Newspaper Page Text
January 12, 2022
Page 7A
tReporter
UGA
Continued from 1A
1978-83. He punted for the
JV Bulldogs for three years
and dressed out for two
home games that historic
1980 season. He travelled
with the varsity in 1981-82,
both SEC Championship
years for Georgia.
Chafin said
they just had a
reunion with the
1980 team at the
UAB game this fall
and current UGA
coach Kirby Smart
told the 1980 team
he hoped this
would be the year
a new group of
Bulldogs would
join them as na
tional champs.
Chafin said they
have known the
2021 team was
special.
“This team is a
lot more talented
than the 1980
one,” conceded
Chafin, “except
for one position.”
That position
would presum
ably be tailback,
where freshman
Herschel Walker
led the 1980 team
to glory.
Chafin noted
that while UGA
dominated in
most of its games
this year except
for the matches
with Bama, the
1980 squad need
ed some breaks to
beat Florida and
Kentucky.
One of Chafin’s
teammates on that
1980 team, Jeff
Harper, also has
Monroe County
roots. He played
at Monroe Academy before
joining the Bulldogs.
Harper, who now lives in
Milton, said he stayed up
until 3 a.m. Tuesday with
two close friends after
watching the Bulldog win.
“It was sweet,” said Harp
er, who started as offensive
tackle for the 1980 team.
“I was excited, couldn’t
believe it.”
Asked if it brought back
memories of the 1980
Sugar Bowl, Harper said
the announcers made sure
of that.
“They kept mentioning
the 1980 team and how it’s
been 40 years and I said ‘so
they’re telling me how old I
am,’ laughed Harper.
But Harper said the older
he gets the more he realizes
the hard work, dedication,
and yes, luck, it took to win
a national championship.
Harper said after rid
ing the ups and downs of
Georgia football for four
decades, Kirby Smart
brought with him what
he had learned from Nick
Saban at Alabama to take it
to the next level.
“He’s been able to take
what he’s learned to the
University of Georgia and
build on it,” said Harper.
As an offensive lineman,
Harper noticed the changes
Smart made in his offensive
line mid-way seemed to
help the Dawgs run the ball
better.
“We wore them out
in the second half” said
Harper. He said he thought
UGA could win if Bennett
threw fewer than 30 passes
(which meant they weren’t
playing from behind) and
the Bulldogs held gifted
Bama running back Brian
Robinson to fewer than
70 yards. Harper said the
Dawgs barely accomplished
both.
Harper said he hopes the
young men on the team re
alize what a bright
opportunity they
were given on
Monday night.
Harper said wher
ever he has gone
in the years since,
when people real
ize was on UGAs
1980 national title
team it instantly
opens doors.
And now with
the internet, they
can fact check it
instantly. Harper’s
UGA career led
him to the NFL
where he played
with the New
Orleans Saints
and Minnesota
Vikings and also
spent three years
in the short-lived
USFL. Since foot
ball, Harper has
enjoyed a success
ful 32-year career
as a commercial
subcontractor
working all over
the southeast.
Harper said
his respect for
his coach Vince
Dooley has only
risen as he has
grown older. “He
is the ultimate
southern gentle
man,” said Harper.
“I didn’t think that
when I played for
him. But what
an ambassador
he has been for
the University of
Georgia.”
It hasn’t been announced
publicly but on Saturday,
Harper will join Dooley
and his 1980 team as they
raise the new National
Champions flag and cel
ebrate the 2021 team in a 2
p.m. ceremony at Sanford
Stadium.
“I’m so happy for the
university and the state,”
said Harper. But ever the
competitor, he can’t help
but point out: “We’re still
the only team that was
undefeated.”
Jeff Harper played for Edgar “Big E Hatcher at
Monroe Academy before being the left tackle
on the 1980 state title team. Hes shown with
UGA head coach Kirby Smart.
Steve Chafin of Forsyth was on a walkon punter
on the 1980 UGA team and said he celebrated
Monday night. The former Mary Persons and
Rocksprings coach is shown with his wife Beth
Chafin.
UGAs 1980 National Title team included No. 10 Steve Chafin of Forsyth and starting left
tackle No. 66 Jeff Harper, who played at Monroe Academy.
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