A Gathering of Old Dawgs

This past Saturday at the Georgia-Tennessee Tech game, a few of the men who played on the 1964 Sun Bowl Champion team joined other UGA football teams also celebrating their anniversaries.  The crowd cheered especially loudly when the 1964 sixtieth anniversary team was announced.

We ran into George Patton at the letterman’s barbecue prior to the game. George, dubbed “General” by the late Dan Magill  played left defensive tackle on the ’64 team, was a three-time all SEC player and a two-time All American. He captained the 1966 SEC championship team. 

George Patton and Jerry Varnado

Joel Darden also attended the reunion. Joel's position was guard, and he played an important part in closing out Texas Tech in the Sun Bowl Championship game.

Jerry Varnado and Joel Darden

Jerry Varnado and Joel Darden are joined on the field by Bill Harber, who played on the defensive line in '64. 

Also joining the others on the field was David Cooper. 

There were many we missed seeing this past Saturday and none more than Coach Vince Dooley, as 1964 was his first year to coach at Georgia. 

Now One Old Dawg weighs in with a few thoughts and his prediction for the Georgia-Kentucky game this Saturday.  

"This Saturday we travel to Lexington to face the second of three felines we tangle with this fall. We had no problem skinning that tiger at Clemson, so I don’t think a mere wildcat from the hills of Kentucky will be a serious problem for the Dawgs. We must recognize however that we have whipped Kentucky fourteen years straight, a series record, which automatically puts us in “upset danger” territory.

"But our coaches have a lot of experience helping teams avoid the 'big head' in the face of great success or as the apostle Paul put it in Romans 12:3 to not think of yourself more highly than you should, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. The line on the ESPN App Monday morning gave Kentucky twenty-four points, which is not nearly enough in my estimation even with homefield advantage. I don’t gamble, it is a bad, dangerous activity, and would never suggest that anyone ever do so, but metaphorically speaking, at those odds I’m betting on the Dawgs!"

Thanks, One Old Dawg!!!

Recent One Old Dawg sightings in print:

"Bulldawg Illustrated" ran a photo of Jerry Varnado and Bobby Poss from the Letterman's Club.

A Group shot from the Touchdown Club of Athens program. George Patton spoke and is shown with Loran Smith, Jack Davis, and Jerry Varnado.

September 21 is an open date for the Dogs, so One Old Dawg will be taking that week off as well, but join us back here on September 25 for an interview with George Nowicki, another senior on the 1964 team. 

Until then, Go Dawgs!!

Who is One Old Dawg?

Jerry Varnado played defensive end at the University of Georgia on Vince Dooley’s first three teams, which included an SEC championship in 1966, placing Georgia fourth in the nation. He helped coach the UGA football team while in law school, and practiced law for over a decade. Later, after a series of tragedies, he gave his life to Jesus Christ. After much soul searching, he left his law practice and has preached the gospel for forty years. He’s still at it every Sunday.

Inducted into the Valdosta/Lowndes County Sports Hall of Fame, he is also the recipient of the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame Fosky Henderson Award for community service. He is a past president of The Athens Touchdown Club and is now the chaplain. He has been an FCA chaplain for the Athens Academy Football Team for ten years.

He is the proud father of four children, and one sweet girl now with Jesus, as well as Bapa to two of the best grandkids ever.

Check in every Wednesday through football season or better yet sign up to receive these posts in your inbox HERE. You don’t want to miss any of his mostly true Bulldog lore.