Mailbag: Dooley talks memorable games

Everyone talks about all the great games (1980 Florida, ’78 Tech, ’76 Bama) and great plays like the Shoestring play at Vandy. Any vivid memories from games that people don’t talk about? For example, what was it like taking the Dawgs to VMI in 1966?

–  Aaron

Well to start with, 1966 was a generation ago. However, it was special to those that remember since it was the first SEC Championship that I was associated with that took place in my 3rd year at Georgia. I recall that the game against VMI, which was played at Roanoke and maybe was given a promotion name of “The Harvest Bowl”, was not the best experience that the team had that year. I recall that VMI took the opening kickoff, drove for a touchdown, missed the extra point, and the 6-0 lead lasted exactly 9.4 seconds. That was the amount of time it took Kent Lawrence to return their kickoff for a touchdown, which (after the extra point) put us up 7-6. We won the game easily, despite the fact that the lighting was not too good in the stadium which probably helped us on certain plays since the ball was hard to find. I also remember the locker room being less than adequate, and on a cool night in October, it was tough on the team taking a shower with no hot water. Suffice it is to say, that was the last Harvest Bowl that we ever played in. While talking about a generation ago I should add to the special highlights the flea-flicker, which we called it at the time, was the play that upset Alabama, the national champions, in the first game of 1965. That play is better described today as a “hook and lateral” from Kirby Moore to Pat Hodgson to Bob Taylor. Come to think of it, that play didn’t win the game but put us in position to win the game with a two-point play from Moore to Hodgson in a victory 18-17.

– Vince Dooley

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