Top 50 UGA Players of All Time - No. 40 - Ray Goff
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No. 40 - Ray Goff, QB from Moultrie
Before he was the head coach at Georgia from 1989-1995, Moultrie native Ray Goff was a standout quarterback in the mid-70s.
Goff’s tenure at Georgia spanned three years from 1974-1976, where the Bulldogs went a combined 46-34-1. Goff was Georgia’s option quarterback at the time, rushing for 474 yards in 1975 while passing for just 246. The Bulldogs scored 28 points or more seven different times in that 1975 season, including a 10-7 win over number 11-ranked Florida.
During his final season in 1976, Goff’s versatility at quarterback helped the Bulldogs win the SEC Championship after a 10-1 regular season. Named the 1976 SEC Player of the Year, Goff was a team captain, leading the Bulldogs to wins over Florida, Clemson, Alabama, South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia Tech, and California. Those ’76 Bulldogs were a special group, but their season ended in heartbreaking fashion after a 27-3 Sugar Bowl loss to Pittsburgh.
Goff helped beat the number 6-ranked Gators in ’74, the number 11-ranked Gators in ’75, and the number 10-ranked Gators in ’76. Goff was also 2-1 against both Auburn and Georgia Tech during his three years at Georgia.
After his playing days, Goff quickly got into the coaching field, becoming an assistant for the South Carolina Gamecocks between 1979-1980. The former standout quarterback would head to Athens in 1981 where he was an assistant until 1988. Goff would take over as the Georgia head coach in 1989 and hold the position until 1995.
Goff’s head coaching tenure at Georgia had more downs than ups, with his beat team coming in 1992, the year Garrison Hearst cemented himself as the top running back in college football. Goff’s Bulldogs peaked in that ’92 season, as the Bulldogs won only 17 games over the next three seasons. After giving up 52 points at home to Florida in 1995, Goff was let go shortly after the following month. During his seven seasons as the head coach, Goff had a record of 45-33-1.
While many remember his recent coaching days, what Goff did as a quarterback in the 70s should never be forgotten. His combined time in Athens both as a player and coach solidify his position among the top 50 players in Georgia history.