He’s better now, and we couldn’t let
that wonderful Cotton Bowl game in 1966 go by.
So, here just after the National
Championship game is a special edition of One Old Dawg.
In one of our favorite pictures here at
One Old Dawg’s house, he’s at the 1966 Cotton Bowl, going up (88) to tip a ball for
a Lynn Hughes interception.
Dallas Morning News |
“Some
Dawgs were ready to close up shop after losing to the Yellow Jackets, not
wanting the embarrassment of playing in one of the ‘lesser’ bowl games. Not me!
Every game we play is a chance to get better. For the players, the bowl game is
a perk; they worked hard all year, and I’m glad they had a chance to go bowling.
I’ve never been to Memphis but I love soul, rock and roll and good barbeque so
I know I would love the place.
TCU
was a worthy opponent as they proved in the game, but in the end, we got
another W; 8-5 just looks better than 7-5. I enjoyed the game especially from
the beginning of the 4th quarter when we took the lead for good. Way
to go Dawgs!”
One
Old Dawg had a hard time narrowing his focus down for this post, because he has
so many great memories of the Cotton Bowl. Finally, he settled on three remembrances to
highlight.
“As
I mentioned in the last post, fifty years ago, we were 9-1, SEC co-champions
with Alabama, ranked fourth nationally and headed to the Cotton Bowl to play
the Southwest Conference Champion, Southern Methodist University, with an 8-2
record and ranked tenth nationally. Georgia had not been high in the national
rankings in recent years, and we wanted to prove we were back and that we
belonged there. Since SMU was ranked only six spots behind us, it would take a
decisive victory to prove our point.
“The
first high point was the second play from scrimmage, a simple dive play over our left
guard by bruising 165-pound sophomore tailback, Kent Lawrence. Kent was the
fastest thing on two legs most of us Georgia boys had ever seen. Those Texas
Methodists saw him right off.
Atlanta Journal |
“The
second high-point was the fact that we held SMU to only forty yards rushing and
Jerry Levias to only three receptions for sixty-two yards. Levias was an
outstanding receiver and an elusive runner with blinding speed. Everyone,
including us, expected him to be a major factor in this game but our defense
held him in check.
“The third high point was the last four plays of the game. George Patton had
come to Georgia as a quarterback. We spent a year together on the scout team in
1963 where he gave his best impression of whoever the quarterback was on the
team we played the next Saturday.
Athens Banner Herald |
Athens Banner Herald |
"As I look back on all the so-called coincidences that had to occur for things to work out as they did, I am impressed that God does all things well. So, I give thanks to the Father of the heavenly lights for giving me courage and strength to press on through the hard things and using them to perfect my character. Then I give Him thanks for the people who helped me along the way and for using the good things to give me joy, hope and peace.
Go
Dawgs!!!”
Thank
you, One Old Dawg. I came across a hand written letter written to One Old Dawg's parents by none other than Erskine Russell, UGA defensive coach who later would go on to do amazing things as head coach at Georgia Southern. He wrote, "I don't mind saying he (Jerry) has been my kind of football player because he has gotten more milage with average ability than anybody I know. When Jerry was in our line-up, we were a better football team, mainly because he was our leader. He kept others jumping. I know of no individual who has made a greater contribution to our program than Jerry has . . . He's a good one." High praise from one who would become a legend himself.
In reading all the press coverage for the 1966 Cotton Bowl, a quote from Vince Dooley stand out. Jim Minter, the executive sports editor with the Atlanta Journal questioned Dooley about the season ahead. Dooley said, “You think about people like Lynn Hughes, George Patton, Jack Davis, Frank Richter, Jerry Varnado, Ken Pillsbury, Jimmy Cooley, John Kasay, Steve Neuhaus, Dickie Phillips, Bobby Etter and all the others and you realize how much they’ve meant . . . You never know if you can replace people like them.” As he reflected on the team’s execution in the Cotton Bowl, he said, “I rate them a great team.”
In reading all the press coverage for the 1966 Cotton Bowl, a quote from Vince Dooley stand out. Jim Minter, the executive sports editor with the Atlanta Journal questioned Dooley about the season ahead. Dooley said, “You think about people like Lynn Hughes, George Patton, Jack Davis, Frank Richter, Jerry Varnado, Ken Pillsbury, Jimmy Cooley, John Kasay, Steve Neuhaus, Dickie Phillips, Bobby Etter and all the others and you realize how much they’ve meant . . . You never know if you can replace people like them.” As he reflected on the team’s execution in the Cotton Bowl, he said, “I rate them a great team.”
Athens Banner Herald |
Athens Banner Herald |
And
so with that, we’re signing off. At least for now.
We
end as we always have with a great big, Go Dawgs!!!!