University of Tennessee Athletics
Seven Pillars of Tennessee Football
November 13, 2010 | Football
Nov. 13, 2010
By JOSH PATE
UT Media Relations
UTsports.com's Josh Pate turned to the ultimate Volunteer graybeard, the legendary Gus Manning, and asked the 60-year veteran of the athletics department to identify seven individuals who were instrumental in shaping Tennessee football into what it is today. So to ensure that the next generation of Big Orange fans develops an appreciation for those who "gave their all" while paving the way, for each UT home game on the 2010 schedule we'll profile ... The Seven Pillars of Tennessee football.
If Notre Dame had its four horsemen, Tennessee's three were Hack, Mack and Dodd. The UT backfield in 1928 was one that was never replicated on The Hill, and the centerpiece of those heroes went on to achieve greatness on the sidelines just as he did in the backfield.
Bobby Dodd may be known as an instrumental figure for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but he got his start as a Volunteer. Dodd was from Kingsport and could do it all. He was a good kicker. He was a good passer. He was a good runner. Those were the days when you had to be good at all three to get on the field and touch the ball.
Put simply, Dodd was one of the guys who got it all started for the Vols -- the main cog, if you will, of Tennessee's great Flaming Sophomores. He was something else. He played just like a tailback, although he wasn't the greatest runner in UT's stable. Tennessee had Gene McEver to cut through the holes and Buddy Hackman to sweep out on a reverse, so Dodd accepted his role as a passer. Of course, he didn't throw it around as much as they do today, but there were episodes of greatness sprinkled all around Dodd.
They always said Dodd had ice in his blood because he was so dang cool all the time. Most called him "The Dodger." One of those cool moments came as a senior in 1930 when he punted 14 times for a 42-yard average, carried the ball nine times for 39 yards, and threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 7-of-12 passing. He also intercepted two passes while playing defense. That day, a 13-0 victory over Vanderbilt, Dodd accounted for 212 of Tennessee's 226 total yards. Needless to say, Dodd was elected All-America that season.
2-2 COACHING AGAINST NEYLAND
He left Tennessee immediately after football to take a coaching job down at Georgia Tech under head man Bill Alexander. Dodd went on to become a fabulous coach when he succeeded Alexander in 1945 as the Yellow Jackets' third head coach. He was instrumental in getting Georgia Tech out of the Southeastern Conference in 1963 and becoming an independent school the remainder of his tenure.
Dodd always liked to compete against his old college team and Gen. Bob Neyland. And rightly so. The two legends went head-to-head four times between 1946 and 1949, and split the series 2-2. That should tell you about Dodd's talent on the sidelines.
He went 165-64-6 as a head coach at Georgia Tech and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame both as a player (1959) and as a coach (1993). Only three people hold such an honor.
So down in Atlanta, there's a stadium named after Bobby Dodd. But here in Knoxville, he was just as instrumental to the University of Tennessee's program in getting a successful football team up to par thanks to his arm, legs and foot.
