''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. Jeff Rutledge was born on January 22, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. 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. Jeff Rutledge Biography | HowOld.co I said, 'You have to wait until you see me.' "I came to stay until Tony makes up his mind," Bryant replied. Only two practice sessions remain at the Fairleigh Dickinson campus here. Jeff Rutledge Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family All rights reserved (About Us). "I told him, me being so far behind, I didn't want to flunk out. If all of the gates had been open, they would have had 60,000 people.". Tony started playing pickup basketball games with some older boys in the neighborhood, and he was good enough that he was recruited to play in a rec league at Huffman Park. On Nov. 8, 1974 -- 40 years ago this Saturday - the two-time defending state champion Banks Jets met their eastern Birmingham rivals the Woodlawn Colonels in front of what was then and remains today the biggest crowd to ever watch a high school football game in Alabama. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. "It touched me," he says. 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. With the arrival of head coach Tandy Gerelds in 1971, though, and the emergence of Nathan, who had a breakout junior season in 1973, Woodlawn started to level the playing field. Anyone can read what you share. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. (Birmingham News file) In the 1980s,. 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. Tony Nathan holds his youngest brother, Cedric, after he announces in December 1974 that he will attend the University of Alabama. Efforts to reach him for this story were unsuccessful. His most notable play with the Giants came in Super Bowl XXI in the third quarter. ", Tony Nathan prepares to take a hand-off from quarterback Jeff Rutledge at the University of Alabama. "I don't even know if he realized how good he was back then. Nose tackle Bob Baumhower, who was two years ahead of Nathan at Alabama, was already there when Nathan arrived for his first camp. "I've never known a Nathan to quit anything," she said. And while most college players today are bigger, faster and stronger now than they were during Nathan's college days, Legg has no doubt that, had Nathan come along four decades later, Nick Saban would find a place for him with Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake in the Crimson Tide's current running back rotation. I told Coach Gerelds that I didn't want him to be anywhere near the ball.". DailyPress.com. "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. "Some do come in with attitudes, and you just have to diffuse them before they go in front of the judge. Wife'S Suggestion of Retirement Lost on Rutledge "Everywhere Tony lined up, there was Greg," Rutledge remembers. Trivia (4) Quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams (1979-1981), New York Giants (1983-1989) and Washington Redskins (1990-1992). After Friday morning's practice, they will break camp and return to Giants Stadium, where practices are closed to the public. Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana, an only child. I will make you that promise. By WARNER HESSLER Staff Writer. The other day, Rutledge called his wife and told her to wait. They know they're going to get presents when they see me. I was so elated that he did it, and I thank the Lord that he did.". Bryant paid several visits to the Nathan home, and he often brought with him an entourage of assistants and past and current Tide players, including Joe Namath, Johnny Musso and Ozzie Newsome. 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. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Place kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh of the New York Giants kicks a field goal during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Giants Stadium on December 15,. He is currently single. (Linebacker) Barry Krauss could play today. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). 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. And to himself. Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. ----DeOssie and Roberts Out Steve DeOssie and William Roberts missed practice Wednesday. 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. A couple of weeks before their game, Banks' White alerted the Legion Field staff to expect a monster crowd. 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. 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. ''But this is tough on the family. ", RELATED:Remembering the 1974 Woodlawn-Banks game. Jeff Rutledge, of Newport, represents the White River and his term expires in 2024. 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. There's something always new at the courthouse.". "Greg was not very big but he had a huge heart and he gave Tony fits that night. 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. 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. On the bus ride to Legion Field, the Woodlawn players knew it was a big deal when they got a police escort to the game, which was also a first for them. As the teams went through their pre-game drills, Woodlawn's Stearns noticed another assistant, Mike Logan, staring up into the stands with his mouth agape. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979. We have estimated "That's why, for two years, we had a lot of focus and attention on Woodlawn. They made great souvenirs, too, and fans mobbed him after the games to get a piece of Nathan's jersey. he recalls. See the article in its original context from. "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 had left the University of Alabama in the spring of 1979 without a diploma. 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 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game would be Shorty White's 100th win at Banks, and his last. Something else special happened that week, too. After seven seasons at Vanderbilt, Rutledge became the head coach at Montgomery Bell Academy, a school for seventh to 12th grade boys in Nashville. In 2013, he married Laura McKeeman (who took Rutledge's name upon marriage), a reporter and host for ESPN and the SEC Network. "When people say Tony Nathan, their ears go up. He said, 'Well, make sure you promise me you're going to finish what you started. Fast learner, critical thinker with an eye for efficiency, and generally fun guy. The two schools were just 10 minutes and less than four miles apart. The other day, Rutledge called his wife and told her to wait. ", RELATED: Turning back the clock at Legion Field. Though Rutledge was available, no other team signed him. "I just felt like I was the oldest cat in the house," he says. Nathan played on the B-team his freshman year, and by his sophomore season, he earned a spot on the Woodlawn varsity as the starting free safety on defense. Woodlawn High School had a much longer history that went back to 1916, when the community of Woodlawn was annexed into Birmingham. View the profiles of professionals named "Jeff Rutledge" on LinkedIn. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). Jeff is survived by his wife, Dana; daughter, Payton Rutledge; son, Parker Rutledge; and several nieces and nephews. After games, fans mobbed Nathan to get a piece of his jersey. ''That may make the Giants think,'' said Rutledge. UNEASY LIES THE HEAD OF NO. So he signed again with the Giants, but for less than the $400,000 he made last year. (Sugar Jets was a reference to a brand of cereal from the 1950s and '60s.). . Center Dwight Stephenson and defensive back Don McNeal, who were a year behind him, would join the Dolphins the next year. "We were out there playing in the mud and the rain," Woodlawn's Ragland says. "It was always the biggest game of the year, for both sides," Rutledge says. 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. 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. Hoover, Alabama. 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. "There wasn't anybody that came to see me play or any of the other guys. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. of development through completion. In overtime, he hit Art Monk with a vital 40-yard p* on third and 15 to help set up Chip Lohmiller's game-winning field goal. Jeff was in the flooring business and owned Vintage Wood Floors, Inc. Tony Nathan talks about racism, 'Woodlawn' "In high school, he was the best quarterback in the state of Alabama, and Coach Bryant did his job. "It was supposed to be a quick pass but somebody got in there and almost sacked Jeff. Nathan is flanked by his parents William and Louise Nathan. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember anything about it. At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the Giants. They attended some of the same churches and dated some of the same girls. So I had never beaten them.". He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. ", Alabama basketball coach C.M. "I did accept Christ in my life at that time, they say," Nathan says. This Korean War-era Sabre jet, which was loaned to Banks High School in 1961, was repainted in school colors and prominently displayed on campus. 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. "The other thing about the wishbone, if you were a truly good back in the wishbone, you had to block, too,'' says Murray Legg, who, as a defensive back on those Alabama teams, often went up against Nathan in practice. I wanted him to have his degree. "But it didn't bother me that I was forced to go to Woodlawn because a lot of my friends were at Woodlawn, too.". Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. "I said, 'What's wrong, Mike, they didn't have crowds like this at Locust Fork?'" 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. All rights reserved (About Us). We felt like we were probably the two best teams in Alabama, but only one of us was going to get to go to the state. [3][6], Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009.[3]. "We just sat up there and watched," Martin, now retired, recalls. "It really did.". "And then they told me that that guy (Nathan) was an All-American basketball player, and he wasn't going to be playing football. All three of Nathan's daughters have their college degrees - Nichole from South Florida and Natalie and Nadia from Alabama - as does his wife. 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. printers and related vendors. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. "So it was a great lesson for me. His most notable play with the Giants came in Super Bowl XXI in the third quarter. 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. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children.[7]. jeff.rutledge@mcmillanvantage.com. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state titles at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. See also [ edit] Rule 5 draft results References [ edit] "I wanted some kind of meat to serve him," William Nathan remembers. 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 last game of the regular season, again against the Philadelphia Eagles. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. That game meant that Rutledge got the nod to start the following week on Monday Night against the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that was to become infamously known as the "Body Bag Game". I can tell you, Tony had no trouble with his blocking.". Jeff Rutledge Career Stats | StatMuse As depicted in the upcoming "Woodlawn" movie, droves of players, Nathan included, stepped forward to commit their lives to Christ that night. ''I wanted to know what he was thinking. He said he hadn't decided whether to keep two or three quarterbacks.''. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. Football was going to be it. In a 1982 playoff game with San Diego that became known as "The Epic in Miami," Nathan was the exclamation point on one of the most memorable plays in Dolphins' history -- dashing untouched into the end zone after receiver Duriel Harris caught a pass from quarterback Don Strock and then tossed it back to the streaking Nathan on a legendary hook-and-lateral play that ignited a dramatic Miami comeback. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. 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. WIFE'S SUGGESTION OF RETIREMENT LOST ON RUTLEDGE. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Birmingham, AL. Jeff Rutledge Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). Along the sidelines, one of the best coaches in Alabama high school football history would notch his 100th victory, but he would never win another. "I was like, 'What?'" From Banks, defensive lineman Freddie Knighton signed with Alabama, running back Jerry Murphree went to LSU, and linebacker Bob Grefseng played at Ole Miss. I bought them last week. Tony Nathan, left, and Jeff Rutledge talk following the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. Bryant sealed the deal by promising Tony he would get a shot at playing basketball at Alabama, too. 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. Jeff Rutledge Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. Jeff Rutledge | American Football Database | Fandom "But this particular year, we were both undefeated going in. 3 QUARTERBACK, https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/24/sports/uneasy-lies-the-head-of-no-3-quarterback.html, Frank Litsky, Special To the New York Times. View Jeff Rutledge results in Munford, AL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Woodlawn grads included Harry Gilmer, who was an All-American at Alabama and the MVP of the 1946 Rose Bowl, and Bobby Bowden, who coached Florida State to two national championships on his way to becoming the winningest coach in college football history. "To be a 16-, 17-year-old kid, I had never seen anybody run and do the things Tony did athletically. On Sunday, the Jets lost their backup, Pat Ryan, for at least six to eight weeks with a sprained knee. Who is Jeff Rutledge dating? Jeff Rutledge girlfriend, wife YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. He was worn out, and he was just tearing the rest of his jersey off.". Fully committed to football now, Nathan became one of the key cogs in a wishbone offense that was clicking on all cylinders. Jeff Rutledge in Munford, AL - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages ''My wife is frustrated,'' said Rutledge. . Description above from the Wikipedia article Jeff Rutledge, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. At the age of 32, starting his 11th season as a National Football League quarterback, Rutledge was not sure he would make the. "I wanted to go home. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. 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. "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. 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. "It was weird," he says. And I don't know when that will be.'' "Up until my eighth-grade year, I had been going to Banks games all my life, watching Jeff Rutledge's older brother, Gary, and Johnny Musso play,'' Ragland says. A few years ago, though, Nathan realized one thing was missing in his life. William Nathan was sold, though, and eventually, so was his son Tony. No one could be prouder, though, than the mother who wouldn't let him quit the football team back in the 10th grade, who taught him to always finish what he started. Meanwhile, Woodlawn High School stands majestically in the same location on First Avenue North, just like it has since 1922, and the football team is still sending players to the NFL, including Chris Davis, the Auburn cornerback who was the last-second hero of the 2013 Iron Bowl. I remember it was good we didn't start when we were supposed to because they were at their peak. "We dedicated our season to the glory of the Lord, and we played at a much higher level those two years (1973-74) than we probably should have. 195 lbs (88.5 kg) Another, a little fireplug of a linebacker who had moved to Birmingham from Texas the year before, became the surprise defensive star of the game. Louise Nathan, though, never was wild about her seeing her son get hit. . I think Tony could definitely play today. "It was Banks-Woodlawn. We will update Jeff Rutledge's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. Out on the field, one of the players, a linebacker who also filled in as back-up tight end, caught the only touchdown pass of his high-school career, in what was by far the biggest game of his career. 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. 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. 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. 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. Jeff Rutledge: Bear Bryant promised a national championship at Alabama (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). His wife, Laura, a former Miss . Sports Illustrated featured him in its "Faces in the Crowd" section after he ran for 228 yards and scored seven touchdowns against Ramsay, and late in the season, along with Banks quarterback Jeff Rutledge, he was named a Parade All-American. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state *les at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. Nathan says. But there was one catch. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. "We knew each other from grammar school.". He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. (Photo courtesy of Banks High School Facebook page). Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. "It was a culmination of really four years of building up to that point," Woodlawn quarterback Denny Ragland remembers. ''My first year in the league, with the Rams, it was hairy because they had so many quarterbacks in camp. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 January. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. ''I talked to Bill after practice Saturday,'' said Rutledge. "I said, 'If we win (the next game) and they win, we are both going to be undefeated when we play each other, and it's going to be the biggest high school crowd there ever will be,'" White recalls. 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. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, grew up in a house divided. "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". "He's very respected here," McNeal says of his old teammate. Woodlawn never beat Banks during Nathan's three years on the varsity. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). 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. "But at that time, I had a concussion. jeff rutledge wife - holyfamily.schoolmerchcanada.com 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. "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. 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,[5] with direct charge over Kurt Warner. "We were just talking about it. Rivals in high school, Nathan and Rutledge were teammates for four years at Alabama. 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. I knew it even before that, when Plan B came along.'' Jeff Rutledge III - Facebook "I remember going back and forth to get more tickets to sell. According to our records, Jeff Rutledge is possibly single. Trailing 35-14 with 10:37 left in the third quarter Rutledge replaced an ineffective Stan Humphries and led a great comeback. 100.00 Down Payment and Houses with No Credit Check. He was the starting quarterback on the 1978 National Championship team. 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. 6' 1" (185 cm) How much does Jeff Rutledge weigh? Jeff Rutledge was born on 22 January, 1957 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, is an American football coach and former quarterback. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. Tony Nathan, left, talks with Jeff Rutledge, right, after the famous Woodlawn-Banks high school football game at Legion Field in 1974. They all came to see Tony.". He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. PI Financial sued over unauthorized $1.5M withdrawal Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. 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.