I just wanted him to know how important he was to us and to our program. Mike Cavan, Georgia running backs coach, 1977-85: I never bothered Herschel when I was recruiting him. But I knew my parents really wanted me to go to college. I was valedictorian of my high school and had accomplished so much in football and track that I thought I might want to try something else. I wanted to be a Marine, so I was trying to decide between going to college or joining the military. Herschel Walker, Georgia running back from 1980-82, three-time All-American, 1982 Heisman Trophy winner: I was thinking about going to the military and that's why I waited so long to decide. Cavan probably bumped him for three months, and a lot of other people did, too. When Herschel was coming off the field after his games, Cavan would be standing there when he walked by. If Herschel was walking down the hall of his school, Cavan was standing there so he'd see him. Vince Dooley, Georgia football coach, 1964-88, and athletic director, 1979-2004: You were allowed to have what we called bumps. That closed one of the most tension-filled recruiting periods in Georgia football history. On April 6, 1980, Walker finally put his name on a national letter of intent to play college football at Georgia. They hunted birds with the local mailman's bird dogs in the morning, ate lunch with Walker at his high school in the afternoon and attended his basketball practices and games at night. Cavan and recruiting coordinator Steve Greer moved into a booster's cabin in the woods. She became the first woman to receive a scholarship in women's track at UGA in 1979.Īfter signing day came and went without Walker's signature, Dooley ordered running backs coach Mike Cavan to travel to Wrightsville and remain there until Walker made a decision. In fact, the Bulldogs wanted him so badly that Dooley decided to add a women's track and field program a year ahead of schedule - so they could offer a scholarship to Walker's sister, Veronica. Nearly every Division I team in the country recruited Walker, who ran for 6,137 yards with 86 touchdowns at Johnson County High School in tiny Wrightsville, Georgia (population: 2,350). 6, 1980, former Georgia running back Herschel Walker rushed for two touchdowns in his college debut, including this booming 16-yard run against Tennessee. 'I don't think he knew where he was running, but one thing was for sure - he was going somewhere in a hurry.'Īs the Bulldogs and Volunteers prepare to play yet again at Neyland Stadium on Saturday - with Bates' son, Dillon, suiting up for the Vols as a backup linebacker - more than a dozen people remembered one of the most famous plays in college football history. 'When we put in Herschel, it was like night and day,' Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley said. 'Nobody knew who Herschel was and nobody had seen what he could do outside of us.'īut before he set any records, or ran through any opposing safeties, Walker - Georgia's fourth-string running back entering that game - first had to make it onto the field.

'It was just one of those plays that was meant to be,' former Georgia offensive tackle Jeff Harper said. Former teammates and coaches from both teams still shake their heads in disbelief at the shock of the moment - and how it launched the legend of an all-time college football great.

On that day, Georgia running back Herschel Walker and Tennessee safety Bill Bates met in one of the most famous collisions in college football history. Ven 35 years later, nobody can believe what they saw on Sept.

Georgia football touchdown