When word came down last week about the passing of Georgia legend Vince Dooley it’s hard to say I was shocked. Back when UGA played Oregon to start the season they had all of the Dawg fans in Atlanta sing happy birthday to him, while he was smiling and waving, it was very clear that at 90 years of age his body was failing him. 

When I heard that he had fought Covid a few weeks ago I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d be able to stage a fourth quarter comeback against it. I guess some things you can’t game plan around. Though I wasn’t shocked, you’re never really prepared for losing someone so familiar in your life. Vince Dooley has been a part of my life since day one. My grandfather, who taught me how important football is supposed to be for a boy from the south, was a big Dooley fan, and thus so was I.

I always admired how the coach was so calm and collected externally but controlling a hot competitive fire burning inside. A lot of folks have forgotten that he was a Marine, and he carried that passion with him onto the football field. 

Back in the 80’s, television cameras started picking up what they called “The Dooley Shuffle” along the Georgia sidelines, where the outwardly stoic Dooley would twist, hop, kick, skip, jump and run along with the action happening on the field. It became a staple of watching a Bulldog game on TV. 

His focus was unrivaled. His wife Barbara once shared about trying to get his attention while he was zoned in while watching a game on television. After repeated attempts to engage him, she finally stripped down naked and stood in front of the TV, to which Dooley coolly responded “Barbara, I can’t see through you.”

And, his gift of finding every single thing to worry about regarding Georgia’s opponents was unrivaled, too. I’ll never forget watching the Vince Dooley Show back in 1981 (it came on Sunday at lunchtime after a UGA game, and the coach would review the game film) when he said in reference to next opponent Vanderbilt: “They’ve got one of the best tight ends in America.” 

Georgia won 53-21. But that modus operandi was Dooley’s standard: always have something positive to say about your opponent, and while acknowledging how well your guys played, you never, ever gloat. 

Dooley was a believer in preparation and fundamentals, and his specialty was tough defense combined with running the football. In fact, there was a rumor started when Dooley was talking about running for senate that if he won every road in Georgia would be painted with double solid lines down the middle so that passing in the state would be illegal. 

I had the pleasure of first meeting Coach Dooley back in 1987 when he visited The Jackets’ Nest at Central with Ray Goff recruiting Charlie Ward, Jr. to come to Athens. Both of them made their way into our little radio room in the old press box and I got to interview them. Dooley was just as gracious as I expected him to be. When we finished he shook my hand and thanked me for having them on. 

Again, he thanked me. Think about that. 

Some years later I was in the press box in Sanford Stadium covering a Georgia game for the newspaper when Dooley came walking through. Almost without thinking I walked over to him and re-introduced myself, prefacing my name with “I’m not sure if you’ll remember me or not…” He did. “Oh yes, from down in Thomasville! One of the best places to find great high school players. Our best teams have always had players from down that way.” 

I remember distinctly asking him since he retired if he ever listened to Larry Munson call the Dawg games. He smiled and shook his head, saying “I’ve tried, but I just can’t do it – he’s so negative about everything! I thought I was a worrier, but Munson made me way more worried than I ever was before.” 

We stood and chatted for a minute and he went on his way. I stood there savoring the moment. I’ve never forgotten it.  

For old guard fans of SEC football, Dooley represents the last of his kind, the southern gentleman head coach that was outwardly decent and humble in every situation yet fiercely competitive inside. That line of coaches, that included men like Shug Jordan, General Robert Neyland, John Vaught, and Bear Bryant, led what many old-timers look at as perhaps the golden age of college football in the south. 

There was no trash talking, no dancing after touchdowns, no taunting or bragging. You went out and played as hard as you could, and when it was over you shook hands with your opponent and started getting ready for the next game.   

Remember, it’s always much easier to talk the talk than walk the walk, and Vince Dooley walked that walk here in our state for well over 50 of his years on this planet. I’m not sure if Coach Dooley ever really grasped just how much of an influence he was on so many young men in this state who watched how he carried himself in every situation.   

For the University of Georgia, Dooley set the standard all other coaches have been and will be measured against. His legacy is secure both on and off the field.