Georgia Football and College Football have had a few seismic changes to kick off the offseason, and Georgia Football experienced another one on Tuesday. Claude Felton, the longtime Sports Information Director, has decided to retire. Felton’s retirement takes effect on Wednesday.
Felton has been the Sports Information Director at Georgia since 1979. Moreover, Felton has many other titles to his name other than SID. Felton has served as Senior Associate Athletic Director, Associate and Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Communication Director, and, most recently, the Loran Smith Senior Associate Athletic Director. Felton wore many hats at Georgia but is remembered by all the Sports Information Directors.
Felton is considered one of the best in his profession, and many have called him the GOAT. If you asked any Football player or coach who came through the doors at Georgia, they would agree. Any hard-core Georgia fan knows Felton, and most Georgia fans just call him Claude. This says alot about the University of Georgia fans, who know the Sports Information Director by name.
If you went to Grady College of Mass Communication and Journalism, especially the Sports program, you knew and learned who Claude Felton was and why he was the best in his profession.
Not only is Felton one of the best SID ever, he is also a Damn Good Dawg. Felton has been a part of three National Championships, seven Southeastern Conference Championships in football, and 415 wins over the last 44 seasons on the football field. He has also worked for Vince Dooley, Ray Goff, Jim Donnan, Mark Richt, and Kirby Smart, as well as athletic directors Greg McGarity, Damon Evans, and Josh Brooks.
In the history of Georgia Athletics, there have only been two SIDs. One being Felton and the other Dan Magill. When you think about that, you know that Felton was one of the best in the business. Felton will be inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon on February 24th.