Georgia ended its 1959 diamond-in-the-rough, championship season by playing in the Orange Bowl against the Missouri Tigers for the initial time.
Completing 9 of 16 passes for 131 yards and responsible for both of the game’s two touchdowns, junior Fran Tarkenton is generally considered the top Bulldog player in the 14-0 victory. Still, Georgia’s other quarterback, senior Charlie Britt (who actually started all 11 games that season under center while Tarkenton came off the bench) certainly deserves some recognition for his play against Mizzou.
Although he was held in check by Missouri on offense, Britt’s performance on the other side of the ball remains one of the top defensive outings in Georgia’s postseason history. Playing in his final game as a Bulldog, Britt intercepted two Tiger passes deep in his own territory. In addition, he was recognized for making “several” touchdown-saving tackles. Britt, or “the beast defensive player on the field,” according to head coach Wally Butts following the game, was the primary reason Missouri was kept out of Georgia’s end zone (although the Tigers had the advantage in first downs, 17 to 14, and total yardage, 260 to 218).
Something else kind of unique about the '60 Orange Bowl, when the Georgia and Missouri players entered the field just prior to kickoff, they literally ran through strings of oranges (below left). Also, the halftime ceremonies included five elephants from the Clyde Beatty Circus spray painted in pastel colors (right).
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