So, we brought the mule out, with Freddie riding the thing, and that mule started out toward midfield just as we had practiced, but then the crowd roared, and it scared the poor mule so much that he just stopped in his tracks and Freddie went flying off over the front of it., That mule then took off, without Freddie to guide him, straight towards the Valdosta sideline, Prince said. [5] Belue also played during the 1984 and 1985 seasons at quarterback for the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. He fell short of a state title when Clarke Central beat Valdosta 16-14 in the 1977 Class 3A championship. Former UGA quarterback Buck Belue authors book on 1980 championship season, Online archive of print stories 2006-present, Pick em 2022 Forsyth Sports football picks, Football: Forsyth County News Media Day-watch the videos. Under Review. Belue is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in Valdosta history. The Saints drafted Rogers in 1981, making him the first Georgia-grown player selected first overall in an NFL Draft. 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 . Wildcat quarterback Shelby Wilkes leads the Cats on a three-play drive, highlighted by a 47-yard screen pass to Charlie Albritton that took the ball to the Vikings 6-yard line. Register Batting Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. Rogers was among three Georgians named to the 1976 Coach & Athlete All-America team. The Vikings would begin playing crosstown rival Valdosta that same year, but it was a David-vs.-Goliath mismatch for the first decade or so, with Valdosta, boasting all those state and national championships not to mention a 50-year head start defeating the upstart Lowndes High in the teams first 11 games. I was wise beyond my years because of them. In 2007, the AJC ranked him the No. 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 was a member of the Redskins Super Bowl champion in 1988. ], 6. They were very different. The talented running back rushed 21 times for 414 yards and 6 TDs, leading Lowndes to a 71-35 victory. After the game, Joe Wilson told me, Baker, as John Bond was running down the sideline, I came real close to sticking my foot out and tripping him, but I changed my mind.. Coach Wilson would be saying we can throw to this running back because weve got this linebacker on him. 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. Read, watch, and listen to the latest news and opinions in the high school sports world. Walker led Georgia to a 1980 national title and finished his career with 5,259 rushing yards, the most ever in three seasons. Belue will host a book signing for his new book "Inside the Hedges". He hasnt given up his day job, which is to conduct a daily sports-talk show on Atlanta radio station The Fan. Baker said of all the great players he coached against in the Winnersville Classic, none was better than James Wildman Carter. 1996 Currently, Belue co-hosts (with John Kincade) midday radio show Buck and Kincade on 680 The Fan in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. The History of the Winnersville Classic: Valdosta, Lowndes and a Community-Wide Celebration, 4 Questions With Northside Warner Robins Football Coach Chad Alligood, One-Point Wins Highlight Exciting Georgia Boys Basketball Playoffs, 4 Questions with McEachern Football Coach Kareem Reid, McCullough Triplets Ready for Next Chapter in Wrestling Careers, Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman Honored by Hometown Tifton, Trinity Catholic Celtics Find Success with Former Gators QB John Brantley, Showcase Football Events Attract High-Profile Programs, Rewind: Top 10 Florida High School Football Prospects Since 2000. Oh yeah, they had a bounty out for Bucks jersey, Baker said. We just live a couple miles down the road, and we just found a place where we love the people. Buck's Beat podcast episode 80 has dropped. He won 12 of his 18 games against Valdosta. This record was later broken by Aaron Murray's 98-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Davis in Georgia's victory over North Texas in 2013. To join the mailing list, click here. Lastingers vision was to bring the two fan bases together all week long for community-wide events. Buck Belue is a 1978 graduate of Valdosta High School in Valdosta, GA. Sign up on Classmates for free to reconnect with Buck Belue and other high school alumni. 25 Georgia high school player of all-time. The Lowndes administration was not happy about our little stunt.. Brooks finished with 7,962 rushing yards and 3,621 receiving yards in his NFL career and was named to the Bengals 40th Anniversary team in 2007. Whichever you prefer, this town has won a lot of high school football games over the years.Valdosta High School has 24 state titles to it's cred. Id be interested to know how hell react, though.. Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. 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. With Coach Hyder, you just couldnt imagine anyone working harder than him to be successful. The quarterback thing happened late for me, and it was Wright Bazemore that told the middle school coach to move me to quarterback, so I owe much of my football success to Coach Bazemore for having the insight to get me over to that position. I admired these athletes. As a young boy there growing up in Valdosta, we all dreamed of the day we would get to high school and wear that Wildcat uniform and win a state title. 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. Ive been wanting to do this for some time, Belue said. Simmons was considered undersized for the NFL and went in the sixth round. Belue credits his wife, Kelley, for kicking me in the butt to finally get it done. His daughter, Audrey -- who will attend Mississippi State as a freshman this fall -- serves as his assistant at signings and with daily logistics. . 2 in the state in Buck's senior season. Salary in 2020. Please only use it for a guidance and Buck Belue's actual income may vary a lot from the dollar amount shown above. The players gathered together on the steps of the old McWhorter Hall athletic dormitory and seethed. By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism. In the next three their record was 31-6; they finished No. We were in an extra bedroom, and his wife came in a couple of times and told him dinner was ready. They were running the same sets and plays. I was always a fan of the top players and programs and curious about the way they did it, what scheme they were running. 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. 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. Brooks rushed for 1,816 yards as a senior, 1,852 yards as a junior and 1,088 as a sophomore. Rush Propst believes the Netflix series "Titletown High," which debuts Friday and chronicles the 2020 season of the Valdosta High School football team, will "clear some things up" about . It was just playing for the Wildcats. I hope that will help them this season. He was going to youth league programs, scouting the local talent. Andrews signed with Auburn and rushed for 1,347 yards in three seasons playing in a backfield with fellow Georgia backs James Brooks and Joe Cribbs. Benjamin Franklin 'Buck' Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. 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. 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 . Two, Ill beat Valdosta, which youve never done. And a Plains teen girl borrowed Jimmy Carters clothes. Buck goes shopping with his daughter at the Braves Store in SunTrust Park.It is obvious they are not on the same page when it comes to jersey shopping.. He has ordered it, however. 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. Valdosta missed a two-point try in the third quarter and a 31-yard field goal with 1:23 left. Bazemore watched you play in youth ball and suggested to the coaches that they move you to quarterback. Toggle navigation Belue also presented a defibrillator to the school Friday. April 13, 2021, 8:39 AM. . It was WWII. As for the Dooley thing, Belue makes no apologies. I really appreciate him letting me come out here and do this, because a lot of coaches wouldnt.. Those who were part of the game shared the plays and players they remember the most. 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. I talked with Coach [Jim] Hughes about that later. SPONSORED BY: Buck Belue - 1980 National Championship QB You just looked at Bazemore like Lombardi at the time. [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. He rushed for 1,332 yards as a senior, when Duluth missed the playoffs despite finishing 8-1-1, and ran for 2,300 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior on a state runner-up team. 1 Brookwood in quarterfinals, Basketball: Warriors drop GAPPS state title game, Basketball: Lambert girls come up short against Norcross in 2nd round, Basketball: Raiders fall to Chiefs in state playoffs, Column: I was a newspaperman and always will be, Sudie Crouch: The weather predicting pittie, Mike Tasos: Call me a casualty of The Information Age, How this Forsyth Central High School teacher is using his passion to prepare students for the world of film, FOXERS makes upscale women's underwear that is both stylish and comfortable, Its about the music: Local man passes on passion for music with his handmade instrument inspired by 1800s Appalachia, How one local animal clinic sets the industry standard for pet care, I am part of their Family: Beloved chef makes dining a treat for residents of Arbor Terrace, Forsyth Sports football Pick Em for November 18th, Forsyth Sports Football Picks Playoffs Week 1, Forsyth Sports Football Picks for Week 12, Forsyth Sports football picks for Week 11, Forsyth Sports Football Picks for Week 10. Tired of losing to their city school rival, and tired of just losing in general over the first decade of the teams existence, Lowndes County school superintendent Sonny Martin decided to reach out to one of the enemy, longtime Valdosta assistant coach Joe Wilson. This biographical article relating to an American football quarterback born in the 1950s is a stub. At Valdosta, you were heavily influenced by the legendary head coaches Wright Bazemore (1941-42, 1946-71) and Nick Hyder (1973-95). Buck Belue famously guided Georgia's football team to a national championship 42 years ago. Todd Holcomb has been a contributor to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1985. To order a book or get a copy at a book signing, click here. The Plowboys name would serve as a rally point of sorts for Lowndes, establishing and embracing their underdog status, especially against the football WIldcats. Lowndes High School opened its doors to students in 1966, and by 1968 was able to field a football team. $1 Million - $5 Million. All but Scott are former Valdosta players. 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.. He and his wife had an apartment next to the school, and I would go over to watch film with him. It doesnt get better than that. The interview below follows the Four Questions format, along with 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. On this page: Player News Sports Reference Blog -- Get site news and learn about new and existing features. Not to be outdone, Valdosta would come back with its own persona to counter the country boy image of Lowndes. He came in from West Rome with the idea of running the wishbone like he was doing in Rome, and I was coming over for spring football as an eighth grader, and it wasnt a couple of months later we were back for preseason practice, and he was totally shifted to the Bazemore offense, as we called it. You need to watch him tonight, and he put on one of the most memorable performances I can remember seeing. It was just playing for the Wildcats. Buck Belue net worth Feb, 2023 Buck Belue net worth 611 Thousand Millions of dollars 76% Net worth score Disclamer: Buck Belue net worth displayed here are calculated based on a combination social factors. That was the dream of every young athlete in Valdosta, and that dream didnt go much further than that. However, this week in anticipation of his new book "Inside the Hedges," Belue took to Sirius XM's SEC This Morning to share a story from his . ET. The book has become a family affair. We would have to hire extra security guards for the entire week of the game, starting on Sunday night, and it would last all week long until the game was over, Redshaw said. 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. It was pretty good, Johnson said. ", Former Georgia quarterback and current Forsyth County resident Buck Belue, right, with Universities Forever owners Stuart Cohen, left, and Jini Lee. How would you contrast and compare those iconic coaches? George Rogers, the 1980 Heisman Trophy winner while at South Carolina, was the AJCs Class A Back of the Year in 1976 and Class B Back of the Year in 1975. 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. Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. Old Friends . Its a good feeling knowing you represent Valdosta. He was the 1977 AJC Class 3A back of the year. There were so many, but I remember Todd Peterson in the 1987 game kicking a 47-yard field goal to beat Lowndes at their place, OBrien said. Truth is, Lowndes would struggle against everyone else too, winning just 31 games in that first decade of football with four different head football coaches. 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. When Belue finally got to his mom and dad, the tears were flowing. These two Wildcat backers agree on their most memorable moment: The Comeback.. I had wanted to meet him, said Turner, the only other quarterback to start as a freshman for Valdosta in the last 50 years. We spent so many Friday nights at Cleveland Field, or Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as they call it now, watching them win big. You have permission to edit this article. Even on a business trip in a remote Caribbean country, it followed the former. But that was about to change. Three, Ill win a state championship, which youve never won. Joe Wilson accomplished all three within three years.. The best player that I played with was our quarterback, Kareem Wilson, in 1995, Henderson recalled. Well, the only thing that went crazy was the mule. It includes Brooks County to the west.. Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University, a regional university in the University . When Andrews retired, he ranked 24th all-time in the NFL in rushing yards. His career total of 4,756 set a state record for the highest classification. They put it on us my freshman year. Its been written and put away for five years, then re-written and put away for 10 years and then re-written again. When Wilson arrived, he saw that many among the Lowndes faithful were not too crazy about the references to the Vikings being known as the country school. Your high school friends are looking for you! What do most people want to talk to you about at these book signings? Im glad he came here and did this for us. We spent so many Friday nights at Cleveland Field, or Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as they call it now, watching them win big. Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. [4] His career batting average at Georgia was .356 and he went on to play three years in the Montreal Expos organization. Its an oral history that will never die in fact, it just keeps growing, year after year, down there in Winnersville. ], 4. He went on to play both football and baseball at Georgia. 680 THE FAN, ATLANTA - Valdosta High School's ruling body decided to chase wins over integrity, when they hired Rush Propst. We had weight limits, and if you weighed a certain amount, you couldnt play in the backfield, and I was a bigger kid then. 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. Defensive coordinator Erk Russell. We got the ball with about three or four minutes left inside our own 10 and drove down to the 1-yard line with like two seconds left. They were up 40-0 with 30 seconds left and still giving the ball to William Andrews. 2. He played two seasons of minor league baseball in the Montreal Expos organization. Reached by phone this week, Dooley said he has not yet read Belues book. The most improbable win for either team was this one, with Valdosta overcoming a 17-7 deficit in just 1:14 to win the Winnersville Classic over Lowndes. He shared time with Jeff Pyburn a. He played for what is regarded as the greatest Valdosta team ever, which went 13-0 in route to a Class 3A title. Youve been to about 10 cities to sign your book, and youve got several more scheduled. Among the sanctions . In basketball, Rome averaged 32 points per game as a high school senior and was MVP of the Georgia all-star basketball game. The Bulldogs would go on to defeat Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl four weeks later. In three high school seasons, Andrews rushed for 4,252 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry, and scored 58 touchdowns. That was Lowndes first win ever against Valdosta, whose quarterback was Buck Belue, the future University of Georgia star. He was the quarterback, and he went to Ole Miss. I knew coverage, I knew techniques, things that it seemed like these other quarterbacks didnt understand at the time. He was the most successful Lowndes coach against the Wildcats in the series. The Falcons drafted Andrews in the third round, and he rushed for 1,000 yards in four of his first five seasons before a knee injury cut his career short. McPhersons own performance is one of the best among the head coaches in the Classic. Former Georgia quarterback Buck Belue is no stranger to the radio. Simmons was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. They hauled the ship over from Lowndes to Valdosta High in the middle of the night and put it in the pond in front of the school. Feb. 25, 2021 -. Freshman Buck Belue took over the starting Quarterback job at Valdosta in 1974 and he didn't give it back until he used up his eligibility. Baker said the cheerleaders from both teams would usually meet at one of the girls homes, and the groups would alternate each season. GHSF Daily recently named him the best player in Thomasville High history, and the AJC in 2007 ranked him the No. According to Baker, the win inspired a year-long rally cry: 7 to 2 we beat Belue., John Lastinger, the son of Johnny B. Lastinger, played receiver at Valdosta and would be the guy who succeeded Belue at quarterback. The native of Jessup has made his home in Valdosta since retiring from professional football and is an avid supporter of UGA athletics and a dedicated follower of local high school football. Height: 6'1" Weight: 190 College: Georgia High School: Valdosta (GA) USFL Career: 1984-1985 More: Buck Belue complete pro stats Buck Belue played from 1984 to 1985 during his career with the Jacksonville Bulls. There will, of course, be signings at the UGA Bookstore before Georgia football games this fall. Oscar universe belongs to 'Everything Everywhere'. 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. 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. At Valdosta, you were heavily influenced by the legendary head coaches Wright Bazemore (1941-42, 1946-71) and Nick Hyder (1973-95). And I have so many great memories of him taking time to help coach me up. A few of the Lowndes students got together and built a Viking ship, Prince said. I remember Buck had to go to the locker room and get another jersey. Hes a very good coach, Belue said. 10 high school player in state history. 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 Atlanta Journal-Constitution named Walker the No. We got the ball with about three or four minutes left inside our own 10 and drove down to the 1-yard line with like two seconds left. He won state titles in Alabama at . 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]. 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. Belue was kidded about Valdosta falling to Clarke Central in the 1977 Class 4A state finals. Closed on Weekends. 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. But it was more than that. Its important to me to come back and pass that knowledge along. But it was more than that. Buck has also written a new book about his times as an athlete in Valdosta and the University of Georgia. He was going to youth league programs, scouting the local talent. Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University, a regional university in the University System of Georgia with over 12,000 students, and Valdosta High School, home to the winningest football program in the United States. . Most coaches are going to take their schemes to the grave, but he learned the new offense and made the change for the team. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Belue played all four years on Georgias baseball team. That was the dream of every young athlete in Valdosta, and that dream didnt go much further than that. Last season, he was backup to another Valdosta alumnus, All-Southeastern. In 1977, Wilsons second season, he made good on his assurance to Martin that he was finally going to beat Valdosta, and on his boast to Hyder that he was going to whip your [butt], by leading the Vikings to an incredible 7-2 win over the Wildcats in front of a frenzied Lowndes home crowd. That passage appears in Chapter 18 -- titled The Dooley Drama -- of the 199-page book. !"-Susan Wooten, 2022 CATS Winner No wonder Buck eyed. We had about 500 flyers printed with a nasty message directed at our players, Henderson said. Buck Belue Social Network Timeline 2007 He is also the only quarterback to start all four years for the Valdosta Wildcats where he was inducted as a member of the Valdosta High School Hall of Fame in 2007. 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. 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. 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.
Noise Ordinance Greenfield, Wi,
Bcg Scar Hurts Years Later,
Articles B