On Legends

\"And early though the laurel grows/It withers quicker than the rose.\"

AE Housman knew something about legend. Housman knew that legend trumps glory. At Georgia, we have legends, but none so renowned as Vince Dooley. I imagine that Vince took a great deal of flak during his first decade in Athens, although he probably heard little of it, blessed as he was with the absence of the internet.

Vince is a legend, no doubt about it. When we think of great men of Georgia, his name rises to the top. Imagine, then, what would have happened if we'd treated him the same way we treat Coach Richt. I'm mentioning this because legends come from what they did (past tense) not what they're doing. If any of you is under the illusion that CMR is not legendary, I offer the following for your consumption. Since I'm making a bold statement, I'll use Vince Dooley as a comparison.

Vince Dooley coached Georgia from 1964 to 1988, amassing a record of 201-77-10, which is a .715 win percentage. Under Dooley's 24 years, the Dawgs won 6 SEC Championships and 1 National Championship. Vince was 8-10-2 in bowl games. Vince is considered one of the greatest Georgia coaches, and rightfully so. However, here are some interesting facts:

• Under VD, Georgia had 7 seasons with 10 wins or more, and 13 of 8 or more. (In comparison with CMR, I felt like putting an \"only\" in there somewhere.)
• During that time, Georgia had one losing season (1977) and three .500 seasons ('69, '70 and '74).
• Georgia was unranked in the AP poll 13 seasons under Vince, and finished ranked 10th or higher seven times.

So how does our current coach stack up?

• Through 2008, CMR was .788 with an 82-22 (currently 85-25, or .773). In Vince Dooley's first 8 seasons, the Dawgs were 59-24-4 (.701).
• In his first 8 seasons, CMR has 8 (100%) seasons with 8 wins or more. It wasn't until 1981 (17 seasons) that CVD recorded his 8th season with 8 or more wins.
• CMR's Dawgs are 6-2 in bowl wins. Under CVD, Georgia didn't win its 6th bowl until 1983 (19 years) and we had 9 losses and a tie under our belts by then.
• The Dawgs under CMR have been ranked every year in the AP (2006 the coaches didn't rank us--philistines!), and have finished no worse than third in the SEC East. The Dawgs were unranked in five of CVD's first 8 seasons, with two of those seasons coming in at .500.
• CVD still owns CMR in National Championships and Heisman winners, and they are tied in SEC Championships over their first 8 seasons.

Georgia is light years ahead of the benchmark Dooley era because of CMR. Even if 2009 turns out to be a losing season, it's pretty clear that CMR is the man for the job, and is a legend in the making. Incidentally, Georgia's losing season was '77. We all know what happened 3 years later. I doubt Vince would have survived to become what he is to Georgia football if we'd treated him with the disdain that we show CMR. Quite honestly, CMR will prove to be a superior coach to CVD. I believe he already is. Oh, and I promised some blasphemy. Um, our defensive coordinator from '64-'81 was Erk Russell. It makes me throw up in my mouth to say this, but CWM has a better record over his short tenure. Really, I just vomited. I'm not ready to anoint CWM the title of assistant water boy, let alone legend. I doubt he'll ever be greater than Erk, who was one of my people because Erk understood fans. Remember,

\"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 its individual memories, because each game has its 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 opponent's buses 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\"

I suppose the point here is that these are the days of the Mark Richt era. Just like Vince Dooley, the Dawg Nation suffered through some tough seasons, but they persevered. This is a tough year, but this too will pass. I'm suggesting to all of us, myself included, that we realize that we are living in the Richt era, and one day this will be the stuff our grand- and great-grandchildren remember with awe. For one, I'm ready to bring back the Railroad Track Crowd. I wouldn't mind pushing over an opponent's bus, or stamping out some Kudzu for the Dawgs. And since we can't whip Tennessee's ass this year, I'm all for putting a beat down on Vandy. I'm ready to give them a break with the complaints, and begin to see this program for what it is, and what it will be.
Legendary.

Thanks, This was some good reading and totally agree with it! To Bad they dont make em like ERK anymore though. For these are the days of political correctness which is ruining everything that
made our country great!! GOOOOOOOOOO DAWGZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!