The Countdown 2010: 4 Days to Go

4: Frank Sinkwich, Tailback/Wingback #21 (1940-1942)

The first Heisman Trophy winner in Georgia's history was a 5-foot-10-inch halfback from Youngstown, Ohio by way of Croatia that, strangely enough, Bulldog recruiter Bill Hartman got a lead on from a gas station attendant in the Buckeye state.

Hartman was in Ohio to recruit the state's best back but quickly learned he was planning to play for Ohio State. That's when a gas station attendant intervened, telling Hartman that the best back in Ohio wasn't that kid going to Ohio State, but a young man that lived right down the street from that gas station.

Hartman paid a visit to the Sinkwich household, and the rest as they say is history.

George Poschner, a friend of Sinkwich's from Ohio, followed him to Georgia and both played on the 1939 freshman team. The "point-a-minute Bullpups" went undefeated, and the Georgia faithful couldn't wait for those freshmen to join the varsity team.

In Sinkwich's junior year of 1941, he led the nation in rushing with 1,103 yards on 209 carries. But it was his senior in which Frank brought home almost every trophy in the land. In 1942, he set an NCAA single-season record for total offense with 2,187 yards. He was named as an All-American for the second time in his career and led the Bulldogs to a Rose Bowl victory over UCLA as Georgia captured the National Championship.

The 1942 Heisman winner was voted the top athlete in the country by the Associated Press over Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, a year in which Williams hit for baseball's triple crown.

In his three-year varsity career, Sinkwich rushed for 2,271 yards, passed for 2,331 yards and accounted for 60 touchdowns - 30 rushing and 30 passing.

After graduating from UGA in 1943, Sinkwich joined the United States Marines, where he received a medical discharge due to his flat feet. He soon joined the Detroit Lions and was named NFL MVP in 1944.

The College Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 1954. Sinkwich's number 21 is only one of four numbers to be retired by UGA.

The Countdown 2009: 11 Days to Go

11

Number of former Georgia players in the collegiate football Hall of Fame. These players include Bob McWhorter, Frank Sinkwich, Charley Trippi, Vernon Smith, Bill Hartman, Fran Tarkenton, Bill Stanfill, Herschel Walker, Terry Hoage, Kevin Butler, and John Rauch.

The Countdown 2009: 21 Days to Go

21

Jersey number of Georgia legend Frank Sinkwich., who was the first southern college football player to win the Heisman trophy. The picture below is from the Georgia's only victory in the Rose Bowl, a 9-0 victory over UCLA in 1942.

The Countdown 2009: 40 Days to Go

40

Points scored by the Bulldogs in their first bowl victory, a 40-26 defeat of Texas Christian University in the 1942 Orange Bowl.

Frank Sinkwich led the attack for the Bulldogs, completing 9 of 13 passes for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sinkwich added 139 yards and another touchdown on the ground. as he earned game MVP honors. The Dawgs led 33-7 at the half, prompting Coach Wally Butts to call it the greatest offensive performance he had ever seen.

The Countdown 2009: 90 Days to Go

90

Number of yards covered on a touchdown pass from Frank Sinkwich to Lamar Davis vs. Cincinnatti in 1942. Georgia won the game in Cincinnatti 35-13 en route to a national championship.

Georgia Bulldogs in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay of ESPN predict that Matthew Stafford will be the first overall selection in April's 2009 NFL Draft. If Stafford ends up going first overall to the Detroit Lions, he will become the first Georgia player to be selected first overall since 1953. Here is a look at the three Georgia Bulldogs who have been taken #1 overall in the past:

1943 - Frank Sinkwich - Detroit Lions

After winning the Heisman as the nation's best collegiate player in 1942, the Detroit Lions took Sinkwich with the first pick of the 1943 NFL draft. He would have a short, but productive career winning the NFL MVP award in 1944. He would injure his knee serving in the Air Force in 1945 and that ended his playing career.

1945 - Charlie Trippi - Chicago Cardinals
#62 was two-time All American, leading the Bulldogs to a Rose Bowl victory in 1943 and winning the Maxwell Award in 1946. Trippi was drafted first overall in 1945, when he had left the University of Georgia to serve in World War II. Trippi returned to Georgia before joining the Cardinals in the 1947 season. He helped lead them to the NFL Championship, as they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles. Trippi's career would last until 1955, during which time he played running back and quarterback and also acted as the team's punter and kick returner.


1953 - Harry Babcock - New York Giants
Harry Babcock was an offensive end for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1951-1953. He was selected by the New York Giants as wide receiver, where he would play for the next three seasons. His career stats include 16 receptions for 181 yards.

Through out the years, Georgia has had 22 players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. With Stafford and Knowshon Moreno both expected to go in the first round this year, the list of Georgia players in the NFL continues to grow. Here is the complete list off all Georgia players taken in the first round.


1943 – 1st – Frank Sinkwich – Detroit Lions - TB
1945 – 1st – Charlie Trippi – Chicago Cardinals -HB
1953 – 1st – Harry Babcock – San Francisco 49ers – OE
1969 – 11th – Bill Stanfill – Miami Dolphins – DE
1972 – 8th – Royce Smith – New Orleans Saints – G
1982 – 13th – Lindsay Scott – New Orleans Saints – WR
1989 – 7th – Tim Worley – Pittsburgh Steelers – RB
1990 – 22nd – Ben Smith – Philadelphia Eagles – DB
1990 – 24th – Rodney Hampton – New York Giants – RB
1993 – 3rd – Garrison Hearst – Phoenix Cardinals – RB
1994 – 14th – Bernard Williams – Philadelphia Eagles – OT
1998 – 18th – Robert Edwards – New England Patriots – RB
1999 – 7th – Champ Bailey – Washington Redskins – DB
1999 – 18th – Matt Stinchcomb – Oakland Raiders – OT
2001 – 6th – Richard Seymour – New England Patriots – DT
2001 – 13th – Marcus Stroud – Jacksonville Jaguars – DT
2002 – 25th – Charles Grant – New Orleans Saints – DE
2003 – 6th – Jonathan Sullivan – New Orleans Saints – DT
2003 – 20th – George Foster – Denver Broncos – OT
2004 – 32nd – Ben Watson – New England Patriots – TE
2005 – 14th – Thomas Davis – Carolina Panthers – DB
2005 – 17th – David Pollack – Cincinnati Bengals - LB


GO DAWGS!!!