Bobby Dodd: Difference between revisions
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Dodd was a difference in one famous game. During his sophomore year, in his first game of [[The Third Saturday in October]] rivalry against [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] played in [[Tuscaloosa, AL|Tuscaloosa]], "Dodd threw a touchdown pass in that game to tie Alabama, 13–13. Then he punted out of bounds inside the Alabama 1-yard line and Tennessee got a safety on the next play to win, 15–13."<ref name="Bio"/> |
Dodd was a difference in one famous game. During his sophomore year, in his first game of [[The Third Saturday in October]] rivalry against [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] played in [[Tuscaloosa, AL|Tuscaloosa]], "Dodd threw a touchdown pass in that game to tie Alabama, 13–13. Then he punted out of bounds inside the Alabama 1-yard line and Tennessee got a safety on the next play to win, 15–13."<ref name="Bio"/> |
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Another instance in Dodd's career foreshadowed the creativity he would use in his coaching career. "Against Florida in 1930 he got his teammates in a huddle and told them about a play he had used in high school ([[Dobyns Bennett High School|Dobyns-Bennett]]). When the ball was snapped, it was placed on the ground unattended. The players ran in one direction. Then the center returned, picked up the ball, and waltzed to the winning touchdown."<ref name="HOF"/> Tennessee fans even developed a catch phrase for Dodd during his time there: "In Dodd we trust."<ref name="HOF"/> |
Another instance in Dodd's career foreshadowed the creativity he would use in his coaching career. "Against Florida in 1930 he got his teammates in a huddle and told them about a play he had used in high school ([[Dobyns Bennett High School|Dobyns-Bennett]]). When the ball was snapped, it was placed on the ground unattended. The players ran in one direction. Then the center returned, picked up the ball, and waltzed to the winning touchdown."<ref name="HOF"/> This play would later come to be popularly known as the "[[fumblerooski]]", after [[1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] famously used it in the [[1984 Orange Bowl]] versus [[1983 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]]. Tennessee fans even developed a catch phrase for Dodd during his time there: "In Dodd we trust."<ref name="HOF"/> |
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Dodd was named to [[Grantland Rice]]'s [[All American]] team in 1930, making him the 2nd granted that honor at Tennessee (following [[Gene McEver]]). In 1959, Dodd was named to the [[University of Tennessee]]'s Hall of Fame and to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player.<ref name="HOF"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://smokeys-trail.com/HallFame/dodd.html|work=University of Tennessee's Hall of Fame|title=Bobby Dodd|publisher=Smokey's Trail|accessdate=2009-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://utsports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/dodd.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070317085459/utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/dodd.htm|archivedate=2007-03-17|title=Bobby Dodd|publisher=[[University of Tennessee]]|accessdate=2009-08-01}}</ref> He was elected in the same year as teammate [[Herman Hickman]]. |
Dodd was named to [[Grantland Rice]]'s [[All American]] team in 1930, making him the 2nd granted that honor at Tennessee (following [[Gene McEver]]). In 1959, Dodd was named to the [[University of Tennessee]]'s Hall of Fame and to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player.<ref name="HOF"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://smokeys-trail.com/HallFame/dodd.html|work=University of Tennessee's Hall of Fame|title=Bobby Dodd|publisher=Smokey's Trail|accessdate=2009-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://utsports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/dodd.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070317085459/utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/dodd.htm|archivedate=2007-03-17|title=Bobby Dodd|publisher=[[University of Tennessee]]|accessdate=2009-08-01}}</ref> He was elected in the same year as teammate [[Herman Hickman]]. |
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Revision as of 16:52, 22 May 2011
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Robert Lee Dodd (November 11, 1908 – June 21, 1988) was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and coach,[3] something that only three people have accomplished.[1]
Bobby Dodd was born in Galax, Virginia. From there, he moved to Kingsport, Tennessee and excelled at several sports at Dobyns-Bennett High School. After playing quarterback at the University of Tennessee, he served as an assistant coach under Bill Alexander at Georgia Tech beginning in 1931. Alexander made the hire while Dodd was still a student at Tennessee. Dodd succeeded Alexander in 1945 as the third head coach at the Institute. He retired from coaching after the 1966 season, compiling a 165–64–8 record. He also served as Athletic Director from 1950 until 1976. All told, Dodd spent 45 years at Tech in various capacities. Bobby Dodd died in June 1988 at the age of 79 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Player
Bobby Dodd was a quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers football team from 1928 to 1930, where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, playing under legendary coach Robert Neyland. Dodd wanted to play for Georgia Tech but was not offered a scholarship. Ironically, he would later go on the coach the Yellow Jackets.[4] In the games that Dodd started at UT, the Vols held a record of 27–1–2.[5]
Dodd was a difference in one famous game. During his sophomore year, in his first game of The Third Saturday in October rivalry against Alabama played in Tuscaloosa, "Dodd threw a touchdown pass in that game to tie Alabama, 13–13. Then he punted out of bounds inside the Alabama 1-yard line and Tennessee got a safety on the next play to win, 15–13."[4]
Another instance in Dodd's career foreshadowed the creativity he would use in his coaching career. "Against Florida in 1930 he got his teammates in a huddle and told them about a play he had used in high school (Dobyns-Bennett). When the ball was snapped, it was placed on the ground unattended. The players ran in one direction. Then the center returned, picked up the ball, and waltzed to the winning touchdown."[3] This play would later come to be popularly known as the "fumblerooski", after Nebraska famously used it in the 1984 Orange Bowl versus Miami. Tennessee fans even developed a catch phrase for Dodd during his time there: "In Dodd we trust."[3]
Dodd was named to Grantland Rice's All American team in 1930, making him the 2nd granted that honor at Tennessee (following Gene McEver). In 1959, Dodd was named to the University of Tennessee's Hall of Fame and to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player.[3][6][7] He was elected in the same year as teammate Herman Hickman.
Coach
Bobby Dodd compiled a 165–64–8 record as head coach at Georgia Tech.[8] He led Georgia Tech to two Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships (1951 and 1952) and one national championship in 1952. Under Dodd's leadership, Tech played in 13 major bowls, winning 9, including six in a row from 1952 to 1956, and had a 31-game winning streak from 1951 to 1953.[5]
Dodd took over the Georgia Tech football program following Coach Alexander's retirement in 1944. Dodd's coaching philosophy revolved around player treatment and character development.[9] He did not believe in intense physical practices but rather precise and well executed practices. Dodd's philosophy translated to winning. He set the record for career wins at Tech at 165 career coaching wins including a 31-game winning streak from 1951–1953.[9] He also managed to capture two Southeastern Conference Titles and the 1952 National Title, which concluded a 12–0 perfect season and Sugar Bowl conquest of Ole Miss.[9]
Dodd also understood the deep-seated rivalry with the University of Georgia. His teams won 8 games in a row over the Bulldogs from 1946–1954 outscoring the Bulldogs 176–39 during the winning streak.[10] This 8–game winning streak is still the longest winning streak for either side in the series.[10] Dodd would finish his career with a 12–9 record against the Bulldogs.[10]
Dodd's tenure included Georgia Tech's withdrawal from the Southeastern Conference.[9] The initial spark for Dodd's withdrawal was a historic feud with Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Bear Bryant.[11] The feud began when Tech was visiting the Tide at Denny Stadium in 1961. After a Tech punt, Alabama fair-caught the ball. Chick Granning of Tech was playing coverage and relaxed after the signal for the fair catch. Darwin Holt of Alabama continued play and smashed his elbow into Granning's face causing severe fracturing in his face, a broken nose, and blood-filled sinuses. Granning was knocked unconscious and suffered a severe concussion, the result of which left him unable to play football ever again. Dodd sent Bryant a letter asking Bryant to suspend Holt after game film indicated Holt had intentionally injured Granning.[11] Bryant never suspended Holt. The lack of discipline infuriated Dodd and sparked Dodd's interest in withdrawing from the SEC.
Another issue of concern for Dodd was Alabama's and other SEC schools' over-recruitment of players.[11] Universities would recruit more players than they had roster space for. During the summer practice sessions, the teams in question would cut the players well after signing day thus preventing the cut players from finding new colleges to play for. Dodd appealed the SEC administration to punish the "tryout camps" of his fellow SEC members but the SEC did not. Finally, Dodd withdrew Georgia Tech from the SEC in 1963.[11] Tech would remain an independent like Notre Dame and Penn State (at the time) during the final four years of Dodd's coaching tenure. In 1967, Dodd passed the head coach position to his favorite coordinator, Bud Carson. Dodd simply retained his athletic director position, which he had acquired in 1950. He stepped down as athletic director in 1976. In 1983, he expressed interest in running a United States Football League team if Atlanta were awarded one, but the league folded before Atlanta received a team.[8]
Legacy
While Bobby Dodd was a determined competitor, he cared deeply for those who played for him. Unlike some other coaches, he did not believe in winning at any costs; he truly believed that the most important aspect of college football was the college football player.[9]
As a testament to the character of Bobby Dodd, each year a Division I college coach who has demonstrated leadership both on and off the field is awarded the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, presented by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation.[12] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1959 and as a coach in 1993.[3] In 1988, Georgia Tech named its stadium Bobby Dodd Stadium in honor of the legendary coach.[13][14] The Bobby Dodd Institute is an organization that helps people with disabilities; it is named in honor of Coach Dodd for his assistance to the disabled.[15]
Bobby Dodd went 0–3 vs. Georgia coach Vince Dooley ending Dodd's coaching career as GT head coach, although he set the record for most consecutive victories (8 straight) in the series, and ended with a 12–9 career against the Bulldogs.[16]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Southeastern Conference) (1945–1963) | |||||||||
| 1945 | Georgia Tech | 4–6 | 2–2 | T–5th | |||||
| 1946 | Georgia Tech | 9–2 | 4–2 | 4th | W Oil | 11 | |||
| 1947 | Georgia Tech | 10–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | W Orange | 10 | |||
| 1948 | Georgia Tech | 7–3 | 4–3 | 5th | |||||
| 1949 | Georgia Tech | 7–3 | 5–2 | 4th | |||||
| 1950 | Georgia Tech | 5–6 | 4–2 | 5th | |||||
| 1951 | Georgia Tech | 11–0–1 | 7–0 | T–1st | W Orange | 5 | 5 | ||
| 1952 | Georgia Tech | 12–0 | 7–0 | 1st | W Sugar | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1953 | Georgia Tech | 9–2–1 | 4–1–1 | T–2nd | W Sugar | 9 | 8 | ||
| 1954 | Georgia Tech | 8–3 | 6–2 | 2nd | W Cotton | 11 | |||
| 1955 | Georgia Tech | 9–1–1 | 4–1–1 | 2nd | W Sugar | 7 | 7 | ||
| 1956 | Georgia Tech | 10–1 | 7–1 | 2nd | W Gator | 4 | 4 | ||
| 1957 | Georgia Tech | 4–4–2 | 3–4–1 | 8th | |||||
| 1958 | Georgia Tech | 5–4–1 | 2–3–1 | 8th | |||||
| 1959 | Georgia Tech | 6–5 | 3–3 | 7th | L Gator | ||||
| 1960 | Georgia Tech | 5–5 | 4–4 | 7th | |||||
| 1961 | Georgia Tech | 7–4 | 4–3 | T–4th | L Gator | 13 | 13 | ||
| 1962 | Georgia Tech | 7–3–1 | 5–2 | 4th | L Bluebonnet | 11 | |||
| 1963 | Georgia Tech | 7–3 | 4–3 | 6th | |||||
| Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Independent) (1964–1966) | |||||||||
| 1964 | Georgia Tech | 7–3 | |||||||
| 1965 | Georgia Tech | 7–3–1 | W Gator | ||||||
| 1966 | Georgia Tech | 9–2 | L Orange | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Georgia Tech: | 165–64–8 | 76–39–4 | |||||||
| Total: | 165–64–8 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bobby Dodd biography". Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ "Alphabetical Inductee List" (PDF). Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ a b c d e "Bobby "In Dodd We Trust" Dodd". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ a b "Dodd, "Bobby" (Robert L.)". Sports Biographies. HickokSports.com. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ a b "Bobby Dodd, Coach at Georgia Tech, Dies of Cancer at 79". The New York Times. 1988-06-22. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ^ "Bobby Dodd". University of Tennessee's Hall of Fame. Smokey's Trail. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ "Bobby Dodd". University of Tennessee. Archived from the original on 2007-03-17. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ a b "Bobby Dodd would join USFL". The Spokesman-Review. 1983-02-10. Retrieved 2009-09-14. [dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "Bobby Dodd Bio". RamblinWreck.com. Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
- ^ a b c "Georgia Tech vs Georgia". cfdatawarehouse.com. College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
- ^ a b c d Dodd, Bobby. Dodd's Luck. Golden Coast Publishing Company. ISBN 09-3295-809-5.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|origmonth=ignored (help) - ^ "Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation". Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ Edwards, Pat (1999-10-01). "Football program, traditions spurred by Dodd". The Technique. Archived from the original on 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
- ^ "Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field". Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ "Bobby Dodd Institute". Bobby Dodd Institute. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
- ^ Cromartie, Bill. Clean Old-fashioned Hate: Georgia Vs. Georgia Tech. Strode Publishers. ISBN 09-3252-064-2.
External links