August 18, 2022 · 7:00 AM

GATA!

Good on Georgia Southern for this:

If UGA isn’t adding its full-throated endorsement to this, shame on us.

34 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football, Georgia Southern Football

34 responses to “GATA!”

  1. olddawg22
    August 18, 2022 at 7:17 AM

    Just WTF! He is one of ours and should be supported by us for this honor! Winning a National Championship as our Defensive coordinator/inspirational leader will never be forgotten!
    What he did at Southern was legendary! From startup program to 3 National Championships as well as playing for several others! Most all of us wish it had been done in Athens but that’s on our administration not him. We need to push UGA to do the right thing!
    Erk was a treasure and certainly deserves this honor

    Liked by 6 people

  2. Down Island Way
    August 18, 2022 at 7:20 AM

    If you don’t have the best of everything, make the best of everything you have.”

    Liked by 4 people

  3. eethomaswfnc
    August 18, 2022 at 7:34 AM

    Screw Florida and the mule they rode in on! GATA. TEAM-me. Tuck Fech.

    #DGD.

    Liked by 12 people

  4. Terry McCullers
    August 18, 2022 at 7:37 AM

    The biggest injustice in college football. This man was not only a great coach but a great man to boot. Of my top 5 people I wished I could have meet. Erk is one of them.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Opelikadawg
      August 18, 2022 at 9:53 AM

      I met him a few times back when he was still at UGA and he was a great guy. Erk had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the room, even if you were just a peon like me.

      Like

    • miltondawg
      August 18, 2022 at 12:28 PM

      A good friend of mine played for Southern in the late 80s. A few years ago I happened to ask him about Erk. The words he spoke showed such a level of respect and love for Erk that I was a little shocked. He said that other than his father’s and mother’s passing, the only other time in his adult life that he shed a tear on the news of someone’s death was when he learned that Erk has passed away.

      Like

  5. atticus34
    August 18, 2022 at 8:17 AM

    Should have been HC at UGA. He was 59 in 1985 but it would’ve been difficult for him to leave then. He easily could have in 1988 after winning titles, he was 62. Complete travesty and we got stuck with Goff.

    Liked by 2 people

    • kclark12767c63ac73
      August 18, 2022 at 8:48 AM

      I hear ya, but he was offered the UGA job and he turned it down. He was ready to hang it up.

      Like

      • atticus34
        August 18, 2022 at 8:50 AM

        Yes but there was more there and the way it was handled was not ideal.

        Like

        • Derek
          August 18, 2022 at 9:27 AM

          And he wanted the job and Paul Johnson was on his way to be his OC…again.

          The public story is that Erk would only commit to 2 years. The committee wanted a 4 or 5 year commitment.

          The truth? Who knows?

          Like

    • Russ
      August 18, 2022 at 9:13 AM

      We can agree on Erk but we don’t need to continue ragging on Ray Goff. He was a DGD as a player and busted his ass as a coach, but just didn’t work out.

      Liked by 4 people

      • PTC DAWG
        August 18, 2022 at 9:25 AM

        Agreed….

        Like

      • eethomaswfnc
        August 18, 2022 at 9:28 AM

        That’s true. I hate to say things negative about Coach Dooley, but the cupboard was bare in 1989-90.

        Goff made some of his own mistakes – defensive coordinator hires and not having the team ready to play in cases. He also had his share of just downright bad luck. He did recruit one Kirby Smart.

        Like

        • atticus34
          August 18, 2022 at 9:49 AM

          Dooley phoned it in after 1985 and Jan Kemp. Our recruiting was pathetic in those last years. But amen to Kirby Smart. Thank you Coach Goff!

          Like

      • atticus34
        August 18, 2022 at 9:48 AM

        I am not “continuing to rag” on Goff. Simply stating it was a travesty that Erk didn’t get the chance and it was fact we got stuck with Goff who was a very DGD but not qualified for that position.

        Liked by 2 people

  6. David D
    August 18, 2022 at 8:20 AM

    The defense that Erk dialed up against the Gators in 1975 should be all that is needed to get him inducted.

    Yeah, I’m old. And FTMF.

    Liked by 7 people

  7. drunkenmonken
    August 18, 2022 at 9:03 AM

    I grew up in Harris county Georgia. All I ever heard growing up was war eagle. I believe that is why I bleed red and black. In my humble opinion, Erskine Russell and I-85 are the only 2 good things to ever come out of Lee county Alabama.

    Like

  8. jim1886
    August 18, 2022 at 9:13 AM

    AMEN, BROTHER

    Like

  9. Dawg19
    August 18, 2022 at 11:45 AM

    I don’t care how many years you coach. If you win three national championships in ANYTHING, you belong in that sport’s hall of fame. Erk’s example is the one that proves the “10-year coaching requirement” is ridiculous.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. rebar6
    August 18, 2022 at 3:14 PM

    Erk loved us up on the railroad tracks!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Nil Butron is a Pud
    August 18, 2022 at 3:16 PM

    If you included all of Erk’s post season games at GSU it might add up to a total of 10 seasons. Put him in the HOF!

    Their first title game in 1985 when they beat Furman 44-42 was one of the best games I have ever watched as a football fan. Down 28-6 mid 3rd quarter, QB Tracy Ham led them back and tossed the winning TD with 10 seconds left.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_NCAA_Division_I-AA_Football_Championship_Game

    Like