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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. Newton and football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant stand behind Tony Nathan as he signs his scholarship to attend the University of Alabama. "He's very respected here," McNeal says of his old teammate. We were playing in front of 20,000 people regularly, so we were getting some big crowds.". Even though the Dolphins eventually lost in overtime, the play lives on in Miami lore. Jeff was in the flooring business and owned Vintage Wood Floors, Inc. PI Financial sued over unauthorized $1.5M withdrawal He was a backup in Super Bowl XIV as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, he was a backup to Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI as a member of the New York Giants, and was a backup in Super Bowl XXVI as a member of the Washington Redskins. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. White says he was assured by the Legion Field crew that it would be able to handle the crowd. A month ago, Jeff and Laura Rutledge decided that today would be Reunion Day, the day Laura and their three children would leave their home in Mission Viejo, Calif., and fly east to join Jeff for the winter. UNEASY LIES THE HEAD OF NO. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. ''My wife is frustrated,'' said Rutledge. 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. And Then There Were Three. On fourth down with a yard needed, he was sent by head coach Bill Parcells for a potential decoy play. His wife, Laura, a former Miss . The following Friday night, Woodlawn closed out its season on a cold, rainy night at Fair Park, defeating Carver 12-0. Perhaps that epic 1974 showdown at Legion Field between Birmingham high-school heavyweights Woodlawn and Banks would have been just another Friday night football game. By Frank Litsky, Special To the New York Times. He was a two-time all-state guard on the Woodlawn basketball team, and as a centerfielder and first baseman on the baseball team, he got drafted by the Montreal Expos. 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. Jeff Rutledge III - Facebook Commission - Waterways Although he was mostly used as a back-up, he has two Super Bowl rings - one from the New York Giants and another from the Washington Redskins. "It was time for people to actually get along -- no matter what race or color you were," he says. The next year, Nathan and Rutledge became teammates at the University of Alabama. "But at that time, I had a concussion. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. 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". He has established himself as a trusted advisor providing advice and direction to organizations in some of the most heavily regulated . Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979. "That Banks-Woodlawn game our senior year, that was all about Tony and Jeff Rutledge," Hendrix says. They all came to see Tony.". Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "Well, Shula knew what talent was," Nathan says. His most notable play with the Giants came in Super Bowl XXI in the third quarter. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. ", During his senior season at at Woodlawn High School in 1974, Tony Nathan was a Parade All-American and featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd." 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. "If we needed him to throw the football, I knew he could definitely do that. "They all looked at me like, 'OK, don't you think it's your time?'" YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. The other day, Rutledge called his wife and told her to wait. Nathan scored Woodlawn's only touchdown on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. In his teens, he acted in productions of the North Shore Children's Theater and, from 1942 to 1944, performed in . Bryant sealed the deal by promising Tony he would get a shot at playing basketball at Alabama, too. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Forty years later, the details have gotten fuzzier and the legends have grown larger. After Nathan got out of coaching, another one of his former Dolphins teammates, guard Ed Newman, told him he had the perfect job for him. ''My first year in the league, with the Rams, it was hairy because they had so many quarterbacks in camp. Some were easier. ", The Banks players huddle around head coach Shorty White during the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. The game, though, was way bigger than its two stars, a pair of Parade All-Americans who were among the most sought-after high school recruits in the country. 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. After games, fans mobbed Nathan to get a piece of his jersey. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. I knew when I came to training camp that it would be tough. What is Jeff Rutledge's full name? . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In 2006, the Birmingham Board of Education decided to close the deteriorating middle school, too, saying it was unsafe and an eyesore. All rights reserved (About Us). "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. Now he is not sure what he is. The film builds to a finale where Woodlawn meets crosstown rival Banks, quarterbacked by Jeff Rutledge, who would eventually play at Alabama with Nathan. jeff.rutledge@mcmillanvantage.com. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. How tall is Jeff Rutledge? How old is Jeff Rutledge? So the magic from that night continues to live on. If all that notoriety affected Nathan, none of his teammates could tell. 90+ "Jeff Rutledge" profiles | LinkedIn "I was like, 'All right, it's that time.'". Add to that the fact that, back in those days, only one team from each region made the state playoffs. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). Tony Nathan holds his youngest brother, Cedric, after he announces in December 1974 that he will attend the University of Alabama. 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. So he signed again with the Giants, but for less than the $400,000 he made last year. "We just sat up there and watched," Martin, now retired, recalls. An estimated 42,000 fans filled the lower bowl of Legion Field for the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game. So it's tough for her to hear that she should wait. "There are people who went to that game that I've heard from all my life," Rutledge says. Coach Bill Parcells will probably keep three this year, but there is no guarantee. Jeff Rutledge, of Newport, represents the White River and his term expires in 2024. Those were the days when running backs wore tear-away jerseys, which ripped when opposing players tried to bring down the ball carrier by grabbing ahold of his jersey. ", Tony Nathan is joined by his wife, Johnnie, and his daughters Nichole, Natalie and Nadia at his induction into the Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame in 2014. When the Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator at the end of that season, Rutledge and most of the offensive staff were fired. Contact . Jeff Rutledges income source is mostly from being a successful Player. 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. Though Rutledge was available, no other team signed him. 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. [2] Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. "That's what I always wanted. 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. 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 will miss Saturday night's exhibition game against the Giants at Giants Stadium. "Coach Tandy Gerelds was a fine man and a fine coach, and he had a lot to do with a lot of players on that team coming to know the Lord," Brad Hendrix, a senior defensive end on the '74 team, says. "This was before Bo Jackson," Ragland, the Woodlawn quarterback, says. The two schools were just 10 minutes and less than four miles apart. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Woodlawn students used to yell, ''Rip those Sugar Jets," which was a reference to this brand of cereal. We have estimated 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. "It was always the biggest game of the year, for both sides," Rutledge says. It was Geralds, Nathan would say later, who talked him out of quitting football, and for that, Nathan remained forever grateful. You could call it inspiration, you could call it whatever you like. "They do a great job of keeping us involved in what's going on and keeping us involved with the fans. 6'1", 195 lbs. "There is no doubt in my mind that the delay in the game helped us,'' Banks' Grefseng says. Based in Dallas, Texas with over 20 years of experience in concept, design, art direction, and production of print and web materials including: magazine / newspaper ads, brochures, collateral, direct mail, email graphics, logos, signage, and web graphics. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Only two practice sessions remain at the Fairleigh Dickinson campus here. ----DeOssie and Roberts Out Steve DeOssie and William Roberts missed practice Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). 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. The unsung hero, though, was a little linebacker named Greg Muse, who had transferred to Banksafter living in Texas. In those days, the Banks-Woodlawn rivalry was like the Alabama-Auburn of Birmingham high school football, but maybe just a little friendlier. "Including his wife. "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. He was part of a team that earned back-to-back state *les at L. Frazier Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Woodlawn never beat Banks during Nathan's three years on the varsity. ABOUT | Jeff Rutledge Who is Jeff Rutledge dating? Jeff Rutledge girlfriend, wife [4], Rutledge is a Christian and attends Arizona Community Church in Chandler. Jeff Rutledge | American Football Database | Fandom "What are you doing with that grip?'" By his senior year, it wasn't just folks in Birmingham talking about "Touchdown Tony." Something else special happened that week, too. 6' 1" (185 cm) How much does Jeff Rutledge weigh? (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). "It touched me," he says. Rivals in high school, Nathan and Rutledge were teammates for four years at Alabama. The kids are disappointed. But, Knoxville, too, was a little too far from home for Nathan. The easygoing Nathan had the ideal temperament for the job, Newman told him. "So it was a great lesson for me. He resigned in the Spring of 2012 to return to Arizona to spend time with his family. "All I had ever seen of football games was everybody falling on each other and piling on each other," she says. An experienced communications and public affairs professional, with a record of effective strategic planning, outreach and engagement. "We were down 24-zip and nothing was going right, and that was the play that gave us the spark to come back. Rutledge spent most of his career as a back-up quarterback and a holder on kicks. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He is not dating anyone. Relationships We have no records of past relationships for Jeff Rutledge. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. 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. Stearns recalls. "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". "Each gate had four openings in it for four lines of people," Garrett says, "but it still obviously wasn't enough.". 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. "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. Banks coach Shorty White had assigned Muse to shadow Woodlawn's Nathan everywhere he went, and although Nathan finished with 112 yards on 31 carries, Muse was all over him most of the 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. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. New York Giants. (Birmingham News file/Robert Adams). It took him 36 years, but Nathan kept that promise to his coach. There are 90+ professionals named "Jeff Rutledge", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. "And you're not going to be the first.". It's been very interesting. "Before Bo, there was Tony," Ragland says. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. But there was one catch. 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. Their two-year reign as 4A state champs also ended with a 12-0 shutout loss to eventual champion Homewood in the first round of the playoffs. DeOssie, who has been starting at inside linebacker, strained his back lifting weights. And since Banks and Woodlawn were in the same region -- and both were competing in 4A, which was then the largest high school classification in the state -- only one of them would advance. "We had a ball. 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,. From Banks, defensive lineman Freddie Knighton signed with Alabama, running back Jerry Murphree went to LSU, and linebacker Bob Grefseng played at Ole Miss.