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Counting the Days – Day 83

"83" is for (L to R) MATTHEW STAFFORD rushing at Auburn; NICK CHUBB running—a couple of times; and, No. 83 "Mr. Versatility," who could do it all.
"83" is for (L to R) MATTHEW STAFFORD rushing at Auburn; NICK CHUBB running—a couple of times; and, No. 83 "Mr. Versatility," who could do it all.

Dave McMahon and Patrick Garbin

Welcome to our countdown! Just over two weeks ago, this countdown began and we hope you are enjoying it. In 83 days, Georgia will be facing North Carolina at the Georgia Dome. Each day leading up to the season opener, Patrick Garbin and I will show three unique and creative ways why that number is special to the Dawgs. John Mayer did a song titled “83,” but it wasn’t the one where they shot the video at the Georgia Theatre (that was “No Such Thing”). Anyway, if you haven’t been to the Georgia Theatre in a while, you should go. It is pretty cool (I also like the old rundown look from before). And, going to the Theatre maybe brings back memories for you, as hopefully this article will as well...

83 – by Dave McMahon

3 – One of the biggest questions concerning the football team this season is the health of running back Nick Chubb. I have no idea if he will be ready, but if he is, I hope he gets another 83-yard run (especially if the Bulldogs are on their own 17-yard line). During his freshman season, Chubb had an 83-yard touchdown run against Charleston Southern. In his sophomore season, he had another 83-yard touchdown run against Alabama. Chubb was having a pretty lousy day (so were the Dawgs), but that 4th quarter run against the Tide gave him over 100 yards for the 13th game in a row, tying Herschel Walker’s school record. Chubb also had an 82-yard run against Louisville his freshman year, but that didn’t go for a score.

2 – Robert Miles was a former walk-on at the University of Georgia, but earned a scholarship after his freshman season. Miles wore No. 83 and was the starting defensive end for the 1980 National Championship team after beginning his collegiate career as a tight end (Miles and Bulldog legend Erk Russell had some funny interactions—do the research if you have time). Miles has worked in many various roles with the athletic association and currently serves as Director of CHAMPS/Life Skills Program. He is charged with preparing student-athletes for the challenges of life beyond the playing field.

1 – John Lastinger was the starting quarterback for Georgia after Buck Belue. He led the Dawgs to an SEC title in 1982, and in 1983, they were 10-1-1 overall, including a historic victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl. During Lastinger's senior season, he threw for six touchdowns and ran for seven other scores. He rushed 83 times for 330 yards in ’83, but his most famous carry is not statistically considered since it happened in a bowl game before bowl stats counted. Lastinger and the Bulldogs trailed the Longhorns 9-3 in the closing minutes. On third down, the senior quarterback faked a handoff and darted towards the pylon. It worked, as Lastinger scored on a 17-yard run with 3:22 remaining and, after the successful extra point, everybody knew what time it was in Texas...

83 – by Patrick Garbin

3 – Georgia’s victory over Yale in 1929 is significant as the first game ever played at Sanford Stadium; still, the Bulldogs win in New Haven, Conn., a year later at the Yale Bowl was called “the most brilliant victory ever won by a Georgia team.” What was considered the biggest play of the game—the difference—in the Bulldogs’ 18-14 win in 1930 resulted at the beginning—like, on the very first play. On the opening kickoff, Yale’s kick was “poor,” bounding into the arms of Georgia’s junior starting quarterback, AUSTIN DOWNES. Just shy of his own 20-yard line, Downes waited for his blocking to develop, and then took off, streaking the whole way for a touchdown. Curiously, most newspaper accounts reported Downes’ historical kickoff return to cover 81 yards. However, despite the fact it currently isn’t evident in the UGA record books, it was officially recorded by the school at the time as an 83-yard return for a touchdown.

2 – Perhaps more so impressive than the passing performance by MATTHEW STAFFORD in his “coming out” at Auburn in 2006 (14 of 20, 219 yards, a touchdown) was how the true freshman quarterback also ran all over the fifth-ranked Tigers on the Plains. Rushing for 83 yards on seven carries and a touchdown, Stafford’s single-game ground total remains the highest by a Bulldog quarterback since 2005. Beginning in 1991 and over the last quarter-century, only two Georgia quarterbacks on three occasions—Quincy Carter twice, D.J. Shockley once—rushed for more yards in a game than Stafford’s 83. Maybe more so, following the 37-15 memorable victory over the Tigers, Stafford rushed for only 25 net yards on 105 carries over his next two-plus seasons quarterbacking the Bulldogs, while never exceeding 25 rushing yards in a single game.

1 – A highly-touted offensive end out of Lanier High School in Macon, MIXON ROBINSON, wearing No. 98 at the time, made 15 combined receptions for the Bulldogs as a tight end in 1969 and 1970 after finishing second in receiving on the freshman Bullpups team in ‘68. It was during the 1970 season when Vince Dooley began trying the versatile Robinson at several positions on defense. “He can do it all,” the head coach said of Robinson at the time—and, how! As a starting defensive end as a senior in 1971, and wearing No. 83 by this time, Robinson was considered the “big playmaker” during Georgia’s 11-1 campaign. One of his big plays that season was a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown during a 49-7 rout of Florida. Robinson was twice named the SEC’s Lineman of the Week, elected the team’s defensive captain, and capped the year by being recognized as a First Team All-SEC end. Notably, during the Bulldogs trip to Vanderbilt earlier that season, Robinson began his Saturday gameday early at 8:30 am, or 11 hours before Georgia was scheduled to kickoff against the Commodores. With plans to attend medical school, he took the four-hour long national medical admission examination in Nashville prior to making a key sack later that night, knocking Vanderbilt out of scoring range in a 24-0 Bulldogs shutout. Finally, I’m going to guess Robinson did rather well on that exam considering the versatile one-time player who could “do it all” eventually became Dr. Mixon Robinson, long-time revered orthopedic surgeon.

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