Counting the Days – Day 35
Welcome to our countdown! And, we have five weeks remaining before the first game. Each day leading up to the season opener, Patrick Garbin and I will each show three unique and creative ways why we think that number is special to the Dawgs. 35 and Ticking, a romantic comedy released in 2011, starred Kevin Hart who, by the way, is not the only one short in stature mentioned in this article. The movie also featured Keith Robinson, who had previously played a Power Ranger and starred in Dreamgirls. But, the best part, Robinson attended the University of Georgia. Speaking of, here are six nuggets of information regarding the University of Georgia’s football program and the number “35”:
By Dave McMahon—Twitter @dave_mc_stats
3 – In the 2009 Capital One Bowl against Michigan State, wide receiver Michael Moore had six receptions for 97 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown catch. His six receptions tied a career high, and the 97 yards receiving were a career high, as well. Technically, his one touchdown also tied a career high since he never had more than one in a game. Moore’s 35-yard scoring reception from Matthew Stafford resulted after Georgia had trailed 6-3 at halftime, but the Dawgs never looked back, winning 24-12. The 35-yard reception was not quite a career long for Moore, but close: it was his second-longest reception of his career.
2 – Aaron Murray passed for 121 touchdowns as a Georgia Bulldog, and rushed for 16 touchdowns, as well. Resulting against Tennessee in 2010 as a freshman, his longest touchdown rush was for 35 yards. Murray also rushed for a 5-yard score in that game as the Dawgs won easily, 41-14. The 2010 Tennessee contest would be one of four times in his career Murray rushed for two touchdowns in a game. His 35-yard score:
1 – Despite standing just 5-foot-11, linebacker Rennie Curran played big. Wearing No. 35, Curran led the Dawgs in tackles in consecutive seasons of 2008 and 2009, and finished with 298 career tackles, including 24 for loss. He had a career-high 16 tackles against 4th-ranked LSU in 2009 after totaling 14 tackles versus the Tigers the year before. Curran was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award as a junior in 2009, and a Butkus Award finalist as a sophomore in 2008
By Patrick Garbin—Twitter @PGarbinDT
3—With Georgia leading Kentucky 21-7 in Lexington with just under eight minutes left in their 1968 meeting, the Wildcats had the ball on their own 17-yard line. The Bulldogs’ Jake Scott intercepted a pass by quarterback Dave Bair intended for all-purpose star Dicky Lyons at the Kentucky 35-yard line. Scott, who was hemmed in and trapped by Lyons, appeared to soon be tackled. However, the All-American safety planted his feet, completely turned around, and left a falling Lyons grasping for air. Scott dashed down the right sideline on an unbelievable return for a score for his second interception returned for a touchdown in the game. Highlighted by the great Scott’s spectacular 35-yard return, the Bulldogs eventually prevailed, 35-14.
2—If there was ever a “Mr. Determination” in the history of Georgia football, it would be No. 35 Joe Geri. Considered lacking in physical attributes, the Phoenixville, Pa. native arrived at Georgia in the early 1940s reportedly without outstanding talent nor an obvious position to play. Finally, by 1948, the “no talent” Geri proved to be invaluable to the Bulldogs, seemingly leading the team to an SEC championship by sheer determination. As the Bulldogs’ starting left halfback, he led Georgia in rushing (583 yards), touchdowns scored (nine), and was third in receiving (12 catches, 133 yards). In addition, after making 26 of 31 PATs as a junior in 1947, he was one of the best placekickers in the country, converting 36 of 39 extra points. Geri’s 90 points scored was fifth in the nation and just eight shy of the single-season SEC record. A fourth-round selection in the NFL Draft, Mr. Determination proved invaluable again—this time, for the Pittsburgh Steelers—as he was named the league’s rookie of the year in 1949 and earned All-Pro honors in 1950 and 1951.
1—Nicknamed “Pulpwood” as a child by a recreation department coach in Douglas, Ga. for his uncanny ability to hit long homeruns, Andre Smith nearly signed with the California Angels while attending Coffee High School. Instead, as the state’s “Back of the Year” as a high school senior in 1982, Pulpwood signed with Texas A&M—the school’s football program, that is. However, Smith was released from his grant-in-aid by the Aggies and, in turn, he signed with Georgia less than a month prior to the start of his freshman season. After appearing in just one varsity game in 1983, the Bulldog fullback stormed onto a season like few Georgia players ever had, or have since. In Georgia’s first six games of the 1984 campaign, No. 35 Pulpwood rushed for four touchdowns covering at least 34 yards, including the 47-yarder below against Vanderbilt. In what remains arguably the greatest year ever by a Bulldog who solely played the fullback position for the season, Pulpwood rushed for 655 yards in 1984—essentially his only year at Georgia—while averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He also made 12 receptions, which was more than any other Bulldog running back that season, while he also returned seven kickoffs (a fullback returning kickoffs!). Notably, for a 20-game span from October 1983 to October 1985, Georgia had just two 100-yard individual rushing games—and, both of them courtesy of none other than Pulpwood Smith in 1984.