Brantley, Marshall Recall Rivalry Moments As They Join Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame
Friday, October 29, 2010 | Football, Scott Carter
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame has been inducting members since 1996, but you would be challenged to find a harder-hitting duo than former Gator linebackers Wilber Marshall and Scot Brantley.
Marshall and Brantley joined the rivalry's most distinguished fraternity here on Friday afternoon outside EverBank Field. Georgia's inductees were Zeke Bratkowski and Knox Culpepper.
Marshall, who went on to win two Super Bowl rings in the NFL after leaving Florida, will attend his first Florida-Georgia game since 1983 when the Gators and Bulldogs face off on Saturday. He was on the field that day 27 years ago, thankful that Georgia running back Herschel Walker was not. Walker left Georgia following his junior season in 1982 for the USFL.
To this day, Walker is what Marshall remembers most about the rivalry in an era when the Bulldogs had the upper hand.
“It was a very tough game,'' Marshall said after Friday's induction ceremony. “Playing against Herschel was tough. I don't think a lot of people know how great he was as a college player and we were sitting on the other side trying to catch him. That's what I remember. I was chasing him all day.''
Culpepper, a teammate of Walker's on the 1981 and '82 Georgia teams, shared one of his most memorable moments from the game – and Marshall and Walker were included. Culpepper said when Walker broke into the open field, the rest of the Bulldogs instantly raised their arms to signal touchdown, knowing no player was fast enough to chase down Walker.
He remembers only seeing one player chase down Walker: Wilber Marshall.
“When I got the call about coming here, that was one of the first thoughts that popped into my mind,'' Culpepper said. “When Herschel broke into the open field, he was gone. That was the first time I've ever seen him tackled from behind.''
Marshall now lives in Virginia and stays busy by working in commercial real estate. He is also starting to come back to UF regularly. His two daughters currently attend Florida.
As for the Florida-Georgia rivalry, he doesn't expect much has changed since his playing days.
“It's one of the most nervous-jitter games you can possibly play in,'' Marshall said. “For us, there was a lot at stake because Georgia had a great team. For us, it was the biggest game.''
During their careers at Florida, Marshall (1980-83) and Brantley (1976-79) chased down opposing running backs like few in school history.
After starting his career at Florida as a tight end, Marshall moved to linebacker as a sophomore and became the first Gators defensive player to ever earn first-team All-American honors twice. He finished his career with 343 tackles.
Meanwhile, Brantley has been a regular at Florida-Georgia games over the years as a member of the Gator Radio Network's broadcast team.
He'll arrive for Saturday's game the way he has for several years: by boat, a tradition that seems perfect for the rowdy and off-beat tradition that surrounds the game.
“It's fun,'' Brantley said Friday. “I come with my bag ready to go to the booth. It beats the traffic. I don't need a parking pass.
Brantley, who finished his career at Florida with 467 tackles – still second in school history – recalled Friday how nervous he was the first time he played in the game in 1976. He remembers seeing TV announcers Keith Jackson and Ara Parseghian on the sideline prior to the game. He remembers the rowdy fans and spending the night before the game in St. Augustine with the team.
But what Brantley is most thankful for is that he played in one of college football's most storied rivalries.
“It's always been a great rivalry and always will be,'' Brantley said. “I'm proud to be a part of it. That's something that is kind of unmatched. There are not many rivalries like this.''
Since leaving Gainesville in 1979, Brantley has lived in Tampa, playing for the Bucs from 1980-87. Once he retired, he started a sports broadcasting career.
The annual clash on the St. John's River always keeps him guessing.
“I can never put my finger on this game,'' Brantley said. “Even after the last 20 years – we've had the dominant force – it could turn around tomorrow and go on a roll for Georgia. That's kind of the way it's been and the way it is. You can't really figure it out.''
Sounds like the way a good rivalry should be.
Current Hall of Fame Members
Florida: Reidel Anthony (2004),Carlos Alvarez (1999), Kerwin Bell (1996), Howell Boney (2000), Scot Brantley (2010), Joe Brodsky (2000), Norm Carlson (2002), Rick Casares (1998), Wes Chandler (2004), Chris Doering (2001), Jimmy Dunn (1999), Larry Dupree (1998), Jeremy Foley (2005), Don Gaffney (2005), Ray Graves (1996), Rex Grossman (2009), Galen Hall (2007), Ike Hilliard (2006), Charles Hunsinger (1998), Willie Jackson, Jr. (2008), Doug Johnson (2007), Charles LaPradd (1998), Buford Long (2003), Wilber Marshall (2010), Shane Matthews (1996), Lee McGriff (2006), Ricky Nattiel (2002), John Reaves (2001), Errict Rhett (2003), Steve Spurrier (1996), Fred Taylor (2008), Richard Trapp (1998), Lawrence Wright (2009), Danny Wuerffel (1997), Jack Youngblood (1997)
Georgia: Richard Appleby (1999), Buck Belue (1996), Zeke Bratkowski (2010), Charley Britt (2001), Kevin Butler (2003), Wally Butts (1998), Mike Cavan (2000), Knox Culpepper (2010), Vince Dooley (1996), Robert Edwards (2001), Bob Etter (2002), Ray Goff (2002), Cy Grant (2005), Rodney Hampton (2006), Garrison Hearst (2009), Terry Hoage (1997), Dan Magill (2007), Kevin McLee (2005), Larry Munson (2004), George Patton (2003), David Pollack (2009), John Raunch (2000), Matt Robinson (1999), Erik Russell (2004), Jake Scott (1998), Lindsay Scott (1997), Frank Sinkwich (1996), Bill Stanfill (1998), Tommy Thurson (1998), Charlie Trippi (1998), Hershel Walker (1996), Gene Washington (2008), Tim Worley (2007), Eric Zeier (2008)
