That game meant that Rutledge got the nod to start the following week on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was to become infamously known as the "Body Bag Game". Woodlawn grads included Harry Gilmer, who was an All-American at Alabama and the MVP of the 1946 Rose Bowl, and Bobby Bowden, who coached Florida State to two national championships on his way to becoming the winningest coach in college football history. White is now retired and living with his wife, June, in Helena. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. Woodlawn never beat Banks during Nathan's three years on the varsity. | Learn more about Jeff . It's tough for me to tell her to wait. During preseason camp, evangelist Wales Goebel, who became a born-again Christian after alcohol destroyed his small-college basketball career and nearly cost him his life, came to share his story with the Woodlawn players. In the spring of 2007 Rutledge got his first NFL coaching job when he was hired as quarterbacks coach with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, with direct charge over Kurt Warner. Many of the players on both teams grew up playing pee-wee football together at East Lake and Wahouma parks, and as teenagers, they hung out together at Eastwood Mall. "And when they were picking teams, I wanted to get picked. His finest moment as a professional player came when as a member of the Redskins he came off the bench in a game versus the Detroit Lions in 1990. Gerelds' plan to move Nathan to running back was paying off handsomely, too.Sometime during that junior season -- maybe it was after he ran for 231 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-12 upset of the No. . [2] Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. That same night, Banks' 35-game unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end when Rutledge blew out an ankle and the banged-up Jets lost 34-27 to West End. Charles Tillman Rutledge, Jr. Boiling Springs, SC Charles Tillman Rutledge, Jr., 80, of 2558 Old Furnace Road, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2019, at Spartanburg Hospital For Restorative Care . Wore number 17 for the New York Giants. He was a backup in Super Bowl XIV as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, he was a backup to Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI as a member of the New York Giants, and was a backup in Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. There was no mortgage. Fully committed to football now, Nathan became one of the key cogs in a wishbone offense that was clicking on all cylinders. Something like that. in Plant Science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a Masters in Agronomy (Weed Science) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The next Christmas, Santa Claus brought Tony his first official football. Tony Nathan, left, talks with Jeff Rutledge, right, after the famous Woodlawn-Banks high school football game at Legion Field in 1974. "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". By his senior season in 1974, Woodlawn running back Tony Nathan was one of the most sought-after high school football players in America. Perhaps that epic 1974 showdown at Legion Field between Birmingham high-school heavyweights Woodlawn and Banks would have been just another Friday night football game. See the article in its original context from. Our defensive game plan was awesome.". Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. This week, Birmingham filmmakers Jon and Andrew Erwin began shooting a movie, "Woodlawn," which takes place during Nathan's days at Woodlawn High School and focuses in on that 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game. The next year, they got Bert Jones. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). "The other thing about the wishbone, if you were a truly good back in the wishbone, you had to block, too,'' says Murray Legg, who, as a defensive back on those Alabama teams, often went up against Nathan in practice. In April 2010, Rutledge agreed to become the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee; where he coached for two seasons, leading the Knights to a 4-18 record. He is now a bailiff for Miami-Dade County Court Judge Edward Newman, a former Dolphins teammate. The other day, Rutledge called his wife and told her to wait. Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. "It was just that time. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. In a 1982 playoff game with San Diego that became known as "The Epic in Miami," Nathan was the exclamation point on one of the most memorable plays in Dolphins' history -- dashing untouched into the end zone after receiver Duriel Harris caught a pass from quarterback Don Strock and then tossed it back to the streaking Nathan on a legendary hook-and-lateral play that ignited a dramatic Miami comeback. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979. My parents raised me that way. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. And the majority of us did that. he recalls. Efforts to reach him for this story were unsuccessful. That game meant that Rutledge got the nod to start the following week on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was to become infamously known as the "Body Bag Game". Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. How tall is Jeff Rutledge? "We have, I think, one of the best alumni associations in the NFL," Nathan says. In May 2013, Rutledge was hired by Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona as a full-time staff member and also to lead the football program. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. I bought them last week. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. He had left the University of Alabama in the spring of 1979 without a diploma. Jeff Rutledge, of Newport, represents the White River and his term expires in 2024. 2. printers and related vendors. A creative problem solver with refined approach to crisis communications and media management. On Sunday, the Jets lost their backup, Pat Ryan, for at least six to eight weeks with a sprained knee. DeOssie, who has been starting at inside linebacker, strained his back lifting weights. Welcome. "What are you doing with that grip?'" "I wanted some kind of meat to serve him," William Nathan remembers. He got permission from his academic advisers to drop his courses with a withdraw-passing grade and come back to finish his degree later. Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana, an only child. Some were easier. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The easygoing Nathan had the ideal temperament for the job, Newman told him. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. That spiritual awakening not only inspired the team, but it reverberated throughout the entire school, defusing some racial tension that Nathan says he felt his first couple of years at Woodlawn. Contact . The name still resonates in the state, especially since Jeff Rutledge was homegrown (Birmingham) and in 2011 was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Established network of influencers, political staff, department officials and media, supporting sound execution of public affairs initiatives. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. So I've never come to camp feeling confident I'd be in place. Birmingham police guessed another 20,000 gave up and went back home when they saw the long lines. ", In the lunchroom, the Woodlawn students would break into impromptu pep rallies, standing in their chairs and yelling, "Rip Jets, rip Jets, rip those Sugar Jets." ''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. (Linebacker) Barry Krauss could play today. If all of the gates had been open, they would have had 60,000 people.". His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. A couple of weeks before their game, Banks' White alerted the Legion Field staff to expect a monster crowd. Tony could have gone anywhere. At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Louise Nathan, though, never was wild about her seeing her son get hit. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children.[7]. Jeff Rutledge Position: QB Birthdate: January 22, 1957 College: Alabama Draft: Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 9th round (246th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft Stats Gamelogs 300-Yard Passing Jeff Rutledge Stats Jeff Rutledge career stats with the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Washington Redskins. Newman serves as a criminal court judge in Miami-Dade County, and six years ago, he hired Nathan to be a bailiff in his courtroom. The four of them -- Baumhower, Nathan, Stephenson and McNeal -- played in two Super Bowls together, but the Dolphins lost both games, to the Redskins in Super Bowl XVII and the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX. Since then, Rutledge has been mostly a backup. Ragland, the former Woodlawn quarterback, recently watched an ESPN documentary about another Birmingham-area sports legend, Bessemer's Bo Jackson, and it reminded of that 14-year-old kid he first met at freshman football practice. On October 2, 2019, his wife gave birth to a daughter. Today, Ken O'Brien, the Jets' starter, broke a toe. Last year, Nathan was inducted into the Dolphins' Walk of Fame, immortalized alongside such legendary Dolphins as Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka and Nick Buoniconti in the sidewalk outside Miami's Sun Life Stadium. And much to the surprise of probably everybody who was there that night -- fans, players, coaches, cheerleaders and sportswriters -- neither one of the teams would go on to win it all that year. Tony Nathan holds his youngest brother, Cedric, after he announces in December 1974 that he will attend the University of Alabama. "Each gate had four openings in it for four lines of people," Garrett says, "but it still obviously wasn't enough.". I remember it was good we didn't start when we were supposed to because they were at their peak. "It was time for people to actually get along -- no matter what race or color you were," he says. But, Knoxville, too, was a little too far from home for Nathan. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. The stoic Nathan even teared up as walked across the Coleman Coliseum stage to receive his diploma from outgoing UA President Judy Bonner. ''You gear up for a time when you're going to get together as a family. Denny Ragland, who would become the Woodlawn starting quarterback during Nathan's senior season in 1974, knew something was up during freshman football practice, when most of the basketball team came out just to see what the 14-year-old Nathan could do on the football field. Bryant paid several visits to the Nathan home, and he often brought with him an entourage of assistants and past and current Tide players, including Joe Namath, Johnny Musso and Ozzie Newsome. I will make you that promise. Out on the field, one of the players, a linebacker who also filled in as back-up tight end, caught the only touchdown pass of his high-school career, in what was by far the biggest game of his career. "That's what I always wanted. "That's why, for two years, we had a lot of focus and attention on Woodlawn. Experienced backup quarterbacks can be valuable when injuries strike. So by the time he arrived at Woodlawn High School to start the ninth grade, his reputation as a wizard of the basketball court preceded him. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 January. In April 2010, Rutledge agreed to become the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee; where he coached for two seasons, leading the Knights to a 4-18 record. "We had a ball. He was a devoted husband and father and his favorite hobby was fishing. After Nathan got out of coaching, another one of his former Dolphins teammates, guard Ed Newman, told him he had the perfect job for him. It took him 36 years, but Nathan kept that promise to his coach. "And then they told me that that guy (Nathan) was an All-American basketball player, and he wasn't going to be playing football. Meanwhile, Woodlawn High School stands majestically in the same location on First Avenue North, just like it has since 1922, and the football team is still sending players to the NFL, including Chris Davis, the Auburn cornerback who was the last-second hero of the 2013 Iron Bowl. ", The Banks players huddle around head coach Shorty White during the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. 1-ranked Huffman Vikings -- Woodlawn fans started calling Nathan "Touchdown Tony" and began clamoring for pictures and autographs. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Roberts, the starting left guard, has a slightly sprained left knee, which was reported improved. "It wasn't hard to grab a piece of it. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. "His jersey would just be hanging on him," Woodlawn teammate Brad Hendrix says. Jeff Rutledge. With the arrival of head coach Tandy Gerelds in 1971, though, and the emergence of Nathan, who had a breakout junior season in 1973, Woodlawn started to level the playing field. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. He completed 30 of 42 passes for 363 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards for the game-tying touchdown with only 24 seconds remaining. "Before I signed to go to Alabama, Coach Bryant told me, 'Well, look, you can try out (for basketball), but if you're not within the top six, you've got to come back out for spring ball.'''. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. After the Tide slipped to an uncharacteristic 9-3 in Nathan's sophomore season -- Alabama's worst record in his four years there -- the team bounced back to go 11-1 and finish runner-up to national champs Notre Dame in 1977 and to go 11-1 again and win it all in 1978. White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. That game meant that Rutledge got the nod to start the following week on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was to become infamously known as the "Body Bag Game". WE BUY HOUSES ANY PRICE ANY CONDITION CALL 205 966 4880 NOW. A month ago, Jeff and Laura Rutledge decided that today would be Reunion Day, the day Laura and their three children would leave their home in Mission Viejo, Calif., and fly east to join Jeff for the winter. On Nov. 8, 1974 -- 40 years ago this Saturday - the two-time defending state champion Banks Jets met their eastern Birmingham rivals the Woodlawn Colonels in front of what was then and remains today the biggest crowd to ever watch a high school football game in Alabama. In 2013, he married Laura McKeeman (who took Rutledge's name upon marriage), a reporter and host for ESPN and the SEC Network. "There is no doubt in my mind that the delay in the game helped us,'' Banks' Grefseng says. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). On the bus ride to Legion Field, the Woodlawn players knew it was a big deal when they got a police escort to the game, which was also a first for them. Probably, Tony Nathan never would have gone on to play for Paul "Bear" Bryant at the University of Alabama, and without him, it's possible the Crimson Tide might not have won that 1978 AP national championship. "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job and the recruiters did their jobs to get him to go to Alabama," Nathan says. He is currently the head football coach at Valley Christian High School (Chandler, Arizona) in Chandler, Arizona. 1972 His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. Gosh, that game was 40 years ago, which is unbelievable.". After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. He said he hadn't decided whether to keep two or three quarterbacks.''. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He will miss Saturday night's exhibition game against the Giants at Giants Stadium.
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