Nathan, who wore number 22, went through as many as a dozen jerseys in some games. 195 lbs (88.5 kg) Jeff Rutledge, who played at Alabama after he graduated from Bank High School, is pictured here during the 1976 Alabama-Notre Dame game in South Bend, Ind. They got at least part of that right. When the teams ran back onto the field for the third time, the lower bowl of Legion Field was practically full. ", 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. "That was neat, that she had just come up (for the game), not knowing anything that was going to happen years later," Rutledge says. | Learn more about Jeff . The sports teams at Woodlawn became known as the Colonels and the school colors were green and gold, the same colors that student pranksters sometimes painted that Sabre jet at nearby Banks. The unsung hero, though, was a little linebacker named Greg Muse, who had transferred to Banksafter living in Texas. Rutledge was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. The next year, Nathan and Rutledge became teammates at the University of Alabama. In the 1980s, Banks High School -- home of those mighty Jets for all those years -- was closed as part of a city schools reorganization and it became Banks Middle School. "Each gate had four openings in it for four lines of people," Garrett says, "but it still obviously wasn't enough.". Our defensive game plan was awesome.". ''Maybe it will make them think a bit or at least make their decision tough. . It wasn't so much the football I wanted. Jeff Rutledge date of birth: January 22, 1957. "The trouble is, it's on VHS cassette, and my VHS player died years ago.". Louise Nathan roasted a raccoon that her husband, an avid hunter whom friends called "Coon Man," had bagged on one of his late-night coon hunts, and they invited Bryant to have dinner with them. Newman serves as a criminal court judge in Miami-Dade County, and six years ago, he hired Nathan to be a bailiff in his courtroom. So the magic from that night continues to live on. "I played with older guys, and I wanted to be able to play on their level," Nathan says. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). "That's a scary thought now," the 58-year-old Nathan says of what might have been. According to our Database, He has no children. But she's been through this every year. A few years ago, though, Nathan realized one thing was missing in his life. The night before the game, Stearns says, members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapters from both teams gathered for a joint meeting at Woodlawn. "I don't even know if he realized how good he was back then. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Mike Perez was waived Tuesday, leaving Rutledge as the only other quarterback on the roster. "All three kids were raised here. And when that happened, that movement, I was touched in my heart to do so again.". ''It's an odd world, isn't it?'' Playing in the wishbone -- a four-pronged attack with two tailbacks, a fullback and the quarterback all sharing carries -- Nathan never amassed huge numbers like Crimson Tide workhorses Bobby Humphrey or Shaun Alexander or Trent Richardson, but for his career, he averaged an eye-popping 6.4 yards every time he carried the ball at Alabama. "They all looked at me like, 'OK, don't you think it's your time?'" A Valuable Commodity. (Photo courtesy of Tony Nathan). "I get to meet a ton of people -- lawyers, defendants, victims -- and they all are different," Nathan says. I remember it was good we didn't start when we were supposed to because they were at their peak. 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. Electronic version of this article was lost during the computer . Jeff Rutledge Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge Position: QB Throws: Right 6-1 , 195lb (185cm, 88kg) Born: January 22 in Birmingham, AL (Age: 66-029d) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2x SB Champ 8 17 10 SUMMARY Career G 117 AV 8 QBrec 2-7-1 Cmp% 52.1 Yds 3628 Y/A 6.9 TD 16 Int 29 FantPt 151.0 Jeff Rutledge Overview Game Logs Career Postseason 1979 1980 ", Woodlawn's Tony Nathan ran for 112 yards and scored a touchdown in the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game, but Banks linebacker Greg Muse was all over him all night long. McNeal has been a pastor and counselor at the church, and he and Nathan are close, a friendship that dates back to their playing days at Alabama. 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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. You could call it inspiration, you could call it whatever you like. I think Tony could definitely play today. "I had some professors walk up to me and say, 'Hey, we were around when you were playing.'. 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. His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. While Nathan ran for 112 yards and scored a touchdown that night, the Colonels lost to the Jets 18-7, with Rutledge completing eight of nine passing for 185 yards and a touchdown. Rutledge served as the quarterbacks and tight ends coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League in 2009. 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. He also led the Crimson Tide to two Sugar Bowl appearances and two SEC Championships. Jeff Rutledge, of Newport, represents the White River and his term expires in 2024. That year, the Cardinals made a late season run and earned a Super Bowl berth, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-23. 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. 1972 His brother Gary Rutledge was also a quarterback at Alabama from 1972 to 1974. "It was always the biggest game of the year, for both sides," Rutledge says. He was worn out, and he was just tearing the rest of his jersey off.". 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. 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. ", In the lunchroom, the Woodlawn students would break into impromptu pep rallies, standing in their chairs and yelling, "Rip Jets, rip Jets, rip those Sugar Jets." So, when Tony was in the 10th grade, and he came home one day and told his mother he had left the Woodlawn High School football team, she replied, in no uncertain terms, no, he had not. "I did accept Christ in my life at that time, they say," Nathan says. Center Dwight Stephenson and defensive back Don McNeal, who were a year behind him, would join the Dolphins the next year. "I wanted to go home. He is married to his wife Laura and has 3 children.[7]. Nose tackle Bob Baumhower, who was two years ahead of Nathan at Alabama, was already there when Nathan arrived for his first camp. "It was just that time. He received his degree from Alabama in Business Administration and in 2011, was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Jeff is survived by his wife, Dana; daughter, Payton Rutledge; son, Parker Rutledge; and several nieces and nephews. The stoic Nathan even teared up as walked across the Coleman Coliseum stage to receive his diploma from outgoing UA President Judy Bonner. [3][5][6] Rutledge led Montgomery Bell Academy to a 41-17 record from 20022006, with two state titles in 2002 and 2003 and a #15 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 poll in 2003. Birmingham, AL. (Birmingham News file) In the 1980s,. The regular season game was played in . Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana, an only child. Nathan played his entire NFL career with the Dolphins - retiring in 1987 after nine seasons in the aqua and orange - and he has continued to make Miami his home, even when NFL assistant coaching jobs took him to Tampa Bay, Baltimore and San Francisco. Tony Nathan holds his youngest brother, Cedric, after he announces in December 1974 that he will attend the University of Alabama. Fully committed to football now, Nathan became one of the key cogs in a wishbone offense that was clicking on all cylinders. As big as it was, though, even in these days where everything is just a Google or YouTube search away, only a few accounts and descriptions from that night are available, mainly in school yearbooks and newspaper archives. I bought them last week. Horgan III, Jeff Hart, Jim Rutledge of Canada, Gary Hallberg and Jeff Freeman pose together with their Qualifying cards during the Champions Tour. Bill Battle, the young coach at Tennessee, wanted Nathan to come play for him in Knoxville, and Vols star quarterback Condredge Holloway showed him around on his official visit. They came out in such numbers that the start of the game had to be delayed twice so folks could work their way through the jammed Legion Field turnstiles. 1-ranked Huffman Vikings -- Woodlawn fans started calling Nathan "Touchdown Tony" and began clamoring for pictures and autographs. "There is no doubt in my mind that the delay in the game helped us,'' Banks' Grefseng says. The two schools were just 10 minutes and less than four miles apart. I do believe. "It was weird," he says. So, how much is Jeff Rutledge worth at the age of 65 years old? This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. ''That may make the Giants think,'' said Rutledge. 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. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is a former American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. 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. Only two practice sessions remain at the Fairleigh Dickinson campus here. Discover Jeff Rutledge's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. "The touchdown was a busted play," he recalls. American football player and coach (born 1957) Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is a former American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Jeff Rutledge takes a breather during the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. 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. . 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,. Internal communications and employee engagement pro with a tech focus and multi-disciplinary background. 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. He had left the University of Alabama in the spring of 1979 without a diploma. In 2013, he married Laura McKeeman (who took Rutledge's name upon marriage), a reporter and host for ESPN and the SEC Network. A backup for most of his career, he was a member of the New York Giants team that won a Super Bowl in Super Bowl XXI and the Washington Redskins team that won Super Bowl XXVI. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember anything about it. They know they're going to get presents when they see me. As a senior, he was a member of the 1974 Parade High School All-American team. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. in Plant Science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a Masters in Agronomy (Weed Science) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. After completing the eighth grade, those students who would have gone to Banks instead went to Woodlawn High School, Banks' old rival. After the Tide slipped to an uncharacteristic 9-3 in Nathan's sophomore season -- Alabama's worst record in his four years there -- the team bounced back to go 11-1 and finish runner-up to national champs Notre Dame in 1977 and to go 11-1 again and win it all in 1978. Rutledge played collegiately at Alabama, where he was a member of three SEC Championship teams under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. His breakout moment came against Montgomery's Robert E. Lee Generals, when, late in the game, he scooped up a fumble and ran 38 yards for the winning touchdown. Birmingham, Alabama. They attended some of the same churches and dated some of the same girls. 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. "There wasn't anybody that came to see me play or any of the other guys. Woodlawn, meanwhile, had a nice streak going, too, winning 11 in a row since it fell to Banks 17-7 in 1973. "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. DeOssie, who has been starting at inside linebacker, strained his back lifting weights. . 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. They all came to see Tony.". "If we needed him to throw the football, I knew he could definitely do that. If it had been up to Louise Nathan, her son Tony never would have touched a football. Where was Jeff Rutledge born? Rutledge earned MVP honors at the 1978 Sugar Bowl and also earned All-SEC honors in 1978 and 1979.[4]. View Jeff Rutledge results in Munford, AL including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. 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. 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. ', "She said, 'No, but even more so, you're not going to be a quitter. Woodlawn students used to yell, ''Rip those Sugar Jets," which was a reference to this brand of cereal. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). About Jeff Rutledge is a 66 year old American Football (American) Player born on 22nd January, 1957 in Birmingham, AL. The film builds to a finale where Woodlawn meets crosstown rival Banks, quarterbacked by Jeff Rutledge, who would eventually play at Alabama with Nathan. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. 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. A three-year starter, he also led Alabama to the #2 National ranking in 1977. . "He ate a few pieces of it, but he didn't eat much.". ----DeOssie and Roberts Out Steve DeOssie and William Roberts missed practice Wednesday. The night after that chat, in an exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Rutledge completed all 8 of his passes for 156 yards. He is now a bailiff for Miami-Dade County Court Judge Edward Newman, a former Dolphins teammate. "I was like, 'What?'" "When people say Tony Nathan, their ears go up. We were playing in front of 20,000 people regularly, so we were getting some big crowds.". "I was like, 'All right, it's that time.'". Something else special happened that week, too. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Forty years later, the details have gotten fuzzier and the legends have grown larger. Or was it 17-7? He is currently the head football coach at Valley Christian High School (Chandler, Arizona) in Chandler, Arizona. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. "They do a great job of keeping us involved in what's going on and keeping us involved with the fans. "And I didn't like that. Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is a former American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Welcome. His two older sisters went to Banks, but after the Birmingham schools were desegregated, he was zoned for Woodlawn. Jeff Rutledge Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge (born January 22, 1957) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. Meanwhile, the recruiting letters continued to pour in from schools such as USC, Notre Dame, Texas and Oklahoma, as well as SEC schools Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee. 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. "It was odd to see people react and want a piece of cloth off of somebody else who was wearing it. 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. We prayed together, and from then on, I respected them and they respected me. If Roberts misses Saturday night's game, as seems likely, Damian Johnson will move to left guard and Brian Williams will replace Johnson at right guard. 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. The next year, they got Bert Jones. I wanted him to have his degree. 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. "His jersey would just be hanging on him," Woodlawn teammate Brad Hendrix says. He and his wife, Johnnie, who was his high school sweetheart at Woodlawn and his college sweetheart at Alabama, still live in the same house they bought in 1983. After the season ended, he accepted an assistant coaching position on Paul "Bear" Bryant's staff at Alabama, where he was part of back-to-back national championships in 1978 and 1979 -- the first of which featured Rutledge and Nathan in the starting backfield. ''The first game Phil Simms goes down, they've got to get a quarterback. Some were easier. (Birmingham News file/Charles Nesbitt). ", The Banks players huddle around head coach Shorty White during the 1974 Banks-Woodlawn game at Legion Field in Birmingham. And I don't know when that will be.'' His wife, Laura, a former Miss . 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". 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. The family will receive friends from 12:00-1:30 pm, Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at . "I knew some of those guys, and I'm like, 'Why would y'all be out here in the hot sun watching freshman football?'"