Big doings this weekend. Friday night, a bunch of Old Dawgs
from the 1964 University of Georgia football team will gather with their coaches to reminisce and celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of that team
as well as it’s being Vince Dooley’s first year at UGA. At the UGA-Tennessee
game, they’ll all make an appearance on the field at half time.
This week, One
Old Dawg talks about his Coach, Vince Dooley, the man that changed the direction of
University of Georgia football and who made such a difference in Jerry Varnado’s
life.
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| One Old Dawg's Wife, Coach Vince Dooley, One Old Dawg, Jerry Varnado at a gathering before the UGA-Troy game |
On Coach Dooley’s knowledge of the game of football:
“The first year Vince Dooley was here, many people
misunderstood him and didn’t know what he was like, particularly players, because
he had the good sense to let his assistant coaches do their jobs. He was always
there, but he didn’t do a lot of one on one coaching with players on the field.
I had the fortunate experience of playing for Coach Dooley
for three years, but I also served as a graduate assistant coach for three
years. I found out then, he indeed did coach, but he did it in staff meetings.
He was the mastermind behind the Georgia Bulldogs. He set guidelines and
parameters for what we were going to do, and let the assistants execute them.
He was an astute student of the game of football. He knew what he was doing and
how he wanted things to go.
The first coaches' meeting I attended, there sat Erk Russell, who was
my hero since I played defense, with a notepad taking notes on what Vince said.
I knew then Vince commanded respect from people who knew him and knew how much
he contributed to the ongoing growth and development of a winning football
team.”
On Coach Dooley’s fairness:
“My junior year, I ruptured a disc, had to have surgery, missed half the season and all of spring practice. In the summer, because of muscle
spasms, I couldn’t work out much to get in shape for the next year. At fall
football practice, Coach Dooley told me I’d reported overweight.
‘What do you mean Coach, overweight? I’ve been trying to
gain weight the whole time I’ve been at Georgia.’
He said, ‘You’re reporting weight is 188.’
I was at 196. ‘Reporting weight? I didn’t know I had a
reporting weight.’
‘Nobody gave you reporting weight in the spring?’
‘No, sir.’
He sat there and thought a minute. ‘Well, you’re still overweight;
you’ll need to go to the 6:30 P.E. class for two weeks.’
This made me angry, because I was disciplined for not doing something
I didn’t even know I was supposed to do. But later, when I started coaching, I
understood. He knew he wouldn’t be able to explain why I didn’t receive the
same treatment as others who reported overweight. If he didn’t discipline me,
it would seem he was inconsistent. And who knows, I could’ve forgotten I was
supposed to be 188 pounds. Plus, I wasn’t in good shape, and those P.E. classes
got me ready to play.”
On how much Coach Dooley cared about players:
“I learned when I coached how much Vince Dooley cared about
his players. He had a personal interest in them and did things we didn’t know
about. Again, because he didn’t have one on one contact, many players didn’t
realize how much he cared. We’d have discussions in coaches meetings about
players and difficulties they might be having, and it’s then I saw he wanted
players to be successful in football, in the classroom, and in life.
He was
always liberal in giving graduate assistant jobs to those who needed them. The graduate
assistant job is what enabled me to go to law school.”
On Dooley’s dedication:
“After the midday game on Saturday, sixteen millimeter film
would be flown to Atlanta by helicopter to be developed. Later a helicopter
brought it back, landed on the practice field next to the coliseum, and the
film taken to Vince Dooley’s house.
After games, there’d be a party at the Dooley’s for recruits
that were in town. Since I lived near Vince when I practiced law, often, a friend
and I would go over to the Dooley’s at 10:00 after everyone left to watch the film with him, and help
him break it down for The Vince Dooley Show, which aired on Sunday afternoon. He’d
leave about midnight and go to the UGA television station. Anytime you wanted
to find Vince, you could find him at the Five Points Waffle House around 4:30
on Sunday morning after he filmed his show. Then he’d go home, change clothes,
go to 8:00 mass and then come to practice at 9:30. Our Sunday morning practices
were more of a training, than practice— just a little exercise to get players
loosened up. Vince had it early Sunday so players could still attend church. I
don’t know when he ever went to sleep.”
On Vince Dooley’s encouragement:
“In the early 1980’s, a friend from Valdosta asked me to be
a lay speaker at a downtown church one Sunday. When I was in Valdosta, I
visited a friend there, and didn’t know Vince was staying at their home. The
Dooley’s daughter was a cheerleader at Valdosta State and they were there to
see them play for the small college championship. What I didn’t know is they’d
made plans to hear me speak as well. They went to 8:00 mass and then came to
church to hear me. It’s also interesting to note Wright Bazemore, my high coach
was there as well as my freshmen coach, Ken Cooper.
After the service, Wright Bazemore stood in a line for ten
minutes, to speak to me, and took my hand and said, ‘Doc, I want you to know, I’m
proud of you as I’ve ever been of any of my boys.’ It really meant a lot to me.
Later on, I ran into Barbara Dooley.
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| One Old Dawg and Barbara Dooley before the UGA-Troy game |
She said, ‘As soon as the
service was over, Vince looked at me, and said, “Jerry is really an evangelist,
isn’t he?”’
Keep in mind that at that point in time, I was still a
lawyer. I wasn’t a preacher. And I was beginning to deal with a sense of
calling to preach. To have Vince Dooley recognize a quality in me that lent
itself to preaching was one of several factors which led to me leaving my law
practice and entering full time ministry.”
So, in many ways, Coach Vince Dooley’s influence has moved
far beyond the football field in One Old Dawg’s life. Many players would have
this same testimony. Coach Dooley’s life of integrity, commitment, faith, and
service reminds us of a verse in Psalm 1, “He is like a tree planted by streams
of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:3) So here’s to you, Coach. Congratulations on your fiftieth year anniversary. Deepest and
heartfelt thanks from One Old Dawg to another.
As to the game this weekend, One Old Dawg says that if he
never hears “Rocky Top” again, it would be just great. And he doesn’t think we’re
going to be hearing it much this weekend, because his Dawgs are ready to roll
all over the Tennessee volunteers.
One Old Dawg will be there to cheer them on. Look for him.
He’ll be with all those loud people wearing fifty year old game jerseys with
his big old “88’” on them. They’ll be a raggedy crew, but smiling from ear to
ear, so proud of their Old Dawg.
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