These Erk Russell quotes will have you ready to headbutt a helmet
Erk Russell transformed Georgia’s defense on the Bulldogs’ National Championship run.
He also built Georgia Southern’s football program out of a little water from Beautiful Eagle Creek and a lot of willpower.
The man couldn’t mean more to either program.
Georgia Southern even has his headbutt bust in its endzone.
Not only did Erk Russell motivate his players with that well-polished dome, he spoke the truth from it as well as the perfect fiery counterbalance to Vince Dooley.
Also, he deserves to be in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Russell.
Yes, some are Georgia Southern-related. But if you’re like me, you appreciate Erk’s Georgia Southern contributions as an extension of his Georgia legacy.
Even if it’s still a shame that Georgia couldn’t find a way to retain him.
Grab a helmet. Read up on the greatest Junkyard Dawg there ever was.
“There isn’t anything meaner than a junkyard dog. They aren’t good for nothing except for being mean and ornery. That’s what we want our defense to be.”
– on the Georgia defense
“If we score, we may win. If they never score, we’ll never lose.”
– on defensive philosophy
“I’m gonna say it one more time. We are Georgia Southern. Our colors are blue and white. We call ourselves the Bald Eagles. We call our offense the Georgia Power Companyand that’s a terrific name for an offense. Our snap count is ‘rate, hike.’ We practice on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek and that’s in Statesboro, Georgia-the gnat capital of America. Our weekends begin on Thursday. The co-eds outnumber the men 3 to 2. They’re all good looking and they’re all rich. And folks, you just can’t beat that and you just can’t beat Georgia Southern. And you ain’t seen nothin yet!”
– on recruiting Georgia Southern
“Attitude might be worth 80 percent of any athlete’s makeup.”
– on playing for him
“Do what your momma tells you to do, go to Sunday school, go to church, and when you die, you’ll go to Statesboro.”
– on embracing the Georgia Southern campus
“The best way to win a game is not to lose it.”
– on simplicity
“I can grow hair with the best of them. It’s just poorly proportioned.”
– on hairstyles
“THERE AIN’T NOTHING LIKE BEING A BULLDOG ON A SATURDAY NIGHT – – – – – AFTER WINNING A FOOTBALL GAME. I mean like whipping Tennessee’s ass to start with, then ten more and then another one.”
– to Georgia’s players before the 1980 season, in a letter addressed to ‘Gentlemen: (and Linemen)’
“The South, to me, is fried chicken and catfish caviar — that’s grits — and good-looking women.”
– on Southern culture
“If you don’t have the best of everything, make the best of everything you have.”
– on gratitude
Are you subscribed?
Ready to get all your latest Georgia athletics news in one place? Become a member of DawgsHQ today. With your DawgsHQ membership, you’ll not only have access to the goings on in Athens, but you’ll be able to peruse other fan sites within the On3 network to hear just how rivals are feeling about the Dawgs, as well. Make sure to follow along on Twitter (@DawgsHQ), on Facebook and on YouTube for all the Dawg news you need now!And listen to the DawgsHQ crew on our podcast Dawg Walk Talk on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
