Talk:Harry Babcock (American football)

HoF

he following is from the 1992 State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony (written by Loran Smith)

Funny how the networking activity with old friends and that proverb about necessity being the mother of invention can often create the most interesting of developments in athletics. Like in Harry Babcock’s case at the university of Georgia. First of all, how he took up residency in Athens – from his Pearl River, N.Y. home – is unusual to say the least, even though Georgia, like many southern schools, has frequently discovered great football talent in our nation’s northern climes. And how Babcock became one of the greatest ends in the history of the Southeastern Conference is a serendipitous story, but how he came to play between the hedges needs to be addressed first. Charley Trippi who had played for Wallace Butts in the Forties was a military teammate of a Pearl River high school coach, Roco English, who called Trippi and recommended Babcock to Georgia. Trippi then sold Coach Wallace Butts on offering Babcock a scholarship, sight unseen. But when Babcock arrived in Athens, with little more than a verbal recommendation by English via Trippi, the first thing that had to be determined was where he should line up. Babcock had been a single wing blocking back in high school, and Georgia was a T-formation team, looking for passers and pass catchers in a time when, at most schools, three yards and a cloud of dust offense and tenacious defense spiced with a great emphasis on the kicking game were the order of the day. Georgia without a lot of analysis and time for evaluation of skills moved Babcock to end for one basic reason, that where players were most needed. Seldom has a coaching staff been more rewarded with such casual moving of personnel to cover immediate scrimmaging and practice needs. By the time he finished his junior year (1951), Babcock had caught 41 passes in a single season which was more than that of the entire receiving corps of many teams. Even in today’s pro-style passing era, with many teams throwing twice as much as they did in past years, Babcock’s 41 catches would rank him near the top of SEC pass receiving in most years. In 1991, his 41 catches would have ranked him near the top. When his career had ended, Babcock was compared with the great Don Hutson of Alabama, considered by many the best pass receiver ever. Babcock had set numerous Georgia receiving records, including; most career pass receptions (80), most reception yards gained in a season (665), and most receiving yards gained in a career (1,199). He led the SEC in receiving in 1951, and was a first team all-SEC player that season. He was picked on two all-American teams (Post and Colliers) in 1952. he was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs from 1950 to 1952 at offensive end. Babcock scored the winning touchdown for the East team in the 1952 East-West Shrine Game, and was the first player from the Southeast ever to be invited to the Hula Bowl (1953). The best tribute to Babcock, comes from his late coach Wallace Butts who had this to say about his prized receiver as Babcock was being drafted No. 1 in the National Football League by the San Francisco 49ers.

'Harry is blessed with one of the best competitive spirits I have ever seen in an athlete and he is not afraid of working hard to achieve a goal.  I think his career at Georgia was a classic example of what a boy with talent and determination and willingness to ‘pay the price’ can accomplish.'

As a sophomore Harry’s end coach was big Jim Whatley, the old Alabama star who played tackle right next to Don Hutson at Alabama. Jim often remarked that season that Babcock was the best blocking end he had seen. I’ll raise Jim one with this: Babcock is the best blocker I have seen at any position. It was the spring of 1951 when Babcock really began ‘coming into his own’, and that fall he did everything you could expect of a truly great offensive end. In 10 games he caught 41 passes for 666 yards to lead the Southeastern Conference. Although in tip-top condition, he was physically exhausted at the end of every game, so intense were his efforts. He received more votes than any other lineman in the official all0conference ballot, only Kentucky’s Babe Parilli and Tennessee’s Hank Lauricella polled more votes. San Francisco fans and all the pro fans will see in Babcock the most graceful pass-receiver in football in my opinion. For spot passes he seems absolutely unconcerned over the defenders bearing down on him. On the run, he catches the ball over either shoulder – resembling a fast outfielder racing down a ball In fact, Babcock was quite an outfielder. He made the all-Southeastern Conference first team at center field for fancy-fielding and long-ball hitting. That’s why the Forty-Niners were so anxious to sign up Harry before his last season of baseball at Georgia. If he could have played one more baseball season, pro football probably never would have landed him. The baseball scouts were as fond of him as the football folks.