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Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Fully committed to football now, Nathan became one of the key cogs in a wishbone offense that was clicking on all cylinders. Jeff Rutledge. He was indeed a basketball guy, but Tony Nathan would be playing football for a long time. The Nathans go to the same church, New Testament Baptist Church, with his former Alabama and Miami teammate McNeal and his wife, Rhonda. ", Tony Nathan prepares to take a hand-off from quarterback Jeff Rutledge at the University of Alabama. In those days, the Banks-Woodlawn rivalry was like the Alabama-Auburn of Birmingham high school football, but maybe just a little friendlier. Like Jackson, Nathan excelled at just about any sport he played. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. So it's tough for her to hear that she should wait. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Gosh, that game was 40 years ago, which is unbelievable.". About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. "But I was raised in the church anyway. , money, salary, income, and assets. It wasn't anything boastful for him. 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. Jeff Rutledge was born on January 22, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They got in the car, and she drove him back to the football field, where she told Woodlawn coach Tandy Gerelds to do whatever he needed to discipline her boy for skipping practice, just as long as he was allowed back on the team. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Nov 09, 1990 at 12:00 am. No One Else Wanted Him. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. In 2006, the Birmingham Board of Education decided to close the deteriorating middle school, too, saying it was unsafe and an eyesore. Meanwhile, the recruiting letters continued to pour in from schools such as USC, Notre Dame, Texas and Oklahoma, as well as SEC schools Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. "We were down 24-zip and nothing was going right, and that was the play that gave us the spark to come back. I told Coach Gerelds that I didn't want him to be anywhere near the ball.". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. He had 274 completions in 526 attempts for 3,628 yards and 16 touchdowns. Louise Nathan, though, never was wild about her seeing her son get hit. The next year, they got Bert Jones. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. Some were easier. 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. Stearns recalls. "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. 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. 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. After the season ended, he accepted an assistant coaching position on Paul "Bear" Bryant's staff at Alabama, where he was part of back-to-back national championships in 1978 and 1979 -- the first of which featured Rutledge and Nathan in the starting backfield. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. ''It's an odd world, isn't it?'' "It was just that time. We prayed together, and from then on, I respected them and they respected me. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. View Jeff Rutledge results in Munford, AL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. The night after that chat, in an exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rutledge completed all 8 of his passes for 156 yards. are hard-pressed to remember the final score. 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. That iconic Banks jet was turned over to the Southern Museum of Flight, where it has been restored to its Korean War glory days. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. I think Tony could definitely play today. "We were just talking about it. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. "To be a 16-, 17-year-old kid, I had never seen anybody run and do the things Tony did athletically. Another one of football's coaching greats, Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins, drafted Nathan in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft, and even though it was a long way from Birmingham or Tuscaloosa, Miami was like a home away from home for Nathan. That 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game would be Shorty White's 100th win at Banks, and his last. | Learn more about Jeff . He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. So I ended up saying, 'Thanks, coach, but no thanks.' (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). The purchase date corresponds with most of the transfers from Mr. Slaughter's account, according to the suit. I don't know exactly when, but I'll do it.'". "That's a scary thought now," the 58-year-old Nathan says of what might have been. 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. in Plant Science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a Masters in Agronomy (Weed Science) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. "I think (defensive lineman) Marty Lyons could play today. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. [4], Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. The main building, built in 1922, was a grand, three-story structure that always looked more like a palace than a schoolhouse. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Rivals in high school, Nathan and Rutledge were teammates for four years at Alabama. At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the. "It's been home a long time," Nathan says. 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. "Somewhere, there is a videotape of that game," Grefseng says. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. And when the game finally did kick off a half-hour or so later, the crowd kept pouring in well into the second quarter. After seven seasons at Vanderbilt, Rutledge became the head coach at Montgomery Bell Academy, a school for seventh to 12th grade boys in Nashville. If all that notoriety affected Nathan, none of his teammates could tell. "We have, I think, one of the best alumni associations in the NFL," Nathan says. We will update Jeff Rutledge's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. "He looked like he had a jet pack on his back," Baumhower recalls. William Nathan, who worked as millwright at Connors Steel in Birmingham, made his son Tony his first football by stitching together a strip of Naugahyde and stuffing it with rags and cotton balls. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children. "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job and the recruiters did their jobs to get him to go to Alabama," Nathan says. "The Woodlawn guys were like maniacs, and they were roaring all through their pre-game warm-ups. RELATED:See who plays Tony Nathan in 'Woodlawn'. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Birmingham police guessed another 20,000 gave up and went back home when they saw the long lines. "And when they were picking teams, I wanted to get picked. Bryant sealed the deal by promising Tony he would get a shot at playing basketball at Alabama, too. ", RELATED:Remembering the 1974 Woodlawn-Banks game. 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. There's something always new at the courthouse.". Ragland recalls. Anyone can read what you share. So I had never beaten them.". 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. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). His wife, Laura, a former Miss . Welcome. Nathan is flanked by his parents William and Louise Nathan. 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. He has established himself as a trusted advisor providing advice and direction to organizations in some of the most heavily regulated . . 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. It was Grefseng's only touchdown catch of his Banks career. 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. 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 Skins last game of the regular season, again against the Philadelphia Eagles. 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. Woodlawn, meanwhile, had a nice streak going, too, winning 11 in a row since it fell to Banks 17-7 in 1973. Those were the days when running backs wore tear-away jerseys, which ripped when opposing players tried to bring down the ball carrier by grabbing ahold of his jersey. Center Dwight Stephenson and defensive back Don McNeal, who were a year behind him, would join the Dolphins the next year. ", Tony Nathan breaks free with his tear-away jersey flying in the breeze. "When people say Tony Nathan, their ears go up. Wasn't it 14-0? Jeffrey Brooks Rutledge, Meg Rutledge, Christen Rutledge. 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. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children.[7]. Finished career at Alabama has the school's leading passer, surpassing Joe Namath. I don't remember that whole week. 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. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). . Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job. Manage Settings Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. 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. 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. The following Friday night, Woodlawn closed out its season on a cold, rainy night at Fair Park, defeating Carver 12-0. He is not dating anyone. Jeff Rutledge date of birth: January 22, 1957. I wanted him to have his degree. "I did accept Christ in my life at that time, they say," Nathan says. He was just a humble high school athlete. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Rams lost their backup, Mark Herrmann, for six to eight weeks with broken ribs. You could call it inspiration, you could call it whatever you like. 6'1", 195 lbs. "He's very respected here," McNeal says of his old teammate. (Birmingham News file) In the 1980s,. The kids are disappointed. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. The regular season game was played in . Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. The athletic teams at Banks adopted the name Jets, and in 1961, the Alabama Air National Guard loaned the school a Korean War-era F-86D Sabre jet, which was painted in the school colors of Columbia blue and scarlet and prominently displayed on campus, making it an inviting target for practical jokers from rival schools. 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's been very interesting. If it had been up to Louise Nathan, her son Tony never would have touched a football. Playing in the wishbone -- a four-pronged attack with two tailbacks, a fullback and the quarterback all sharing carries -- Nathan never amassed huge numbers like Crimson Tide workhorses Bobby Humphrey or Shaun Alexander or Trent Richardson, but for his career, he averaged an eye-popping 6.4 yards every time he carried the ball at Alabama. The next year, I was on injured reserve. They all came to see Tony.". 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. "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. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 63 years old? (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). My parents raised me that way. By Friday, the excitement was at full-tilt boogie. While it has been reported that only one gate was open that night, Walter Garrett, who was the stadium manager at Legion Field for 38 years, says that both gates 7A and 7B at the south entrance to the stadium were open, as was customary at all Birmingham high school games there. Nathan says. The other day, Rutledge called his wife and told her to wait. 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. 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. After Nathan got out of coaching, another one of his former Dolphins teammates, guard Ed Newman, told him he had the perfect job for him. William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. "What are you doing with that grip?'" His parents met at the University of Arkansas, and when he was almost four his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On one particular visit, Bryant brought his overnight bag, Tony's father remembers. On signing day, both Bryant and Alabama basketball coach C.M. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. I will make you that promise. His breakout moment came against Montgomery's Robert E. Lee Generals, when, late in the game, he scooped up a fumble and ran 38 yards for the winning touchdown. "And you're not going to be the first.". (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). "We both started to laugh.". Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. 66. 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. 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. I was so elated that he did it, and I thank the Lord that he did.". Internal communications and employee engagement pro with a tech focus and multi-disciplinary background. If they cut me and someone picks me up, they would have to get someone else not familiar with their system.'' Drafted in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft (246th overall pick) by the Los Angeles Rams,[2] Rutledge played in 14 NFL seasons[3][5] from 1979 to 1992 for three different teams. On Sunday, the Jets lost their backup, Pat Ryan, for at least six to eight weeks with a sprained knee. 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 . "We just sat up there and watched," Martin, now retired, recalls. Now he is not sure what he is. William Nathan asked, referring to Bryant's bag. All rights reserved (About Us). (Birmingham News file). "I knew some of those guys, and I'm like, 'Why would y'all be out here in the hot sun watching freshman football?'" He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state *les at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. "It was the thrill of my life," Louise Nathan says. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. [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. Ragland, the former Woodlawn quarterback, recently watched an ESPN documentary about another Birmingham-area sports legend, Bessemer's Bo Jackson, and it reminded of that 14-year-old kid he first met at freshman football practice. "'And you told me you didn't want me to play this game. 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. "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". 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. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. Wore number 17 for the New York Giants. Jeff Rutledge Biography. 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. he recalls. Our defensive game plan was awesome.". 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. When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. His two older sisters went to Banks, but after the Birmingham schools were desegregated, he was zoned for Woodlawn. DailyPress.com. "I think back about our team, and I think about the players who played then and who could play now in terms of their strength and speed and ability," Legg says.