Dawn of the Dawg
Fansided

Georgia football throwback: Three of the best matchups against Kentucky

By Payton Wilkerson

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 16: Brock Bowers #19 tries to evade a tackle by Yusuf Corker #29 during a game between Kentucky Wildcats and Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steven Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 16: Brock Bowers #19 tries to evade a tackle by Yusuf Corker #29 during a game between Kentucky Wildcats and Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steven Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Uga waits on the sideline during the first half of a game against the Florida Gators. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Uga waits on the sideline during the first half of a game against the Florida Gators. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

1978: No. 16 Georgia football 17, Kentucky 16

Many fans often consider Georgia “Running Back U,” thanks to the talented running backs that have played for the team over the years. An argument could also be made for Georgia to be “Kicker U.”

Some of the great players who have kicked the ball for the Dawgs over the years include Bob Etter, Kevin Butler, John Kasey, Billy Bennett, Blair Walsh, and Rodrigo Blankenship. Many of these players went on to play in the NFL. In the game against Kentucky in 1978, kicker Rex Robinson would etch his name as a Georgia football legend.

The 1978 Georgia football team entered Lexington with a record of 5-1. Their victories included wins over rival Clemson and LSU. The team was showing improvements after a five-win 1977 season.

However, a  slow start against the Wildcats threatened to derail Georgia’s season. The Wildcats’ defense shut out the Dawgs through the third quarter while their offense had built up a 16-0 lead. Georgia would finally get in the end zone thanks to a Willie McClendon touchdown run, and they scored again a few possessions later on a Jeff Pyburn touchdown pass to tight end Ulysses Norris.

With the clock winding down, Georgia would drive down to the Kentucky 11-yard line. Kicker Rex Robinson was called upon to kick the game-winning field goal with eight seconds left in the game. Robinson had no trouble making the kick, as it went right down the middle of the uprights to give Georgia a 17-16 comeback win. As Larry Muson described it, “He kicked the whatchamacallit out of it!”

The Bulldogs finished 1978 with a 9-2-1 record and narrowly missed winning an SEC Championship due to their game against Auburn ending in a tie. Running back Willie McClendon, the father of future Georgia wide receiver and current coach Bryan McClendon, went on to set the single-season rushing record for Georgia with 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns.

They would play Stanford in the Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston, which ultimately ended up in a loss for the Dawgs.

Home/Georgia Football