He was the quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs in 1980, when the team went 120, and, after beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, was named the consensus national champion. How would you contrast and compare those iconic coaches? Subtitled The Quarterbacks Journey to the National Championship, Belues book also shares frank recollections of the recruiting trail as a two-sport star out of Valdosta, the tense quarterback competition he endured with Jeff Pyburn, an intimate conversation he had with Lindsay Scott the night before their historic play to beat Florida in Jacksonville, the Herschel Walker phenomenon and much more. Four other ex-Georgia players helped Belue at the camp. In baseball, he had a career .356 batting average and became a second-round pick in the 1978 MLB Draft. Buck Belue, former Valdosta, UGA quarterback. Nelson knows he can't be too careful after he sparked a small-town tempest in the high school football hotbed of Valdosta, a city of more than 56,000 residents located about 15 miles north of the . He was the 1977 AJC Class 3A back of the year. He and his wife had an apartment next to the school, and I would go over to watch film with him. Buck Belue, who quarterbacked Georgia to a national championship in 1980, was at Universities Forever in Cumming on Saturday to promote his book 'Inside the Hedges: The Quarterback's Journey to the 1980 National Championship.' - photo by David Roberts. The Bulldogs would go on to defeat Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl four weeks later. High School: Valdosta HS (Valdosta, GA) School: University of Georgia (Athens, GA) Full Name: Benjamin F. Belue View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. The talented running back rushed 21 times for 414 yards and 6 TDs, leading Lowndes to a 71-35 victory. [8] Belue was also inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame in 1996.[9]. It turned out it was a bad snap from the center and threw off the timing. Ron Simmons was a monumental piece of Warner Robins state and National Sports News Service (NSNS) national championship team that went 13-0 and was considered by some the most dominant Georgia team in history. But part of Belue's focus in writing the book was shining a light on his hometown of Valdosta, as well as some of the lesser known players on Georgia's 1980 team. VHS is one of only 39 schools in Georgia . Todd Holcomb has been a contributor to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1985. $1 Million - $5 Million. I grew up admiring most of those guys on the list we were voting on. The 55-yard scamper, with Reid zig-zagging his way through the entire Valdosta defense on his way to the endzone, sealed the victory for the Vikings against the visiting Wildcats. Probably the most successful event to date was a couple of weeks ago in Valdosta. One of the motivations for doing the book was to talk about Valdosta High School and the football program through the years, and Ive had so many people, whether theyre Bulldog fans or not, ask questions about how Valdosta won all those games. The interview below follows the Four Questions format, plus three bonus questions with Belues thoughts on making the Hall of Fame (induction is Oct. 22), his most memorable high school game and how coach Wright Bazemore made him a quarterback. ATHENS The Georgia Bulldogs were mad. To order a book or get a copy at a book signing, click here. That first Valdosta game with Wilson as coach of the Vikings didnt lead to a win, but the effort was there, and it signaled that things were going to be different. Martin brought in Wilson for an interview after hearing that the coach was not exactly happy with the Wildcats at the time. I talked with Coach [Jim] Hughes about that later. I really enjoyed working with Mike and Alfrie, and getting to know them, Belue said. ET. You need to watch him tonight, and he put on one of the most memorable performances I can remember seeing. 2. "It allowed me to talk about my hometown and brag on the people that helped me through those high school days. Belue was a star quarterback at Valdosta High School. Hyder became head coach your freshman year. It doesnt get better than that. Belue set the state record for career passing yards with 5,214, which he accumulated as a four-year starter at Valdosta. 2022 cohort graduation rate for Valdosta High School . But the current Wildcats still know who he is. He won state titles in Alabama at . Coach Jerry Don Baker confirmed the rumor. There were a lot of guys who had a huge impact to the success of those teams.]. What are your thoughts on making the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame? That passage appears in Chapter 18 -- titled The Dooley Drama -- of the 199-page book. I really appreciate him letting me come out here and do this, because a lot of coaches wouldnt.. No question about it.. I was always a fan of the top players and programs and curious about the way they did it, what scheme they were running. Mark Lemke joins me. He played four seasons in the CFL and USFL, then became a professional wrestler and the WCW heavyweight champion in 1992. The runner-up was Herschel Walker, then a sophomore. He was the 24th overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, but his best seasons came in Cincinnati, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl four times (1986, 1988-1990). Under Review. Reid is forever known for The Run against Valdosta in the 2007 game. Even on a business trip in a remote Caribbean country, it followed the former. But the current Wildcats still know who he is. Prince said thats when Joe Wilson decided he would accept an invitation to go over and meet with Martin. I have nothing but respect for the man, Belue said of Dooley. Valdosta City Schools ; J. L. Lomax Elementary School ; Pinevale Elementary School ; Sallas Mahone Elementary ; S.L. Belue also talked to all of the players about being positive influences and representing themselves and the Valdosta Wildcats well. [6] After the demise of the USFL, Belue spent two years on the football coaching staff at Valdosta State University, serving as an offensive assistant. We talked about a lot of things. He was going to youth league programs, scouting the local talent. I remember Stanley Bounds. I basically wrote it on a Word document with the help of an editor, Belue said in a telephone interview this week. Buck Belue is best known as the quarterback who led Georgia to its 1980 national championship, but he was widely known before that as a high school athlete. On Friday morning, Belue, who starred at quarterback for Valdosta High School and the University of Georgia, returned to his alma mater to hold a camp for Valdostas quarterbacks and receivers. Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Events are being planned for Atlanta, Augusta and Marietta, among other cities. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Schools . We learned a lot. With Coach Hyder, you just couldnt imagine anyone working harder than him to be successful. Lowndes athletic director Danny Redshaw said things have calmed down considerably between the two sides today, but there was a time when the Winnersville Classic put both Lowndes and Valdosta on high alert. It includes Brooks County to the west.. Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University, a regional university in the University . What did those coaches mean to you? The Georgia High School Association has levied a $7,500 fine against Valdosta High School, ordered the Wildcats to forfeit seven victories from the 2020 football season, banned the team from . It was just playing for the Wildcats. Belue was selected by the Montreal Expos in the sixth round of the 1982 MLB Draft, and some of his book discusses his path as a two-sport athlete. The book has not been life-altering for Belue. Doug Henderson, whose sons Ashley, Justin, and Doug all played at Valdosta, recalled a prank in the mid-90s that was designed to fire up the Wildcat players. But that was about to change. We sort of fell into it. I wanted the freedom to do what I wanted to do, you know? Even though Valdosta and Lowndes High had been playing each other every year since 1968, it was becoming obvious to everyone, including Lastinger, that the game was becoming much more competitive, especially with the arrival of head coach Joe Wilson at Lowndes. Belue played all four years on Georgias baseball team. . They put it on us my freshman year. [Johnson scored on a 68-yard run on the final play of the first half, then threw a 28-yard TD pass and a two-point conversion in the final seconds for a 26-26 tie. Former Valdosta Wildcat quarterbacks Buck Belue, left, and John Lastinger, right, will join their coach, the late Nick Hyder, in the Valdosta High Sports Hall of Fame Thursday night.. Because official statistics are not required or maintained by any state organization, the records that we display here come from individual schools and from media reports, primarily newspapers. The Bulldogs winning a national championship last season also served as an impetus. It came a year after the Vikings had won their first state championship in football, which gave the event a whole new perspective. You also talk about the other coaches at Valdosta, especially Joe Wilson, who later became Lowndes head coach and led the Vikings to a 1980 state title, and Jack Rudolph, Valdostas longtime defensive mastermind [and father of Georgia Tech and NFL player Coleman Rudolph]. Baker said the bands from both schools began joining forces on the field before each game and would play the National Anthem together. Scott. He also told them they have the talent to be a great football team, and said he was excited about the upcoming season, the first under new coach Rick Tomberlin. Jan 26. A lot of my motivation was to brag on some players and coaches at Valdosta and at Georgia that never got the credit they deserved.. Today's interviewee is Buck Belue, sports talk show host for 680 The Fan, quarterback for Georgia's 1980 national championship team, four-year starting quarterback at Valdosta, inaugural selectee into the new Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame and author of a new book, "Inside The Hedges," a look at Georgia's 1980 season and his athletic career. He rushed for 3,133 yards in a nine-year NFL career. Toggle navigation Stan Rome was awesome, too. [7], Since 2000, Belue has been a sports radio host with WCNN in Atlanta, Georgia. I knew coverage, I knew techniques, things that it seemed like these other quarterbacks didnt understand at the time. Buck has also written a new book about his times as an athlete in Valdosta and the University of Georgia. In practice, it was always the 1s against the 1s. The coach it was John Lastingers dad, as a matter of fact they installed this tight end-around pass, and I ended up leading the league in passing. [John Lastinger followed Belue as the starting quarterback at Valdosta and at Georgia. 10 high school player in state history. Stan Rome was a dominant two-sport athlete who still holds the state record for most receiving yards in a career (4,477) despite playing in a run-dominated era. Hopefully the renewed interest in the program would spill over and may have people interested in what happened in 1980.". Im glad he came here and did this for us. That was just heart-breaking. Seeing Andy Johnson in 1969 was one of my first recollections of high school football [at the 1969 Class 3A championship game between Athens and Valdosta at Cleveland Field]. Valdosta missed a two-point try in the third quarter and a 31-yard field goal with 1:23 left. They worked on it all week. We have estimated Buck Belue's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets. When I finally got a chance to talk to them, I told them I hoped theyd understand that the governor of Alabama, Fob James, was my roommate at Auburn and was involved in trying to persuade me. Belue was kidded about Valdosta falling to Clarke Central in the 1977 Class 4A state finals. Prince said a few of the football players jumped in to try to bring it over to the shore, but that didnt work. When I got to Georgia, I felt I was way ahead of the curve. What did those coaches mean to you? That was Lowndes first win ever against Valdosta, whose quarterback was Buck Belue, the future University of Georgia star. [Rome, a 6-foot-4 tight end, set a national record for receiving yards in a season. Belue is a radio talk show host in Atlanta (on 680 AM), but remains a big fan of Wildcat football. Its been written and put away for five years, then re-written and put away for 10 years and then re-written again. This is the story of the Winnersville Classic, the annual showdown between Valdosta High School and Lowndes High School. Coach Wilson would be saying we can throw to this running back because weve got this linebacker on him. Youd see him around town and stop and go wow. Youd be in awe. You do well at Valdosta High, and you get a shot to play some college ball. "Twenty years we've been here. His 37 career touchdowns are fourth all-time for the franchise. Buck Belue 0:00 0:32 The "best team ever" conversation is an interesting one. The current Winnersville series record stands at 36 wins for Valdosta and 24 for Lowndes heading into the 2022 season. In September 2020, the show was recast as Buck and Hut, pairing Belue with fellow former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Hutson Mason after Kincade was laid off by the station. Im just humbled really by it all, just thankful that I was working alongside those coaches and teammates, without whom I wouldnt be able to enjoy something like this. My thought was that they played in Albany last night and probably got in bed at 3 a.m., and hes up scouting out the talent in town. The Plowboys name would serve as a rally point of sorts for Lowndes, establishing and embracing their underdog status, especially against the football WIldcats. Buck Belue - Player Card Home >> Minor League Baseball College Baseball High School Baseball Boxscores and Analysis Other Topics Minor Leagues >> Minor League Players Minor League Teams Affiliate History Minor Leagues Minor Leagues by Season Independent Baseball Leagues Prospects Minor League Awards Minor League People Minor League Transactions Seeing Andy Johnson in 1969 was one of my first recollections of high school football [at the 1969 Class 3A championship game between Athens and Valdosta at Cleveland Field]. It was a real mess, he said. He was the quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs in 1980, when the team went 12-0, and, after beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, was named the consensus national champion. One of the motivations for doing the book was to talk about Valdosta High School and the football program through the years, and Ive had so many people, whether theyre Bulldog fans or not, ask questions about how Valdosta won all those games. ], 4. Valdosta High School - Sandspur Yearbook (Valdosta, GA), Class of 1978, Page 57 of 272 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. 1996 Currently, Belue co-hosts (with John Kincade) midday radio show Buck and Kincade on 680 The Fan in Atlanta, Georgia. Coach Wilson would be saying we can throw to this running back because weve got this linebacker on him. And a Plains teen girl borrowed Jimmy Carters clothes. Nobody would have a better perspective from a players standpoint than Buck as the quarterback of that team.. Thats when I figured it was time to go., 3. Oh yeah, they had a bounty out for Bucks jersey, Baker said. Books can be ordered at InsideTheHedges.com or in person at one of Belues appearances. The show was a weekly production featuring McGuyrt and the Valdosta head coach talking about the previous game and looking ahead to the upcoming game. It seems like a waste to have been exposed to so much (football knowledge), and not share it. Brooks made the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Buck Belue famously guided Georgia's football team to a national championship 42 years ago. Netflix on Friday is premiering 'Titletown High,' a documentary series chronicling Valdosta (Ga.) High School's 2020 football season and Rush Propst, its controversial coach. He finished ninth in the Heisman trophy voting in 1979. Baker, who coached from 1976-2006, recalled showing up on Monday morning the week of the Lowndes game, year after year, to a Valdosta High campus awash in hundreds of rolls of toilet paper, and walls and windows painted with pro-Lowndes messages. So, thats up front in the book. On the next play, Wilkes found Sherrod Inman in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 17-14. Then in July 2021, Hutson Mason became one of five co-hosts of The Locker Room, leaving Belue with his own show called The Buck Belue Show on WCNN. He bypassed his senior season and went to the USFL and totaled 7,046 all-purpose yards and 61 touchdowns in three years. Generally, they build in signings around their everyday lives. Everybody was running the Wing-T, and he ran the pro set, throwing the ball. They just had a huge impact in my career along with all those teammates I played with at Valdosta, many of them deserving of those kinds of honors. 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