When Pepper Rodgers coached at Tech, he finally scrapped the wishbone in the late 70’s when he got tall passing QB Mike Kelley. In first game of the season against Alabama at Grant Field the Jackets were backed up near the goal line. On third down QB Kelley lined up in the shotgun, a formation no one used at the time. The ball was snapped to Kelley and he quick-kicked. With no Bama return man deep, the ball rolled and rolled – a 90 yard punt, the longest in Tech history. I was there.
In college at Purdue Bob Griese was QB, punter, and kicker. Tech’s Billy Lothridge was a QB/P/K in college then punted in the pros. When the Falcons were shorthanded on defense, Lothridge played defensive back and intercepted a couple of passes.
George Blanda started out as a QB/K/LB for the Bears. Then Oilers then Raiders, where he won MVP well into his 40’s, playing QB and K. Broke the scoring record. Played when he was 49 years old.
Lou Groza was a guard for the Browns. Also kicked. Retired, then came back to just kick a couple more years. He had the scoring record that Blanda broke.
I liked Billy Kilmer, who played for the 49ers, Saints, then Redskins. Always wore a single bar mask. Norm Van Brocklin played for the Rams and Eagles – QB and punted. One year Sammy Baugh led the league in passing, punting, and also had the most interceptions. Jim Thorpe could drop-kick from great distances.
Pat Summerall was a WR/K. Larry Sieple a TE/P for the Dolphins. Jim O’Brian kicked the game-winning field goal for the Colts in the Super Bowl. He also played WR. Danny White, Randall Cunningham, and Tom Tupa were all QB/P. Cunningham had a 90 yard quick kick for the Eagles, one of the longest punts in NFL history. And in his last game QB Doug Flutie became the last NFL player to successfully execute a drop-kick.
Herschel played halfback, fullback, wide receiver, flanker, and tight end. He also returned kicks and punts, and played on kickoff and punt coverage special teams.
Sports Illustrated’s pro football preview came out in late August. For the NFL’s 100th season they selected 100 essential individuals. Herschel Walker was one of the hundred, for making the USFL legit and the huge Cowboys/Vikings trade . Along with people like Vince Lombardi, Unitas, George Halas, Red Grange, Sammy Baugh, Namath, Jim Brown, Paul Brown, Otto Graham, Pete Rozelle, Frank Gifford, Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski, Joe Montana, Tom Landry, Don Shula, etc. John Wooden made this NFL list as well, for his contributions to race relations and coaching staff diversity.
UGA kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week yet again for his performance at Tennessee. He remains perfect for the season. Not sure how he can't win the Lou Groza Award this year.
UGA kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week yet again for his performance at Tennessee. He remains perfect for the season. Not sure how he can't win the Lou Groza Award this year.
Thursday night Will and Mary-Clayton took Matthew and Anna
out for dinner at La Fonda and dessert at Jeni's Ice Cream,
where they met Jeni Bauer, the founder of the franchise.
Cool story of a man who’s worn a different tie to work every day for the past seven years. He’s coming up on 6000 different ties. Not sure how that math works out. Some guys have all the luck.
BRET SABERHAGEN [SABR Bio] was the first Kansas City Royals pitcher to start an All-Star game In his first three innings of All-Star competition, he faced six future Hall of Fame batters, surrendering zero runs - 1987 ASG; faced Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Mike Schmidt, Gary Carter, Ozzie Smith & Tony Gwynn. Of those, only Dawson reached base. In the early part of his career he was brilliant in odd-numbered years and only his team’s ace in even-numbered seasons. Better years were 1985, 87, 89 & 91 of his seasons 1984-92.
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