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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPlaying hometown favorites
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I saw where the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame is inducting its 2006 honorees, including the late Bulldog legend Bob Poss Jr., Monday at the Classic Center.
Of course, the Hall of Fame is not limited to Athens natives who played football or those went to the University of Georgia — with tennis greats Dan Magill and Danny Birchmore and such non-UGA notables as Homer Jordan (who led Clemson to a national championship) and Billy Gambrell (who starred at South Carolina before playing in the NFL) among the members.
But for such a small town, Athens has produced more than its share of Bulldog football greats over the decades, including quite a few kickers such as John Kasay and Billy Bennett in recent years, and reading about the Hall of Fame set me to thinking about some of my favorite UGA football players who hailed from the Classic City.
My personal all-time favorites are quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Andy Johnson and defensive legend Jake Scott
Tarkenton, of course, led Georgia to an SEC championship and Orange Bowl victory before going on to become a scrambling legend in the NFL and later a network TV personality and successful businessman. He’s the first Bulldog star I really remember.
Johnson, probably the Bulldogs’ best running QB ever and engineer (pardon the term) of a thrilling Thanksgiving night win over the Trade School, was a classmate of mine from 7th grade on who led Athens High to a co-state championship with Valdosta in 1969. He had a long NFL career, and he’s also one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet.
I’ve never heard anyone say that about Scott, who cultivated a sort of bad-boy image both in Athens and when he starred for the Dolphins in the NFL, but he was certainly one of the most thrilling defensive backs I’ve ever seen. Like so many other future Bulldog stars, Scott started out playing football at the Athens YMCA under Coburn Kelley, but moved to Virginia to finish high school before coming back to UGA. My own memory of him is that he was one of the instructors of my summer Driver’s Ed class!
I wondered who other Athens natives would pick, so I conducted a totally unscientific poll (this is the Internet, after all!) asking hometown folks to name their favorite Dawgs. Not the best or greatest, but their favorite. I expected Tarkenton to come out on top, but Andy Johnson was the favorite pick by far. Tarkenton (who one friend of mine remembered teaching him to swim at the Y) finished in a tie for second with Clarke Central running back Horace King, who after becoming one of UGA’s first group of black football players went on to play eight seasons with Detroit in the NFL.
The next group, drawing support from multiple respondents, included Jake Scott, all-SEC defensive tackle Jimmy Payne, Bobby Poss (son of Bob Poss Jr., mentioned primarily as a great storyteller!) and quarterback Paul Gilbert (who for quite a few years sat in front of me with his family at Sanford Stadium).
Quite a few other Bulldogs were mentioned, some because they were memorable players, others because of personal fond memories folks had of them. These included Billy Slaughter, Bobby Towns, Jeff Pyburn, Charlie Dean, Richard Appleby, Pete Dickens (who was in the hospital across the hall from my Mom when he was still at Athens High and joined her in her room to watch a game on TV, and whose namesake road I drive by frequently on U.S. 78), Cary Long (who handled kickoffs in ‘77 and worked with my brother Jon one summer at Six Flags) and Ralph Bray.
One of my brothers, who now lives in Watkinsville, tried to pass off a couple of Oconee County ringers in Tyson Browning and Tony Taylor, but I’m Old School and don’t consider an Athens suburb to count as Athens!
Who knows, perhaps current Athens Dawgs Gordon Ely-Kelso, Quentin Moses or Joe Tereshinski might make this list in the future. And maybe the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame, too.
Any other Athens Dawgs who merit a mention?
Comments
By ConyersDawg
May 22, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this
I assume you mentioned them all already. I’m not from athens so I can’t remember who the athens players are. I knew of q-mo, joe-t, and billy bennet.
Actually, was Damien Gary from Athens? If he was then I love Gary. That boy was money when we needed a third down catch for a first down.
By GW
May 22, 2006 08:20 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget deep snapper from the late 70s Charlie Fales. He was taught to snap by his father, former professor of all sports, Earl Fales. Charlie has been coaching at Greenbriar HS in Columbia County.
By BIGNCDAWG
May 22, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this
Tarkenton was 4 years ahead of me at Athens High and my hero. I will never forget his preformance against Valdosta in the state championship game. Henry Fields was a good friend of mine. Jake Scott was a friend. Great, great players one and all. Billy Gambrell was a great athlete and there are many others.
By Spanky
May 22, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this
Hey ya’ll,..was Tarkenton a host of the show “Real People”, or “That’s Incredible”? He was a host for one of them in the early ’80s, but can’t remember! I met Tarkenton at a Bagel shop in ATL. He is a super-nice guy! He will talk Georgia football with anybody, and outlast you! He says that he still wakes up in the morning, to “Glory, glory to ole’ Georgia”. Classy guy,..manners and all!
By Bill King
May 22, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this
Yeah, Fran did one of those early reality shows. “That’s Incredible”. Also did “Monday Night Football” for a while.
By ballen12
May 22, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this
I’m a pretty young dawg, but Damien Gary immediately comes to mind for me. When that guy caught a punt and set up for the return everybody in the stadium would stand up and hold their collective breath. Even if he only returned for 5 yards, he was gauranteed to make two or three people look extremely silly in the process.
By OldDawg55
May 22, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this
Tarkenton tops the list, I would say. Went to school with him and was on the frosh team when he was a senior..altho’ I was an AF veteran and a year older..his brother Dallas was also a nice guy. Bobby Towns was there at the same time. Lots of good players..too many…I had to go to the farm club at GMC!
By Bill King
May 22, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
Damien Gary definitely is a hometown favorite.
By Dan Matthews
May 22, 2006 07:36 PM | Link to this
Swimmer Paige Wilson, tennis player Meg Inscoe of Vanderbilt, Dan Magill, golfer Vicki Goetz-Ackerman, Jill Razor, Kelley Chastain
By BIGNCDAWG
May 22, 2006 07:41 PM | Link to this
Dallas was a nice guy. He dated my sister. He was a star player for Athens and and, I think for GA. Wasn’t Appley an Athens guy? Was he the one that threw the last min. pass to beat Fla. in the 80’s?
By northwestDawg
May 22, 2006 10:01 PM | Link to this
Appleby to Washington!!!! Never forget that play. My Reptile relative ahd gotten tickets for my wife and I and we were decked out in the Red & Black in a sea of Orange & Blue. All game long we had a battle on our hands. We were in the North end zone. when appleby put the ball in the air was when we caught sight of Washington breaking free. It took 5 lifetimes for that ball to travel 80 yds. Washington caught it, scored and we had a ball right in the middle of those Reptiles dancing on the stadium steps. Sorry, couldn’t help reliving that moment!!!
By War Eagle
May 23, 2006 07:37 PM | Link to this
BIGNCDAWG, do you remember Willie Slaughter, Bobby Gusiler, Mac Copeland, Bobby Towns? I played in the North-South HS game with them at Grant Field. Fran Tarkenton was a junior and was the manager for the North. Weyman Sellers was our coach and he was a $%#&. He almost killed us before the game. We had everyone injuried at game time.There was other Athens players in that game. I believe they had a record high of 6-7, not sure.We had a great time and on a sad note I attended Mac Copeland funeral last year in Athens.Mac struggled with weight and had a heart condition. I guess the most wide known celebrity turnout with Fran was former Senator Sam Nunn, who played in the basketball all-star game, he was a good one.
By Bill King
May 24, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this
Indulge me a moment, Blawgers, but today’s my son the UGA student’s 21st birthday. He’s a great kid and very bright — he was named the outstanding third-year history student at UGA this spring. The University of Georgia is the only school he even considered going to. (Shows you what growing up in a house full of Bulldog paraphernalia does.) Anyway, he’s loved the Bulldogs all his life, as have I. Best kind of family tradition, right?
By who cares
May 24, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this
Bill, It’s great to hear that you raised another obnoxious dawg that the world has to put up with. Hopefully he’ll venture out into the world and realize that everything doesn’t revolve around Athens and puppy football. But, I doubt he will since that is all his father has ever taught him.
By godawg
May 24, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this
Congratulations to you and your son for this happy milestone. He sounds like a responsible upstanding young man and you have every right to be proud.
Please ask him on the behalf of the Bulldog Nation, not to go on a drinking binge tonight like so many tend to do on their 21st. It is very dangerous and easy to do when you have a lot of friends buying you shooters, beers, etc. He has his whole life to wake up with a hangover, don’t try to do it all in one night. Have fun but be responsible. Happy Birthday!
By Bill King
May 24, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this
You mean there’s more to life than Dawg football?
Oh, yeah. I forgot.
Dawg baseball!
Go Diamond Dogs!
By AltamahaDawg
May 24, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this
Bill, what is so odd is the “rival” fans in here that don’t seem to think there is anything more to thier life than UGA football.
By Spanky
May 24, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this
“Who Cares”…I do! If you’re bored,..BY ALL MEANS, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!
Congrats with your son, Bill! Not everyone undertands Bulldog pride, so they put it down when they don’t get it…..Go Dawgs!
By Paladawg
May 24, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
Excellent piece, Bill. All of these names bring warm and fuzzy feelings. I too was one of Kelly’s boys and a long-time Y Camper; though my family moved away from Athens many years ago, I still call it home. I know I played in beautiful Sanford Stadium for several years as a Y-Boy (do they still do that?) but the first game I clearly remember watching was Paul Gilbert leading a most remarkable comeback against South Carolina in 1970 and I’ve worn Red and Black ever since - my degree from Furman notwithstanding.
One name that hasn’t been mentioned is Judd Farr, a contemporary of my father’s at Athens High. His accomplishments at UGA aren’t in the same catagory as these other folks, but he has been one of the biggest Bulldawgs here in Greenville, SC for many years and several of his daughters have been UGA cheerleaders.
By Bill King
May 24, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this
I’m not positive, but I don’t think they let the Y boys play before the UGA games any more. At least, I’ve gotten there very early and seen no sign of it. Too bad.
By gdawginkalamazoo
May 24, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this
Bill, Congrats to your son, hope he heeds godawgs advice. Fortunately, I didn’t remember my 21st. Booze cruise Wednesday at the old hole in the wall Athens Yacht Club with plenty of friends. To answer your question about best kind of family tradition? One of the finest. Of course it might be considered by many to be a mental illness. But hey, there are worst things to be. Gator, Vol, War Tiger, Bee and the list goes on. Spanky said it best Not everyone understands Bulldog pride, so they put it down when they don’t get it…..Go Dawgs!
By BIGNCDAWG
May 24, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this
War eagle, Yes I knew everyone you mentioned. They were about 3 to 5 years ahead of me so didn’t know them well. Athens was a small town back in those days, so everyone knew everyone else. They were great players. Where did you go to high school? Did you play for Auburn? Willie Slauters first name was actually Billy. I was manager of the football team so I knew Weyman Sellers well.
By BIGNCDAWG
May 24, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this
Bill keep posting about your family. I think it’s great. How proud you must be.
As someone who was part of the Y boy tradition with Kelly, I think it is ashame they don’t play anyone. Probably one of the Uga’s presidents stupid rules.
By War Eagle
May 24, 2006 09:11 PM | Link to this
BIGNCDAWG, All those Athens players called Slaughter, Willie, so it must a nickname among the jocks. I left out one being Sonny Dillard..I think Athens High School broke the all-time record with numbers(6 or 7). I knew Bobby Towns real well, his Dad(Spec), track coach at UGA, recruited me for track at Carrollton. I went to Auburn on football scholarship.Do you remember Hugh Lawsom, he was the son of Coach Lawson, basketball coach at UGA. He married my best friend in high school.Andy Johnson was a golfing buddy of mind, he`s a nice guy and good QB. I have alot of friends around Athens, great town and people. coach Billy Henderson, long time coach at Athens HS, has been a family friend since early fifties.He is one good person.
By BIGNCDAWG
May 25, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
Most of the people you mentioned were my sisters age. I knew them, but not well. Bobby Towns lived right around the courner from where I grew up. I researched the history of track and field at UGA while in school there, so I knew coach Towns well. I also use to be one of UGA’s batboys, so I knew coach Whatley.
How in the world did we ever let you get away to Auburn? We all make our mistakes in life (ha). I had a nephew that was wayward and played on the Auburn football in the 80’s. Like you he is a good guy.
By Buckhead Bill
May 25, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this
Paul Gilbert played first base on the Athens American Legion team that Godfrey Channell coached to the state championship in late 60’s. We played the Legion team from Macon at the Post 20/185 field at corner of Tallassee Rd and Whitehead road and they complained about our “short left field” because Paul hit a few long ones into the old Central Soya feed plant. We returned the game in Macon at Luther Williams Field and Paul sent one out over dead center.
By War Eagle
May 25, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this
BIGNCDAWG, thanks,there is nothing like the good old days.
By AtlantaDawg
May 25, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this
Speaking of Andy Johnson, don’t forget he had 2 uncles that played for Athens High. Walter Maguire played in the late 30’s and went on the play QB/RB for UGA and played in the Rose Bowl. His brother Harold was one of the all time great RBs for Athens High as well and went on to play on the Freshman team at UGA before going into the Airforce for WW2.
By pitbull
May 27, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this
I think one of the best QB’s I ever saw play at UGA who had the raw talent was Matt Robinson. He qualterbacked UGA’s 21-0 win over Bama, and out quaterbacked a highly acclamed Cal QB who unfortunately died at an early age in an Athens thriller. He threw a beautiful pass, and I remember him going out for a pass on a pitchout and scoring a touchdown. He was an exciting and fun guy to watch. I think he was the Jets’ QB for a while.
By # 12
May 31, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this
We forgot to mention Rusty Carter and end on the AHS co-state champs and a walk-on defensive end for the DAWGS. Died in a plane crash in the mid 70’s I believe.
By getupkid4uga
May 31, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this
DJ Shockley was from Athens, right? I would have to cll him a serious hometown favorite.
By godawg
May 31, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this
I owe you an apology Bill, on the UGA blog I just stated that I thought you left out Quentin Moses. Now I come over here and see you did indeed list him. I apologize.
Since I’m here, while I can’t add any new names, I want to say my two favorite hometown guys were two I attended Cedar Shoals with in the late ‘70’s; Jimmy “The House of” Payne and Homer Jordan. Though Homer crossed the river to Clemson he’s a great guy.
getupkid4uga: DJ’s from Atlanta.
By Da Real Raider
June 1, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this
DJ is from College Park,getupkid.
By Da Real Raider
June 1, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this
would “Big” Chuck Smith of 790 the zone count as a hometown favorite? Even though he went to Tennessee, he played hs ball at Clarke Central.
By bulldawgfromcairo
June 1, 2006 06:14 PM | Link to this
and don’t forget ray jeffords of hoop fame
By hoopfanfromrome
June 1, 2006 06:17 PM | Link to this
remember ‘NIT HUGH’ durham…think he still leads sec coaches in NIT apperances!!
By JB
June 2, 2006 12:06 AM | Link to this
Lets not forget that John Kasey made a few kicks for us, and wasn’t Carlos Strong on the ‘96 Sweet Sixteen basketball team and Athens guy?
By War Eagle
June 2, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
godawg, did Jimmy Payne die? He was a good football player and person.