1966 Georgia- North Carolina game, a memorable interception, and a pep talk for 2016 fans

A challenging week to say the least. Bulldog fans everywhere are trying to come to grips with the results of last week’s game and the diminishing prospects of championship hopes.

One Old Dawg gives us a little pep talk, “I know a lot of you want to quit, but that’s not the Georgia way. Let’s switch from complaining, griping, and moping and start hoping and praying. The season is not over; we have four games left to play, and we need to win them all.  In Psalm 30:5, we read, ‘. . . weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.’ Let us keep hoping and praying for that morning of rejoicing.”

As we continue to celebrate the 1966 SEC championship year, we look at the North Carolina game played about this time in the season.

 

 

 

One Old Dawg observes, “It was a seemingly unspectacular non-conference game. North Carolina’s last winning season was 1963, and we had beaten them the two previous years. The 1965 game had been in a crazy fourth quarter shootout which resulted in a score of 47-35. They were 2-2 coming into our game but did have an impressive win over number eight-ranked Michigan; so, they were not a patsy. We had lost to Miami two weeks before but had rebounded with a close win over Kentucky. Now we needed another confidence-building win before we traveled to Jacksonville to face the undefeated Florida Gators the following week. North Carolina would prove to be just what we needed."

 

The recap from the 1966 Georgia Bulldogs yearbook begins like this, "Kent Lawrence, the fastest football player in Georgia history, came out of two weeks' drydock to steal the show as the Bulldogs conquered North Carolina, 28-3, before another overflow assembly of 45,321 in Sanford Stadium." Kent Lawrence (Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons) would score the first touchdown set up by George Patton (All SEC, All American, Atlanta Falcons).

  

One Old Dawg continues, “The game is expecially memorable to me because of one great play by our other defensive end, Larry Kohn. We had been team and position mates for two years, roomed together on away games and had become very good friends. The game was tight midway into the third quarter; we were leading 7-3. Then Larry picked off a Danny Talbot pass and returned it sixty-two yards for a touchdown. We went on to score two touchdowns in the fourth period to win the game 28-3."

 

Photo Athens Banner Herald

 

 

Jerry Varnado, Steve Neuhaus, George Patton, and Larry Kohn at the year's 1966 SEC Championship Celebration

 

“After the game, the Carolina coach said of Larry’s interception and touchdown; ‘It just took the heart out of our fellows.’ And I add, it put heart in our fellows. We had a fine time celebrating Larry’s great play and that confidence building victory we needed to skin those Florida swamp lizards the next week.”

 

Kirby Moore and Ronnie Jenkins accounted for the last two Georgia touchdowns. 

One Old Dawg weighs in with his thoughts on the game this weekend. “This week, we have to play Kentucky at their lair in Lexington. Lately the Cats have been doing a lot of yowling, snarling and scratching. They are 4-2 in the SEC, including the last three in a row, which places them second in the east behind Florida. That means they still have a shot at the East Championship, if they win out. So, they will have their claws sharpened and be ready for a fight. So, hunker down Dawgs, get ready to show these felines a thing or two about canine superiority. Gooo Dawgs, Sic ‘em.”

We found this photo in Mama Varnado's archives. One Old Dawg may be moving a bit slower now, but it was not always so. Here he is airborne in an attempt to stop a punt.

Way to go, One Old Dawg.

Please join us again next week for more mostly true bulldog lore.