RETIRED JERSEYS FRANK SINKWICH
CHARLEY TRIPPI
1942 Heisman Trophy Winner Jersey Retired in 1943 1940, ‘41, ‘42 (Capt.)
In 1942, Frank Sinkwich became Georgia’s first Heisman Trophy winner after leading Georgia to an 11-1 record, SEC championship, and victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl. It was the culmination of a great college career highlighted by the Heisman Trophy and AllAmerica selection two consecutive years. In his three-year career (1940-42), Sinkwich rushed for 2,271 yards, passed for 2,331, and accounted for 60 touchdowns—30 rushing and 30 passing. Born in McKees Rock, Pa., Sinkwich was an outstanding high school star at Cheney High School in Youngstown, Ohio. In his record setting senior season with the Bulldogs, Sinkwich gained 795 yards rushing and set the SEC passing record with 1,392 years, a mark that stood for eight years. He set the SEC total offense record of 2,187 yards that same season. Sinkwich led Georgia to another SEC record — 4,725 yards of team total offense. Although playing with two sprained ankles, he scored Georgia’s only TD in 9-0 victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In 1941, Sinkwich set an SEC rushing record with 1,103 yards which stood for eight years, and gained 713 yards passing for a new SEC total offense record of 1,816 yards. He led Georgia to a 40-26 victory over TCU in the Orange Bowl New Year’s Day in 1942 with a performance still considered by many as the best in all bowl history. Sinkwich gained 139 years, completed 9 of 13 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns — a total offensive effort of 382 yards. That season, Sinkwich played from the third game on with a broken jaw in a protective mask. Sinkwich was All-Pro with Detroit in 1943-44, but a knee injury received in the Air Force game in 1945 ended his playing career. He was inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Year 1940 1941 1942 Totals Year 1940 1941 1942 Totals
RUSHING Yards 373 1103 795 2271
Att. 63 209 175 447 Att. 44 115 166 325
Comp. 21 52 84 157
Avg. 5.9 5.28 4.54 5.08
PASSING Pct. Yds. .477 226 .452 713 .506 1392 .483 2331
TD 6 14 10 30
TD 5 8 17 30 Int. 2 7 7 16
RETIRED JERSEYS
1946 Maxwell Award Winner Jersey Retired in 1947 1942, ‘45, ‘46
Charley Trippi is still regarded by many as the greatest all-around athlete ever to play for the University of Georgia. Trippi began earning Hall of Fame distinction as a sophomore by leading the Bulldogs to a 9-0 victory over U.C.L.A. in the 1943 Rose Bowl game in which he was named the game’s outstanding player after rushing for 130 yards. Born Dec. 14, 1922, in Pittston, Pa., Trippi was a unanimous All-America selection in 1946 after leading Georgia to a perfect 11-0 record, SEC championship, and victory over North Carolina in the Sugar Bowl game. His senior season, he led the SEC in scoring with 84 points and finished the year with 1,366 yards total offense (744 rushing and 622 passing). He was runnerup for the Heisman Trophy in ’46 and won the Maxwell Award, given annually to the most valuable player in the country. He signed with the Chicago Cardinals following his collegiate career and in his rookie season, led them to the world championship. In the championship game, he scored twice on a 44-yard rush and 75-yard punt return. He played with the Cardinals for nine seasons. Following his playing career, Trippi was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame, National Pro Football Hall of Fame, Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, and State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He is one of only four Georgia players to have his jersey retired. Trippi became a regular halfback on the 1942 SEC championship team that finished 11-1 and earned the Rose Bowl invitation. He gained 1,239 total yards (672 rushing on 98 carries and another 567 passing completing 30 of 58). He spent 1943-45 serving in the Air Force, but following his discharge, he returned to Georgia to play the final six games of the 1945 season. One of his most memorable performances was leading the ‘Dogs to a 33-0 victory over Georgia Tech—a game in which he set the SEC record for yards gained passing (323) and also total offense (384 yards on 323 passing and 61 rushing). Against Florida that same year, he set the SEC record for rushing in a single game with 239 yards. In his junior season, he led Georgia to a 20-6 victory over Tulsa in the Oil Bowl at Houston, Jan. 1, 1946. Trippi was also an All-America baseball player in 1946 and played with the Atlanta Crackers in 1947. He later served as an assistant coach at Georgia (1958-62) and with the St. Louis Cardinals. Year 1942 1945 1946 Totals
Att. 98 47 115 260
Year 1942 1945 1946 Totals
Att. 58 42 70 170
Yds. 672 253 744 1669 Comp. 30 17 40 87
RUSHING Avg. 6.9 5.4 6.4 6.4 PASSING Pct. Yds. .517 567 .425 377 .571 622 .512 1566
TD 8 10 14 32 TD — 10 5 —
LG 86
Int. — 2 3 —
#40 THERON SAPP, FB Jersey Retired in 1959 The University of Georgia 1956, '57, '58 (Captain)
On Sept. 2, 1985, the jersey (#34) of 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker (L) was retired during halftime ceremonies of the season-opening Georgia-Alabama game. In a rare collection of former UGA superstars, Walker was joined by the other three former Bulldogs who have retired jerseys: #40 Theron Sapp, #62 Charley Trippi, and #21 Frank Sinkwich.
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He will always be known as "The Drought Breaker" for his great touchdown against Georgia Tech in 1957. His score was the difference in a 7-0 Georgia victory which ended an eight-year losing streak to the Yellow Jackets. But that single score sometimes overshadows a great career at Georgia which included being named All-SEC in 1958 and his election as team captain. He was drafted by Philadelphia in 1960, and was in the lineup when the Eagles defeated Vince Lombardi's up-and-coming Green Bay Packers in the NFL championship game. He was traded to Pittsburgh in 1963 and responded by rushing for over 500 yards and helping the Steelers to the eastern division title.