UGASports.com's Top Four Bulldog Offensive Linemen
A year ago, we delivered our “Counting the Days” series (an example with 40 days remaining until the season kicks off). This summer, we explore a topic that has been debated on The Dawgvent for years and years. Twice a week leading into fall camp, we will post the UGA’s Mount Rushmore of… series, whereby we each present our opinion of the top four Bulldogs representing each positional unit. Whether statistics, big plays, championships won, and/or something else, we have our reasons why these quartets of Bulldogs have been chosen.
Do you agree with our Mount Rushmore of UGA Offensive Linemen? Who would you put on your list?
Dave McMahon—Twitter @dave_mc_stats
Edgar Chandler (1965-67): As I was thinking of possible o-line greats, I stumbled across Pat Dye. Despite saying some controversial things over the years, the man was a great player for Georgia. But I didn’t pick him because he helped defeat the Bulldogs too many times as Auburn’s head coach. I decided on Edgar Chandler, who started three seasons for the Bulldogs during the early tenure of Vince Dooley. Chandler was named All-American in both 1966 and 1967. He was part of an SEC-winning squad as a junior, and was the team’s captain his senior season. After his college days, he played in both the AFL and NFL and was later inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Interestingly, Chandler was in the studio audience of the Tonight Show in which Don Rickles was the special guest host. Sadly, he died of cancer in 1992 at the age of only 46.
Craig Hertwig (1972-74): Another legendary big man for the Bulldogs was Craig Hertwig, who stood at 6-foot-8 and was nicknamed “Sky” for obvious reasons. Hertwig started his final two seasons and was named All-SEC and All-American as a senior in 1974. After playing in the NFL, he returned to Athens to run a number of businesses. Like me, many of you were customers in one or more of Hertwig’s local watering holes. He continued to be a big-time Bulldog fan as was often seen cheering on his Dawgs. Hertwig was also seen jogging around town, even prompting the great Dan Magill to call him “The Giant Jogger.” Like Chandler above, Hertwig was taken from us way too early, passing away in 2012 at the age of 60.
Nat Hudson (1978-80): Nat Hudson is the only one on my top-four list who was not an All-American; nonetheless, I selected him for another reason. Several times I have mentioned the players on these lists were chosen various reasons, and this player was a very good player who made a very important play. Granted, Hudson was an All-SEC guard selection following the 1980 season but, a few months before, he was involved with the greatest play in Georgia history. The 93-yard “Belue-to-Scott” play, which defeated Florida, may have never resulted if it wasn’t for Nat Hudson, who blocked/nudged a blitzing Gator in the end zone. The play could’ve resulted in a safety, or caused a situation where a fourth-down, instead of a third-down, miracle would have needed to occur. Instead, quarterback Buck Belue was able to roll out and find an open Lindsay Scott, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Matt Stinchcomb (1995-98): I could have picked either Stinchcomb (Matt or Jon), and I would have made a good choice as both brothers were incredibly talented, incredibly smart and named All-American. Matt was named All-American in both 1997 and 1998, and was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award given to the Nation’s Top Lineman as a senior. Stinchcomb was also an Academic All-American twice and finished his academic career with a 3.96 GPA while managing in business. He was awarded the Draddy Award (Campbell Award) by the National Football Foundation. After graduating, Stinchcomb was awarded a post-graduate scholarship and later was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders. He currently heads a lot of charity work, most notably for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Georgia Transplant Foundation. Stinchcomb is also an analyst for the SEC Network and the ESPN family of networks covering college football.
Patrick Garbin—Twitter @PatrickGarbin
Harold “War Eagle” Ketron (1901-1903, 1906): Besides being ironically nicknamed “War Eagle,” Harold Ketron could be characterized as an absolute beast. Playing the center position on both sides of the ball, Ketron was said to spit tobacco juice on occasion in his opponent’s eye before making a block or tackle. It was also said that no player opposite of him in 1902 “has left the field without the consciousness that for the full length of the two halves he has been clearly outclassed” despite the fact Ketron was tripled-teamed at times. One of the school’s first star athletes, he was one of the first three Georgia players to earn first-team all-conference honors (All-S.I.A.A. in 1902). Rugged and hard-nosed, Ketron captained the ’03 squad before returning to UGA to play again in 1906 and join his younger brother on the team. What’s more, War Eagle was later primarily responsible for enticing and luring one of the greatest Bulldogs of them all from the hills of Pennsylvania to Athens—Charley Trippi.
Edgar Chandler (1965-1967): Hailing from Cedartown, Ga., offensive tackle Edgar Chandler was a member of Coach Vince Dooley’s first recruiting class of 1964. Actually considered quicker than some of the backs he blocked for during his Bulldog career, Chandler was recognized as a First Team All-American in 1966, and a consensus First Team All-American in 1967. Upon his departure from the school, it was said he was Georgia’s “most decorated” football player since Charley Trippi from more than 20 years before, and likely the “finest blocking lineman” in the history of Bulldogs’ football. In addition to the TV appearance by Chandler that Dave mentioned, he was featured more than a decade before when Bob Hope revealed the 1967 All-American team and was seen again about a week later when Ed Sullivan introduced the All-American selections.
Mike “Moonpie” Wilson (1974-1976): Of the eight different Bulldogs from 1970-1978 to be selected postseason First Team All-American, remarkably, seven were offensive linemen—and, in my opinion, the best of the seven was Mike “Moonpie” Wilson. After starting along Georgia’s defensive front as a sophomore in 1974, Moonpie was moved to the other side of the ball where he earned All-SEC honors for both of the two seasons he was an offensive lineman. As a senior in 1976, he was also selected First Team All-American by the Associated Press and the NEA, and was a second-teamer according to the UPI. It was earlier that season in one of the most monumental victories in Georgia history—a 21-0 win over Alabama—that Wilson was arguably the game’s most standout player when he literally dominated (and “beat up”) Crimson Tide All-American and eventual Pro Bowler, defensive lineman Bob Baumhower. What’s more, the year before against Kentucky, Wilson became only the second of what currently stands at just five Georgia offensive linemen during the modern era to score a “rushing” touchdown when he recovered a Ray Goff fumble in the end zone:
Matt Stinchcomb (1995-1998): In four seasons, Matt Stinchcomb started 35 games along Georgia’s offensive line—one at split guard (1995), 11 at right tackle (1996), and 23 at left tackle (1997-1998). He was a three-time All-SEC selection (1996-1998), and a two-time First Team All-American (1997-1998), including earning consensus honors as a senior. For a period of 20 years (1986 until 2005), Stinchcomb was Georgia’s lone offensive lineman recognized as a consensus All-American. The 18th overall selection of the 1999 NFL Draft, he remains one of only four Bulldog offensive linemen ever to be selected in the first round of an NFL Draft.
In a couple of days, we will reveal our next in the UGA’s Mount Rushmore of… series. Until then, again, do you agree with UGASports.com’s list? Who would you put on your Mount Rushmore of UGA Offensive Linemen?
UGASports.com's Previous UGA Mount Rushmores: