UGA’s best player ever? Who could it be?
If you conduct a poll on the best football player in UGA history, there’s not much suspense about who’s going to win. So it’s no surprise that in the poll ESPN is doing as part of its “College Football Live 50 States Tour,” Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker has 81 percent of the vote as I write this (up from 80 percent an hour earlier).
What interested me was who else ESPN had in contention in their poll: quarterback Fran Tarkenton (7 percent of the vote); UGA’s other Heisman Trophy winner, Frank Sinkwich (5 percent); cornerback/receiver Champ Bailey (4 percent); and running back Garrison Hearst (2 percent).
Loading ...The ESPN online poll, which comes in advance of the weekday “College Football Live” program’s look at gridiron history in the state of Georgia, coming up at 3:30 p.m. on July 27, also asks about Georgia Tech’s best player ever (Calvin Johnson currently leads the voting there) as well as the best coach in state history (Vince Dooley currently has a slim lead over Bobby Dodd, followed by John Heisman, Mark Richt and Paul Johnson). Again, how can you justify Wally Butts not being one of the choices? And Johnson over Bobby Ross?
Finally, the poll asks the best team in state history. The 1980 UGA team currently leads that voting with 47 percent to 39 percent for the 1952 Tech team. Also in contention: the 1990 Yellowjackets (10 percent), and the 1942 and 2007 Bulldogs (each with 2 percent). OK, I loved the 2007 Dogs, but they didn’t even win their conference, though they wound up the season ranked at No. 2 in the nation. I think the undefeated 1946 Georgia team with Trippi might have a better claim to a spot on that list.
But that’s the ESPN we know and …
Anyway, for our Question of the Day, we’re asking which Bulldog football player besides Herschel is the best ever? I’ve expanded the options beyond what ESPN offered, and feel free to add others in the comments.
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275 comments Add your comment
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
July 9th, 2009
7:19 am
Jake Scott
Dawg Mess
July 9th, 2009
7:36 am
If you were in Sanford Stadium on November 14, 1959, you’d have to say Fran Tarkenton.
reebok
July 9th, 2009
7:46 am
Tech fan here. Good morning. Hines Ward.
ramguy
July 9th, 2009
7:51 am
How about the best player who rarely played…Terrell Davis
mr. kool aide
July 9th, 2009
7:51 am
HOW COULD YOU LEAVE STAFFORD AND MORENO OFF OF THIS LIST!!!
coachdawg 2000
July 9th, 2009
7:54 am
I can only speak about football from 1979-present, so i will stick to guys i’ve actually seen play. I personally would give a nod to David Greene or David Pollack. Greene made it so that if the dawgs were within one score,no matter how little time was left,you felt like if we had the ball we were going to score.Lou Holtz once said that Greene picked up a blitz that they had not show on film, EVER! He beat teams with his brains and his leadership. Also he is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history. And Pollack was an absolute beast and took over games to the point that other teams had to try to avoid him but just like death and taxes he was in fact unavoidable. He was also a 3 time All-American. So my vote is for either of the David.
Oh and 45-42,HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!THIS WAY WE GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY EARLY SO THE TECH IDIOTS CAN GET BACK WORLD OF WARCRAFT.
UGA
July 9th, 2009
7:56 am
Reggie Ball
JB
July 9th, 2009
7:59 am
Buck Blue was a very average QB, but a winner…..A national Championship ring to boot.
Maybe not best ever, but a damn fine Dawg……Lindsy Scott, Lindsy Scott…..It started with him.
We never see Sugar bowl and Notre Dame without that play…..
athensdawg
July 9th, 2009
8:01 am
my first criteria for greatest player is that you only count what they did while at UGA. pros don’t count.
Second criteria, the player must have been unstoppable, someone who can single handedly take over a game even though the opposition is geared to shut them down.
Third criteria is that the player must have helped bring UGA a national championship. True greatness is when you can put your team on your shoulders and drag them to a championship. (As bad as I hate to admit it, Tim Tebow is one of these players.)
Its a three way tie between Herschel Walker, Frank Sinkwich, and Charlie Trippi.
JB
July 9th, 2009
8:02 am
OK. I hate to say this……Thank you Tech for Tying Notre Dame and allowing us to play them for the National title…………Don’t know what would have happened without that……
Behind Herschel...
July 9th, 2009
8:02 am
…Andy Johnson!!!!!
And regarding coaches in the state...
July 9th, 2009
8:04 am
…how can they leave off Erk?
coachdawg 2000
July 9th, 2009
8:06 am
David Greene was like having Joe Montana on the sidelines. You somehow knew he was going bring us back. Even in the games we lost, he got us in position to win it. Auburn 2001, all anybody remembers is the bone-head play call with :16 and no timeouts, he drove us form inside our own 20 with less than minute left to get us to the 2or3 yardline. 2004 Tennessee, we lost that game when Pope ran the wrong pass pattern but Greene calmly drove us almost the length field to win it, between those two we didn’t lose a game at home- 17 straight. The guy was amazing and since he has left everytime we drop back I get nervous the way you get nervous when you had your car keys to 16 year-old.So upon further review I now say next to Herschel Greeney is the best.
And the excuse making can now commence...
July 9th, 2009
8:06 am
… with Tanner Strickland being lost for the year before practice even starts!
Who is Gt??
July 9th, 2009
8:07 am
GT is IRRELEVANT!!
Woodstock Dawg
July 9th, 2009
8:08 am
Scott Woerner, always made the big play when needed, i.e.Clemson game.
Mikey
July 9th, 2009
8:26 am
Kevin Butler
Ken
July 9th, 2009
8:30 am
Not sure if he’s the best but David Greene was incredible to watch and very very consistent. Surprised he was such a bust in the pros. I never saw him as a starter in the league but certainly a backup for years to come. GO DAWGS
And another repeat blog topic...
July 9th, 2009
8:34 am
…that we commented on just a short while, probably not even a month, ago!!!!
Re: Sinkwich and Trippi...
July 9th, 2009
8:35 am
…would either have been as good without the other????
CLTDawg
July 9th, 2009
8:39 am
Greene and Pollack were special and helped restore some lost luster on our program, but while he was at UGA, Hines Ward was Mr. Everything and was a rare find. Of course all the Dawgs on the list are deserving.
dUmB DAwg
July 9th, 2009
8:46 am
Enter your comments here
Buck Wheat
July 9th, 2009
8:47 am
Jasper Stanks was the best!
Red Elephant
July 9th, 2009
8:49 am
Probably Frank Sinkwich. But this is all secondary. Without Hershel Walker UGA history would be like Auburn only with a few more SEC titles and no National Championship.
dUmB DAwg
July 9th, 2009
8:50 am
I thOUght LArS tATE wAS gOOd hE cAn rUn tOo!
Jim Doannan as in Doans Pills
July 9th, 2009
8:52 am
Quincy Carter hands down! Just ask ole Lou Holtz and he will concur.
Denver Dog
July 9th, 2009
8:53 am
Too many to count! I like them all listed, and some of the greatest were recent additons, but Fran, Frank, and of course Champ were some of the favorites. Willie Mc, and Buck Belue, but of all that with all the criteria, Hines Ward was the one.
Infidel Dawg
July 9th, 2009
8:55 am
How bout that playa whose daddy was a terrorist…. “Musa”
I always thought Hines Ward...
July 9th, 2009
8:57 am
…did not become HINES WARD until he got to Pittsburgh, the same way Michael Jordan did not become MICHAEL JORDAN until he got to Chicago!
wasted scholarship Dawg
July 9th, 2009
9:01 am
How about a list of players who brought big expectations but just didnt pan out !
JayRoot
July 9th, 2009
9:02 am
.
Odell Thurman!!!
Oh Wait! I thought the question was, “Which dog has been arrested the most”? Ooops!
.
Well the answer is obvious … ‘Lil JOEY HAMILTON!!!!!
.
Dorsey Hill
July 9th, 2009
9:04 am
David Pollack, the only other 3 time all-american. BTW: that no one mentions Terry Hoage in such a discussion is criminal.
wheres the beef?
July 9th, 2009
9:06 am
Eddie Meat Cleaver and ole moonpie…..
wheres the beef?
July 9th, 2009
9:08 am
Big Tommy Thurson!
wheres the beef?
July 9th, 2009
9:10 am
Happy Dicks
dawgdays
July 9th, 2009
9:12 am
58 more till season!
DJ
July 9th, 2009
9:13 am
I agree, Terry Hoage deserves to be near the top of the list.
Mikey
July 9th, 2009
9:14 am
Here are a few more worthy of mention:
Robert Edwards
Terrence Edwards
Mohamed Massaquoi
Greg Blue
Thomas Davis
Brandon Coutu
Billy Bennett
Eric Zeier
Andre Hastings
Sean Jones
Charles Grant
Robert Geathers
Ben Watson
Randy McMichael
Mikey
July 9th, 2009
9:14 am
And let’s not forget Brandon Cox !
dawgfanatic24-7
July 9th, 2009
9:15 am
Trippi or Sinkwich deserve the honor of 2nd best. Hines Ward was great at UGA but greater in the NFL. He has the best career success of any dawg,
wheres the beef?
July 9th, 2009
9:18 am
Garrison Hearst
wheres the beef?
July 9th, 2009
9:19 am
Billy Bennet and put it through Coutu….
Bryan G.
July 9th, 2009
9:21 am
How is David Pollack not a part of the poll? Pollack was the only other 3-time all american in UGA history after Herschel.
I’m going to give the nod to Pollack. He had a way to absolutely take over games as a DE.
wheres the beef?
July 9th, 2009
9:21 am
Preston Jones…
Hal
July 9th, 2009
9:23 am
then my friend you are wrong. Hines played on some really bad teams at a bad time for UGA football. I remember thinking one year that if he wasn’t in the Heisman hunt then they should make a trophy along the lines of Iron-Man and give it to him. He started the season at receiver, moved to running back, and finished the year as the QB (I think I have those in order). He even returned kicks in that same time frame. Comes within a hair of throwing, running, AND receiving 1000 yards all at one time. He was simply everything and had he played on even a mid-level Dawg team he probably would have won a Heisman. He was our heart and soul at a time when we didn’t have much of that. Mark Richt would give his left testicle to have Hines today.
Having said all that, Reggie Ball is probably our longest running MVP. Even Herschel had to compete with Buck and Lindsey. Hines is our guttiest player ever. Greene is by far and it’s not even close the best QB ever at UGA if not the nation (in college). David Pollack was absolutely the MOST enjoyable player I’ve seen wear the Red & Black. Knowshon came very very close, and when you realize that Knowshon posted the numbers he did in such a short time frame and against the caliber of defenses we play in the SEC today… you wander about comparing him to Herschel. BUT:
They all take a backseat and would voluntarily do so if asked, to the immortal Herschel Walker. This man is not only the best player in UGA history, HW is THE #1 player in the history of college football and it isn’t even close. Folks fail to remember, he played on a marginal team. No one before or since has terrorized the entire college landscape for 100% of the time he was there. Sure players have had great careers and seasons etc. But every year, every game he was the best player in the nation the entire time. Statistically better all 3 seasons than the players who won the Heisman but they didn’t break tradition back then. Unfortunately I must admit, Tebow is getting close to being that same type of player. He’s the closest we’ve seen since Herschel at dominating the whole landscape over such a long time frame. Hopefully this year he takes a step back.
Herschel Walker is the BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER EVER FROM ANYWHERE!
But
coachdawg 2000
July 9th, 2009
9:24 am
Dax Langley-
In 1996 in Stark-vegas he tried to throw a pass on a fake punt that looked like a beach ball. It had way more hang-time than his punts ever did!
MB
July 9th, 2009
9:26 am
Jan Kemp
long horn Dawg
July 9th, 2009
9:28 am
Big Will Muschamp……
Wells Fargo
July 9th, 2009
9:29 am
Jeremy Thomas, #41 in the program, but #1 in our hearts!
Tiger Eagle
July 9th, 2009
9:31 am
Pat Dye…. Are you man enough UGA ?