When Georgia closed out Vince Dooley’s coaching career in the Mazda Gator Bowl on the first day of 1989, there was more interest in the suspense over his successor than in the Bulldogs’ Big Ten opponent, Michigan State.
Dooley was retiring, and the Georgia Athletic Board was debating. Bill Lewis, the defensive coordinator, had accepted a job at East Carolina. Lewis, whose expertise was defense, wanted a creative offensive mind to run his offense, so he hired Mark Richt from Florida State.
George Haffner, the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator, held out hopes of meeting with the Georgia athletic board one more time in an effort to persuade them he could get the job done as a head coach after more than a decade as an offensive coordinator at Iowa State, Pittsburgh, FSU, Texas A&M;, and Georgia.
Dale Strahm, who was placed in charge of the Georgia defense when Lewis left, says he was called and told to “put on his best suit” for the forthcoming press conference (the day after the bowl game) when Dooley’s successor would be announced.
A funny thing happened on the way to the press conference. Ray Goff was the one who emerged as the next Bulldog head coach. Some were happy, some were shocked. There was great sentiment for Goff, the popular recruiter, but critics of the decision worried about the former Bulldog quarterback’s lack of experience.
On the second day of the New Year, Georgia had a new coach, along with morning-after headlines that ushered Dooley into retirement as a winner, his 201st victory.
In his last game, which happened to be against Michigan State, Dooley told Haffner to “put the ball in the air” — an uncharacteristic “let it all hang out” edict — as he cogently figured out that it would take a lot of scoring to beat the Spartans and their high-powered offense, which featured a remarkable receiver in Andre Rison.
Rison caught three touchdown passes, one of four yards and two of the long-distance variety: a 55-yard reception in the third quarter and a 50-yard completion late in the final period.
The Bulldogs were leading 34-20 when the Spartans were faced with a third down-and-46 challenge at midfield.
“There’s no way they can make a first down,” Dooley remembers thinking. “They didn’t. They got a touchdown.”
It was Rison who scored and reduced Georgia’s margin to 34-27 with 3:49 remaining.
The Bulldogs, with three first downs, were able to run out the clock. They couldn’t stop Rison, but Georgia’s offense was too much for the Spartans.
Georgia rushed for 182 yards against the Spartans. After all, the Bulldogs had three outstanding runners in the backfield — Rodney Hampton, Keith Henderson, and Tim Worley. Hampton was the big star of the night. His gifted running style would not have been enough, however. Hampton showed why the New York Giants would later draft him in the first round, as he rushed for a 32-yard touchdown and caught two Wayne Johnson touchdown passes of six yards and 30 yards.
It was one of the most exciting games of Dooley’s career, a fine way to go out. His seniors called themselves the “Silver Seniors,” for Dooley’s 25th year as head coach.
That also brought to a conclusion the career of one of the most remarkable players ever to play for the Bulldogs, Frenchman Richard Tardits. A native of Biarritz, France, Tardits walked on and earned a scholarship. When he began his career, he didn’t know how to put on his pads, but he wound up setting the school sack record.
This wasn’t Vince’s greatest team, but it was one of his most exciting.
Local Sports
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Dario Franchitti wins Indy again
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And if it wasn’t going to be Franchitti, then it would be Scott Dixon. Maybe even Tony Kanaan.
No matter what, one of Wheldon’s best buddies was going to Victory Lane. -
VSU teams hosting summer camps
The national champion Valdosta State softball team will host two separate summer camps this summer, as well as weekly clinics throughout the summer.
The two summer camps will be held on June 11-13 and July 9-11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The camps will cost $100 each. -
David Dean Youth Camp begins next week
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The fourth annual camp will be held May 29-June 1 at the Athletic Fieldhouse off Mary Street. -
National champion head coach rewarded with new truck
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Valwood’s Savino, Elliott named All-State soccer
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All-American again
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Between conference player of the week awards, a national player of the week award, All-Conference and All-Region honors and four All-American awards, the national champion Blazers had plenty of individuals honored for performances throughout the season, which ultimately led to VSU’s first ever softball national title. -
Local area events coming soon
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Monday, May 28, there will be a Memorial Day 5K, which will begin at 8 a.m. from the VECA School located on the corner of Azalea Drive and College Street. -
Tech bound
Donjahae Jones gets it done in the classroom and on the track.
One of the top students in her class, and one of the top track and field competitors in the state, Jones will be taking her talents to the Division I level after she signed a track and field scholarship with Georgia Tech on Tuesday. -
Blazers garner All-Region honors
Two Valdosta State baseball players have been named All-South Region while a third has garnered Academic All-Region, according to announcements made by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the Collegiate Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA) this week.
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Lowndes' Phelps named tennis Coach of the Year
Lowndes tennis coach Heath Phelps has been named the Region 1-AAAAA girls’ and boys’ tennis Coach of the Year, after he guided both teams to region championships.
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