Those who were part of the game shared the plays and players they remember the most. He played both football and basketball at Clemson and was a three-year starter on the hardwood. Simmons was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Joe wanted us to embrace the country boy label, Prince said. Im just so thankful my quarterback coach was Joe Wilson. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from these Atlanta football players who have succeeded on every level! Joe Wilson took over the Vikings football team in 1976, and right away encouraged the players to embrace their country boy personality and call themselves Plowboys. He led the Vikings to an 8-2 season, which included upset victories over Tift County and Thomasville High. His 34 wins as Valdostas signal caller is a team record, and hes the programs only four-year starter (1974-77). 25 Georgia high school player of all-time. ], 4. And a Plains teen girl borrowed Jimmy Carters clothes. Low around 65F. Three, Ill win a state championship, which youve never won. Joe Wilson accomplished all three within three years.. That was Lowndes first win ever against Valdosta, whose quarterback was Buck Belue, the future University of Georgia star. We sort of fell into it. The first time I played quarterback was in the eighth grade. Todd Holcomb has been a contributor to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1985. Plus, Buck's Beat Podcast. Despite having played each other since 1968, the Lowndes vs. Valdosta game didnt become the Winnersville Classic until 1981. Belue told Turner and Johnson that three things a good quarterback must do are: know the down and distance, protect the football and be tough. At quarterback, its about being a leader, and being a field general. My thought was that they played in Albany last night and probably got in bed at 3 a.m., and hes up scouting out the talent in town. What some might not know is that Belue's career as a writer began in earnest around that same time. Rogers was among three Georgians named to the 1976 Coach & Athlete All-America team. The longtime Lowndes coach was quick to offer his memory of the best performance he saw in the Classic. Former Valdosta assistant coach Jerry Don Baker, who played at Valdosta in the 60s and coached at Valdosta from 1976-2006, said he was there when Wilson told Valdosta he was leaving. NewsBreak provides latest and breaking news about Buck Belue. Coach Wilson would be saying we can throw to this running back because weve got this linebacker on him. The Valdosta fans had bumper stickers that read, City Slickers and, Mama, dont let your babies grow up to be plowboys, Prince said. When he knocked off the third one a state championship, which Lowndes won in 1980 Johnny B. Lastinger was prompted to concede this was more than just a game it was a community event. He has ordered it, however. Credit: Photo by Chris McShane (provided by Buck Belue). You mentioned that you saw many of the players that were on the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame ballot or were voted in. Our maintenance folks earned their pay that week.. Chuck Knoll's Steelers were champions and as. With Coach Hyder, you just couldnt imagine anyone working harder than him to be successful. Valdosta High School Graduate. What was the most memorable high school game that you played? What do most people want to talk to you about at these book signings? Hopefully the renewed interest in the program would spill over and may have people interested in what happened in 1980.". Don Shula's Miami Dolphins went undefeated and won the Super Bowl. He hit .447 for the 1982 season and his .356 career batting average (he also hit 30 homers and scored 114 runs) remains among the top 10 in school history. Youve been to about 10 cities to sign your book, and youve got several more scheduled. The Valdosta Wildcats have been playing football since 1913, and with over 900 wins, 24 state championships, six national championships, and a bunch of region titles, they remain the winningest high school football team in the country. He spent much of the camp working with Valdostas current quarterbacks, Mike Turner and Alfrie Johnson. But part of Belue's focus in writing the book was shining a light on his hometown of Valdosta, as well as some of the lesser known players on Georgia's 1980 team. We had a fellow by the name of Freddie Steedley who had a mule, and he agreed to put on the overalls and straw hat and ride the mule out to midfield before the game, Prince said. One of the key plays in the 1980 season was a 93-yard touchdown pass from Belue to wide receiver Lindsay Scott[1] In basketball, Rome averaged 32 points per game as a high school senior and was MVP of the Georgia all-star basketball game. You do well at Valdosta High, and you get a shot to play some college ball. I had other friends there, too, just like they did that day in that room. Belue also details in the book how he. I remember in the 1981 game, quarterback John Bond took off down the Lowndes sideline and ran for an 80-yard touchdown, Baker said. Herschel Walker was the lone unanimous selectee for the inaugural class of the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame, selected on 35 of 35 ballots. Valdosta High School - Sandspur Yearbook (Valdosta, GA), Class of 1978, Page 57 of 272 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. ", Former Georgia quarterback and current Forsyth County resident Buck Belue, right, with Universities Forever owners Stuart Cohen, left, and Jini Lee. Search and browse yearbooks online! He was the first 4 year starter at Quarterback at Valdosta High school. Reached by phone this week, Dooley said he has not yet read Belues book. Freshman Buck Belue took over the starting Quarterback job at Valdosta in 1974 and he didn't give it back until he used up his eligibility. Between plays, we would stand there and listen to Coach Rudolph break down the responsibilities of each defensive player for the play we just ran. There was still a chance for the Vikings if they could return the kickoff, but they never got the chance. The Georgia High School Association has levied a $7,500 fine against Valdosta High School, ordered the Wildcats to forfeit seven victories from the 2020 football season . Since it started playing football in 1913, Valdosta has won 612 games and lost 129, with 33 ties. It was fun to finally get it all down on paper, Belue said of the writing process. Youd see him around town and stop and go wow. Youd be in awe. Buck Belue was born and raised in Titletown, USA also known as Valdosta, Georgia. Valdosta High School - Sandspur Yearbook (Valdosta, GA), Class of 1975, Page 130 of 272 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. I was always a fan of the top players and programs and curious about the way they did it, what scheme they were running. They were up 40-0 with 30 seconds left and still giving the ball to William Andrews. I should have done it a long time ago. Martin brought in Wilson for an interview after hearing that the coach was not exactly happy with the Wildcats at the time. At Valdosta, you were heavily influenced by the legendary head coaches Wright Bazemore (1941-42, 1946-71) and Nick Hyder (1973-95). 5,214 - Buck Belue . Simmons, a defensive lineman and tight end, was the AJCs Class 3A Lineman of the Year and a Coach Athlete All-American and Joe Namath All-American. April 13, 2021, 8:39 AM. On Friday morning, Belue, who starred at quarterback for Valdosta High School and the University of Georgia, returned to his alma mater to hold a camp for Valdostas quarterbacks and receivers. The timing was awful, Buck Belue writes in his new book, Inside the Hedges. Most of the players thought it was a selfish move to even do an interview. Then, Prince said, prior to the 1979 game, Lowndes was warming up in their traditional crimson jerseys. That was the dream of every young athlete in Valdosta, and that dream didnt go much further than that. Lowndes won the game 15-14. To order a book or get a copy at a book signing, click here. We talked about a lot of things. The problem was the plane didnt get low enough, and the wind blew the flyers all over the neighborhood next to the practice field.. He played two seasons of minor league baseball in the Montreal Expos organization. "I got to work last year on it, before the football season started," Belue said. So, I felt like I needed to respect (Auburn) by taking a look at it. How would you contrast and compare those iconic coaches? Brooks scored 70 touchdowns at Warner Robins. Those were the low-key celebrations of Winnersville. Jun. Netflix on Friday is premiering 'Titletown High,' a documentary series chronicling Valdosta (Ga.) High School's 2020 football season and Rush Propst, its controversial coach. In 1977, Valdosta Daily Times sports editor Mike Chason, a native of south Georgia and recent graduate of Valdosta State University, wrote a story for the paper comparing the pro sports teams of Atlanta to the sports scene in Valdosta. Buck goes shopping with his daughter at the Braves Store in SunTrust Park.It is obvious they are not on the same page when it comes to jersey shopping.. Belue is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in Valdosta history. Thats the way it was at Valdosta. He sort of chuckled and said there was a lot of built-up frustration over those years of losing to Valdosta, Dont take it personally is what I believe he said., 5. Last season, he was backup to another Valdosta alumnus, All-Southeastern. All the 1980 UGA stars are mentioned, but also prominently featured are teammates such as Nat Hudson, Hugh Nall, Jimmy Womack, Amp Arnold, Jimmy Payne, Eddie Weaver and Nate Taylor and assistant coaches Mike Cavan and Wayne McDuffie, among others. It was designed to look like it was coming from Lowndes fans. Thats when I figured it was time to go., 3. UGA star Jalen Carter present at scene of fatal crash, From 2021: Buck Belue, QB of 1980 Georgia national champions, to call the Dawgs before kickoff, Georgia Tech hammers Syracuse as Jackets late-season surge continues, Braves notes: Jared Shusters first spring game, Michael Sorokas progress, Ian Anderson on spring debut: Im not gonna sugarcoat it. He came through for me on that, which was huge.. Baker said the bands from both schools began joining forces on the field before each game and would play the National Anthem together. He was just so far ahead of his time. ], Then, Valdosta was really laying down the hammer in 1971 [winning a national championship in Coach Bazemores final season]. Belue, who lives in Forsyth County, currently hosts the Buck Belue Show on 680 The Fan. The Georgia High School Association has levied a $7,500 fine against Valdosta High School, ordered the Wildcats to forfeit seven victories from the 2020 football season, banned the team from . Former Georgia quarterback Buck Belue is no stranger to the radio. The native of Jessup has made his home in Valdosta since retiring from professional football and is an avid supporter of UGA athletics and a dedicated follower of local high school football. Nunn Elementary ; We have estimated Buck Belue's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets. [Rome, a 6-foot-4 tight end, set a national record for receiving yards in a season. He came in from West Rome with the idea of running the wishbone like he was doing in Rome, and I was coming over for spring football as an eighth grader, and it wasnt a couple of months later we were back for preseason practice, and he was totally shifted to the Bazemore offense, as we called it. He bypassed his senior season and went to the USFL and totaled 7,046 all-purpose yards and 61 touchdowns in three years. The student then greased the entire flag pole from top to bottom, ensuring that it would not be very easy for Valdosta High maintenance to climb up to detach the Viking flag. 3 Georgia high school football player of all time by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2007, and this is just his football career. Please only use it for a guidance and Buck Belue's actual income may vary a lot from the dollar amount shown above. Former receiver Lindsey Scott, who lives in Valdosta, former linebacker Keith Middleton, a longtime Valdosta High assistant coach, and former quarterbacks John Lastinger and Greg Talley helped out. That was the dream of every young athlete in Valdosta, and that dream didnt go much further than that. Well, the only thing that went crazy was the mule. Who are some of the great players you saw from your era or before? I had wanted to meet him, said Turner, the only other quarterback to start as a freshman for Valdosta in the last 50 years. They were running the same sets and plays. I was blessed with this great coaching. [Belue passed for a state-record 5,214 yards and won two region titles in his four Valdosta seasons. Want to get the content before anyone else? I was in the office when Joe Wilson threw his keys on Nick Hyders desk and told him, Coach, we are going to whip your [butt] when you come to our place in two years, and thats exactly what happened, Baker said. Baker said of all the great players he coached against in the Winnersville Classic, none was better than James Wildman Carter. !"-Susan Wooten, 2022 CATS Winner [2] Belue was named captain of the 1981 team. He was going to youth league programs, scouting the local talent. The History of the Winnersville Classic: Valdosta, Lowndes and a Community-Wide Celebration, 4 Questions With Northside Warner Robins Football Coach Chad Alligood, One-Point Wins Highlight Exciting Georgia Boys Basketball Playoffs, 4 Questions with McEachern Football Coach Kareem Reid, McCullough Triplets Ready for Next Chapter in Wrestling Careers, Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman Honored by Hometown Tifton, Trinity Catholic Celtics Find Success with Former Gators QB John Brantley, Showcase Football Events Attract High-Profile Programs, Rewind: Top 10 Florida High School Football Prospects Since 2000. Coach Jerry Don Baker confirmed the rumor. He also became the first active player at South Carolina to have his jersey retired, No. But it missed its mark literally. Hes a very good coach, Belue said. I learned some things from him. A third Wildcat quarterback to be storied among these pages of Bulldawg Illustrated, this is Greg Talley, an alumni of Valdosta High School and the University of Georgia sounds familiar.For two of my previous 2019 columns, quarterbacks at VHS and Georgia (Buck Belue and John Lastinger) have been featured, so why stop there?A few years after these studs suited up in the silver britches, we . We were in position to win the national championship and he is about to jump to our rival? The quarterback thing happened late for me, and it was Wright Bazemore that told the middle school coach to move me to quarterback, so I owe much of my football success to Coach Bazemore for having the insight to get me over to that position. Doug Henderson, whose sons Ashley, Justin, and Doug all played at Valdosta, recalled a prank in the mid-90s that was designed to fire up the Wildcat players. Stan Rome was a dominant two-sport athlete who still holds the state record for most receiving yards in a career (4,477) despite playing in a run-dominated era. They put it on us my freshman year. Belue was atUniversities Forever in Cumming on Saturdayto promote his book,'Inside the Hedges: The Quarterback's Journey to the 1980 National Championship,' a project that was decades in the making. Then, with only 49 seconds remaining, Valdosta recovered Dale Kents onside kick and from the Valdosta 47-yard line, Wilkes lead his Wildcats down the field with another TD pass, this one to running back Avery Burney, to put Valdosta on top 21-17 and leave everyone in the stadium stunned. Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. The coaches would each speak to the crowd during the banquet. It doesnt get better than that. For him it simply was a passion project that needed to be done. So, we brought the mule out, with Freddie riding the thing, and that mule started out toward midfield just as we had practiced, but then the crowd roared, and it scared the poor mule so much that he just stopped in his tracks and Freddie went flying off over the front of it., That mule then took off, without Freddie to guide him, straight towards the Valdosta sideline, Prince said. Tales like McGuyrts are part of a timeless record shared by Valdosta-area locals. Former UGA quarterback Buck Belue authors book on 1980 championship season, Online archive of print stories 2006-present, Pick em 2022 Forsyth Sports football picks, Football: Forsyth County News Media Day-watch the videos. They just had a huge impact in my career along with all those teammates I played with at Valdosta, many of them deserving of those kinds of honors. Buck Belue - Player Card Home >> Minor League Baseball College Baseball High School Baseball Boxscores and Analysis Other Topics Minor Leagues >> Minor League Players Minor League Teams Affiliate History Minor Leagues Minor Leagues by Season Independent Baseball Leagues Prospects Minor League Awards Minor League People Minor League Transactions It remains one of those indelible football moments from which Buck Belue can never escape, nor does he want to. Ive been wanting to do this for some time, Belue said. A few of the Lowndes students got together and built a Viking ship, Prince said. She finally came in and dumped it on his lap. He was the quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs in 1980, when the team went 12-0, and, after beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, was named the consensus national champion. You do well at Valdosta High, and you get a shot to play some college ball. Mon - Fri: 7:30 - 4:30. It was pretty good, Johnson said. It was a real mess, he said. When I got to Georgia, I felt I was way ahead of the curve. That turned on a light for me. Rogers was the Wildcats team manager in 1994 and a top Wildcat supporter. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. 1. How did Bazemore make a quarterback out of you? Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. We got the ball with about three or four minutes left inside our own 10 and drove down to the 1-yard line with like two seconds left. Bazemore watched you play in youth ball and suggested to the coaches that they move you to quarterback. We missed a chip-shot field goal that wouldve won the state championship for all of us. I was friends with Coach Wilsons son, Jody, so I got some behind-the-scenes access to practice and going to the games and seeing the locker room. I'd gone through and written it probably in the late 80s, then a couple of years later changed ityou know, write, rewrite, write, rewrite. I just wanted to be real with that, Belue said. Defensive coordinator Erk Russell. That was just heart-breaking. Belue was kidded about Valdosta falling to Clarke Central in the 1977 Class 4A state finals. What are your thoughts on making the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame? Sports Illustrated said last fall . It was just playing for the Wildcats. 1. Owen Prince, Lowndes County Schools director of information and athletic business, and a graduate of Lowndes High School, recalled what led to Wilsons unhappiness at Valdosta. Joe Wilson had accomplished two of his three goals. We missed a chip-shot field goal that wouldve won the state championship for all of us. But I never in any way committed to them.. Really, my wife kicked me in the butt and said, 'Let's finish this thing.'". Youd see him around town and stop and go wow. Youd be in awe. It was the last one. Its something were going to build on. [6] After the demise of the USFL, Belue spent two years on the football coaching staff at Valdosta State University, serving as an offensive assistant. 1 high school football player of all-time in a 2007 article. Whichever you prefer, this town has won a lot of high school football games over the years.Valdosta High School has 24 state titles to it's cred. Buck Belue Georgia QB. We had some tense moments during those years, but I sort of wanted a hard-to-please coach. Buck Belue famously guided Georgia's football team to a national championship 42 years ago. Quarterback of Georgia's 1980 National Championship Team Captain of the 1981 SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs Twice selected as 1 st Team All-SEC QB 4-Year Starter on the Georgia Baseball Team Twice selected as 1 st Team All-SEC Outfielder Led the SEC in hitting Honored as the SEC Athlete of the Year 1981. UGA star Jalen Carter present at scene of fatal crash, Georgia Tech hammers Syracuse as Jackets late-season surge continues, Braves notes: Jared Shusters first spring game, Michael Sorokas progress, Ian Anderson on spring debut: Im not gonna sugarcoat it. On their annual Fourth of July vacation to Florida last week, the Belues made stops at the Marshside Grill in Brunswick and the Coachs Corner in Savannah to peddle books. Height: 6'1" Weight: 190 College: Georgia High School: Valdosta (GA) USFL Career: 1984-1985 More: Buck Belue complete pro stats Buck Belue played from 1984 to 1985 during his career with the Jacksonville Bulls. You get what is known as one of the greatest rivalries in all of high school football so great that its included in the Great American Rivalry Series, which recognizes the top high school football rivalries across the nation. He shared time with Jeff Pyburn a. George Rogers, the 1980 Heisman Trophy winner while at South Carolina, was the AJCs Class A Back of the Year in 1976 and Class B Back of the Year in 1975. In three high school seasons, Andrews rushed for 4,252 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry, and scored 58 touchdowns. They put it on us my freshman year. Belue said he flirted with shopping his book to outside publishers, but opted instead to publish it himself. Proper Name: Benjamin F. Belue High Level: AA Positions: OF (135) Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right Born: Dec 22,1959 age: 63.054 place: Valdosta,GA High School: Valdosta (Valdosta,GA) colleges: University of Georgia (Athens,GA), Drafted: Montreal Expos - 1982 - 6 - 149 (June-Reg) drafted 2x draft posit: OF TBC#: 71816 The 2007 estimate showed a population of 130,170 in the Valdosta metropolitan area. The Bengals drafted him in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Today's interviewee is Buck Belue, sports talk show host for 680 The Fan, quarterback for Georgia's 1980 national championship team, four-year starting quarterback at Valdosta, inaugural selectee into the new Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame and author of a new book, "Inside The Hedges," a look at Georgia's 1980 season and his athletic career. You need to watch him tonight, and he put on one of the most memorable performances I can remember seeing. Rush Propst believes the Netflix series "Titletown High," which debuts Friday and chronicles the 2020 season of the Valdosta High School football team, will "clear some things up" about . I admired these athletes. I hope that will help them this season. We've called it home," Belue said of living in Forsyth County. She finally came in and dumped it on his lap. While Atlanta was being called Loserville by mostly state and national sports writers, Chason replied in his column that Valdosta was doing very well with the success of its local sports teams and was worthy of the title Winnersville.. The. This record stood for 29 years. Call: (916)383-0110 (510)781-4800. He started in 78 out of 92 career games, made three Pro Bowls and was first-team All Pro once. In 1979, Walker was the AJC Class A Back of the Year, a Parade All-American, a Coach & Athlete All-American and the No. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Its a good feeling knowing you represent Valdosta. He will be inducted with Belue in October. Four other ex-Georgia players helped Belue at the camp. Im pleased we were able to give Valdosta a defibrillator, since they didnt have one, Belue said. The first time I played quarterback was in the eighth grade. The Wildcats loss to Lowndes and the close game the year before were the turning points of the series, and turned it into a true rivalry, Lastinger said. One of the motivations for doing the book was to talk about Valdosta High School and the football program through the years, and Ive had so many people, whether theyre Bulldog fans or not, ask questions about how Valdosta won all those games. So he came up with the name Plowboys. He and then-band director Billy Martin ordered straw hats with LHS Plowboys across the front, which the band wore during their halftime performance.. Obviously, that did not happen. Net Worth in 2021. He hit .447 for the 1982 season and his .356 career batting average (he also hit 30 homers and scored 114 runs) remains among the top 10 in school history. The coach it was John Lastingers dad, as a matter of fact they installed this tight end-around pass, and I ended up leading the league in passing. [John Lastinger followed Belue as the starting quarterback at Valdosta and at Georgia. You also talk about the other coaches at Valdosta, especially Joe Wilson, who later became Lowndes head coach and led the Vikings to a 1980 state title, and Jack Rudolph, Valdostas longtime defensive mastermind [and father of Georgia Tech and NFL player Coleman Rudolph]. You need to watch him tonight, and he put on one of the most memorable performances I can remember seeing. I had Jack Rudolph coaching the defense. Subtitled The Quarterbacks Journey to the National Championship, Belues book also shares frank recollections of the recruiting trail as a two-sport star out of Valdosta, the tense quarterback competition he endured with Jeff Pyburn, an intimate conversation he had with Lindsay Scott the night before their historic play to beat Florida in Jacksonville, the Herschel Walker phenomenon and much more. Fortunately, that didnt happen too often.. 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