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re: SEC old timers, any thoughts on Shug Jordan?
Posted on 12/23/20 at 6:25 pm to 308
Posted on 12/23/20 at 6:25 pm to 308
He’s from Selma, Alabama so of course he is a badass. The football stadium still has his name on it. I’ve heard the old folks talk about Shug and not one single bad thing came out of their mouths. He was the epitome of fine southern gentlemen. All of us Selmians are fine southern gentlemen though. Superior genetics or just in the water I guess.
1
Posted on 12/23/20 at 6:50 pm to 14caratgoldjones
My first trip to Auburn was with my GrandFather to sit in front of Shug and discuss walking on to play football.
To me, there was no other example, other than my Great Grandfather, of a Southern Gentlemen. However, you could tell there was an edge under the surface. Shug asked me to turn around and pull two copies of "Saturday's to Remember" that he co-wrote. While he autographed the copies ...He asked if I would read from the Preface.
"The year was 1950, the dark years. Auburn was 0-10. In his haste to get to practice, a young man realized he had not removed his partial plate. A man, a stranger stepped fro the stands and said "I'll hold your plate son and when you finish, I would like to tell you about Auburn. She's down right now, but we are here to bring her back."
The young man thought ..if it's important enough for a man to hold a player's plate, it must be a special place.
The player was Bobby Freeman, the stranger? was sitting to my right in that office. He wasn't a stranger ...But I realized the history between these two.
I blew out my knee three weeks later sliding into second base with Philly Scouts attending, just to see me catch. They had seen me a week before, playing Left Field.
My Grandfather played on Shug's Freshman Team. He blew out his knee on a punt return against Georgia. Shug had him stay and work with the team ....As a future coach.
Both went to war. Granddad was coaching high school ball in Birmingham when he got the call from Shug. "I've just been named Head Coach at Auburn and I need help." Every thing recruited from 1950 to 1960 was in the hands of the man who took me to Auburn.
The year? Granddad asked "What do expect from the team this year?" Shug replied "We'll be lucky to win three." Shug smiled and told me ....get your Granddad to come back, we won with him leading the way.
Week after week a slugfest ....week after week, victories mounting. LSU clobbered us in Deaf Valley. 35-7 ...the only loss.
Alabama was convinced they had it in the bag. Ahead 16-0 third quarter. Field goal, then the fat lady sang ....for eternity "Punt BAMA Punt"
Til this day the Amazin's remain one of a kind.
To me, there was no other example, other than my Great Grandfather, of a Southern Gentlemen. However, you could tell there was an edge under the surface. Shug asked me to turn around and pull two copies of "Saturday's to Remember" that he co-wrote. While he autographed the copies ...He asked if I would read from the Preface.
"The year was 1950, the dark years. Auburn was 0-10. In his haste to get to practice, a young man realized he had not removed his partial plate. A man, a stranger stepped fro the stands and said "I'll hold your plate son and when you finish, I would like to tell you about Auburn. She's down right now, but we are here to bring her back."
The young man thought ..if it's important enough for a man to hold a player's plate, it must be a special place.
The player was Bobby Freeman, the stranger? was sitting to my right in that office. He wasn't a stranger ...But I realized the history between these two.
I blew out my knee three weeks later sliding into second base with Philly Scouts attending, just to see me catch. They had seen me a week before, playing Left Field.
My Grandfather played on Shug's Freshman Team. He blew out his knee on a punt return against Georgia. Shug had him stay and work with the team ....As a future coach.
Both went to war. Granddad was coaching high school ball in Birmingham when he got the call from Shug. "I've just been named Head Coach at Auburn and I need help." Every thing recruited from 1950 to 1960 was in the hands of the man who took me to Auburn.
The year? Granddad asked "What do expect from the team this year?" Shug replied "We'll be lucky to win three." Shug smiled and told me ....get your Granddad to come back, we won with him leading the way.
Week after week a slugfest ....week after week, victories mounting. LSU clobbered us in Deaf Valley. 35-7 ...the only loss.
Alabama was convinced they had it in the bag. Ahead 16-0 third quarter. Field goal, then the fat lady sang ....for eternity "Punt BAMA Punt"
Til this day the Amazin's remain one of a kind.
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