Pepper

Former Georgia Tech head coach Pepper Rodgers passed away last night. He may have been the last in a short line of historic coaches that marked the glory days of Tech football: Alexander, Heisman, Dodd, Fulcher, Rodgers.

After stints at Kansas and UCLA, Rodgers came back to run the wishbone at his alma mater. His most famous win was the 1976 homecoming win over heavily-favored Notre Dame. The next year Tech traveled to South Bend. Irish coach Dan Devine took out his revenge on the jackets, running up the score. Down 69-0 Pepper caught Devine's eye across the field, and took out his white handkerchief and waved it in surrender. Devine shook his head no. On the last play of the game a squat walkon sacked GT QB Rudy Allen, and forever more the game was known as "The Rudy Game".

Above: Pepper passes on old Rose Bowl field on the Tech campus

- now the site of Tech's indoor practice facility.

 Rodgers played in two Sugar Bowls.
As head coach Pepper bought the house across West Paces Ferry Road from the Georgia's Governor's Mansion.

Fresh from his time in Hollywood, Pepper was popular as the Tech coach. Though I couldn't find a photo, my memory of Rodgers was with permed hair and a white bucket hat. In an age of boring coach's TV shows, The Pepper Rodgers Show was entertaining, with celebrity guests and questions from Fans in the Stands.

 Also deceased: former Brave Bob Watson.
After retiring Watson served as a MLB vice president.
Fun fact: when he lived in Atlanta Watson lived on Rumson Road in Buckhead, right behind Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church.  

With the Astros Watson had the honor of scoring baseball's one millionth run. In doing so he earned an interesting prize: one million Tootsie Rolls. He donated 500,000 to the Boy Scouts and 500,000 to the Girl Scouts.

The Braves traded for Watson in April 1982, sparking their march to the Western Division championship. Atlanta traded a former number one draft pick to Watson - a pitcher who the previous year won 13 straight games in the minors, still a franchise record. A few years later the pitcher was out of baseball, and turned to acting as a career. Scott Patterson landed a role on Gilmore Girls, where he made famous the character of Luke Danes.

Scott played in the minors with current Braves manager Brian Snitker.