Hyder became head coach your freshman year. He played at 6 feet, 2 inches, and 240 pounds but was exceptionally fast. Nelson knows he can't be too careful after he sparked a small-town tempest in the high school football hotbed of Valdosta, a city of more than 56,000 residents located about 15 miles north of the . We talked about a lot of things. Its been written and put away for five years, then re-written and put away for 10 years and then re-written again. What did those coaches mean to you? What do most people want to talk to you about at these book signings? Youve been to about 10 cities to sign your book, and youve got several more scheduled. Wilson had fulfilled his first promise to Martin: A winning season in his first try, something Lowndes had never before experienced. He was credited with 130 tackles as a senior. He played for what is regarded as the greatest Valdosta team ever, which went 13-0 in route to a Class 3A title. I had Jack Rudolph coaching the defense. Ben Belue, 71, of Valdosta was a devoted family man and lifetime sales executive, born in Anniston, Ala. on Nov. 28, 1940 and raised in Macon, Ga. where he attended Lanier High School. And a Plains teen girl borrowed Jimmy Carters clothes. Buck Belue, right, and Lindsey Scott, second from left, with Valdosta High football quarterbacks Michael Turner, left, and Alfrie Johnson, second from right, during the camp at Valdosta High School Friday morning. And a Plains teen girl borrowed Jimmy Carters clothes. By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism. Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. The first time I played quarterback was in the eighth grade. !"-Susan Wooten, 2022 CATS Winner Three, Ill win a state championship, which youve never won. Joe Wilson accomplished all three within three years.. He came through for me on that, which was huge.. The native of Jessup has made his home in Valdosta since retiring from professional football and is an avid supporter of UGA athletics and a dedicated follower of local high school football. I would soak up all this knowledge. Youd see him around town and stop and go wow. Youd be in awe. In basketball, Rome averaged 32 points per game as a high school senior and was MVP of the Georgia all-star basketball game. We got the ball with about three or four minutes left inside our own 10 and drove down to the 1-yard line with like two seconds left. I was blessed with this great coaching. [Belue passed for a state-record 5,214 yards and won two region titles in his four Valdosta seasons. Valdosta High School is the most successful High School football program in the country. It remains one of those indelible football moments from which Buck Belue can never escape, nor does he want to. Their next option? Its a good feeling knowing you represent Valdosta. A behind the curtain look at my story from Valdosta High through the University of Georgia. I have nothing but respect for the man, Belue said of Dooley. They hear about Herschel [Walker], Coach Dooley, Erk Russell, Buck Belue, and there were just so many guys that played a big part in the championship, and it really gave me an opportunity to really brag on them, which was a real motivator, too.". He also added 1,487 rushing yards and . I really enjoyed working with Mike and Alfrie, and getting to know them, Belue said. Quarterback of Georgia's 1980 National Championship Team Captain of the 1981 SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs Twice selected as 1 st Team All-SEC QB 4-Year Starter on the Georgia Baseball Team Twice selected as 1 st Team All-SEC Outfielder Led the SEC in hitting Honored as the SEC Athlete of the Year 1981. 3 Georgia high school football player of all time by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2007, and this is just his football career. The book has become a family affair. Benjamin Franklin 'Buck' Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. He is currently co-founder and editor of Georgia High School Football Daily. Todays interviewee is Buck Belue, sports talk show host for 680 The Fan, quarterback for Georgias 1980 national championship team, four-year starting quarterback at Valdosta, inaugural selectee into the new Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame and author of a new book, Inside The Hedges, a look at Georgias 1980 season and his athletic career. That was the dream of every young athlete in Valdosta, and that dream didnt go much further than that. Chip Towers covers the Georgia Bulldogs for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. . Stan Rome was awesome, too. Even on a business trip in a remote Caribbean country, it followed the former. This isn't conjecture, it's really fact. They were up 40-0 with 30 seconds left and still giving the ball to William Andrews. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. valdosta high school Fields Victoria Lane-Long Victor James Vivian Manghram Voncil Moss His three children range in age from 8 to 11. It was the last one. The quarterback thing happened late for me, and it was Wright Bazemore that told the middle school coach to move me to quarterback, so I owe much of my football success to Coach Bazemore for having the insight to get me over to that position. He was totally unselfish, too. And I have so many great memories of him taking time to help coach me up. High School Highlights - Portal state basketball advances Prep Sports Blitz - Feb. 18, 2023 The Eagles Nest - Feb. 19, 2023 Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. It was just playing for the Wildcats. He and his wife had an apartment next to the school, and I would go over to watch film with him. Whichever you prefer, this town has won a lot of high school football games over the years.Valdosta High School has 24 state titles to it's cred. Belue was atUniversities Forever in Cumming on Saturdayto promote his book,'Inside the Hedges: The Quarterback's Journey to the 1980 National Championship,' a project that was decades in the making. He was totally unselfish, too. Belue was a star quarterback at Valdosta High School. The best players I saw play in the game were quarterback Cedric Hatten for us, and for Lowndes it was Greg Reid. The Wildcats loss to Lowndes and the close game the year before were the turning points of the series, and turned it into a true rivalry, Lastinger said. Two, Ill beat Valdosta, which youve never done. They just burned the thing, Prince said. Prince recalled a prank that took place the week of the 1974 game. Also, I was motivated by writing about the 1980 season and about the guys that never got the credit. Hopefully the renewed interest in the program would spill over and may have people interested in what happened in 1980.". There were a lot of guys who had a huge impact to the success of those teams.]. I admired these athletes. There were a lot of guys who had a huge impact to the success of those teams.]. Those were the low-key celebrations of Winnersville. We had some tense moments during those years, but I sort of wanted a hard-to-please coach. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. The first part of the book is my journey through Valdosta and the secrets to all the winning. Im just humbled really by it all, just thankful that I was working alongside those coaches and teammates, without whom I wouldnt be able to enjoy something like this. I'd gone through and written it probably in the late 80s, then a couple of years later changed ityou know, write, rewrite, write, rewrite. Both were thrilled to have the chance to work with a former player whod not only been Valdostas quarterback, but had also played for Georgia and the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. The interview below follows the Four Questions format, along with three bonus questions with Belues thoughts on making the Hall of Fame (induction is Oct. 22), his most memorable high school game and how coach Wright Bazemore made him a quarterback. Search and browse yearbooks online! Please only use it for a guidance and Buck Belue's actual income may vary a lot from the dollar amount shown above. You have permission to edit this article. Hundreds of people turned out at the The Salty Snapper, including former Valdosta High classmates and UGA teammates. This record was later broken by Aaron Murray's 98-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Davis in Georgia's victory over North Texas in 2013. Simmons was considered undersized for the NFL and went in the sixth round. So, thats up front in the book. Find out more. Feb. 25, 2021 -. We still do that now, just not as much.. I had Jack Rudolph coaching the defense. Joe wanted us to embrace the country boy label, Prince said. A lot of my motivation was to brag on some players and coaches at Valdosta and at Georgia that never got the credit they deserved.. Way too much credit is given to Herschel (Walker) and Lindsay (Scott) and Buck. ], Ive also got some memories of Coach Hyder trying to turn the program around, and he took me to some playoff games to watch Michael Jolly [the quarterback on Central-Macons 1975 Class 3A championship team]. He was the first Georgia-grown player to win the Heisman. He often mentions the Wildcats on his show, and usually calls the station Friday night to give them Valdostas score. What the Georgia receiver did after the catch, easily winning a 75 . Toggle navigation He rushed for 3,133 yards in a nine-year NFL career. 38. We just knew the crowd would go crazy, and it would fire up our players.. His 37 career touchdowns are fourth all-time for the franchise. If you are a Valdosta alumn, we encourage you to register and be sure to sign up for the alumni newsletter. @680TheFan. Today's interviewee is Buck Belue, sports talk show host for 680 The Fan, quarterback for Georgia's 1980 national championship team, four-year starting quarterback at Valdosta, inaugural. He set Georgias career rushing record of 6,137 yards. I was always a fan of the top players and programs and curious about the way they did it, what scheme they were running. The players gathered together on the steps of the old McWhorter Hall athletic dormitory and seethed. McGuyrt also emceed the FCA banquet that was held the Thursday before the big game. Baker said of all the great players he coached against in the Winnersville Classic, none was better than James Wildman Carter. Buck Belue is best known as the quarterback who led Georgia to its 1980 national championship, but he was widely known before that as a high school athlete. Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University, a regional university in the University System of Georgia with over 12,000 students, and Valdosta High School, home to the winningest football program in the United States. 2. George Rogers, the 1980 Heisman Trophy winner while at South Carolina, was the AJCs Class A Back of the Year in 1976 and Class B Back of the Year in 1975. Valdosta missed a two-point try in the third quarter and a 31-yard field goal with 1:23 left. Belue said he flirted with shopping his book to outside publishers, but opted instead to publish it himself. The interview below follows the Four Questions format, plus three bonus questions with Belues thoughts on making the Hall of Fame (induction is Oct. 22), his most memorable high school game and how coach Wright Bazemore made him a quarterback. 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