Sunday, December 05, 2004

BOBBY DODD AND RECRUITING

Interesting story about a recruit who committed to GT but Bobby Dodd let him change his mind and committ to Army:

Anderson would become All-County, All-South and All-America for Cocoa High School, a town of 8,000 that drew 5,000 to its high school games. After sifting through more than 50 scholarship offers, he told Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd he would play there.


Then he received an offer to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which he mentioned to his father.


"When I said 'West Point' his eyes got as large as saucers. He had served in World War II and said the best officers were the ones that came from West Point."


Dodd could have forced him to honor his commitment to Georgia Tech, but Dodd said he would do nothing to stand in the way of a player going to either Army or Navy.


Anderson was shocked by the regimentation at West Point.


"I thought, 'What the hell have I done?' I knew nothing about the military."

The funniest part of the story is when he went up against a guy named Mike Ditka:

Then, in his sophomore season, he saw a program before the Pittsburgh game, and noticed he would line up against someone named M. Ditka, listed at 6 feet 5 inches, 235 pounds. On the first play of the game, Anderson attempted to block Mike Ditka with a textbook block, sinking his helmet between Ditka's numbers. When he tried to do this, Ditka stuck his forearm in the way, breaking Anderson's nose, sending his mind to kingdom come and his helmet askew.


"Hey, kid" Ditka said to the bloodied Anderson.


"Yes, Mister Ditka."


"Here's your chin strap."


That day, Army tied Pittsburgh, 14-14, the only blemish on its 8-0-1 record in 1958.