Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Countdown 2010: 72 Days to Go

72: Kevin McLee, Tailback #39 (1975-1977)


Kevin McLee, a Damn Good Dawg, was one of the dynamic offensive football players in the SEC during the 1970's. McLee came to the University of Georgia in 1974 from Uniontown, PA and wasted no time becoming a force in UGA's run heavy offense, earning 2nd team All-SEC and Newcomer of the Year honors in 1975 while playing with the great Glynn Harrison. He ran for 1,058 yards and 6 touchdowns the next season, helping the Bulldogs to the 1976 SEC Title and the National Championship game. While he didn't have the same type of season in 1977, getting 717 yards, he surpassed Frank Sinkwich as Georgia's all time leading rusher with 2,581 yards.

McLee was a big time player, as evidenced by his 198 yards rushing against Florida in 1976 when the Cocktail Party boasted both teams with top 10 rankings, earning him a place in the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame in 2005. He followed that performance up with 203 yards against Auburn the next week in what was, at the time, the greatest back to back rushing performance in UGA history. Kevin McLee passed away from a stroke in 2007 while living in California and will always be remembered as a great Georgia Bulldog.

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