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Counting the Days – Day 94

"94" is (L to R) for No. 94 Wycliffe Lovelace, a 94-game rivalry like no other, and for the late, 94-year-old Cliff Kimsey.
"94" is (L to R) for No. 94 Wycliffe Lovelace, a 94-game rivalry like no other, and for the late, 94-year-old Cliff Kimsey.

Dave McMahon and Patrick Garbin

Welcome to our daily countdown! Our countdown to the Bulldogs’ opening game began recently and, today, we’re at 94. In 94 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 that we hope will relive memories of why that particular number is special to the Dawgs. This year, a movie came out called 94 Feet. I really don’t know much about it except that it stars Larry Wilcox. Wilcox was Officer Jon Baker (Ponch’s sidekick) in the TV show Chips. I liked that theme song back in the day, making me wonder what today’s TV stars will be doing in 35 years? Hopefully not movies like 94 Feet. That was an interesting memory for me, but I think these Georgia football memories are even better. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them, or maybe they’ll help spark others. And, if you have others pertaining to this number, please mention them at The Dawgvent.

94 – by Dave McMahon

3 – My first connection with 94 is tight end and Florida native Orson Charles (2009-2011). Charles, a high school and college teammate of Aaron Murray, had 94 receptions in his three seasons with the Bulldogs. Ten of those receptions went for touchdowns, but my favorite moment regarding Charles was not a catch. Prior to enrolling at Georgia, Charles was participating in a camp at the University of Florida and was posing for pictures with the 2006 National Championship trophy. Charles’ hip accidently knocked into the crystal football trophy, which eventually fell to the floor outside of Urban Meyer’s office. The trophy broke, but was replaced; still, that memory lives on.

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2 – January 1, 2000: the first college football game played in the 2000s, and it was between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Purdue Boilermakers. The Outback Bowl in Tampa was the scene, and the Dawgs trailed 25-0 to Drew Brees and the Boilermakers. Eventually Georgia would fight its way back and trailed by just seven late in the fourth quarter. Georgia had one last shot, and began with the ball at its own six-yard line. Sophomore Quincy Carter led the drive, completing pass after pass. On third and goal with just over one minute left, Carter dropped back and was forced out of the pocket. He threw across his body towards a well-covered Randy McMichael, but the tight end caught it for an 8-yard touchdown. Hap Hines’ extra point tied the game, and in overtime, Hines struck again for the game-winning field goal.

1 – Like the others, this one relates to the state of Florida as well. In 1904, Georgia and Florida faced off in Macon with the Red and Black winning, 52-0. Since their initial game, they have met 93 more times. The Gators say they were not officially the University of Florida in 1904, so their numbers are not the same. Anyway, no matter how you look at it, the rivalry is either the most important game on Georgia’s football schedule, or one of the Bulldogs’ most important games. Although the majority of the games have been played in Jacksonville, they have also been played in Macon, Tampa, Savannah, Gainesville, and Athens. Despite what some people might think, Georgia still has an advantage in the series, but Florida is closing: currently, the Dawgs lead the series 50-42-2. So, whether it’s Belue-to-Scott, Appleby-to-Washington, Charley Britt, David Pollack, Jarvis Jones, or a touchdown celebration (or ones that make you throw things), this 94-game rivalry is certainly filled with memories for Dawgs fans. And, there are a lot more to come...

94 – by Patrick Garbin

3 – 94 is for the 9.4 speed in the 100 the versatile Kent Lawrence (1966-1968) was clocked at when he showed up on campus in the mid-1960s. Now, even Lawrence—a recently retired Chief Judge of the Clarke County State Court—might admit the stopwatch-timed speed was a little bias with perhaps some “home cooking,”regardless, the Central, S.C. native could flat out fly. In three seasons in the Bulldogs’ backfield, Lawrence amassed 2,722 all-purpose yards—a school record which stood for about a decade. Until Isaiah McKenzie duplicated the feat nearly a half-century later, Lawrence had been the last Georgia player to run both a kickoff and a punt back for touchdowns the same season. He remains the last Bulldog to score touchdowns on a kickoff return, punt return, and rushing in the same year, and the only player in UGA history to total at least 300 yards rushing, receiving, on kickoff returns, and punt returns during a career.

2 – 94 is for No. 94 Wycliffe Lovelace (1984-86, 1988)—likely, Georgia’s MVP of its all-time “All-Name Team,” who, although injury filled, wound up having an admirable career on the field, as well. The Clewiston, Fla. native, who arrived at UGA as a Parade All-American defensive end, was switched to tight end for his sophomore season before tearing ligaments in his knee. A starting defensive tackle in 1986, Lovelace would miss the following year because of an injury before starring for the Bulldogs during his senior campaign of ’88. For his career, he totaled 158 tackles (99 in 1988), four sacks, three other tackles for loss, and four fumble recoveries. Lovelace also made two receptions for 15 yards, but is likely best remembered for the corralled pass he had versus Georgia Tech in 1988—his, and head coach Vince Dooley’s final regular-season game—returning the interception 33 yards for a touchdown in a 24-3 Bulldogs’ victory.

1 – 94 was the age of UGA’s then-oldest living letterman, Cliff Kimsey (1939-1941), when he recently passed away on May 10th. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Kimsey for one of my books a few years back, and I first found him to be extremely courteous and humble, hardly wanting to speak of his on-field and off-the-field accolades—just to name a few: in three seasons at Georgia, started at three different positions; All-SEC as a senior in 1941; head coach at Cedartown High School while in his mid-20s, and assistant coach at Kansas; pallbearer at Ty Cobb’s funeral; served the Cornelia Bank, including as president and chairman of the board, for nearly three decades. Secondly, I found him to have the sharpest of minds and with a keen memory, recounting the most minor details from plays resulting more than 70 years before. Rest in peace, Mr. Kimsey.

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