Vince Dooley’s 25-year ledger as University of Georgia football coach featured a 201-77-10 record, six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1980 national championship.
It also included handing Tennessee its worst beating in the Volunteers’ 77-year history as an SEC member. On Sept. 5, 1981, the Bulldogs drubbed the Vols 44-0 in Sanford Stadium.
Georgia had opened its ’80 title season with a 16-15 comeback win over the Vols and would open Dooley’s final season in ’88 with a 28-17 win over Tennessee, but Dooley is switching hats in the rivalry. The 77-year-old legend will be pulling Oct. 9 for the visiting Vols, who will be led by 41-year-old coach Derek Dooley.
“Inside it would be hard in any way to pull against my family,” Dooley said Saturday. “I had my family first before I was at Georgia, but I can assure you it will be a quiet pulling for my son in Sanford Stadium. I’m glad we have a private box, because Barbara will be more vocal than I am for sure.”
Dooley, who made $12,000 his first season at Georgia in 1964 and was making about $500,000 in ’88, did not return calls Friday so his son could have the spotlight in Knoxville. Saturday, he candidly discussed the hire and the months ahead: