and go to every home game and we even go to some away games," Lee said. "He grew up in that environment and he was always in the suites with the athletes and the older guys like Eddie Lee Ivery, Eddie McAshan, Robert Lavette and Lucius Sanford. He got to meet those guys as a young boy and it impressed him. His education is something his mother has emphasized as well so we are just elated about him going to Tech."

Lee said the renovation of the Edge building is something that is also exciting for him to see and he is excited that his son will be part of that new renovation. He also is impressed with the current staff many of them having played with Lee or been former players he met through the Lettermen Club.

"Coach Collins is just a wonderful guy and I have had the opportunity to sit and talk with him and the athletic director is a former teammate Todd Stansbury and some of the other coaches I know well too because Marco Coleman is a dear friend of mine so it is just great he gets to be a part of that atmosphere now. That was a great environment for my child to be raised in and among."

Looking back at his own career, the 1985 Georgia-Georgia Tech game stands out, a 20-16 win for the Jackets in Bobby Dodd Stadium. His kick return for a touchdown gave Tech a 17-16 lead to ice the game for the Jackets.

"The Georgia-Georgia Tech game, that is everybody's favorite, win, lose or draw. It is just that atmosphere and the rivalry. It is unbelievable From my freshman year when he did it to now it is the same kind of atmosphere," Lee said. "I have a ton of friends that are Georgia Bulldogs and my wife is working on her Ph.D. at the University of Georgia, we are a house divided now."

Lee said when Clayton committed to Tech he also flashed back to a ton of moments throughout his childhood.

"I'm just so proud of him. I always call him my little man because he always was. Every time we see each other he would always stand next to me because he always wanted to be taller. Now we are the same height and just to see your baby boy grow from a little bitty kid to put on that jersey that I wore and grew up in and also become a man and wear the Georgia Tech colors, it brings a tear to your eye," Lee said. "Just thinking about it, it brings tears. Every man wants a son that they can look back on and say look he's a lineage."