Another article by Rex Robinson that has a lot of meaning to me. I am one of those that had a really hard time with UGA coaches and administrators that let Erk leave the UGA campus. Know that many or some on this board have stated their feelings on Coach Dooley and for the most part, approval.
I would take you back a few (many) years when Erk was the heart and soul of the UGA football team. Loved and respected by the players and fans alike. When Erk was in Athens, UGA played defense, something that was sorely missed with last years team and actually several years leading up to last years fiasco. Of course Erk moved on to become a successful coach at another university in Georgia. Head Coach That Is! Why he was not given the opportunity to head up the UGA football team has caused many discussions by the older regime for many years. Georgia Southern's gain was definitely UGA's loss.
Rex Robinson on a coach that understood defense and players. . . .
There’s not much I remember about the spring of 1976, but there is one image burned into my brain that will live forever. Spring football had just started and after calisthenics(old school word), Coach Ray Broadaway let me go down to the game field, better known as Northcutt Stadium to practice alone. He knew he could trust me to work hard, and I did.
After kicking one set of five kicks, I went to retrieve the balls and that’s when it happened. I looked up in the stands and there was this bald head poking out of the aisle.
HOLY CRAP, THAT’S ERK RUSSELL!
I tried to keep it together and I think I did okay. To be honest, that part is a little fuzzy. My mind was racing! After practice Coach Broadaway introduced us. I was pretty intimidated because Coach Russell’s countenance belied his true self. He was a great man. He told me of The University of Georgia having an interest in me as a kicker and hoped I would visit in the fall.
Obviously, it all worked out well and even though I didn’t play defense for Coach Russell, being recruited by him was a great honor. I know I can speak for my team-mates when I say, no one was more respected or beloved than Coach Erk Russell. Coach Dooley as a Head Coach was not in a position to develop those relationships like Coach Russell.
There are many people more qualified to speak to his worthiness as a College Hall of Fame member. I just had to add my two cents worth. It’s not likely anyone would mention his impact on a kicker, but it was there.
My freshman year, things were going okay, but I was a little homesick for Marietta. It was a Friday and we had the weekend off. Even so, we were not supposed to leave Athens. Well, one of my newest and best friends, Ronnie Stewart and I went to a Marietta HS Football game. We made the hour and half trip and having just arrived, we learned that Coach Russell was at the game also!
We left immediately, but not before being seen by my hometown pastor, the Reverend Nelson Price. The pastor, who was with Coach Russell up in the press box, exclaimed in his well- known booming voice, there’s Rex Robinson!
Coach Russell said, “Where”!?!
Ronnie and I thought we had escaped certain disaster, until Monday when we reported to practice. Coach Russell came up to me and very quietly said, “Don’t ever do that again”.
Guess what? I didn’t…
