Dog fans, who’s in your dream backfield?
Time for some fun.
If you could pick and choose from throughout the ages, who’d be in your all-time Bulldogs dream backfield? Would you try to get Trippi or Sinkwich in there with Herschel? Who’d play fullback? Quarterback?
For some unknown reason, I woke up with that question in my head the other day (beats worrying about the economy), so I put it to my brothers and a few other friends.
Particularly at running back, there’s an embarrassment of riches from which to choose. Besides the obvious No. 34, fellow Heisman winner Frank Sinkwich and his 1942 backfield mate Charley Trippi, there’s Willie McClendon, Musa Smith, Garrison Hearst, Kevin McLee, Jimmy Poulos, Rodney Hampton, Lars Tate, Terrell Davis, Glynn Harrison, Robert Edwards, Tim Worley and the recently departed Knowshon Moreno, just to rattle off a few.
Stellar fullbacks available include Bill Hartman (daddy of the former TV sports anchor, longtime assistant coach and Bulldog Club scholarship fund namesake), Theron Sapp (the famed “Drought Breaker” and the fourth player to have his jersey number retired, along with Herschel Walker, Sinkwich and Trippi), Ronnie “Bull” Jenkins, Brad Johnson, Keith Henderson, Mack Strong, Verron Haynes and recent Dog Brannan Southerland.
Then there are the wingbacks, flankers and others playing a position that is now more receiver but originally was one of the halfbacks, including the great Jimmy Orr, Horace King, Gene Washington, Andre Hastings, Brice Hunter, Hines Ward (who was technically a split end after playing tailback and quarterback but often lined up in the slot and still sometimes ran the ball), Terrence Edwards (who went back and forth from split end to flanker), Mohamed Massaquoi (likewise) and current star flanker A.J. Green.
Quarterbacks? Again, lots to choose from, depending on whether you want primarily a running attack (a natural inclination with those tailbacks), a passing attack or something more balanced like Mark Richt employs. Among your many choices: Johnny Rauch, Zeke Bratkowski, Fran Tarkenton, Larry Rakestraw, Andy Johnson, Matt Robinson, Ray Goff, Buck Belue, Eric Zeier, Mike Bobo, David Greene, D.J. Shockley and Maria Sharapova’s fave, Matthew Stafford.
So, who to choose?
My brother Jonathan, a true believer in the running game, said he would “run the wishbone with Herschel, Knowshon and Verron Haynes.”
My other brother, Tim, who thinks outside the box, would go back to the future by running the old wing-T offense (precursor to today’s “wildcat”) with Sinkwich taking the snaps at tailback (technically the quarterback was mostly used for blocking in that offense), Herschel at the other running back position and Trippi or Moreno at wingback. This actually would be a pretty balanced offense since “Flatfoot Frankie” threw for 2,331 yards and rushed for 2,271 yards during his three-year career, scoring 60 touchdowns — 30 rushing and 30 passing. Tim says if he needed a blocking fullback, he’d use the junior-year Southerland, and if Sinkwich were in a passing mode, “I’d have him throw to Hines and A.J.”
Tim’s buddy Van would run a more traditional Dooley-style offense with Herschel at tailback, “Pulpwood” Smith at fullback and Poulos as the other running back. His QB would be Andy Johnson, backed by David Greene.
My high school classmate Johnny, who actually favors defensive players, limited his choices to those he saw play but couldn’t limit himself to just four backs in his backfield. Among his choices: tailbacks Glynn Harrison (”when he was given the ball, Gliding Glynn did more with it than most other running backs at UGA”) and Garrison Hearst (”work horse with results”); fullbacks Ronnie Stewart from the 1981 team (”who do you think opened up those holes?”), Keith Henderson, Haynes and Southerland; and among his quarterbacks was his “personal favorite,” Andy Johnson (one of our Athens High School classmates). Moreno, Johnny said, “left the Dawgs too early to make the dream team.”
OK, now to my own dream backfield.
I’d alternate between the I-formation and more or less a pro set and, of course, Herschel would be a given at tailback. To spell him, I’d have Garrison Hearst, who ranks right behind Herschel in most of the Dogs’ rushing records. Just for fun, occasionally I’d load the backfield with both of them. My change-of-pace back would be the 5-10, 185-pound Sinkwich (especially good for halfback passes) or the 6-0, 186-pound Trippi. With the size of defensive players these days, I’d want to try to get them the ball in open space. My fullback would be Mack Strong, with Verron Haynes spelling him and giving me another running threat. And I’d have Hines Ward and Jimmy Orr rotating as my flankers. I’d cheat a bit by adopting the old Dooley two-quarterback system, with Andy Johnson directing my running attack and either Tarkenton or Greene chunking the seed, as my pal Carl used to say.
I think we’d score a lot of points.
Your turn. …
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105 comments Add your comment
Dawgilama
May 15th, 2009
1:40 pm
What’s up with all the Verron Haynes talk? Had he not caught that one pass, albeit an important one, nobody would be mentioning him. Sure, he was a solid contributor, but he’s been a much better pro. If you want to list these guys based on what they did in the pros…why not T.D.? As a pure FB, he easily ranks behind Wall, Southerland, Strong, Sapp, Hartman, and yes, even Jeremy Thomas. That’s not even debatable. Wall and Southerland also caught the ball well out of the backfield. All this being said, I’m still a huge fan of Verron Haynes.
Word
Dawg Fan
May 15th, 2009
1:41 pm
Jasper Sanks
George Zinkhan
Kenny Bailey
Quincy Carter
Dawg Gone
May 15th, 2009
1:44 pm
Tron Jackson
James Jackson
Varsity Cook
Varsity Car Hop
dawgjammin
May 15th, 2009
1:46 pm
Southerland can’t hold Chappas Jock Strap…why should he be included in the all time greats? Southerland’s idea of blocking was to hit people…He had no concept of sealing the edge or kicking out someone to make a crease in the defense. He was horrible at locking on and using his hips to dictate where the defender went…He didn’t even get drafted….
Dorsey Hill
May 15th, 2009
1:50 pm
dawgjammin,
Can’t say Brannan doesn’t favorably compare to Chapas, but in the pantheon of UGA FB’s he isn’t really up there. It would be hard to find a better one than Mack Strong though.
BigNCDAWG
May 15th, 2009
1:54 pm
I can not be limited to just 3 or 4 or 5. There are just to many great ones. Included,however, would have to be the Heismans, and Tarkington had the best pro QB career.
dawgjammin
May 15th, 2009
1:55 pm
Southerland doesn’t block well unless you are running between the tackles. Period. Looked awkward and unathletic when catching the ball. I’m not saying Chapas deserves the hype of Mack Strong or any other great FB. All I’m saying is there’s a reason Southerland split time with Chapas his junior year and couldn’t regain the starting position as a senior after returning from injury.
I personally thought JT Wall was a devistating blocker and short yardage runner.
Denver Dog
May 15th, 2009
1:59 pm
Tarkenton at QB, Fullback, Ronnie Jenkins, never did we have one better, Tb Hershel Waler; slot Jimmy Orr and Hines Ward.
2nd Team Stafford, Fullback Mack Strong, Tb Charley Trippi, slot Frank Sincwich, Kent Lawrence
Jeremy R
May 15th, 2009
2:00 pm
I almost totally agree with ya cept i would use the offense that mark richt uses my qb would be fran subbed by zeir
WinderDog
May 15th, 2009
2:09 pm
Wayne Johnson
“Too Fly” – the scalper that comes by for tickets
Cleveland Gary in his Miami uniform
WinderDog
May 15th, 2009
2:15 pm
Fullback – Lowry Denty
Tailback – Larry Ware
Quarterback – Derrick Harris
Dorsey Hill
May 15th, 2009
2:26 pm
Come on guys its “Zeier.” Just like it sounds.
gomdawg
May 15th, 2009
2:35 pm
DAVID GREEN QB,DAIVD MCCLUSKY FB,WALKER TB AND CHAMP BAILEY WR
Ferndolin
May 15th, 2009
2:42 pm
QB: Andy Johnson, David Green
FB: Brannon Southerland, McClusky
TB: Herschel, Garrison Hurst
WR: Champ Bailey
jarvis
May 15th, 2009
2:45 pm
RB: Larry Ware
QB: Greg Talley
FB: Keith Henderson
My dream came true in 1988.
jarvis
May 15th, 2009
2:46 pm
Watching Quincy was like having sex with a cheese grater….really exciting for short periods of time but mostly just painful.
Larry Munson
May 15th, 2009
2:53 pm
1. Tron Jackson
2. James Jackson
3. Can’t remember his name but he’s a cook at the Varsity in Athens
Bill King
May 15th, 2009
3:12 pm
What’s really pathetic is a Tech fan getting on here posting numerous comments under different names in which he agrees with himself.
jarvis
May 15th, 2009
3:20 pm
Take it easy Bill. It’s a public forum.
You should go throwing around the term “pathetic”. After all this a Blog that is being heavily populated during the workday.
No one on here is really without rebuke.
Dawgcvilla
May 15th, 2009
4:58 pm
QB: Greene, Zeier
RB: Walker, Hearst, Hampton
FB: Srong, Henderson, Wall
WR: Edwards, Ward, A.J. Green
Joe Dawg
May 15th, 2009
5:02 pm
Moon Pie Wilson
Jan Kemp
Sonny Perdue
Joe Dawg
May 15th, 2009
5:02 pm
Lewis Grizzard
Lavonya Quintelle Carter
45-42
Joe Dawg
May 15th, 2009
5:02 pm
Daniel Cobb
David (fat man) Greene
Johnny Isakson
Joe Dawg
May 15th, 2009
5:03 pm
Jasper Sanks
George Zinkhan
408 yards rushing
Joe Dawg
May 15th, 2009
5:03 pm
Tron Jackson
Varsity Cook
Two backs rushed for over 100 yards
Joe Dawg
May 15th, 2009
5:04 pm
Varsity Car Hop
James Jackson
Bill King
AP
May 15th, 2009
5:13 pm
Bill King (2nd string)
Terence Moore (3rd string)
Steve Hummer (1st string)
Saint Simons
May 15th, 2009
5:44 pm
oj simpson would fit in good at UGA!
WalkerMuhDawg
May 15th, 2009
6:42 pm
This is too easy. With a combination of Herschel, Knowshon and Fran the Man, other teams would have no answers!
Native Atlantan
May 16th, 2009
1:30 am
Joe Dawg, we get the message. You are a typical Tech loser who has multiple rhino-fingernail snacks while moving your hand in a consistent motion between your two femurs while looking at a D & D game.
It’s great to be at Tech. One win out of eight tries in your state. Probation and academic issues on North Avenue…way to go!!! Time to get together w/ Mike Mooney and Jim Lavin, get drunk on a Zima and go beat up girls.
QB: David Greene (winningest QB of all time)
FB: Keith Henderson (ask the 1985 Gator team about him when UF was #1)
TB: Garrison Hearst (Has Ken Swilling found his jock strap from 1991?)
Cuz
May 16th, 2009
7:57 am
Just give me the 1980 backfield. That should do it.
A Tech fan posting similar comments using different names on this blog? Who wudda thunk it?
No_UGA
May 16th, 2009
9:53 am
You’ll need at least one cop in the backfield to arrest the burglars, dope addicts, and rapists in the bunch. Maybe a parole officer too. And someone to teach them to read.
That’s a tall order.
Paddy
May 16th, 2009
11:24 am
“Little” Tyson Browning; if he could only break tackles, he would have scored 100 TD’s.
Bill King is Pathetic
May 16th, 2009
12:39 pm
Bill King, who are you and why do you have a “blog”? Daddys insurance agency going in the tank or son-in-law to someone in the Cox family? If your buddy prefers defensive players, you must be the one on the receiving end of the Stafford spoon.
JimC
May 16th, 2009
1:06 pm
Note to “Bill King is Pathetic”: Get your own blog if all you can do is sour grapes to someone else’s.
Actually, you’re the one who’s pathetic.
Tech Today
May 16th, 2009
1:10 pm
45-42 trumps everything else. A marvelous triumph of academic success over illiteracy and thuggery.
Kendawg
May 16th, 2009
2:07 pm
I’m surprised that Buck Belue and Jimmy Womack didn’t get more support. All they did was help lead UGA to its only consensus National Championship. Stafford has great skills, but one would hardly call him a great winner. Somehow I thought that was what it’s all about- winning games and championships.
Sewanee Dawg
May 16th, 2009
2:20 pm
Don’t forget Chris McCarthy at fullback. Not many carries or yards, but responsible for a lot Herschel’s yards on bone crushing blocks on the corner on the toss sweep. Best run of his career at Auburn on first play of game. Everybody in Jordan-Hare was sure Herschel would get the ball, but handoff was to McCarthy, whom stumbled and bumbled for 30 yards before anybody realized he had the football.
FL DAWG
May 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
QB: Zeier, Greene, Tarkenton
FB: Strong
TB: Walker, Hampton and Hearst
TE: Kay, McMichael
WR: Hines Ward, Lindsay Scott, A.J. Green
There are a host of others that can be substituted for all except Walker, the greatest College RB ever.
George P. Burdell
May 16th, 2009
3:57 pm
It doesn’t matter who’s playing when the coach doesn’t know the difference between the Wing-T and the Single Wing offenses
BUZZ
May 16th, 2009
4:27 pm
Sounds like some of the comments from the Tech fans were a little too close to the truth for Bill. So he took his ball and went home.
BUZZ
May 16th, 2009
4:48 pm
One point I wanted to make about this subject is that it is VINTAGE Georgia. You guys always reach back into the past to make yourselves feel better about your present (45-42).
And it’s OK for you a$$hole$ to spew 7-1 but not OK for FLORIDA guys to say 17-3? LOL. Double Dawg Standard to me.
But none of this bothers me anymore. This ain’t your daddy’s Tech football team your playing any more. Not only are we smarter than you in school (that will never change), but we are smarter (and tougher) than you on the field now as well. We RAN for 408 freaking yards in our last game and it isn’t going to be much different next year no matter how many Vince Dooly and Hershal Walker record books you read or how many PBR’s you choke down.
You are inferior to Georgia Tech until next November so until then STFU!
jarvis
May 16th, 2009
8:59 pm
BUZZ, I really like your last sentence. So we’re inferior to you just until November, huh? I wouldn’t put it that long, but your dillusion isn’t that far off.
For being so g-damn “smarter in school”, you misspelled Dooley and Herschel. How’s that basketball team doing? Scholastic wonders I hear.
Also, you didn’t run for 408 yards in your “last game”….you ran for 164, and you only scored 3 points.
Enjoy it while you can. You haven’t had a clean victory against UGA in Atlanta in about two decades. You’ve beaten us once in the ATL in OT on a shady call in the last 18 some-odd years, and the night before that one, we stole and painted your inflatable BUZZ. Karma man! It’s a beotch. I don’t see a repeat performance coming anytime soon. We’re as at home on your campus as the bums.
BUZZ
May 16th, 2009
9:54 pm
You talking to me there Jarvis? I’m sure you know how to spell their names-LOL.
Yep, in our last game with you (which is the one I LIVE FOR), we rushed for 408. You can look it up little man. In fact we had not one, but two different backs gain over 100 on your preseason number one a$$es-lol. You can look that up too a$$hole! I’ve got the CD, a ring and several of your “hedges” to prove it. LOL.
Keep living in the past like all your dawg brain friends little man. We are going to make you pay for it over the next five years or so because NO ONE (your dumb a$$ included) at Georgia has the mathematical aptitude to figure out how to slow (much less stop) the triple option. And your offense can’t score 42 points again next year and you know it.
The tables have turned little man. So get a life and STFU!!!!!!!!!!!
yellow fuzz
May 16th, 2009
10:13 pm
ouch!
Sugar Hill Dawg
May 16th, 2009
10:19 pm
double ouch
BUZZ
May 17th, 2009
8:50 am
All right then. Case closed. The entire Dawg nation just got TFSU for them! Now if you win in the Flats come November, the same will apply to the Jacket Nation. Until then, you need to start smacking down somebody other than Georgia Tech, Florida and Alabama!
jarvis
May 17th, 2009
5:50 pm
Yes. Dooley is quite the brain buster. You’re right for attempting to chastize the correct spelling of a six letter wonder.
My point, you stupid f*ck, was that you played another game after the one in Athens. You got your a$$es kicked, and as much as you bunch of tools hate to admit, the triple-option isn’t ground-breaking. It’s just so old fashion that it’s going to take a minute before everyone remembers how to shut it down again completely. It was put into retirement for a reason douche-bag.
I like how you addressed Tech’s inadequacy on the Flats against the Dawgs, or your basketball team’s inadequacy in the classroom, or really any other point I made. You just keep throwing out all the unbased toungue-lashing you want. A preseson 14th rank doesn’t make a dynasty.
Deep down, you know you have such an a$$ kicking coming in November, and you guys just keep throwing out the 45-42 score all you want. You don’t want to admit it to yourselves, but we still own you just like we always have and always will. Your school is a second-fiddle technolgy school that the likes of Cal Tech and MIT scoff at, and unless you’re old Atlanta, no one can even remebmer the last time you were relevant.
You guys hate us because you wish you were us.
Face the truth.
BUZZ
May 17th, 2009
7:34 pm
jarvis:
Whatever.
BUZZ (45-42)
oledawg
May 18th, 2009
11:18 am
Kirby Moore
Kent Lawrence
Bruce Kemp