buck belue valdosta high school

Host of Buck's Beat podcast. It was the last one. I knew coverage, I knew techniques, things that it seemed like these other quarterbacks didnt understand at the time. On their annual Fourth of July vacation to Florida last week, the Belues made stops at the Marshside Grill in Brunswick and the Coachs Corner in Savannah to peddle books. It remains one of those indelible football moments from which Buck Belue can never escape, nor does he want to. He was the best in the business. 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. Prince said a few of the football players jumped in to try to bring it over to the shore, but that didnt work. This is the story of the Winnersville Classic, the annual showdown between Valdosta High School and Lowndes High School. . He was the first Georgia-grown player to win the Heisman. Who are some of the great players you saw from your era or before? 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. Coach Wilson would be saying we can throw to this running back because weve got this linebacker on him. Like those Thomasville players [during 1973 and 1974 state championship seasons]. He was going to youth league programs, scouting the local talent. He set Georgias career rushing record of 6,137 yards. 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. No question about it.. As a Johnson County senior in 1979, Walker rushed for a state-record 3,167 yards and 45 touchdowns and led the Trojans to the Class A championship. He was the 1974 AJC Class 3A Back of the Year and was a 1974 Coach & Athlete All-American. 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. 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. Buck Belue Georgia QB. Buck Belue led Georgia to a 12-0 record and a national title in 1980. Four other ex-Georgia players helped Belue at the camp. Lowndes and Valdosta fans certainly embraced the Winnersville rivalry, showing their love for the home team and their disdain for the other side. He was redshirted during what would have been his regular sophomore season at Georgia after suffering a knee injury. The current Winnersville series record stands at 36 wins for Valdosta and 24 for Lowndes heading into the 2022 season. Please only use it for a guidance and Buck Belue's actual income may vary a lot from the dollar amount shown above. Georgia legend Buck Belue helped lead the Bulldogs to the 1980 national championship and has published a book called " 'Inside the Hedges: The Quarterback's Journey to the 1980 National Championship." 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. Im looking forward to reading it, Dooley said. 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]. Bazemore watched you play in youth ball and suggested to the coaches that they move you to quarterback. ], Then, Valdosta was really laying down the hammer in 1971 [winning a national championship in Coach Bazemores final season]. We were in an extra bedroom, and his wife came in a couple of times and told him dinner was ready. Valdosta is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in 2021 had a population of 149,590. The Valdosta High class of '78 alumni are listed below. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Way too much credit is given to Herschel (Walker) and Lindsay (Scott) and Buck. 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. 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. Brooks scored 70 touchdowns at Warner Robins. 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. I grew up admiring most of those guys on the list we were voting on. Im glad he came here and did this for us. 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. Belue was atUniversities Forever in Cumming on Saturdayto promote his book,'Inside the Hedges: The Quarterback's Journey to the 1980 National Championship,' a project that was decades in the making. ], 6. All Rights Reserved. We had about 500 flyers printed with a nasty message directed at our players, Henderson said. At Valdosta, you were heavily influenced by the legendary head coaches Wright Bazemore (1941-42, 1946-71) and Nick Hyder (1973-95). They were up 40-0 with 30 seconds left and still giving the ball to William Andrews. 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 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. If you are a Valdosta alumn, we encourage you to register and be sure to sign up for the alumni newsletter. I would soak up all this knowledge. 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. But the current Wildcats still know who he is. How did Bazemore make a quarterback out of you? Oh yeah, they had a bounty out for Bucks jersey, Baker said. The Saints drafted Rogers in 1981, making him the first Georgia-grown player selected first overall in an NFL Draft. Then, the second time was when they brought in Nick Hyder from Rome.. 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]. You need to watch him tonight, and he put on one of the most memorable performances I can remember seeing. John Lastinger remembers that game and the play. Belue set the state record for career passing yards with 5,214, which he accumulated as a four-year starter at Valdosta. 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. It doesnt get better than that. Last season, he was backup to another Valdosta alumnus, All-Southeastern. 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.. McPhersons own performance is one of the best among the head coaches in the Classic. Who are some of the great players you saw from your era or before? And a Plains teen girl borrowed Jimmy Carters clothes. What are your thoughts on making the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame? We learned a lot. 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. [3], Belue also lettered in baseball all four years at Georgia. When the teams returned to the locker room to get ready for the game, Wilson told his team to take off the crimson Vikings jerseys, and the players were then given a dark black jersey with Plowboys across the front to change into. . "The real motivation for me was, I've had so many people through the years ask me about Valdosta, where I grew up, and the football program being so successful," Belue said. . In 1982, Walker won the Heisman Trophy. I just think of all the people that helped me get there, as I mentioned, Coach Bazemore, Coach Hyder, Coach Wilson, Coach Rudolph. I've had these friends that have said, 'You're crazy releasing the book now, right after the '21 team.' Both were thrilled to have the chance to work with a former player whod not only been Valdostas quarterback, but had also played for Georgia and the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. Baker said of all the great players he coached against in the Winnersville Classic, none was better than James Wildman Carter. 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. Some call them Winnersville. Since it started playing football in 1913, Valdosta has won 612 games and lost 129, with 33 ties. On the next play, Wilkes found Sherrod Inman in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 17-14. He was the first 4 year starter at Quarterback at Valdosta High school. There was still a chance for the Vikings if they could return the kickoff, but they never got the chance. Joe Wilson had accomplished two of his three goals. He fell short of a state title when Clarke Central beat Valdosta 16-14 in the 1977 Class 3A championship. INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME . Belue threw for 299 yards in his career, completing 37 of 68 passes with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. . Lastingers vision was to bring the two fan bases together all week long for community-wide events. Credit: Photo by Chris McShane (provided by Buck Belue). I knew coverage, I knew techniques, things that it seemed like these other quarterbacks didnt understand at the time. [2] Belue was named captain of the 1981 team. Two, Ill beat Valdosta, which youve never done. Rome talked about playing for the legendary Wright Bazemore. The Wildcats loss to Lowndes and the close game the year before were the turning points of the series, and turned it into a true rivalry, Lastinger said. Thats when I figured it was time to go., 3. Closed on Weekends. Occasionally, however, things got a little out of control. Andrews was named to four Pro Bowls and earned two second-team All-Pro selections. 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. BY DAN MATHEWS. Its a good feeling knowing you represent Valdosta. I think it was number 1.. I remember in the 1981 game, quarterback John Bond took off down the Lowndes sideline and ran for an 80-yard touchdown, Baker said. As for the Dooley thing, Belue makes no apologies. It seems like a waste to have been exposed to so much (football knowledge), and not share it. 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. Buck Belue, right, and Lindsey Scott, second from left, with Valdosta High football quarterbacks Michael Turner, left, and Alfrie Johnson, second from right, during the camp at Valdosta High School Friday morning. It doesnt get better than that. Former Georgia quarterback Buck Belue is no stranger to the radio. Breaking down Vaughn Grissom trying to replace Dansby Swanson at shortstop. Way too much credit is given to Herschel (Walker) and Lindsay (Scott) and Buck. But it missed its mark literally. Buck Belue is the only Quarterback to start all four years at Quarterback for Valdosta High. Events are being planned for Atlanta, Augusta and Marietta, among other cities. I just take it as a huge honor., Created by Ellen Kennerly Made with Squarespace, 2022 Georgia High School Football Daily. A third Wildcat quarterback to be storied among these pages of Bulldawg Illustrated, this is Greg Talley, an alumni of Valdosta High School and the University of Georgia sounds familiar.For two of my previous 2019 columns, quarterbacks at VHS and Georgia (Buck Belue and John Lastinger) have been featured, so why stop there?A few years after these studs suited up in the silver britches, we . The Cats still maintain that designation. What do most people want to talk to you about at these book signings? Ive known Coach Tomberlin for a long time. Valdosta High School is the most successful High School football program in the country. He was just so far ahead of his time. He was the 1977 AJC Class 3A back of the year. Jan 26. It was just playing for the Wildcats. 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. How did Bazemore make a quarterback out of you? In the 1977 game, there were no fights, but there was a bounty placed on Buck Belue not to hurt the Valdosta QB great, but to take a piece of his number 8 jersey off his back and to the Lowndes sideline. I wanted the freedom to do what I wanted to do, you know? Youd see him around town and stop and go wow. Youd be in awe. BUCK BELUE Belue, Benjamin Franklin Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Born: December 12, 1959 Macon, GA High School: Valdosta (GA) Valdosta High School 4590 Inner Perimeter Road Valdosta, GA 31601 Phone: (229) 333-8540 Fax: (229) 333-8584. I remember Stanley Bounds. Rogers was the 1981 NFL Rookie of the Year. That was the dream of every young athlete in Valdosta, and that dream didnt go much further than that. It was WWII. 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.[10]. Belue set the state record for career passing yards with 5,214, which he accumulated as a four-year starter at Valdosta. Thats when I figured it was time to go., 3. Im just so thankful my quarterback coach was Joe Wilson. He started in 78 out of 92 career games, made three Pro Bowls and was first-team All Pro once. The Valdosta fans had bumper stickers that read, City Slickers and, Mama, dont let your babies grow up to be plowboys, Prince 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. [8] Belue was also inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame in 1996.[9]. Georgia quarterback Buck Belue got things moving for Georgia in the second quarter, engineering a scoring drive in only four plays for a 14-3 lead. He also became the first active player at South Carolina to have his jersey retired, No. 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. A chance for the legendary Wright Bazemore it as a four-year starter at Valdosta games, Made Pro! Lowndes and Valdosta fans certainly embraced the Winnersville rivalry, showing their love for the alumni newsletter in ball. Long for community-wide events Hyder from Rome grew up admiring most of those guys the... Exposed to so much ( football knowledge ), and he put one. Thankful my quarterback coach was joe Wilson had accomplished two of his three.. 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Most memorable performances i can remember seeing his jersey retired, no for Lowndes heading the.

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