The Top 100 is Done, Congrats to Streit

Football is finally here and the Thursday night tasting reminded me why I forgo all other things in life to bow down at the altar of greatness that is the Georgia Bulldogs.

It also means that the Bubba ' N Earl 2010 Top 100 Countdown of the 100 greatest players in UGA history is finally over.

A massive amount of work and man hours went into it, with everyone here contributing throughout the entire process (you can't imagine the discussions that were carried out between four or five Dawg fans over picking 100 players, and then assembling them in some sort of order).

However, the idea belongs to Streit, he definitely put in the most effort (along with Mrs. Streit) to seeing this thing done, and it would have never been completed without him.

Kudos to Streit, and in his honor, I promise not to make fun of him one single time during the tailgate tomorrow. Okay, that's not realistic, so I promise to TRY and not make fun of him once tomorrow.

The Countdown 2010: 1 Day to Go

1: Herschel Walker, Tailback #34 (1980 - 1982)

Arguably the greatest player in college football history, if you don't know who Herschel Walker is then you should not be reading this blog. I could go on about his accomplishments, but that just wouldn't do him justice. Here's a look back at Herschel's career:

"Oh, you Herschel Walker!" - Larry Munson

The Countdown 2010: 2 Days to Go

2: David Pollack, Defensive End #47 (2001 – 2004)

In 2001, a two-star fullback from Snellville followed his good friend David Greene to Georgia to play for new coach Mark Richt. During summer practice, David Pollack was in contention for the starting fullback spot when injuries depleted the depth chart along the defensive line. At the request of Coach Richt, he switched sides of the ball and began making an immediate impact. In 2001, Pollack played primarily defensive tackle under coordinator Brian Van Gorder. He made 5 starts and earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman team, but few expected the amazing season Pollack would have the next fall.

2002 was a magical year for the Georgia Bulldogs and David Pollack was leader of one of the best defenses in the nation. Few people across the country knew who Pollack was, until Georgia traveled to South Carolina to take on the Gamecocks. With Georgia struggling on offense, Pollack took things into his own hands (literally) and put the Dawgs on the score board:

From that point on, everyone knew about Pollack. The only problem was that no one could stop him. Georgia won its first SEC Championship in 20 years and Pollack was named the SEC Player of the Year (the first defensive player to win the award since 1988). He recorded a Georgia record 14 sacks and led the SEC in tackles for a loss with 23. He was also first team All-SEC and named an All-American.

While he may have been an obscure sophomore in 2002, every team knew who Pollack was by 2003. Despite facing constant double teams, Pollack had another great season on his way to a second straight All-American honor. He had 92 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 2 interceptions, and 32 quarterback pressures. He was once again first team All-SEC and won the Tom Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive end. After deciding to return for his senior season, Pollack capped his career with a banner year in ’04. He had 52 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for a loss, and 41 quarterback pressures. In his final game (the Outback Bowl) against Wisconsin, Pollack made a play similar to the one that put him on the national map. With Georgia holding a lead in the fourth quarter, he forced and recovered a fumble in midair to help seal the Georgia victory. He become only the second Georgia player to be named a three-time All American and was awarded the Lombardi Award (nation’s top lineman), Hendricks trophy, and the Bednarik Trophy (nation’s best defensive player).


David Pollack will forever be remembered for his effort and performance on the field. His motor never quit moving and he could always be seen doing jumping jacks to try and fire up the Georgia faithful. He is Georgia’s all-time leader in sacks with 36 (the third highest total in NCAA history) and tackles for a loss with 58. He also had 283 tackles and 4 interceptions in 50 games (44 as a starter). He was drafted in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. After a promising rookie season, Pollack’s football career was ended in early 2006. He suffered a broken neck in a game against the Browns and was unable to return to the playing field. After retiring from football, he found a home as a radio personality in Atlanta, teaming with Mike Bell on 790 the Zone. He can also be seen this fall calling college football games for ESPN.

The Countdown 2010: 3 Days to Go

3: Charley Trippi, Halfback #62 (1941 – 1943, 1945 – 1946)

Paul “Bear” Bryant once called him the greatest college football player who ever lived and in 2009, ESPN named him the twentieth greatest college football player of all-time. Charles “Charley” Trippi came to Georgia in 1941 after choosing to attend LaSalle Military Academy for his first year after high school. He had originally committed to attend Georgia following high school, but his successful season at La Salle resulted multiple scholarship offers, including powerhouse Notre Dame. But Charley kept his word to Harold Ketron and enrolled in Georgia in 1941. After leading the freshman team to an undefeated season, he was ready to join a Georgia backfield that already included All-American Frank Sinkwich in 1942.

Trippi played behind Frank Sinkwich during the first half of the ’42 season, but Coach Wally Butts decided to move Sinkwich to fullback. Trippi took over as the starting tailback and the Georgia offense began running wild on other teams in the SEC. Here is what Trippi thought about the Georgia offense in ’42:

''We really had an awesome offense (after the switch),'' Trippi said. ''Frank's quickness off the ball was so devastating that you could not imagine a more effective inside runner. And his running opened up the outside lanes for me.''

Sinkwich would go on to win the Heisman trophy and Georgia finished the season 11-1 and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl. Trippi had 1,239 yards of total offense (672 yards rushing and 567 yards passing) despite only starting for half the year. Georgia defeated UCLA in the Rose Bowl and Trippi was named the game MVP after gaining 130 yards on the ground. It would be the last game Trippi played at Georgia for over two years.

Trippi served in the Air Force during World War II and finally returned to Georgia for the second half of the 1945 season. Trippi took a few games to get acclimated to Coach Butts’ new t-formation offense but finally found his stroke in the regular season finale against Georgia Tech. He set an SEC record with 323 passing yards and rushed for 61 yards, totaling 384 yards of offense in the game(also an SEC record at the time). He threw a 47 yard touchdown pass and returned a punt for a touchdown to cap his junior season in the 20-6 victory over Tulsa in the Oil Bowl. During Trippi’s senior season in 1946, Georgia would go undefeated winning the SEC Championship (they were also recognized as national champions in one poll). Trippi was the team captain and often played the entire game on both offense and defense. In the Sugar Bowl victory over North Carolina, he played all 60 minutes and threw a 67 yard touchdown pass to Dan Edwards. While he did not win the Heisman, he was a consensus All-American and won the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to the best collegeiate football player in the United States. For the season, he rushed for 744 yards, had 662 yards passing, and accounted for 14 touchdowns.

Charley Trippi was the first overall pick by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1945 NFL (before he returned to Georgia for his senior season). He played a key role in the Cardinals’ 1947 NFL Championship, totaling 206 yards in the victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of the Georgia Circle of Honor, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and is one of only four Bulldogs to have his number (62) retired. He was also elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the only member with over 1,000 yards passing, rushing, and receiving in his career.

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 2010: 5 Days To Go, Garrison Hearst

5: Garrison Hearst, TB #5 (1990-1992)

Garrison Hearst is a well noted Georgia Bulldog, but the high achieving level he attained at Georgia is often underappreciated. The Lincolnton, GA native is the #2 career rusher for the bulldogs, was a dominating, powerhouse back in the early 1990’s, and his name is emblazoned all over Georgia’s record books.

Hearst came to Georgia in 1990, and would become a leading force on the field in the SEC. Hearst would only start just over half the games his freshman and sophomore seasons, but would garner respectable numbers during both years. He would be the leading rusher for Georgia all three years he played, and was also the leading scorer on the team for the ’91 and ’92 seasons.

clip of Hearst's 50+ yard TD run in 1992 versus Ole Miss*

His junior season in 1992 was of near epic proportions. Georgia would win 10 games (with 2 close losses), and finish the season ranked #8, topped off by a Citrus Bowl victory over the Doormat of the SEC (commonly referred to as Ohio State).

Highlights of Hearst from the 1993 Citrus Bowl versus Ohio State*

Hearst would gain 1,547 rushing yards that season, and a total of 1,910 all purpose yards (placing him second in school and SEC history), as well as being the only other rusher besides Herschel to gain 1,500 yards in a season. Hearst would also set the SEC record for touchdowns in a season (21), rushing touchdowns in season (19), average gain per rush (6.8), and most points scored in a season (126). His rushing TD and average gain records still remain SEC records today.

Hearst’s national notoriety skyrocketed as he won the Doak Walker Award (given to the nation’s top running back), was voted a consensus All-American, and finished 3rd in the Heisman balloting (finishing behind Gino Torretta and Marshall Faulk).

Hearst would finish his career with 3,232 rushing yards, 3,934 total yards, 16 - 100 yard rushing games, and 35 touchdowns over 3 seasons.

Hearst would go on to be the 3rd overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. While sustaining injuries and health problems that limited his playing, Hearst played for 12 seasons, appeared in 2 Pro Bowls, and twice won NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

* Videos courtesy of the Leather Helmet Blog's Youtube page

The Countdown 2010: 6 Days To Go, Terry Hoage

6: Terry Hoage, DB #14 (1980-1983)

"The best defensive player I've ever coached and maybe the best one I've ever seen," is what Vince Dooley said about Terry Hoage at an Academic All-America Hall of Fame induction. Such is fitting for a superior athlete that dominated on the field, in the class room (graduating with a 3.85 GPA), and helped Georgia dominate college football in the early 1980s.

Hoage came to the Georgia Bulldogs from Huntsville, Texas and as a freshman he was responsible for a blocked field goal in the 1981 Sugar Bowl that secured the 1980 National Championship for the Bulldogs.


Go to the 38 second mark in this video to see Hoage's blocked FG

His next three seasons saw him perform at a legendary level, as he helped guide the Bulldogs (as one of the team’s essential playmakers), in an era of Georgia football that would claim a national championship, three SEC championships, and go 43-4-1. In that time, Hoage would display his talents through such achievements as claiming the SEC record for interceptions in a season with 12 during the 1982 season, and finishing his career 3rd all time at Georgia in career interceptions.

Hoage’s college career was filled with a plethora of honors and accolades: Two time consensus All-American, two time Academic All-American, two time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, 1984 SEC Athlete of the Year Award, and also being awarded the 1984 Top V Award that is given to the country’s top student athletes. Hoage also finished 5th in the balloting for the 1983 Heisman Trophy, gaining more votes than any other defensive back had ever received up to that time.

His post-career honors continue his legend with his inductions into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, UGA’s Circle of Honor, the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame, Academic All-American Hall of Fame, and being named to the Walter Camp All Century Team.

Hoage would go on to be drafted in the 3rd round of the 1984 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Hoage’s professional career would last 13 seasons, where he would play for 6 teams and win a Super Bowl Championship with the 1991 Washington Redskins.

Hoage currently lives in California where he and his wife operate Terry Hoage Vineyards. As is typical with Hoage’s football career, Wine Spectator Magazine named the Hoage’s the Top New California Wine Producers for 2008.

Terry "Superman" Hoage pic courtesy of DawgBone

The Countdown 2010: 7 Days to Go, Champ Bailey

7: Champ Bailey, CB/WR/ST #4 (1996-1998)

Hailing from as far down in South Georgia as is possible, Folkston, GA native Champ Bailey is often regarded as one of the greatest multi-position players ever to play college football.

Bailey came to Georgia as one of the nation’s most sought after recruits, and a member of one of Georgia’s now famous family heritages (with two brothers and a cousin that have played at UGA).

Bailey’s name is not plastered all over the record books at UGA, but that’s because he didn’t play just one position like a normal player, he played on every front: offense, defense, and special teams. Bailey was not dominant in one position; he was dominant in them all.

While only starting two games his freshman year, Bailey amassed 47 tackles (35 of them solo) with 2 interceptions. Starting his sophomore year, Bailey would become the feared triple threat player that turned him into a legend. His junior season was one of infamy, where he would play over 1,000 plays and over 100 in 7 different games.


Bailey would be named a consensus All-American that year by attaining 52 tackles, three interceptions,744 receiving yards, five TDs, 261 kickoff return yards, and 49 punt return yards. Bailey had near identical defensive stats during his sophomore and junior season, but his increased performance on offense and special teams made him a terror to the opposing teams every time he stepped on the field.

Bailey would top his junior season (1998) off by receiving the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the best defensive player in college football, and helping lead Georgia to a 35-33 victory over Virginia in the Peach Bowl by catching three passes for 73 yards, catching a 14-yard touchdown, and returning five kickoffs for 104 yards.

Bailey would leave Georgia after the 1998 season, and would be taken 7th in the 1st round by the Washington Redskins. Bailey has continued his dominating ways playing cornerback in the NFL playing for both the Redskins and Broncos, where he’s amassed 621 tackles and 46 interceptions, and become a 9 time pro bowl selection in only 11 seasons.

Here’s a clip of an interception and 99 yard return by Bailey against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Ironically enough, fellow Dawg Ben Watson would be the one to tackle Bailey on the 1 yard line, depriving him of a 100 yard TD interception.

The Countdown 2010: 8 Days to Go

8: Jake Scott, DB/PR #13 (1967-1968)

Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Manny Fernandez once said that nobody asked Jake Scott to sing his college fight song like other rookies in his first training camp because "he's the one guy no one messed with."

Living in Hawaii today, the unique former Georgia defensive back is a hard man to reach. But legend has it that he once drove his motorcycle up and over Stegeman Coliseum.

The 1968 team, referenced in the Bill Stanfill post, wanted to go to the Orange Bowl and Jake Scott represented the players in their plea to Coach Dooley. However, Dooley had already accepted a bid to the Sugar Bowl, beginning Scott's disassociation with UGA. A disassociation that lasted nearly 40 years.

He ended his two-year Georgia career with 16 interceptions and four touchdowns (three via interceptions, one via punt return). Ten of his interceptions were recorded in 1968, second only to Terry Hoage's 12 interceptions in 1982.

Scott left UGA early for the CFL in 1969 before joining the Miami Dolphins in 1970 and reuniting with Bill Stanfill. He recorded 49 interceptions in his career, still a Dolphins record today. Scott was the MVP of Super Bowl VII to cap off Miami's undefeated season.

In 2001, Dooley lobbied for Scott to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame with one condition - that he show up for the ceremony, something he didn't do when awarded as the 1968 SEC Player of the Year. It was relayed back through Stanfill that he wouldn't show up in 2001 either.

Scott finally reunited with UGA before the 2006 Georgia Tech game where he was honored in the pregame.

Like the Stanfill post, we've included a recent article on Scott. This is an excerpt from the Sun Sentinel in May.

Two Dolphins legends end feud, talk again after decades apart

May 08, 2010|By Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel

(Page 2 of 2)

You have to see Shula in the 1970s. He'd practice four times a day, led his coaches in calisthentics so they'd teach players properly, once chased after a referee who told him to relax over a 5-yard preseason penalty — "Five yards is my life!" Shula yelled — and was, in one word, his word, "obsessed." How do you think he won so much?

You have to see Scott, too. He's the most unique of those Dolphins. A person so loyal that, later in life, he would travel halfway around the world to see a college teammate on his deathbed. A player so feared even as a rookie that veterans didn't ask him to sing his college fight song in training camp like the other rookies.

And tough? Forget his Most Valuable Player award of that Perfect Season's Super Bowl. Scott played the first Super Bowl of that era, the loss to Dallas, with two broken wrists. They were put in casts after the game. He joked that when he went to the bathroom, "I find out who my true friends are."

These unbendable personas collided in the 1976 preseason. A team doctor didn't think Scott's shoulder was as hurt as badly as Scott said. A shot was ordered to numb the shoulder. Scott balked. Shula backed the doctor.

Scott was livid. Hadn't he proved his toughness through the years? Now he was ordered to take a needle to mask a bad shoulder? For some preseason game?

Their relationship had deteriorated over the previous couple of years. Once, the Shula family had spent an offseason day with Scott at his mountain home in Vail, Co. And David Shula wore No. 13 in Scott's honor through high school and college.

But this 1976 preseason moment opened their relationship like a wound. They began yelling in the locker room. What was said isn't as important as what happened the next day, when Scott was traded to Washington for peanuts.

If Scott could love deeply — and his teammates still felt it through the ensuing years — he could hate deeply, too. He tried to make things right with Shula at the 1982 reunion of the Perfect Season. Shula, he says, cursed him in an elevator. Shula doesn't remember it. But that was that.

Through all these years of the '72 reunions and banquets and good times, Scott stayed away. He didn't need the public cheers. He met teammates on his own.

He created a dream life on the island of Kauai, fishing, golfing and having a drink with friends. He still lives that way.

"Taking the boat out this afternoon,'' he said Friday.

But if there's a benefit of age, it's perspective in what matters most. Shula and Scott have lost friends and family. They've had personal ups and downs. Their faces have loosened and some hard opinions have, too.

"There's no sense to have a grudge with Shula,'' Scott says.

"It's silly we haven't seen each other all this time," Shula says. "The big thing was I got to say how I felt about him, how much he's always meant to me."

For years, '72 teammates have wondered how to make peace between them. Turns out they did fine on their own. At one point as they talked that day, Shula said, "You and Dick [Anderson] were the best safety combination ever in football."

"I wish you'd said that when I was negotiating my contract,'' Scott said.

They laughed at that, a good laugh on a good day to remember. And to forget. A wall tumbled down. And in its place, finally, thankfully, came laughter.

The Countdown 2010: 9 Days to Go

9: Bill Stanfill, DT/DE #77 (1966-1968)

The only Outland Trophy winner in Georgia history, Cairo native Bill Stanfill is known for famously harassing Florida quarterback Steve Spurrier and the Gators in Spurrier's Heisman season. The Bulldogs went 26-6-2 and captured two SEC championships in Stanfill's three-year stretch.

In 1966, Spurrier had basically wrapped up the Heisman Trophy with a game-winning kick (yes, kick) against Auburn. The Gators led Georgia 10-3 at halftime and were closing in on their first SEC championship. However, the Bulldogs turned them back in the second half, winning 27-10, and Georgia and Alabama shared the SEC championship that season.

The most athletic lineman in Georgia history in the minds of many old-time Bulldogs, Stanfill reeked havoc in Florida's backfield all day, and in What It Means to be a Bulldog, he states "in the second half, we took that boy [Spurrier] to the woodshed."

In 1968*, as Georgia was marching to its second SEC championship in three years, the Bulldogs dismantled the Gators 51-0 and Dooley inserted Stanfill at quarterback to finish the game, which didn't sit well with the Gator faithful.

Stanfill was drafted 11th overall by the Miami Dolphins in 1969 and would star on Miami's 1972 undefeated team as an All-Pro with former Georgia teammate Jake Scott on Dolphins' "No Name Defense." Stanfill retired early due to injuries at age 29 with four Pro Bowls to his credit, holding the Dolphins' single-season record for sacks with 18.5 in 14 games (1973).

The 1968 All-American and Outland Trophy winner was selected to the 50th Anniversary All-SEC team and the 1960s All-SEC team. He was also elected to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.



*The Litkenhous poll recognized the 8-1-2 Bulldogs as National Champions in 1968, while most other polls recognized Ohio State. That's what we call "an Alabama national championship" for the Dawgs.






*The following Palm Beach Post article is from 2008

Original sack artist Bill Stanfill is now Dolphins' forgotten man

By BRIAN BIGGANE

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, December 13, 2008

DAVIE — When Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter was asked recently what he knew about Bill Stanfill, he shook his head and raised his palms in the air as if to say, "Nothing."

Porter is not alone. Stanfill, a former Dolphins defensive end, played only eight seasons in the NFL and retired in 1976, a year before Porter was born. While other members of the "No-Name Defense," such as Dick Anderson and Nick Buoniconti, have maintained a local and even national presence, Stanfill has all but disappeared from memory.

But this was some player - a four-time Pro Bowler who, despite being forced into retirement at 29 by neck and back injuries, amassed 671/2 career sacks, a team record that lasted more than 35 years before being broken by Jason Taylor.

Stanfill's biggest achievement might be the Dolphins' single-season record of 181/2 sacks that Porter, who has 161/2, has in his sights. Not only did Stanfill achieve that mark in a 14-game season in 1973, but he did it at a time when the passing game was almost an afterthought for many teams.

"One of the best I ever saw," said former defensive line coach Mike Scarry, a member of coach Don Shula's staff for 16 years.

"Probably the most underrated member of our defense," Anderson added.

Manny Fernandez, who played alongside Stanfill at nose tackle, compared him to Hall of Fame member Dwight Stephenson, a Dolphins center who played only eight years.

"The fact he's never even been nominated for the Hall of Fame is a real miscarriage of justice," Fernandez said of Stanfill. "He had a short career, but so did Gale Sayers."

Vern Den Herder, who played at right defensive end on the line with Stanfill and Fernandez, said Stanfill's achievements were especially impressive because he was part of a three-man front.

"That meant more double-teaming," Den Herder said. "We played a lot of 2-gap defense, meaning we lined up head up on the tackles. Nowadays, most defensive ends line up on the outside shoulder of the tackle and get penetration every play."

Stanfill, who was born in Cairo, Ga., was a superb all-around athlete who was recruited in 1966 by legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley. Dooley recalled "having to play referee" with four of his assistant coaches, all of whom saw Stanfill (6-foot-5 and 248 pounds) as the answer to their prayers.

"He was the best lineman athlete I ever coached," Dooley said. "This is a guy who never threw the discus in his life, picked it up at a state meet and set a record that lasted 30 or 40 years."

Dooley said Stanfill could have played tight end or fullback but wanted to play defensive end. Good choice: He won the Outland Trophy and was named SEC Lineman of the Year in 1968. Two years earlier, he helped end Steve Spurrier's hopes for a national championship in his senior season at Florida when the Bulldogs beat the previously undefeated Gators 27-10.

Drafted 11th overall in 1969, Stanfill and the Dolphins endured a 3-10-1 season before Shula arrived in 1970. Miami went 10-4 that season and was on its way.

"We had a brief players' strike that first year that ended a week or two prior to the season, and then we did four-a-days," Stanfill said. That, he admitted, was "quite a change" from the previous coach, George Wilson.

Playing injured in those days was much more the norm than it is now. But Stanfill literally left his hospital bed to play in the 1973 opener against San Francisco at the Orange Bowl.

"I'd been in Mercy Hospital for 10 days with a lacerated liver, and early that morning, the team doctor (Herbert Virgin) came to see me and said my white blood count was too high, he couldn't let me out," Stanfill recalled.

"Then at 12:15, the nurse walks in and said, 'Dr. Virgin is going to be calling.' He did and said, 'Bill, do you have your car? Drive on down to the Orange Bowl.' I went down, the team was on the field, I got taped and went out and played 18 snaps.

"We won the game and when I was cutting my tape off, I noticed I still had my hospital bracelet on, so I walked into the training room and told Dr. Virgin, 'I'll give you the honor of cutting this off.' He said, 'No, you're going back to the hospital.' I spent three more days there."

Three weeks later, Stanfill sacked the New York Jets' Joe Namath five times in a game. He also had five sacks against Buffalo in 1974; among Dolphins, only Den Herder has matched that number.

In 1975, the injury problems that would end his career began. Nearly paralyzed by a neck injury in the first exhibition game, he missed the rest of the pre-season but returned for the opener. He needed cortisone shots before nearly every game that season.

"After the '76 season I got Shula's permission to see two outside doctors in Ann Arbor, Mich., and both told me I'd be risking paralysis if I played again. Shula said he'd make the announcement that I'd be retiring at mini-camp, but then I took the physical and Dr. Virgin said I was able to play."

Stanfill said his contract was guaranteed through 1979, and that then-owner Joe Robbie didn't want to pay him unless he played. Stanfill retired and successfully sued to get paid.

He has had a succession of surgeries since, mostly to his neck and hips, though none since 2001. Doctors have told him the hip problems are mostly a result of the multitude of cortisone injections he took to keep playing.

Stanfill has returned to rural Georgia and sells real estate, earlier this year selling some property to Fernandez, who looks forward to the two former linemates heading out in search of ducks and birds just as they did after practice in what was then a much less populated Dade County.

Stanfill admits he keeps tabs on Porter's pursuit of his record but feels Porter must catch or pass him in today's game against San Francisco for the mark to count. Both will have then played in 14 games.

"Otherwise they ought to put an asterisk by it," Stanfill said. "It's only fair."

The Countdown 2010: 10 Days to Go

10: David Greene, Quarterback #14 (2001 – 2004)

David Greene’s father was an Auburn graduate and his sister was a student at Auburn, so naturally David Greene wanted to become a tiger (or War Eagle or whatever). But in the fall of 1999, Auburn had its eyes set on Jason Campbell and did not offer Greene a scholarship. During his senior year at South Gwinnett High School, he earned numerous honors including Gwinnett County Player of the Year, Atlanta Touchdown Club quarterback of the Year, and first team all-state and chose to attend The University of Georgia over Georgia Tech to play college football. Five years later, Greene would leave as the winningest quarterback in NCAA history.

After redshirting the 2000 season, Greene was in a competition with returning quarterback Cory Phillips for Georgia’s starting quarterback job in 2001. After both played poorly in the G-Day game that spring, many suspected that new coach Mark Richt may turn to freshman phenom DJ Shockley to take the reins at quarterback. But as the season neared, Greene won the starting job and the decision to redshirt Shockley was made. Greene played well in his first three games as starter but it was Georgia’s week 4 matchup at top ranked Tennessee that supplant his position as quarterback for the Dawgs. Playing on the road before over 100,000 fans, Greene looked calm in cool throwing for over three hundred yards and two touchdowns. His poise was key in the final drive that gave Georgia the victory:


Greene was named SEC Player of the Week and would continue a solid freshman season. He was SEC Offensive Rookie of the year, throwing for 2,789 yards and 17 touchdowns.

In 2002, Greene would continue his success as the starter, leading Georgia to its first SEC Championship in 20 years. He made arguably the biggest play in Georgia history since Herschel Walker left Georgia in the November game at Auburn. With the Dawgs trailing late in the fourth and facing a long fourth down, Greene lofted a pass towards the back of the Auburn endzone. Michael Johnson was there to make the catch and clinch the SEC East:


During that SEC Championship game a few weeks later, Greene was outstanding, throwing for 237 yards and a touchdown while being named the game MVP. He was a member of the first team All-SEC squad and was honored as the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.


While Georgia would return to the SEC Championship game the next season, Greene struggled behind a young offensive line that gave up the most sacks in the SEC. While throwing for a career high 3,307 yards, he only threw 13 touchdowns and had a career high 11 interceptions.

After Greene and All-American defensive end David Pollack both decided to return for their senior seasons, there were high expectations for Georgia in 2004. The Dawgs got off to a strong start, including a blowout victory over LSU in Athens. During that game, Greene tied a school record throwing 5 touchdown passes. But the Dawgs were upset by Tennessee the following week, ending the dream of a perfect season. Against the Gators in Jacksonville, Greene had his best game against Florida. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 253 and three scores as Georgia earned the first victory over the Gators in the Mark Richt era. During his final home game against Tech, he broke his thumb on a touchdown pass early in the game. After DJ Shockley struggled and Georgia Tech mounted a comeback, Green re-entered the game in the fourth quarter to lead the Dawgs to a field goal. Georgia held on for the win, sealed when Reggie Ball forgot how to count to 4. For the season, he was named a second team All-SEC quarterback, throwing for 2508 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions.

David Greene graduated Georgia with most wins for any starting quarterback in NCAA history (42-10 overall record, later broken by Colt McCoy in 2009). For his career, he completed 849 of 1,440 passes for 11,528 yards and 72 touchdowns. He is both the Georgia and SEC record holder in career passing yards (11,528) and total offense (11,270). He set the SEC record for consecutive passing attempts without an interception (214) and started an NCAA record 52 consecutive games (also later broken by Colt McCoy). Greene was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2005 NFL Draft, but never saw action during a 4 year career. He now co-owns an insurance brokerage firm with fellow Dawg Matt Stinchcomb, is one of the host of the Annual Countdown to Kickoff, and can be heard doing post game for Georgia on the radio.

The Countdown 2010: 11 Days to Go

11: Knowshon Moreno, Halfback

#24 (2007 – 2008)

In 2006, running back Knowshon Moreno arrived in Athens after a record setting high school career in the state of New Jersey. And while his talents were clear to the Georgia coaching stuff, Coach Richt came to a tough decision when he decided to redshirt Moreno for the 2006 season. Georgia had three experienced running backs (Danny Ware, Kregg Lumpkin, and Thomas Brown) who were all juniors and since it looked as though carries would be tough to get. When Knowshon finally saw the field in 2007, he immediately showed flashes of the player the Georgia coaches has been talking about for a year while he sat out. It is a decision that Coach Richt still wishes he could reverse.

After all of the hype, Georgia fans were anxious to finally see Moreno take the field for the Dawgs. In the 35-14 season opening victory, showed his skills on this play:

The following week against South Carolina, Georgia fell 16-12 but Knowshon carried the ball 14 times for 104 yards, his first career 100 yard performance. After solid games against Western Carolina (including his first touchdown), Alabama, and Ole Miss, he racked up 157 yards rushing against Vanderbilt in his first start. With Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin out with injury, Knowshon was lone scholarship back for Georgia as they headed to Jacksonville to take on the defending national champion Gators. Knowshon would have the second of 5 consecutive 100 yards performances, rushing for 188 yards and three touchdowns as the Dawgs “danced” their way to victory. After big games against Troy, Auburn, and Kentucky, Moreno was hampered with an ankle injury against Georgia Tech. He recovered for the Sugar Bowl victory over Hawaii, rushing for 61 yards and two touchdowns on only 9 carries. For the season, 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 253 yards on 20 catches receiving. Here is a look back at his highlights from the 2007 season:

After Georgia finished the 2007 season #2 in the national rankings, there were high expectations for Georgia in 2008. Knowshon and Matt Stafford led a high powered offense that was ranked #1 in the preseason. He scored 6 touchdowns on his first 26 carries of the 2008 season, including the most amazing play I have ever seen in person:



While Georgia failed to live up to the preseason expectations, Knowshon continued to play fantastic. Highlights included a 161 yard performance in the victory at LSU and 131 yard performance against Auburn that included his first career touchdown reception. He capped his redshirt sophomore season with a touchdown reception from Matt Stafford that helped seal Georgia’s victory over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl. For the year, he rushed for 1,400 yards on 250 carries (5.6 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns and also caught 33 passes for 392 yards and two scores. He was named to the All-SEC first team and an All-American by the AFCA Coaches.

A month after the Capital One Bowl, Knowshon Moreno (along with Matt Stafford) declared early for the NFL Draft, ending a brief but brilliant career. He holds the 5th and 6th highest single season rushing totals in Georgia history, fourth in total rushing yards (2,734) and fifth in rushing touchdowns. Many consider him the most talented offense player at Georgia since Herschel Walker. He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos and had a successful rookie season, rushing for over 900 yards and 7 touchdowns.

The Countdown 2010: 12 Days to Go

12: Eric Zeier, QB #10 (1991-1994)

Arguably Georgia's best quarterback of all-time, Eric Zeier is being inducted into UGA's Circle of Honor at a banquet on Sept. 17 and will be recognized at the Georgia-Arkansas football game the next day. The current color commentator on UGA broadcasts is second only to David Greene in career passing yards with 11,153 and touchdowns with 67, and he still holds the record for most passing yards in a single season with 3,525 in 1993.

In 1994, as a first-team All-American, he became only the third quarterback in NCAA history to throw for more than 11,000 yards as he set 18 SEC records for his career.

Highly recruited out of Marietta High School, Zeier became a trendsetter as the most notable recruit to graduate high school early as he enrolled in UGA in the spring of 1991. His first start came against Clemson in 1991 in a 27-12 win.

Unfortunately, Zeier only finished with a 26-14-1 record as Georgia's starter due to the time period he played in and the porous Dawg defenses he played along side.

Zeier was selected in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

The Countdown 2010: 13 Days to Go

13: Bob McWhorter, Halfback (1910 – 1913)

When you say “Georgia Football”, the first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds is Herschel Walker and Vince Dooley. But prior Dooley’s arrival in Athens, another name was synonymous with Georgia football: Bob McWhorter. During the infancy of the sport at the university, Georgia was typically known more for its coaches, such as Glenn “Pop” Warner and George “Kid” Woodruff. But a 5’10’’ kid from nearby Lexington would give the Georgia program its first big star and one of the greatest players in school history.


The 1909 season had not been a successful one for the red and black squad from Georgia. They had won just one game and scored only two touchdowns in 7 games. But new Georgia coach Alex Cunningham brought a new direction to the Georgia team, as well as its future star player. Cunningham had been the baseball coach at Gordon Military College and Bob McWhorter was his centerfielder. In 1909, they played a game in Athens against Georgia, beating them 11-0. The next day, Cunningham was hired to coach the Georgia baseball and football teams, Bob McWhorter soon followed.


Bob McWhorter debuted for Georgia at halfback against Locus Grove College. Georgia would destroy the team from Locus Grove, 101-0, and it was the freshman McWhorter doing much of the scoring. McWhorter rushed for 5 touchdowns in the game. He also played the entire game on defense, a trend that would continue over the next 4 years. At the end of the season, McWhorter was instrumental in helping Georgia break a 5 year drought against Georgia Tech. He scored a 45 yard touchdown late in the game to give Georgia the lead and the eventual victory. He finished the season with 20 touchdowns and Georgia finished with a record of 6-2-1.


McWhorter continued to have success the following season as a sophomore. Playing the entire game on both offense and defense, McWhorter was the leader of a Georgia team that would only lose 1 game all season. He finished with 15 touchdowns in his sophomore year. Another successful season for Georgia in 1912 (6-1-1) was highlighted by an upset over a heavily-favored Auburn squad. McWhorter made two key plays to help ensure the Georgia victory. On their opening drive, Georgia lost nearly 40 yards on its first three plays from scrimmage. McWhorter lined up to punt, but instead took off down the field, going all the way for a touchdown. Later in the game with the score tied at 6, McWhorter threw a long touchdown pass to Hugh Conklin to give Georgia the win.


By 1913, McWhorter’s name was finally becoming known outside of the South. At the time, northern writers typically ignored players from the south when writing about college football, but that changed with McWhorter. The season began with 108-0 victory over Alabama Presbyterian and McWhorter had one of the most dominating performances in Georgia history. He had six runs of over 50 yards (meaning had over 300 yards rushing) and scored six touchdowns. The Bulldog captain continued to play great throughout the remainder of the season, including two touchdowns (one rushing and one on a punt return) in his final home game, a 19-6 victory over North Carolina. For the season, he scored 14 touchdowns and became the first Georgia player to be named an All-American. One New York writer had this to say about McWhorter: ''To Northern enthusiasts, McWhorter comes as a stranger, but not so in the South, where he is known as the most phenomenal backfield player the game has known for years.''

''To Northern enthusiasts, McWhorter comes as a stranger, but not so in the South, where he is known as the most phenomenal backfield player the game has known for years.''
While statistics from that era may be incomplete, Georgia records indicate that McWhorter scored a total 61 touchdowns during his four years for Georgia. That would rank him first all-time at Georgia (ahead of Herschel Walker’s 52). He was a four-time All-Southern Conference team member and was also a star for the Georgia baseball team. He turned down offers to play professionally, instead enrolling in graduate school at Virginia. During his time at Virginia, the Cavaliers traveled to Boston to take on national powerhouse Harvard. A running back named Bob White played halfback much of the game for Virginia and was the best player on the field that day. McWhorter returned to Georgia as a law professor at the University from 1923 until 1958. He served four terms as the mayor of Athens and the university named a dorm in his honor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954, the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1964, and the UGA Circle of Honor in 1996.

The Countdown 2010: 14 Days to Go

14: Fran Tarkenton, Quarterback #10 (1957 – 1960)

By the 1950’s, there had been a number of players who grew up in the Athens area that had found some success at The University of Georgia. But the expectations of those players was usually less because people did not think players from the Athens area got a fair chance from the Georgia coaches. Fran Tarkenton was born in the Washington area and moved to Athens when his father got a preaching job in Athens. He played for Weyman Sellers at Athens High School, leading them to a state championship over state-powerhouse Valdosta. When he began his career at Georgia, he set out to change the theory that Athens players couldn’t star at Georgia. A theory Tarketon wrote about in his autobiography saying, “It was the kind of theory that had something in common with many theories: it was really hard to prove, and it was probably filled with gas.”

After playing for the freshman team in 1957, Tarkenton sat third on the depth chart in his sophomore season behind Charlie Britt and Tommy Lewis. In the season opener against Texas, Georgia was trailing in the fourth quarter, failing to score all game. Tarkenton convinced Coach Butts to put him in and he promptly led Georgia on a 95 yards scoring drive that ended with a Tarkenton touchdown pass and 2 point conversion. Texas scored again to take the lead, but Butts sent Charlie Britt back out to quarterback the next series and Georgia lost. There was an uproar in Athens following the game, and Tarkenton took over as starter. But Butts substituted Britt early in the next game, and Georgia once again lost. But Tarketnon continued to play sparingly. He almost left Athens (for Florida State), but Quinton Lumpkin helped talk Fran into staying.

From then on, Fran Tarkenton played a lot of quarterback at Georgia. Charlie Britt was still at Georgia, but began to spend a larger portion of his time on the defensive side of the ball. In 1959, he completed 62 of 102 passing attempts for 736 yards and 6 touchdowns. None was more important than the touchdown pass he threw late in the fourth quarter against Auburn. The winner of the game would be the SEC Champion and head to the Orange Bowl and Georgia was trailing 13-7 with just 30 seconds to go. From the Auburn 13, Tarkenton found a wide open Bill Herron for the game winning touchdown.

Georgia would go on to be Missouri 14-0 in the Orange Bowl. He was the full time starter in 1960, throwing for 1,189 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the SEC leader in total offense with 1,274 yards and was named first team All-SEC and named an All-American by the Associated Press.

Fran Tarkenton was drafted in the third round of the 1961 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He would become one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He led the Minnesota Vikings to three Super Bowls and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading passer. He threw for 47,003 yards and 342 touchdowns (both records have since been broken by Dan Marino and Brett Favre). He was inducted into both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here’s a look at his NFL career:

The Countdown 2010: 15 Days to Go

15: Scott Woerner, Cornerback/ Kick Returner #19 (1977 – 1980)

In recent years, Georgia has seen a number of players who have excelled in both the defensive backfield and as a kick returner. Scott Woerner may be the best of that group. The Texas native made his first mark at Georgia during his freshman season in 1977. While playing sparingly on defense, Woerner became the starter at both kickoff and punt returner. He returned 22 kickoffs for 546 yards (24.8 average) and 12 punts for 112 yards. He set the Georgia single game record for kickoff returns yards with 190 against Kentucky.

During his sophomore season, Woerner would continue in his role as kick returner and cracked the starting lineup at corner. While Lindsay Scot took over as the team’s leading kickoff returner, Woerner still led the team in punt returns (23 for 277 yards and a touchdown). He added 66 tackles and 4 interceptions on defense. 1979 saw much of the same success he had during 1978, leading the Bulldogs in punt returns (22 for 200 yards) and interceptions (4). He returned in 1980 for what would be a magical senior season.

Scott Woerner played a pivot role in Georgia’s 1980 SEC and National Championships. In Georgia’s early season game against Clemson, Worner returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown:


His solid play at corner and returner continued throughout the 1980 season and he once again came up big in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame. He had two interceptions during the game, including one late in the 4th that sealed the contest for the Bulldogs:


Woerner was named first team All-SEC and a first team All-American. He regained his role as the leading kickoff returner (9 for 232 yards). Scott Woerner also led the NCAA in punt return yardage, 31 for 488 yards and a touchdown. It was also another great season on defense, as he totaled 47 tackles and a career high 5 interception.

Scott Woerner sits near the top of a number of categories in the Georgia record book. He is fourth all-time in interceptions with 13 (for 303 return yards, 2nd most all-time). He is fifth all-time in kickoff return yardage with 839 yards on 35 returns. He is the second leading punt returner in school history behind Damien Gary with a total 1077 yards on 88 carries (12.2 average) and 2 touchdowns. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and played 1 season in the NFL before moving onto a career in the short-lived USFL.

The Countdown 2010: 16 Days to Go

16: Kevin Butler, Kicker #5 (1981 – 1984)

Kevin Butler (with #99 Drew Butler) completes the only father-son pair in our countdown. Kevin Butler inherited the placekicking job from Rex Robinson following the National Championship Season in 1980. Butler’s career at Georgia got off to a great start that fall. Butler kicked 17 field goals in what would be the first of 4 All-SEC seasons in Athens. With Dawgs completing another undefeated regular season in 1982 (they would lose to Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl), Butler racked up 85 points on 17 field goals and 34 PATs. Butler would make 18 of 23 field goals in 1983, earning the first All-American honor of his career.

During his final season at Georgia in 1984, Butler would make a kick that cemented his legend in Bulldog history. The Dawgs were tied with rival Clemson at home late in the fourth quarter. Georgia drove the ball just inside Clemson territory and lined up for what would be a 60 yard attempt. Here is the call from Larry Munson:


Kevin Butler would go onto an All-Pro career in the NFL, playing on the Super Bowl winning Chicago Bears under Coach Mike Ditka. In years in Athens saw his make 77 of 98 field goal attempts, including kicks of 60, 59, 53, and 52. He was a four time All-SEC selection and two-time first team All-American. He is lone kicker to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and is arguably the greatest kicker in NCAA history.

The Countdown 2010: 17 Days to Go

17) Hines Ward, All Everything, #19 (1994-1997)

Hines Ward, a Damn Good Dawg, came to the University of Georgia in 1994 a heavily recruited athlete and undersized quarterback. When he left in 1997, his name was all over the Bulldog record books and entrenched in the hearts of Dawg fans everywhere as one of the most versatile offensive threats in UGA's history.

A graduate of Forest Park High School south of Atlanta, Ward was a consensus prep All-American and two time Clayton County Offensive player of the year. He found a role as a reserve QB before splitting time and later starting games at Tailback. In the 1995 season, Mike Bobo became the starting QB while former CB Robert Edwards took over the RB position and Hines moved to Flanker. He couldn't get comfortable there as Bobo and back-up QB Brian Smith were soon lost to injury forcing Ward's move back to QB. While he struggled in early starts, his 413 yards passing against Virginia in the Peach Bowl kept UGA in the game before a Kickoff Return for a TD from the Cavilers doomed the Dawgs.

1996 Marked the start of the Jim Donnan era in Athens, and while team results were mixed, Wards was outstanding catching 52 passes for 900 yards for All SEC honors. He would help lead the 1997 squad to a 10-2 record and top 10 finish, including memorable wins over Florida, Georgia Tech and Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.

For his career, he had 3,870 all purpose yards (rushing, receiving, and returning), good for second all time in the Georgia record books behind Herschel Walker. His NFL career has been well documented after being a 3rd round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His 895 receptions, 10,947 yards and 78 receiving TD's on Football's biggest stage are Fall of Fame worthy on their own, but when you add 2 Super Bowls, one Super Bowl MVP, endless highlights of helmet jarring blocks, and his philanthropic efforts, you get the idea of how special Hines Ward is and how his grit, determination, heart and hard play are what make him a legendary Georgia Bulldog and truly unique NFL player, both on and off the field.

The Countdown 2010: 18 Days to Go

18: John Rauch, Quarterback #18 (1945 - 1948)*

As a child, John “Johnny” Rauch’s doctor advised him to quit football due to a heart condition. He ignored these warnings and went on to become one of Georgia’s top quarterbacks. John came to Athens from the state of Pennsylvania; a state which produced five of the fourteen Georgia players named as All-Americans from 1941-1964. After originally committing to the University of Tennessee as a tailback, he reluctantly accepted an invitation to come to Athens under the promise of being the starting quarterback.

As a true freshman in 1945, he led the Dawgs to a record of 36-8-1 during his four year stint as quarterback. One of his most notable games was against LSU in 1947. After an eight-game losing streak, Rauch threw for three touchdowns and led the Dawgs to their first win over the Tigers since 1928. John Rauch often had a reputation for playing in pain, as evidenced by him wearing a mask made of steel of protect a cheekbone that was crushed in a 1946 game against Oklahoma A&M. It was during this 1946 season that Rauch led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season. Rauch was also the only quarterback to start in four consecutive bowl games. In addition to his career as quarterback, he also played defense. He totaled 13 interceptions, which is still tied for third a record in Georgia history.

John was named the first team All-American in 1948. One of Rauch’s most impressive accomplishments was setting the NCAA record with 4,044 passing yards, which was later broken in 1950. Rauch was inducted into the College football Hall of Fame in 2003.

*This article was contributed by Streit's wife, Melissa

The Countdown 2010: 19 Days to Go

Pat Dye, OG #60 (1957-1960)

Patrick Fain Dye is best known as Auburn's head coach from 1981 to 1992. A successful tenure that yielded 99 wins and four SEC championships ended in a dark cloud of pay-for-play allegations supported by the infamous Eric Ramsey tapes played nationally on 60 Minutes, and landing Auburn on probation in 1993 and 1994. Yet Pat Dye is still beloved on the Plains for what he accomplished in the 1980s. A program that hadn't won an SEC championship since 1957 played in the Sugar Bowl three times in its most successful decade.

Born and raised in Blythe, Georgia, outside of Augusta, Dye's mother was a school teacher and a graduate of the University of Georgia. His father was a farmer. As a senior at Richmond Academy, Dye was the captain of the 1956 3A state championship team and named the Atlanta Journal's 3A Lineman of the Year.

Playing for Wally Butts' final teams at UGA, he was named first team All-SEC in 1958 and an All-American in 1959 and 1960. The Atlanta Touchdown Club also named him the SEC's Most Valuable Lineman in 1960. He also secured a fumble in 1959 versus Auburn to help win 14-13 and seal an SEC championship for the Dawgs.

After three seasons in the CFL playing for the Edmonton Eskimos, Dye served two years in the U.S. Army fulfilling an ROTC obligation. He then became an assistant coach to Bear Bryant at Alabama, serving from 1965 to 1973.

Hired as East Carolina's head coach in 1974, Dye compiled a 48-18-1 record in six seasons. He then coached at Wyoming for one season (1980) before being named Auburn's head coach.

Vince Dooley's signature on an AU helmet; and Pat Dye's signature on a UGA helmet

As Auburn was busy courting Vince Dooley before Georgia's 1981 Sugar Bowl matchup with Notre Dame, Dye became greatly interested in the head position at his alma mater. However, Dooley finally turned down the Auburn job and Dye shifted his attention. In fact, he resigned his position at Wyoming before Auburn ever offered him the job. But his gamble paid off on January 2, 1981 when the Tigers announced him as head coach.