AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > December > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMorris starred in Tech’s Golden Age
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
It was years ago, but I can still see that play. It just pops into my head now and then, the linebacker turning the corner, reaching up with one meaty hand, snatching the ball put of the air without breaking stride. I couldn’t remember if George Morris scored on the interception or not, but Bobby Dodd later assured me he did. Don’t even remember the opponent, but I’ll never forget the play.
It was during the golden age of the Dodd years, and the best of his seasons at Georgia Tech. Twelve-and-oh, victory in the Sugar Bowl, and a share of the national championship (with Michigan State). Six members of that 1952 team were All-Americans, Morris, Buck Martin, Leon Hardeman, Hal Miller and Pete Brown on offense, Bobby Moorhead on defense. Buck, Pete and Bobby are gone, and now George goes to join them.
Some years ago, when Dodd was included in a lineup of coaches chosen to name the greatest athlete they ever coached for a national magazine series, he settled on a player who had played only one season for him. Clint Castleberry, a freshman of such skill that he was credited with a startling upset of Notre Dame in South Bend. Dodd was still an assistant to Bill Alexander that season. Castleberry later disappeared in a World War II bomber he was piloting, and there could be no faulting Dodd’s choice.
“Besides,” he said, “there were too many great players on the ‘52 team and I just couldn’t choose between them.”
Later, though, privately he confessed. In his heart of hearts, the chosen one would have been George Morris. No muscle-head, George. He was more than a hulking linebacker; he was an Academic All-American his senior year. He could think, sniff out opposing strategy and react. And, no, “hulking” is not a fitting word, but it will have to do for the time. It was a rare kind of football in that era, and George was a trim example. He never carried more than 215 pounds on his lithe body when the game was on.
Georgia Tech was on an unbeaten streak that ran on for 31 games, into the following season, by which time Morris and Ray Beck, among other Yellow Jackets, were on their way to the Korean War, where they also played a little “scrap-iron” football. Back from the Pacific Rim, George reported to the San Francisco 49ers, who had drafted him. They wasted him as a snapping center, and after the season he came home and found a new line of business with a soft drink company.
He returned to football as an official, 30 years in the Southeastern Conference. “Bobby Dodd had him three years, I had him 30,” said Jimmy Harper, head of the crew on which they worked together many a season. “He never was a student of the rule book, but he was a fine official. He’d throw a flag and say to me, ‘I don’t know what it is, but it’s wrong,’ and he was always right.”
Seldom was there ever a dull moment around George Morris. He still carried himself like an athlete, dealt in typical male humor, and the pride of his latter years came in serving as president of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, which, by the way, holds its annual selection meeting this very day. George won’t be able to make it. Talking on a cellphone from his pickup Monday with his friend, Jim Terry, another Dodd Foundation official, the conversation suddenly ceased. The light went out on his life.
He was 76, looked, talked and seemed, to those of us who had known him since his days with Dodd, as healthy as a horse. The old ticker just quit on him, only time, to my mind, there was ever any quit in George Morris. Now he goes to rest in the land of his upbringing in Vicksburg, Miss.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher, Tech / ACC
Comments
By cb
December 11, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
Great story Furman, about a great player. I remember those days in the early 50s very well. Great teams.
By DinkyB37
December 12, 2007 1:41 AM | Link to this
They are slipping away … Beck, now George, with Larry Morris in very poor health.
They were the ones who took Tech to true football greatness. That era is what Tech builds on when it refers to its “storied history’.
It’s not about the O’Leary era, or the Ross era or the Bill Fulcher time… It’s about the Dodd era and George Morris was one of the leaders of that bunch which never knew quit, always outsmarted the opponent, and just flat knew how to win.
Godspeed, George. With our thanks.
By reebok
December 12, 2007 7:39 AM | Link to this
Wonderful column, Mr. Bisher. Thank you.
By jim@pinemountain
December 12, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
great article. I hope coach Johnson will study and embrace the Tech history. I don’t remember the jackets wearing mustard colored jerseys back in the championship days.
By Jimmy Etheridge
December 12, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this
Another “Back In The Day” column…I don’t know which one’s worse, Furman Bisher or Dan Jenkins.
By GT65
December 12, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
Fu’dge’ you J Etheridge.
By JT
December 12, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Thank goodness for the ability to remember “back in the day”. Those were truly the days when dedication, respect, commitment, pride of school flowed on the field for the opening kick off. And, the stands were filled with people wearing jackets, ties, hats and, in some instances, gloves for women. Sure, there might have been a little bourbon eased into a cold CoCola but there were never drugs, offensive profanity, diamond earrings on men or pants falling off anyone. Most kids graduated and went into some kind of working career not associated with the flashy life of the professional athlete. Yep, I can remember those days and, fondly, as well. In fact, I wish they were back, and George too.
By fred
December 12, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Hi, Furman:I enrolled at Tech in ‘53, so my good fortune (no, “GREAT” fortune) was influenced by our values and traditions—-still are, I like winning teams/programs.
This includes family, business and our Country.
Some don’t “get this”, but some never “get” anything.Their loss.
Thank you for your objective, emotionally stirring writings, Furman.
By Larry Flowers
December 12, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
I grew up watching GT football…and admired Coach Dodd very much. He was the class we all look for nowdays. As a youngster I ushered football games at Grant Field and still have my football shaped arm patch. Although I am a UGA fan I have always respected coach Dodd and how he conducted himself and his players.Class like Dodds knows no boundaries nor wears any one school colors. RIP George Morris and yes, many thanks to you and Furman for your great writings.
By Jimmy Etheridge
December 12, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
Ah, yes, the good old days… when black people weren’t even allowed in the stadium except to sell “CoColas”.
By Gene
December 12, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
I was pretty young in the early 50’s, but my first recollections of college football were Tech-Auburn games with my father, who graduated from Auburn during the depression and felt like he owed Auburn for everything he had become. Auburn was his way out of the coal mines north of Birmingham. The game was always in Atlanta during the 1950’s, and Tech regularly won with talented guys like Morris. I think that Auburn finally won 3-0 about 1955, and that was a great event. Anyway, it is nice to read Furman’s article about a very different era of sports when athletes graduated and coaches were men of their word. We have certainly lost something very important.
Jimmy Etheridge, your point is the other side of the coin, and well taken. I also sold Cokes at Grant field with those black kids, and that is another great memory.
By Ben Gilbert
December 12, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Thanks Furman, I always look forward to your writings. I grew up watching Coach Dodd and the Jackets and if you didn’t expierence those days, you probally won’t get it, but you do a great job of bringing back those great memories.
By Jack Ramsey
December 12, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
As a Vicksburg High School team and classmate of George and Polly I say, “thanks for the memories”.
The family is in our prayers, Jack Ramsey
By Tom Cobb
December 12, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
Having gone to high school with George in Vicksburg, and later to Georgia Tech, I want to mention a couple of other facts. His younger brother Jim, also a center was captain of the 1955 team. I believe they are the only brothers to captain the Tech football team. Jim had a twin brother, John (now lives in Nashville) who starred in basketball at Millsaps and Auburn.
By Boots
December 12, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Some don’t know how to appreciate the ruminations of the “Dean of Sportswriters” and have to add social commentary to everything.
Great article Mr. Bisher and Jimmy Etheridge, get a life!
By Bobby Brown
December 12, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
As a child ofthe 50’s I always regret it when I hear about a former Georgia Tech or georgia player passing away.
From About 1955 on I have always been a big fan of college football. My favorite game of all time was the 1956 Tennessee-Tech game won by the Vols 6-0 on a pass from Majors to Cruze and a one-yard buck by Tommy Bronson.
I don’t have any remembrance of George Morris, but if he was held in high regard high by Bobby Dodd and Furman Bisher as a top player and person, I accept this as truth.
I ahve the utmost respect for the 50’s and 60’s era college football players that made the game what it is today. It was a golden era of college football and I am proud to have been a fan during this time period.
My condolences to the Morris family and the Tech legacy.
By gregocraker
December 12, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this
Never heard of the guy. But that dang Bisher, got a little tear out of this dawg fans eye.Course I am drinkin’ a little.
Kidding aside, Furman can really tell a story.
Mr . Morris was before my time. Sounds like a truly Great man.
Peace to all who knew and loved him.
By SavTechIE
December 12, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this
Too many great memories and emotions of those days - - was in the stands for every home game ‘49-54, and then the Sunday noon recaps on WSB-TV with Bisher, Mehre, Danforth, Outlar. They’d start with an hour on Dodd’s “boys” and then listen to Butt’s alibis for the next hour about how his “men” were outmanned again. I remember Coach Alexander watching practices in the stands. TECH was all football, George Griffin and Saturday math tests.
By true
December 12, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this
Morris THE example of a TECH MAN
By lp
December 12, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this
and THEY have THUGA!!
By Crandall Woodson
December 12, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this
Thanks Furman. Your column again stirs emotions as well as memories. He was a friend to everyone.