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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRemembering “Big Jim”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Scarlett’s Aunt Pittypat may have fretted about “Yankees in Georgia!” but for a couple of decades before the Vince Dooley era, UGA got some of its best players by venturing north of the Mason-Dixon line, particularly to Pennsylvania, where the Bulldogs signed Frank Sinkwich, Charley Trippi, John Rauch and the outstanding pair of All-American tackles who anchored Dooley’s first offensive line … Ray Rissmiller and Jim Wilson.
Both went on to play in the NFL and Wilson, who died this past week at age 67, began a controversial career in the “sports entertainment” field as wrestler “Big Jim” Wilson while still in the NFL, working primarily in the Atlanta-based promotion that was a precursor to Ted Turner’s late WCW, where another Bulldog, Bill Goldberg, wrestled a generation later. Being a former Dawg and an NFL player, Wilson quickly became something of a star on the wrestling circuit, and in high school I remember kids on the bus in Athens talking about going out to the old J&J Center to see “Big Jim” top the bill.
But Wilson bucked the system in the National Wrestling Alliance, reportedly chafing at some of the scripted moves (he didn’t want to do “blade jobs,” where a wrestler intentionally cuts himself) and balking at being ordered to lose certain bouts. But more importantly Wilson was branded a troublemaker for working to try to unionize wrestlers, who had no pension or health care benefits. This didn’t sit will with the promoters, nor even with all his fellow grapplers and the fans, and Wilson said he was blackballed out of the NWA around 1973, though he continued to wrestle in smaller promotions for another dozen years. To this day, his name produces a wide range of reactions among wrestling fans, with one telling me he was a “snitch” and “crybaby,” while another called him “an unsung hero.”
One thing’s for sure, Wilson was one of the best offensive linemen UGA ever produced, and in 2001 was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, followed by UGA’s Circle of Honor in 2005.
A memorial service for Wilson is set for 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Road in Atlanta. …
Speaking of offensive linemen, I’d feel a whole lot better about Mark Richt’s latest “Top 10” recruiting class if it had more than just three players intended for the OL, which has continually been a trouble spot for the Dawgs during most of Richt’s years at the helm, sometimes due to injuries (as was the case last season) and other times due to poor coaching and underperforming players (hallmarks of former OL coach Neil Callaway’s tenure). As the Dawgs learned this past season, all the talent in the world at skill positions won’t win titles if you don’t win the battle of the trenches. …
My son was one of the die-hards at the Steg this past week as the men’s basketball team continued its downward spiral in the wake of Dennis Felton’s firing. Official attendance was listed as 6,659 but that has about as much basis in reality as pro wrestling. A couple of thousand at most, my son said. Apparently UGA’s athletic officials must count not only all those lower-level season ticket holders’ seats that so frequently go unfilled as part of the “attendance,” but also the sections blocked off for UGA students, which were sparsely populated this time around. Even the crowd that was there didn’t seem much into the game, with the Dawgs’ late first-half rally to within 4 points generating little fan enthusiasm. Seems the only way to get anyone interested in UGA basketball right now is to mention Bobby Knight. Truly, a “lost” season. …
And a note of interest to Middle Georgia Dawg fans: Vince Dooley is the opening-night headliner at this year’s Macon Film and Video Festival, with the Georgia Public Broadcasting documentary “Vince Dooley: Beyond Football” screening Feb. 18 at the Grand Opera House, and the legendary coach himself on hand to talk about the film and take questions.
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Comments
By Rabun Dawg
February 7, 2009 9:40 PM | Link to this
Sorry to hear about Mr.Wilson’s passing away! On another note, Just watched the Dogs lose another Bball game,and me thinks we should mail it in and forfeit the remaining games. Has anyone ever gone 0 for the conference? This program is the “pits”, and is embarrassing to me, and I would guess to the rest of the fan base. If something is not done soon, we should surrender and just drop the sport. Mr. Evans, get us out of this misery that is UGA basketball!
By GeoffDawg
February 8, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
Given the overall youth, I think three OL’s in this class are fine. However, it does seem like we have a lot of WR’s and DB’s on the roster that never see the field. Those scholarships used on linemen would’ve come in pretty handy over the last few years.
By stendec
February 8, 2009 10:17 AM | Link to this
Will not post again for a long time. Lost fire for sports. Only son of niece murdered. The Heavenly angel was only a few months old.
A parting gift for all my Bulldog friends. Yes, I said friends:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Jack-Davis-Football-Bulldogs
“There’s a place…where I can go…when I feel low…when I feel blue…when I’m alone.” The Beatles.
God bless.
By stendec
February 8, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
Will not post again for a long time. Lost fire for sports. Only son of niece murdered. The Heavenly angel was only a few months old.
A parting gift for all my Bulldog friends. Yes, I said friends:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Jack-Davis-Football-Bulldogs
“There’s a place…where I can go…when I feel low…when I feel blue…when I’m alone.” The Beatles.
God bless.
By Sautee Dawg
February 8, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
stendec Sorry for your loss. God bless U 2
By Lane
February 10, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this
Realize this article is about Jim Wilson, who was a great player @ Georgia, as was Ray Rissmiller.
Edgar Chandler’s name was brought up the other day, did not realize he had died in 1992, at a relatively young age. He was a great OG, in college who switched to LB in the pros, the guy had tremendous speed. While @ Georgia remember his ability to “pull”, what quickness!!!
Article on Chandler would be great, shocked at his passing.
By robdawg08
February 10, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this
Bill, can we get a new blog about UGA’s new high school recruitin class ? Also, who will be the new QB next year ? Joe Cox or Logan Grey ? Will it be a competition or will Cox simply be handed the starting job ? Will R. Samuel or C. King get the most carries at RB next year ?
By dawgforlife
February 10, 2009 3:46 PM | Link to this
There’s a comment on the recruiting class in this blog, if you look. Not that there’s been any shortage of blogging on that subject on this web site!
And I believe Bill’s already on record as believing Joe Cox will do just fine as the starting QB.
But maybe he’ll have more to say on this.
By robdawg08
February 11, 2009 3:22 PM | Link to this
There’s no blog titled about the 2009 UGA recruiting class under Junkyard Blawg (Bill’s column). This blog site is weak. Step up Bill, or somebody please… Anyone can speculate that Joe Cox will be the QB but an insider should know if it will be a competition or if Cox will simply be handed the job. Obviously Stafford won the competition over Cox last year. I think the best QB should play now regardless if he’s a senior,junior or freshman. If Richt plans to redshirt these top recruits he will get only 1 or maybe 2 years from them as they leave for the NFL as juniors. Stafford’s and Moreno’s time were much too short at UGA. Now we have to face Fla.’s 11 returning starters on defense next year without them.
By UGA Poultry Science 98
February 11, 2009 5:10 PM | Link to this
OK, now that all charges have been dropped against Jarrard Tarrant, which one of you clowns is going to be man enough to apologize first?
I blogged when the story first broke that you guys needed to wait and see what transpired before you crucified the kid. But you a!!holes couldn’t wait to get on line and start typing, like you knew what happened. What a bunch of jerks.
Maybe……………….bulldawg will be first with an apology? Nah I doubt it, I said man enough, not boy enough.
I’m sorta new to this hatred thing, but I can sure understand it. You guys were real quick to forget all about Tony Coles huh? Selective memory is a b***.
Anyway, congratulations Jarrard. I hope you’re on the field after Thanksgiving this year, to help hand the most overrated football program in the United States their second series loss in a row.
Hey, maybe Odell will be endowing a scholarship at UGA like Texiera did at Tech today.
Stafford’s gonna be a great clip board holder! I hope Knowshon doesn’t take himself out of the games too much in the NFL. I predict two busts —- then they can rely on their UGA degrees to make a living - not!
Go Jackets!!
THWG!!
By robdawg08
February 18, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this
Wow ! Tech has 2 good players in the NFL (Choice & C. Johnson) and you wanna talk NFL smack, poultry ? The NFL is full of former UGA Dawgs. I’ll name only H. Ward,L.Pope,C.Grant,C.Bailey,B.Bailey,R. Seymour,and M.Stroud just for brevity’s sake. Stafford and Moreno will both be 1st rounders and both will be great players. Do you remember our other great running backs like T.Davis,G.hearst,and H. Walker ? We are running back U. The yellow bees will be de-insected next year as things return to normal in the state of Georgia in college football…