Former Tech QB Donnie Davis is finishing what he started
Donnie Davis hated Georgia Tech. He wouldn’t go to a game, wouldn’t set foot on campus. Whenever he drove past – and living in Atlanta, he did often – he’d feel sick to his stomach.
On this spring day in 2009, Donnie Davis sits in the Edge Center, headquarters for Tech sports. He has come from a class in business law. At his feet is a backpack bearing the embroidered letters “GT.”
He’s talking about the future – he’ll graduate with a degree in business management in December – and also the past. Donnie Davis was once the biggest name on the campus he came to despise, but now he’s back, and he’s older (age 36) and wiser and far more forgiving.
“I don’t want to present the case that I was the victim and Georgia Tech was the villain,” he says. “I wholeheartedly believe that nothing was directed at Donnie Davis. I just happened to be the guy in Locker No. 13.”
He arrived at Tech in 1991, a Parade All-American from Burlington, N.C. Recruited by Bobby Ross, Davis was seen as the successor to Shawn Jones, who had led the Jackets to the 1990 national title.
He redshirted in 1991 and sat behind Jones in 1992, but by then Ross was gone to the NFL and Bill Lewis was coaching Tech. Davis started at quarterback in 1993, when the Jackets finished 5-6, and even after two off-season shoulder surgeries he assumed he’d remain the starter.
“It wasn’t up in the air,” he says. “I didn’t think I’d done so badly that they’d bring in somebody who hadn’t even been here.”
At the end of spring practice, Lewis told Davis he was No. 1 no longer. The Jackets would go with Tommy Luginbill, a transfer from a California community college. As Davis recalls it, Lewis said he would deploy both quarterbacks but that Luginbill gave Tech its best chance to win.
The 1994 Jackets won one game. Davis played at wide receiver and on special teams, but not until the North Carolina State game, Tech’s fourth of the season, did he get a real look at quarterback. He scored a touchdown on an option keeper and led a drive to a field goal at the end of the first half. He didn’t play in the second. For him, and for others, that tore it.
Davis: “I’m thinking, ‘We aren’t winning. We aren’t even close to winning. And I’m not even close to getting on the field … This has to be bigger than me.’ ”
It has been speculated that Lewis’ choice of Luginbill splintered the team along racial lines. (Luginbill is white.) In the cold light of hindsight, Davis won’t call the decision racially motivated: “I don’t think it was that clear-cut, the white-black thing. But people were questioning the coaches’ motives, and that was the only thing they could grasp … ‘It’s because the guy’s black – what else could it be?’ ”
Lewis, who now works for the Notre Dame athletics department in community relations, declined to revisit the Davis-Luginbill issue. “I don’t remember those things,” he said this week. “Let’s just let it lie.”
Lewis resigned with three games remaining in the 1994 season. Luginbill transferred to Eastern Kentucky. Under new coach George O’Leary, Davis started at quarterback and led Tech to a 6-5 record in 1995. Then, his eligibility completed but three quarters short of a degree, he left and didn’t look back.
He played for the Arizona Rattlers and was MVP of the 1997 Arena Bowl, in which Kurt Warner was the losing quarterback. He had discussions with Canadian teams but never signed a contract. Soon he was back in Atlanta. He played for the Georgia Force in 2002 and 2003. Eric Zeier, a former Georgia rival then employed by HomeBanc, helped Davis get a job in mortgage banking. But something was missing.
“I’d left with a bad taste in my mouth,” he says. “I had nothing good to say about Georgia Tech. But I hadn’t finished [college] and I didn’t like Tech … I was handcuffed.”
He tried once to return to Tech but found the red tape too daunting. He was taking online courses from Penn State when Joe Hamilton, the former Tech quarterback, introduced him to broadcaster Wes Durham, who introduced him to Wayne Hogan, an associate AD who offered to facilitate. In 2008 Davis re-entered the Institute, taking his classes and serving an internship in the athletics department.
Today Davis is a de facto ambassador. He waves to everybody. He invited several former teammates to Tech’s spring game. He thinks he can stand as a case study: “I’m an example of how not to handle things, and I’m also an example of coming back to finish what you started.”
He wants to work for a “multi-national organization in international marketing,” and he has his graduation targeted. “It’s Dec. 12, 2009, and I should walk across the stage at 9:37 a.m.”
He laughs. “I might even ask to make the speech.”
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114 comments Add your comment
Reid Adair
May 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
What a great story, Mark.
While I think Bill Lewis probably remembers plenty about the situation, I am glad to see that Donnie Davis is graduating and getting back involved with Georgia Tech.
Crazy4GT
May 15th, 2009
2:31 pm
Kudos Mark! I really enjoyed this column. Bill Lewis definitely was a disaster. I’m glad that Donnie is back and proud to be a GT yellowjacket!
ndadome
May 15th, 2009
2:40 pm
Nicely done, Mr. Bradley. Good story. And I had forgotton that Bill Lewis currently has a gig at Notre Dame. . .community relations. . .sounds about right.
Ted Striker
May 15th, 2009
2:40 pm
I’m glad to see Donnie Davis get his degree. It also speaks well of Wayne Hogan, Wes Durham and the too maligned Joe Hamilton. I’m a dyed in the wool Ga guy but darned if I see any point on taking shots at guys like Hamilton. (And you Tech guys who always pile on Reggie Ball & Chan Gailey, it’s just not classy. Reminds me of animals that devour their young.)
Buzz'n
May 15th, 2009
2:46 pm
Thanks Mark
Hayseed Dixie
May 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
Great story. Good for Donnie, and I like Wes Durham even more. I don’t think I could like Joe Hamilton any more than I already do.
I still feel bad for Bill Lewis. I can only imagine the stress he must’ve had to resign mid-season.
YouKnow
May 15th, 2009
3:05 pm
Great to hear. Davis was a different QB under Freidgen. If only he had enjoyed a full career under Ralph’s tutelage……….
Buzznhard
May 15th, 2009
3:27 pm
I had two classes with him but couldn’t figure out which past player he was. He showed up late all the time.
chad
May 15th, 2009
3:38 pm
Bill Lewis says it all. He is a complete da. Never knew what he had in Donnie just a shame
KG
May 15th, 2009
3:52 pm
DD is a stand up guy, and just one of many players that Lewis managed to alienate while at Tech. Their are dozens of stories like this one involving Lewis. Maybe “m” should change his post every now and then and include”THE” worst coach in Tech’s history. Best of luck to DD in the future and THWG!!!
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
3:59 pm
Thanks for the kind words, folks. And, in case you didn’t know or hadn’t guessed, Donnie Davis is a terrific guy.
Mac
May 15th, 2009
4:11 pm
I was working in Burlington when Donnie was a high school star. Great kid that Donnie. Seems like he grew up to be a good man.
Al
May 15th, 2009
4:14 pm
YouKnow,
Donnie never played a down under Ralph Friedgen. Ralph left with Ross after ‘91 season and did not return until spring of 1996. He played under Lewis and then O’Leary’s first OC Pat Watson.
Mike GT
May 15th, 2009
4:17 pm
as a tech fan and grad Congrats to you Donnie Davis and we all want to forget that one coach who almost killed Tech Football
JustMyOpinion
May 15th, 2009
4:21 pm
Donnie Davis was so talented in high school. If I remember correctly, it was Eric Zeier, Heath Shuler, and Donnie Davis. You could pick the order. But I think that this is more impressive. Good Job Donnie Davis, Jr., and this was well written Mark.
Dannyboy
May 15th, 2009
4:26 pm
First, I would like to say congratulations to Donnie Davis. I remember following his recruitment when I was in middle school. His High School stats were eye popping. It’s a shame he never got the opportunity to develop into the talent everyone thought he would become when he left high school. I’m happy he found his peace with GaTech and now he’s part of the “family” again.
To Ted Striker, that was very classy of you. I never understood the people who skewered Reggie Ball and Chan Gailey, either. Reggie was just a student athlete that gave everything he had when he put on that uniform. He wasn’t perfect, and he wasn’t the best player to put on a GT uniform, but he sacrificed his body to help his team win and stayed out of trouble off the field. Chan Gailey wasn’t the best coach to coach at GaTech, but he was far from the worst. Although he didn’t win as much as the fans would have liked, he never had a losing season, and he didn’t embarass the program. I cringe when so called “fans” get on these blogs/boards and skewer the players. I have no problem with fans criticizing the coaches…they get paid very well, and that’s part of the job. But these kids that bleed and sweat for the program for 4-5 yrs and sacrifice being a normal student don’t deserve all the bashing and negative comments.
The irony of college football is that the same students who boo their classmates at games have every opportunity to try out for the team if they think they can do better. How many of them end up doing that?
Ralph
May 15th, 2009
4:26 pm
Bill Lewis was worse than Gailey. At least with Gailey, we had chances to win.
All I'm Saying Is...
May 15th, 2009
4:29 pm
Great story, Bradley. Kudos to you! (Now, proceed to update us on what ever happened to Bucky Shamberger, Shawn Jones, Eddie McShan, Pepper Rodgers,…).
surfrider
May 15th, 2009
4:30 pm
Thanks for the reminder to that 1-10 season. I think Davis would have lead us to more victories that year no doubt looking back. Unfortunately when Ross left and Lewis came in there were several players whose potential was reduced. The talent Ross had left Tech was unbelievable and we only went 5-6, 5-6, and 1-10. To have Shawn Jones at QB and go 5-6 was hard to take when we had started off 1992 something like 4-1 and had FSU on the ropes and they scored 2 TD’s in last two minutes (remember that) when they had Charlie Ward as QB and really were FSU. Friedgen would have done well with Davis and to think about it in Johnson’s Triple Option to see Davis play would have been something and even Reggie Ball would have excelled in this offense we’re running now. Congrats for graduation. It use to be only 50% or so of incoming freshman graduated at Tech.
RAMBLE ON!!!
May 15th, 2009
4:43 pm
Not that it mattered, but you look like a drunken clogger with happy feet standing in pocket on every pass play.
Instead of trying to win your job back, you decided to play the race card and divided the team.
Yes, you should be applauded that you don’t hate GT anymore…NOT!!!
Beernutts
May 15th, 2009
4:53 pm
Davis never played under Freidgen. Freidgen was gone after ‘91, and came back in ‘97
doc
May 15th, 2009
4:53 pm
yeah mark, typical tech man!
heh heh, grandfather played for john heisman and in the 222-0 cumberland game so i am a bit biased. good story and kudos to donnie. as far as my grandfather’s influence and growing up on the sidelines five rows up off the ole cinder track at the 46 yd line for every home game from 55 to 64, it took me to herschel walker to grow me out of it.
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
5:03 pm
In a way, Davis and his teammates — recruited by Ross, played under Lewis, wound up under O’Leary — were the Lost Generation of Georgia Tech football. The 1990 team had its championship, and the teams in the late ’90s would get really good again, but in between there wasn’t much to celebrate, or even remember.
Ron
May 15th, 2009
5:19 pm
Congrates D^2. You were always a stand up guy, even through all that mess in 93. It feels good to get that degree…there ain’t nothing easy about it.
Old School
May 15th, 2009
5:24 pm
GT has surely suffered from very dysfucntional decision making by the Atletics Department leadership. Seriously.
I think Bill Curry is an outstanding person. But, in 1980, he had NO HC experience. Anybody remember…that Steve Spurrier was the QB Coach at GT in 1979, right before Curry was hired? O’Leary was the DC and Friedgen was the OC for Ross. Why couldnt GTAA choose one of these guys in 1992, and avoid the Bill Lewis disaster??
It was Dave Braine that most reently cursed the GTAA. In addition to idiocy of hiring Chan Gailey, Braine left GTAA in DEEP financial trouble with the BD stadium expansion that was financially wreckless.
D-Rad inherited a HUGE mess to clean up.
Thankfully, condiotns are rapidly improving.
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
5:27 pm
Full disclosure: I thought Bill Lewis was a great hire. I still don’t know what happened.
Saint Simons
May 15th, 2009
5:32 pm
Bill lewis was from uga thats why he was a loser!! 45-42!!!!hahahahahahahahahahahhahahah
Pitbull
May 15th, 2009
5:44 pm
To his credit, Vince Dooley never informed Bill Lewis that Vince was planning to retire and that the HC job at UGA would be available. he encouraged Bill Lewis to take the East Carolina HC job. Vince obviously saw something that Tech failed to see when they hired Bill Lewis. But of course we are glad that you did. It was fun to watch. But to your credit, you finally ran him off.
Jeff
May 15th, 2009
5:45 pm
Thanks Mark. I often wonder how former players are doing. Good to hear that Donnie’s going to graduate and that there’s some healing going on. Those were painful years (Lewis era).
Ted Striker
May 15th, 2009
6:06 pm
“The irony of college football is that the same students who boo their classmates at games have every opportunity to try out for the team if they think they can do better.” — DannyBoy
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a better point. I’m not a big fan of booing in general but as far as I’m concerned it has no place in collegiate sports. (Unless you’re booing the ref. In that case, it’s “Lay on, Macduff, and damn’d be him that first cries, Hold, enough!”)
Rob
May 15th, 2009
6:12 pm
Donnie has been in a few of my classes, but since I missed his playing days I had no idea that he used to be our QB, or that he even played football. Good for him.
NRBQ
May 15th, 2009
6:19 pm
You owe me, Mark.
I stuck up for you yesterday over at Senator Blutarsky’s place.
ForSureAJacket
May 15th, 2009
6:23 pm
Really enjoyed the story. Best wishes to you, Donnie.
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
6:24 pm
Mark the day: Our first “MacBeth” reference on the ol’ blog. Courtesy of Ted, natch.
And NRBQ, I’ve been waiting for you: The very week after you ridiculed me for my old-fashioned tastes in music, guess what popped up on “DeepTracks”? “It’s a Wild Weekend” by NRBQ.
(And thanks for your support at the Senator’s, wherever that might be.)
Ted Striker
May 15th, 2009
6:51 pm
Sen. Blutarsky is “Bluto” from ‘Animal House’Closing credits shows that he goes on to become a U.S. Senator. Which would be a fair improvement over some of the jokers we gots. (Ooops, wrong blog)
Hey, folks it’s still Happy Hour! Dino, Frankie, Sammy, Peter, and Joey have gone to Vegas in the sky, but ole’ Ted Striker is remembering them properly. (A drink for me, and I’ll have one for each of them too).
Bob B
May 15th, 2009
6:59 pm
luginbill got the job because his dad was in the coaching community–at sd state I believe. i think we beat Arizona in Atlanta the 1rst game and didn’t win another game that year.Am I wrong? What a shame. We had one of the best QBs in the nation and one of the worst( maybe the worst)coaches.These were the “nightmare years for Tech” what a shame.Homer Rice hired Lewis ,and I will never forgive him for the worst decision he ever made.
Jaded Jacket
May 15th, 2009
7:18 pm
Bill Lewis is an ugly scar on Tech’s history.
Not Disappointed
May 15th, 2009
7:51 pm
I recall Bill Lewis was good at East Carolina; maybe he should have stayed. “Wonderful story Mark. Kudos to you Mr. Donnie Davis! Welcome home and glad to see you getting your Degree. Ramblin Wreck! I hope one day I can shake your hand. “Have a good week all.”
Marie
May 15th, 2009
7:53 pm
Nice job, Donnie!!!
Brad in Lexington, KY
May 15th, 2009
8:26 pm
Mark Bradley,
Have you ever looked at Bill Lewis’ record as a head coach before GT hired him? I haven’t look in awhile, but I think the one big season at ECU was just about the only winning season he’d had before he was hired at GT. Bill Lewis was Bill Lewis when he came to Tech. He just wasn’t a good coach and it was a crappy hire.
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
8:39 pm
Give me some credit, Ted. I’m familiar with that Sen. Blutarsky. (And Mandy. And Otter. And Boone.) I thought maybe NRBQ had someone else in mind.
Tech’s only victory in 1994 was over Western Carolina. The Jackets did, however, play Arizona close on a Thursday night at BDS to open the season.
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
8:41 pm
And I’m familiar with Bill Lewis’ resume. He never had a winning season at Wyoming before coming to Georgia as defensive coordinator. He had one winning season at East Carolina, but it was a great one — 11-1 in 1991, beating N.C. State in the last outdoor Peach Bowl. Jeff Blake was his quarterback.
NRBQ
May 15th, 2009
9:20 pm
The esteemed Senator runs an excellent Dawg blog, “Get the Picture.”
I’ll convert you yet on the most joyful live rock and roll band to ever plug in anywhere.
Greg Anderson
May 15th, 2009
9:29 pm
I was in the same HomeBanc training class as both Donnie Davis and Rick Strom and, as a UGA grad and longtime season ticket holder who is posting this under a pseudonym to avoid possible banishment from the Bulldog Nation, is very happy for Donnie. We talked frequently over those 9 weeks and I never had a clue about the bitterness from his years at Tech. Non-collegiate athletes (like myself) often have preconceived notions about players, especially when they attended a bitter rival. To both their credit, and I guess in some insignificantly small way a credit to Tech as well, these two gentleman were both refreshing examples that debunked the image of the stereotypical athlete. But Rick married a UGA girl, so that helps to explain his transformation
.
Way to go Donnie!
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
9:31 pm
Thanks. I knew I was missing something.
And I like NRBQ just fine. I just found it amusing that your guys showed up the channel for which you’d given me grief.
Guess I probably shouldn’t mention that I also listen to “Siriusly Sinatra,” which often features the vocal stylings of Rosemary Clooney, who’s from Maysville, Ky. As am I.
Ted Striker
May 15th, 2009
9:32 pm
No slight intended, Mark. (It’s just that your wife and daughter claim you won’t watch any film that wasn’t shot in black & white). By the way, be careful talking about how well you remember Mandy. You might have some splainin’ to do.
Point of obscurity: Mary Louise Weller, who played the role of Mandy made her film debut with an uncredited role in Serpico. And as far as I know, she’s never cheered for or against Tech.
Mark Bradley
May 15th, 2009
9:38 pm
You got that part right, TS — I’m a black-and-white-with-subtitles guy.
I didn’t know that about Mary Louise Weller, and I’ve only seen “Serpico” — OK, I make a colorized exception now and then — a dozen times. But I do remember Martha Smith, who enlivened the role of Mandy’s friend Babs, from a magazine I used to read just for the articles.
Ted Striker
May 15th, 2009
9:46 pm
I greatly favor classic films too, although I’m no film snob. (You’ve probably surmised as much from my moniker).
Martha Smith!!!! Good times!!!! (Wait, that magazine had articles???) Sheesh, I always wondered what that squiggly print looking stuff was in between the pictures.
Ty
May 15th, 2009
9:55 pm
surfrider- Thanks for bringing that up. I absolutely remember that game against FSU like it was yesterday. I went to that game and then went to the Braves Game 1 against Toronto in the World Series. I don’t think there has ever been a bigger turning point between two programs as that 4th quarter. FSU went on to win that game, win the National Championship the next year, and dominate the 90’s. That game officially killed any momentum Tech still had from the National Title in 1990, and well, we’re still trying to get back to that point. It was definitely a changing of the guard moment in the ACC.
John
May 15th, 2009
10:35 pm
Among the Tech faithful…the “coach” that took over Ross left is referred to B*** L****. Or Satan, Lucifer, the Devil.
I cannot even speak that man’s name for what he did to our program.
Crosby
May 15th, 2009
10:39 pm
Not to bash Bill Lewis to much but being from Newnan I think back to Derrick Steagall as well. I know that injuries hurt him alot. However, in that first season that he got hurt Lewis had Steagall at tailback. Luginbill pitched the ball to him on an option play near the sideline just in time for Steagall to catch it and get killed. I often have wondered what kind of college career Steagall could of had if he hadn’t of played for Bill Lewis early on.
NRBQ
May 15th, 2009
10:53 pm
Dedicated Deep Tracks devotee here.
You must check out channel 59, Underground Garage, produced by Little Steven Van Zandt. Especially the show hosted by him, midday.
Tech Forever
May 15th, 2009
10:54 pm
I remember EVERYTHING about the whole era…..and remember it all too well.
1) Bill Lewis was NOT a good hire. He was so far in over his head it was ridiculous and there are those of us who, first pleaded with Rice not to hire him and then second told Rice after the UGA brawl in ‘93 he wasn’t the one and to cut him loose. Rice refused.
2) Luginbill got the nod over Donnie for one reason and one reason only….his Dad. There were some SERIOUS racial elements on the ‘94 team that carried over from the ‘93 team. They had nothing to do with the QB situation but definitely helped contribute to the overall mood, temperament, and turmoil of those teams. I’ll add that Luginbill didn’t help matters. To this day he’s very condescending and arrogant…a “pr–k” if you will. There are still guys to this day from those teams who wouldn’t pull over to help him on the side of the road.
3) The “Luginbill” name will be mud forever as far as I’m concerned when it comes to Tech.
4) Mr Davis….even still….you are one of the most exciting players I’ve seen at Tech and even though there was a bad taste in your mouth I for one am proud to be able to call you a Yellow Jacket….and former amazing QB to boot.
Navigator
May 15th, 2009
11:44 pm
I always forget about Lewis after a short while, only to have it resurface with these kinds of articles. I always wonder what would have been if Bobby Ross hadn’t lost his desire to coach college? He had built an excellent foundation for the future with an outstanding coaching staff. What if he had stayed 10 more years, yeah what if? He could have written a completely different history for Tech football.
Drexel Gal
May 16th, 2009
12:15 am
Notre Dame made some curious choices from among GT head coaches: Bill Lewis, an amnesiac, and George O’Leary, a liar.
Other Jeff
May 16th, 2009
12:17 am
I agree with Ted Striker and Dannyboy… as a lifelong UGA fan, I have sometimes not liked how some Bulldogs played and yelled at the TV when they made a boneheaded play, but i NEVER booed my guys and never went on a message board and belittled them. I’m sure MOST Tech fans don’t either, but a select few (like Saint Simons above) have sometimes displayed a terrible lack of class and bashed their players or coaches in public over and over and over. (And by the way Saint Simons, yes, thanks for reminding us you won this year’s game. Win six more in a row in the series and THEN come laugh in our faces!)
Anyway… Too often we forget (and by “we” I mean “all college football fans”) that these are 19, 20, 21 year old kids. They will make mistakes…. this isn’t the NFL. So it’s understandable if they get emotional about a decision like getting benched, or if they say something passionate about their playing situation. But as long as you don’t throw your coach or teammates under the bus in public, I can understand “venting” a little.
Lastly, I have to congratulate Mark on a great column…. too often, these “feel-good” stories (I call them real life or human interest stories) get tossed aside for the sensational, the tragic, the depressing, the evil. Nice to see something good in the college sports world. Congrats to Donnie for finishing his degree and congrats to all the people that helped it happen (Joe Hamilton, Wes Durham, etc.).
Most of you Tech fans are alright…. me gots no beef with you. It’s the ones who INSIST on saying crap like “we’re better than you, ooo we beat you for the first time in X-years, your players are dumb, etc.” that tick other people off. I actually think it’s healthy for the UGA-Tech rivalry to HAVE some wins and losses by both sides…. as someone once said, a hammer doesn’t have a rivalry with a nail. So, to semi-borrow a phrase from Anchorman…. “Keep it classy, Georgia Tech!”
Go ‘Dawgs!
Big Man
May 16th, 2009
1:49 am
@ Crosby
I remember that toss to Stegall. Stupidity. I like to forget thoswe Tech years. Great recruits from that era wasted. Absolutely a shame. Stegall is a high school legend.
mad
May 16th, 2009
3:38 am
what the H happened to the ten year rule> I did not try to go back because of that!!!!!
Who dis
May 16th, 2009
7:38 am
Who Dat? Why does tech fans still rant about 45 to 42 over uga? I dont think the uga fans are too worried about tech still!!
mtraininjax
May 16th, 2009
7:41 am
Great story Mark! Bill Lewis was bad all around for Georgia Tech, he had one good year at East Carolina, and was all talk. I am sure other Tech players during those years has similar experiences. It is a shame.
Dan and Wayne are doing a great job to bring old players and coaches back to the programs. We finally have a great AD and staff to lead the programs into the future. It is refreshing. Its also nice to see that Joe Hamilton got a second chance at Tech this year, after the drugs last year, I hope he makes the most of it!
Richt'sFakeTan
May 16th, 2009
8:20 am
Who Dis, obviously you’re worried. By the way, nice grammar. You do Ugag proud.
fake m
May 16th, 2009
8:58 am
B— L—- was the worst coach in the history of the NCAA! Thank goodness and Greyhound he’s GONE FOREVER!
Lemmy
May 16th, 2009
9:05 am
Shake your Blood.
Pago Flyer
May 16th, 2009
9:14 am
You just knew the race card would be played! It’s always played…
Bobby
May 16th, 2009
9:29 am
I’ve been going to Tech football games since 1977 and although I was not enamored with Bill Lewis I absolutely despised Chan Gailey and still do. I never felt like Bill Lewis didn’t care about GT football or the fans. Gailey cared only about himself. I never want to see that man anywhere, anytime, period. Yes, I’ll have to go to confession twice at Church tomorrow. Great article about Donnie, Mark. I’m normally not a big fan of yours concerning GT sports.
sansho1
May 16th, 2009
9:58 am
I’m finding it hard to jibe this allegedly “old-fashioned” Mark Bradley with the one who used to pepper his columns with Ramones references….
Ozzfest
May 16th, 2009
10:07 am
Welcome to REAL LIFE Donnie. This makes a seemingly intersting story until you consider the thousands of students who did not have the option of having “Joe talk to Wes talk to Wayne” and still managed to succeed. THIS STORY TOLD IN THIS ARTICLE IS TYPICAL OF THE AVERAGE TECH STUDENT.
JimC
May 16th, 2009
10:12 am
A wonderful feel-good story, thanks for writing it!
Rodney Gray
May 16th, 2009
12:14 pm
Great job Mark. I’m from Greensboro, North Carolina and remember Donnie Davis setting all types of state records. I’m about to finish college and reading his story is that much more of an inspiration to make it happen. Good luck Donnie!
All I'm Saying Is...
May 16th, 2009
1:01 pm
Jeff Blake, Bill Lewis’ starter during his glorious 11-1 season at East Carolina, was an African-American player by the way….On the other hand…
“At the end of spring practice, Lewis told Davis he was No. 1 no longer. The Jackets would go with Tommy Luginbill, a transfer from a California community college. As Davis recalls it, Lewis said he would deploy both quarterbacks but that Luginbill gave Tech its best chance to win. The 1994 Jackets won one game. Davis played at wide receiver and on special teams, but not until the North Carolina State game, Tech’s fourth of the season, did he get a real look at quarterback. He scored a touchdown on an option keeper and led a drive to a field goal at the end of the first half. He didn’t play in the second.”…So your team has won one game (the first one) and not another and a new QB drives your team in for a score at the end of the first half and he doesn’t play in the second? What gives? Probably not race but someone explain that one (besides the fact that Bill was overrated as a head coach or simply an idiot)?
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2009
1:17 pm
Thanks again for the kind words, folks.
And Sansho, I appreciate you remembering. I was just out of college when the New Wave hit. But now I’m an AARP member.
And I have listened to Underground Garage, NRBQ. It’s one of the preset buttons on my XM. But so is Willie’s Place and The Joint and B.B. King’s Bluesville. And Siriusly Sinatra.
The Dude
May 16th, 2009
1:20 pm
Great story Mark. Great class from almost every poster. Until next time, take comfort in the fact there’s a man like out there takin’ ‘er easy for all those sinners out there.
The Dude
May 16th, 2009
1:22 pm
*man like me
sansho1
May 16th, 2009
1:45 pm
I hear ya Mark. I’ve gone from punk to Comcast’s Singers and Standards during the same timeline myself.
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2009
1:45 pm
Dude, you abide.
Sautee Dawg
May 16th, 2009
1:48 pm
Thanks Mark, this article just goes to show that Tech does have regular courses (Business Law), To hear the Tech people tell it Nuclear Physics is the norm at Tech. Congrats to Davis for getting after whatever his degree is in.
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2009
1:52 pm
Sansho, would your screen name be a nod to the film, “Sansho the Bailiff”? I tried to watch that one a couple of months ago — it’s in black-and-white with subtitles — but it was just too sad.
marseilles mutt
May 16th, 2009
1:53 pm
Excellent article. Full marks to D Davis for getting his degree. He will look back and appreciate that far more than any on field accomplishments.
Maybe I missed something along the line in the article MB, but didn’t you state that Eric Zeier helped get Davis a job and get ‘restarted’? That is not without precedent, for a UGA quarterback was bailed out of some deep business troubles by a couple of ‘Techies’ some years back; and that is not the only story of this type floating around. My son’s Godfather was one of the Yellow Jackets greatest ‘all-timers’ from the ’50’s. Great friend, and I still miss him on a daily basis!
I hate for my fellow Dogs to display their ignorance with the needless trashing of the “GNATs’; to enjoy a rivalry is one thing, but to denigrate a fine institution borders on stupidity and is an embarrassment. One has only to look at the ever changing skyline of the city of Atlanta to realize the contributions Georgia Tech alums in the fields of architecture, engineering, and real estate have made to both the city and state. Since this is a ‘Tech Blog’ today, I won’t get into ‘Tech Stupidity’, but save that for another day.(7-0,Ha,etc.,etc.)
There has been over the years a mutuality of respect on the part of the players of both schools for one another which, unfotunately does not seem to permeate into the overall alumni base. Time generally changes all that, however.
As Gran’pa said, “Too soon old, and too late smart!”
Way to go Donnie!
murfdawg
May 16th, 2009
2:20 pm
Mark,
Nice article. I’m glad Davis finally turned things around in his life. However, I think the criticism of Bill Lewis is a little harsh. He was not a good head coach. But he inherited a program that was full of internal turmoil. Some of it you aluded to in your article. How many GT fans remember the players meeting before the bowl game with Nebraska and their “unhappiness” with Bobby Ross? GT wins a share of the MNC and Ross resigns, then stays one more year and leaves. The players took over the program, and divided it and Lewis fell into a snakepit. I think the GT people should look a little closer at their program before they throw someone under the bus.
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2009
2:26 pm
As was mentioned above, the three biggest quarterback recruits in 1991 were Davis, Zeier and Heath Shuler. And Zeier is a famously good guy himself. He now works for Bank of America and lives in Nashville, Tenn., and of course is the analyst on the Bulldog Radio Network.
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2009
2:30 pm
As for Lewis and Tech: It was indeed a strange time. The players who’d played under Ross were used to doing it one way — and winning — and Lewis changed things and they didn’t like it.
I’m often wondered what would have happened to Lewis and Luginbill and Tech if the Jackets had beaten Arizona in the 1994 opener at BDS. (The final score was 19-14, and Arizona was ranked No. 1 by Sports Illustrated at the time — Teddy Bruschi played for the Wildcats.) Instead Lewis was gone after seven more games.
surfrider
May 16th, 2009
2:55 pm
Unless there is a CPJ sometimes these coaching changes can mess up these players playing careers. That’s why in my opinion the school choice should be based on where one wants to go to school unless they are a lock for the NFL or something. I don’t know what happened under Lewis as he had coached at Tech in early 70’s and coached under Vince Dooley as well as ECU. But it appears he had underestimated the impact of academics at Tech. At one point I had heard that 28 players were lost to attrition during that time period for one reason or another. As for QB it’s my opinion that if you’re loosing games you make a change at QB or if you think you can do better and noone should have a lock on any position so in this case it should have been switched around more often because obviously 1-10 is not cutting it just three years after Bobby Ross left. People forget we were ranked #1 leading into the 1991 season when Bookgate hit and we lost William Bell, Reese, and etc…We lost some close games that year and still went 8-5 a testiment to how good a coach Bobby Ross was. We almost beat Ga, in a game still replayed on games to watch. We were close to being top 10 team and were named one of the programs to watch in the 90’s then the NFL came around. I’m glad Davis is getting his degree.
Rufus
May 16th, 2009
3:08 pm
Too bad all those years were wasted hating Tech when the hate should have been directed at Bill Lewis.
Ted Striker
May 16th, 2009
4:06 pm
You Tech guys who keep knocking on Bill Lewis can do it till the end of time but I says you gots no beef. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he ‘wrecked your program’ blah blah, but hey — did Bill Lewis cost you a freaking national championship? I’m just sayin….
1982 Sugar Bowl, Pittsburgh trailing UGA 35 seconds in the game, 4th and 5 on the Georgia 33 (yeah you Tech guys are salivating). I digress. Bottom line: Had UGA’s defensive coordinator (Lewis) called a prevent or nickel defense rather than a linebacker blitz (picked up by the backs) there would have been no 33 yard touchdown bomb. That said, Marino had a fair arm, was a decent QB, and hey, Pittsburgh was a semi-reputable team at 10-1.
(The notable exception was head sleaze Jackie Sherrill.) I’d rather get a blood transfusion from a Haitian prostitute — with rusty needles — than be in the same room with Jackie Sherrill. I’d rather lose with Lewis than win with Sherrill. I’d rather shave my head with a cheese grater and chew on tinfoil than….oh, nevermind.
mgt
May 16th, 2009
4:48 pm
Re Bucky Shamburger, the QB who was so popular with Dodd that he was the guy who took Dodd’s daughter home after curfew, graduated, worked for DuPont, left early and was a productive citizen!
technodude
May 16th, 2009
5:21 pm
Great article Mark. Glad to see that Donnie is about to graduate with a GT degree.
The last two ADs before Dan Radakovich made major mistakes. Homer Rice’s was the hiring of B*** L****. While Dave Braine’s was giving Paul Hewitt a lifetime contract.
Snellville Jacket
May 16th, 2009
7:16 pm
Mark, I think Lewis lost the confidence and support of the Tech players long before the Arizona game in ‘94. I’ll always believe that he lost his team in the 2nd half on the FSU game in ‘92. I was there, and I’ve never heard Grant Field louder than it was that night – at least until the 4th quarter, when Charlie Ward absolutely took over the game. Lewis and his coaches never made the adjustments to stop him, and I really think that he lost his team in the 4th quarter that night.
Bob B
May 16th, 2009
7:26 pm
Tech Forever—I concede, your memory is better than mine.You are correct—Tech only beat W Carolina.AND Gailey was not the worst coach ever at my beloved Tech.That was Lewis and unfortunately, one of our own, Bill Fulcher is second. As far as I am concerned, Fulcher is no longer a Yellow Jacket.D Davis—I congatulate you.I thought you got the shaft at GT and it shows a lot of class to come back and get your degree.
Illinois IKE
May 16th, 2009
7:58 pm
I hope Donnie did not get caught in a political battle. I remember reading 19 years ago Tommy Luginbill’s dad was the one deciding UPI vote which gave Tech the 1990 National Championship. Did Donnie not play to thank the Luginbill family. I hope my beloved Institute did not do that.
NYJacket
May 16th, 2009
10:10 pm
Mark,
Bill Lewis took a team that had won the National Championship and completely changed the system. I had to endure the worst loss in Georgia Tech history that year at UVA. Lewis benched the QB that had achieved so much under Bobby Ross.
Great hire? I don’t think so.
He is absolutely the worst coach in the history of Georgia Tech.
Congrats to Donnie. Good luck to him in all that he undertakes.
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2009
10:16 pm
I’ll never forget that FSU game. I covered it — even Bobby Bowden was stunned his team won, so stunned he didn’t know who caught the winning touchdown pass from Ward — and then drove to the old stadium for the final six innings of Game 1 of the World Series. Berryhill hit a three-run homer off Jack Morris.
Pretty exciting night of sports in the ol A-T-L.
RAMBLE ON!!!
May 16th, 2009
10:46 pm
Mark, you know that was a terrible call on the on-sidekick. TERRIBLE!!!
That was the play that changed everything.
That is tough re-visiting…thanks Mark.
Jack Glasgow
May 16th, 2009
10:51 pm
Great article. As a Tech grad living in North Carolina I saw Donnie play in the state playoffs at a school close by my home. He was absolutely the finest high school QB I have ever seen. My favorite play was when Southern Nash(Julius Pepper’s school) chased him all over the field, with Donnie breaking loose twice, then throwing from his own forty on the run and hitting a receiver at the back of the end zone in stride for a TD just before the half. I am sure it was hard for him to handle a college career that included waiting two years to play, a shoulder injury, coaching transition, and benching. I am glad he is once again proud to be a Yellow Jacket. We are proud of him.
Mark Bradley
May 16th, 2009
11:01 pm
I remember Georgia Tech players and coaches (and fans) claiming Florida State’s recovery on onside kick was an awful call, but to this day I’ve never seen a clear replay of it.
I do remember Lewis having Shawn Jones take an intentional safety so the Jackets could onside-kick off the free kick, which I thought was great strategy. (They were pinned back on the goal line inside the final minute, so recovering an onside kick was the only chance Tech had. Didn’t work, but it was a clever call.)
Ted Striker
May 16th, 2009
11:12 pm
i don’t ever remember seeing an onside kick off a free kick (from a safety). Hey, Paul Johnson will have a new wrinkle in his offense!
Ted Striker
May 16th, 2009
11:12 pm
(Shades of Hal Mumme)
Agent 86
May 16th, 2009
11:49 pm
Bill Lewis performed his job well. Do you know how hard it was to get him planted at Tech? We had most of Control working full-time to throw off the fact that he was a double-secret agent. I remember some of those planning meetings with the Chief, codename Dooley. Man them were some great times. We only got stuck once in the cone of silence. Fortunately, we had a welder on standby. Gotta go, my shoe is ringing.
Al
May 17th, 2009
8:27 am
Brads,
Bill Lewis came from ECU with his one back offense, which left William Bell (NFL), Dorsey Levens (NFL) and Jimy Lincoln (ACC Rookie of the Year) to fight for one playing spot and you claim you still don’t know what went wrong?
John
May 17th, 2009
8:30 am
LOL at Agent 86….
While that was a tongue in cheek post, somehow I would have not been suprised if something like actually happened……………
G Spartans
May 17th, 2009
9:39 am
I commend Donnie. I’m from NC and I remember Donnie smashing records. Cummings High had it cooking from Chuckie Burnette to Donnie Davis to Ernest Tinnin. I applaud your perseverance.
It’s nice to see the support you are receiving from most of the posts.
DJ
May 17th, 2009
10:41 am
Great article. I had a chance to talk with Davis outside of the AA last year during ‘fan photo day’. His kids were playing on one of the blow-up slides along with my little girl. I recognized him immediately and after striking up the conversation he basically told me much of what is written in the article (the kids played for a while and once I saw he was very open to talking it was great). I also knew Luginbill (only through a few classes at Tech) and it was definitely a situation where the father’s relationship and some promises made during the recruitment made him (Luginbill) Lewis’ guy. Very unfortunate because talent-wise Davis appeared to the common fan to be ahead.
But when talking to him I sensed a maturity that many of us don’t get until we hit our 30’s and have had a chance to understand more about life. I think it’s fantastic that he’s back, and I understand why he may not have held Ma Tech in high regard prior to these days. And to the person who suggests this is the story of “every” average Tech student, no it’s not. I didn’t play sports, and yes, they get some advantages that we may not have, but they also don’t get the privilege of living an average college life.
Great for Donnie Davis! I wish him well now and long after he earns his degree from the Institute.
And Sautee Dawg, Business Law doesn’t match “Coaching” on the curriculum. But nice try. MB, you should have called him out on that one.
Dawg Tired
May 17th, 2009
1:29 pm
Good article – a real feel good story. I wish Donnie Davis nothing but the best.
One question: With all the comments about bad head coaches, how does the name Bud Carson not come up?
chuck allison
May 17th, 2009
8:53 pm
How can Davis be completing his degree at age 36? I thought college credits expired long before they are 14 years old. In fact I thought you had to reenter college within 7 years of leaving in order to use old credits from previous college courses, unless the credits had already resulted in a degree. What is going on here? Seems like there is more to this story.
Ken
May 17th, 2009
9:59 pm
Bill Lewis was highly over rated as a head coach & Donnie Davis was highly over rated as a high school quarterback.
BhamWreck
May 18th, 2009
9:22 am
I was a freshman in 1994 and went to every home game. What were Luginbill’s stats? I seem to remember him putting up decent, if not big numbers. My memory may be a little fuzzy.
Mark Bradley
May 18th, 2009
9:35 am
Luginbill completed 182 of 327 passes for 2,218 yards. He had 14 touchdown passes, 13 interceptions. His numbers weren’t bad, considering Georgia Tech finished 1-10.
BhamWreck
May 18th, 2009
4:22 pm
not terrible – I can’t remember where our defense or rushing game ranked. I’m not defending Bill Lewis, but maybe this “racial divide” was the main reason for the teams struggles and maybe this “racial divide” was the result of a jilted and jealous second string qb who lost his starting job. After all, as pointed out earlier, Jeff Blake being the starter for Lewis at ECU shows that Lewis had no problem playing a black qb. Did Donnie Davis play a big part in dragging the Tech program into a hole? Thats kind of the impression I’m getting from all this. I don’t remember thinking that it was Luginbill’s fault.
George P
May 18th, 2009
4:37 pm
Remember that, while Lewis had a one win season, another Tech coach had two of them, and he kept his job for years after that. I’m amazed at the number of Georgia State fans who are convinced they are going to win. He’s a great guy, but, come on, look at the record.
The thing that really burns me up, though, is dropping Auburn from the schedule. That was, at the time, the oldest continuous rivalry in the South. It was a real rivalry, too; Auburn students had an annual parade before the game.
The Bill Lewis years were bad, but there weren’t many of them, and no rivals were dropped and no huge portions of the stadium were torn down. It could have been worse.
BhamWreck
May 18th, 2009
4:48 pm
Mark, maybe you should interview Tom Luginbill about what was going on behind the scenes in those days. He should be pretty approachable, after all I hear him on the radio on the Paul Finebaum show and others all the time. My take is that he was a pretty good qb playing on a dysfunctional team.
Mark Bradley
May 18th, 2009
6:23 pm
George P, you’re talking to a guy who once covered Auburn’s Wreck Tech parade — in 1984, my first year at the AJC.
Al
May 19th, 2009
10:38 am
You can blame Homer Rice for dropping SEC opponents from Tech’s schedule. It was a deliberate move on his part.
April
May 19th, 2009
11:43 pm
Wow, this article speaks volumes about the kind of man Donnie Davis has become. Congratulations to you Donnie for letting down your guard and finding peace with GA Tech. I am so proud of you!
GT 1990 NatlChamps
May 21st, 2009
1:34 pm
Thanks for the great story Mark. Donnie and many others went through hell back then and for many years after. Bill Lewis really set our program (and for some, our lives) back. I think it is important to remember the one winning season he had as a head coach at ECU was with someone else’s seniors – including the great Jeff Blake! No one is throwing him under the bus – they’re just telling a few of the many truths surrounding what was an ugly situation.
The worst part about back then was, after Ross left, we had a chance to keep both George AND Ralph. The “word” back then was, they both agreed to stay if the other got the job. This was evident during our recruiting while they were still being considered for the job. The entire team was pulling for either one getting the position. We knew we could prove we were better than the 8-5 season we just had. Needless to say, we were worried about the Lewis hire because we did our research and knew about his losing record as a head coach. Many of us wondered if “the hiring committee” considered this when making their decision.
Fortunately, this is in the past. Today, as former players, we are pleased to see what Dan Radakovich and Paul Johnson are doing with our football program. Like Donnie, many of us can go home again and have been invited to do so. Thanks Mark. GO JACKETS & THWG!!!
Ron
June 18th, 2009
12:57 pm
I thought Bill Lewis might have a lemonade stand somewhere. Surprised to see him at Notre Dame in any role.