They finished 11-1 and had it not been for a loss to a very good Auburn team, would have been the co-SEC champions with Alabama. Andy was an Athens boy and local legend. He played Little League and American Legion baseball for my dad... who said he was the greatest natural athlete he ever knew. For those of us ten years his junior, he was the apex... part Greek god, part role model, part miracle worker. The compliments always received with a smile and a 'Thank You' and he always had time to sign an autograph or two for us kids down along the fence.
In 1971, I was eight years old, and Sanford Stadium was the most glorious place on Earth. Cokes were served in Poss-branded paper cups that you could turnover and stomp when empty to make a loud popping sound. My folks swore bourbon tasted better in those cups than any highball glass in a fancy restaurant.
There have been better Georgia teams, but you only get to see the world once through eight-year-old eyes. The grass is greener, the sky bluer, and the Georgia red never brighter in the early Fall sun for someone at that age. I know the night games and the light shows are spectacular... but, there was something about 1:00PM in Northeast Georgia in late September or early October in those days.
The next year was more historic. The five black players who were ineligible freshmen in 1971 were finally able to play in 1972. UGA football became something for all Georgians and that was a good thing. But, the '72 and '73 teams were mediocre, and it took a while before UGA football was exciting once again.
Andy was the greatest thing to happen at UGA until the 1976 season and Ray Goff and that 21-0 win over Bama. That was the greatest day in Athens. But, that's another story.
In 1971, I was eight years old, and Sanford Stadium was the most glorious place on Earth. Cokes were served in Poss-branded paper cups that you could turnover and stomp when empty to make a loud popping sound. My folks swore bourbon tasted better in those cups than any highball glass in a fancy restaurant.
There have been better Georgia teams, but you only get to see the world once through eight-year-old eyes. The grass is greener, the sky bluer, and the Georgia red never brighter in the early Fall sun for someone at that age. I know the night games and the light shows are spectacular... but, there was something about 1:00PM in Northeast Georgia in late September or early October in those days.
The next year was more historic. The five black players who were ineligible freshmen in 1971 were finally able to play in 1972. UGA football became something for all Georgians and that was a good thing. But, the '72 and '73 teams were mediocre, and it took a while before UGA football was exciting once again.
Andy was the greatest thing to happen at UGA until the 1976 season and Ray Goff and that 21-0 win over Bama. That was the greatest day in Athens. But, that's another story.
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