But, Knoxville, too, was a little too far from home for Nathan. I will make you that promise. "I said, 'What's wrong, Mike, they didn't have crowds like this at Locust Fork?'" The year before, Logan had coached at rural Locust Fork High School in Blount County. After Friday morning's practice, they will break camp and return to Giants Stadium, where practices are closed to the public. Based in Dallas, Texas with over 20 years of experience in concept, design, art direction, and production of print and web materials including: magazine / newspaper ads, brochures, collateral, direct mail, email graphics, logos, signage, and web graphics. "We have, I think, one of the best alumni associations in the NFL," Nathan says. Woodlawn never beat Banks during Nathan's three years on the varsity. Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He finished his college career with a 33-5 record as a starter, which currently ranks him as the University of Alabama's seventh all-time winningest quarterback. Continue with Recommended Cookies. "It was always the biggest game of the year, for both sides," Rutledge says. Rivals in high school, Nathan and Rutledge were teammates for four years at Alabama. Where was Jeff Rutledge born? He was a backup in Super Bowl XIV as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, he was a backup to Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI as a member of the New York Giants, and was a backup in Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins. An experienced communications and public affairs professional, with a record of effective strategic planning, outreach and engagement. So I ended up saying, 'Thanks, coach, but no thanks.' The game, though, was way bigger than its two stars, a pair of Parade All-Americans who were among the most sought-after high school recruits in the country. Rutledge and his wife had just moved into their dream house in Atlanta, but felt it was the best job available. ', "I said, 'I will do that. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. The following Friday night, Woodlawn closed out its season on a cold, rainy night at Fair Park, defeating Carver 12-0. Or was it 17-7? In 2013, he married Laura McKeeman (who took Rutledge's name upon marriage), a reporter and host for ESPN and the SEC Network. The Colonels had something else going for them, too. He is from United States. I did believe. . He said, 'Well, make sure you promise me you're going to finish what you started. "His jersey would just be hanging on him," Woodlawn teammate Brad Hendrix says. In the spring of 2007 Rutledge got his first NFL coaching job when he was hired as quarterbacks coach with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, with direct charge over Kurt Warner. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. His most notable play with the Giants came in Super Bowl XXI in the third quarter. Some were easier. The quiet, introverted Nathan didn't know quite what to make of all that attention. So by the time he arrived at Woodlawn High School to start the ninth grade, his reputation as a wizard of the basketball court preceded him. team protected 37 players during the off season and made the unprotected players available to other teams. Wore number 17 for the New York Giants. . We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Later, while at Belmont High School in Mississippi, Gerelds was diagnosed with brain cancer, and he died in 2003, coaching right up until the end. American football player and coach (born 1957), Alabama Crimson Tide starting quarterbacks, Washington Commanders starting quarterbacks, 1978 Alabama Crimson Tide footballAP national champions, Alabama Crimson Tide football yearly statistical leaders, History of the New York Giants (19791993), "High School Football Database - All-American (Parade 1974)", "Jeff Rutledge Named as Football Head Coach - Valley Christian High School", "NFL vet Rutledge returning as high school coach", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Rutledge&oldid=1134094507, High school football coaches in Tennessee, Coaches of American football from Alabama, Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 00:15. It wasn't so much the football I wanted. "It was just that time. They came out in such numbers that the start of the game had to be delayed twice so folks could work their way through the jammed Legion Field turnstiles. He is currently single. He was a two-time all-state guard on the Woodlawn basketball team, and as a centerfielder and first baseman on the baseball team, he got drafted by the Montreal Expos. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. "We were out there playing in the mud and the rain," Woodlawn's Ragland says. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). Fully committed to football now, Nathan became one of the key cogs in a wishbone offense that was clicking on all cylinders. It wasn't anything boastful for him. The stoic Nathan even teared up as walked across the Coleman Coliseum stage to receive his diploma from outgoing UA President Judy Bonner. About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. "And then they told me that that guy (Nathan) was an All-American basketball player, and he wasn't going to be playing football. Drafted in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft (246th overall pick) by the Los Angeles Rams,[2] Rutledge played in 14 NFL seasons[3][5] from 1979 to 1992 for three different teams. "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". I can tell you, Tony had no trouble with his blocking.". A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. "I played with older guys, and I wanted to be able to play on their level," Nathan says. Jeff Rutledge, of Newport, represents the White River and his term expires in 2024. [4], Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. "I've never known a Nathan to quit anything," she said. He completed 30 of 42 p*es for 363 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards for the game-tying touchdown with only 24 seconds remaining. The two schools were just 10 minutes and less than four miles apart. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Jeff Rutledge was born on January 22, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. William Nathan, who worked as millwright at Connors Steel in Birmingham, made his son Tony his first football by stitching together a strip of Naugahyde and stuffing it with rags and cotton balls. Jeff Rutledge's net worth The easygoing Nathan had the ideal temperament for the job, Newman told him. of development through completion. "But this particular year, we were both undefeated going in. The sports teams at Woodlawn became known as the Colonels and the school colors were green and gold, the same colors that student pranksters sometimes painted that Sabre jet at nearby Banks. There are 90+ professionals named "Jeff Rutledge", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. The quiet Nathan, who teammates say tried to shy away from all of the attention, was one of Birmingham's first superstar black athletes in a city that was still adjusting to integration. "All three kids were raised here. "That's a scary thought now," the 58-year-old Nathan says of what might have been. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. So I had never beaten them.". DeOssie, who has been starting at inside linebacker, strained his back lifting weights. He was indeed a basketball guy, but Tony Nathan would be playing football for a long time. "I just felt like I was the oldest cat in the house," he says. Rutledge would never start an NFL game again but he did see spot duty in relief of returning starter Mark Rypien in the Redskins 1991 Super Bowl Championship season, including some playing time in the Skins last game of the regular season, again against the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though the Dolphins eventually lost in overtime, the play lives on in Miami lore. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The name still resonates in the state, especially since Jeff Rutledge was homegrown (Birmingham) and in 2011 was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. After seven seasons at Vanderbilt, Rutledge became the head coach at Montgomery Bell Academy, a school for seventh to 12th grade boys in Nashville. "We knew each other from grammar school.". "It's . And in the memories of those who were there. So it was almost like it was the state championship game that night.". Electronic version of this article was lost during the computer . Some of those who were in the stands that night can't say for sure who won, and even many of those who were on the fieldare hard-pressed to remember the final score. And much to the surprise of probably everybody who was there that night -- fans, players, coaches, cheerleaders and sportswriters -- neither one of the teams would go on to win it all that year. He was just a humble high school athlete. Last year, Nathan was inducted into the Dolphins' Walk of Fame, immortalized alongside such legendary Dolphins as Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka and Nick Buoniconti in the sidewalk outside Miami's Sun Life Stadium. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. He has been a Giant since 1982, when he was obtained from the Los Angeles Rams after Phil Simms suffered a season-ending knee injury. Although it was just one moment in time, all of their names -- as well as those of Greg Muse, Jerry Murphree, Bob Grefseng, Denny Ragland, Brad Hendrix, Jerry Stearns and many others -- will always be linked to that November night in Legion Field 40 years ago. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. "When people say Tony Nathan, their ears go up. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. | Learn more about Jeff . . BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Forty years later, the details have gotten fuzzier and the legends have grown larger. That game meant that Rutledge got the nod to start the following week on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was to become infamously known as the "Body Bag Game". He had to meet with Coach Bryant to get him to sign off on it, too. . Meanwhile, Tuscaloosa was just an hour away, and one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game, Alabama's Paul "Bear" Bryant, had the Crimson Tide not just rolling again, but steamrolling. "They had the best running back in the state and we had the best quarterback," former Banks head coach George "Shorty" White remembers. So, when Tony was in the 10th grade, and he came home one day and told his mother he had left the Woodlawn High School football team, she replied, in no uncertain terms, no, he had not. "The touchdown was a busted play," he recalls. This week, Birmingham filmmakers Jon and Andrew Erwin began shooting a movie, "Woodlawn," which takes place during Nathan's days at Woodlawn High School and focuses in on that 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game. '", So just think, if Louise Nathan hadn't put her foot down, maybe no one would have ever heard of "Touchdown Tony.". We had a blast. Nose tackle Bob Baumhower, who was two years ahead of Nathan at Alabama, was already there when Nathan arrived for his first camp. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. . His breakout moment came against Montgomery's Robert E. Lee Generals, when, late in the game, he scooped up a fumble and ran 38 yards for the winning touchdown. From Woodlawn, linebacker Rocha McKinstry signed with Auburn, and Hendrix, the defensive end, played with the University of North Alabama and later, the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. By his senior season in 1974, Woodlawn running back Tony Nathan was one of the most sought-after high school football players in America. ''My wife is frustrated,'' said Rutledge. A title search shows that Mr. Rutledge and his wife bought a property in Naramata for $1.15-million on Oct. 31, 2016. "It was weird," he says. "We let them run and play," Tony's father, whom the family calls "Pops," says. ''But this is tough on the family. The kids are disappointed. When he retired from football, Nathan also got into coaching - first with the Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then at Florida International University. Jeff Rutledge Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge Position: QB Throws: Right 6-1 , 195lb (185cm, 88kg) Born: January 22 in Birmingham, AL (Age: 66-029d) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2x SB Champ 8 17 10 SUMMARY Career G 117 AV 8 QBrec 2-7-1 Cmp% 52.1 Yds 3628 Y/A 6.9 TD 16 Int 29 FantPt 151.0 Jeff Rutledge Overview Game Logs Career Postseason 1979 1980 (Birmingham News file) In the 1980s,. Louise Nathan roasted a raccoon that her husband, an avid hunter whom friends called "Coon Man," had bagged on one of his late-night coon hunts, and they invited Bryant to have dinner with them. While it has been reported that only one gate was open that night, Walter Garrett, who was the stadium manager at Legion Field for 38 years, says that both gates 7A and 7B at the south entrance to the stadium were open, as was customary at all Birmingham high school games there. On the bus ride to Legion Field, the Woodlawn players knew it was a big deal when they got a police escort to the game, which was also a first for them. On signing day, both Bryant and Alabama basketball coach C.M. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state *les at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. 3 QUARTERBACK, https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/24/sports/uneasy-lies-the-head-of-no-3-quarterback.html, Frank Litsky, Special To the New York Times. ''My first year in the league, with the Rams, it was hairy because they had so many quarterbacks in camp. Tony could have gone anywhere. "This was before Bo Jackson," Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, says. He is now a bailiff for Miami-Dade County Court Judge Edward Newman, a former Dolphins teammate. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Nathan played nine years with the Dolphins and started in two Super Bowls. "Somewhere, there is a videotape of that game," Grefseng says. On October 2, 2019, his wife gave birth to a daughter. Meanwhile, the recruiting letters continued to pour in from schools such as USC, Notre Dame, Texas and Oklahoma, as well as SEC schools Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee. An estimated 42,000 fans filled the lower bowl of Legion Field for the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. He was a backup in Super Bowl XIV as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, he was a backup to Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI as a member of the New York Giants, and was a backup in Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins. Rutledge, first, and then Stan Humphries were knocked out of the game, leaving emergency quarterback Brian Mitchell (a kick returner and former college quarterback) to finish the game. He was a devoted husband and father and his favorite hobby was fishing. That game meant that Rutledge got the nod to start the following week on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was to become infamously known as the "Body Bag Game". ", Tony Nathan prepares to take a hand-off from quarterback Jeff Rutledge at the University of Alabama. His finest moment as a professional player came when as a member of the Redskins he came off the bench in a game versus the Detroit Lions in 1990. He is a member of famous Player with the age 65 years old group. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. 1-ranked Huffman Vikings -- Woodlawn fans started calling Nathan "Touchdown Tony" and began clamoring for pictures and autographs. "Greg was not very big but he had a huge heart and he gave Tony fits that night. Jeff is survived by his wife, Dana; daughter, Payton Rutledge; son, Parker Rutledge; and several nieces and nephews. Six years later, he led the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 season and a 4A state championship. "It wasn't hard to grab a piece of it. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He got permission from his academic advisers to drop his courses with a withdraw-passing grade and come back to finish his degree later. "Coach Tandy Gerelds was a fine man and a fine coach, and he had a lot to do with a lot of players on that team coming to know the Lord," Brad Hendrix, a senior defensive end on the '74 team, says. Tony Nathan, left, talks with Jeff Rutledge, right, after the famous Woodlawn-Banks high school football game at Legion Field in 1974. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Like Jackson, Nathan excelled at just about any sport he played. The regular season game was played in . Gerelds, recognizing Nathan's underutilized potential, thought he needed to have the ball in his hands more often and moved him to offense his junior year.Before the start of that 1973 season, something else happened that changed the Woodlawn football team's fortunes. "I knew some of those guys, and I'm like, 'Why would y'all be out here in the hot sun watching freshman football?'" Internal communications and employee engagement pro with a tech focus and multi-disciplinary background. Relationships We have no records of past relationships for Jeff Rutledge. "And when they were picking teams, I wanted to get picked. He was a backup in Super Bowl XIV as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, he was a backup to Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI as a member of the New York Giants, and was a backup in Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins. And Then There Were Three. Jeff Rutledge was born on 22 January, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, is an American football coach and former quarterback. 2. Perhaps that epic 1974 showdown at Legion Field between Birmingham high-school heavyweights Woodlawn and Banks would have been just another Friday night football game. If Roberts misses Saturday night's game, as seems likely, Damian Johnson will move to left guard and Brian Williams will replace Johnson at right guard. "We were down 24-zip and nothing was going right, and that was the play that gave us the spark to come back. I do believe. I wanted him to have his degree. Most likely, Tony would not have been drafted by the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and regrettably, he also would have missed out on starting in two Super Bowls, as well as being part of one of the most famous plays in Dolphins' history. Once he started playing, though, she never let him quit. The final count was an estimated 42,000 people -- roughly 10,000 more than the previous record crowd at the Crippled Children's Classic between Phillips and Woodlawn, also at Legion Field, in 1950. Gosh, that game was 40 years ago, which is unbelievable.". He played college football at Alabama, where he was the team's starting quarterback for their 1978 National Championship victory, and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. They got in the car, and she drove him back to the football field, where she told Woodlawn coach Tandy Gerelds to do whatever he needed to discipline her boy for skipping practice, just as long as he was allowed back on the team. His parents met at the University of Arkansas, and when he was almost four his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "You wouldn't have known him to be any different from any of the other players on the team," Hendrix, who went on to play briefly with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers, says. ", RELATED:Remembering the 1974 Woodlawn-Banks game. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. Commissioner Rutledge, a native of Newport, graduated from Newport High School and earned a B.S. He completed 30 of 42 passes for 363 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards for the game-tying touchdown with only 24 seconds remaining. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Jeffrey Brooks Rutledge, Meg Rutledge, Christen Rutledge. Banks quarterback Jeff Rutledge, who would later lead Alabama to a national championship and play on two Super Bowl-winning teams, and Woodlawn running back Tony Nathan, who would become Rutledge's teammate at Alabama and go on to play in two Super Bowls of his own, were the marquee attractions.

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