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. [3][5][6] 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. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. Woodlawn students used to yell, ''Rip those Sugar Jets," which was a reference to this brand of cereal. "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. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember anything about it. 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. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. ''The first game Phil Simms goes down, they've got to get a quarterback. White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. Now he is here and his family is there, and no one is happy. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. 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 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. It hardly seemed like a swan-song performance. 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. Newton and football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant stand behind Tony Nathan as he signs his scholarship to attend the University of Alabama. , money, salary, income, and assets. 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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Or was it 17-7? He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. "We had a ball. 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. 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. Wasn't it 14-0? (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). 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. 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. "The Woodlawn guys were like maniacs, and they were roaring all through their pre-game warm-ups. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Manage Settings 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. ", Tony Nathan runs behind his Miami Dolphins teammate Jeff Toews in a game against the New York Jets. . The next year, I was on injured reserve. 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. 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. "I think (defensive lineman) Marty Lyons could play today. "He wasn't too pleased," Nathan recalls. 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. Jeff Rutledge Biography. 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. "And you're not going to be the first.". 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. 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. Woodlawn High School had a much longer history that went back to 1916, when the community of Woodlawn was annexed into Birmingham. 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. Jeff Rutledge - Head of Internal Communications - LinkedIn 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. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge. William Nathan asked, referring to Bryant's bag. Tony could have gone anywhere. "I did accept Christ in my life at that time, they say," Nathan says. When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. He will miss Saturday night's exhibition game against the Giants at Giants Stadium. New York Giants. Jeff Rutledge Biography | HowOld.co "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. You could call it inspiration, you could call it whatever you like. "But I was raised in the church anyway. I told Coach Gerelds that I didn't want him to be anywhere near the ball.". Some of the choices Jeff Rutledge made during his journey to become an NFL assistant coach were difficult. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. Among those 42,000 who came to watch was a freshman sorority girl from the University of Alabama, who was there not because she had any allegiance to either team but just because she heard it was a big game and she wanted to see it and be a part of it. "It was time for people to actually get along -- no matter what race or color you were," he says. A couple of weeks before their game, Banks' White alerted the Legion Field staff to expect a monster crowd. Internal communications and employee engagement pro with a tech focus and multi-disciplinary background. 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. Jeff Rutledge | American Football Database | Fandom They attended some of the same churches and dated some of the same girls. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. 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. "It was a miserable way to end your season.". One of them said on the phone, 'What did you get me?' "The touchdown was a busted play," he recalls. They've been married for going on 37 years now, with three children and nine grandkids. he recalls. 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. 1-ranked Huffman Vikings -- Woodlawn fans started calling Nathan "Touchdown Tony" and began clamoring for pictures and autographs. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). 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". They got at least part of that right. The kids are disappointed. 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. If all of the gates had been open, they would have had 60,000 people.". Jeff Rutledge - Wikipedia 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. By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. 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. "People drove up, saw the lines outside and just went on by. After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. How old is Jeff Rutledge? 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. . "It was one heck of a game. 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. ''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. And I don't know when that will be.'' 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. 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. "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. It wasn't anything boastful for him. 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 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. An estimated 42,000 fans filled the lower bowl of Legion Field for the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game. "I came to stay until Tony makes up his mind," Bryant replied. 2. ", 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. Jeff Rutledge - Senior Consultant - McMillan Vantage Policy Group It's been very interesting. "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. 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. The quiet, introverted Nathan didn't know quite what to make of all that attention. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. ''My wife is frustrated,'' said Rutledge. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. PI Financial sued over unauthorized $1.5M withdrawal But she's been through this every year. "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. The week of the game, Jerry Stearns, who was an assistant coach at Woodlawn that year and later became the head coach there, recalls selling advance tickets at the school, something he says never happened before. "Everywhere Tony lined up, there was Greg," Rutledge remembers. Banks came in riding a 34-game unbeaten streak, its last loss coming to Woodlawn, 21-18, three years before. 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 trouble is, it's on VHS cassette, and my VHS player died years ago.". There was no mortgage. Jeff is an experienced communications and public affairs professional with more than a decade working in government and the private sector. 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. "It was the thrill of my life," Louise Nathan says. Josh Rutledge - Wikipedia Birmingham, Alabama. Now he is not sure what he is. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. 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. 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. The next Christmas, Santa Claus brought Tony his first official football. Jeff Rutledge: Bear Bryant promised a national championship at Alabama ", Alabama basketball coach C.M. 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. The Colonels had something else going for them, too. Nathan played on the B-team his freshman year, and by his sophomore season, he earned a spot on the Woodlawn varsity as the starting free safety on defense. The easygoing Nathan had the ideal temperament for the job, Newman told him. 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. A creative problem solver with refined approach to crisis communications and media management. Bold denotes league leader. By his senior season in 1974, Woodlawn running back Tony Nathan was one of the most sought-after high school football players in America. 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. "Each gate had four openings in it for four lines of people," Garrett says, "but it still obviously wasn't enough.". Jeff is survived by his wife, Dana; daughter, Payton Rutledge; son, Parker Rutledge; and several nieces and nephews. I remember it was good we didn't start when we were supposed to because they were at their peak. 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. 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. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state *les at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He was just a humble high school athlete. Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. Jeff Rutledge Career Stats | StatMuse Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. 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. Fast learner, critical thinker with an eye for efficiency, and generally fun guy. It was Geralds, Nathan would say later, who talked him out of quitting football, and for that, Nathan remained forever grateful. team protected 37 players during the off season and made the unprotected players available to other teams. "It really did.". "I remember going back and forth to get more tickets to sell. His zodiac sign is Aquarius More about Jeff Rutledge Photo Gallery Jeff Rutledge Jeff Rutledge "That's a scary thought now," the 58-year-old Nathan says of what might have been. 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. #Jeff #Rutledge #Wiki Biography #Age #Height #Wife #Net #Worth #Family Tags: Age Biography Family Height Jeff Net Rutledge Wife Wiki Worth The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. [1], Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama,[2][3] where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. "They do a great job of keeping us involved in what's going on and keeping us involved with the fans. WE BUY HOUSES ANY PRICE ANY CONDITION CALL 205 966 4880 NOW. 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 played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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. 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. Jeff Rutledge Stats | The Football Database 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. 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. RELATED:See who plays Tony Nathan in 'Woodlawn'. Menu Log In Sign Up The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 6'1", 195 lbs. Jeff Rutledge date of birth: January 22, 1957. 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. He said, 'Well, make sure you promise me you're going to finish what you started. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "There is no doubt in my mind that the delay in the game helped us,'' Banks' Grefseng says. "He looked like he had a jet pack on his back," Baumhower recalls. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. ", RELATED: Turning back the clock at Legion Field. After Thursday morning's practice, the Giants will leave for their annual welcome-home lunch at the Sheraton Centre. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Forty years later, the details have gotten fuzzier and the legends have grown larger. If it had been up to Louise Nathan, her son Tony never would have touched a football. I knew it even before that, when Plan B came along.'' According to our Database, He has no children. He is currently the head football coach at Valley Christian High School (Chandler, Arizona) in Chandler, Arizona. Following his senior season at Alabama in 1978, Banks' Jeff Rutledge went on to play 13 years in the National Football League. "I had some professors walk up to me and say, 'Hey, we were around when you were playing.'. An experienced communications and public affairs professional, with a record of effective strategic planning, outreach and engagement. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. He said he hadn't decided whether to keep two or three quarterbacks.''. UNEASY LIES THE HEAD OF NO. 3 QUARTERBACK - The New York Times 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. 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 purchase date corresponds with most of the transfers from Mr. Slaughter's account, according to the suit. in Plant Science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a Masters in Agronomy (Weed Science) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. "This was before Bo Jackson," Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, says. "We were out there playing in the mud and the rain," Woodlawn's Ragland says. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. "We were down 24-zip and nothing was going right, and that was the play that gave us the spark to come back. Soon enough, though, Tony would be all around the ball. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. Everybody else was gone home for Christmas vacation, and I was like, 'What am I doing here?' Louise Nathan, though, never was wild about her seeing her son get hit. Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Jeff Rutledge, Nathan's old rival from Banks, was now his teammate, quarterbacking the Tide. And while most college players today are bigger, faster and stronger now than they were during Nathan's college days, Legg has no doubt that, had Nathan come along four decades later, Nick Saban would find a place for him with Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake in the Crimson Tide's current running back rotation. 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. Rutledge and his wife had just moved into their dream house in Atlanta, but felt it was the best job available. Rutledge lived up to his star billing that night, completing 9 of 10 passes for 188 yards and that touchdown to Grefseng. 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.. 100.00 Down Payment and Houses with No Credit Check. 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. 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. What is Jeff Rutledge's full name? My parents raised me that way. Rutledge, 58, who was the quarterbacks coach of the Cardinals in their only Super Bowl season, said Alabama never stopped aspiring to the biggest heights in college football since he left. I can tell you, Tony had no trouble with his blocking.". "I don't even know if he realized how good he was back then. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. 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). Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Former Buyer/Planner at Rutledge Properties LLC. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. From Banks, defensive lineman Freddie Knighton signed with Alabama, running back Jerry Murphree went to LSU, and linebacker Bob Grefseng played at Ole Miss. 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,. DailyPress.com. "So it was a great lesson for me. Nov 09, 1990 at 12:00 am. | Learn more about Jeff . Finished career at Alabama has the school's leading passer, surpassing Joe Namath. said Rutledge. Six years later, he led the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 season and a 4A state championship. Experienced backup quarterbacks can be valuable when injuries strike. Woodlawn vs. Banks 1974: Remembering the biggest game in Alabama high In those days, the Banks-Woodlawn rivalry was like the Alabama-Auburn of Birmingham high school football, but maybe just a little friendlier. 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. The following Friday night, Woodlawn closed out its season on a cold, rainy night at Fair Park, defeating Carver 12-0. In 2006, the Birmingham Board of Education decided to close the deteriorating middle school, too, saying it was unsafe and an eyesore.
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