Dogs’ border wars with Vols extend into recruiting season

Published 11:18 pm Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Before the University of Georgia’s football game against Tennessee this past Saturday, someone said it was interesting that several writers pontificated about how close the past couple of games between the Bulldogs and Volunteers had been.

It was seen as an indication that Tennessee had been putting up a good fight despite Georgia’s four straight wins going into this year’s meeting at Sanford Stadium in Athens — and that soon, the series could swing the other way.

It is a valid point. I can’t find fault with the Tennessee premise. Anyway, you do anything to get your team to believe it can win.

Tennessee and Georgia will always be very competitive. It is a border rivalry, which means there are strong feelings out there. With Tennessee’s fine tradition, the Vols have a chance to be competitive in the Southeastern Conference’s East division.

The situation made me think of the trying times of the 1950s, when Georgia was struggling and the late Dan Magill, Georgia’s sports information director, had to do something to keep spirits from flagging. When Vince Dooley made his debut as coach of the Bulldogs in 1964, Alabama beat the Bulldogs 31-3 in Tuscaloosa.

In the preseason media guide the next fall, Magill pointed out in the summary of that game with the Tide, “Swinford ALMOST Went All The Way on ’Bama.” Magill was referring to Wayne Swinford’s 36-yard punt return, which he almost took in for a score. You’ve got to find something good to talk about!

If you look back on Tennessee’s success under coach Phillip Fulmer, you note there were many times when his best teams came about when he beat the Bulldogs recruiting in Georgia. When Mark Richt took over in Athens, that changed. Beating Tennessee in recruiting in the state of Georgia is very significant with respect to gaining high marks on signing day and building a championship program.

“Within a 200-mile radius of Knoxville,” said former Tennessee coach John Majors, “there are more good football players in Georgia than in Tennessee. Georgia is a state that has a lot of great football talent.”

Watching a game alongside Bob Harrison, who was an assistant at both Tennessee and Georgia, is always enlightening. Harrison, who finished his career with the Atlanta Falcons, was a receivers coach in college.

“Georgia will score points with (running back Todd Gurley),” Harrison said before the game. “If they are going to play well enough to win on defense, they have to pressure the Tennessee quarterback (Justin Worley), who does not do well under pressure. All that is very elementary.”

Jimmy Orr, sitting to my right, saw his first Georgia game of the fall. In the early spring, he had heart surgery, undergoing a quintuple bypass.  

“Those Tennessee receivers are very tall,” Orr said. “That makes it hard for the Georgia defensive backs.”

Orr, the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 1958 while with the Pittsburgh Steelers and an All-Pro receiver during the Baltimore Colts’ Johnny Unitas era, finds today’s college offenses very exciting. Orr led the SEC in receiving in 1955 with 24 catches.

“About two games’ worth today for some receivers,” he said with a smile.

Orr wasn’t tall, but nobody could find a way to break open better than the Seneca, S.C., native.

People have begun to compare Gurley to Herschel Walker. For sure, he is a Herschel-type back, rugged and relentless. But to compare anybody to Herschel, the player needs to carry his team to victory week after week.

While Gurley seems capable of that, there is the question of whether or not he can keep it up, physically, assuming the defenses keep doing what Tennessee did — put eight and nine men in the box, literally daring the Bulldogs to throw.

(When I heard that somebody — falsely, it should be noted — accused Gurley of assault earlier this week, I first thought it might be a Tennessee linebacker.)

Visiting with Vols coach Butch Jones before the game, I asked him what he remembered about his last trip to Sanford Stadium. He quickly recalled Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno leaping over one of his Central Michigan defenders in 2008, which electrified the sold-out stadium.

When I asked him what it is like to coach where there are high expectations, he said, “I like it. When they care, it makes it challenging, but you know that they appreciate the progress we are making with our program.”

Riding up the elevator to the sky suites at halftime with Peyton Manning allowed for a quick visit with the Denver Broncos quarterback. With his NFL team having a bye, he took the opportunity to come see his alma mater play between the hedges. The Vols can always count on this remarkable quarterback to give back.

Loran Smith is a contributing columnist for The Daily Citizen. You can write to him at loransmith@sports.uga.edu.