ALL-AMERCIANS # 78 Jon Stinchcomb, OT Lilburn, GA 2002 (Playboy, Walter Camp) In the footsteps of his older brother, Matt, Jon was also one of Georgia’s most decorated players. In addition to AllAmerica honors, he was a two-time first team Verizon/CoSIDAAcademic All-American, AFCA National Good Works Team member, semi-finalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award, and graduated with a 3.75 GPA in Microbiology. He also received an $18,000 National Football Foundation Post-Graduate Scholarship. He helped pave the way for a 2002 offense that led the SEC in scoring (32.6 ppg) and was voted the offensive captain of a team that led the ‘Dogs to a 13-1 record, SEC and Nokia Sugar Bowl Championships, and final national ranking of No. 3. # 6 Sean Jones, ROV Atlanta, GA 2003 (AFCA) Sean Jones was a consensus All-SEC selection in 2003 in addition to being named first team All-America by the AFCA. The team’s second leading tackler with 111 stops, he was a big play maker who blocked three kicks, intercepted five passes, recorded five tackles-for-loss, and recovered two fumbles including one for a 92-yard TD return vs. Tennessee. Part of Georgia defense that ranked second nationally in scoring defense (14.5 ppg), fourth in total defense (276.86 ypg), and fourth in scoreless quarters (25) among the AP’s top ten teams. #10 Thomas Davis, FS Shellman, Ga 2004 (AFCA, Walter Camp, The Sporting News) One of Georgia’s most active defensive players in history, Davis led the team in tackles in 2003 (130) and in 2004 (81). In addition to first team All-America honors, he was a consensus All-SEC first team selection in 2003 and’‘04 and had 29 career starts. In addition to his 272 career tackles, he also recorded 10.5 sacks, 17 tackles-for-loss, and 27 QB pressures. Part of team that posted 42-10 record from 2001-04), three straight seasons of 10 or more wins, three straight bowl victories, and three consecutive national top six finishes. Greg Blue, FS College Park, GA 2005 (AP, AFCA, Walter Camp, The Sporting News) Greg Blue of Banneker High School in College Park became Georgia’s third consecutive AllAmerica FS after leading the team in tackles with 96 and being named consensus All-America and All-SEC first team. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, he was elected a permanent co-captain of the Georgia defense after recording 260 career tackles. Played in the 2006 Senior Bowl game.
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Max Jean-Gilles, OG Miami, Fla 2005 (AP, AFCA, Walter Camp, The Sporting News) A graduate of North Miami Beach H.S., Miami, Fla., Jean-Gilles was a consensus All-America and All-SEC first team selection in 2005 and started 40 career games for the Bulldogs. He was elected the team’s permanent offensive captain at the conclusion of the 2005 season. He was also first team All-SEC in 2004 and played in the 2006 Senior Bowl game. #24 Knowshon Moreno, TB Belford, NJ 2008 (AFCA Coaches) A graduate of Middletown South High in Belford, N.J., Moreno was one of three finalists for the 2008 Doak Walker Award and was a unanimous All-SEC first team selection. Moreno played in 26 career games including 19 starts and rushed for 2,734 yards on 498 career carries. He scored 30 touchdowns rushing and two more receiving. In 2008, he carried 250 times for 1,400 yards and 16 TD¹s and was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 12th pick of the first round in the 2009 NFL draft. #13 Drew Butler, P Duluth, GA 2009 (AFCA Coaches, AP, Walter Camp, FWAA, Sporting News) Son of Georgia All-America placekicker Kevin Butler (1984), sophomore Drew Butler of Duluth became Georgia’s first true punter to be named first team All-America. A graduate of Peachtree Ridge High School, he was named winner of the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s most outstanding punter after averaging 48.1 yards per kick—more than two yards per punt better than any other kicker in the country. #29 Jarvis Jones, OLB Columbus, Ga. 2011 (AP, Walter Camp, AFCA, FWAA, ESPN.com, si.com) After transferring from Southern Cal, led the SEC in sacks with 13.5 and in tackles-forloss with 19.5. A graduate of Carver High School, was a finalist for the Butkus Award as the nation’s most outstanding linebacker. He started all 14 games as a sophomore and was second on the Georgia team in tackles with 70. #18 Bacarri Rambo, FS Donalsonville, Ga. 2011 (AP, Rivals) A graduate of Seminole County High School, Rambo’s eight interceptions led the SEC and ranked second nationally. A consensus All-SEC first team selection, he was fifth on the team in tackles with 55.
#7 Orson Charles, TE Tampa, Fla. 2011 (AFCA) A consensus All-SEC first team selection, he started all 14 games for the Bulldogs in 2011. He was a finalist for the Mackey Award as the nation’s top TE. Finished first among all Georgia TE’s in receiving yards with 1,370 and TD’s with 10. #60 Ben Jones, C Centreville, Ala. 2011 (ESPN.com, Rivals) A four-year starter who posted 49 career starts at center. A graduate of Bibb County High School, he was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week two consecutive weeks during the 2011 season including the ‘Dogs’ 45-7 win over Auburn.
SCHOOL COLORS, STOLEN GIRL FRIENDS, & YELLOW JACKET TREACHERY
“Turf wars” involving Georgia and its ancient rival, Georgia Tech, began with the playing of the first football game in the series. And the effect of the opponent’s underhanded ploy in that 1893 contest resulted in the senior institution’s removing the color gold (or yellow) from its official school colors. In the December 1891 issue of The University’s literary magazine, the editors-selected members of the Demosthenian and Phi Kappa literary societies-had proclaimed those colors to be “old gold, black, and crimson”. This selection extended an earlier custom of each class’ selecting its colors and publishing them in the yearbook. However, Dr. Charles H. Herty-faculty member, “the father of intercollegiate athletics” at The University, and her first football coach-saw “yellow”, as he called it, not gold when he spied the hues on the cover of The Georgia University Magazine. The 24-year-old holder of a doctorate from Johns Hopkins had led initial efforts to stimulate and harness school spirit, organized the school’s first Athletic Association, and saw to it that yellow was eliminated from the colors. Speaking with student leaders, “We all agreed we didn’t want yellow around Georgia athletics”, reflecting extreme distaste for anything “yellow”, or cowardly. (Early on, the “crimson” became good ol’ Georgia “red”.) A mailed glove, however, was laid across the face of Georgia athletics that day the rivalry commenced. It was the “somebody-stole-my-gal” maneuver perpetrated by “the Teckity Techs” of “93. Earlier that season, the Techs had chosen as their colors white and gold. And they proceed to deck out 200 young ladies from all-girl Lucy Cobb Institute in those very hues to cheer on Tech’s varsity at old Herty Field. Alas, the finishing school’s campus lay just about a mile and one-half from the playing field-in Athens! “These are our girls!”, the cry arose. So, until this very day, when a Georgia Bulldog smells out a Georgia Tech "Yellow Jacket," he sees Red. ----Mike Cheatham