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!”
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