The Countdown 2010: 30 Days to Go

30: Ivy “Chick” Shiver, End, and Tom Nash, End #79 (1925 – 1927)

In the modern era of Georgia football, we have seen a number of great receiving duos including Massaquoi and Green. But in the early days of Georgia football, when guys who played the position of end were the ones catching passes, Tom Nash and Chick Shiver were the first great receiving duo. Playing under Coach George Woodruff, the duo would lead the Bulldogs squad that would be known as the “Dream and Wonder Team”.

Chick Shiver grew up in Sylvester where he played fullback before coming to Georgia. Tom Nash also played fullback in high school, but both players had moved to end by their senior year in 1927. Both players were big and strong and considered great weapons for Georgia. In 1927, Georgia would have their first 9 win season, the lone loss being a 12-0 game against Georgia tech to close the season. Nash caught 3 touchdown passes and Shiver caught 2, as the Georgia passing attack racked up over 900 yards. During the 14-10 victory over Yale, Shiver caught a touchdown pass from HF Johnson to give Georgia an early lead. The victory was considered a major upset, as Yale was favored to win by 14 points.

Following the season, both Nash and Shiver were named first team All-southern Conference and first team All-Americans. Tom Nash went onto to play 53 games with the Green Bay Packers and later for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Shiver played baseball professionally, cracking into the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers and later with Cincinnati. Both players would eventually return to Athens as coaches for the Bulldogs and are considered two of the first Southerners to ever garner national attention.

The Countdown 2010: 31 Days to Go

31: Vernon “Catfish” Smith, End #13 (1929 – 1931)

The Georgia Bulldogs have had many great player nicknames during the 120 years they have been playing football. Names like “Red” Maddox and “Chick” Shiver to “Meat Cleaver” Weaver and “Pulpwood” Smith hold a special place in the hearts of Georgia fans. Another player with memorable nickname is Vernon “Catfish” Smith. The story of Smith’s nickname dates back to his high school days in Macon. Vernon won a 25-cent bet with a friend that he would bite the head off a catfish and the name stuck. During his first season with the varsity in 1929, Smith made an immediate impact in one of the most historically significant games in Georgia history.

The University of Georgia opened its new football field, Sanford Stadium, by hosting Yale in the fall of 1929. Georgia celebrated its new field by defeating Yale, 15-0. Vernon “Catfish” Smith, then a sophomore, accounted for all 15 of the Georgia points in the game. He recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown, scored on a touchdown pass, kicked an extra point, and recorded a safety. Here is some great footage from that historic day:

For the season, “Catfish” led Georgia in scoring with 32 points. He was the only Georgia player named to the All-Southern Conference team that year. During his junior season in 1930, Smith was once again named to the all-conference team. He caught 2 touchdown passes and converted 9 extra points.

Senior year for Vernon “Catfish” Smith would be highlighted by his great play against big opponents. When Georgia played Yale again, their coach (Mal Stevens) criticized Smith saying that he had not made a tackle in the two previous games against Yale. This enraged Smith, who promised to make a big hit against Yale’s star back. He kept his promise and made another big defensive play (a 26 yard loss) as Georgia recorded a 26-7 victory. Later in the season against Vanderbilt, a touchdown reception and safety by Smith put up all of Georgia’s points. He added an interception to stop a Vandy drive and Georgia won the contest, 9-0. For the season, he totaled 24 points on 1 touchdown, 16 extra points and a safety. He was named a consensus All-American and was a member of the All-Southern Conference team for the third consecutive season.

During his brilliant career at Georgia, “Catfish” scored 7 touchdowns, converted 34 extra points, and scored 2 safeties. This gave him a career total of 77 points scored. He also played on the basketball and baseball teams during his years in Athens. Smith would later return to Georgia as a coach in both football and baseball. He was inducted into the Georgia sports Hall of Fame in 1966 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

The Countdown 2010: 35 Days to Go

35: Harry Babcock, End #56 (1950 – 1952)

During a time most of the offense in college football took place on the ground, Harry Babcock became a star catching passes for Coach Wally Butts. The 6’2’’ Babcock came to Athens from Ocala, Florida, where he played mostly guard. But as a member of Georgia’s freshman squad in 1949, he switched to the end position (similar to the modern wide receiver) where he would become a force in the SEC. Georgia completed only 61 passes during the 1950 season, but Babcock was the recipient of 8 of those passes.

1951 would mark a change in the Georgia offensive philosophy with the arrival of quarterback Zeke Bratkowski. Bratkowski would become one the greatest quarterbacks in SEC history and Babcock was on the receiving end of a lot of Zeke’s throws. Babcock led the SEC in receiving that year, finishing with 41 catches for 666 yards. His signature performance came in the Georgia 35-28 victory over Boston College when he caught long touchdown passes (76 and 54 yards). He was named to the All-SEC first team by the Associated Press.

During his senior season in 1952, injuries sustained in a car crash would hamper him throughout the year but he still managed to put together a fine campaign that would earn him All-SEC and All-American honors. He had 8 catches for 106 yards against Alabama and caught two touchdowns in a win over Pittsburgh. Despite being injured much of the season, his importance to the team was never more prevalent than against Florida. Gator linebacker Arlen Jumper took a cheap shot at Babcock early in the game and Babcock retaliated. Both players were kicked out of the game. Without Babcock on the field, heavily favored Georgia struggled on offense and ultimately lost the game. He finished with 3 touchdowns and 456 yards on 31 receptions, second in the SEC behind teammate Johnny Carson.

Harry Babcock ended his career as Georgia’s all-time leading receiver. He caught 80 passes for 1,199 yards (still good for 16th all-time today). He became the second Georgia player, after Charley Trippi, to be selected #1 overall in the NFL when he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1953. Injuries hampered much of his NFL career and he was out of the NFL just a few years later. The player that Coach Wally Butts once said was “the finest all-around end I have seen in my 15 years in the league” was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

The Countdown 2010: 82 Days to Go

82: Dan Edwards, End #55 (1945 – 1947)

During an era where running was still the dominant form of offense in college football, Dan Edwards became a force catching passes. Edwards played in one of the most loaded backfields in Georgia history for a team that would go undefeated in 1946. The backfield included Charley Trippi and John Rauch as well as Herb St.John on the line. The Dawgs would complete a perfect season with a 20-10 victory over North Carolina in the Sugar Bowl. Edwards made the play of the game, catching a 66 yard touchdown pass from Charley Trippi that gave the Dawgs the lead in third quarter.

Edwards senior season in 1947 was not as successful as the 1946 campaign (Georgia finished 7-4-1) but Edwards put up one of Georgia’s best receiving seasons in the first half of the 20th Century. As team captain, Edwards caught 44 passes for 565 yards and 4 touchdowns. He capped off his amazing career with a 67-yard touchdown catch in the 1947 Gator Bowl. This play still holds the record for the longest passing play in a bowl game for Georgia. He was named to the All-SEC and All-American teams following the season.

Dan Edwards was drafted ninth overall in the first round of the 1948 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would play professionally for the next seven seasons in the NFL and the AAFC and was named first team All-Pro in 1950.

The Countdown 2010: 96 Days to Go

On Memorial Day, we honor a Georgia legend who would fight in World War II following his football career at Georgia. To all of the veterans and those who gave their lives for our country, God bless you. Happy Memorial Day!

96: George Poschner, End #41 (1939 – 1942)

"In my opinion, George Poschner is perhaps the greatest competitor of all time, both on and off the field. I have never known anyone with more courage on the football or the battlefield".

These are the word used to describe George Poschner by Georgia legend Frank Sinkwich. The two were longtime friends from Youngstown, Ohio. When Sinkwich accepted a scholarship to play football for Georgia, he did so on the condition that Poschner would also receive one. Little did Georgia know they were getting not one, but two future All-Americans.

Poschner played end for the Dawgs from 1939 until 1942. He earned All-American honors during his senior season in 1942. As the Bulldogs were marching towards their first National Championship, Poschner was a key passing target for Sinkwich. His biggest game came in the victory over Alabama, where caught two key passes in the fourth quarter to help secure a 21-10 victory.

He was drafted in the 1943 NFL Draft, but instead enlisted in the US Army. He was honored with the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Service Cross for his service during World War II that ultimately cost him both of his legs. He was inducted in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.