87 Days to Kickoff - Dawg Post Countdown

ATHENS - My in my youth, which is fading more by the day, I met a guy who would go on to start two sports at Georgia and play in a Super Bowl. 

He was Larry Brown, the four-year starter at TE for the Bulldogs from 1995-1998. The monster athlete from Crim in Atlanta came down to the final day before letting the world know where he would go. 

Larry played AAU basketball with me starting when I was going into 9th grade. The actual first time I met him he and Shandon Anderson were busy polishing off Tucker in the 6-AAA Region finals. Tucker didn’t get blown out in basketball often, but that Crim team was legit, and they lit up the Tigers. 

Later that spring, Larry and I wound up in the Atlanta Celtic organization. He like basketball much more than he ever like football. But for Larry, like me, size really does matter for big men in basketball. Everyone wanted him to play football for them - and they would say anything to get him to play for them… anything. 

We grew closer over time. We were the only two players on our AAU team who actually lived in DeKalb County (correct, Larry should not have gone to Crim - another story for another day). He learned how to drive with my mother. He was one of several eventual college athletes she taught how to take the SAT.

And so we were heavily invested in Larry’s future that signing day in 1994. It had come down to Ray Goff and Georgia or John Mackovic and Texas. No one really knew what Larry would do, but just before he made his pick he pulled my mother into the hallway - away from the TV cameras - and told her “Mrs. Legge its going to be Georgia.”

And so it was. 

Larry was off to Georgia to make all the mistakes college kids do, but he left giving me my AAU nickname - Razzle Dean… again, another long story for another time. Larry went on to redshirt, start four years in football, help the basketball program to the Sweet 16 and play in the Super Bowl. 

He was a hell of an athlete… I’m not sure Georgia’s seen many better.

Other notable 87s in the history of the Bulldogs…

Bucky Cheeves scored a touchdown on an 87-yard blocked drop kick during Georgia’s 21-14 win over Alabama on November 20, 1920 in Atlanta.

Joe Burson scored a touchdown on an 87-yard interception return during Georgia’s 30-21 win over Auburn on November 17, 1962 Jordan-Hare in Auburn. 

Kirby Moore scored a touchdown on an 87-yard run during No. 5 Georgia’s 21-0 win over South Carolina on October 7, 1967 at Sanford Stadium in Athens. Moore had been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated earlier that fall.

Kent Lawrence scored a touchdown on an 87-yard kickoff return during No. 8 Georgia’s 56-6 win over VMI on October 21, 1967 at Sanford Stadium in Athens

Spike Jones laced into an 87-yard punt during Georgia’s 17-0 win over Auburn on November 18, 1967 at Sanford Stadium in Athens. As of 2017, the punt remains the longest in UGA history. 

Gene Washington scored a touchdown on an 87-yard reception from Ray Goff during No. 10 Georgia’s 31-7 win over Kentucky on October 23, 1976 at the Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington.

Chris Conley scored a touchdown on an 87-yard reception from Aaron Murray during No. 6 Georgia’s 45-31 win over No. 23 Nebraska on January 1, 2013 at the Citrus Bowl during the 2013 Capital One Bowl in Orlando. 

Top UGA players to ever wear the No. 87

DL Jimmy Payne 

A three-time All-SEC performer, Payne led Georgia in sacks three of his four years, including the 1980 National Championship year. He combined great size and speed that allowed him to contribute as a linebacker and as a defensive tackle. Payne had 28 career sacks and 12 single season sacks in 1981. He went on to play several seasons for the Buffalo Bills. He died of leukemia in 1998 at the age of 38. 

TE Larry Brown
TE Troy Sadowski
DE Dicky Clark
E Pat Hodgson