By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. He had to meet with Coach Bryant to get him to sign off on it, too. Rutledge led Montgomery Bell Academy to a 41-17 record from 20022006, with two state titles in 2002 and 2003 and a #15 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 poll in 2003. The regular season game was played in . Jeff Rutledge was born on 22 January, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, is an American football coach and former quarterback. 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. 1-ranked Huffman Vikings -- Woodlawn fans started calling Nathan "Touchdown Tony" and began clamoring for pictures and autographs. The attendance was out of this world.". Jeff Rutledge's net worth Experienced backup quarterbacks can be valuable when injuries strike. By his senior year, it wasn't just folks in Birmingham talking about "Touchdown Tony." Ragland, the former Woodlawn quarterback, recently watched an ESPN documentary about another Birmingham-area sports legend, Bessemer's Bo Jackson, and it reminded of that 14-year-old kid he first met at freshman football practice. "I said, 'What's wrong, Mike, they didn't have crowds like this at Locust Fork?'" 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. he recalls. Woodlawn, meanwhile, had a nice streak going, too, winning 11 in a row since it fell to Banks 17-7 in 1973. And when that happened, that movement, I was touched in my heart to do so again.". 195 lbs (88.5 kg) So I had never beaten them.". I can tell you, Tony had no trouble with his blocking.". All rights reserved (About Us). After Thursday morning's practice, the Giants will leave for their annual welcome-home lunch at the Sheraton Centre. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? I bought them last week. On signing day, both Bryant and Alabama basketball coach C.M. "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. team protected 37 players during the off season and made the unprotected players available to other teams. After seven seasons at Vanderbilt, Rutledge became the head coach at Montgomery Bell Academy, a school for seventh to 12th grade boys in Nashville. 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. ", Tony Nathan breaks free with his tear-away jersey flying in the breeze. We had a blast. "We let them run and play," Tony's father, whom the family calls "Pops," says. We have estimated If all that notoriety affected Nathan, none of his teammates could tell. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. What is Jeff Rutledge's full name? Welcome. Meanwhile, Woodlawn High School stands majestically in the same location on First Avenue North, just like it has since 1922, and the football team is still sending players to the NFL, including Chris Davis, the Auburn cornerback who was the last-second hero of the 2013 Iron Bowl. 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. ", Tony Nathan prepares to take a hand-off from quarterback Jeff Rutledge at the University of Alabama. 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. If all of the gates had been open, they would have had 60,000 people.". It's tough for me to tell her to wait. 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. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. "And when they were picking teams, I wanted to get picked. 100.00 Down Payment and Houses with No Credit Check. "They all looked at me like, 'OK, don't you think it's your time?'" . "When people say Tony Nathan, their ears go up. (Photo courtesy of Banks High School Facebook page). He had left the University of Alabama in the spring of 1979 without a diploma. Bill Battle, the young coach at Tennessee, wanted Nathan to come play for him in Knoxville, and Vols star quarterback Condredge Holloway showed him around on his official visit. At 65 years old, Jeff Rutledge height not available right now. See the article in its original context from. . Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana, an only child. 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. So the magic from that night continues to live on. That spiritual awakening not only inspired the team, but it reverberated throughout the entire school, defusing some racial tension that Nathan says he felt his first couple of years at Woodlawn. ''My first year in the league, with the Rams, it was hairy because they had so many quarterbacks in camp. 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 games, fans mobbed Nathan to get a piece of his jersey. 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. said Rutledge. He would just tear it off and throw it up in the crowd. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. His wife, Laura, a former Miss . "So it was a great lesson for me. 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. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. I said, 'You have to wait until you see me.' "But at that time, I had a concussion. All three of Nathan's daughters have their college degrees - Nichole from South Florida and Natalie and Nadia from Alabama - as does his wife. If it had been up to Louise Nathan, her son Tony never would have touched a football. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. 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. "We would go to the board of education and get tickets and we would be sold out in 30 minutes to an hour," Stearns says. "We were just talking about it. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). "I was like, 'All right, it's that time.'". William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. ", During his senior season at at Woodlawn High School in 1974, Tony Nathan was a Parade All-American and featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd." 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. 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. The kids are disappointed. In overtime, he hit Art Monk with a vital 40-yard p* on third and 15 to help set up Chip Lohmiller's game-winning field goal. "I think (defensive lineman) Marty Lyons could play today. ", Tony Nathan strikes a Heisman-like pose as he tries to avoid a linebacker. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Tony Nathan will sign copies of his new book, "Touchdown Tony: Running With a Purpose," at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Alabama Booksmith, 2626 19th Place South, Homewood. The Nathans go to the same church, New Testament Baptist Church, with his former Alabama and Miami teammate McNeal and his wife, Rhonda. "It was time for people to actually get along -- no matter what race or color you were," he says. 1957 He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. An experienced communications and public affairs professional, with a record of effective strategic planning, outreach and engagement. Football was going to be it. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. Rutledge was born to Tony and Cheryl Rutledge in Cullman, Alabama, on April 21, 1989. 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. Sports Illustrated featured him in its "Faces in the Crowd" section after he ran for 228 yards and scored seven touchdowns against Ramsay, and late in the season, along with Banks quarterback Jeff Rutledge, he was named a Parade All-American. Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. "And then they told me that that guy (Nathan) was an All-American basketball player, and he wasn't going to be playing football. After Friday morning's practice, they will break camp and return to Giants Stadium, where practices are closed to the public. Jeff Rutledge Biography. "We both started to laugh.". 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 We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. From Banks, defensive lineman Freddie Knighton signed with Alabama, running back Jerry Murphree went to LSU, and linebacker Bob Grefseng played at Ole Miss. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. "Before Bo, there was Tony," Ragland says. 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.". Commissioner Rutledge, a native of Newport, graduated from Newport High School and earned a B.S. Established network of influencers, political staff, department officials and media, supporting sound execution of public affairs initiatives. Fast learner, critical thinker with an eye for efficiency, and generally fun guy. . "And I didn't like that. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. He was worn out, and he was just tearing the rest of his jersey off.". And the majority of us did that. 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 last game of the regular season, again against the Philadelphia Eagles. "Some do come in with attitudes, and you just have to diffuse them before they go in front of the judge. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. 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. (Sugar Jets was a reference to a brand of cereal from the 1950s and '60s.). "We knew each other from grammar school.". He started taking online courses through the University of Alabama's Bama by Distance degree program, and this past May, at 58, he graduated. So, how much is Jeff Rutledge worth at the age of 65 years old? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. ", Alabama basketball coach C.M. In his teens, he acted in productions of the North Shore Children's Theater and, from 1942 to 1944, performed in . 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. 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. The unsung hero, though, was a little linebacker named Greg Muse, who had transferred to Banksafter living in Texas. "It's been home a long time," Nathan says. Nov 09, 1990 at 12:00 am. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. He is not dating anyone. He had 274 completions in 526 attempts for 3,628 yards and 16 touchdowns. ''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. On Sunday, the Jets lost their backup, Pat Ryan, for at least six to eight weeks with a sprained knee. They made great souvenirs, too, and fans mobbed him after the games to get a piece of Nathan's jersey. Since then, Rutledge has been mostly a backup. 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. UNEASY LIES THE HEAD OF NO. Former Realtor at ReallivingAdavanceRealty. One of them said on the phone, 'What did you get me?' Soon enough, though, Tony would be all around the ball. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. 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". (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). We definitely love Miami. ", RELATED:Remembering the 1974 Woodlawn-Banks game. Finished career at Alabama has the school's leading passer, surpassing Joe Namath. "It touched me," he says. ''It's an odd world, isn't it?'' Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. "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. After the Tide slipped to an uncharacteristic 9-3 in Nathan's sophomore season -- Alabama's worst record in his four years there -- the team bounced back to go 11-1 and finish runner-up to national champs Notre Dame in 1977 and to go 11-1 again and win it all in 1978. We prayed together, and from then on, I respected them and they respected me. 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. At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the. Nathan says. Woodlawn students used to yell, ''Rip those Sugar Jets," which was a reference to this brand of cereal. 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 is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children. Rutledge lived up to his star billing that night, completing 9 of 10 passes for 188 yards and that touchdown to Grefseng. . 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. 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. But he made a great play and I just kept running, and he threw it and I caught it.". Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. ', "I said, 'I will do that. "It's . 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. That University of Alabama sorority girl who was in the stands at Legion Field that night? A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, grew up in a house divided. He was indeed a basketball guy, but Tony Nathan would be playing football for a long time. His parents met at the University of Arkansas, and when he was almost four his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. 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. 6'1", 195 lbs. 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. "It really did.". A Valuable Commodity. 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. The night after that chat, in an exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rutledge completed all 8 of his passes for 156 yards. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. Woodlawn High School had a much longer history that went back to 1916, when the community of Woodlawn was annexed into Birmingham. ''That may make the Giants think,'' said Rutledge. And in the memories of those who were there. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 January. Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. ", Tony Nathan runs behind his Miami Dolphins teammate Jeff Toews in a game against the New York Jets. 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. I do believe. Jeff Rutledge, who played at Alabama after he graduated from Bank High School, is pictured here during the 1976 Alabama-Notre Dame game in South Bend, Ind. Rutledge and his wife had just moved into their dream house in Atlanta, but felt it was the best job available. 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". "Including his wife. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. I knew it even before that, when Plan B came along.'' "I didn't have to worry about cutting grass because they played all the time.". 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. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. It was Grefseng's only touchdown catch of his Banks career. ", RELATED: Turning back the clock at Legion Field. "I had some professors walk up to me and say, 'Hey, we were around when you were playing.'. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). They attended some of the same churches and dated some of the same girls. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. 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. Birmingham police guessed another 20,000 gave up and went back home when they saw the long lines. "I told him, me being so far behind, I didn't want to flunk out. White is now retired and living with his wife, June, in Helena. "It was a culmination of really four years of building up to that point," Woodlawn quarterback Denny Ragland remembers. . Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jeff Rutledge, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. printers and related vendors. Not once, but twice, both teams were sent back to their respective locker rooms to allow the crowd to file into the stadium. He has established himself as a trusted advisor providing advice and direction to organizations in some of the most heavily regulated . At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the Giants. But Norman, Okla., was cold and rainy when Nathan went to visit, and besides that, Switzer never bothered to come visit Nathan and his parents in Birmingham. Tony Nathan, left, talks with Jeff Rutledge, right, after the famous Woodlawn-Banks high school football game at Legion Field in 1974. 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. When the other team did not pick up on Rutledge, he took the snap and did a sneak up the middle for yardage that gave the Giants a first down that would eventually lead to a go-ahead score. "The Woodlawn guys were like maniacs, and they were roaring all through their pre-game warm-ups. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). On fourth down with a yard needed, he was sent by head coach Bill Parcells for a potential decoy play. "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. 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. See also [ edit] Rule 5 draft results References [ edit] "It wasn't hard to grab a piece of it. Another, a little fireplug of a linebacker who had moved to Birmingham from Texas the year before, became the surprise defensive star of the game. 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. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. It's been very interesting. After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. In those days, the Banks-Woodlawn rivalry was like the Alabama-Auburn of Birmingham high school football, but maybe just a little friendlier. "We just sat up there and watched," Martin, now retired, recalls. As depicted in the upcoming "Woodlawn" movie, droves of players, Nathan included, stepped forward to commit their lives to Christ that night. Nathan played nine years with the Dolphins and started in two Super Bowls. Banks coach Shorty White had assigned Muse to shadow Woodlawn's Nathan everywhere he went, and although Nathan finished with 112 yards on 31 carries, Muse was all over him most of the night. A backup for most of his career, he was a member of the New York Giants team that won a Super Bowl in Super Bowl XXI and the Washington Redskins team that won Super Bowl XXVI. "All I had ever seen of football games was everybody falling on each other and piling on each other," she says. The easygoing Nathan had the ideal temperament for the job, Newman told him. . When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. He said he hadn't decided whether to keep two or three quarterbacks.''. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. He played college football at Alabama, where he was the team's starting quarterback for their 1978 National . He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state *les at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Now he is not sure what he is. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. #Jeff #Rutledge #Wiki Biography #Age #Height #Wife #Net #Worth #Family Tags: Age Biography Family Height Jeff Net Rutledge Wife Wiki Worth 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. 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. "The trouble is, it's on VHS cassette, and my VHS player died years ago.". fdar charting for blood transfusion $ 0.00 Cart. "They do a great job of keeping us involved in what's going on and keeping us involved with the fans. 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. 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.
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