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. At Valdosta, you were heavily influenced by the legendary head coaches Wright Bazemore (1941-42, 1946-71) and Nick Hyder (1973-95). So, Joe sits down with Martin and Sonny asks him, Joe, why should I hire you? Prince said. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. It was just playing for the Wildcats. I hope that will help them this season. [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. Benjamin Franklin 'Buck' Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. I really enjoyed working with Mike and Alfrie, and getting to know them, Belue said. On this page: Player News Sports Reference Blog -- Get site news and learn about new and existing features. Rome talked about playing for the legendary Wright Bazemore. We spent so many Friday nights at Cleveland Field, or Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as they call it now, watching them win big. In baseball, he had a career .356 batting average and became a second-round pick in the 1978 MLB Draft. He bypassed his senior season and went to the USFL and totaled 7,046 all-purpose yards and 61 touchdowns in three years. VALDOSTA - Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback, Buck Belue, will be doing a book signing at Salty Snapper on Friday, June 17. The coach it was John Lastingers dad, as a matter of fact they installed this tight end-around pass, and I ended up leading the league in passing. [John Lastinger followed Belue as the starting quarterback at Valdosta and at Georgia. ATHENS The Georgia Bulldogs were mad. 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. Latest: Gallery: Buck Belue book signing at Coach's Corner Call: (916)383-0110 (510)781-4800. 1. I wanted the freedom to do what I wanted to do, you know? In the next three their record was 31-6; they finished No. His coach, Bobby Bowden, called Simmons the most significant recruit and player in turning FSU into a national power. Even though we had practiced riding the mule out there on the field several times, we had not done it with 12,000 screaming fans, Prince recalled with a laugh. He fell short of a state title when Clarke Central beat Valdosta 16-14 in the 1977 Class 3A championship. He also told them they have the talent to be a great football team, and said he was excited about the upcoming season, the first under new coach Rick Tomberlin. There was a golf tournament involving fans and coaches from both teams. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Walker led Georgia to a 1980 national title and finished his career with 5,259 rushing yards, the most ever in three seasons. Books can be ordered at InsideTheHedges.com or in person at one of Belues appearances. Thats when I figured it was time to go., 3. They hauled the ship over from Lowndes to Valdosta High in the middle of the night and put it in the pond in front of the school. Its great that the Lord Wedgwood Charity offered to give one to a school in my name. Belue said he and most of his Georgia teammates understood after hearing Dooleys explanation about his deep relationships at Auburn. Bazemore watched you play in youth ball and suggested to the coaches that they move you to quarterback. The Cats still maintain that designation. Valdosta High School 4590 Inner Perimeter Road Valdosta, GA 31601 Phone: (229) 333-8540 Fax: (229) 333-8584. Who are some of the great players you saw from your era or before? I just think of all the people that helped me get there, as I mentioned, Coach Bazemore, Coach Hyder, Coach Wilson, Coach Rudolph. His three children range in age from 8 to 11. So, thats up front in the book. Don Shula's Miami Dolphins went undefeated and won the Super Bowl. In the 1977 game, there were no fights, but there was a bounty placed on Buck Belue not to hurt the Valdosta QB great, but to take a piece of his number 8 jersey off his back and to the Lowndes sideline. 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. He was unbelievable.. That was Lowndes first win ever against Valdosta, whose quarterback was Buck Belue, the future University of Georgia star. He was the best in the business. . But I never in any way committed to them.. They were up 40-0 with 30 seconds left and still giving the ball to William Andrews. Their next option? Belue threw for 299 yards in his career, completing 37 of 68 passes with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. - photo by David Roberts, Forsyth County man accused of influencing stock prices with false financial information, Forsyth County man arrested on child porn, molestation charges, Police warn Forsyth County residents not to fall victim to these scams, Forsyth County announces leaders for three departments, Heres when the Cumming City Center will have its first spring market, This local chiropractor is moving to the Cumming City Center, Local real estate group moving to new office at the Cumming City Center, Man surprises his girlfriend with a diamond ring at the Cumming City Center just in time for Christmas, This popular Roswell restaurant is opening a second location at the Cumming City Center, This celebrity chef helped local Habitat for Humanity volunteers raise $10,000, Heres how the city of Cumming celebrated Community Arbor Day, South Forsyth grad earns prestigious Saxby Chambliss Fellowship, Here are the 8 students chosen for this years Good Citizen Awards, Basketball: South Forsyth girls downed by No. 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. He was credited with 130 tackles as a senior. 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. Its a good feeling knowing you represent Valdosta. Proper Name: Benjamin F. Belue High Level: AA Positions: OF (135) Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right Born: Dec 22,1959 age: 63.054 place: Valdosta,GA High School: Valdosta (Valdosta,GA) colleges: University of Georgia (Athens,GA), Drafted: Montreal Expos - 1982 - 6 - 149 (June-Reg) drafted 2x draft posit: OF TBC#: 71816 Belue told Turner and Johnson that three things a good quarterback must do are: know the down and distance, protect the football and be tough. Stan Rome was awesome, too. Probably the most successful event to date was a couple of weeks ago in Valdosta. Coach Jerry Don Baker confirmed the rumor. Belue was a star quarterback at Valdosta High School. Brooks finished with 7,962 rushing yards and 3,621 receiving yards in his NFL career and was named to the Bengals 40th Anniversary team in 2007. Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. John Lastinger remembers that game and the play. 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. His career total of 4,756 set a state record for the highest classification. VHS is one of only 39 schools in Georgia . That still sort of haunts me even today., 7. Brooks made the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. The book has become a family affair. 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 . Way too much credit is given to Herschel (Walker) and Lindsay (Scott) and Buck. As for the Dooley thing, Belue makes no apologies. I would soak up all this knowledge. What is your favorite part of The Valdosta Daily Times? They worked on it all week. [3], Belue also lettered in baseball all four years at Georgia. It was pretty good, Johnson said. Stan Rome was a dominant two-sport athlete who still holds the state record for most receiving yards in a career (4,477) despite playing in a run-dominated era. Belue, who lives in Forsyth County, currently hosts the Buck Belue Show on 680 The Fan. 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.". Wild Concerts: Park releases show schedule, EDITORIAL: Wild Adventures makes 2023 plans, Suspect arrested in Valdosta shooting death, Celebrating Ms. Jeanette: Tree planting honors Coody, Pepsi honors Stronger Together recipients. This biographical article relating to an American football quarterback born in the 1950s is a stub. 31. He hit .447 for the 1982 season and his .356 career batting average (he also hit 30 homers and scored 114 runs) remains among the top 10 in school history. UGA star Jalen Carter present at scene of fatal crash, From 2021: Buck Belue, QB of 1980 Georgia national champions, to call the Dawgs before kickoff, Georgia Tech hammers Syracuse as Jackets late-season surge continues, Braves notes: Jared Shusters first spring game, Michael Sorokas progress, Ian Anderson on spring debut: Im not gonna sugarcoat it. I admired these athletes. I grew up admiring most of those guys on the list we were voting on. To join the mailing list, click here. You get what is known as one of the greatest rivalries in all of high school football so great that its included in the Great American Rivalry Series, which recognizes the top high school football rivalries across the nation. How could he do this? To order a book or get a copy at a book signing, click here. He often mentions the Wildcats on his show, and usually calls the station Friday night to give them Valdostas score. Join Facebook to connect with Guy Belue and others you may know. He came through for me on that, which was huge.. BUCK BELUE Belue, Benjamin Franklin Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Born: December 12, 1959 Macon, GA High School: Valdosta (GA) Prince recalled how, prior to the 1985 Winnersville game, an idea was hatched to have someone ride a mule out to midfield before the Valdosta game, staying true to the plowboys image Lowndes had cultivated. 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. Buck Belue, former Valdosta, UGA quarterback. Valdosta High School - Sandspur Yearbook (Valdosta, GA), Class of 1978, Page 57 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. Four other ex-Georgia players helped Belue at the camp. They put it on us my freshman year. The Vikings would begin playing crosstown rival Valdosta that same year, but it was a David-vs.-Goliath mismatch for the first decade or so, with Valdosta, boasting all those state and national championships not to mention a 50-year head start defeating the upstart Lowndes High in the teams first 11 games. [5] Belue also played during the 1984 and 1985 seasons at quarterback for the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. The first time I played quarterback was in the eighth grade. The. They were running the same sets and plays. On the next play, Wilkes found Sherrod Inman in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 17-14. 2. He set other state records in high school football that lasted decades, including the single-season receiving record of 1,573 yards as a sophomore in 1971. Reid is forever known for The Run against Valdosta in the 2007 game. He rushed for 3,133 yards in a nine-year NFL career. Macon, GA Position: QB Height: 6'1" Weight: 190 College: Georgia High School: Valdosta (GA) Career: 1984-1985 Buck Belue played from 1984 to 1985 during his career with the Jacksonville Bulls. 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. He spent much of the camp working with Valdostas current quarterbacks, Mike Turner and Alfrie Johnson. Since it started playing football in 1913, Valdosta has won 612 games and lost 129, with 33 ties. Read, watch, and listen to the latest news and opinions in the high school sports world. Buck Belue Buck Blanton Calvin Waters Caroline Everitte Cassandra Morris Catherine (Cathy) Pearlman Chad Wilson Charles Fluit . The first time was when Bazemore retired, and they hired Charlie Green. Benjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. The timing was awful, Buck Belue writes in his new book, Inside the Hedges. Most of the players thought it was a selfish move to even do an interview. Then, with only 49 seconds remaining, Valdosta recovered Dale Kents onside kick and from the Valdosta 47-yard line, Wilkes lead his Wildcats down the field with another TD pass, this one to running back Avery Burney, to put Valdosta on top 21-17 and leave everyone in the stadium stunned. They were running the same sets and plays. 680 THE FAN, ATLANTA - Valdosta High School's ruling body decided to chase wins over integrity, when they hired Rush Propst. Reached by phone this week, Dooley said he has not yet read Belues book. They are two very-talented guys. In some cases, the insults would turn from verbal to something more physical. 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