Dave McMahon and Patrick Garbin

Welcome to our countdown, and I can’t believe we have already presented thirty days worth of material. In 70 days, Georgia will be facing North Carolina at the Georgia Dome. Each day leading up to the season opener, Patrick Garbin and I will each show three unique and creative ways we think why that number is special to the Dawgs. Since I mentioned That 80’s Show for Day 80, I will do the more popular and well known That 70’s Show for Day 70. The show was originally going to be called Teenage Wasteland, and then The Kids Are Alright, but they weren’t allowed to use either due to licensing with the band, The Who. The show lasted eight seasons. Notably, the episode titles in season five were all Led Zeppelin songs, followed by the sixth season in which they were all titled after The Who songs. Season seven titles were all songs by The Rolling Stones, and the final season were all Queen songs. Instead of giving you a bunch of music trivia, I should have just researched some things about Mila Kunis or Laura Prepon—oh, yes sir, that would have brought great memories! Oh well, you are stuck reliving Georgia football memories of the number “70”…

By Dave McMahon

3 – In 1994, Georgia started off its season by defeating South Carolina before losing to Tennessee. In the third game, the Bulldogs faced Northeast Louisiana, which is now known as Louisiana Monroe, winning 70 to 6. During the rout, I guess the team got tired since they scored less and less each quarter, scoring 28, 21, 14, and 7 points respectively in the succeeding stanzas. The Bulldogs first two touchdowns were scored defensively, courtesy of Greg Bright’s 36-yard pick-6, followed Carlos Yancy’s 81-yard pick-6. Larry Bowie had two touchdown runs, while Hines Ward and Marisa Simpson each rushed for one, as well. Also, Eric Zeier passed for three touchdowns (two to Brice Hunter, one to Hason Graham). Placekicker Kanon Parkman tied a school record with ten extra points (shared with George Jernigan against Furman in 1946). The 70-6 blowout marked the first time the Dawgs scored 70 or more points since their win over The Citadel in 1958. In its history, Georgia has faced Louisiana Monroe three times, outscoring them 156 to 16.

2 – One Georgia kicker perhaps forgotten by some Bulldog fans is Allan Leavitt (1973-1976). Leavitt somewhat struggled in his first three seasons, making just 17 of 38 field goals. But, his senior season, he was much more accurate, making 11 of 16 field goals, including a game-winning 33-yard field goal against Georgia Tech with just five seconds left, giving Georgia a 13-10 victory. Leavitt’s 37 extra points in 1976 to go with his 11 field goals gave him a career-best 70 points scored in a season. Georgia won the SEC in 1976, but lost to Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl. And, the only points scored by the Dawgs in the 27-3 loss was a 25-yard field goal by Leavitt.

1 – One Georgia kicker likely not forgotten by most Bulldog fans is Kevin Butler. As mentioned in a previous article, Butler is second all time at Georgia with 77 made career field goals, including six from 50 yards or more. His career long was 60 yards in the incredible 26-23 victory over Clemson in 1984. Some Dawg fans might remember Butler’s 70-yard attempt against Florida State in the 1984 Citrus Bowl. With the Bulldogs and Seminoles tied 17-17, the 70-yard attempt was the game’s final play and, turns out, Butler’s final attempt of his collegiate career. The 70-yarder fell just short as Georgia had to settle with a tie (the YouTube title and the TV announcers say 71-yard attempt, but it was officially from 70 yards):

3—70 is for the 70 percent (69.6 to be exact) of the players on the Bulldogs’ 2016 spring roster, including all signees, who were listed with a GEORGIA HOMETOWN. In comparison, the Bulldogs’ roster entering the 1943 season consisted of only 45 percent native Georgians, whereas 70 percent (69.7 to be exact) of the Bulldogs’ 1980 national championship team was made up of Georgians.

2—At No. 94, I recognized the great CLIFF KIMSEY, who recently passed away at 94 years old as Georgia football’s oldest living lettermen. I mentioned that playing out of the Bulldogs’ old single-wing formation, Kimsey started at three different positions in his three varsity seasons—tailback/halfback (1939), fullback (1940), and quarterback/blocking back (1941)—allowing him to become one of only a handful of players in UGA history to rush, receive, and pass for touchdowns in a collegiate career. One of his greatest scoring passes covered 70 yards for a touchdown against Miami (Fla.) in the Orange Bowl in early December of 1939. With roughly five minutes remaining in the first quarter of a scoreless tie, and Georgia possessing the ball at its own 30-yard line, left halfback Kimsey passed to right half back and senior captain Vassa Cate, who made the reception at the Hurricanes’ 40-yard line, and dashed the rest of the way into the end zone, completing the 70-yarder. The Bulldogs went on to defeat Miami, 13-0, capping a five-win campaign for Wally Butts in his first season as Georgia’s head coach.

1—No. 70 RAY RISSMILLER is still considered one of Georgia’s greatest linemen of all time. An All-SEC Freshman Team honoree in 1961, All-SEC Sophomore squad member in ’62, and Second Team All-SEC honoree in ’63, Rissmiller capped his Georgia career in 1964 by earning All-SEC honors at offensive tackle, yet was selected by both Time and The Sporting News as a First Team All-American defensive linemen. Still, his greatest talent might have been nothing related to football—far from it. Beginning when he was a youngster, Rissmiller exhibited an extraordinary voice. During the summers while in college, he sang with an orchestra and the group, Ronnie and the Revelations. While in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Rissmiller performed during the off-season in a Bourbon Street Bristol and, while with the Philadelphia Eagles, he recorded the songs, “Hide and Watch Me Now” and “Big Ray.” Rissmiller’s son, Scott, lettered at Georgia from 1990-1992 and also wore jersey No. 70, but I have no idea if he too had the gift of song. But, as far as father Ray, definitely so… Take a listen to Big Ray’s recording of “Big Ray”: