Herschel Walker to open sports bar in Athens

Herschel Walker’s coming back.

No, unfortunately he won’t be available to play Saturday against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game — his eligibility is all used up. But the legendary running back is opening a sports bar in Athens.

Herschel’s Famous 34 Pub & Grill will open at 320 East Clayton Street downtown, which is already awash in bars and restaurants. None of them, however, has the marketing power of being owned by the famous No. 34, whom many consider to be the greatest running back in the history of college football.

According to the bar’s Facebook page, the restaurant “honors the magic of Herschel Walker and the number 34 with a great mix of American favorites like grilled steaks, burgers, seafood, signature sandwiches and fresh salads, plus a selection of 34 variations of wings and 34 craft beers. Join us on exciting journey from renovation to grand opening!”

In a statement Wednesday, Walker said, “We are excited to open the first Herschel’s Famous 34 Pub & Grill in Athens where I have many fond memories of my time at the University of Georgia.”

The Athens Banner-Herald reported that the bar, which will feature six 60-inch televisions, plans a three-day kickoff in late January, before the Super Bowl.

AJC’s SEC CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE

• Alabama football fan gets … two years in prison
• Herschel Walker to open sports bar in Athens
  
• Catching up with former UGA linebacker Quentin Moses
• The Dark Side of Nick Saban
• Alabama RB pokes fun at UGA
• Mark Richt would burn QB’s redshirt season, if needed
• Who does former UGA DB think is team’s best defender? “Shawn Williams”
• Muschamp fires back at Saban: “Be careful what you ask for, Nick”
• Could the best candidate to be head coach at Alabama or UGA be … the SAME PERSON?
• Warning!!! BEWARE of COUNTERFEIT tickets, says SEC office
• Catching up the 2005 SEC Championship MVP, UGA QB DJ Shockley
• UGA’s Bacarri Rambo: “We have better players (than Alabama), across the board”
• Nick Saban loves Todd Grantham
• SEC Championship tickets start around $400 on StubHub; ACC at $4.50
• UGA still third in BCS standings — barely ahead of Florida