Ray Goff: Best option quarterback ever?
Ray Goff is entering Georgia's Sports Hall of Fame. (University of Georgia)
Generally speaking, Ray Goff doesn’t come in for many accolades these days from Georgia fandom. It still hurts too much to recall the depths to which the UGA football program sank during his time as head coach.
But with James Rayford Goff being inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame tonight at the Macon City Auditorium, I think we ought to take a few moments to acknowledge some of the high points in the Moultrie native’s career before he was tagged as “Ray Goof.”
Goff’s playing career at Georgia is interesting because during all three of his years on the varsity (this was still when freshmen couldn’t play), he shared snaps with Matt Robinson and was known mainly as the “runner” while Robinson was the “passer.” For many fans, the memory of that time is as my brother Tim put it: “If it was third and long they would bring in Matt Robinson to throw it.”
As Vince Dooley recalled in his 2005 memoir, “When Ray came to Georgia … he had a reputation for being a great high school passer who couldn’t run very much. As it turned out, the opposite was true.”
And yet Goff was all-SEC and finished seventh in the Heisman voting his senior year.
Actually, operating in the veer, an option running attack, Georgia didn’t have to pass that much in those days. In fact, in the 1976 game against Auburn that clinched the SEC title, Goff played injured, couldn’t even lift his throwing arm and didn’t complete a pass, yet the Dogs won 28-0.
Goff was known primarily as a running quarterback but could throw. (University of Georgia)
Dooley was pretty much spot-on in his estimation of Goff as “a great option quarterback.” My friend Rusty, who’s been watching the Dogs all his life, agrees. Goff, he says, “was the best option quarterback I ever saw. Perfect timing/decision making on pitch outs.” And, Rusty added, “he could actually throw the ball when least expected,” as during the 1976 season when his passes included touchdown strikes of 75 and 87 yards.
(At a Macon Bulldog Club meeting one year, Rusty recalls, fellow UGA QB Kirby Moore of flea-flicker fame was kidding Goff about his passing and Ray replied, “Well, at least I didn’t have to relay mine.” Not bad.)
With Goff and Robinson alternating at quarterback, the Dogs won the SEC championship in 1976 and had a shot at the national championship before falling to the Tony Dorsett-led Pitt Panthers in the Sugar Bowl.
I asked several longtime UGA fans for their favorite memory from Goff’s playing days and most of them cited the game in Jacksonville against the Gators, where the Dogs rallied from a 27-13 halftime deficit to score 28 unanswered second half points for a 41-27 win in the game immortalized for Florida coach Doug Dickey’s “fourth and dumb” call.
Goff was absolutely terrific in that game, accounting for five touchdowns as he passed for two and ran for three. He rushed for 124 yards on 17 carries and completed all five of his passes.
As my friend Scott recalls, “I still remember him going around end and some Gator grabbing his jersey, only to have Ray keep going in the days of tear-away jerseys.”
Goff was a superb option quarterback. (University of Georgia)
Other Goff highlights from that 1976 season include his 73-yard touchdown run in the Dogs’ 41-0 nationally televised rout of the Clemson Tigers, a 70-yard touchdown run in the lone regular season loss to Ole Miss, and a 63-yard scoring run against Vandy. Goff was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
We also should note that while Goff’s time as head coach at Georgia definitely was disappointing, it wasn’t without its moments. He lost his first two to Tech but then reeled off five straight against the Jackets. Goff was known as a great recruiter whose talent tended to underperform and it’s true that his talent-loaded 1992 team — with the likes of Eric Zeier, Garrison Hearst, Mack Strong, Andre Hastings and Randall Godfrey — probably should have won the national championship but lost close games to Tennessee and Florida. Still, they finished 10-2 and No. 8 in both national polls after beating Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl.
Goff’s 1994 team was a mediocre 6-4-1, losing to Vanderbilt and getting blown out by Florida, but that one tie (in the days before overtime) was a memorable one, ending Terry Bowden’s 20-game winning streak at Auburn. As one headline blared: “UGA beats Auburn 23-23.”
And then there was probably the biggest win of Goff’s coaching career in 1991, when the No. 6-ranked Clemson Tigers came to Athens for a nationally televised night game and were upset 27-12. It was quite a day. The Braves had wrapped up the National League West title earlier that day, setting the Sanford Stadium crowd off into a frenzy of tomahawk chopping, and then the Dogs took down the Tigers.
“It’s a great day,” Goff said after the game. “The Braves won and we won.”
It doesn’t get any better than that, and unfortunately for Goff there weren’t enough of those days in Athens during his time as coach.
But that shouldn’t overshadow the success Goff had has a player at Georgia. He was, and remains, one damn good Dawg.
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164 comments Add your comment
Donnan of a new era!
February 26th, 2011
11:36 am
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Donnan of a new era!
February 26th, 2011
11:37 am
The last “great” UGA coach was Vince Dooley. I can’t put Mark Richt in the “great” category because he’s never been anywhere near the national title game. Yeah, they were close in 2002 but close will never get you that cigar. I remember Goff as an ok coach but he was sort of a “good ole boy” who was never taken seriously. I do remember that he could actually beat Florida which is something that hasn’t been done consecutively in a long long long time.
Woof woof
Werd
WDE
February 26th, 2011
11:38 am
“As one headline blared: “UGA beats Auburn 23-23.”
Yeah, I remember that and how UGA fans were acting like they’d just won the national title. Of course, UGA would go on to be second rate and become Florida’s whipping boy.
Roger
February 26th, 2011
11:55 am
I love UGA, but Goff as an option QB still doesn’t compare with Lance McIlhenny of the old Pony Express days of SMU. No one had the reads and pitch timing of McIlhenny.
Older and Wiser
February 26th, 2011
11:57 am
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Older and Wiser
February 26th, 2011
12:01 pm
Ray Goff was a great player, and a great DAWG. It is about time he received credit and praise that is long overdue. And even as a coach, he got Georgia about as close to a national championship as we have been in the past thirty years.
Better yet
February 26th, 2011
12:01 pm
Andy Johnson
travis fain
February 26th, 2011
12:03 pm
I’d say chances are good that Ray Goff was not the best option quarterback ever. And I’m not sure it makes much sense to say a team that lost two games “probably should have won the national championship.”
Leedawg
February 26th, 2011
12:05 pm
Two words – Tommy Frazier.
smitty2434
February 26th, 2011
12:21 pm
Donnan of a new era! Not sure a 1-6 record can be considered actually beating someone
smitty2434
February 26th, 2011
12:21 pm
Donnan of a new era! Not sure a 1-6 record can be considered actually beating someone
Ceasar
February 26th, 2011
12:23 pm
The 1975 Ga-Fl game was the greatest in the series!!!
Frank Lane
February 26th, 2011
12:23 pm
the last great coach that UGA had was not dooley, it was Erk Russell. Look at Dooley’s teams after russell left.
Mark
February 26th, 2011
12:27 pm
While Goff was sniffing at a national championship (and that’s a stretch in my mind, they lost 27-3), Tommy Frazier played in 3 consecutive national championship, was named MVP of ALL three, and won two (their lone loss was by 2 points to FSU in a game they should have won. Gave up field goal with ~30 seconds left and then missed 45 yard field goal themselves. And didn’t they have a punt return TD called back for a penalty?)
Guys, it’s ok to be a dawg homer, but it’s not even close. Not only is Frazier the best option qb ever, he deserves to be in the talk for best overall qb.
Andrew
February 26th, 2011
12:29 pm
During a Bulldog Club meeting, I asked Ray Goff if he had planned anything special for the Florida Gators,who were playing Uga in Athens in the coming weeks. This was the year of renovations in Jacksonville. He answered me by saying ” I,m more interested in the next game with South Carolina,next Question!” That was the right answer,but maybe he should have considered Florida more, since they scored 53 points on UGA in Athens! Then came the Auburn game that year, where Goff chose to kick into the wind and Dooley fired him. I guess he had seen enough!
jim
February 26th, 2011
12:29 pm
@ travis – i think the point was that they should not have lost the 2 games.
old timer
February 26th, 2011
12:31 pm
They kept him as coach WAY too long.
old timer
February 26th, 2011
12:32 pm
Another one of those FRIENDS situations.
MikeyD
February 26th, 2011
12:35 pm
Goof wasn’t even the best option quarterback in this state… Ever heard of Tracy Ham? Case closed.
You're joking, right?
February 26th, 2011
12:43 pm
You can’t seriously type that Ray Goff was the greatest option QB ever, even with an attached question mark. The words “option” and “University of Georgia” go together like sauerkraut and anchovies — it just leaves a horrible taste in your mouth. If you want to discuss “The Option,” then visit the university in Statesboro. Georgia Southern has had its share of quality option quarterbacks — Tracy Ham, Raymond Gross, Greg Hill and J.R. Revere, just to name a few. If Goff had been a GSU during any of those men’s tenure, Ray would never have taken a snap as an option QB. Goff was a phenomenal recruiter, but an option QB? Surely, you jest.
DawgVoiceofReason
February 26th, 2011
12:45 pm
Bill,
Well said. Ray Goff deserves to be remembered for his glory days as QB at Georgia (although definitely not the greatest option QB ever, although maybe the best ever at UGA). Yes, he was a mediocre head coach. Remember that he was one of the youngest head coaches ever at a major university and didn’t even have experience as a coordinator, I believe. He should never have been offered the job; it wasn’t fair to him and it hurt all concerned. But, I liked him as a person of integrity and he definitely could recruit. I HATE it when I see people use his last name in a derogatory manner. The people who do that only betray their own lack of decency. He loves the University of Georgia and deserves to be treated with respect.
Pete
February 26th, 2011
12:57 pm
Oh, I don’t know, there were a few Oklahoma QBs who might have been a bit better, such as Jack Mildren, Steve Davis, J. C. Watts, not to mention a number of Texas and Nebraska quarterbacks.
Fidlin1
February 26th, 2011
12:59 pm
Ray was definitely the best option COACH we ever had. Really, a great guy to talk to and a great Quarterback. But seriously, as Frank Lane said the last best Coach we had was Irk. I ought to know, I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
oldschooldog
February 26th, 2011
1:00 pm
Ray had a better career than UGA VIII.
Russ GATA
February 26th, 2011
1:18 pm
Goff was the best option QB at UGA ever. This article is not about NEB or Oklahoma but UGA. Surprise this is a UGA blog about UGA football. Freud called it Dawg Envy. Freshman were eligible starting in 1972. If you played on the JV as a freshman that still used up a year. No freshman redshirting then Andy Johnson was a senior in 1973
Goff had left 74,75,76.
tom
February 26th, 2011
1:19 pm
I was at that Clemson game in 1991. It was also the first start for Eric Zeier. The atmosphere in Sanford Stadium was the most electric I have ever witnessed. After a full day of tailgating with the Braves, the fans were ready for Clemson. I remember walking to my seat with my wife inside the tunnel and feeling the energy and saying, “Clemson has no chance tonight.” One of my favorite all time memories in Athens.
Uga the Ocho
February 26th, 2011
1:19 pm
Great to see Leslie Nielsen make a return from the grave…
Dawg89
February 26th, 2011
1:20 pm
Goff does have nice teeth.
Orson
February 26th, 2011
1:20 pm
Richt has had a top 10 recruiting class nearly every season at Georgia and has never won a National Championship, he’s practically even never won an SEC Championship.
Richt wastes talent far better than any UGA Head Coach.
why is this state so gah blah
February 26th, 2011
1:23 pm
Nobody cares Bill. UGA(y) has had ONLY ONE year in the sun and it was a FLUKE. It has had ONLY ONE decent player and he WASN’T even the best running back in the STATE. It is SO comical to read these posts…….what was Georgia under Goof, I mean Goff, 6-5? Do you people realize how much Georgia is laughed b/c of your obsession with this JOKE of a so called football team? I AM NOT A TECH FAN, I mean, what’s next, the best punter UGA(y) ever had?
cantondawg
February 26th, 2011
1:29 pm
Who was it that made the decision to hire Goff. He had never even been a coordinator before and it was obvious that he was overmatched for the job. UGA is one of the top 20 jobs in all of college football and we should have hired someone with some experience.
beenthere
February 26th, 2011
1:33 pm
1973 was one of the best recruiting years in Georgia Football history. Sylvester Boler,Gene Washington, Moon-Pie Wilson, Cowboy Parrish, Ray Goff and Matt Robinson
1973 was the first year that freshmen were allowed to play in major college football. As freshmen, Gene Washington and Sylvester Boler came in an saved Dooly’s job after a 0-3-1 start to the season that ended 7-1, with a win over Maryland in the Peach Bowl. Ray Goff didn’t play as a freshman because Georgia had a great quarterback in Andy Johnson.
.
peepants
February 26th, 2011
1:47 pm
Jemelle Holloway or Dee Dowis were the best i thought at running the option.
Vain Jangling
February 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
1976 was my first year as a student at UGA. I never went to class, but never missed a football game. There were a lot of great players on that team, and some genuine characters too. Goff and Robinson, Allan Leavitt, Kevin McLee and Willie McClendon, Cowboy Parrish, Moonpie Wilson, and others. The Dawgs all shaved their heads. And I’ll always remember the 21-0 whipping of Alabama and Bear Bryant. The party lasted until the early morning hours, and the police shut down Lumpkin and Milledge. Yeah, you’re right. I’m old.
Jay
February 26th, 2011
1:59 pm
You people who hate on ray goff don’t realize that he bleeds red and black like most never could.
F-105 Thunderchief
February 26th, 2011
2:05 pm
Ray Goff was an excellent player and the second best option QB I ever saw. Tracy Ham was the best.
Luck of the draw
February 26th, 2011
2:05 pm
Quarterbacks are only as good as the systems their coaches put them into. What about the greatest option Quarterbacks that could have been at UGA in Shockley, Gray, and Murray
Bronco Kolodkin
February 26th, 2011
2:13 pm
Freshman were eligible to play at major colleges in 1972, Goff began in 1973.
Andy Johnson was the qb in 1973.
Bright Idea
February 26th, 2011
2:18 pm
Ray Goff is a humble guy. When he was inducted into the Georgia-Florida Game HOF he asked, “For which team?” He still loves UGA and makes more $$$ than most Techies.
Tide Roll
February 26th, 2011
2:24 pm
Uga is the only program in America that has had FOUR in state Quarterbacks leave the state and lead their respective teams to NATIONAL TITLES. Homer Jordan Clemson, Sean Jones Ga. Tech, CHARLEY WARD, Florida State (Heisman Winner), CAM NEWTON Auburn (Heisman Winner). I would venture to say that any of these were better option QB(s) than Goff. What a history of futility!
Actually, ...
February 26th, 2011
2:25 pm
..,.Bronco is absolutely correct (and he stole my thunder…) – freshmen became eligible in 1972, which was my sophomore year in college – so, the last freshmen class to NOT be eligible was 1971, not 1972, which was Ray’s freshman year…
Geez, Tide Roll, ...
February 26th, 2011
2:26 pm
…since when is going to GT “leaving the state”…as you wrote “Sean Jones Ga. Tech”…
Gravy Train
February 26th, 2011
2:30 pm
Fire Bill King
woebegong
February 26th, 2011
2:37 pm
Tide Roll,
I know it is hard for a person from Alabama to learn geography, but believe it or not, Georgia Tech, is in the state of Georgia. Google it, if you still have a problem figuring it out.
DawginOH
February 26th, 2011
2:43 pm
About time Goff got some credit for the things he could do on the field. Congratulations on your well-deserved induction, Coach!
Meltdowns galore
February 26th, 2011
2:45 pm
Fire Dave Perno !
Tide Roll
February 26th, 2011
2:52 pm
If Auburn will just be patient and commit to the kid from N. Gwinnett, C.J. Uzomah, there will be another. This is unbeleivable. Ya’ll project these studs as Tight ends and DB(s). Every one but ya’ll just laughs. Richt is on record as evaluating Cam Newton as a Tight End!! His Sr. year Bobo goes to Missouri to land Logan Gray!! These things are hilarious! My Bad on Sean Jones. Uga has failed to Sign FOUR in state Kids that went on to lead their respective teams to NATIONAL TITLES !! If Auburn’s smart, Uzomah will be the Fifth!
Dontsufferfools
February 26th, 2011
2:55 pm
If Bama don’t poison Uzomah first.
VA DAWG
February 26th, 2011
3:16 pm
Bill I agree completely. I have always said he was the greatest option quarterback I have ever seen. Ray’s timing was impeccible holding the ball to the very last milli-second before pitching it and then in most cases taking a hard hit. Ray was and is a great Dawg and I too am angered when I see our fans disrespect him because of his time as head coach. He was dealt a bad hand when Dooley left being forced to keep all of Dooley’s assistants some of which were candidates for the head coaching job themselves. I never forgave Dooley for that even if he was trying to save his assistant’s jobs. Let’s face it he was an outstanding recruiter for coach Dooley and for himself as a head coach. He got us closer to a national championship than anyone since Dooley including Mark Richt. I felt his last season as head coach he did a masterful job of coaching with all the injuries we had and really deserved another year based on that. Congratulations to Ray Goff and here is hoping that our fans finally realize your contributions to the Dawg Nation.
ColumbiaDawg
February 26th, 2011
3:20 pm
The 1992 team might have been his best team, but it was that season that started Georgia’s downward slide and led to Goff’s dismissal in 1995. Those two losses were against the worst teams that Florida and Tennessee fielded that decade. Georgia had no business losing against them. It should have been Georgia, not Florida, playing in the SEC Championship.
One correction about Goff’s playing days. He was eligible in 1973, and was on the varsity squad for at least the Alabama game. Andy Johnson was still the starter that year.
Regardless of his coaching days, Goff is still one of the better players that Georgia ever had.
VA DAWG
February 26th, 2011
3:29 pm
cantondawg the reason Goff ended up as coach was because Dooley as AD insisted that all of his assistants be retained. We were in final negotiations with Sheridan at NC State who was the hot coach of that season but he wanted to bring all of his assistants with him. That was the sticking point and he broke off negotiations.Of course we all know the controversy about why Irk wasn’t the next coach. I think Ray knew he wasn’t ready as he wasn’t one of the initial candidates and had never been a coordinator. But as I recall he said he was urged to apply after Sheridan withdrew and did and I guess he was willing to accept Dooley’s demand that he keep all of his assistants.
Tide Roll
February 26th, 2011
3:32 pm
If you’d like to check the record, the Tide has signed the TOP TEN players from the great state of Ala-dam-bama each of the past 4 years!
Mean wile uga has missed on FOUR instate quarterbacks since 1977! That’s more than one quarterback per decade!
AltamahaDawg
February 26th, 2011
3:45 pm
You forgot to mention that only a classless jerk calls a beloved former player and dedicated coach some childish name because he had some bad years. That’s says more about the jerk, than the coach.
Worth noting that you could carve out periods of Dooley’s record that weren’t much better.
AltamahaDawg
February 26th, 2011
3:54 pm
I remember being at that Clemson game. It was a memorable time. Had tickets to see the braves that weekend too. Sunday unfortunately. Saw plenty of reserves.
AltamahaDawg
February 26th, 2011
3:58 pm
BTW, was not saying B.King is a jerk for repeating that. He has never used it (except to make the point that some have) that I have ever seen in his writing.
@Orson
February 26th, 2011
4:22 pm
Richt is only behind LSU in SEC tilels since he’s been at Georgia, LSu 3, uga 2, Floirda 2, auburn 2, bama 1. I guess the rest of the SEC barely won a title too.Ray Goff was a very good Qb in his day, he was in over his head as a head coach.
Sam
February 26th, 2011
4:27 pm
I think there is a need to separate Goff as a player and as a coach. His play at UGA should be far above reproach. Also, he should never have been named HC. He had not had a lot of experience as a coach. Maybe if he had been developed, he would have turned into a good coach.
I cannot recall him ever saying negative about UGA.
Goff is a great dawg.
THE CORK
February 26th, 2011
4:31 pm
To TIDE ROLL, Just enjoy your piece of work at TIMOR’S KORNER.
Big Al
February 26th, 2011
4:36 pm
He was saying that Goff was the best UGA option qb ever….. I hope
Tide Roll
February 26th, 2011
5:11 pm
Real cute “Cork”. Fortunately, I have an ironclad alibi for that weekend.
Tide Roll
February 26th, 2011
5:11 pm
I was briefly incarcerated in Gulf Shores on a charge of Mopery.
bosshawg
February 26th, 2011
5:51 pm
always a goff fan an supporter sorry he had bad times in coaching not all his fault go dawgs no his blood runs red&black
He did defeat Ohio State
February 26th, 2011
5:55 pm
Ohio State was QB’d by loud mouth Kirk Herstreet and UGA routed them pretty easily.
Ohio State is a joke when they face the men of the SEC.
GO Dogs.
Hey VA Dawg
February 26th, 2011
5:57 pm
You are 150% correct in your recollection of the UGA/Goff hiring. That is my memory to the T.
Go Dogs.
Gerald
February 26th, 2011
6:09 pm
Orson:
The only reason why no other school has far outdistanced Richt’s 2 SEC titles is because Richt is by far the longest tenured head coach in the SEC. As a matter of fact, only Richt and Spurrier have been at their current jobs for more than 5 years. In the time that Richt has been at UGA, Nick Saban has won a national title at LSU, spent three years with the Dolphins, and then won another national title at Alabama. Also, since that time, Steve Spurrier won the Orange Bowl at Florida, then went to the Redskins, and has returned to be South Carolina’s best coach ever.
Even better: Gene Chizik came into the SEC as a defensive coordinator in 2002, helped Auburn go undefeated in 2004, went to Texas and helped them win a national title in 2005 as a DC, then went to Iowa State as head coach for two years, and then came back to Auburn to lead them to a national title in 2010.
Richt did win SEC titles in 2002 and 2005, but both came in down years in the SEC. 2002 was in the “down period” between the late 90s when Florida and Tennessee were title contenders and the streak of SEC national title worthy teams that began in 2003 (yes, I include Auburn in 2004 as part of that streak). Look at the SEC in 2002 … it was a mess. UGA was the only team anywhere near the top 10. Florida was the #2 team in the SEC East, and they were 8-5, and in the east Alabama couldn’t play in the SEC title game because they were on probation, so Arkansas had to instead. (Granted, UGA did beat ‘Bama by 2 during the season.) And 2005 was the only year since 2003 that the SEC hasn’t produced a team worthy of contending for a national title, and one of the few years in decades where the SEC champ had 3 losses. So, it can basically be said that Richt won the 2002 and 2005 titles by default, especially when you consider that the 2005 title came only because UGA knocked JaMarcus Russell out of the game on the first drive.
Richt has proven that he can win the SEC in a down year, but not that he can win a national title, or even be a factor in the SEC race during one of its stronger years. In 2003, UGA lost to LSU twice, and it was the Gators who beat LSU. In 2004, UGA wasn’t even competitive against Auburn. And since the title run began in 2006, UGA hasn’t logged a single victory against a team that went on to win the SEC East or the SEC West. Even in 2007, they lost to SEC East champ Tennessee, and none of LSU’s 2 conference losses were to UGA. In 2006, Florida lost to Auburn, not UGA. In 2008, Florida lost to Ole Miss, not UGA. And even in the years that UGA won the SEC title, they lost to Florida both times, and in 2005 they also lost to Auburn.
Keep defending Richt if you want. But it is difficult to remember a coach who has accomplished so little when given so much for so long. Georgia gets top 5 recruiting classes now … imagine if they were winning as many BCS games and sending as many players to the NFL as Ohio State does. They’d get the #1 recruiting class every year, or at least every other year, like Saban does, and like Mack Brown, Bobby Bowden, Pete Carroll and Phil Fulmer used to.
TDone
February 26th, 2011
6:35 pm
What about Joe Hamilton?
GTDog
February 26th, 2011
6:38 pm
And your point is what Harold? Are you saying that UGA is the most stable program in the SEC?
Are you agreeing that the Bulldogs have won more SEC titles than anyone in the SEC except LSU over the past decade?
Saban? Great coach, but he HAS lost 3 or more games in 2 of his 3 years at AL. That’s with #1 ranked recruiting classes.
Mack Brown? Has to have the highest composite recruiting classes over the past 2, 3, 5 and 10 years. 1 NC, 5-7 record last year.
Bobby Bowden? Coaching where, I thought he was retired? Great coach, run out of Tallahassee by clowns like you.
Pete Carroll? Pleeeeease. The only program to compete with Texas as far as recruiting this decade. How many NC? Oh yeah…..1.
Phil Fulmer? Another fine coach. See Bobby Bowden comment for definition of “clowns”…lol
GTDog
February 26th, 2011
6:39 pm
Oh, before the Clown Police get me, I meant 2 of 4 years for Saban at Alabama…
Ray Goofus
February 26th, 2011
6:47 pm
It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited this year (just like the year before, the year before that, etc.). How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking two years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the six or seven wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but Florida will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 25, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance.
UGA, winner of the Fulmer/Richt Cup and known worldwide as The Cesspool of the South.
Rumanee
February 26th, 2011
6:49 pm
The biggest change that CMR needs to make is to stop recruiting the low-class illiterates and thugs who he seems to think will win for him and keep his oversized paychecks coming in. People like Marcus Dowtin, A.J. Green, Washaun Ealey, Caleb King, and others too numerous to mention are not team players, they’re thug wannabes who are much closer to a gang than a team.
It’s sickening to see felons and goons like these representing the state’s flagship university.
Ally
February 26th, 2011
6:56 pm
UGA = Thug Central.
UGADawg83
February 26th, 2011
7:29 pm
Quotes from Rust and Scott–what the guy at Jiffy Lube was not available. For gosh sakes AJC please get us a better representative UGA on this blog.
DawgFan
February 26th, 2011
8:06 pm
Ray Goof was terrible. Matt Robinson should have played more
sam
February 26th, 2011
8:11 pm
Freshmen started playing on the varsity in 1972. Goff entered in 1973, but the starter was a well-established senior — Andy Johnson, the best running QB since Sinkwich and arguably Dooley’s best running QB. Johnson was so good that he played forever in the NFL as a RB. But Ray Goff was a remarkable leader. He was the catalyst for the 1976 SEC champions. I will always remember how Goff and the other captains came out to midfield with shaved heads for the 1976 Alabama game in Athens. They shut out the supposedly unbeatable Bear Bryant and Alabama that day, 21-0 I believe. I also believe it was Alabama’s first SEC loss in more than 3 years. You can look it up. Ray Goff may not have been a very good passer but he was a helluva football player.
UGASlobberknocker
February 26th, 2011
8:12 pm
He damn sure was one Saturday in Oct 1976. Georgia 21 Alabama 0. Ray scored two TDS. For my money as a 36 yr season ticket holder..the best home win in all of that time..the celebration afterward was beyond wild. Today could not happen..the entire student body would be in jail. Milledge was a street party the likes of which has not been seen since.
Fidlin1
February 26th, 2011
8:29 pm
Slobberknocker, I was on the tracks on Friday at 5pm for that Saturday game against Alabama. My favorite UGA game of all time. What a Game.
The Ole Ball Coach
February 26th, 2011
9:02 pm
Ray is a great Dawg,, Great player, great radio voice, Love to hear his rationale on the different areas
of the Football program. I wish his teams had done better when he was the coach……
Alabamadawg
February 26th, 2011
9:24 pm
I was disappointed when Georgia hired Ray as their HC. However, I thought his offense’s were pretty good, he just never could find a good defensive cordinator, he tried, but failed.
1eyedJack
February 26th, 2011
9:38 pm
Ray Goff gave my brother a concussion in high school. His next game back William Andrews gave him another.
1eyedJack
February 26th, 2011
9:40 pm
That Saturday in Oct 1976 was my first Georgia game and what a game…and what a party afterwards.
aarh
February 26th, 2011
10:21 pm
Donnan of a new era- Yeah, I know Richt hasn’t won a championship, but it took Dooely a long time before he won one, & he was around in an era back when people didn’t get fired every yr. just for having one or two bad seasons. Richt has finished #2 #3 in the nation…so I don’t understand what you mean when you way he hasn’t been close to a championship. You may not be old enough to remember, but UGA was coming off a bad season going into the ‘80 season, & along came H. Walker before they ended up winning it all. Also, Goff didn’t beat the Gators that much. I think he beat them in his first yr. or so, but that was the period when Spurrier arrived & Fl. started to own UGA…right after that victory Goff had in his first season. I know Richt’s struggled w/ them, but so has every other coach since Dooley, & FL. wasn’t even that good before Spurrier was there. So, it was a different FL. team that Dooley owned instead of the one that other UGA coaches have had trouble w/ ever since.
oakwood dawg
February 26th, 2011
11:05 pm
Goff was great football player for UGA and probably would have been a great coach had it not been for Dooley. He got the scarlet letter and was cast out. I personally believe Dooley was afraid Goff would be a better coach than he(Dooley) was. Although Goff is in the shadows, the day will come when he is redeemed. For his sake, I hope it is soon. He was, and still is, a DAMN GOOD DAWG.
texaspete
February 26th, 2011
11:35 pm
Lest we forget John Bond from Valdosta who played @ Miss. State. He was superior to Goff on the option. Maybe not a better QB, but better at the option.
And AF QB wee Dee Dowis, the Air Force QB from Franklin Count was better than Goff, but then that’s saying something itself.
Fire wood for sale
February 26th, 2011
11:45 pm
Tide roll needs to read news papers from Alabama and get off ours! And Gerald you don’t have to wright a book calm down it’s just a blog! Ray goff if any thing was one heck of a recruiter!
aladawg
February 27th, 2011
12:54 am
Roll Tide, I was born and raised in the great state of Georgia but I left the state in 1965 and joined the army. After 26 years I retired at Fort Rucker, AL near Dothan. I remained in this state becasue the state does not tax my army retirement and low property taxes. Those are the only reasons I live in this backwards state. I listen to Mr. Pine Bum (Paul) every day just to get my kicks from listening to you Alabama low life stuff dipping idiots. You proved my point by not even knowing that GA Tech is in the state of Georgia. Most kids in Alabama their mothers are also their sisters. Don’t give me no crap I live amoung you morons I know how you all are.
college football
February 27th, 2011
1:04 am
about leaving the state…if a kid goes to Georgia Tech, it’s actually like leaving the state.
Grim Reaper
February 27th, 2011
7:23 am
aladawg said:
“I listen to Mr. Pine Bum (Paul) every day just to get my kicks from listening to you Alabama low life stuff dipping idiots.”
You have the sympathies of the Grim Reaper, for when “your and of days” comes, you will be transported to a better life, for hell on earth is the state of Alabama, you will not be shipped from one purgatory to another.
Also have my sympathies for having to listen to Mr. Pine Bum, if he had three holes in the top of that bowling ball I would roll it down that alley in Jacksonville where the Ole Ball Coach beat up Ray Goof!
Joe
February 27th, 2011
7:44 am
F-105 Thunderbird…Sir or Maam! You are absolutely correct….Goff was great but Tracy Ham was aabsolutely the best ever. Vince can thank Erk every day for his success at UGA.
J
February 27th, 2011
7:57 am
Goff surrounded himself with his buddies and Marion Campbell once… Dooly was blessed to have Erk and what’s his name…Herschel. Goff shot himself in the foot by forcing the issue with Dooly. One thing about Dooly was the did surround himself with good assistants and had a great running game that allowed Erk’s defenses to be fresh and wild all the time. Ray did not surround himself with the best coaches. Even now Dooly surrounds himself with the best gardeners and horticulturist UGA has to be successful as a gardener.
Mr. Phelps
February 27th, 2011
8:53 am
The turning of the tide, Ray Goff UGA head coach, Steve Spurrier UF, the dawgs have yet to recover.
YardDawg
February 27th, 2011
9:23 am
Goff was one of the best.
Tracy Ham was the best ever.
By a long ways.
YardDawg
February 27th, 2011
9:25 am
J, if you know so much about Dooley, wouldn’t you at least know how to spell his name?
old dawg
February 27th, 2011
10:27 am
How many people on this blog can say they have ever been considered for an hall of fame, Ray was a great college player and this is his time, so all of your losers that are writing ignorant remarks, shut the f*** up and give Ray his due, he is a true DAWG!!! Congratulations Ray!!!
Newman
February 27th, 2011
10:54 am
Best UGA option QB ever: ANDY JOHNSON. No contest.
Jborodawg
February 27th, 2011
12:42 pm
Congratulations to Coach Goff on being inducted. Damn Good Dawg!
Headley Lamar
February 27th, 2011
3:42 pm
Tracy Ham was the best ever.
Huh? He was facing D II competition.
Not even close.
athdog
February 27th, 2011
4:14 pm
Goff was a good recruiter, a little over his head as HC and entirely snake bit as a HC. Recall Hines Ward having to play three positions in one season to cover up for injuries to starters? Go back through the years he was there and every year there was 4,5 6 key players down with injuries for multiple games. I’m not saying that without the injuries he would’ve had great teams, but as it was, he never had a chance.
Gotten a chance to know him some in my decade of living in Athens, he is a class guy, not to mention very successful businessman.
South Ga Dog
February 27th, 2011
5:06 pm
ERK RUSSEL BY MILES
Drago
February 27th, 2011
5:22 pm
During Goff’s years as QB, UGA ran the veer. The veer is a good bit harder to run than the Wishbone. Veer is higher risk and the ball hits the ground more, but Ray ran the veer to perfection. UGA had excellent backs in 76 too. Good team, came very close to being magical.
dawgfan
February 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
Even Goff owned the nerds. I say we let a chimpanzee coach against Tech for the next few years to make things interesting. Or maybe an oragutan? They are more entertaining. Either way the result will be the same. Another loss for the nerds to their big brother in Athens.
Really Techies, Goff? REALLY? Tech football is a total joke.
Roy Wood
February 27th, 2011
6:15 pm
I sure wish you non UGA fans would stay off our blog.UGAs nat champ was no bigger fluke that some others i can thank off.Richt has done quite well If UGA is stupid enough to fire Him he will only be out of work as long as he wants to be.Must be a Tech fan that writes all that hate because He beats them reg He beat just about everyone except FLA only 3-7 or is 2-8 but all you power houses look the last ten yrs and see what his record is.esp Auburn
DP
February 27th, 2011
7:39 pm
Yeah, Goff was the greatest option QB ever, the ‘92 team that lost 2 games should have won the national championship and Washaun Ealey is once again a front runner for the Heisman. And Bill King is not delusional.
LakeDawg
February 27th, 2011
8:21 pm
Andy Johnson was better, but Goff was still a very good option QB. I loved him when he played and hated him when he coached. Especially after he tried to hold on to his job by using the influence of Speaker of the House Murphy and many years later was still bad mouthing Dooley. He’s truly a classless person. Maybe has matured some since then. He gets no love from me.
thirty four sint
February 27th, 2011
8:22 pm
Dee Dowis from Royston, GA is the best option QB of all time.
To the sissy boys from alerbammer on here: There will be no mention of anyone from alerbammer when there is a discussion of someone being the greatest.
dawg85
February 27th, 2011
10:18 pm
Ray was a great option QB — no doubt. Deciding who is best is like picking the winner in a beauty contest. To each his own.
I actually thought his best coaching job was 95. They finished 6-6 but that team was riddled with injuries. Sure was rooting for him.
Ray’s a damned good dawg.
59bulldawg
February 28th, 2011
4:41 am
Ray was a great QB for us no doubt. Some of my fondness memories of Georgia games are when he was playing. Well deserved honor.
Ron
February 28th, 2011
6:39 am
TRACY HAM OF GA SOUTHERN UNIVERISTY, WAS UNDOUBTLY THE BEST OPTION EVER. TWO NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Larry
February 28th, 2011
7:17 am
Goff played, particularly ahead of Robinson, because he was a kiss up. Dooley always played his favorites over better athletes. Kirby Moore, Preston Ridlehuber, Andy Johnson, and Matt Robinson were all vastly better quarterbacks than Ray Goff.
Dawg Fan
February 28th, 2011
7:33 am
Great Georgia guy! Thanks Ray!
TC
February 28th, 2011
7:35 am
Does anyone reading this blog agree that Ray Goof’s coaching career sounds a lot like CMR. Under performing players, great recruiter, losing close games costing a shot at national title, But for some reason Bulldog Nation still loves CMR and labels Ray “Goof” I really don’t get it. Regardless what CMR did years ago, they state of the program today is not any worse than it was under Ray’s last year of coaching the Bulldogs!! Everyone was was calling for Rays head, but everyone loves CMR. Can someone please explain it to me without going into what CMR did 5 years ago with Donnans players?
Big Dog 98
February 28th, 2011
7:47 am
Vince Dooley was a skirt chasing, dope smoking ZERO.
Vince Dooley says rumors apparently `politically motivated.’
Dooley: GBI Agent Tried to Link Him to Drugs Lack of Evidence Ended Brief
‘83 Investigation
Date: January 26, 1989 Publication: The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution Page Number: A/1 Word Count: 1383
Former Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, seeking to defuse a potential political land mine, revealed Wednesday that state undercover agents unsuccessfully tried to make a narcotics case against him six years ago. Records unsealed at Mr. Dooley’s request in DeKalb Superior Court showed the impromptu operation began when Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Gail Buckner claimed the coach propositioned her and offered her “coke and reefer” in a lounge at
At least Goff has class.
Reginald
February 28th, 2011
8:01 am
Another great post here, just amazing. Can this be nominated as one of Bill’s dumbest quotes ever?
“it’s true that his talent-loaded 1992 team — with the likes of Eric Zeier, Garrison Hearst, Mack Strong, Andre Hastings and Randall Godfrey — probably should have won the national championship but lost close games to Tennessee and Florida.”
TC
February 28th, 2011
8:05 am
Dooley is a jerk and I am glad Adam’s fired him.
Buckeye
February 28th, 2011
9:05 am
Ray Goff? You should have seen his cousin, Jack.
ECDawg
February 28th, 2011
9:10 am
Congrats to Ray Goff, who was the QB during most of my time in Athens.
No one loves Georgia anymore than Ray and he richly deserves this honor.
A class act and a DGD………
DawginLex
February 28th, 2011
9:14 am
Reginald,
I’d say that 1992 team was loaded with talent and underachieved. Georgia wins those two games and they are playing for the title so I’d say Bill is not too far off considering we lost both games late in the 4th quarter.
Dink
February 28th, 2011
9:40 am
Ray was really good running the option but Jack Mildren at Oklahoma was the best option QB I ever saw, by far.
Go Dawgs!
schmeckdawg
February 28th, 2011
9:43 am
I remember attending the 1991 Buldog Club meeting at the old Colony Square Hotel with my 5 year old son. I had him sitting on my neck so that he could get Goof’s autograph. When I asked Goof if he could sign a napkin formy son, he looked at me like I was from Mars. Anyway, obviously there was no autograph and to this day I think Goof is one of the most classles, insecure human beings I have ever run across!!
schmeckdawg
February 28th, 2011
9:44 am
sorry for my spelling!
DawgGrad
February 28th, 2011
10:01 am
No. 10 ran the QB option in the veer as smooth as anyone ever has. Nothing else can, or should be added. When he graduated he was greatly missed. He’s a Damn Good ‘Dawg, and we should never forget it.
McDawg
February 28th, 2011
10:10 am
i loved the way he ran th eoption often pitching it 30 yds down field-great open field runner
JB
February 28th, 2011
10:15 am
I hope that Ray and the University, it’s Alumni and fans can make peace with Ray. He was , and still is , A damn good Dawg. I prefer to remember his playing days vs coaching, but he’s still one of us.
Lewis Grizzard
February 28th, 2011
11:13 am
@Donnan of a new era: Coach Richt is currently at 96-34 in his first ten years. Coach Dooley was 66-31 in his first ten years. Both had 2 SEC titles in their first decade. Coach Richt finished 2002 at #3 in the country (of which you gave semi-praise), but he finished at #2 nationally in 2007 (which you conveniently forgot). I’d say that’s as close as you can get to a NC without actually taking it home. Coach Dooley never finished the season above #4 until 1980. Further, Coach Dooley won his only NC 16 years after he became Georgia’s head coach. In 1979, (the year before Herschel Walker won the national title for the Dogs) the team went 6-5, and everybody was demanding Dooley’s head on a stick! If given the time, history will show Coach Mark Richt as being Georgia’s greatest coach ever.
@Travis Fain: He didn’t say a 2-loss team should have won the national championship. He said that team (which ended up losing 2 games) should have won the NC because of the talent, but lost 2 games instead.
rduck
February 28th, 2011
11:16 am
So UGA ran the option… huh…. The same option that is now called the “high school offense” now that Tech runs it with good success. Just goes to show how dimwitted some people are. Most high schools now run some of spread offense that a lot of college programs use today. But yet they are called conventional or pro style offenses. Funny how some people choose to see things. Very interesting….
rduck
February 28th, 2011
11:29 am
His resume as a player sounds a lot like a certain player that was ridiculed for years at Tech for being a great running QB in the option but passed poorly. Nesbitt is his name if I recall. Funny how different uniforms make the same type players get looked upon differently. Nesbitt was known for being a good passer out of high school but struggled with it in college. Ran the ball and the option with precision and power. Was a great leader on his team and carried them to a conference title. Sounds a lot like the guy being praised on here because he was a “DGD”. Just find it interesting. BTW, I also thought Goff was a fine player. Just so you don’t think I am bashing him just for being at UGA…
RxDawg
February 28th, 2011
11:35 am
” I can’t put Mark Richt in the “great” category because he’s never been anywhere near the national title game.”
Words cannot express the stupidity of that statement. In fact, I think I’ll just stop reading from there.
David Granger
February 28th, 2011
11:36 am
Goff was a decent QB…ran the offense OK. Ludicrous to think he was the best ever, though. My biggest gripe about him as a coach was that he was a GREAT recruiter…and I wish he had been a little more patient about becoming a head coach. Dooley had become the Dawgs’ head coach at about the same age, and I think that influenced his support for Goff.
The best option QB ever might well have been Tracy Ham at Georgia Southern. There has NEVER been another QB any more fun to watch…
McDawg
February 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
i wonder how many NFL Scouts are looking at Newton for a TE position?
McDawg
February 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
UGA did not run the triple option
Judd
February 28th, 2011
12:30 pm
Don’t know, but Aaron Murray has the distinction of having the worst record of any starting QB in Richt’s 25 year career.
Murray’s the worst.
rduck
February 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
True that they did’nt run the triple option, but it was an option offense. Hey, I love watching option offenses of all kinds. The timing and precision it takes to run the option is fun to watch for me. I just find it funny that just because Tech adopted an offense that many ran years ago, suddenly it is a playground offense. Every offense has it’s own identity. You can run any type offense with success or failure. Each team has it’s own identity. UGA’s offense may be of what you see in the pro’s but that doesn’t mean it is more likely to succeed than any other offense. If every team ran the same offense, how boring a sport would football be? Seems to me that when the whole “wildcat formation” took place and team’s began having success with it, many other programs (including NFL) took notice and implemented some version of that scheme. So why is it that GT’s triple option is viewed by many as “high school”?…
Funny
February 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
Ray Goff was a good player at UGA,,,the best option QB ever,,,,NEVER. Might have been the best at UGA.
It’s really funny, but to most UGA fans beating GT is as close to being National Champions as they can imagine. They will never outright admit it but to them when UGA beats GT that is THEIR NC!
GaCracker
February 28th, 2011
1:13 pm
The old teams that ran the wish bone had the best options QB’s. I vote for Thomas Lott of Oklahoma!
Braddawg
February 28th, 2011
1:24 pm
For those of you who never saw Ray run the option, you should not compare or Criticize. I did see him play during that 1976 season and I will say that although he may not be the best ever, he was very successful runing the option. That two QB system was fun to watch back then but it was very special watching Ray when he had the ball in his hand. Coaching Career maybe not so good but it wasn’t that bad either. Oh and Tracy Ham was just a gleem in his fathers eye when Ray ran the option, and Erk was still the leader of the Junkyard Dawgs!
Chickasaw
February 28th, 2011
1:44 pm
Don’t know if he was the best, but Goff was certainly very effective as an option QB on a team strong at every position. ‘76 was indeed a great year, especially the ‘Bama game, and ‘75 wasn’t bad either.
Always liked Ray, hated his coaching didn’t work out, but the ‘91 Clemson game makes my personal Top 10 easily. My last weekend as a single man, my buddy and I watched the Braves clinch at least a tie on Friday night against the Astros in the old stadium; spent the morning hiking at Duke’s Creek, the pre-game knocking back cool ones with another buddy as the Braves clinched the title itself, the Clemson game itself screaming our lungs out from great 35 yard line seats and followed that with celebratory bourbon (what else) at Allen’s. Glad Ray put on his best game as my send off to wedded bliss!
Flatwoods Dawg
February 28th, 2011
1:54 pm
Ray Goff was one UGA’s alltime great players!
shankit
February 28th, 2011
2:36 pm
As a Valdosta Wildcat, we had the good fortune of playing
against Ray Goff on several occasions, and Ray was a
great quarterback and competior at Moultrie. But the best performance I
have ever seen on Cleveland Field was by Andy Johnson
when Athens came down and tied us 26-26 for co state
championships. Valdosta had only had 7 points scored
on them all year until Andy showed up.
Both served the Dawgs well, but I would have to give
the edge to Andy.
Reginald
February 28th, 2011
2:37 pm
Dawginlex,
When you lose 2 games, close or not you can’t say you should’ve won the national championship. Very few people were saying that back then, its just something thats been said more as the years pass so morons like you and Bill can feel more hopeful that another national championship must be just around the corner. You reason that, ‘well we won in 80, ’should’ve won’ in 1992, ‘got robbed in 2007′, and now we’re just due.
And yes, I am a die hard Georgia fan too but I’m sick of the stupidity. We could have won the national championship in 1992-not should have.
shankit
February 28th, 2011
2:42 pm
Furthermore, if you want to include quarterbacks other
than Georgia, Mark Richt coached a pretty good one,
Heisman Trophy and National Championship winner,
CHARLIE WARD.
Fire Mark Richt
February 28th, 2011
3:33 pm
Goff was a heck of a player, no doubt. But best option quarterback ever? I think that’s a big stretch. My vote would go to J.C. Watts or Tommy Frasier.
Fire Mark Richt
February 28th, 2011
3:38 pm
Mark Richt isn’t a great coach because, well, he’s just not that good of a coach. Just a coach who was lucky early on to have maybe the most dominant defensive player in UGA history in David Pollack, a great defensive coordinator, and one of the top 5 best quarterbacks in Georgia history in David Green. Once those guys were gone, mediocrity set in. Fast.
Lewis Grizzard
February 28th, 2011
3:59 pm
Funny said: “They will never outright admit it but to them when UGA beats GT that is THEIR NC!”
Hahahahahahahahahha….
Now that is comical !! I think you have it backwards though… Georgia beats tech with such frequency that it is no longer really a rivalry the most UGA fans. GT fans (all 16 of them) on the other hand look at their rare victory over Georgia as being of intergalactic importance.
Delbert D.
February 28th, 2011
4:11 pm
Here are a couple of names: Jimmy Sidle of Auburn rushed for 1006 yards in 1963, the first QB to do it. That record stood until Eric Crouch passed him in 2001 (and won the Heisman Trophy as an option QB.) Only Sidle did it in a 10 game season.
shankit
February 28th, 2011
4:20 pm
Best quarterback money could buy, Cam Newton.
ncdawg
February 28th, 2011
4:28 pm
Goff was great at evaluating talent, just ask Terrell Davis and Preston Jones.
KeepPaulJohnson.com
February 28th, 2011
4:55 pm
“Mark Richt isn’t a great coach because, well, he’s just not that good of a coach. Just a coach who was lucky early..”
‘Lucky early’ finished # 2 in the country in 2007 without Davids Pollack or Greene! IDIOT!
Coach Richt has the highest winning percentage in the history of UGA football for the first 10 seasons. He has had one bad season in ten.. ONE, you f#@king moron! Here are the stats, try doing some homework before piping off next time:
Richt: 95-33 (.742),
Butts: 79-27-4 (.718),
Dooley: 73-41-7 (.603),
Mehre: 59-31-6 (.595)
Hairy Perry
February 28th, 2011
5:09 pm
Guys please don’t get upset with me, but I don’t think Dooley was that great. He was a good coach, but far from a great coach. Hershel Walker made Vince Dooley.
Hairy Perry
February 28th, 2011
5:13 pm
KeepPaulJohnson.com,
I agree with you, that Richt is getting crapped on by a bunch of dumb@asses. Mark Richt is by far the best coach UGA has had. He just needs to toughen up big time. If we got rid of him the whole nation would laugh as he went somewhere else and won BIG TIME .
Uga'91
February 28th, 2011
8:06 pm
Quick history lesson…After Dooley stepped down, President Charles Knapp put together a diverse panel to find the next head coach (no outside search committee and as far as I remember no real football people), Erk turned us down, and the coach at NC State turned us down. At that point the panel panicked and offered the job to Goff who was on the staff as a position coach. I don’t believe he had head coaching or coordinating experience. Of course he took the job but he was probably not the most qualified person available. I think he was in over his head but I blame Knapp for punting the decision to the clowns on the panel. As far as Goff being the greatest option qb I was a little young when he was playing but I heard he was good, but the best I ever saw was either Jamelle Holloway or Tommie Frazier. Go Dawgs. BTW, what’s up with these AJC writers not apologizing when they make errors? Many people have pointed out that Goff was eligible as a freshman but the writer has not acknowledged it or corrected it.
Uga'91
February 28th, 2011
8:14 pm
And for my money James Jackson is probably the best running qb that I remember at GA. Dooley played him at the expense of developing the pure pocket passer Wayne Johnson.
Navarre Florida Dawg
February 28th, 2011
10:58 pm
Come on Dawg fans. Give Ray his due. He provided lots of fond memories on the field as a player. Many have proven that it is not easy to be a successful coach in the SEC!
savannadawg
March 1st, 2011
12:22 am
I’ve seen alot of option qbs in my time. Ther are many good ones. But I have never seen one as good as Tracy Ham. He had an uncanny instinct that the others didn’t AND he was a helluva passer too. I just wish i could find some old film on him. He was a wizard.
swampfox
March 1st, 2011
2:24 am
I might not remember Goff well enough, but some mention should be made of John Lastinger when on the subject of great option QB’s. He got into a nasty slump and could not seem to complete any type overhand pass at all, but his pitches went to different backs and timed right for them to accelerate into the ball, throwing them while looking straight at the defender’s face. Teams went into games knowing that he was not going to pass and it took the best of them to stop his option.
He scored the winning TD on the option keep vs Texas to win and go 11-1 without Hershel Walker. That Texas defense had 10 of the 11 starters go on to the NFL.
Lee
March 1st, 2011
8:17 am
John Lastinger was a better option QB.
Ed Pilcher
March 1st, 2011
8:45 am
Leonard Guyton was the best veer QB I ever saw.
Oh, and Goff loves UGA? Goff bleeds red and black?? Goff loves UGA so much, he sent his kids to Auburn. Still bitter after all these years.
Ed Pilcher
March 1st, 2011
8:49 am
@ Swampfox. UGA went 10-1-1 in 1983. Lost to AU, tied Vandy. And Lastinger sucked, even if he did redeem himself in the Cotton Bowl.
Ed Pilcher
March 1st, 2011
8:55 am
Actually, the best option QB UGA ever had was Preston Ridlehuber. Ridlehuber didn’t know what he was doing, Dooley didn’t know what Ridlehuber was doing, but most importantly, the opposing team didn’t know what Ridlehuber was doing. And that’s what made him most effective while running that old Split-T option.
radly dawg
March 1st, 2011
9:32 am
Ray gave Georgia his best shot…playiong and coaching. I remember his playing days well. He was a great leader/player on the field. One of my best friends’ father coached him at Moultrie and he had nothing but priase for Ray. I remember the 76 Georgia/Florida game like it was yesterday….ol Ray saved the second half….and the game….what a show!!! I still think players like him today are being overlooked because they don’t fit the contemporary mold of what supposedly is a player with athletic abilities…..40 yd./ vertical leap!! You can’t measure a kid’s heart or his desire! I’ll take the Jake Scott’s, Bill Stanfill’s, Happy Dick’s, Terry Hoage’s, Scott Werner’s, Buck Belue’s, and Herschel Walker’s (he actually lived up to his!) anyday over glitz and hype!!!!
Radly Dawg
Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!
radly dawg
March 1st, 2011
9:39 am
Ol Wayne Johnson was tough….see the Gator Bowl Game….Dooley’s last game as Head Coach! Wayne lit’em up and Rodney Hampton scorched’em on the ground. Man, Georgia has had some quality players through the years!!!! Gooooooo…. You Hairy Dawgs!!!!
Radly Dawg
shankit
March 1st, 2011
10:37 am
Pilcher – Lastinger never lost to Florida.
shankit
March 1st, 2011
10:59 am
Pilcher – On Lastinger you left out 1982, John went 11-1
lost to Penn State for the NC, cause Dooley kept running
Herschel, finally turned John A. loose in the 4th quarter and
he brought them back to almost pull it off.
Lastinger’s overall record in 82 and 83, was 21-2-1,
I think the Dawgs would take that any year.
Actually, Pilcher, you suck.
Ed Pilcher
March 2nd, 2011
3:36 pm
shankit…..I have more time coaching football that you have sitting on the can. I also suspect that I am far more qualified to judge talent that you are. If I say Lastinger sucked, then he sucked. But, for the sake of argument, I’ll tell you what…..You put Lastinger on a team with average talent, instead of on a team that went 43-4-1 while he was there, and you’ll see a very different W/L record. UGA won in 82 and 83 in spite of Lastinger, not because of him. Now, with all due respect, you can just smooch my big ‘ol butt.
Ed Pilcher
March 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm
Lastinger wouldn’t have even been the 3rd string QB on my team. My Grandmama could’ve played QB for UGA back then and still won……and she’s been dead for 25 years!
Ed Pilcher
March 2nd, 2011
3:46 pm
My, my……These UGA fans and their attitudes. Haven’t won a title since 1980, and you STILL dwell on the past and act as though it happened last year, instead of 25-plus seasons ago. Let me clue you in on something…..It AIN’T gonna happen again. Your team and coaching staff have no drive, no guts, no testicular fortitude, to get the job done. Your coach wouldn’t even go for it on 4th and goal against UCF with only a half-yard to get!! You went 6-7 and LOST to UCF! Chew on that a while, tards!