"If we needed him to throw the football, I knew he could definitely do that. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. McNeal has been a pastor and counselor at the church, and he and Nathan are close, a friendship that dates back to their playing days at Alabama. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge. ----DeOssie and Roberts Out Steve DeOssie and William Roberts missed practice Wednesday. All rights reserved (About Us). I wasn't too sure about him running the wishbone at that time, but he did a very good job and it was great to play with him.". I bought them last week. Continue with Recommended Cookies. He was indeed a basketball guy, but Tony Nathan would be playing football for a long time. The next year, I was on injured reserve. Senior Consultant. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. 6'1", 195 lbs. Jeff Rutledge takes a breather during the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. "I think back about our team, and I think about the players who played then and who could play now in terms of their strength and speed and ability," Legg says. And since Banks and Woodlawn were in the same region -- and both were competing in 4A, which was then the largest high school classification in the state -- only one of them would advance. Ragland recalls. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. "It was a miserable way to end your season.". "We both started to laugh.". 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. A Valuable Commodity. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. There was no mortgage. His most notable play with the Giants came in Super Bowl XXI in the third quarter. Tandy Gerelds left Woodlawn after the 1975 season to join his father in the family insurance business, but in 1984, he returned to coaching at Deshler High School in Tuscumbia. QB Born: January 22, 1957 in Birmingham, AL Drafted: 1979 Rnd 9, Pick 246 by LA: College: Alabama: Career Stats Career Stats Game Log Game Log Splits Splits. "They all looked at me like, 'OK, don't you think it's your time?'" Gosh, that game was 40 years ago, which is unbelievable.". But there was one catch. UNEASY LIES THE HEAD OF NO. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). From his perch in the press box, Birmingham News sportswriter Wayne Martin could see the pedestrian bottleneck at the south entrance of Legion Field, as well as an unbroken strand of headlights from the long line of cars on Graymont Avenue, which was backed up all the way to downtown. ", Tony Nathan prepares to take a hand-off from quarterback Jeff Rutledge at the University of Alabama. When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. In those days, the Banks-Woodlawn rivalry was like the Alabama-Auburn of Birmingham high school football, but maybe just a little friendlier. It's tough for me to tell her to wait. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. He was a basketball guy.". So, how much is Jeff Rutledge worth at the age of 65 years old? He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. "We had a ball. "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job and the recruiters did their jobs to get him to go to Alabama," Nathan says. ", Alabama basketball coach C.M. In April 2010, Rutledge agreed to become the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee; where he coached for two seasons, leading the Knights to a 4-18 record. He has established himself as a trusted advisor providing advice and direction to organizations in some of the most heavily regulated . Now he is not sure what he is. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. We felt like we were probably the two best teams in Alabama, but only one of us was going to get to go to the state. are hard-pressed to remember the final score. "'And you told me you didn't want me to play this game. "All I had ever seen of football games was everybody falling on each other and piling on each other," she says. By Friday, the excitement was at full-tilt boogie. 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. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. Jeff Rutledge Biography. Drafted in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft (246th overall pick) by the Los Angeles Rams, Rutledge played in 14 NFL seasons from 1979 to 1992 for three different teams. Newton and football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant stand behind Tony Nathan as he signs his scholarship to attend the University of Alabama. "That Banks-Woodlawn game our senior year, that was all about Tony and Jeff Rutledge," 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,[5] with direct charge over Kurt Warner. Woodlawn never beat Banks during Nathan's three years on the varsity. Along the sidelines, one of the best coaches in Alabama high school football history would notch his 100th victory, but he would never win another. 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. 1972 His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. You look at the schedule, and that was the one you've got marked down that you want to win. So I had never beaten them.". "We were out there playing in the mud and the rain," Woodlawn's Ragland says. "And then they told me that that guy (Nathan) was an All-American basketball player, and he wasn't going to be playing football. Nov 09, 1990 at 12:00 am. A creative problem solver with refined approach to crisis communications and media management. "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. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Rams lost their backup, Mark Herrmann, for six to eight weeks with broken ribs. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "It was a culmination of really four years of building up to that point," Woodlawn quarterback Denny Ragland remembers. "It was weird," he says. "Well, Shula knew what talent was," Nathan says. So they put the pressure on him, too. But he made a great play and I just kept running, and he threw it and I caught it.". Charles Tillman Rutledge, Jr. Boiling Springs, SC Charles Tillman Rutledge, Jr., 80, of 2558 Old Furnace Road, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2019, at Spartanburg Hospital For Restorative Care . Jeff was in the flooring business and owned Vintage Wood Floors, Inc. And when that happened, that movement, I was touched in my heart to do so again.". 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. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Forty years later, the details have gotten fuzzier and the legends have grown larger. Rutledge led Montgomery Bell Academy to a 41-17 record from 20022006, with two state *les in 2002 and 2003 and a #15 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 poll in 2003. 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. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham, Alabama. The next Christmas, Santa Claus brought Tony his first official football. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The night after that chat, in an exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rutledge completed all 8 of his passes for 156 yards. 66. Gerelds' plan to move Nathan to running back was paying off handsomely, too.Sometime during that junior season -- maybe it was after he ran for 231 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-12 upset of the No. Now he is here and his family is there, and no one is happy. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Fully committed to football now, Nathan became one of the key cogs in a wishbone offense that was clicking on all cylinders. New York Giants. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "It was one heck of a game. An estimated 42,000 people poured into Legion Field that night -- a state high-school attendance record that still stands -- but as big as the game was, just as many people were curious to see its two superstars, Woodlawn's Nathan and Banks' Rutledge. They got at least part of that right. Tony Nathan, left, and Jeff Rutledge talk following the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. "We were down 24-zip and nothing was going right, and that was the play that gave us the spark to come back. "It touched me," he says. The unsung hero, though, was a little linebacker named Greg Muse, who had transferred to Banksafter living in Texas. His parents met at the University of Arkansas, and when he was almost four his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nathan, who wore number 22, went through as many as a dozen jerseys in some games. ", Tony Nathan is joined by his wife, Johnnie, and his daughters Nichole, Natalie and Nadia at his induction into the Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame in 2014. The night before the game, Stearns says, members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapters from both teams gathered for a joint meeting at Woodlawn. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. In overtime, he hit Art Monk with a vital 40-yard pass on third and 15 to help set up Chip Lohmiller's game-winning field goal. "I don't even know if he realized how good he was back then. He had 274 completions in 526 attempts for 3,628 yards and 16 touchdowns. said Rutledge. Bryant paid several visits to the Nathan home, and he often brought with him an entourage of assistants and past and current Tide players, including Joe Namath, Johnny Musso and Ozzie Newsome. So you go all out and do what you can do just to fit in.". Alabama Crimson Tide football yearly statistical leaders, History of the New York Giants (19791993). Wasn't it 14-0? "And I didn't like that. ''But this is tough on the family. Our defensive game plan was awesome.". In the 1980s, Banks High School -- home of those mighty Jets for all those years -- was closed as part of a city schools reorganization and it became Banks Middle School. This Korean War-era Sabre jet, which was loaned to Banks High School in 1961, was repainted in school colors and prominently displayed on campus. "His jersey would just be hanging on him," Woodlawn teammate Brad Hendrix says. Banks alums included Jimmy Sidle, an All-American quarterback at Auburn; Johnny Musso, an All-American running back at Alabama; and David Cutliffe, who became the head coach at Ole Miss and later, Duke. 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. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the. 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. We definitely love Miami. From Banks, defensive lineman Freddie Knighton signed with Alabama, running back Jerry Murphree went to LSU, and linebacker Bob Grefseng played at Ole Miss. That University of Alabama sorority girl who was in the stands at Legion Field that night? Tony is a very revered guy here in our community, here in our church community.". Jeff Rutledge. "It was supposed to be a quick pass but somebody got in there and almost sacked Jeff. I do believe. 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. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Woodlawn grads included Harry Gilmer, who was an All-American at Alabama and the MVP of the 1946 Rose Bowl, and Bobby Bowden, who coached Florida State to two national championships on his way to becoming the winningest coach in college football history. After playing in three college all-star games following his senior season, Nathan fell behind in his classes, and he was worried he might flunk out his spring semester. Established network of influencers, political staff, department officials and media, supporting sound execution of public affairs initiatives. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. ", Tony Nathan runs behind his Miami Dolphins teammate Jeff Toews in a game against the New York Jets. 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. 1957 And the majority of us did that. Tony Nathan, left, goes to midfield for the pre-game coin toss with his Woodlawn High School teammates Mike Allison, center, and Peyton Zarzour, right. I was so elated that he did it, and I thank the Lord that he did.". He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. You could call it inspiration, you could call it whatever you like. By his senior season in 1974, Woodlawn running back Tony Nathan was one of the most sought-after high school football players in America. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. We will update Jeff Rutledge's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. So after his freshman football season -- while his football teammates were enjoying their break -- Nathan was on the basketball court the next day, trying to break into an Alabama lineup that featured Leon Douglas, Reggie King, T.R. "Including his wife. Hoover, Alabama. ''You gear up for a time when you're going to get together as a family. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. Discover Jeff Rutledge's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 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". How tall is Jeff Rutledge? After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. Today, Ken O'Brien, the Jets' starter, broke a toe. Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. "He's very respected here," McNeal says of his old teammate. Wore number 17 for the New York Giants. Place kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh of the New York Giants kicks a field goal during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Giants Stadium on December 15,. Electronic version of this article was lost during the computer . printers and related vendors. All three of Nathan's daughters have their college degrees - Nichole from South Florida and Natalie and Nadia from Alabama - as does his wife. By his senior year, it wasn't just folks in Birmingham talking about "Touchdown Tony." Playing in the wishbone -- a four-pronged attack with two tailbacks, a fullback and the quarterback all sharing carries -- Nathan never amassed huge numbers like Crimson Tide workhorses Bobby Humphrey or Shaun Alexander or Trent Richardson, but for his career, he averaged an eye-popping 6.4 yards every time he carried the ball at Alabama. 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. Jeff is an experienced communications and public affairs professional with more than a decade working in government and the private sector. "We just sat up there and watched," Martin, now retired, recalls. See the article in its original context from. Birmingham police guessed another 20,000 gave up and went back home when they saw the long lines. By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Commissioner Rutledge, a native of Newport, graduated from Newport High School and earned a B.S. Jeffrey Brooks Rutledge, Meg Rutledge, Christen Rutledge. It helped, too, that both Banks and Woodlawn were also blessed with some enormously talented athletes who weren't named Rutledge or Nathan and who also went on to play in the SEC and the NFL. Banks came in riding a 34-game unbeaten streak, its last loss coming to Woodlawn, 21-18, three years before. There's something always new at the courthouse.". . 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. After Nathan got out of coaching, another one of his former Dolphins teammates, guard Ed Newman, told him he had the perfect job for him. "We let them run and play," Tony's father, whom the family calls "Pops," says. "I get to meet a ton of people -- lawyers, defendants, victims -- and they all are different," Nathan says. "I just felt like I was the oldest cat in the house," he says. "I was like, 'All right, it's that time.'". He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is a former American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. . He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children.[7]. 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. In May 2013, Rutledge was hired by Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona as a full-time staff member and also to lead the football program. After games, fans mobbed Nathan to get a piece of his jersey. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). "And you're not going to be the first.". | Learn more about Jeff . He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. "It was time for people to actually get along -- no matter what race or color you were," he says. [3][6], Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009.[3]. Out on the field, one of the players, a linebacker who also filled in as back-up tight end, caught the only touchdown pass of his high-school career, in what was by far the biggest game of his career. I did believe. As the teams went through their pre-game drills, Woodlawn's Stearns noticed another assistant, Mike Logan, staring up into the stands with his mouth agape. Where was Jeff Rutledge born? Newman serves as a criminal court judge in Miami-Dade County, and six years ago, he hired Nathan to be a bailiff in his courtroom. 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. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Coach Bill Parcells will probably keep three this year, but there is no guarantee. "This was before Bo Jackson," Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, says. We just couldn't put the icing on the cake.". Unbeknownst to either one of them at the time, she would later marry one of the game's biggest heroes. "I was running down the baseline trying to follow my guy around, and, all of a sudden, they set a pick and this guy's elbow hit me in the eye and that cured my basketball desire," Nathan says. team protected 37 players during the off season and made the unprotected players available to other teams. 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. ''That may make the Giants think,'' said Rutledge. "I didn't have to worry about cutting grass because they played all the time.". 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. Or was it 17-7? Birmingham, AL. 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.



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