The local TV station in Macon just did a feature on my 1975 state championship team. My teammate Roger is starting to look like an old man. Note that we are referred to as “football legends”.
When Roger learned that he was to be interviewed, he texted our group and asked how we felt about Northeast going for the state championship. He also asked for stories and photos. I sent several, and some were included in the story.
Above front: Danny Kurtz, my weightlifting bud Johnny Dennis, and Jeff Stewart (cousin of Atlanta sports broadcaster Matt Stewart). Back: Mike Wager, Randy Rutherford, and Mike Jolly. I am number 21 below.
Below: 1974 photo. Big Mack Guest blocks, Curtis Wiley cuts upfield, and Jolly looks on.
1974: RB Walker Hall fights for yardage. David Cape (#51) looks on.
QB Jolly runs the option as Wager (72) looks on,
Jolly seys his charges.
#42 Stan Putnal with the reception. Stan, Tom Poole, Jolly, and I started the fab of taping our shoes.
Jolly passes as 72 Wager, 83 Guest, and 24 Wiley block.
Coach Tommy Seward has stayed in touch over the years. He taught me when I was in junior high.
Our beloved bus driver Bullet got his photo in the game program. Back then he seemed older than he looks here. Bullet always carried his lucky rocks, and took them out and shook them as needed.
1974 pregame meal: Rutherford and Wiley.
QB Mike Jolly as the 1975 AJC AAA state player of the year. Scored the winning TDs in two playoff games. His 23 yard scramble on 4th & 22 helped avenge our only loss to Northside. As a college freshman Jolly ran Pepper Rogers wishbone at Georgia Tech. Never a student, he transferred to Tennessee State.
LB Gerald Payton was a beast. We rode the same bus.
MLB / offense guard Danny Kurtz was nicknamed Radar, for his resemblance to MASH company clerk Walter O'Reilly. A senior during the 1975 season, Danny's 10th grade brothers Ricky (66) and Tim (30) were nicknamed Sonar and Quasar. I hung with the Kurtz brothers in high school. Both Danny and Ricky have passed away, but I am still in touch with Tim.
WR/CB Hodges Glover had passed away before our 40th reunion.
Before the 1975 season Head Coach Gene Brodie drove me downtown to Charley Woods Sporting Goods. We went upstairs to the dusty storeroom so I could get fitted for a square toed kicking shoe. After winning the 1975 state championship, Brodie and his staff left for better conditions and higher pay in Tift County.
FB Rutherford passed away a few years ago. After high school Randy joined the Navy.
Guard Jeff Stewart's older brother was our B team coach. His father coached me one season at Vine Engle Little League. After school Jeff became a fireman, but passed away just a few years ago.
Brodie and offensive coordinator Roy McWilliams. Coach McWilliams was tough, but we loved him. He stays in touch, but is in poor health.
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