Kents second straight onside kick was again recovered, Wilkes took the snap and a knee, and that was that. I knew coverage, I knew techniques, things that it seemed like these other quarterbacks didnt understand at the time. "I had no idea that Georgia would win the national title. [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. Those who were part of the game shared the plays and players they remember the most. 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]. 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. But Belues retelling of that episode during Georgias 1980 championship season is just one example of the honest account the former star quarterback shares of playing for the Bulldogs from 1978-81. 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. 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Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 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 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. Im glad he came here and did this for us. Toggle navigation 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. John Lastinger remembers that game and the play. He was the most successful Lowndes coach against the Wildcats in the series. Belue is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in Valdosta history. Buck's Beat podcast episode 80 has dropped. I learned some things from him. VALDOSTA Buck Belue starred at quarterback for Valdosta High years before the team's current players were even born. The 2007 estimate showed a population of 130,170 in the Valdosta metropolitan area. $100 would be given to the Lowndes player who could produce a piece of Bucks jersey. Most coaches are going to take their schemes to the grave, but he learned the new offense and made the change for the team. Belue was kidded about Valdosta falling to Clarke Central in the 1977 Class 4A state finals. He came through for me on that, which was huge.. Hopefully the renewed interest in the program would spill over and may have people interested in what happened in 1980.". 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. Their entire sideline of players and coaches tried to climb the wall to get into the stands, and some just took off running towards the opposite end of the stadium.. 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. Buck was a great quarterback for maybe the toughest high school program to play forthe Valdosta Wildcats. 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.. Valdosta City Schools ; J. L. Lomax Elementary School ; Pinevale Elementary School ; Sallas Mahone Elementary ; S.L. 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. 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. Rome said in high school, he did. 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. Id be interested to know how hell react, though.. We talked about a lot of things. I enjoyed it. The. Georgia captured its first national championship since that fabled season in January with a 33-18 win against Alabama in the title game. I was in the office when Joe Wilson threw his keys on Nick Hyders desk and told him, Coach, we are going to whip your [butt] when you come to our place in two years, and thats exactly what happened, Baker said. 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. Coach Wilson would be saying we can throw to this running back because weve got this linebacker on him. 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. You need to watch him tonight, and he put on one of the most memorable performances I can remember seeing. He was the best in the business. We had some tense moments during those years, but I sort of wanted a hard-to-please coach. 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. He rushed for 3,133 yards in a nine-year NFL career. Bazemore watched you play in youth ball and suggested to the coaches that they move you to quarterback. INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMME . 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. Salary in 2020. Belue was a star quarterback at Valdosta High School. 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. When Belue finally got to his mom and dad, the tears were flowing. Hundreds of people turned out at the The Salty Snapper, including former Valdosta High classmates and UGA teammates. 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. I really appreciate him letting me come out here and do this, because a lot of coaches wouldnt.. Buck Belue was born and raised in Titletown, USA also known as Valdosta, Georgia. When I got to Georgia, I felt I was way ahead of the curve. I dont blame the players for feeling that way, said Dooley, who will turn 90 in September. A behind the curtain look at my story from Valdosta High through the University of Georgia. ], Then, Valdosta was really laying down the hammer in 1971 [winning a national championship in Coach Bazemores final season]. 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He spent much of the camp working with Valdostas current quarterbacks, Mike Turner and Alfrie Johnson. The Georgia football team had just put a bow on an undefeated regular season with a resounding 38-20 win over Georgia Tech in 1980 when the players awoke the following morning to news that coach Vince Dooley reportedly was leaving to become coach and athletic director at Auburn. Billy Henderson [Clarke Centrals coach] called three straight timeouts and iced the kicker. She finally came in and dumped it on his lap. Read, watch, and listen to the latest news and opinions in the high school sports world. UGA star Jalen Carter present at scene of fatal crash, From 2021: Buck Belue, QB of 1980 Georgia national champions, to call the Dawgs before kickoff, Georgia Tech hammers Syracuse as Jackets late-season surge continues, Braves notes: Jared Shusters first spring game, Michael Sorokas progress, Ian Anderson on spring debut: Im not gonna sugarcoat it. I showed them some drills that helped me, and I hope theyll help them as well. Heset a Bengals record in 1984 with four rushing touchdowns in a game against the Houston Oilers. ], Ive also got some memories of Coach Hyder trying to turn the program around, and he took me to some playoff games to watch Michael Jolly [the quarterback on Central-Macons 1975 Class 3A championship team]. He and his wife had an apartment next to the school, and I would go over to watch film with him. The current Winnersville series record stands at 36 wins for Valdosta and 24 for Lowndes heading into the 2022 season. What some might not know is that Belue's career as a writer began in earnest around that same time. 31. 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. He bypassed his senior season and went to the USFL and totaled 7,046 all-purpose yards and 61 touchdowns in three years. Joe told Martin, Ill give you three reasons: One, Ill give you a winning season, which youve never had. With Coach Hyder, you just couldnt imagine anyone working harder than him to be successful. Sign up for our email newsletter. 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. 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. I basically wrote it on a Word document with the help of an editor, Belue said in a telephone interview this week. 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. Register Batting Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. Brooks rushed for 1,816 yards as a senior, 1,852 yards as a junior and 1,088 as a sophomore. 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. That was the dream of every young athlete in Valdosta, and that dream didnt go much further than that. 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. 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