he recalls. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. ----DeOssie and Roberts Out Steve DeOssie and William Roberts missed practice Wednesday. Now he is not sure what he is. ", Woodlawn's Tony Nathan ran for 112 yards and scored a touchdown in the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game, but Banks linebacker Greg Muse was all over him all night long. "I came to stay until Tony makes up his mind," Bryant replied. The following Friday night, Woodlawn closed out its season on a cold, rainy night at Fair Park, defeating Carver 12-0. "And you're not going to be the first.". 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. Rivals in high school, Nathan and Rutledge were teammates for four years at Alabama. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. "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. Wore number 17 for the New York Giants. "It was weird," he says. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. 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. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. "That's a scary thought now," the 58-year-old Nathan says of what might have been. Jeff Rutledge Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Dunn and Anthony Murray and that would go on to make it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual champion Indiana. Former Buyer/Planner at Rutledge Properties LLC. See the article in its original context from. Newman serves as a criminal court judge in Miami-Dade County, and six years ago, he hired Nathan to be a bailiff in his courtroom. "Each gate had four openings in it for four lines of people," Garrett says, "but it still obviously wasn't enough.". Coach Bill Parcells will probably keep three this year, but there is no guarantee. Internal communications and employee engagement pro with a tech focus and multi-disciplinary background. Tony could have gone anywhere. "We knew each other from grammar school.". Tony -- the second oldest of five siblings -- used to wear out the grass playing ball with their neighbors in the backyard of their house in Parker Heights, near the airport. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Jeff Rutledge - Head of Internal Communications - LinkedIn Jeff Rutledge Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge Position: QB Throws: Right 6-1 , 195lb (185cm, 88kg) Born: January 22 in Birmingham, AL (Age: 66-029d) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2x SB Champ 8 17 10 SUMMARY Career G 117 AV 8 QBrec 2-7-1 Cmp% 52.1 Yds 3628 Y/A 6.9 TD 16 Int 29 FantPt 151.0 Jeff Rutledge Overview Game Logs Career Postseason 1979 1980 Former Realtor at ReallivingAdavanceRealty. Banks came in riding a 34-game unbeaten streak, its last loss coming to Woodlawn, 21-18, three years before. View the profiles of professionals named "Jeff Rutledge" on LinkedIn. No One Else Wanted Him. "And when they were picking teams, I wanted to get picked. The unsung hero, though, was a little linebacker named Greg Muse, who had transferred to Banksafter living in Texas. 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 wasn't hard to grab a piece of it. It wasn't so much the football I wanted. Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Jeff Rutledge Position: QB Birthdate: January 22, 1957 College: Alabama Draft: Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 9th round (246th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft Stats Gamelogs 300-Yard Passing Jeff Rutledge Stats Jeff Rutledge career stats with the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Washington Redskins. Jeffrey Brooks Rutledge, Meg Rutledge, Christen Rutledge. DailyPress.com. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. Like Jackson, Nathan excelled at just about any sport he played. "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. . An estimated 42,000 fans filled the lower bowl of Legion Field for the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game. The night before the game, Stearns says, members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapters from both teams gathered for a joint meeting at Woodlawn. Most likely, Tony would not have been drafted by the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and regrettably, he also would have missed out on starting in two Super Bowls, as well as being part of one of the most famous plays in Dolphins' history. If they cut me and someone picks me up, they would have to get someone else not familiar with their system.'' Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. Rutledge and his wife had just moved into their dream house in Atlanta, but felt it was the best job available. Louise Nathan, though, never was wild about her seeing her son get hit. "We would go to the board of education and get tickets and we would be sold out in 30 minutes to an hour," Stearns says. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 38 years, Traci (Ellis) Rutledge and their four children, Hannah, Jacob, Marilynn, and Haylee Rutledge; his two granddaughters, Amelia and Ramona Banerjee as well as his many nieces, nephews, and their families-all of whom he cherished greatly. An experienced communications and public affairs professional, with a record of effective strategic planning, outreach and engagement. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 January. There are 90+ professionals named "Jeff Rutledge", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. Jerry McDonald, a split end and defensive back, turned down college football offers and decided to play baseball instead after he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. 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. ", Tony Nathan strikes a Heisman-like pose as he tries to avoid a linebacker. 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. Tony Nathan holds his youngest brother, Cedric, after he announces in December 1974 that he will attend 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. They made great souvenirs, too, and fans mobbed him after the games to get a piece of Nathan's jersey. "It was a culmination of really four years of building up to that point," Woodlawn quarterback Denny Ragland remembers. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. "I was running down the baseline trying to follow my guy around, and, all of a sudden, they set a pick and this guy's elbow hit me in the eye and that cured my basketball desire," Nathan says. The next year, I was on injured reserve. I wanted him to have his degree. Nov 09, 1990 at 12:00 am. Birmingham, Alabama. fatal car accident in tulare county / how to endorse a check for mobile deposit wells fargo / jeff rutledge wife. are hard-pressed to remember the final score. "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. He said, 'Well, make sure you promise me you're going to finish what you started. He was a basketball guy.". 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. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. As depicted in the upcoming "Woodlawn" movie, droves of players, Nathan included, stepped forward to commit their lives to Christ that night. "We had a ball. 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 spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. 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. When it came time to pick a college, Nathan considered going to Oklahoma, where renegade coach Barry Switzer was lighting up the scoreboard with a high-powered wishbone offense that was the talk of college football. ', "I said, 'I will do that. Rutledge was born to Tony and Cheryl Rutledge in Cullman, Alabama, on April 21, 1989. . Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. Jeff Rutledge Stats | The Football Database Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979. But she's been through this every year. He played college football at Alabama, where he was the team's starting quarterback for their 1978 National . 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). "He looked like he had a jet pack on his back," Baumhower recalls. 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. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. 2. "All three kids were raised here. 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. Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana, an only child. "It was the thrill of my life," Louise Nathan says. 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. ''You gear up for a time when you're going to get together as a family. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. Once he started playing, though, she never let him quit. In the 1980s, Banks High School -- home of those mighty Jets for all those years -- was closed as part of a city schools reorganization and it became Banks Middle School. Where was Jeff Rutledge born? 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. White is now retired and living with his wife, June, in Helena. 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. That University of Alabama sorority girl who was in the stands at Legion Field that night? ''My first year in the league, with the Rams, it was hairy because they had so many quarterbacks in camp. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. 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. On Sunday, the Jets lost their backup, Pat Ryan, for at least six to eight weeks with a sprained knee. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jeff Rutledge, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. 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. It helped, too, that both Banks and Woodlawn were also blessed with some enormously talented athletes who weren't named Rutledge or Nathan and who also went on to play in the SEC and the NFL.