On those North Avenue Insects

One Old Dawg concludes his regular season commentary with these remarks about the 1964 Georgia-Georgia Tech game.

“I can’t believe the Tech game is this Saturday, it seems like the season just started.  

I first stuck my hand in the Yellow Jackets nest in the 1962 freshman game and didn’t get stung, but 1964 was supposed to be a different story. We were the Cinderella team in the SEC and the Jackets were flexing their new wings as an independent, having dropped out of the SEC the year before. They had won their first seven games and then lost two at the hands of good Tennessee and Alabama teams but were still favored to whip us just as they had done the last three years and secure a Gator Bowl Bid in the process.”

It’s important to note that on the field that day for Tech was Bill Curry , who went on to play professional football and then became head coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama and Kentucky. Players like Curry made Tech a formidable opponent.

One Old Dawg continues, “It was a really big game for me as Tech was a big deal in my hometown of Valdosta. Four former teammates would see action for the Jackets and  several others at Tech were being red-shirted. Unlike my former teammates, I was not an outstanding player in high school.  I walked on at Georgia. Now I was starting as a redshirt sophomore.  I was wound up tight; this was for a full year of bragging rights back home.

"The game turned out to be a rainy, muddy, cold slugfest with a total of eleven passes thrown by both teams and only five completed. Georgia fumbled three balls and Tech fumbled five, but none of the players attributed that to the weather, it was hard hitting. The stats tell the story. Tech finished with 134 yards and Georgia had 191; Georgia recovered seven of those eight fumbles – all of ours and four of Tech’s.” Head Coach for Georgia Tech, Bobby Dodd , was quoted by Jim Minter in the Atlanta paper as later saying, “I thought we played well, except for the fumbles, and if I ever find a way to keep a team from fumbling I’ll get me a $50,000 a year job somewhere.”

On the front page of the Atlanta Journal sports section on Sunday, November 29, 1964, Jesse Outlar summed it up eloquently, “On a dark gray Saturday afternoon in Sanford Stadium Georgia’s Bulldogs tied a Sun Bowl ribbon around a rainbow season by pounding out a 7-0 triumph over Georgia Tech.”

 One Old Dawg says, “It was Tech’s first shutout in thirty-three games, and they didn’t go a bowl game”

Grainy newspaper photos from 1964 papers highlight several Georgia players including Barry Wilson (All SEC, Captain of the team,  Coach at Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Tampa Bay Bandits, Duke Florida), Vance Evans , John Glass, Jerry Varnado, Doug McFalls (All SEC, Chicago Bears), George Patton (All SEC, All American, Atlanta Falcons), and Joel Darden, Bob Taylor, and Frank Lankewicz made significant contributions on offense. Jimmy Denny, Wayne Swinford, and Leroy Dukes made big hits on defense. Quarterback Preston Ridlehuber (Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets) scored the only touchdown of the day, but had assistance from Leon Armbrester and Fred Barber getting the ball down the field. Bob Etter (Atlanta Flacons, Memphis Southmen) kicked the extra point. Mack Faircloth also received special recognition when he punted the ball thirty-nine yards and then acted as safety by tackling the receiver.

About this coming Saturday’s game, One Old Dawg has this to say, “This year the Jackets are buzzing into Athens and flying high with a 9-2 record and the ACC Costal Division championship. They lead the conference in offense, but they are toward the bottom in defense which will be their downfall this Saturday. Georgia’s defense will be too much for the high flying North Avenue Insects. The Dawgs will clip their wings. Swat ‘em Dawgs.

"The Vols let us down Saturday but the Arkansas Hawgs are on a roll. Friday afternoon put some duck tape on the D of your Dawg Jersey and write an H on it. If the Hawgs whip Mizzou we’re in the Dome December 6.  Wooooooooooe, Pig ! Sooie!

"In the August 27 post I quoted Zechariah 4:10, 'Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? Reducing our loss to Alabama from thirty points in previous years to twenty-eight in 1964 was a small beginning, but it was a beginning. A good ending has to start somewhere.  A win against Tech that year would mean an invitation to our first Bowl game since 1960; a good ending with a small beginning. Who knows what a win against Tech might mean this year?"

Grace Chapman, administrative assistant in 1964 to both Athletic Director Joel Eaves and Coach Vince Dooley sent us another photo, this one of Coach Vince Dooley at Moody Air Field. It seems appropriate to use it here. Because at the conclusion of the regular season in 1964, it was apparent to all that the University of Georgia Football program was taking off.

 

One Old Dawg on Auburn, Charleston Southern, Missouri, and memories of former Gov. Carl Sanders

With only two regular season games to go, One Old Dawg weighs in on last week’s victory over Auburn, “It was fine old time between the hedges Saturday night. The Dawgs not only took care of business they did it in a grand fashion. However, we're saddened over Gurley's injury and wish him the best.

 

“Now, we’ve got to refocus because there is still some business to take care of. Yes, Charleston Southern should be an easy W for us, but I can remember a number of times when those ‘easy games’ turned out to be not so easy. Get ready Dawgs! Don’t take anything for granted.

 

“And there is the matter of Missouri. They make the trip to Knoxville this Saturday for a night game against the Volunteers in Neyland Stadium which, as we well know, is a tough place to win. This may be our best shot at getting to the Georgia Dome on December 6 (Missouri’s last game is at home against Arkansas).  If Tennessee wins, we’re in. I know this is hard, but as soon as the Dawgs dispatch Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon, we need put on some orange and white and tune up to sing Rocky Top. Football can make strange bedfellows.

 

“On another subject, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the loss of one of our own, former Governor of Georgia, Carl Sanders who died last Sunday. He was a Georgia football lettermen and long time friend and supporter of all things UGA. You can read the newspaper to find out all the good things he did for higher education in Georgia but you can only hear this story from me.  

 

“On one occasion the Governor came to Athens to see the new Coliseum which opened in 1964. Someone thought it would be good for a football player to be among those showing him around and for some reason, which I do not remember, I was included in his entourage. He was one of the nicest men I ever met. He was gracious and humble and made me feel very important, which of course I wasn’t. I’ll never forget when I left, he handed me his card and said: “If I can ever help, you call me.”

 

It blew me away that the governor would treat a little peon like me with such grace and respect. Thank you Carl Sanders for being kind to me and for all you did to make the University of Georgia a top notch institution of higher learning.

I don’t know anything about Carl Sanders’ faith but as I remember how he treated me on that day I am reminded of these words of Jesus: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” To put it another way the Law and the Prophets simply tell in many different ways to treat people the way we want them to treat us. In light of Governor Sanders’ kindness to me that day I think that he was not only a nice man but also a godly man. How we treat one another is important regardless of age, position or social standing. If we could all live by just that one biblical principal, it would change our world."

Somewhere in One Old Dawg’s house, there’s a picture of him with Gov. Sanders, however, we couldn’t put our hands on it. Thankfully, Grace Chapman, administrative assistant in 1964 to both Athletic Director Joel Eaves and Coach Vince Dooley sent us several pictures from that year, one of which is a picture of Governor Sanders, Athletic Director Joel Eaves, and Coach Vince Dooley.

 

 

 

One Old Dawg will be back next week for the Georgia-Georgia Tech game. Hopefully, he’ll also get to spin a few tales about the 1964 Sun Bowl Game when the Dogs find out about their post-season destiny.

 

See you next week. Go dawgs!



One Old Dawg on unknowns

As One Old Dawg predicted last week, a wildcat was not a problem. He’s been all smiles since the Kentucky game.

About this time in 1964, an article appeared in The Atlanta Journal entitled, “Bulldogs: A Team of ‘Unknowns.’” Writer John Logue  pointed out that before the 1964 season began most fans could name only two or three players on the Georgia team, Pat Hodgson, Ray Rissmiller, and Jim Wilson. “Beyond that,” he says, “you had to be either a father or a fanatic to be able to identify all the Georgia gentlemen who lined up for the opening kickoff with Alabama and for ensuing kickoffs . . .”

But somehow that team of unknowns managed to assemble a 4-1 record at that point in the season, a record only exceeded by the unbeaten team that went on to become National Champions that year—Alabama.

Logue highlighted several of those unknowns who were playmakers, seven who had only moved up from the B-team. In addition to Hodgson (All SEC, Washington Redskins, Coach at San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets), Rissmiller (All-American, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills), and Wilson (All SEC, All American, San Francisco 49rs, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams), Logue listed Harold Steely , Jimmy Denny, Lynn Hughes (All SEC, All American), Jerry Varnado, George Patton (All SEC, All American, Atlanta Falcons), John Glass, Joe Burson, Pete Dickens, Wayne Swinford, Frank Richter (Denver Broncos) , Glenn Creech, Leroy Dukes , Fred Barber , Bob Taylor , and Preston Ridlehuber (Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets) .

It seems appropriate that team of “unknowns” was coached by a man who was also an “unknown” when he came to Georgia—Coach Vince Dooley . (Can we ever forget the newspaper headline, “Vince Who?”) Together, this coach and these players fought their way to a 7-3-1 record and into the Sun Bowl.

About this, Old Old Dawg says, “In retrospect it was true we were “unknown.” But we didn’t really think about that, we were just a bunch of regular guys who wanted to play football and win games. We were making ourselves known and that was part of the fun. By mid season the student body and fans ‘knew”’ us and other teams didn’t take us for granted. That was enough.

“In Genesis 16:13, Hagar had been put out of the household. She was alone, and unknown. Then God came to her. ‘She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me!’”(Genesis 16:13 The Message).  

 

We all want to be seen or known. It’s not that we have to be famous, but we have an inborn need to know others and to be known by others. Be assured that God has seen us and knows us and earnestly desires we know him.”

One Old Dawg makes his prediction for the upcoming Auburn game, “Now the dogs have skinned two tigers and a wildcat, and I’m believing that this Saturday, we’ll make a sweep of our feline opponents—cats drool, dogs rule.”

And to that we can only add, “Go dogs!”

One Old Dawg on Cats

One Old Dawg has had a few days to reflect on the Bulldogs' loss to Florida this past Saturday. He says this, “It was one of those days when Florida could do nothing wrong, and played exceptionally well. If we played them eight times, we’d probably beat them seven, but they beat us that Saturday.  

"I couldn't help but remember the Apostle Paul’s words at a particularly frustrating time in his life, ‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed’(2 Corinthians 4:8-9). In other words, we may have been knocked down but we’re not out of the fight. As they say in opera circles, it ain’t over till the full-figured lady sings. Dawgs, get over it; we are still in the fight for a place at the dome on December 6.”

 

Fifty years ago when the Bulldogs played Kentucky, One Old Dawg remembers, “We really weren’t sure what to expect going into the 1964 Kentucky game. Kentucky had opened its season with two outstanding victories against Ole Miss and Auburn, then they lost to Florida State and LSU. We were the next game on the schedule, and no one had really decided how good they were.
 

“They had two outstanding players, Rodger Bird, a running back who later had a pro career (Oakland Raiders) and Rick Norton, their quarter back, also headed for the pros (Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers). They were juniors and had both made all SEC the year before. Coming off two losses, we knew they would be hungry.

“We were coming off a disappointing loss to Florida State, yet at the same time an encouraging loss. Our fan base was excited that we were able to play pretty even with such a great team. We still weren’t sure what we had, either.

“At the  Kentucky game,  they received the ball first, and promptly drove the ball straight down the field and scored.

“However, when our defense came off the field after Kentucky had scored, the stands stood up and applauded us. We had just gotten kicked all the way down the field, and we were amazed. Somebody said, “If these people have that kind of confidence in us, we’ve got to buckle up here and do better.”

Those were the last points Kentucky scored. Fans are important.”

News accounts report that Georgia’s quarterback, Preston Ridlehuber (Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets) was responsible for two touchdowns and made many other outstanding plays.

Bob Etter (Atlanta Flacons, Memphis Southmen ) and Bob Taylor also put points on the board.

Halfback, Fred Barber,  carried the ball fifteen times and fullback, Leon Armbrester, counted eleven carries. Other strong offensive players were Wayne Swinford, Lynn Hughes (All SEC, All American), Ray Rissmiller (All-American, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills), Don Porterfield, and George Nowicki.  

Media mentioned a powerful showing by defensive players, Jim Wilson  (All SEC, All American, San Francisco 49rs, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams) , Joel Darden, Barry Wilson (All SEC, Captain of the team,  Coach at Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Tampa Bay Bandits, Duke Florida), Jerry Varnado , Dickie Phillips, Jimmy Cooley, and John Glass .

Mack Faircloth, contributed by averaging almost fifty yards punting.

“It was a rough and tumble game, but our defense played well. I don’t believe Kentucky threatened the rest of the game. We shut Roger Byrd down and our offense drove the ball three, four, and five yards up and down the field. So, it was a game when we continued to make a turn in becoming a leader in the SEC by beating Kentucky.”

Looking ahead this week, One Old Dawg says, “We’d best put the gator chomp behind us because we’re gong to Lexington this Saturday and those Kentucky Cats are going to be scratching and clawing for a victory after losing three straight to good SEC teams. They’re out of title contention but they need another win to be bowl eligible so they’re still motivated.

 

"Also, I know it’s hard to ask our enemies for help, but swallow hard and get ready to pull for the the Aggies, Vols, and Hogs the next few weeks; we need one of them to whip Missouri for us. Sic em dogs! We’ve skinned two Tigers already; a Wildcat ought not be a problem.”

 

Well, that's it for One Old Dawg this week. The season has gone by so quickly. We only have three more posts from One Old Dawg this year. Join us next week, so you don't miss any of his mostly true Bulldog lore.