1980 Dawgs -Revisited
From the website for 1980 Dawgs – The Inside Story of The National Championship Season™: A new documentary film produced in a 2 DVD, Collector’s Edition set. Contains over 3 1/2 hours of behind the scenes stories, including some never heard before and exciting game footage that fans will treasure. Over 25 Players and coaches relive the season with emotions that bring that special season back to life. more…
Herschel, The Actor?
Here’s a little scoop for Georgia Fans. Last week at the viewing of SEC Storied-Herschel, #34 told me that one of the latest additions to his ever burgeoning bucket list is acting. He has been in discussions with the people at Law and Order and they have agreed to have Herschel in an episode that would air early next year. Actual filming would be around November.
One of the sticking points was that the L&O writers wanted him to be a cop. Herschel said he didn’t want to do it unless he could be a bad guy. After some time passed, they called with the perfect role. A serial killer.
Things like this don’t always happen as soon as we think they will, if at all. Herschel told me several years before his first MMA fight that he was going to do a reality show pitting MMA fighters vs. Former Pro Athletes. I don’t think that ever materialized, but I’m looking forward to seeing this one.
Oh, you Herschel Walker!
SEC Storied – Herschel
Dawg Fans will be glad to know, that next week on Wednesday, September 7th the first installment of a news series, SEC Storied will air. Our favorite son Herschel Walker is the first subject. I was fortunate enough to join Herschel and a contingent of my team mates at an advance showing last evening. Coach Vince Dooley and other members of his 1980 staff were there as well. The show will air on ESPNU and there were ESPN representatives as well as SEC Commissioner Mike Slive in attendance. This was a bigger deal than I had imagined.
The documentary was very well done, with many of the highlights we’ve all come to know and love and will never tire of. But, there were some new clips I had not seen and re-enactments of childhood scenes of trauma suffered at the hands of classmates. If you read Herschel’s book BREAKING FREE, you know some of those details. This trauma/abuse was the catalyst that brought about a certain rage that has fueled Herschel in almost everything he does. The struggle to feel ‘good enough” and find healthy outlets for his rage.
Football was that outlet for many years, but when his football career was over, problems arose.
I won’t reveal any more details and risk ruining the actual documentary for you. It is must see TV for any Dawg fan. Again, it airs next Wednesday at 8:00 PM on ESPNU.
Dez Bryant May Not Survive Camp
Did you hear what Dez Bryant did? Or more accurately, what he didn’t do? Veteran wide reciever Roy Williams told Bryant, a rookie from Oklahoma State to carry his shoulder pads after practice. Dez refused. Big mistake(click),
The biggest challenge an incoming freshman in college or rookie in the NFL faces is fitting in and becoming a part of the team. Dez has put himself squarely behind the eight ball. He needs to do a 180 degree turn or he’ll be the victim of both verbal and eventually physical “encouragement”.
I remember singing I’M A LITTLE TEAPOT as a freshman at Georgia and GLORY GLORY TO OLD GEORGIA as a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s embarrassing, but really no big deal. One of the great things going into 1980 was a much heralded freshman, Herschel Walker. He did all the right stuff as it relates to freshman “hazing”. Herschel was not too proud to do a little dance. He loved to dance, probably still does.
Dez Bryant carrying some pads in from the field should have been no big deal. Now he has drawn the attention of the other veterans and the national media.
NOW IT’S A BIG DEAL!
I’m betting the next name you hear about will be Keith Brooking. He’s the type to get in somebody’s grill and in this case it’s very much deserved. Stay tuned.
Memories of Mel, and The Other 1980
When I hear the word Olympics, it takes me way back. Once again back to early1980 and a stolen opportunity for so many phenomenal athletes who had dedicated themselves to reach for the Rings. The boycott of these Summer Olympics in Moscow was a travesty (click). One of the athletes most affected was a Georgia Bulldog, Melvin Lattany (click). I had the unique pleasure to watch Mel, one of the top athletes in any sport to ever attend the University of Georgia.
I have attached links to some great stories, that tell the tale much better than I ever could, but suffice it to say, Mel was awesome. Between the present Olympics being underway and two plaques that are on my wall, Mel came to mind today.
About this time of year in 1980, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame held it’s award banquet, just as it does to this day. I was nominated for amatuer athlete of the year in 1980 and 1981, an award that was for any athlete of any sport at any college in Georgia. That’s right….me…a kicker.
Only one problem. In 1980 so was Mel and in 1981, so was Herschel. D, JD.
Here are the two guilty parties at a meet in Athens. Notice how Mel sort of left HW in the dust? Herschel weighed nearly sixty pounds more than Mel though. Herschel at 222, and Mel at 165. That fact was far more amazing to me than any football accomplishment of #34. Mel told me that at age 50 he weighs 195. He trains five days a week and can still run a 4.7 40. Wow.
Mel lives in London now. I reconnected with him about 2 months ago. In researching my first post on Herschel’s MMA debut, I read an article that Mel actually commented on. The “intrawebs” made it very easy to find him and trade emails within hours.
1980 has vastly different memories for Mel and I. Both historic, but on different ends of the emotional spectrum. I, along with my team mates found the ultimate in joy and triumph. Mel and his Olympic team mates saw only frustration and disappointment. Let’s hope no aspiring Olympian has their hopes dashed by politics ever again.
Oh You Herschel Walker!
Herschel Walker made a successful debut versus Greg Nagy in the Mixed Martial Arts arena last night and proved once again that he is one of a kind(click). There is no one comparable. Herschel has the most eclectic resume you will ever find and the most extreme.
NCAA and NFL football, World Class Sprinter, Black Belt in Taekwondo, Olympic Bobsledder, Entrepreneur, Marathon Cyclist, Reality Show Star(Pros vs. Joes and The Apprentice), and now MMA.
That’s quite a bucket list you got there #34.
To say that Herschel is in phenomenal shape and a freak would be unoriginal and redundant. One of his trainers said he had the body of a 22 year old.
By my calculations, that means Herschel should live to about 188 years old.
Getting back to the fight. He did look very raw in his debut. I watch a good bit of MMA and you could tell it was his first time in the octagon. I was really concerned that his lack of grappling experience was going to hurt him and he never really tried any jui-jitsu. He was in great position to choke Nagy and even when he did mount him was too high to ground and pound like he wanted to.
Ultimately the fight was stopped because Nagy stopped trying to improve his position from the ground and quit defending himself and that is a TKO.
I heard Herschel say in a pre fight interview that he didn’t anticipate fighting for an extended period. I can’t wait to see him again and see what kinds of improvements he makes.
In the mean-time, I fully expect to see him pilot the Space Shuttle soon.
Walker vs. Tebow
Tim Tebow just tied Herschel Walker’s SEC Career record for rushing touchdowns. There is a very good chance he will break the record this Saturday against the Dawgs. I am frustrated because this is one of those times when the numbers just don’t add up. Having seen Herschel up close and personal in 1980 and obviously watching him as a spectator after that, all I can say is this.
I know Herschel Walker.
Herschel Walker was a teammate of mine.
And you Mr. Tebow, are no Herschel Walker!
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not a Tim Tebow hater. I respect him as a player and as a young man. He can’t stop the ever expanding circle of man crushes and PDA’s shown towards him every single day on ESPN. Now, he is one of the best to ever play college football. But there can only be one best, and that is Herschel Walker. Until someone surpasses his rushing total in the same number of carries or games played, the rest will have to sit down and vie for number two.
Now, I’m not going to enumerate the statistics of Tim Tebow. If you have not heard them a thousand times, you must be new to our fair planet. Welcome. I hope you come in peace. I have always had a problem with all the hoopla surrounding the rushing touchdowns piled up by Tim Tebow. I bet his average TD run is no more than 4-5 yards. That is hardly spectacular, particularly when it’s basically all Florida tries to do in that situation. Over and over until it works.
Tim Tebow’s skill set is truly unique.
But uniqueness does not automatically equal greatness.
Urban Meyer coming to Florida provided the exact scenario that Tim Tebow needed. It was the perfect storm. It allowed him to thrive. If he had chosen Alabama instead he might have been successful to some extent, but nothing close to his production at Florida. No Percy Harvin, no Louis Murphy, no Brandon Jacobs, no Chris Rainey, no Jeff Demps. These guys have provided the home-runs and other extra base hits. Tim is the pinch hitter that come in when it’s close. Now he does deliver…but then so does Pizza Hut.
Herschel, Herschel, Herschel…
When Georgia Bulldog fans speak of Herschel Walker, the reverance expressed is only rivaled on Sunday mornings in our fair state. If you were among those that witnessed the physical gifts bestowed upon him from “On High”, you would know the connection. God woke up early the day he created Herschel Walker, because he knew he needed the extra time to get it right.
No amount of running, pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups could have created the specimen that is Herschel, much less was Herschel Walker. When you hear someone described as a “freak” in sports, it’s a compliment to be sure. But what they are really saying is this person is so uniquely gifted of God, that we are the ones “freaking” out.
There are many people who enjoy the process of challenging themselves physically. Can you imagine being one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived on the planet and feeling that way? What do you do? Uh, go out for the USA bobsled team? Check. Ride bikes 200-300 miles in ultra-marathon bike rides? Check. How many degrees are possible in a black belt, five? pfht! And this after a 3 time All-American college football career and Heisman Trophy and an under appreciated professional career.
Herschel is the only player in NFL history to have 10,000+ yards from scrimmage and 5,000+ return yards (all of which were on kickoff returns). He is the only player to gain 4,000 yards three different ways: rushing, receiving, and kickoff returns. He is one of six players (Jim Brown, Lenny Moore, Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk, and Thurman Thomas) to exceed 60 touchdowns rushing and 20 touchdowns receiving. Another NFL record he possesses is that he is the only player with a 90+ yard reception, 90+ yard run, and a 90+ yard kickoff return all in the same season (1994). Not bad.
The last time I actually saw HW was at a autograph signing about three years ago in Macon. He was talking about an MMA reality show pitting former pro football players with MMA fighters. The only other name I heard attached to this ill-conceived idea was Bill Romanowski. You remember him right? What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear the name Bill Romanowski? C…R…A…Z…Y…NUTJOB… was I right?
I don’t know why that “opportunity” fell through but of all the things I have heard about Herschel doing, this bothers me. I don’t know why. Now he has signed with a promoter to enter the MMA arena as a fighter. Obviously Herschel can take care of himself…physically…but now he is challenging UFC President Dana White to step in to the ring for criticizing this latest development. This on the heels of wanting to fight Steve Spurrier last year. Now I have long held the belief that somebody needed to spank that smart azz, but Herschel?
What’s really going on? If you read his book, you know that he at various times has been on the edge. Why is he calling out famous people to fight? There is a point of diminishing returns when someone flirts with the fringes. Herschel has done it repeatedly now.
I hope he’ll come back soon, safe and sound.
Bulldogs find Strength in Numbers
It starts very early for some athletes, getting attached to a certain number. I was talking to a friend whose daughter, a middle school basketball player, wears the #10. For the first time she will have to give it up because she is lowly 6th grader and a 7th grader has #10. As crazy as it sounds some athletes equate their continued success to the ability to maintain their favorite jersey number. Chip Towers writes about this phenomenon and the part it plays in recruiting blue chip football players. A few years ago, Ernie Sims of Tallahassee Lincoln HS, Florida State and now the Detroit Lions; wanted his #34….hahahahaha…hit the bricks bro…we ain’t un-retiring nuttin! He was a great linebacker, but that scenario bordered on the ridiculous.
I remember wanting the #5 because no kicker had worn it so I could possibly stand out if I worked hard. Then the next two guys after me wore it(some guy named Butler and Steve Crumbley). Twelve years of #5, so much for that idea. This issue takes some twists and turns though. I have noticed guys over the years, like Garrison Hearst, who also wore MY number and very well, just so you know. When Garrison played in the NFL, he could not wear a single digit number because of NFL rules…so he went with 23…2+3=5…ahhh see what I mean? You know Herschel wore 43 in high school 34 in college. Eric Zeier wore #15 at Marietta HS and #10 at Georgia. Am I reading more into it than I should? Maybe, maybe not.
Herschel might have been a Walter Payton fan, but I have seen these little quirky number changes many times over the years. You may have even heard of pro athletes paying new team mates mega bucks for their jersey numbers. It happens more than you think.
Now here come the freshman of 2009, and some wanting a certain number. Branden Smith wanted Number 1 and Orson Charles a very talented TE from Tampa wanted number 7. Did he commit before or after Matthew Stafford was drafted, hmm. It wouldn’t be such a big deal to me but what it does is leave the kickers with whatever is left over. A kicker wearing a number in the 80′s or 90′s is one thing….but 57? Holy crap!
Well as long as there is a Georgia Bulldogs…folks will know who number 57 was…
or will the next two guys wear it too.
Do you know of any other examples of the numbers game?
What is Herschel Walker really like?
This ranks as THE most asked question by Georgia fans and friends I come into contact with day to day. I don’t mind, he was and is a one of a kind character in UGA history. As they say, The Man, The Myth, The Legend. His recent appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice was yet another example of how unique he is, in the context of celebrity. As Jesse James said, “He’s better in person than you expect”. The problem is, I thought I had a good answer to this question until I read his book. That threw me for a loop.
I did not see Herschel from 1980 to about 2003. Since then I have seen him on average about once a year or so. I have never seen anything like what he described in his book. Now, there is no doubt he marches to the beat of a different drummer. The only thing I’m familiar with is his unusual hours, needing very little sleep. I have heard Tiger Woods is the same way.
There have been times when we would attend the same autograph events and the vast majority of those in attendance would sign for a few hours late in the day, possibly 5-8 PM…Herschel shows up and signs from 12:00 midnight and signs stuff all night long. As you might imagine, there is a greater demand for Heisman Trophy winner swag than has-been kicker swag.
Herschel and I did not interact much in 1980 as we were both the type to keep to ourselves for the most part. The one exception was the Sugar Bowl when we first arrived. We ended up sitting together on the bus-ride from the airport. He was talking about being on Good Morning America the next morning, somewhat lamenting the pull from all directions for his time. I am still amazed at the apparent absence of affect from his life of what I would call “true celebrity”. Herschel has been a national celebrity for 30 years now. An international celebrity for much of that time.
He’s the same guy.
How can that be? I can’t imagine being on the level where you can’t go anywhere and not be recognized, with no down time to speak of. Some people are apparently made for that kind of life, while others freak out and become recluses or abusers of various and sundry mood alterers. I can’t say we’re close, but I’m glad to know him, even if it is on a somewhat superficial level. Some reasons are obvious with the NC and all, while other might not be so obvious.
I just admire his ability to achieve in whatever arena he’s chosen, and still looks for challenges both physical and otherwise.
I wish I could be more like that.
Tell me what you really think!