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. Hyder, a devout Christian, brought fans and players from both teams together for an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) banquet on Thursday night prior to the big game, allowing the two sides to fellowship over dinner. He was the first Georgia-grown player to win the Heisman. We had weight limits, and if you weighed a certain amount, you couldnt play in the backfield, and I was a bigger kid then. 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. 38. One of their defensive linemen, Charles Bergman, got hold of Bucks jersey at the sleeve, and ripped it right off his back, Lastinger said. "I have been a Wildcat all my life, so Valdosta City Schools will always be a part of me. These two Wildcat backers agree on their most memorable moment: The Comeback.. 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. The current Winnersville series record stands at 36 wins for Valdosta and 24 for Lowndes heading into the 2022 season. Occasionally, however, things got a little out of control. My dad and I waited on Athens High to come out of the locker room, and were standing by the fence, and my dad is saying, Look, heres Andy Johnson. "I had a daily planner that my dad gave me when I was at Georgia," Belue said. He sort of chuckled and said there was a lot of built-up frustration over those years of losing to Valdosta, Dont take it personally is what I believe he said., 5. I would soak up all this knowledge. 4 Georgia high school football player of all time. The Bulldogs would go on to defeat Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl four weeks later. In 1977, Valdosta Daily Times sports editor Mike Chason, a native of south Georgia and recent graduate of Valdosta State University, wrote a story for the paper comparing the pro sports teams of Atlanta to the sports scene in Valdosta. You mentioned that you saw many of the players that were on the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame ballot or were voted in. He set other state records in high school football that lasted decades, including the single-season receiving record of 1,573 yards as a sophomore in 1971. Their next option? FCN staff. 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. His 37 career touchdowns are fourth all-time for the franchise. Valdosta missed a two-point try in the third quarter and a 31-yard field goal with 1:23 left. It was pretty good, Johnson said. This biographical article relating to an American football quarterback born in the 1950s is a stub. Prince said thats when Joe Wilson decided he would accept an invitation to go over and meet with Martin. Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Prince recalled a prank that took place the week of the 1974 game. That still sort of haunts me even today., 7. The first time I played quarterback was in the eighth grade. Defensive coordinator Erk Russell. It was fun to finally get it all down on paper, Belue said of the writing process. You do well at Valdosta High, and you get a shot to play some college ball. ET to 11:00 a.m. What do most people want to talk to you about at these book signings? Todd Holcomb has been a contributor to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1985. Calvin McGuyrt, who claims to have attended more Wildcat games than any other living person since #1 Wildcat fan David Waller passed away, founded and hosted The Wildcat Tradition TV show for 33 years. You get what is known as one of the greatest rivalries in all of high school football so great that its included in the Great American Rivalry Series, which recognizes the top high school football rivalries across the nation. I definitely wanted to share the Valdosta experience because Ive had thousands of people ask me over the years, What was the secret to Valdosta winning all those games all those years? Belue said. . Tevin Tisdale in the 2018 game, said MacPherson. In Buck's first year as quarterback the Valdosta Wildcats were 3-7. But the current Wildcats still know who he is. INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME . I think it was number 1.. Im pleased we were able to give Valdosta a defibrillator, since they didnt have one, Belue said. Proper Name: Benjamin F. Belue High Level: AA Positions: OF (135) Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right Born: Dec 22,1959 age: 63.054 place: Valdosta,GA High School: Valdosta (Valdosta,GA) colleges: University of Georgia (Athens,GA), Drafted: Montreal Expos - 1982 - 6 - 149 (June-Reg) drafted 2x draft posit: OF TBC#: 71816 Its an oral history that will never die in fact, it just keeps growing, year after year, down there in Winnersville. Want to get the content before anyone else? So, Joe sits down with Martin and Sonny asks him, Joe, why should I hire you? Prince said. To order a book or get a copy at a book signing, click here. There was a golf tournament involving fans and coaches from both teams. 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. Bobby Green, a local business owner and Valdosta High supporter, would also host a lunch on a first come-first serve basis at his home, with fans invited. In the 2011 game, Lowndes was leading 17-7, and with only 1:14 remaining in the game, looked like they were on their way to their eighth straight win in the Winnersville Classic. Despite having played each other since 1968, the Lowndes vs. Valdosta game didnt become the Winnersville Classic until 1981. Feb. 25, 2021 -. She finally came in and dumped it on his lap. I knew coverage, I knew techniques, things that it seemed like these other quarterbacks didnt understand at the time. It was so much fun going being part of that atmosphere. [Belue said the second motivation for writing the book was bragging on teammates and players at Georgia and Valdosta that didnt get the credit they deserved. It got to be a normal thing to see fans pulling over off of Ashley Street and Patterson Street and getting out of their cars to fight, Redshaw said. Its important to me to come back and pass that knowledge along. Your high school friends are looking for you! He was a member of the Redskins Super Bowl champion in 1988. Stan Rome was awesome, too. 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. I just think of all the people that helped me get there, as I mentioned, Coach Bazemore, Coach Hyder, Coach Wilson, Coach Rudolph. I talked with Coach [Jim] Hughes about that later. In baseball, he had a career .356 batting average and became a second-round pick in the 1978 MLB Draft. Owen Prince, Lowndes County Schools director of information and athletic business, and a graduate of Lowndes High School, recalled what led to Wilsons unhappiness at Valdosta. He recalled how Valdosta supporters would take the opportunity in front of a full house of fans from both sides to get the Cats fired up just one more time. He sort of chuckled and said there was a lot of built-up frustration over those years of losing to Valdosta, Dont take it personally is what I believe he said., 5. With Coach Bazemore, I just looked at him as an innovator offensively. He and his wife had an apartment next to the school, and I would go over to watch film with him. $1 Million - $5 Million. Hyder became head coach your freshman year. The GHSFHA "State Records Project" is an attempt to research and publish reported state records in Georgia high school football. Since it started playing football in 1913, Valdosta has won 612 games and lost 129, with 33 ties. VALDOSTA - Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback, Buck Belue, will be doing a book signing at Salty Snapper on Friday, June 17. 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.. For him it simply was a passion project that needed to be done. 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. He had everybody running the same offense so that by time you got to middle school and high school, you didnt have to learn any of it. GO CATS! The dream was to wear that Valdosta uniform and do like every other graduate that came through, and that was win a state championship, and we played Clarke Central in Athens and lost 16-14. Coach Jerry Don Baker confirmed the rumor. Buck Belue Buck Blanton Calvin Waters Caroline Everitte Cassandra Morris Catherine (Cathy) Pearlman Chad Wilson Charles Fluit . He and his wife had an apartment next to the school, and I would go over to watch film with him. Valdosta missed a two-point try in the third quarter and a 31-yard field goal with 1:23 left. 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 . Belue played two seasons in the USFL with the Jacksonville Bulls and was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Credit: Photo by Chris McShane (provided by Buck Belue). Then, with only 49 seconds remaining, Valdosta recovered Dale Kents onside kick and from the Valdosta 47-yard line, Wilkes lead his Wildcats down the field with another TD pass, this one to running back Avery Burney, to put Valdosta on top 21-17 and leave everyone in the stadium stunned. He often mentions the Wildcats on his show, and usually calls the station Friday night to give them Valdostas score. Coach Wilson would be saying we can throw to this running back because weve got this linebacker on him. [3], Belue also lettered in baseball all four years at Georgia. It turned out it was a bad snap from the center and threw off the timing. A couple of students jumped in the water and secured the ship so that it would not float over to the shore.. At Valdosta, you were heavily influenced by the legendary head coaches Wright Bazemore (1941-42, 1946-71) and Nick Hyder (1973-95). Todays interviewee is Buck Belue, sports talk show host for 680 The Fan, quarterback for Georgias 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 Georgias 1980 season and his athletic career. I thought long and hard about what I was going to put in there., Photos: Impressive details in Georgia Bulldogs championship rings, Athens celebrates its long-awaited Bulldogs title with parade and stadium event, The drought is over: Georgia is national champion again, Mark Bradley: Mighty Georgia runs down Bama to claim its long-sought championship, QB Stetson Bennetts story a testament to the Georgia community that nurtured him, Steve Hummer: Champion 1980 Bulldogs have waited long enough for company. Im just so thankful my quarterback coach was Joe Wilson. He was the 1977 AJC Class 3A back of the year. We had some tense moments during those years, but I sort of wanted a hard-to-please coach. What do most people want to talk to you about at these book signings? Search and browse yearbooks online! He fell short of a state title when Clarke Central beat Valdosta 16-14 in the 1977 Class 3A championship. valdosta high school Fields Victoria Lane-Long Victor James Vivian Manghram Voncil Moss Among the sanctions . The Valdosta Wildcats have been playing football since 1913, and with over 900 wins, 24 state championships, six national championships, and a bunch of region titles, they remain the winningest high school football team in the country. And when he showed up. Heset a Bengals record in 1984 with four rushing touchdowns in a game against the Houston Oilers. Former Valdosta assistant coach Jerry Don Baker, who played at Valdosta in the 60s and coached at Valdosta from 1976-2006, said he was there when Wilson told Valdosta he was leaving. Lastingers vision was to bring the two fan bases together all week long for community-wide events. [2] Belue was named captain of the 1981 team. His career total of 4,756 set a state record for the highest classification. The talented running back rushed 21 times for 414 yards and 6 TDs, leading Lowndes to a 71-35 victory. I just think of all the people that helped me get there, as I mentioned, Coach Bazemore, Coach Hyder, Coach Wilson, Coach Rudolph. 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. Under Review. He was the best in the business. I admired these athletes. I would soak up all this knowledge. He bypassed his senior season and went to the USFL and totaled 7,046 all-purpose yards and 61 touchdowns in three years. I was friends with Coach Wilsons son, Jody, so I got some behind-the-scenes access to practice and going to the games and seeing the locker room. Oscar universe belongs to 'Everything Everywhere'. I have nothing but respect for the man, Belue said of Dooley. Lowndes led 3-0 after the third quarter, and although Valdosta would score twice in the fourth quarter to win 14-3, it was obvious that things were indeed about to change. The Valdosta Wildcats have been playing football since 1913, and with over 900 wins, 24 state championships, six national championships, and a bunch of region titles, they remain the winningest high school football team in the country. . Belue, who lives in Forsyth County, currently hosts the Buck Belue Show on 680 The Fan. Rogers was among three Georgians named to the 1976 Coach & Athlete All-America team. My wife and I, when we decided to buy a home we didn't really know where we wanted to go, but we're just really blessed to have found Cumming. Belue quarterbacked the Bulldogs to a 12-0 record in 1980, culminating with a 17-10 win over Notre Dame Jan. 1, 1981 in the Sugar Bowl. Hundreds of people turned out at the The Salty Snapper, including former Valdosta High classmates and UGA teammates. Call: (916)383-0110 (510)781-4800. That place [Lowndes home stadium] was rocking before the 77 game, but we had known after that 76 game that this game was going to be different, and it was.. Belue also details in the book how he balanced his baseball pursuits while competing to be the starting quarterback on a team that won back-to-back SEC championships. 1. 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]. Brooks rushed for 1,816 yards as a senior, 1,852 yards as a junior and 1,088 as a sophomore. I was blessed with this great coaching. [Belue passed for a state-record 5,214 yards and won two region titles in his four Valdosta seasons. $100 would be given to the Lowndes player who could produce a piece of Bucks jersey. Also, I was motivated by writing about the 1980 season and about the guys that never got the credit. 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. It was not very good, Georgias home finale ends with a thud vs. Florida, Atlanta Uniteds Franco Ibarra settling into his natural role, GHSA basketball state tournament: Quarterfinals updates from Tuesday, Class 5A girls basketball: Kell 68, Bradwell Institute 54, Timber frame office building at Ponce City Market Atlanta starts to rise, Supreme Court hearing on student loan forgiveness: What it means for Georgians. 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