Fourth and Dumb

"[Our coaching staff] did a miserable job in the second half…I made some dumb calls."

- Florida head coach Doug Dickey, following Georgia's 41-27 win over the Gators in 1976

Midway through the third quarter of the 1976 Georgia-Florida game (the first between the schools when both were ranked in the top ten), Coach Dickey's failed call on 4th down and less than a yard inside his own 30-yard line was the turning point of the eventual Bulldog victory.

The Gators, who entered the game three-point underdogs, dominated the first half and held a 27-13 lead at the intermission.  Early in the third quarter, Georgia scored on a Ray Goff-to-Ulysses Norris touchdown pass.  On the ensuing possession is when the usually conservative Dickey decided to attempt the fourth-down gamble.

A Jacksonville newspaper ran an article the next day titled "Fourth and Dumb."  Florida's Earl Carr, the fullback who was dropped for no gain by cornerback Johnny Henderson, even questioned his own coach: “When I was running the play I was asking myself why in the world we were running this play.”

Six plays following the fourth-down stop, Al Pollard's touchdown run was the second of four unanswered touchdowns by the Bulldogs en route to their 14-point win.

After the Gators gained 234 yards and scored 27 points in the first half, the Junkyard Dogs held them to 65 and 0 in the second.  Georgia's Ray Goff rushed for 124 yards, completed all five of his passes, and was responsible for five of the team's six touchdowns in earning the Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Game.

As the game's final seconds were ticking off, sideline reporter Jim Lampley told Goff about the recognition.  The senior quarterback thanked Lampley but thought a fallen teammate, who had died just prior to the start of the season, was more deserving.

"I'd like to give [the honor] to Hugh Hendrix and put it in his name," said Goff.  "He inspired us all...Praise the Lord."

As the game ended, Goff and his teammates attempted to wade through the thick, celebrating crowd.  One player remarked that it was easy for the Bulldogs to get through the Florida defense in the second half, but reaching the dressing room after the game was a different story.

On the same field, a high school football game soon followed the battle between the Bulldogs and Gators; however, it was played without the Gator Bowl's original goal posts.  They had both been just torn down by a jubilant throng dressed in red and black.

What It REALLY Takes to Get to Atlanta

ESPN.com's SEC blogger Chris Low recently posted on how "defense wins championships in this league."  He illustrated how the SEC champion usually has a high ranking in "total defense" (average yards allowed per game), especially compared to its ranking in "total offense."  This apparently is also the case for the loser of the SEC Championship Game. 

According to Low, reaching the SEC title game since 2000 "has hinged more on having a good defense as opposed to having a good offense."  He is certainly correct in his assesment but it goes much further than merely the number of yards allowed per game.

More so than the number of yards a team's defense yields, the efficiency of that defense is a much better measurement.  As simple as it sounds, a defense can give up tons of yardage, but as long as it doesn't allow any points, especially "easy" scores, it won't lose.

I've been a proponent of the YPP (yards per point) concept/statistic for a long time, realizing that a team's defensive YPP is usually an excellent indicator of its overall success, especially (and obviously) on the defensive side of the ball.  

The defensive YPP concept is straightforward: the number of yards a team yielded per point it allowed.  The larger the number, the better.

Teams with a high defensive YPP usually have excellent special teams, force many more turnovers than they lose, and commit fewer penalties than their opposition.  In short, they have efficient scoring defenses; its opposition must work for any point it scores.

Here are the SEC champions since 2000, their defensive YPP that year, and where its YPP ranked in the conference:

2009: Alabama, 20.8 (1st)

2008: Florida, 22.1 (1st)

2007: LSU, 14.5 (7th)

2006: Florida, 18.9 (3rd)

2005: Georgia, 19.1 (3rd)

2004: Auburn, 24.6 (1st)

2003: LSU, 22.9 (1st)

2002: Georgia, 20.0 (1st)

2001: LSU, 16.9 (5th)

2000: Florida, 16.9 (4th)

The average defensive YPP ranking for the last 10 SEC champions was 2.7; the average ranking for the same teams in total defense was 3.8.  In addition, the average defensive YPP ranking for the last 10 losers of the SEC title game was 4.2; their average ranking in total defense was 4.5.  

Georgia's defensive YPP and its ranking in the conference since 2000:

2009: 13.1 (12th)

2008: 12.7 (11th)

2007: 16.0 (3rd)

2006: 14.7 (11th)

2005: 19.1 (3rd)

2004: 17.5 (2nd)

2003: 19.1 (2nd)

2002: 20.0 (1st)

2001: 18.8 (3rd)

2000: 18.0 (2nd)

The Bulldogs' average ranking of 5.0 during the decade is a respectable fourth-best in the SEC behind Auburn (4.1), Florida (4.3), and Alabama (4.6); however, this is due in large part because of remarkable 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, and 2nd defensive YPP rankings from 2000-2004.

In the first five seasons of the 2000s, Georgia's 2.0 average ranking was easily the best in the conference, ahead of distant-second Florida's 4.2.  Notwithstanding, the Bulldogs' lowly 8.0 average from 2005-2009 was tied for eighth.

Since Georgia began keeping official statistics in 1946, the Bulldogs' defensive YPP of 12.7 in 2008 and 13.1 a year ago are the next to worst and second from worst in the last 64 seasons at the school. Only the 1961 Bulldogs - a team that won just three games - had a lower defensive YPP than the 2008 and 2009 squads.

How can a team clearly have the most efficient scoring defense in the SEC (and likely one of the best in the nation) the first half of the '00s, only to have the conference's worst or nearly the worst in three of the decade's final four seasons?

Was this sudden change due to a lack of team discipline, complacency, or Willie Martinez?  Most likely some of all three.

Specifically, the 2008 and 2009 Bulldogs were poor on kickoff coverage, committed too many penalties, and, above all, forced very few turnovers.  The combination of these deficiencies led to frequently allowing the opposition good field position, which often yielded easy scores.

In 2010, the Bulldogs defense will line up in a unique scheme, coordinated by a new coach.  The hope is that Todd Grantham and his 3-4 formation will eventually have the defensive success Georgia experienced during the early part of the decade, and not a continuation of its last couple seasons.

To get to Atlanta's SEC title game, Grantham's defenders can certainly bend, allowing the opponent its fair share of yardage, but it can seldom break.

As the Bulldogs have recently learned, by quickly breaking without even having to bend, a championship in this league is not attainable.     

Look at the Sugar Falling Out of the Sky!

Although the call by Bill Hartman, Butch Clifton, and Buck Belue isn't quite as good as Munson's, one thing the television trio and the acclaimed play-by-play man agreed on: it was Sugar Time.

4th and 17, I know I'm asking a lot you guys, but hunker it down one more time!

One of the great moments in Georgia football history was brought to you by Atlanta's WAGA-TV and its "Bulldog Television Network," I'm assuming on a tape-delayed basis because (although it's been nearly 30 years) I distinctly remember only listening to this game on the radio (and wildly jumping around the house as Munson declared the Dawgs broke it up!  They broke it up!) 

This win clinched Georgia's third consecutive SEC title.  If you would have told me then it would be 20 years before we'd get another, I would have called you crazy.

After Herschel Walker scored a touchdown, Georgia couldn't convert a two-point conversion, and a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Auburn took over on its own 20-yard line with just under nine minutes remaining in the game, trailing 19-14.

The Tigers slowly but steadily drove the field, covering 66 yards in 12 plays (only one of which was a pass - a 13-yard completion) and nearly six minutes of game clock.  With three minutes left and counting, Auburn had a 1st and 10 on the Bulldogs' 14-yard line.

Then, as it had done all season, the Georgia defense stiffened.

The Tigers committed a five-yard penalty, Bo Jackson was dropped for a two-yard loss by cornerback Tony Flack, and quarterback Randy Campbell was sacked by Dale Carver back on the 30-yard line.

On 3rd and 26, Campbell completed a nine-yard pass to tight end Ed West, who, if he hadn't slipped on the grass, might have scored.  There wasn't a single Bulldog defender near West when he made the catch.

Prior to Campbell's last-ditch throw in the end zone, he had remarkably completed 12 of 15 passes, running out of the wishbone offense and against an outstanding Georgia pass defense that allowed only a 50.6 completion percentage all season. 

However, Campbell couldn't complete his most important pass attempt of the year.

The intended receiver, Mike Edwards, said after the game he never even saw the ball in the end zone, only two Bulldogs leaping in front of him, knocking it down.  One of those Bulldogs, cornerback Ronnie Harris, would say, "We had our backs to the wall, and we had to stand up and fight."

And fight they did, all the way to New Orleans...

What's In A Rank?

A couple weeks ago, some big Bulldog news was the commitment from Christian LeMay (Photo: MaxPreps), who will be one of the top pro-style quarterback recruits for 2011. 

His commitment made me wonder if, for the most part, highly-recruited players, especially quarterbacks, eventually see the majority of playing time and experience more success than lesser recruited players?  One would certainly think so.

However, I remember David Greene being not particularly highly recruited and he wound up starting four entire seasons and 52 games, winning an NCAA-record 42.

Had there been other Bulldog quarterbacks not highly recruited, who saw significant playing time, or was Greene a rare case?

In a study of mine, it was suggested there is a correlation between team recruiting rankings and final polls, particularly for the higher ranking teams and/or the traditional powers, like Georgia.

Does the same hold true for individual recruiting rankings of quarterbacks and their eventual on-field experience and success?

Personally, I prefer to use Phil Steele's team and individual recruiting rankings because he compiles information “based on the many different recruiting services across the country,” including Rivals.com, Parade, Tom Lemming, PrepStar, and ESPN.

Using Steele's rankings, I went as far back as I could (1992) and found the incoming freshman position ranking for every Georgia quarterback recruit.  Below, listed next to each recruit is the Bulldogs' record when the player eventually started at quarterback for Georgia.  If he never started under center, I comment on his time as a Bulldog.

For example, Brian Smith, Georgia's lone quarterback recruit in 1992, was the 35th-best quarterback recruit in college football for that season.  He would eventually have a 4-0 starting record quarterbacking the Bulldogs.

1992
#35  Brian Smith: 4-0 record

1993
#9  Mike Bobo: 16-10 record

1994
#7  Hines Ward: 1-4 record

1995
#36  Jon England: Although he attempted just 19 career pass attempts, England did reach a somewhat notable accomplishment. 
#71  Earl Chambers: Moved to defensive back in '97, starting at safety as a senior in '99...Never took a snap from center.

1996
#14  Mike Usry:  Like England, a backup in '97 and '98, seeing limited action because of Quincy Carter...88 career passing yards, one TD.

1997
#10  Daniel Cobb: After two years of not playing at Georgia, Cobb transferred to a JUCO, and then to Auburn in 2001.  In two years as a Tiger, he made 11 starts, throwing for 2,400+ yards.  Defeated UGA in '01 as starting QB.
#22  LaBrone Mitchell: Was the backup QB in '99, throwing for 30 yards on 3-of-7 passing...Moved to receiver in 2000 and caught 27 passes for career.

1998
#4  Quincy Carter: 22-9 record (Although a '98 signee with UGA, Carter's #4 ranking is from 1997 after he originally signed with Georgia Tech.)
#17  Terrence Edwards: Instantly converted to receiver, becoming one of the best in history at the school.  Coach Donnan tried Edwards some at QB in 2000.
#27  Nate Hybl: After redshirting in '98, transferred to Oklahoma, playing sparingly in 2000 and starting in 2001-2002...5,000+ career passing yards, 40 TDs, 20-3 record as starter, 2003 Rose Bowl MVP.

1999
None

2000
#31  David Greene: 42-10 record
#35  Sean Jones: Redshirted in 2000.  When Coach Richt arrived, Jones was moved to defensive backfield...250 tackles from 2001-2003, 7 int, 4 blk kicks, 2003 All-American. 
#66  Matt Redding: Redshirted in 2000.  No. 3 QB in 2001 - didn't see any playing time...Moved to linebacker in 2002 but left team soon afterwards.

2001
#3  D.J. Shockley: 10-2 record

2002
#21  Joe Tereshinski: 2-3 record

2003
None

2004
#10  A.J. Bryant: According to Rivals, the No. 1 recruit at the "Athlete" position...enrolled early and moved to receiver...Started at flanker in 2006 as junior...22 career catches for 393 yards from 2004-2007. 
#19  Blake Barnes: Played in 3 games as redshirt freshman in 2005, attempting three passes...Played in only one other game (2008 Sugar Bowl) for next 2 seasons...Transferred to Division II Delta State in 2008, where, as the No. 2 QB, passed for 533 yards.

2005
#8  Joe Cox: 9-5 record

2006
#2  Matthew Stafford: 27-7 record

2007
#19  Logan Gray: In two seasons (2008-2009), has 87 yards of total offense on 23 plays, 70 yards on 7 punt returns.

2008
None

2009
#6  Aaron Murray: Projected starter in 2010 as redshirt freshman.
#24  Zach Mettenberger: Dismissed.

The first thing I notice regarding the Georgia quarterback recruits above is all of those ranked in the top 10, as was the case with Aaron Murray in 2009 and probably Christian LeMay in 2011, wound up starting for at least one season, whether as a Bulldog quarterback, at a different position, or as another school's quarterback.

None of the top ten quarterback recruits were seemingly a complete "bust."

Out of interest, I also listed the No. 1 incoming quarterback recruit for each season since 1995:

1995: Dan Kendra, Florida State
1996: Tim Couch, Kentucky
1997: Kenny Kelly, Miami (Fla)
1998: Ronald Curry, North Carolina
1999: Chris Simms, Texas
2000: Brock Berlin, Florida
2001: Joe Mauer, Florida State
2002: Ben Olson, BYU
2003: Kyle Wright, Miami (Fla)
2004: Chad Henne, Michigan
2005: Ryan Perrilloux, LSU
2006: Mitch Mustain, Arkansas
2007: Ryan Mallett, Michigan
2008: Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
2009: Russell Shepard, LSU

Pulpwood "Spoke" vs. 'Bama in '84

A prelude to the Pulpwood Has Spoken series for the 2010 season...

Now that I'm wrapping up my book project, I'll have more time to post than I've had recently.  To get ready for the upcoming season (and now that I've finally learned how to convert and edit DVDs onto YouTube), I'm going to post a handful of memorable Bulldog moments via video.

What a better way to start off than with a video of the man, the myth, the legend - Andre "Pulpwood" Smith.  In naming him UGA football's top "One-Hit Wonder" in history, I mention that Pulpwood's name is recognized today by many Bulldog fans, who never knew of his football career at Georgia, but for unconventional reasons.  Nevertheless, he was a darn good back who could've been something really special if he would've kept his grades up. 

Although the quality is sub-par (and the audio is even worse), the video shows Pulpwood returning the opening kickoff and gaining just two yards on his first carry.  However, he would then break one off for a 44-yard touchdown.  On his very next carry during the Bulldogs' ensuing possession, Pulpwood would score again, coming on a 34-yard run on the same play as his first touchdown.

Pulpwood finished the game against the Crimson Tide with 117 yards on 12 carries - 80 yards on three rushes in the first 3:47 - in Georgia's 24-14 victory.  Two weeks later versus Vanderbilt, he would rush for another 123 on just 10 carries. 

From November 1983 to mid-October 1985, a span of 20 games, the Bulldogs had just two individual, 100-yard rushing performances, both coming from Pulpwood.

1910: The Greatest Game Ever

Entering the 1910 Georgia-Georgia Tech game, John Heisman-coached teams (Auburn, Clemson, and Georgia Tech) were 11-1-1 against Georgia, outscoring the Red and Black by a combined 281 to 63 score.

Continued from Trickery on the Mountain...

Following the loss at mighty Sewanee - a moral victory for Georgia - the Red and Black were upset at Augusta's State Fairgrounds in a 0-0 tie against an average Clemson squad.  Nevertheless, with two games left on its schedule, Georgia's record stood at an impressive 5-1-1.

The two remaining contests were versus Georgia Tech and Auburn - two of the best teams in the South.  Georgia hadn't had much success against either squad, especially versus the Yellow Jackets.

The Red and Black hadn't defeated their intrastate rival in seven years, losing five in a row by a combined 108 to 18 score.  Against teams coached by John Heisman, Georgia had been particularly unsuccessful.  Whether at Auburn, Clemson, or Tech, Heisman had not lost to the Red and Black since his 1896 Auburn team was defeated 12-6.

Like today, Heisman was one of the most distinguished figures in college football a century ago.  Twenty-six years before the first Heisman Trophy, the name was synonymous with winning in 1910.  This was especially true when his Yellow Jackets scored first.

It was stated that if Georgia Tech scored the first points in any game, the other team was "done for."

As many as 7,000 spectators braved the rain at Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Park, paying a variety of costs for admission: 75 cents for bleacher seats, $1.25 for the grand stand, $1.50 for the sidelines, and $1.50 for box seats.

At 3:00 PM, "the greatest game of the local football season" kicked off.  Tech's starting eleven averaged 6-0 in height and 168 pounds per man to Georgia's 5-10 and 160 - a decided advantage for the Yellow Jackets.

The teams traded punts to start the contest before Tech took over on Georgia's 42-yard line.  On the sixth play of the drive, Dean Hill scored on a five-yard run and Wayne Patterson added the PAT.  Georgia Tech had taken an early 6-0 lead (touchdowns counted for five points) and, if you believed what the media printed, the game was over; the Yellow Jackets were the first to score.

After Tech dominated the opening quarter of play, Georgia finally showed some life on offense.  From the Red and Black's own 15-yard line, Bob McWhorter circled around an end and began heading up field.  Dodging defenders, McWhorter sped to a 95-yard touchdown (the field was then 110 yards in length, not 100); however, he apparently had stepped out of bounds at midfield and the ball was brought back to the 50-yard line.

On the next play, Georgia turned the ball over and a scoring opportunity had been squandered.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Jackets were forced to punt.  Catching the ball at the 50-yard line, George "Kid" Woodruff returned the kick 20 yards.  Georgia struck quickly, scoring in a single play on a 30-yard end run by the great McWhorter.  Hafford Hay's successful kick tied the game, 6-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Red and Black committed a bizarre penalty when captain and starting left tackle Omar Franklin slugged an opposing Yellow Jacket.  Not only was Franklin kicked out of the game but Georgia was penalized 40 yards for the punch, giving Tech excellent field position.

Georgia's defense held and the Jackets were forced to punt.

Towards the end of the contest, Georgia Tech mounted a drive and reached Georgia territory before losing a costly fumble.  The Red and Black had possession at their own 26-yard line but only a few minutes remained in the game.  For the second time in the 13-game series and for second time that season for Georgia, it was evident the game was going to end in a draw.

Suddenly, right end Cliff Hatcher broke loose for a 40-yard gain to Tech's 44-yard line.  On the next play - another one of his famed, circled end runs - McWhorter ran for a touchdown.  However, he apparently stepped out of bounds at the Yellow Jackets' four-yard line.

It took the star halfback three tries but McWhorter finally broke the goal line on third down, scoring with under two minutes left.  Hay missed the PAT but it mattered little.  The game was called soon afterwards because of darkness.

In the 11-6 victory, Georgia rushed for 331 yards, at least 200 to 250 of which were gained by McWhorter.  The newcomer from the Gordon Institute had runs that included two 45-yard gains, a 30-yarder, another for 25, and both of the Red and Black's touchdowns.

Following the win, it was reported by the Atlanta Constitution that "pandemonium reigned" as Red and Black fans swarmed the field "throwing [their] hats."  Georgia had snapped a five-game losing streak to the arch enemy while starting what would be a four-game winning streak in, according to the same newspaper, the "Greatest Game Ever."

Biggest Bulldog Busts and Steals

Photo: Starting at fullback against Clemson in 1994, Terrell Davis runs for some of his just 26 yards on only six carries against the Tigers in Athens.  Davis played behind Garrison Hearst in '92, was part of an offense switching to a predominantly passing game in '93, and was in Ray Goff's doghouse and endured injuries in '94.  Still, "TD" managed 1,657 career rushing yards and 529 yards receiving in three seasons at Georgia.  What was perceived by NFL scouts as a lack of production along with a slow 40-yard dash time, caused the eventual, borderline Hall of Famer to not be drafted until the sixth round of the 1995 Draft.

In anticipation of the NFL Draft, the NFL Network recently aired the Draft's top 10 steals and busts of all time.  It got me thinking and I came up with Georgia's version. 

I considered both the AFL and NFL drafts since the very first one in 1936.  To be a bust, a Bulldog had to be chosen in the first or second round.  To be a steal, one had to be the 100th player or later taken or not selected at all.  This criterion barely excluded Hines Ward, Phillip Daniels, and John Kasay, all who might have made my steal list if not for the limitation. 

The countdown of the top Bulldog steals of the Draft:

7) JASON FERGUSON

Ferguson started at nose tackle for Georgia during both the 1995 and 1996 seasons, earning second team All-SEC in his final year. The 229th pick of 240 total selections in the '97 Draft, not much was expected from the former Bulldog when he was chosen by the New York Jets. Nevertheless, 12 seasons later, Ferguson is still in the league having played 159 games (127 starts) for the Jets, Cowboys, and Dolphins.

6) MIKE "MOONPIE" WILSON

In 1977, a court ruled that it was against the U.S. Constitution to restrict an individual player to a single team.  This judgment placed the '77 NFL Draft on hold for months and a number of players, like Wilson, couldn't wait to be a pro football player.  Moonpie, a first team All-American at offensive tackle in 1976, signed with Toronto of the CFL in February.  Regardless, more than two months later, he was also drafted by Cincinnati in the fourth round (105th selection), just in case he ever decided to play in the NFL.  After one year with the Argonauts, Wilson was a backup left tackle with the Bengals in 1978 and 1979.  In 1980, he moved to right tackle and for the next 10 seasons started all but one of his teams' (Cincinnati and Seattle) 149 regular-season games.

5) LEN HAUSS

Hauss played during the lowly Johnny Griffith era (1961-63), starting at center as a junior and senior at Georgia.  Also a dependable defensive player, Hauss wasn't selected until the ninth round (115th overall) and primarily only because the Washington Redskins thought he could play linebacker for them.  Hauss played immediately at center in 1964 and became a starter the following season.  A Redskin for 14 seasons through 1977, Hauss made the Pro Bowl five years and earned All-Pro recognition in seven. 

4) HERSCHEL WALKER

While he was in his third season with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, the Dallas Cowboys gambled and selected Herschel in the fifth round of the '85 draft with the 114th pick.  In order for Walker to play in the NFL, Dallas would either have to buy out his extravagant contract with the Generals or hope the USFL folded.  The latter occurred just prior to the league's fourth season and Herschel was in the Cowboys' backfield for the 1986 campaign, sharing the load with Tony Dorsett.  As I've mentioned before, just as much as it can be argued he is one of the greatest college football players of all time, it can be suggested Walker was one of the most undervalued players ever in the NFL.  

3) JIMMY ORR

Despite catching only 42 passes in his career as a Bulldog from 1955 to 1957 (Georgia completed only 150 in the three seasons combined), Orr led the SEC in receptions as a sophomore and senior from his halfback position.  He was taken in the 25th round and 291st overall by the Los Angeles Rams but played for Pittsburgh in his first professional season.  Orr was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1958 when he was third in the league with 910 yards receiving.  He became a Baltimore Colt in 1961, where he finished out his career in 1970.  Regarded as one of pro football's best receivers of the 1960s, Orr still ranks fourth all time in NFL history in career yards per touch with a 19.4 average.

2) JAKE SCOTT

"The Snake" left Georgia following his junior year of 1968 after only two seasons as a Bulldog and as one of the school's greatest defenders and punt returners in history.  After one season in the CFL, Scott was chosen in the seventh round (159th overall pick) by the Miami Dolphins, where he would be regarded as one of the league's best defensive backs of the 1970s.  A five-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl MVP in just his first six seasons, Scott played his final three seasons in Washington (1976-78).  For his career, he intercepted 49 passes and had a 10.4 punt return average.

1) TERRELL DAVIS

An expected fourth round pick, Davis slipped all the way to Denver in the sixth round with the 196th selection.  He made an immediate impact, rushing for 1,117 yards as a rookie in 1995.  From 1996 to 1998, Davis had arguably the best three-season stint by any NFL running back in history.  He rushed for more than 1,500 yards each year (2,008 in '98), scored a total of 53 touchdowns, was a three-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro, and was on two Super Bowl winning teams.  Injuries slowed Davis from 1999 to 2001, when he played in only 16 combined games, rushing for less than 1,200 yards.  He retired following the '01 season.  Davis ranks third all time in NFL history in rushing yards per game (97.5), behind greats Jim Brown and Barry Sanders.  

Honorable Mention: Bobby Walston, Dick Yelvington, Clarence Kay, Tommy Lyons

It's difficult for me to brand any Bulldog a bust, so here's my opinion of the top Draft, let's say, underachievers from Georgia:

5) TIM WORLEY

Worley, who left Georgia as the school's sixth all-time leading rusher in only 26 career games, was the seventh pick of the 1989 draft.  He got off to a good start with Pittsburgh, rushing for 770 yards and starting 14 games as a rookie on a Steelers team that made the playoffs.  However, five years later he had retired from the league with less than 1,800 career rushing yards.

4) JOHNATHAN SULLIVAN

Sullivan, the sixth overall selection of the 2003 Draft, was New Orleans' starting left defensive tackle as a rookie.  In three seasons with the Saints, Sullivan started only 16 games, recording only 1.5 sacks.  Prior to the 2006 season, he was traded to New England but was released from the team only four months later. 

3) JOHN RAUCH

Arguably the greatest Bulldog quarterback off all time, Rauch's professional playing career wasn't nearly as successful.  The second pick of the 1949 Draft by Detroit, Rauch didn't start under center until his third year with the New York Yanks.  He struggled mightily in his first start, was ejected for throwing a punch, and would only start for two more games until he quit following the 1951 season.  In 1952, Rauch tried his hand at coaching as the quarterbacks coach at Florida.  He would soon make it back to Georgia as an assistant (1955-58) and later became a head coach in the NFL, guiding the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl II.  

2) LINDSAY SCOTT

The speedy Scott is mostly known for running past and away from the Gators in '80 and ending his career the following season as the Bulldogs' all-time leading receiver - a record that stood for 14 years.  The 13th overall selection of the 1982 Draft, Scott was never better than third on the team in receiving during his four years with the New Orleans Saints.  After being let go in 1985 having caught just 69 career passes, the Atlanta Falcons picked up Scott, only to release him prior to the 1986 season.   

1) BERNARD WILLIAMS

As a freshman at Georgia, the 6-9 and more than 300-pound Williams was a reserve defensive tackle and a kick-blocking extraordinaire.  His six career blocked kicks (4 PATs, 2 field goals), all in his first two seasons, remain a school record.  Williams was moved to offensive left tackle as a sophomore and started there his next three seasons, earning first team All-American in 1993.  The 14th pick of the 1994 Draft by Philadelphia, Williams started all 16 games for the Eagles at left tackle and played well before his professional football career went to pot, literally.  After numerous failed drug tests, Williams was suspended and then banned by the NFL after just one season in the league.

Interestingly but sadly, four of the five Bulldog busts above all have something unfortunately in common along with a couple other Georgia players, who were considered for the list, namely, Odell Thurman and Quincy Carter - drug use was a major factor in the downfall or ending of their time in pro football.

If only they had heeded the words of Nancy Reagan to "Just Say No"...  Who knows what could have been of their NFL careers.

Mettenberger Can Learn a Lesson from Another Ex-Georgia QB

On Sunday, I was watching the 1977 Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Pittsburgh on VHS (sounds exciting, huh?) and then, a few hours later, heard about the Bulldogs kicking Zach Mettenberger off the team — two unfortunate events in the annals of UGA football that are separated by more than three decades and seemingly have nothing in common. 

The '77 Sugar Bowl and recent player dismissal feature ex-Bulldog quarterbacks from two completely different worlds. One was an African American, who grew up playing football on a coal strewn field in one of Atlanta’s roughest areas, and had already established himself as a star athlete at the University of Georgia. 

The other, Mettenberger, is white, grew up in Watkinsville, Georgia, far from any mean streets, and had yet to take a snap from center as a college football player.

Nevertheless, these two quarterbacks have more in common than is evident.

Midway through the final quarter of the aforementioned Sugar Bowl, Georgia was getting embarrassed by a score of 27-3 in a game that had long been decided. However, Pittsburgh head coach Johnny Majors did not want to leave any doubt with the voters that his undefeated Panthers of 1976 were the No. 1 team in the country.

Majors kept Tony Dorsett in the game so the Heisman Trophy winner could reach the 200-yard rushing mark while teammate Matt Cavanaugh, Pitt’s standout quarterback, continued to attempt long passes against the Bulldogs’ reserves on defense.

Instead of defending the padding of stats by Majors, Georgia coach Vince Dooley decided to prepare for what he thought was the future. The more than 75,000 in attendance and millions watching on television witnessed a rarity that afternoon when Georgia’s Anthony “Tony” Flanagan trotted onto the field of the Superdome—a black quarterback playing major college football.

As Georgia’s third-string quarterback, the 6'3", 195-pound Flanagan (Photo: Flanagan during a spring practice in April 1977 - The Red and Black) had played sparingly in 1976, seeing action in primarily just two games—a 41-0 win over Clemson and 45-0 victory versus Vanderbilt. For the season, he rushed for 73 yards on eight carries, including a one-yard touchdown run against Vanderbilt, and completed the only pass he attempted for 16 yards.

Flanagan was the first black quarterback at the school. The second wouldn’t come for another eight years when James Jackson, an eventual three-year starter, saw his first action in October of 1984.

Flanagan was under center for Georgia’s final four offensive snaps of that forgettable Sugar Bowl. He was sacked, gained only one yard on an option run, and threw two incomplete passes. As it turned out, it would be the final four plays Flanagan ever ran as a Bulldog.

At Southwest Atlanta High School, Flanagan was an absolute superstar on both the football field and basketball court. One of the most “celebrated high school athletes in Atlanta history,” according to Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Flanagan came to Georgia in 1974 on both a football and basketball scholarship.

He soon quit the Bulldogs’ football squad to concentrate on basketball, but would try out again two years later for the ’76 team that would win the SEC and earn the Sugar Bowl bid.

A cocky and confident guard on Georgia’s 1974-75 basketball team, Flanagan averaged 12.8 points per game and led the team in assists as only a true freshman. As a sophomore and junior, he again started for the Bulldogs and averaged nearly 11 points per game for each season.

In the spring of 1977, shortly after receiving an award for being the basketball team’s best leader, Flanagan began spring practice as the football team’s No. 1 quarterback. As the practices ended, Flanagan, like Mettenberger 33 years later, was involved in a three-way battle for the starting position, along with Jeff Pyburn and Danny Rogers. However, the quarterback race was soon minus its top contender.

Flanagan was ruled academically ineligible that summer and would not play football or basketball again at Georgia. He was the last Bulldog quarterback vying for the starting position to leave or be dropped from the team until two days ago when Mettenberger got the boot. However, Flanagan is a prime example of one who turned a personal tragedy into triumph.

Soon after leaving school, Flanagan joined the Hawaii Volcanos of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). A few years later, he was playing football for the Georgia Pride, a semi-pro team of the American Football Association. While with the Pride, Flanagan worked for a moving company in Athens during the day and played football more than an hour away in Atlanta at night.

In 1982, Flanagan was a starting quarterback for the first time since high school, leading the Pride to the playoffs. It was during the team’s playoff run Flanagan displayed the same confidence he had while playing for the Bulldogs, predicting, “I’ll be playing quarterback in the USFL next year.”

In 1983, Flanagan earned a roster spot with the Boston Breakers of the upstart United States Football League (USFL) and later with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.

After Flanagan’s career in professional sports, he returned to Atlanta to coach at John F. Kennedy Middle School, where he soon became a mentor and favorite of many children.

On January 12, 2001, Flanagan passed away untimely at the age of only 45.

How tragic it must be for Zach Mettenberger. He grows up a Georgia fan only minutes from Sanford Stadium, earns a scholarship to play football at UGA, is a candidate to start at quarterback for the Bulldogs as a mere redshirt freshman, and has the best performance at G-Day of Georgia’s three quarterbacks. Regardless, Mettenberger’s underage drinking prior to the spring game apparently led to his eventual dismissal.

This young man’s life is far from over, however, whether playing football or otherwise.

Mettenberger’s bad decision ultimately led to him following the same path as another former Georgia quarterback by getting removed from the team. Let’s hope he can continue to follow in the footsteps of the late Tony Flanagan by taking the right path next time and getting his life back on track.

Should a "Runner" Run Georgia's Offense?

James Jackson (No. 14) directs Georgia's offense against Arizona in the 1985 Sun Bowl.  Jackson's 1,359 career rushing yards (1984-87) rank 26th all time at Georgia and third among Bulldog quarterbacks.

In vying for Georgia’s starting quarterback position for the upcoming season, how much of an advantage does one have who is mobile over one who is not? Obviously, there is some sort of advantage, but how much of one is there for the Bulldogs’ two dual-threat quarterbacks? A lot? Only a little?

Although he has reportedly improved his mobility, Mettenberger’s legs are a weakness in his game. Gray is a runner, who was put on the field a year ago specifically for designed runs (although mostly ineffective).

Murray has great quickness in his feet and, unlike Mettenberger and most of the quarterbacks under Coach Richt, will make plays by tucking the ball and running. Granted it was in high school, but in the last full season of football he played, Murray rushed for over 900 yards and averaged more than 10 yards per carry.

A quarterback at any level who rushes for nearly 1,000 yards would certainly be a threat to run at the next one, even if the next level is against major college defenses. Richt has even indicated quarterback runs will be inserted into the gameplan if Murray or Gray was to win the starting job.

In considering the three Bulldog quarterbacks’ mobility, or the lack thereof in one case, I thought of the “runners” Georgia had at quarterback in the past. Although, it has been quite a while since the Dawgs had a true, running threat at the position.

Since Ray Goff rushed for 124 yards against Florida in 1976 to the present – a span of 402 games and 24 players who have started at quarterback for Georgia – only two Bulldog signal callers on just two occasions have rushed for 100+ yards in a single game (1990- Joe Dupree vs. Auburn, 1998- Quincy Carter vs. Kentucky).

I’m not forecasting Murray (or even Gray) will eventually have a 100-yard rushing outing, but if Stafford nearly accomplished it (83 yards vs. Auburn in ’06), Murray absolutely can.

I’m expecting (and hoping) the Bulldogs will fully utilize what should be a strong rushing attack in 2010. The offense should resemble the one of the final five games of last season - 243.2 rushing yards per game, 5.9 yards per carry, 66 percent running plays – more so than the offense in Georgia’s first eight games – 109.6 yards, 3.6 per carry, 50 percent running.

In my opinion, it undoubtedly would be a tremendous advantage to have a running quarterback, or at least one who is very mobile, to run Georgia’s offense in 2010. In the past, nearly every great Bulldog running team had a quarterback who could run, or one who was at least an effective scrambler.

Since 1947, seventeen Georgia offenses have averaged at least 200 yards rushing per game. These teams had a combined winning percentage of more than 79 percent - a favorable percentage to the other Bulldog teams during the same time period. Sixteen of the 17 teams had starting quarterbacks who were considered running quarterbacks (Eric Zeier in 1992 the lone exception) while fourteen of these 17 starting quarterbacks netted at least 100 yards rushing for the season.

Regarding the upcoming season, I realize this analysis is somewhat distorted to say the least, like comparing today’s apples or Richt’s pro style offense to yesterday’s oranges or Coach Dooley’s run-oriented, I-formation. The last Georgia offense to average 200 yards rushing with a running quarterback was more than two decades ago – 1988 – the final season of the Dooley era and his three yards and a cloud of dust offense.

However, consider this: There were 17 FBS teams last season that averaged 200 yards rushing per game – an average Georgia could very likely obtain this season. These teams had a combined winning percentage of 67 percent - a favorable percentage to the other FBS teams of 2009. Fourteen of these 17 teams had starting quarterbacks considered runners, who netted at least 170 yards rushing for the season.  The average net rushing yards for all 17 starting quarterbacks was a whopping 525 yards per player.

Merely a thought… Whether during the coaching days of Dooley or just a season ago, it is evident that if a team can run the ball effectively, it will generally win games. That’s no secret. Nevertheless, it is also apparent the successful, run-oriented offenses are predominantly directed by quarterbacks who can run the football as well.

All-time Greatest G-Day Quote

The colorful Bobby Poss, a reserve center and snapper for the Bulldogs from 1969-1971, has always been good with a quip. 

When Georgia played Nebraska in the 1969 Sun Bowl - a blowout 39-point win for the Cornhuskers - the Bulldogs scored their only points on a 6-yard touchdown run by quarterback Paul Gilbert late in the game. 

When Poss came out on the field to snap the point-after, Nebraska's Rich Glover, an eventual Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner, said to Poss, "No. 52, I'm gonna ram your head down to your shoe tops."

"Look a heah, Hot," Poss said.  "Ain't no way we can score forty points with time running out.  How 'bout takin' it easy on me."

In April of 1984, Georgia's G-Day game matched the Bulldogs' varsity versus a group of alumni players.  The match up only transpired because Coach Dooley wanted to keep his team's injuries to a minimum. (And allow the old alumni to be injured instead?)

When Poss, the snapper for the alumni, was asked just prior to the game what the point spread should be, he jokingly answered, "two - two kegs."

The alumni team shockingly held a 10-10 tie at halftime before the varsity scored 28 unanswered points for a 38-10 victory.  It was the first time Georgia's varsity and alumni met for the annual spring game, and the last.