Woodlawn students used to yell, ''Rip those Sugar Jets," which was a reference to this brand of cereal. We will update Jeff Rutledge's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). "I'm 57 years old, and I'll run into people that I haven't seen in years and years and years and they talk about that game, that they were there. A few years ago, though, Nathan realized one thing was missing in his life. 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. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. If all of the gates had been open, they would have had 60,000 people.". "It was supposed to be a quick pass but somebody got in there and almost sacked Jeff. Jeff Rutledge Stats | The Football Database Jeff Rutledge Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family The next Christmas, Santa Claus brought Tony his first official football. Alabama Crimson Tide football yearly statistical leaders, History of the New York Giants (19791993). The attendance was out of this world.". That was Laura Holmes, whom Rutledge later met when his Fellowship of Christian Athletes adviser suggested that he ask her to go with him to the team banquet following his freshman year at Alabama. Probably, Tony Nathan never would have gone on to play for Paul "Bear" Bryant at the University of Alabama, and without him, it's possible the Crimson Tide might not have won that 1978 AP national championship. "We knew each other from grammar school.". Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. "Each gate had four openings in it for four lines of people," Garrett says, "but it still obviously wasn't enough.". "It was an amazing thing to see all of those kids -- who grew up together and went to church together, played at Wahouma Park together - in that room together that night," Stearns says. He said he hadn't decided whether to keep two or three quarterbacks.''. His wife, Laura, a former Miss . Rivals in high school, Nathan and Rutledge were teammates for four years at Alabama. 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. "I played with older guys, and I wanted to be able to play on their level," Nathan says. 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. Stearns recalls. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The kids are disappointed. If they cut me and someone picks me up, they would have to get someone else not familiar with their system.'' "That's a scary thought now," the 58-year-old Nathan says of what might have been. "I did accept Christ in my life at that time, they say," Nathan says. They attended some of the same churches and dated some of the same girls. 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. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. "The other thing about the wishbone, if you were a truly good back in the wishbone, you had to block, too,'' says Murray Legg, who, as a defensive back on those Alabama teams, often went up against Nathan in practice. Tony is a very revered guy here in our community, here in our church community.". He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 38 years, Traci (Ellis) Rutledge and their four children, Hannah, Jacob, Marilynn, and Haylee Rutledge; his two granddaughters, Amelia and Ramona Banerjee as well as his many nieces, nephews, and their families-all of whom he cherished greatly. "He's very respected here," McNeal says of his old teammate. 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 is a member of famous Player with the age 65 years old group. The easygoing Nathan had the ideal temperament for the job, Newman told him. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Newton stood behind Nathan as he sat next to his parents and got his picture taken signing his letter of intent. They got at least part of that right. And to himself. Banks High School - named for school superintendent L. Frazier Banks - opened in 1957 in Birmingham's South East Lake neighborhood and fielded its first football team three years later. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He has established himself as a trusted advisor providing advice and direction to organizations in some of the most heavily regulated . I still get chills thinking about it.". [4], Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. 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. Today, Ken O'Brien, the Jets' starter, broke a toe. Banks came in riding a 34-game unbeaten streak, its last loss coming to Woodlawn, 21-18, three years before. Menu Log In Sign Up ", 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." At 65 years old, Jeff Rutledge height not available right now. Though Rutledge was available, no other team signed him. William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. 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. On fourth down with a yard needed, he was sent by head coach Bill Parcells for a potential decoy play. That same night, Banks' 35-game unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end when Rutledge blew out an ankle and the banged-up Jets lost 34-27 to West End. "There wasn't anybody that came to see me play or any of the other guys. I remember it was good we didn't start when we were supposed to because they were at their peak. Dunn and Anthony Murray and that would go on to make it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual champion Indiana. An estimated 42,000 fans filled the lower bowl of Legion Field for the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game. "It was a culmination of really four years of building up to that point," Woodlawn quarterback Denny Ragland remembers. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Fully committed to football now, Nathan became one of the key cogs in a wishbone offense that was clicking on all cylinders. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). Our defensive game plan was awesome.". "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. 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. 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. Josh Rutledge - Wikipedia 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. According to our Database, He has no children. 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". 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 estimated "I just felt like I was the oldest cat in the house," he says. 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. Although Woodlawn had history on its side, Banks, by 1974, had the upper hand on the football field, winning state titles in 1965, 1972 and 1973 - all under Shorty White's leadership. ----DeOssie and Roberts Out Steve DeOssie and William Roberts missed practice Wednesday. Denny Ragland, who would become the Woodlawn starting quarterback during Nathan's senior season in 1974, knew something was up during freshman football practice, when most of the basketball team came out just to see what the 14-year-old Nathan could do on the football field. Hoover, Alabama. Tony could have gone anywhere. 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. By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. . By Frank Litsky, Special To the New York Times. 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,. "He looked like he had a jet pack on his back," Baumhower recalls. 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. Jeff Rutledge, Nathan's old rival from Banks, was now his teammate, quarterbacking the Tide. In the days leading up to the game, both The Birmingham News and the Birmingham Post-Herald played it up as not only a clash of the titans between Banks and Woodlawn but also a Rutledge vs. Nathan showdown. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. 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. . Unbeknownst to either one of them at the time, she would later marry one of the game's biggest heroes. Internal communications and employee engagement pro with a tech focus and multi-disciplinary background. 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). 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. "It wasn't hard to grab a piece of it. By his senior year, it wasn't just folks in Birmingham talking about "Touchdown Tony." Louise Nathan, though, never was wild about her seeing her son get hit. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. All rights reserved (About Us). Jeff Rutledge Position: QB Birthdate: January 22, 1957 College: Alabama Draft: Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 9th round (246th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft Stats Gamelogs 300-Yard Passing Jeff Rutledge Stats Jeff Rutledge career stats with the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Washington Redskins. The four of them -- Baumhower, Nathan, Stephenson and McNeal -- played in two Super Bowls together, but the Dolphins lost both games, to the Redskins in Super Bowl XVII and the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX. Senior Consultant. "The Woodlawn guys were like maniacs, and they were roaring all through their pre-game warm-ups. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). As that 1974 season progressed and both teams kept winning week after week, that friendly rivalry between Banks and Woodlawn reached a new level, though. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. So it's tough for her to hear that she should wait. ", Tony Nathan breaks free with his tear-away jersey flying in the breeze. We just couldn't put the icing on the cake.". The other day, Rutledge called his wife and told her to wait. Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. Jeff Rutledge - Biography - IMDb I wanted him to have his degree. Only two practice sessions remain at the Fairleigh Dickinson campus here. Not once, but twice, both teams were sent back to their respective locker rooms to allow the crowd to file into the stadium. ''That may make the Giants think,'' said Rutledge. Plan B was the system under which each N.F.L. I do believe. See the article in its original context from. Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. 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. In his teens, he acted in productions of the North Shore Children's Theater and, from 1942 to 1944, performed in . After working as an assistant at Vanderbilt University and with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL, Rutledge is now the head coach at Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Ariz. After four years at Alabama, Woodlawn's Tony Nathan was drafted in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, where he played for nine seasons under Don Shula, including two Super Bowls. He is not dating anyone. I did believe. Jeff Rutledge: Bear Bryant promised a national championship at Alabama When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. Jeff Rutledge's net worth The Colonels had something else going for them, too. 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. "And when they were picking teams, I wanted to get picked. "It was Banks-Woodlawn. The Nathans go to the same church, New Testament Baptist Church, with his former Alabama and Miami teammate McNeal and his wife, Rhonda. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. So I had never beaten them.". "You go through life carrying that (lesson): If you start it, you better try to be the best at it, and finish what you've got to finish," he adds. They all came to see Tony.". One of them said on the phone, 'What did you get me?' Jeff Rutledge Biography. ", Woodlawn's Tony Nathan ran for 112 yards and scored a touchdown in the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game, but Banks linebacker Greg Muse was all over him all night long. Jeff Rutledge - Head of Internal Communications - LinkedIn When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. ', "She said, 'No, but even more so, you're not going to be a quitter. That University of Alabama sorority girl who was in the stands at Legion Field that night? 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. Their two-year reign as 4A state champs also ended with a 12-0 shutout loss to eventual champion Homewood in the first round of the playoffs. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Many of the players on both teams grew up playing pee-wee football together at East Lake and Wahouma parks, and as teenagers, they hung out together at Eastwood Mall. (Sugar Jets was a reference to a brand of cereal from the 1950s and '60s.). 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. A couple of weeks before their game, Banks' White alerted the Legion Field staff to expect a monster crowd. He played college football at Alabama, where he was the team's starting quarterback for their 1978 National . DailyPress.com. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. . "We both started to laugh.". There's something always new at the courthouse.". Birmingham, Alabama. What is Jeff Rutledge's full name? It was Geralds, Nathan would say later, who talked him out of quitting football, and for that, Nathan remained forever grateful. A creative problem solver with refined approach to crisis communications and media management. "I get to meet a ton of people -- lawyers, defendants, victims -- and they all are different," Nathan says. ", 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. I bought them last week. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Forty years later, the details have gotten fuzzier and the legends have grown larger. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 63 years old? 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 . RELATED:See who plays Tony Nathan in 'Woodlawn'. Wife'S Suggestion of Retirement Lost on Rutledge "The touchdown was a busted play," he recalls. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The main building, built in 1922, was a grand, three-story structure that always looked more like a palace than a schoolhouse. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. "I think I had lost to Banks four times in three years because my freshman year, I played them as a freshman and on the B-team. Birmingham, AL. I think Tony could definitely play today. We were playing in front of 20,000 people regularly, so we were getting some big crowds.". 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. (Birmingham News file). (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). The purchase date corresponds with most of the transfers from Mr. Slaughter's account, according to the suit. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. "What are you doing with that grip?'" (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). 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. He was a basketball guy.". (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). Jeff is an experienced communications and public affairs professional with more than a decade working in government and the private sector. On October 2, 2019, his wife gave birth to a daughter. 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. , money, salary, income, and assets. 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. 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. Once he started playing, though, she never let him quit. 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. View Jeff Rutledge results in Munford, AL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. We definitely love Miami. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Quarterback Jeff Rutledge played 13 seasons for 3 teams. Tony Nathan talks about racism, 'Woodlawn' 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.". Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Woodlawn never beat Banks during Nathan's three years on the varsity. 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, 'Well, make sure you promise me you're going to finish what you started. Jeff Rutledge was born on 22 January, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, is an American football coach and former quarterback. Once the game did start, Banks built an 18-0 lead on a pair of 21- and 16-yard touchdown runs by fullback Jerry Murphree and a 32-yard TD pass from Rutledge to Grefseng, who also doubled as a back-up tight end. Jeff Rutledge Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. "I had some professors walk up to me and say, 'Hey, we were around when you were playing.'. 90+ "Jeff Rutledge" profiles | LinkedIn "They had the best running back in the state and we had the best quarterback," former Banks head coach George "Shorty" White remembers. 6'1", 195 lbs. Jeffrey Hunter - Biography - IMDb said Rutledge. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). His zodiac sign is Aquarius More about Jeff Rutledge Photo Gallery Jeff Rutledge Jeff Rutledge "We dedicated our season to the glory of the Lord, and we played at a much higher level those two years (1973-74) than we probably should have. jeff.rutledge@mcmillanvantage.com. (Linebacker) Barry Krauss could play today. Soon enough, though, Tony would be all around the ball. The following Friday night, Woodlawn closed out its season on a cold, rainy night at Fair Park, defeating Carver 12-0. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. As big as it was, though, even in these days where everything is just a Google or YouTube search away, only a few accounts and descriptions from that night are available, mainly in school yearbooks and newspaper archives. "If we needed him to throw the football, I knew he could definitely do that. It wasn't anything boastful for him. The next year, they got Bert Jones. 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. 1972 His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. 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. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. 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. Rutledge's road back to NFL as Cards QB coach filled with ups and downs Even though the Dolphins eventually lost in overtime, the play lives on in Miami lore. He started taking online courses through the University of Alabama's Bama by Distance degree program, and this past May, at 58, he graduated. After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. "I was like, 'All right, it's that time.'". Former Buyer/Planner at Rutledge Properties LLC. All three of Nathan's daughters have their college degrees - Nichole from South Florida and Natalie and Nadia from Alabama - as does his wife.
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