The 50 Greatest Plays in Georgia Bulldogs Football History

241 Pages·2008·22.816 MB·English

by  Patrick Garbin,Charley Trippi

THE 50 GrEaTEsT Plays
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
in
Football History
PATRICK GARBIN
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Copyright © 2008 by Patrick Garbin
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission
of the publisher, Triumph Books, 542 South Dearborn Street, Suite 750, Chicago, Illinois 60605.
Triumph Books and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Garbin, Patrick, 1975–
The 50 greatest plays in Georgia Bulldogs football history / Patrick Garbin.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-60078-119-3
ISBN-10: 1-60078-119-5
1. University of Georgia—Football—History. 2. Georgia Bulldogs (Football team)—History
3. Football players—Georgia. I. Title. II. Title: Fifty greatest plays in Georgia Bulldogs football history.
GV958.G44G364 2008
796.332'630975818—dc22
2008009638
This book is available in quantity at special discounts for your group or organization. For further
information, contact:
Triumph Books
542 South Dearborn Street
Suite 750
Chicago, Illinois 60605
[phone]
Fax [phone]
Printed in U.S.A.
ISBN: 978-1-60078-119-3
Design by Sue Knopf
Page production by Patricia Frey
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For my family and the University of Georgia football coaches
and players who made this book a possibility
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Contents
Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xv
50
Excessive but Effective Celebration
October 27, 2007: Penalty called on Georgia following a Knowshon
Moreno touchdown unifies young Bulldogs squad 2
49
Fairground Gallantry
November 6, 1913: Red and Black escape upset with Bob McWhorter’s
late touchdown pass 8
48
Record-Breaking Winner
September 29, 1956: Ken Cooper’s field goal sets mark and defeats ’Noles in ’56 12
47
A One-Man Show
November 2, 1946: Highlighted by a recovery of his own blocked punt,
Charley Trippi nearly single-handedly defeats ’Bama in ’46 16
46
The Timeout
October 30, 1993: Disputed timeout called by Florida negates Georgia’s
potential game-winning score 20
45
Great Scott!
October 26, 1968: Jake Scott intercepts Kentucky in ’68 and twists and
whirls his way to a touchdown 26
44
Tony Takes It to the House
November 25, 2006: Tony Taylor takes fumbled football away from Georgia
Tech in 2006 and scampers 29 yards for a score 32
43
No Longer No. 1
November 9, 1985: Tim Worley’s dazzling 89-yard run caps Bulldogs’
stunning defeat of top-ranked Florida 38
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42
Punt Pins Down Greenies
November 13, 1937: Bill Hartman’s 44-yard boot against Tulane
in 1937 leads to Vassa Cate’s scoring return and a victory 42
41
There Goes Herschel!
November 1, 1980: Freshman Walker outraces entire Gamecocks defense
for a breathtaking 76-yard touchdown 46
40
Poschner Propels Bulldogs to No. 1
October 31, 1942: George Poschner’s acrobatic reception from Frank
Sinkwich defeats Alabama in ’42 50
39
The Returner’s Long Jaunt
September 20, 1980: Scott “the Returner” Woerner intercepts Clemson’s
Homer Jordan and runs 98 yards down the sideline 54
38
Trapped on the Tartan Turf
September 14, 1968: Tennessee’s game-tying touchdown catch on fourth
down in ’68 is later declared an incomplete pass 58
37
Catfish—Catch of the Day
October 12, 1929: Catfish Smith’s touchdown catch highlights a 15-point
effort in Sanford Stadium’s dedication 62
36
Carolina Calls It Quits
October 20, 1900: South Carolina captain pulls team off field, and
Georgia is awarded forfeited win 66
35
Shirer’s Turkey Day Catch
November 25, 1971: Jimmy Shirer’s key reception against Georgia Tech
on Thanksgiving in 1971 leads to game-winning score 70
34
A Rebel-Rouser
October 10, 1981: Herschel Walker leaps, spins, and runs over Ole Miss
for six yards and a touchdown in 1981 74
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33
Shoestring Sinks ’Dores
October 18, 1975: Ray Goff and Gene Washington execute the shoestring
play, double-crossing the Commodores in 1975 78
32
Post-Herschel Hounds Bite Bruins
September 3, 1983: Charlie Dean’s touchdown return in final seconds
clinches season opener of 1983 82
31
Bulldogs’ Sugar Turns Sour
January 1, 1982: Dan Marino throws a 33-yard score on fourth down in the
final minute to defeat Georgia in ’82 Sugar Bowl 88
30
“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
October 28, 1978: Rex Robinson’s field goal lifts ’78 Wonderdogs over
upset-minded Wildcats 92
29
Momentum Changer in Knoxville
October 11, 2003: Sean Jones returns Tennessee fumble 92 yards as first half
expires 96
28
The Dogs Broke It Up!
November 13, 1982: Jeff Sanchez and Ronnie Harris break up Auburn’s pass
in end zone as Georgia wins third consecutive SEC title 102
27
The Drought-Breaker
November 30, 1957: Theron Sapp’s one-yard touchdown plunge ends
Georgia’s eight-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets 106
26
Bobo-to-Allen II
November 29, 1997: Mike Bobo’s touchdown pass to Corey Allen in final
seconds defeats Georgia Tech for seventh consecutive season 110
25
Settling for Six
November 7, 1964: Kicker Bobby Etter defeats Gators with his feet instead of
his toe in 1964 116
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24
Terry Tips Away Touchdown
October 15, 1983: Terry Hoage tips a sure Vanderbilt touchdown in 1983 to
help secure victory 120
23
The Perfect Bounce
November 3, 1973: Fumble bounces off turf to quarterback Andy Johnson,
who scoots into end zone to topple Tennessee 126
22
Third Time’s a Charm
November 19, 1910: Bob McWhorter’s third attempt at the goal line finally
defeats Georgia Tech 130
21
“Onside Kick” Ultimately Wins Championship
January 1, 1981: Misplayed kickoff in 1981 Sugar Bowl is the difference
in a win over Notre Dame 134
20
Left, Right, Left, Touchdown
January 1, 1946: Charley Trippi zigzags through Tulsa for a startling
68-yard punt return 138
19
Jasper Sanks’s Phantom Fumble
November 27, 1999: An erroneous ruling arises as Georgia drives for
winning score against Tech in ’99 142
18
Buster Busts Loose
November 7, 1931: Buster Mott returns kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown
to defeat New York University 146
17
Pollack’s Midair Scoring Strip
September 14, 2002: David Pollack amazingly seizes football from
Gamecocks quarterback throwing from out of his own end zone 150
16
A Headgear Hoax
November 5, 1910: Sewanee is fooled by a George Woodruff pass as Hafford
Hay scores a touchdown 154
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15
Fumble Hooks ’Horns
January 2, 1984: Texas fumbles punt to Bulldogs and loses ’84 Cotton Bowl
and national title 158
14
A First in Football
October 26, 1895: Albeit illegal and a fluke, Georgia allows football’s first
forward pass in 1895 162
13
Freshman Floors Volunteers
September 6, 1980: Herschel Walker runs over and through Tennessee
for first touchdown as a Bulldog 166
12
Phenomenal Catch Forces Overtime
November 16, 1996: Corey Allen’s touchdown reception ties the Tigers in ’96,
initiating the first of four overtimes 170
11
Crushed by a Hobnailed Boot
October 6, 2001: Georgia pulls upset over Vols as David Greene passes to
Verron Haynes for winning score 174
10
Time on Georgia’s Side
November 14, 1992: Tigers run out of time on goal line, handing the Bulldogs
a victory in 1992 178
9
End around to Appleby
November 8, 1975: Tight end Richard Appleby runs from left to right, plants
his feet, and throws an 80-yard bomb to defeat Florida 182
8
B-E-L-U-E Spells Relief
December 2, 1978: Freshman Buck Belue comes off bench against Yellow
Jackets and tosses game-winning touchdown on fourth down 186
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7
Georgia’s Famous Flea-Flicker
September 18, 1965: Moore-to-Hodgson-to-Taylor covers 73 yards and
shocks national champion Alabama 190
6
Butler’s Booming Game-Winner
September 22, 1984: With only seconds remaining, Kevin Butler stuns
second-ranked Clemson with a 60-yard, game-winning field goal 196
5
70-X-Takeoff Snatches Eastern Title
November 16, 2002: David Greene’s fourth-down pass to Michael Johnson
upends Auburn and takes SEC East in ’02 200
4
Buck’s Historic Returned Block
November 20, 1920: Buck Cheves returns Puss Whelchel’s blocked field
goal for a touchdown to defeat Alabama 204
3
Tarkenton Tames Tigers
November 14, 1959: Fran Tarkenton tosses a 13-yard touchdown on
fourth down to defeat Auburn and capture SEC title 208
2
A Bulldogs Hail Mary
November 1, 1941: A Sinkwich-to-Racehorse bomb with no time
remaining downs Plainsmen in 1941 212
1
The Play
November 8, 1980: Belue-to-Scott 93-yard pass play beats Florida
and keeps Georgia’s national championship hopes alive 216
Sources 223
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