IMAGES OF OUR PAST - HOW ABOUT THESE DOGS? - GEORGIA BULLDOGS PLAYERS WHOSE JERSEYS HAVE BEEN RETIRED.

WALKER, SAPP, TRIPPI, AND SINKWICH

In more than 130 years of Georgia Bulldog football, only four men have had their jersey numbers retired.  

What is remarkable about this quartet is that two of the men grew up within ten miles of each other.  The other two were enticed to leave their northern homes and come south to play during the World War II era.

Frank Sinkwich (21)  was born in post-World War I  Yugoslavia.  His family moved to Youngstown, Ohio.  He led Georgia to a National Championship in 1942.

Charley Trippi (62), of Pennsylvania, followed Sinkwich and led Georgia to a near-national championship in 1947.

Both men were picked out the blue collar industry towns of the North by Coach Wally Butts.

Next is Theron Sapp (# 40.)  Sapp was born in Brewton, Georgia, a small but once-thriving railrroad/farming communities of northeastern Laurens County, Georgia.  Sapp grew up in Dublin, but moved to Macon, where he was an outstanding back for Lanier High.  Sapp became a Bulldog Immortal for ending a long losing drought to Georgia Tech.  Sapp scored the game's only touchdown (7-0) and led the stubborn Bulldog defense as well.  Sapp is one of the few college players to be awarded the MVP award in two consecutive postseason All-Star Games. 

About eighty years after Sapp was born, a  young, powerful running back out of Wrightsville, Georgia, put on a Bulldog uniform and never looked behind.  Regarded as the best collegiate running back ever, won the Heisman Award and was a legitimate candidate for two more had he finished his four years at Georgia.

Although  Herschel Walker  (#34) lists his hometown as Wrightsville, his home in the Spann Community was closer to Laurens County than Wrightsville.  Older news accounts reported the Wallker's mother was due to deliver her son Herschel at Laurens Memorial Hospital.  Last-minute issues caused her to have her baby in Augusta.  One legend has it that Walker's parents petitioned East Laurens High School to allow Walker to attend school there since it was closer to their home, a request that was denied. What if?   Anyway, Herschel Walker is the CEO and principal owner of Renaissance Man Foods, who corporated headquarters is located on Bellevue Avenue.