Georgia football mourns the loss of legendary coach Vince Dooley

Georgia football lost another legend as the university announced that long-time head coach Vince Dooley had passed away at 90 years old. He is the winningest coach in Georgia history and transformed athletics in Athens. This loss stings as the entire Dawg Nation mourns the loss of Dooley.

Young and old fans know who Dooley was because he was a staple at the University of Georgia. From being the head football coach, winning a national championship and multiple SEC titles, to taking on the athletic director role and all the incredible work he did for women’s sports in Athens, this loss is truly unfathomable.

The rest of the season will be for Dooley to honor him and make him proud. Now he can sit next to Larry Munson and watch the Dawgs from heaven. They both know the program is in good hands with head coach Kirby Smart.

Georgia football announces coach Vince Dooley has died at 90.

There will never be another Vince Dooley, as he is one of a kind. Dooley loved the University of Georgia so much, and so many people loved Dooley. He was a Georgia icon. Patrick Garbin of UGASports wrote a beautiful piece on the legendary head coach as he got to know him from writing historic Georgia football books. I highly recommend checking out his story on him after reading ours.

Meeting Dooley was like meeting the president of the United States for me. I ran into him at DePalma’s in Athens and spoke to him. He came over to my family’s table and introduced himself even though we all knew who he was. Dooley asked questions and was so personable. I will never forget meeting him that night because of his kindness. It wasn’t the only time we crossed paths, but that was the first, and even after that, he remembered me when we would see each other in the Butts Mehre building.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t around for his coaching days, but my family made sure I knew who Dooley was and why he was so important to the University of Georgia. This story isn’t about me, but to share that Dooley was so special. He was kind and smart. However, the things he did for women’s sports at Georgia really hit home for me as a woman. Dooley made the right hires for women’s basketball and other women’s sports. Female athletics mattered to him, and he was a pioneer in that.

However, among all else, I’m glad he got to witness the confetti falling from the sky when Georgia beat Alabama for the national championship. That story Smart told about Dooley being locked out of his room and how it was a sign will never be forgotten. It was a sign and a very good omen. Thank goodness he saw the Dawgs raise that College Football Playoff trophy again. He won it in 1980, and 40-plus years was far too long to wait for another one, but Dooley got to see it.

Georgia lost a legend earlier this month in Charley Trippi, and now the Bulldogs lost another one in Dooley. It’s a sad day to be a Georgia fan, but after a loss like this, the Dawgs should win big tomorrow. Honor coach Dooley with a massive blowout win over those nasty Gators and dedicate the rest of the year to the greatest Georgia football coach to ever do it. Rest in peace to the Dawg Nations’ collective grandfather and, more importantly, to a Damn Good Dawg.