Erk Russell's 1980 Letter to the Junkyard Dawgs

Prior to the 1980 season, UGA legend and coach, Erk Russell wrote this letter to his defensive linemen. While the words and the inspiration that followed were intended for a team and a time 25 years earlier, there remains just cause to apply this week........


Gentlemen:

The football season of 80' will be my seventeenth as a Georgia Bulldog. During this time there have been many thrilling Saturdays of competition, each with it's individual memories, because each game has it's own personality. There are two Saturday traditions and experiences which have remained basically the same throughout the years for me and I would like to share them with you. The first one concerns the RAILROAD TRACK CROWD. These are my people because they love the Dogs almost as much as I do. Oh, I know they do some crazy things- like turn over our opponnents's busses sometimes and now and then they throw one another down the bank and into the street below. But they stamp out Kudzu and they pull for us to win and that ain't bad. If you can get off the bus to cheers of THE RAILROAD TRACK CROWD and walk down those steps to the dressing room and not be inspired to play football as best you possibly can, something important is missing beneath the Georgia jersey you wear. It is impossible not to be inspired. They choke me up! The season of 1980 will be the last for THE RAILROAD TRACK CROWD. A great Georgia tradition will have passed with the new addition to our stadium. The view from the tracks will be no more. Your team will be the last Georgia Team to be greeted and cheered by the RAILROAD TRACK CROWD. Wouldn't it be fitting if their last team was also the best Georgia Team ever. Think about it! Another Saturday tradition which has meant so much to me over the years can be stated very simply. "THERE AIN'T NOTHING LIKE BEING A BULLDOG ON SATURDAY NIGHT

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AFTER WINNING A FOOTBALL GAME." I mean like whipping Tennessee's ass to start with, then ten more and then another one. This is the game plan. We have no alternate plan.
Sincerely, Erk Russell


GATA!!!!!!!!!


GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!

My first & only visit to "Knocksville" for a georgia game was that memorable night of "The Goal Line Stalker's" coming out party. It was a close game and the Vols were up by 10 points. Then came Herschel & the whole complexion of the game changed. The defence was great, just like Erk wanted. I hope things will be a repeat of that great game this Saturday. At that time I not only went to all the home games, but also to all the away games. The only heart stopper was the Fla. game and for a moment I thought we blow the whole season. Then came "Run Lindsey Run" and you all know the results. Now I'll sit back and watch it on the TV with a tall cool one in hand. I expect NC-Dawg will be doing the same thing. We can't make mistakes or stupid plenties and we must score when we get into the Red Zone. It will sure make this old Dawg proud to pound the big orange machine into the ground. Let's go do it!!!!!
As always GO DAWGS!!!!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: my game face

GREAT STUFF !!!! Erk's remarks just blow me away, how awesome ! Now if someone can just get Pat Dye to say he doesnt think we are man enough to beat UT in Obnoxville..........As the great UGA alum and one of the greatest writer/speaker , the Mark Twain of our time if you will, Lewis Grizzard once said, "You are not recruited to Obnoxville, you are Sentenced !!! GO DAWGS !