Greatest UGA plays: You had to be there
Whenever the subject of the greatest plays in Georgia football history comes up, the choice isn’t too difficult: “Run, Lindsay!” in 1980 is pretty much the hands-down winner.
But someone threw me a curve not long ago when they asked what was the greatest play that I’d seen in person.
That made it tougher, because I wasn’t in attendance at the game for that Belue-to-Scott touchdown against Florida. Or for other great plays such as the SEC-winning pass play Fran Tarkenton drew up in the huddle against Auburn in 1959. Or Herschel-over-Bates in Knoxville in 1980. Or Verron Haynes’ “hobnail boot” catch in 2001. Or Greene-to-Johnson against Auburn in 2002. Or Sean Jones’ fumble return in Knoxville in 2003. Or Stafford-to-Henderson in overtime at Alabama in 2007.
And while I saw it in person (though I could hardly believe my eyes), I’m not going to count Reggie Ball’s jaw-dropping fourth-and-dumber play in the 2004 Tech game since I’m really talking about greatest plays by Georgia, not for Georgia.
I put the question to my brother Tim and he came up with a great one: Herschel’s 76-yard touchdown run in the nationally televised 1980 showdown with George Rogers and South Carolina. As Tim recalls, “it was the usual Herschel iso-draw play but he blew through the line and got to the outside and outran numerous South Carolina players who had the angle on him but couldn’t catch him, and he was never touched.” A play for the ages.
Another great one from the 1980 season was Scott Woerner’s 98-yard interception return against Clemson that set up a short touchdown. Earlier in that same game, Woerner had returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown. Woerner was always a big-play man.
Buck Belue’s 1978 fourth-down touchdown pass to Amp Arnold against Tech was another big one, as the 2-point play that followed won the game.
And no doubt about it, the prettiest play I ever saw was when David Greene faked to Musa Smith, hid the ball on his hip with his back to the line and then turned and threw a 65-yard touchdown strike to a wide open Terrence Edwards against Vanderbilt in 2002. Greene completed that play successfully several times, including against Tech in 2003, setting up a short TD drive.
But for the greatest play I ever saw, I have to agree with my friend Dan, who picked the Kirby Moore to Pat Hodgson to Bob Taylor “flea-flicker” from the 1965 shocker over Alabama. The Dogs trailed the defending national champion Crimson Tide with a little over 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter when Vince Dooley called the trick play. The score set up the 2-pointer that gave Bama its only defeat of what proved to be another national championship season. It also announced to the nation that Georgia football was back. As Dan put it, “Nothing else comes close in terms of impact.”
How about you? Were you there in Jacksonville in 1980? If not, what’s the greatest Georgia play you ever saw in person?
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99 comments Add your comment
Saint Simons
August 11th, 2009
7:03 am
((((( 45 42 ))))) hahahahahaha
L-Dawg
August 11th, 2009
7:03 am
GLORY GLORY TO OLE GEORGIA!!!!!
GREAT TO BE A FAN AND NOT A HATER!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
Fletcher Law
August 11th, 2009
7:12 am
Jimmy Poulus over the top. 1971 Thanksgiving 28-24
Reality arives at Grant Field.
AltamahaDawg
August 11th, 2009
7:18 am
Butler , Clemson, 83
Larry Munson
August 11th, 2009
7:20 am
Theyre running through us like were a Vandy or a Wake Forest!
god and greyhound
August 11th, 2009
7:28 am
INSTITUTIONALLY SANCTIONED ACADEMIC FRAUD ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE
Spike
August 11th, 2009
7:29 am
A lot of great ones, but the best I ever saw in person was the 1978 UGA-Tech game. It was a cold day. The house was packed. People had been camping out on the bridge since Thursday night before the game and even had a campfire on it. In those days if you got there eary enough you could see the game from the bridge. There were people on top of the Chemistry building looking down into the stadium. QB Pyburn was struggling mightly. We were way down at the half. Buck Belue, then a freshman, came in and turned the whole game around. Me and the boys started drinking more and more Jim Beam. The Belue threw the pass to Amp Arnold on fouth down and the rest is history. And the two point play capped off the most exciting football game I ever witnessed, although there have been many great ones, including the 2002 SEC title gamw with the blocked punt to get the Dogs off to a great start.
Urine Nation
August 11th, 2009
7:32 am
S-I-A-R, S-I-A-R hahahahahaha
(((((((31 17)))) hahahahahaha 1
(((((((51 7)))) hahahahahaha 2
(((((((34 17)))) hahahahahaha 3
(((((((19 13)))) hahahahahaha 4
(((((((14 7)))) hahahahahaha 5
(((((((15 12)))) hahahahahaha 6
(((((((31 7)))) hahahahahaha 7
S-I-A-R, S-I-A-R hahahahahaha
Cuz in Minnesota
August 11th, 2009
7:33 am
Tough call, but I’ll have to say when we beat vandy a couple years ago and danced on their logo.
Cuz in Minnesota
August 11th, 2009
7:36 am
Urine Nation I think you got some issues son
Urine Nation
August 11th, 2009
7:52 am
Actually I do. My issue is this St Simons moron continually posting on all the UGA boards about the Urine Nations ONE 3-point victory of the Dawgs in eight years. He needs to get a life
Spike
August 11th, 2009
7:54 am
Bill, get spell check on here.
KB
August 11th, 2009
7:54 am
I am surprised this has not been mentioned, but I still think the David Pollack sack / ball snatch / endzone recovery against USC in Columbia was one of the greatest defensive athletic manuevers i’ve ever seen live…..
59bulldawg
August 11th, 2009
7:55 am
It looked like our valiant lads in red and black were headed for defeat. But on a sunny November 8, 1975 in Jacksonville, with the ball on our 20 yard line, the Dawgs trailing 7-3, and just 3 minutes to go in the game, Georgia quarterback Ray Goff gives the ball to Richard Appleby on an end around play and Appleby hits flanker Gene Washington full stride for an 80 yard touchdown and an eventual 10-7 Georgia win. The Gators were stupified . . . hell we all were stupified. The 1975 Florida team had a really good defense which only allowed an average of around 10 points a game. The Gators went 9-3 that year and it was one of Doug Dickey’s best teams. Man did they have a stout D! Even today this play gives chills when I think of it! I love “Run Lindsey Run” but for the sheer unbelievability and difficulty in execution this is my nomination for best play ever seen in person.
JayRoot
August 11th, 2009
8:05 am
.
My favorite Ugag play? …. Hhhmmm, let’s see.
I think MY FAVORITE has to be the first offensive play from scrimmage in the second half of the game against GaTech. The Saturday after Thanksgiving 2008.
GaTech came out and simply pitched the ball out to JONATHAN DWYER and he scammpers, tramples, and streaks to a 61 yd. TD.
THAT has to be my favorite Ugag play. The tackle attempts on that play were SPECTACULAR!!!! The speed at which the Ugag defense tried to close with the powerful back from GaTech was something to behold.
Yup, THAT was MY FAVORITE Ugag play!!!
Stay tuned!! This “favorite play” could change this November on the Saturday after Thanksgiving … 2009.
.
Woof
August 11th, 2009
8:07 am
Here’s some interesting news on Asher Allen:
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13023396?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Sorry, I am internet dumb so copy and paste.
mcdawg
August 11th, 2009
8:12 am
Butler field goal against Clemson
Cuz in Minnesota
August 11th, 2009
8:15 am
The valiant 2nd half comeback vs Teck in 2000. Almost pulled within a score. GO DAWGS. GATA
Saint Simone
August 11th, 2009
8:17 am
Toucha-toucha-toucha-touch me!
Dwyer’s wish: My one wish in this world is to play a home game in a stadium that is more than half filled.
Dooley's Cardiologist
August 11th, 2009
8:18 am
I think Bill King is wanting football season to start more than anyone. That way he will actually have something to write about that can somewhat justify his salary. He’s just phoning it in at this point. Sorry Bill, but someone had to say it..
Cuz in Minnesota
August 11th, 2009
8:36 am
My favorite play in 2000 was when we spotted them a score letting their slow white qb chug into the end zone on the option. Goosey i think the guy’s name was
dawgfanatic24-7
August 11th, 2009
8:37 am
Robert Edwards game winning td vs Tech with about a minute left. I’ll never forget the moaning tech fans. Hahahaha!
JW
August 11th, 2009
8:40 am
I know we lost the game, but when Tyson Browning caught the screen pass from David Green in Baton Rouge in 2003, that was a heck of a play. I’ve never heard a stadium that silent.
Saint Simons
August 11th, 2009
8:45 am
When Jan Kemp sacked the uga team!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
1-888-TECH-TIX
August 11th, 2009
8:50 am
Georgia Tech Football – 2008 ACC Champs!!!! w00t!
1-888-TECH-TIX
August 11th, 2009
8:52 am
Free hotdog and a coke to watch the ACC CHAMPS!
SC Dawg
August 11th, 2009
8:53 am
The 2002 Auburn game is the biggest win that I have been to. I was on the other side of the stadium, so I could barely see what happened in the endzone. All I saw were those officials raise their arms up to signal a touchdown. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning.
1-888-TECH-TIX
August 11th, 2009
8:53 am
Only 30000 seats remaining! Hurry and get your tickets now!
Class of '98
August 11th, 2009
8:55 am
I was there for Stafford to Henderson, and the Jones fumble recovery at UT, but hands down THE greatest play I have seen live (or otherwise) was Greene to Johnson, in Auburn 2002.
Nothing comes close.
anywho
August 11th, 2009
9:00 am
My favorite UGA play was when Jasper Sanks fumbled at the end zone and Tech recovered and went on to win in OT. Great play.
NCDawg
August 11th, 2009
9:03 am
I was at both games and without question, the greatest was Tarkenton to Heron with seconds left to beat a top 5 Auburn in 59. That play sent us to the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl was Ga.’s first ever televised game. The second was the pass to Bob Taylor to beat no. 1 Alabama. I wasn’t there but, the Beulu to Scott was the most important play ever.
Mr. Papagiorgio
August 11th, 2009
9:03 am
I was there for the Greene to Johnson and Stafford to Henderson……..both dropped the home stadium fans to their knees….I have to say the Alabama catch in OT was probably the best for me. It was so unexpected because of the situation.
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 11th, 2009
9:06 am
Quincy Carter!!!
Monty
August 11th, 2009
9:10 am
I have a lot of the classics in Jax all the way back to 1968. How about Doug Dickey on 4th and dumb when our little cornerback (Johnny Henderson I think) takes down Earl Carr, 230 lbs tailbackk on a sweep, one on one in the open field for a 2 yard loss. Game changer for sure-as big as any offensive play I have ever seen.
DawgFan
August 11th, 2009
9:23 am
My favorite play that I was there for is actually kinda obscure. It was during the UAB game three or four years ago. I was standing with friends in the student section and UAB was about to punt from their own five or ten. My friend yells, “If Richt sends ‘em in to block this I’ll [crap] my pants.(expletive substituted)” Sure enough, the Dawgs blocked the punt and recovered for a touchdown. They won that game I think 30-0 or 38-0, something like that, but i definitely remember that play.
Michael Scharff
August 11th, 2009
9:29 am
Well, I have been extremely fortunate over the years, ever since I was 5 years old. My Dad bought his first season tickets after he graduated in 1955, and he has been a subscriber every year since. He began taking me to home games in 1964. I was too young too remember much from the 60’s. The first Great Play I remember in detail that I actually saw in person was the Andy Johnson to Jimmy Poulos TD on Thanksgiving night in 1971 in Atlanta (I still say that’s the coldest I’ve ever been at any single football game!). I also was in Jacksonville in 1975 to see the Appleby to Washington play.
Then, I fast forward to 1980. I was on hand to witness the Buck to Lindsey play, and I agree with Larry – we literally thought the old Gator Bowl was going to come apart from the Dawg fans celebration (including myself and my girl friend at that time). My Dad took us to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl ,and I was there when we won the National Championship.
I’ve also been fortunate enough to see just about every major highlight reel play since then in person. We were headed out of the stadium and actually standing at the bottom of the stairs to our seats when Greene hit Johnson. I was there (and felt like I was going to be electrocuted during the thunderstorm) when Pollack stripped the ball in the endzone against USC. One that I did not see live (but did see on T.V.) was the Hobnail Boot play. My Dad was there, but I can’t stand the Tennessee stadium, and I decided not to go on that trip.
Mark Twain
August 11th, 2009
9:36 am
It has to be the David Pollack interception for the touchdown in the endzone at USC east. Fortunately I was sitting in the UGA section as we shouted and screamed for a full two minutes.
april glaspie
August 11th, 2009
9:39 am
Mike Jones v. Clemson. I was there for that one,
CARTERSVILLE DAWG
August 11th, 2009
9:40 am
Just shows what kind of football program they actually have at GT. It should be an embarrassment to all Tech fans that you have to continue to appear on UGA blogs yelling over your wittle 3 point win. Mark it down, on November 28, 2009, we won’t hear from you again because law and order will be restored. Enjoy your new sheriff, as many of your fans like to call him because in just over three months, he and his football team gets their butts kicked.
Natureboy809
August 11th, 2009
9:40 am
P-44 Haynes
Saint Simons
August 11th, 2009
9:41 am
Stafford on target to Morgan Burnett for SIX! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Saint Simons
August 11th, 2009
9:44 am
Reshad Jones shoulder bumping Roddy into the endzone!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The Grinch
August 11th, 2009
9:49 am
To RAMBLE ON
Now why in the world would a fan of a team that produced R E G G I E (can’t count to 4) B A L L want to list the name of a UGA QB? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
1984 Dawg
August 11th, 2009
9:53 am
Hands down the 60 yrd FG by Kevin Butler to beat Clemson in 1984! I was a freshman and it was my first UGA game ever. Sanford Stadium was out of control when he hit that kick. Honorable mention was the 1985 Alabama game when we blocked a punt and recovered it for a TD to take the lead with a minute left in the game (only to have our hearts broken) and the 1987 LSU game when Cassius Osborn caught a 10 yard out route and turned it into a 76 yrd TD reception/run. Another one was Rodney Hampton’s TD run against Clemson in Death Valley in 1986 or 87. He ran into a swarm of tacklers only to pop back out of the pile and run around the end for a TD. To this day, I still have not idea how he wasn’t tackled by the mass of Clemson defenders. I was at some other great games, but these were probably the greatest plays I saw in person.
The Grinch
August 11th, 2009
9:54 am
To god and greyhound (formerly posting as “m”)
You said “INSTITUTIONALLY SANCTIONED ACADEMIC FRAUD ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE”. Were you referring to tech during the 3 years O’Liary played academically ineligible players? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
The Grinch
August 11th, 2009
9:56 am
Question of the day.
Which tech fan(s) will reveal their Roddy Jones man-crush in today’s post?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
45ACP
August 11th, 2009
9:59 am
The Colorado game, when Joe Cox brought Georgia back for the win.
Hope to see more of that this year!
spence
August 11th, 2009
9:59 am
The ‘65 flea-flicker. A little group of us joined up with some leftover Redcoat bandsmen and stayed in the stadium – singing and dancing – for a couple of hours after the game. Moore, Hodgson, Taylor – immortals.
Yellow Fuzz
August 11th, 2009
10:00 am
(((((26-0))))) hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Lot of good plays during the 3rd quarter of last year’s “Georgia Bowl” (affectionately referred to here at the Flats as “the wedges between the hedges”.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
BugKiller
August 11th, 2009
10:03 am
I was THERE, in Auburn, in 2002!
I was sitting with Auburn folks, because I got my ticket from my friend and co-worked, an Auburn fan.
We tailgated right close to the stadium (it’s weird seeing stadiums built up so high, when you’re used to Sanford or Turner Field, which has the field below street level) and then proceeded to watch a game which I sure caused many a heart attack across two states.
I was seated at the 5 yard line of the very endzone the Dawgs scored in, but Johnson caught the pass on the other side, away from me, so for a split second, before the ref held up his arms, I think my heart stopped.
What an exhilarating day and night, and what a GREAT ride home.
The play that erased 20 YEARS!!!
How could that not be the greatest play I’ve seen in person?