Bobby Dodd
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Template:TOCleft Bobby Dodd (November 11,1908–June 21,1988) was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech.
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Biography
Robert Lee ("Bobby") Dodd was born in Galax, Virginia. Bobby Dodd moved to Kingsport, Tennessee and excelled at several sports in high school. After playing quarterback at the University of Tennessee, he served as an assistant coach under William Alexander at Georgia Tech beginning in 1931. Bobby Dodd succeeded Alexander in 1945 as the third head coach at the Institute. He retired from coaching after the 1966-67 season, compiling a 165-64-8 record. He also served as Athletic Director from 1950 until 1976. Bobby Dodd passed away in June 1988 at the age of 79.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1959 and as a coach in 1993.
In 1988, Georgia Tech named its stadium Bobby Dodd Stadium in honor of the legendary coach.
Coaching career
Bobby Dodd compiled a 165-64-8 record as head coach at Georgia Tech. He led Georgia Tech to two Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships (1951 and 1952) and one national championship in 1952. Under Dodd's leadership, Tech played in 13 major bowls, winning 9.
He was involved in encouraging Georgia Tech to leave the SEC, which it did in the early 1960s. Two of the important factors in this decison were that Dodd thought that Tech could become a successful independent like Notre Dame, and the SEC began limiting scholarships (before the NCAA imposed its own scholarship restrictions). The problem with the SEC scholarship limitations is that Dodd did not believe in exploiting student-athletes; he thought that if a player is promised a scholarship but ends up not being able to take the field due to injury, using up NCAA eligibility, or simply not making the squad that the player should still receive the scholarship.
Legacy: Character & Integrity
While Bobby Dodd was a determined competitor, he cared deeply for those who played for him. Unlike other coaches that he faced in the SEC, he did not believe in winning at any costs; he truly believed that the most important aspect of college football was the college football player.
As a testament to the character of Bobby Dodd, each year a Division I college coach who has demonstrated leadership both on and off the field is awarded the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (presented by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation).
Quotes from Bobby Dodd
"Either love your players or get out of coaching."
"We're not miracle workers, but if you send us a good boy to Georgia Tech, we will send you a good boy home."
"Words to live by"
"Football is one of our great American games. It is the duty and responsibility of each of us to see that it is kept in its proper perspective, and that it is protected. We should see that it is used to attain the objectives that mean so much to our way of life.
We feel that the spectator can be most influential and instrumental in helping to achieve these objectives, if he will develop the right attitudes. May we suggest a few?
First, and foremost among these attitudes that must be developed, is the realization that in football there must be a winner and a loser (excepting the occasional tie). The fan who recognizes this principle gets a great deal more enjoyment from the game than one who becomes irritated, aggravated, and rambunctious when "his" team loses. We would never minimize the importance of winning, but it is very unfair to the coach, the player, and the school when the fan forgets it is impossible to "repudiate the law of mathematics"--i.e., there must be a winner and a loser.
It is important that each of us develop the art of appreciating great plays made by the opposition. We should always give our opponents credit, rather than criticize our team when the opposition makes a great play. We believe perfection in the execution of a great play in football is to be admired and appreciated, just as we appreciate and admire the work of a great artist in any field.
The spectator should remember the football players are just human beings. They perform at times under great pressure, and they, as all other earthly inhabitants, are likely to make mistakes. It behooves all of us to remember, "To err is human, to forgive, divine."
Finally, we should always keep uppermost in mind that football, with all its glamour, glitter, thrills and chills, plus everything that makes it great, has one thing more important than all of these combined--that is, the boy who plays it."
Robert L. "Bobby" Dodd Head Coach and Athletic Director Georgia Institute of Technology 1954
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External links
- Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation
- Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field
- Bobby Dodd Institute - An organization that helps people with disabilities; named in honor of Coach Dodd for his assistance to the disabled
- University of Tennessee's Hall of Fame - Bobby Dodd's entry
- Bobby Dodd as University of Tennessee All-American