His 1971 state-record 21 receiving touchdowns stood until 2010. I dont blame the players for feeling that way, said Dooley, who will turn 90 in September. @680TheFan. Toggle navigation He sort of chuckled and said there was a lot of built-up frustration over those years of losing to Valdosta, Dont take it personally is what I believe he said., 5. He rushed for 3,133 yards in a nine-year NFL career. Plus, Buck's Beat Podcast. . Buck Belue's QB Camp Recap Gallery Registration is open to all high-school-age Quarterbacks, however Buck will only be inviting the best 30 QBs and 20 Wide Receivers to participate. Youd see him around town and stop and go wow. Youd be in awe. He often mentions the Wildcats on his show, and usually calls the station Friday night to give them Valdostas score. We were playing old youth league football at 9, 10, 11 years old, and were playing at about 8 in the morning, and if you look back in the stands, youd usually see Coach Bazemore watching the games. The student then greased the entire flag pole from top to bottom, ensuring that it would not be very easy for Valdosta High maintenance to climb up to detach the Viking flag. As a young boy there growing up in Valdosta, we all dreamed of the day we would get to high school and wear that Wildcat uniform and win a state title. He was the quarterback, and he went to Ole Miss. They were up 40-0 with 30 seconds left and still giving the ball to William Andrews. [6] After the demise of the USFL, Belue spent two years on the football coaching staff at Valdosta State University, serving as an offensive assistant. Valdosta High School 4590 Inner Perimeter Road Valdosta, GA 31601 Phone: (229) 333-8540 Fax: (229) 333-8584. Around that same time, Prince recalled: In the mid-70s, a Lowndes student went to Cleveland Field and attached a Lowndes Vikings flag and hoisted it up to the top, but he wasnt finished. 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. The first part of the book is my journey through Valdosta and the secrets to all the winning. You need to watch him tonight, and he put on one of the most memorable performances I can remember seeing. You mentioned that you saw many of the players that were on the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame ballot or were voted in. At quarterback, its about being a leader, and being a field general. The first time I played quarterback was in the eighth grade. He set Georgias career rushing record of 6,137 yards. The Bulldogs would go on to defeat Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl four weeks later. Brooks made the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Probably the most successful event to date was a couple of weeks ago in Valdosta. It remains one of those indelible football moments from which Buck Belue can never escape, nor does he want to. We would have to hire extra security guards for the entire week of the game, starting on Sunday night, and it would last all week long until the game was over, Redshaw said. Andrews was named to four Pro Bowls and earned two second-team All-Pro selections. Even though Valdosta and Lowndes High had been playing each other every year since 1968, it was becoming obvious to everyone, including Lastinger, that the game was becoming much more competitive, especially with the arrival of head coach Joe Wilson at Lowndes. We were in an extra bedroom, and his wife came in a couple of times and told him dinner was ready. According to Baker, the win inspired a year-long rally cry: 7 to 2 we beat Belue., John Lastinger, the son of Johnny B. Lastinger, played receiver at Valdosta and would be the guy who succeeded Belue at quarterback. They are two very-talented guys. Belue also details in the book how he. No wonder Buck eyed. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Sandra Belue's son and his roommate, Scott, had just carved out a piece of immortality. [2] Belue was named captain of the 1981 team. It was good learning from their experiences. ], 4. The police asked us about the flyers, and coach Jerry Don Baker came walking over and told the cops the plane had a Lowndes County Vikings license plate, Henderson said with a laugh. How would you contrast and compare those iconic coaches? 5,214 - Buck Belue . That place [Lowndes home stadium] was rocking before the 77 game, but we had known after that 76 game that this game was going to be different, and it was.. Call: (916)383-0110 (510)781-4800. Valdosta High School - Sandspur Yearbook (Valdosta, GA), Class of 1975, Page 130 of 272 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. Belue played two seasons in the USFL with the Jacksonville Bulls and was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. It was designed to look like it was coming from Lowndes fans. Then in July 2021, Hutson Mason became one of five co-hosts of The Locker Room, leaving Belue with his own show called The Buck Belue Show on WCNN. A few of the Lowndes students got together and built a Viking ship, Prince said. Belue also talked to all of the players about being positive influences and representing themselves and the Valdosta Wildcats well. The longtime Lowndes coach was quick to offer his memory of the best performance he saw in the Classic. Joe Wilson had accomplished two of his three goals. Defensive coordinator Erk Russell. When Buck finished his career he was the state's all-time passing leader with 5,214 yards. It was infuriating.. The most improbable win for either team was this one, with Valdosta overcoming a 17-7 deficit in just 1:14 to win the Winnersville Classic over Lowndes. [Johnson scored on a 68-yard run on the final play of the first half, then threw a 28-yard TD pass and a two-point conversion in the final seconds for a 26-26 tie. I just think of all the people that helped me get there, as I mentioned, Coach Bazemore, Coach Hyder, Coach Wilson, Coach Rudolph. Join Facebook to connect with Guy Belue and others you may know. In 1977, Wilsons second season, he made good on his assurance to Martin that he was finally going to beat Valdosta, and on his boast to Hyder that he was going to whip your [butt], by leading the Vikings to an incredible 7-2 win over the Wildcats in front of a frenzied Lowndes home crowd. I admired these athletes. Former UGA quarterback Buck Belue authors book on 1980 championship season, Online archive of print stories 2006-present, Pick em 2022 Forsyth Sports football picks, Football: Forsyth County News Media Day-watch the videos. [Johnson scored on a 68-yard run on the final play of the first half, then threw a 28-yard TD pass and a two-point conversion in the final seconds for a 26-26 tie. Bobby Green, a local business owner and Valdosta High supporter, would also host a lunch on a first come-first serve basis at his home, with fans invited. There was a golf tournament involving fans and coaches from both teams. Doug Henderson, whose sons Ashley, Justin, and Doug all played at Valdosta, recalled a prank in the mid-90s that was designed to fire up the Wildcat players. Its important to me to come back and pass that knowledge along. And when he showed up Friday to host a camp, they came to the field excited to learn from him. All but Scott are former Valdosta players. 1. Baker said the cheerleaders from both teams would usually meet at one of the girls homes, and the groups would alternate each season. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In practice, it was always the 1s against the 1s. "We just love it. Rome was ranked the No. The book has not been life-altering for Belue. And when he showed up. But the current Wildcats still know who he is. He was just so far ahead of his time. It includes Brooks County to the west.. Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University, a regional university in the University . Bazemore watched you play in youth ball and suggested to the coaches that they move you to quarterback. Belue was selected by the Montreal Expos in the sixth round of the 1982 MLB Draft, and some of his book discusses his path as a two-sport athlete. The dream was to wear that Valdosta uniform and do like every other graduate that came through, and that was win a state championship, and we played Clarke Central in Athens and lost 16-14. Ive been wanting to do this for some time, Belue said. Walker led Georgia to a 1980 national title and finished his career with 5,259 rushing yards, the most ever in three seasons. Im just so thankful my quarterback coach was Joe Wilson. Between plays, we would stand there and listen to Coach Rudolph break down the responsibilities of each defensive player for the play we just ran. Larry Kinnebrewrushed for more than 1,000 yards as a fullback and was the dominant force defensively on East Romes 15-0 Class A champion that shut out nine opponents and held four others to seven points or less in 1977. He was the first 4 year starter at Quarterback at Valdosta High school. If you are a good ole boy from the South, it's going to be hard to find a better name than Buck Belue. He was going to youth league programs, scouting the local talent. Im glad he came here and did this for us. On their annual Fourth of July vacation to Florida last week, the Belues made stops at the Marshside Grill in Brunswick and the Coachs Corner in Savannah to peddle books. Events are being planned for Atlanta, Augusta and Marietta, among other cities. Obviously, that did not happen. How did Bazemore make a quarterback out of you? I have nothing but respect for the man, Belue said of Dooley. I just take it as a huge honor.. Buck was a great quarterback for maybe the toughest high school program to play forthe Valdosta Wildcats. The Valdosta Wildcats have been playing football since 1913, and with over 900 wins, 24 state championships, six national championships, and a bunch of region titles, they remain the winningest high school football team in the country. Sign up for our email newsletter. But part of Belue's focus in writing the book was shining a light on his hometown of Valdosta, as well as some of the lesser known players on Georgia's 1980 team. When Belue finally got to his mom and dad, the tears were flowing. Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. Benjamin Franklin 'Buck' Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. Brooks would become Auburns all-time leading rusher with 3,523 yards, which remains third in school history. That was Lowndes first win ever against Valdosta, whose quarterback was Buck Belue, the future University of Georgia star. 38. 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