all-americans #62 Charley Trippi, TB Pittston, Pa. 1946 (AP, UP, INS, NEA, Colliers, Life, Look, Post, Walter Camp) Still regarded by many as the greatest all-around athlete ever to play at Georiga, he was named the game’s outstanding player after rushing for 130 yards in the 1943 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA. After the war, he returned to college and in 1946 led the ‘Dogs to an 11-0 record, SEC championship, and victory over North Carolina in the Sugar Bowl. As a senior he led the SEC in scoring with 84 points and finished with 1,366 yards total offense. He won the Maxwell Award as the country’s most valuable player and was runnerup for the Heisman Trophy. Following his collegiate career, he led the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals to the world championship as a rookie. He has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, 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.
#28 Herb St. John, G Jacksonville, Fla., 1946 (NCAA Guide) Herb St. John was a four-time All-SEC selection for the Bulldogs from 1944 to 1947. After his senior season, St. John was named to play in the 1944 and 1946 Blue-Gray All-Star game. He went on to play two years of professional football. In 1948 he began his pro career with the Brooklyn Dodgers and played for the Chicago Hornets in 1949.
#55 Dan Edwards, E Gatesville, Texas 1947 (Coaches) Dan Edwards was captain of the 1947 Gator Bowl team. During his years in Athens the Texas native’s career was characterized by big plays. He is remembered best for the 67-yard touchdown pass he caught from Charley Trippi in the 1947 Gator Bowl. Edwards went on to play nine seasons in the NFL and CFL. Upon retiring Dan Edwards returned home to Gatesville, Texas and started a successful oil company.
#18 John Rauch, QB Philadelphia, Pa. 1948 (Rice, AAB) Johnny Rauch started 45 consecutive games at QB from 1945-48, including four straight bowl games. Rauch led Coach Wallace Butts’ Bulldogs to a 36-8-1 record during that four year span. As a senior, he was selected as the SEC Player of the Year. After his playing career, Rauch embarked on an ultrasuccessful coaching career. He became head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1966 and led the team to the Super Bowl in 1967. In three seasons under Rauch’s leadership the Raiders posted a record of 33-8-1. He was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
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#56 Harry Babcock, E Ocala, Fla. 1952 (Post, Collier)
An All-America and All-SEC end for the Bulldogs, Harry Babcock led the conference in receptions in 1951. He had 80 career receptions at UGA between 1950-52 and finished his career with 1,199 receiving yards. He was the first player selected in the 1953 NFL draft (San Francisco 49ers) and was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. He passed away in 1996.
#12 Zeke Bratkowski, QB Danville, Ill. 1952 (Coaches); 1953 (Focus)
All-America QB in 1952 and ’53, he was the nation’s leading college passer in 1952 and the nation’s leading punter in ’53. Two-time SEC passing champion (1,824 yards in ’52 and 1,461 yards in ’53) who set numerous UGA passing records. Had 4,836 career passing yards before 14-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and Green Bay Packers including two Packer Super Bowl champion teams. He was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
#50 Johnny Carson, E Atlanta, Ga., 1953 (FWAA, Paramount News)
Johnny Carson was a four-letter athlete at UGA lettering in football, golf, basketball and baseball. In 1953 Carson led the nation in receiving with 46 receptions and was a first round selection in the 1954 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins where he played from 1954-59. Carson is a member the Georgia all-time team and was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1957.
#60 Pat Dye, G Blythe, Ga. 1959 (FWAA-Look) 1960 (FB News)
A two-time All-American, Pat Dye helped lead Georgia to the 1959 SEC championship and 1960 Orange Bowl victory over Missouri (14-0). He is a member of both the Georgia and Alabama Sports Halls of Fame. Dye played two seasons in the Canadian Football League before being hired as an assistant coach for the University of Alabama. Dye’s greatest success came as head coach at Auburn from 1981-1992. During his tenure the Tigers won four Southeastern Conference titles.
#10 Fran Tarkenton, QB Athens, Ga., 1960 (AP)
Raised in Athens, Ga., Tarkenton led Georgia to the 1959 SEC championship and Orange Bowl victory over Missouri (14-0) as a junior. In his 1960 senior season, he led the SEC in total offense (1,274 yards) and in passing offense (1,189 yards). He was also named an Academic All-American. After graduation, Tarkenton played 18 seasons in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants and set numerous NFL passing records
during his career. He led the Vikings to the Super Bowl three times: 1973, 1974, and 1976. When he retired following the 1978 season at age 39, Tarkenton had gained 47,003 yards passing and threw 342 TD passes as a professional. He held NFL records with 3,686 completed passes and 6,467 attempted passes. He has been inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
#79 Jim Wilson, T Pittsburgh, Pa. 1964 (AP, NEA, FWAALook, Helms, Sports Extra) Offensive tackle “Big Jim” Wilson was described by head coach Vince Dooley as “the strongest player I’ve ever seen.” He helped lead Georgia to a 1964 Sun Bowl victory over Texas Tech before being taken in the fourth round of the 1964 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He played four seasons in the NFL retiring due to a spinal condition. He was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
#70 Ray Rissmiller, T Easton, Pa. 1964 (Time, Spt. News) Winner of the 1964 Jenkins Award as Georgia’s best lineman, Ray Rissmiller was an all-star tackle for the Bulldogs. He helped lead Georgia to a 1964 Sun Bowl victory over Texas Tech before being taken in the second round of the 1965 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was an accomplished singer. Rissmiller released his first single “Big Ray” on GRC Records. Scott Rissmiller, Ray’s son, also played tackle for Georgia from 1988-1992.
#76 George Patton, DT Tuscumbia, Ala., 1965 (AP, FWAA-Look, FB News) “General” George Patton was captain of the 1966 SEC Championship team. A three-time All-SEC selection, Patton won the Jenkins Award and the J.B. Whitworth Award as the Bulldogs’ best lineman. He also played quarterback—a lifelong dream—in the 1966 Cotton Bowl victory over Southern Methodist. Patton played one season in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. He was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
#63 Edgar Chandler, OG Cedartown, Ga. 1966 (NEA); 1967 (AP, UPI, NEA, CP, FWAA, Look, Coaches, Time, Sporting News, FB News, NY NEA, Playboy, Kodak, Walter Camp) A two-time All-American, Chandler played a key role in Georgia’s three-year record of 23-9-0 from 1965-67 including a 10-1 SEC and Cotton Bowl Championship season of ’66. Chandler went on to an NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and was converted to linebacker to utilize his great speed. He was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. He died in 1992 after a long illness at the age of 46.