Herschel Walker statue ‘not a priority right now’ for UGA
Rob Saye (L) started the 'Herschel Walker Statue Project' on Facebook and created quite a stir. (Photo by Rob Saye)
ATHENS — What about Frank Sinkwich? What about Charley Trippi? What about outstanding individual athletes in Georgia’s 14 sports other than football.
That’s the problem Greg McGarity has with the “Herschel Walker Statue Project.”
Is the Heisman Trophy winner and star player on the Bulldogs’ 1980 national championship team deserving of a statue? Absolutely, McGarity says.
But are not those aforementioned individuals also?
“You have to look at the program as a whole, with all sports,” McGarity said Friday. “Once you make a decision to single out certain individuals for accomplishments, then what is the domino effect? We have 14 other sports here that have had some tremendous accomplishments from certain individuals. There are just so many moving pieces that it just has to be an institutional decision. Right now there has been no discussion about that.”
Rob Saye, a freelance photographer, UGA alumnus and Bulldogs fan extraordinaire, decided earlier this week to create a Facebook Page – aptly named “Herschel Walker Statue Project” — calling on Georgia fans to get behind the idea of erecting a statue of the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner somewhere on campus. The reaction, as might be expected, has been passionate.
Loading ...McGarity has listened politely, but it doesn’t sound as if it’s something that is going to happen any time soon.
“What I’ve told people is we’ll consider it at the right time, but the right time is not right now,” McGarity said. “You basically have to have an institutional philosophy on something like that for every sport and how the university handles such things in general.”
Generally, UGA hasn’t been big on statues. Just last fall it erected a statue of Abraham Baldwin, the university’s founding father, on North Campus. There’s a life-size bronze sculpture of benefactor Bernard Ramsey sitting on a bench, also on North Campus. As for athletics, a statue of former coach and athletic director Vince Dooley was unveiled on the corner of South Campus in 2008. And that came only after considerable public debate and private fundraising.
Otherwise, there are only busts of Dr. Steadman Sanford, Dan Magill and Frank Foley in front of the respective athletics facilities bearing their names.
“Very rarely has there been individual recognition on this campus or in our facilities,” McGarity said. “That’s something you have to be very careful about how you approach it. Once you start you better have a plan to be inclusive.”
Saye appears to have gotten the message. He and his cohort Jimmy Taylor softened their “call to revolution” approach when they updated the status of the Facebook page late Thursday night.
“Thanks so much for everyone’s support of this idea! We have definitely gotten a lot people’s attention!
“This effort has exceeded all of our expectations and is going strong. When we started on Saturday, we didn’t know what we didn’t know. Lots of things are now coming into view and becoming clear as we move forward.
“At this stage, we ask for your continued support and patience, as we navigate the proper channels within the various UGA organizations that we will need to partner with to bring this project to fruition. Please also keep in mind, as we have learned, that we are looking at at least a one-year timeline for the design and construction of the statue!
“The bottom-line is that we started this in good faith with the goal of honoring our greatest player with a permanent tribute and a charitable foundation that will continue to contribute positively to the community. We move forward with these goals still in place and the resolve to work within the system to achieve this mission.
“Thank you again for your support. More to come as we work the process!”
But what got Saye – and subsequently other Georgia fans – motivated about the starting the “Herschel Project” in the first place was seeing how many other football players at other schools had statues. There’s Doug Flutie at Boston College, Ricky Williams at Texas and Johnny Unitas at Louisville, just to name a few. Last April, Florida unveiled statues of Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow, its three Heisman Trophy winners. And Auburn is building monuments to Bo Jackson, Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson this year.
Even Walker seems to like the idea. Though he couldn’t be reached for comment, he sent out this tweet via Twitter on Thursday: “Hey UGA Fans.Thanks for your support on the ‘Herschel Walker Statue Project’ page on Facebook!! Totally honored!!”
But McGarity said that Georgia can’t be influenced by what others are doing.
“It’s more or less a philosophical approach that the athletic association and the institution must have and I’m not even aware of what the policies are,” McGarity said. “Is this something we would consider for the future? I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about it. I don’t want to be disrespectful but that’s not a priority for us right now and it just opens the door to so many other things.
“Right now it’s just not on our radar.”
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264 comments Add your comment
ken
March 18th, 2012
7:53 pm
walker….is the best ever to play at any school….give it to him. read his stats..unbelieveable!!!!
GO DAWGS…
Mako
March 18th, 2012
8:09 pm
In your heart, you know it’s the right thing to do…hey sleaze, check out your school…they’re on Probation …Again
Thomas Brown = Mr Negativity = 13-1 East (blogger) = Techie
March 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
GT4ever
You have got to be kidding me. Dooley was the head of the NCAA Ethics Committee for more than a decade. Quit throwing stones in glass houses. GT is currently recognized as one of the most corrupt programs in college football. How many teams in modern history have been stripped of their conference championship?
contractor
March 18th, 2012
9:59 pm
McGarity is an idiot. Yes others are deserving, but one at a time you get it done and a collection around campus can grow. Alabama didn’t build all of their coaches at once, so one at a time is not a big deal. Walker gave and still gives so much to Georgia that he should be immortalized in bronze or whatever the material is. People name their dogs after the guy, kids, still buy his jersey, pay a premium for his autograph. A statue is well deserved I say, and should be a priority of some sort.
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 19th, 2012
5:23 am
0-4 for 2011
0-5 for 2010
1-3 for 2009
1-3 for 2008
3-1 for 2007
2-2 for 2006
1-3 for 2005
3-2 for 2004
3-3 for 2003
3-1 for 2002
2-3 for 2001
19-30 for 11 years vs end season top 25
http://www.cfbtrivia.com/cfbt_detail.php?teamname=Georgia&fry=2009&thy=2009&spl=on&cres=3&jpl=on&sortby=Year
You can replace any year 2001 through 2011 in this URL Link, have to change year twice each URL Link and see it for every year 2001 through 2011, and you see it for
BOTH
TIME OF GAME
END OF SEASON
ranked top 25.
I thought you said it was ONLY kept TIME OF GAME ?
PROVIDES BOTH.
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 19th, 2012
5:38 am
If I am Mr. Negative, what pray tell are all of these other Bulldogs who know that we are # 11 all-time in wins as a football program ?
A Father March 18th, 2012 9:51 am
I’ve never really March 14th, 2012 10:29 am
mike addington March 14th, 2012 10:42 am
SEC Fans for Richt March 14th, 2012 11:04 am
Santos March 14th, 2012 11:09 am
richt will never win March 14th, 2012 11:11 am
slydog March 14th, 2012 11:11 am
Ingleside March 14th, 2012 11:13 am
what of it? March 14th, 2012 11:28 am
UGA Insider March 14th, 2012 11:33 am
Frank March 14th, 2012 11:55 am
CreekWolf March 14th, 2012 12:07 pm
Reality March 14th, 2012 12:42 pm
Breaking News Mediocrity March 14th, 2012 1:27 pm
Pago Pago DAWG March 14th, 2012 2:22 pm
Albert March 14th, 2012 2:53 pm
6-18 vs Ranked since ‘05 March 14th, 2012 4:17 pm
sprouse27 March 14th, 2012 4:20 pm
Joey March 14th, 2012 4:44 pm
Atldawg March 14th, 2012 4:57 pm
01HAWK March 14th, 2012 5:39 pm
SugarHillDawg March 14th, 2012 7:11 pm
Snoop Dawg March 14th, 2012 7:41 pm
DAWGMAN March 14th, 2012 7:57 pm
Preston March 14th, 2012 7:59 pm
The Bear March 14th, 2012 8:05 pm
bane of our existence March 14th, 2012 8:28 pm
WUZZADAWG March 14th, 2012 9:13 pm
JB March 14th, 2012 9:42 pm
jeff March 15th, 2012 4:38 am
Dear Greg March 15th, 2012 8:28 am
VADAWG March 15th, 2012 8:59 am
fire MR March 15th, 2012 9:25 am
Todd G March 15th, 2012 9:32 am
Bobo isn’t Problem Mar15th, 2012 10:42 am
globeflyer March 15th, 2012 11:26 am
Top Dawg March 15th, 2012 12:19 pm
Five more loong years! Mar 15th, 12 6:15 pm
Kamloops Phil March 15th, 2012 6:17 pm
modicum March 15th, 2012 6:25 pm
Richt more money? March 15th, 2012 8:04 pm
Merry Marr March 16th, 2012 9:13 am
ugab March 16th, 2012 9:24 am
DublDawg March 16th, 2012 2:30 pm
Spike 80DF March 16th, 2012 2:36 pm
TN Dawg March 16th, 2012 2:47 pm
BonkersDog March 16th, 2012 2:55 pm
vadawg March 16th, 2012 2:58 pm
SC Fan March 16th, 2012 3:06 pm
mdr March 16th, 2012 3:55 pm
PT March 16th, 2012 4:28 pm
harold March 16th, 2012 4:34 pm
FLA DAWG March 16th, 2012 5:57 pm
Dawg Bite March 16th, 2012 6:05 pm
LagDawg March 16th, 2012 6:10 pm
dawgfan2003 March 16th, 2012 8:14 pm
guy March 16th, 2012 9:06 pm
realist March 16th, 2012 11:33 pm
RHall55 March 18th, 2012 8:54 am
Dap01 March 18th, 2012 9:09 am
3d March 18th, 2012 7:19 pm
62
http://blogs.ajc.com/junkyard-blawg/2012/03/16/early-projection-for-season-sees-dawgs-standing-pat/?cp=all
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 19th, 2012
6:01 am
I did not put up any 9-5, not with the soft schedule we have – especially for my seasons’ tickets – where we have only 1 team who ended 2011 in the top 25, and at most 1 team who will end 2012 in the top 25 of all 12 regular season games.
Posting that I am a Georgia tek fans means NOTHING to the 61 who have posted in the last couple days just how Mark Richt, your Deity, cannot beat the top teams.
As for your precious time of game stats, you asked me for, here they are :
2-4 for 2011
0-4 for 2010
2-3 for 2009
4-3 for 2008
8-14 for Current 4-Year Period
with maybe 1 all 12 regular season games coming up
So, I asked you what is so special about Mark Richt at time of game ?
8-14 is great ?
http://www.cfbtrivia.com/cfbt_detail.php?teamname=Georgia&fry=2008&thy=2008&spl=on&cres=3&jpl=on&sortby=Year
Look, you change your handle to my handle all you want and call me Mr. Negative; but, given the 62 handles who clearly are UGA Fans, what we are left with is :
You told me stats are only kept for time of game
I looked it up.
I put up both time of game, lousy
8-14 Current 4-Year Period time of game
2-15 Current 4-Year Period end season
If you would like to talk about
7-6 Vandie 2008 who was ranked # 22 and # 23 when we played them in 2008, the week after 4-8 Missy State beat Vandie, I have done so.
This is not negative about Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Program which I have deep ties to all my life; however, it does hold YOU accountable for YOUR statements to this blog of how great Mark Richt is. I came out in support of Mark Richt getting his extension far before YOU. I like the guy. He has failed to make good decisions on his coaching staff, and it has cost US. You and I. It has cost us. It costs us right now. The reason why you keep changing your handles is because I have repeatedly put up all the NEGATIVE POSTS BY YOU to this blog under your other handles, each time you have done so.
NONE of us our happy with our program the CURRENT 4-YEAR PERIOD. This up-coming season soft schedule has maybe at most 1 team on the entire regular season schedule. This is because of Greg McGarity, the same guy who won’t do anything about any of the issues facing UGA Athletics’ Department at this time : Gym not considered 1 of the top 75 and not hosted a post-season basketball tournament in over 41 years all the way back to 1971. Indoor Practice Facility with a full field, yet we are the 2nd most profitable Athletics’ Department and were before Greg McGarity got here. The on-going arrested suspended kicked-off and transferred out list of 26 Scholarships Mark Richt gave out to 26 mostly 4-Star recruits you credited him for getting here in the 1st place, and his specific history of kicking off lesser back-ups while for worse offenses, Starters are given lesser punishment.
What the real issue is is we cannot beat the top teams.
We are 3-13 vs teams finishing top 10 all 11 years.
This is not about Georgia tek and you look pretty bad on that harping on that, especially in view of the 61 distinct handles who have replied to you daily for the last couple of days telling YOU that THEY are not satisfied with where our program is, either.
I am so happy for you that you are satisfied.
Mark Richt is no Deity.
Morning Reads for Monday, March 19th — Peach Pundit
March 19th, 2012
6:14 am
[...] few that I like… – Don’t expect the Herschel Walker statue to be put up at UGA anytime soon. – James Madison’s notes from the Constitutional Convention are now available online. – [...]
Thomas Brown = Mr Negativity = 13-1 East (blogger) = Techie
March 19th, 2012
6:57 am
@13-1
Please, please take your meds!!! You are waaaaay over the top and scary negative. There is a difference in making negative comments vs what you do. You write paragraph after paragraph 24/7 making the same points over and over. You are a UGa hater……not a disgruntled fan.
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 19th, 2012
7:26 am
You are not a Bulldogs Football Program fan. You are sitting there looking at 62 names and pick on me, when all 62 have said the same to YOU in the last couple days. Get over yourself with your handle using my handle name. Talk about obsessed.
I did what you TOLD ME TO DO, look up his time of game stats.
You just don’t like his 8-14 the current 4-year period at your stats.
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 19th, 2012
7:28 am
What point do you make ?
That I am a Georgia tek fan, over and over – same thing.
There is NO ONE who thinks I am a Georgia tek fan. No one.
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 19th, 2012
7:59 am
Then only other point you make is that you say Mark Richt is great with his 19-30 record all 11 years vs end season top 25 teams.
62 distinct Bulldog fans disagrees with you on that, too, in just the last couple days.
Mark Richt ISN’T great, but he is my coach and I supported him getting his EXTENSION which he has refused to sign December, January, February, and now March too.
Coppoletti
March 19th, 2012
8:32 am
Put full sized statues of Herschel & Sinkwich on that concrete plaza above the new concession stands in Reed Alley. That is all wasted space, and needs to be filled. Finance them by selling bricks (like the Olympic Bricks) to pave that area. Put up smaller busts or plaques to honor others like Trippi, Butler, Jake Scott, Pollack, Erk, etc. on a brick wall erected around the plaza. It would be a nice Monument Plaza for Dawg fans to see before & after games.
dogSTILE
March 19th, 2012
8:46 am
The word going around “the UGA internet dirt sheets” is the Saye, a rabid UGA fan has a some financial dealings with Walker and is hoping for increased visibility with this statue sham. He got nowhere when he approached McGarity with this Hershel idea. As others have stated, what about Sinkwich?, Trippi? The list of people to be honored BEFORE Walker (no question a DGD) is quite long. Want to get blown away? What about a statue to The UGA Mens Tennis team, Dan Magill / Manny Diaz? Check the records. The only thing the football team leads in is HYPE, and thats no SNIPE!!
Morning Reads for Monday, March 19th
March 19th, 2012
8:46 am
[...] few that I like… – Don’t expect the Herschel Walker statue to be put up at UGA anytime soon. – James Madison’s notes from the Constitutional Convention are now available online. – They’re [...]
norcrossdawg
March 19th, 2012
8:55 am
KINGDAWG
March 16th, 2012
2:12 pm
Alright all you entitlement thinkers …..Once we start giving out statues then everyone will have to have one….even little Johnny who can’t even run up and down the field now gets a trophy today. Next thing you know we’ll have a statue for everyone including a walk-on TRUE,I VOTE FOR WALK-ON LON BUCKLER. HELL, HE ALSO WON THE GA LOTTERY !
Dawg Fud
March 19th, 2012
9:06 am
Put the Sinkwich statue in front of the Pike House.
ISHOULDknow
March 19th, 2012
9:25 am
Rob Saye looks like the next guy to get caught in an internet porn sting.
Newnandawg
March 19th, 2012
9:33 am
Melt the Vince Dooley statue down and cast Herschel’s from it.
ugab
March 19th, 2012
9:43 am
Walker’s statue should of been done a long time ago.! Heisman winner, NC winner, played in another NC. There will never be another football player like Walker..Why should this even be debated???
flo-ri-duh
March 19th, 2012
9:44 am
Statues tell the history of the school. Herschel Walker is the greatest modern day player in UGA’s history. We are talking about putting up a statue for just anyone. This is Herschel Walker.
ugab
March 19th, 2012
9:45 am
Who does everyone want for a statue?? CMR?? LMAO.. MR will never be a legend at Uga.
flo-ri-duh
March 19th, 2012
9:45 am
Herschel Walker made Vince Dooley.
ugab
March 19th, 2012
9:47 am
Football brings in the Money?? Tennis?? Cmon..
ugab
March 19th, 2012
9:48 am
We can all agree that Walker Made Dooley// Dooley held Uga down for yrs as the AD..
Teck Sucks
March 19th, 2012
9:48 am
Herschel Walker was the greatest athlete UGA has ever or will ever see in any sport. All of the others mentioned in the article were great, but no one compares to Herschel. I think every UGA letterman will understand why Herschel gets a statue and they don’t. It’s overdue.
Reality
March 19th, 2012
9:56 am
A statue of H. W. Please, Yes he was a very good player but a statue? There are alot of people in the past that came out of U.G.A. and accomplished more than winning a football game. This just shows how silly people get about FOOTBALL!
Without Hershel Walker, UGA would be Vandy without the quality education
March 19th, 2012
10:27 am
Put the dudes statue up NOW!
Fats OKelly
March 19th, 2012
10:32 am
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
Get to your point and quit dominating the column comments. Brevity is an asset
ugab
March 19th, 2012
10:51 am
I would love to see a statue of H Walker out in front of the Stadium..
Jeff
March 19th, 2012
10:51 am
I think the whole statue fad at all the universities is getting soo out of control and stupid. I’m glad McGarity is putting his foot down on this one.
ugab
March 19th, 2012
10:53 am
Surely recognize the Tennis and gymnastics etc. in some kind of way, but not with a statue…Walker needs a statue. ABSOLUTELY
ugab
March 19th, 2012
10:55 am
CMR NEEDS A STATUE.LMAO. NOT!!!
dawg fan
March 19th, 2012
11:09 am
I agree with McGarity but for different reasons. Herschel was no doubt a great player and has done many things with /for UGA since. However, I think it is poor taste to erect statues for living people. Wait until they are gone for a few years, then erect it to preserve their legend. Herschel comes to games, shows up for events, and is still a part of UGA, lets celebrate that and not make a memorial for him just yet.
I would support a statue of Munson on the Pavilion greeting fans as they walk in though. That would be nice to see.
Gulf Shores Dawg
March 19th, 2012
11:22 am
I remember as a kid seeing the statue of Hank Aaron a a Braves game, WHAT an impression that made on me…we need a statue of Herschel and the other Heisman winners around the stadium NOW…Susan Yoculan needs a staue also by Stegman…Put the statues of our great coaches and players, All Americans etc. at the field they played on…Just Do It!!!!
WRIGHTSVILLE DAWG
March 19th, 2012
11:52 am
Ok. Build the statue. If UGA don’t want it, ship it to Wrightsville and that will look good at Herschel Walker Field on Friday Nights in Wrightsville.
Dawg fans in Wrightsville wins!
WRIGHTSVILLE DAWG
March 19th, 2012
11:53 am
Who needs statues: Herschel, Frank, Larry for football. Suzzane for gym, Magill for tennis… Maybe ‘Nique for basketball… EVERYONE WINS
Kyle
March 19th, 2012
12:01 pm
Please tell me why at UGA it’s always drama……I am a long Dawg fan but honestly am geting sick and tired of all the drama- other programs move…we piddle paddle……
Ryan
March 19th, 2012
1:39 pm
As a UGA grad and passionate fan of UGA and ALL sports, it’s definitely embarrassing to see some Dawg fans argue like this and make bone-headed comments on these message boards.
I’m going to assume that most people who “support UGA” only support/watch football, which is fine since that’s what we’re known for and get a LARGE majority of our $ from. I do think Herschel deserves a statue, he has done more than any individual athlete for UGA as far as recognition for the university. However, I believe that other major contributors in other sports deserve some statues/plaques/commemoratives (whatever you want to give them). Each has given something to our great university and tradition.
Either way, we don’t know the situation with money and how these things are determined by the university and athletics association, so it’s silly to criticize.
RightDog
March 19th, 2012
3:17 pm
if mcgarity doesn’t get a statue approved and built in the next year, adams needs to move him out and get someone who knows what is going on.
AltamahaDawg
March 19th, 2012
3:59 pm
Still waiting for any rational explanation of how this is Mcgarity’s fault, when this was the UGA stance on statues of athletic figures long before his hire here. You know, going way back to that guy who used to be AD here for so long. I believe he was a pretty big fan of Herschel Walker.
Bob Shoecraft
March 19th, 2012
4:51 pm
So Bo Jackson is getting two statues?
LawDawg
March 19th, 2012
4:59 pm
Really? We are not going to have a statute because it would be unfair to Charley Trippi? Really? Is Florida going to avoid honoring Tebow because they would also have to honor Chris Leak and wheredoyoudrawtheline?!?!?
LawDawg
March 19th, 2012
5:01 pm
RightDog: Um…And if the CEO of Goldman Sachs does not ensure that the carpet in the offices on the second floor is a deep burgundy, he should be out on his a$$. Sure, the company may be profitable, but executives should only be judged on the least important things.
Analogy!
Really?
March 19th, 2012
5:02 pm
Let me know if any wineing and dineing is required to make this happen. I’m an expert and can help expedite the process and proceeds.
LawDawg
March 19th, 2012
5:03 pm
Ryan : You are the only person who considers the accomplishments of the swimming and equestrian teams equal to those of football players. Sorry.
SEC Football Morning Coffee | SEC Football
March 19th, 2012
5:12 pm
[...] – Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a statue for 1980 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker isn’t a priority for Georgia. [...]
Capstone Crimson
March 19th, 2012
5:24 pm
tUGA plantation is really dropping the ball on this one, Herschel is one of the best if not the most complete player to ever don cleats.
The PR from Georgia on this is laughable, heck just tell folks you are working on it, take quotes on getting it done and tie the approved design it up in a committee somewhere until you get the schools policy worked out. Sad sad sad,,,,, Right now the school looks like a racist plantation by its position in the press like it or not, that is the picture the AD is painting.
Mark Ingram will probably get a statue first.
UGASlobberknocker
March 19th, 2012
5:44 pm
Whats is the surprise here? It is the exact same policy that they have had for years on retired numbers..and it is a good one.
SEC Football Morning Coffee | DSPN News
March 19th, 2012
5:56 pm
[...] – Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a statue for 1980 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker isn’t a priority for Georgia. [...]