Erskine “Erk” Russell (July 23, 1926 – September 8, 2006) was the Defensive Coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs for 17 years (1964-1981). He was more than just a coach. In some ways, and I think many would agree, he was the heart and soul of the Georgia Bulldogs. He spent 365 days a year thinking up everything he could to inspire, encourage, and motivate his defenses. “Erk” would send out calendars to his players over the summer, which reminded them to be in shape for the start of practice. The calendars suggested a humorous workout regimen that would include entries such as: “Run three miles, hate Georgia Tech four times.” Most impressive, however, was Russell’s habit of ramming his bald head into a helmeted player to celebrate a turnover or key play, leaving his forehead drenched in blood.
1974 yielded an uncharacteristic bad year for “Erk’s” defense. As a method of motivation, he decided to start calling his defense “Junkyard Dawgs.” After getting the “ok” from Vince Dooley, Russell conspired with Roger Dancz, the director of Georgia’s Redcoat Marching Band (my band director when I was in the Redcoat band), to play a few bars of Jim Croce’s “Bad, bad Leroy Brown” if the Bulldogs ever did something good on the field. The rest is history. In 1975, the Dawgs had a 9-3 record, and in 1976 they won the SEC title. James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, even recorded “Dooley’s Junkyard Dawgs”, and sung it during the half time of the Georgia Florida game in the Gator Bowl stadium.
While “Erk” was at Georgia, his defenses were known to defend their goal line tenaciously. “To bend but never break.” During his tenure, the ‘Dawgs played 192 games and held the opposition to 17 points or less in 135 of them. In 74 of those contests, the defense kept the other team’s scores in single digits, including 27 shutouts. Coach Russell’s Dawg defenses allowed more than 28 points just 18 times in 17 seasons.
“Erk” defined his Junkyard Dawgs in a chapter written by him in the American Football Coaches Association’s Defensive Football Strategies, in the following manner, to-wit: “By our own definition, a Junkyard Dog is a dog completely dedicated to his task, that of defending his goal line. Further, he is very often a reject (from the offense) or the runt of the litter. Nobody wants him, and he is hungry. We had three walk-ons, four QBs, and three running backs in our original Junkyard Dog starting cast, which averaged 208 pounds across the front. In short, a Junkyard Dog is one who must stretch and strain all of his potential just to survive. Then he can think about being good.”(source of all historical information above: wikpedia.com)
Most importantly, “Erk” Russell was a master at teaching “team” and not “individual.” This is something; unfortunately, I believe our coaching staffs have lost along the way. The Georgia “Junkyard Dawgs” are long gone, perhaps lost when Coach Russell left in 1981 to coach Georgia Southern. There was a glimmer of hope of their return during Brian Van Gorder’s tenure, but alas, that was just a mirage that disappeared upon his departure.
God Bless “Erk” Russell. May he rest in peace. He will always be remembered as the true Georgia “Junkyard Dawg.”
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By: Dawgman1973 (Gary K.) Lead-Blogger “Dawn of the Dawg”