Johnny Griffith (coach)
Encyclopedia
Johnny Griffith was an American football
player and coach. He served as the head coach at South Georgia College
(1950–1954) and the University of Georgia
(1961–1963).
, but played high school football at Boy’s High in Atlanta, Georgia
. He lettered at the University of Georgia
in 1946 and was on the Bulldogs' national championship
team. He also played junior college
football at South Georgia College
. Griffith graduated from Georgia in 1950.
in Douglas, Georgia
. He was an assistant there in 1949 before becoming the head coach in 1950. In four years as the head football coach at South Georgia College, Griffith compiled a 32–6 record and took his team to four bowl appearances.
Griffith's coaching career with the Georgia Bulldogs began in 1956, when he became an assistant under head coach Wally Butts
. He replaced Butts as head coach in 1961. Except for an Southeastern Conference
championship in 1959, the Georgia Bulldogs struggled in the last few years under Butts. Things did not get any better under Griffith and he was only able to compile a 10–16–4 record during his three-year term as head coach. While there were few successes during this time as head coach, he did have two big victories, a 30–21 upset win over Auburn
in 1962 and a 31–14 win over heavily favored Miami
in 1963. Griffith was replaced after the 1963 season by Vince Dooley
.
While coaching at Georgia, Griffith became embroiled in the controversy created when the Saturday Evening Post ran an article alleging that Wally Butts and Bear Bryant
had conspired to fix games. The focus of the Post story was Georgia's 35–0 loss to Alabama
and Griffith was quoted in the article as "bitterly" saying, "I never had a chance, did I" after the game. Butts sued the Post and Butts, Griffith and Bear Bryant all testified. Griffith denied that he made the statement attributed to him and otherwise called the facts of the Post story into question. Butts and Bryant also vehemently denied the truth of the story. Butts eventually won the case.
After Georgia, Griffith did some assistant coaching at Georgia Tech
under Bobby Dodd
, coaching quarterback
Kim King
, among others. He also became a key figure in the development of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
and was inducted into the Hall in 1997 as a contributor. Griffith died on April 28, 2003, in Duluth, Georgia
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head coach at South Georgia College
South Georgia College
South Georgia College is a two-year, state-supported, residential junior college located in Douglas, Georgia, United States.-Affiliation/Accreditation:...
(1950–1954) and the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(1961–1963).
Early life and playing career
Griffith was born in Crawfordville, GeorgiaCrawfordville, Georgia
Crawfordville is a city in Taliaferro County, Georgia, United States. The population was 572 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Taliaferro County.-Geography:Crawfordville is located at ....
, but played high school football at Boy’s High in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He lettered at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1946 and was on the Bulldogs' national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
team. He also played junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
football at South Georgia College
South Georgia College
South Georgia College is a two-year, state-supported, residential junior college located in Douglas, Georgia, United States.-Affiliation/Accreditation:...
. Griffith graduated from Georgia in 1950.
Coaching career
Griffith's coaching career began at the junior college level at South Georgia CollegeSouth Georgia College
South Georgia College is a two-year, state-supported, residential junior college located in Douglas, Georgia, United States.-Affiliation/Accreditation:...
in Douglas, Georgia
Douglas, Georgia
Douglas is a city in Coffee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,589. Douglas is the county seat of Coffee County and the core city of the Douglas, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area which has a population of 48,708 as of the 2008 census...
. He was an assistant there in 1949 before becoming the head coach in 1950. In four years as the head football coach at South Georgia College, Griffith compiled a 32–6 record and took his team to four bowl appearances.
Griffith's coaching career with the Georgia Bulldogs began in 1956, when he became an assistant under head coach Wally Butts
Wally Butts
James Wallace "Wally" Butts, Jr. was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia from 1939 to 1960, compiling a record of 140–86–9...
. He replaced Butts as head coach in 1961. Except for an Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
championship in 1959, the Georgia Bulldogs struggled in the last few years under Butts. Things did not get any better under Griffith and he was only able to compile a 10–16–4 record during his three-year term as head coach. While there were few successes during this time as head coach, he did have two big victories, a 30–21 upset win over Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
in 1962 and a 31–14 win over heavily favored Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in 1963. Griffith was replaced after the 1963 season by Vince Dooley
Vince Dooley
Vincent Joseph Dooley was the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Georgia. During his 25 year coaching career at UGA, Dooley compiled a 201–77–10 record. His teams won six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1980 national championship...
.
While coaching at Georgia, Griffith became embroiled in the controversy created when the Saturday Evening Post ran an article alleging that Wally Butts and Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
had conspired to fix games. The focus of the Post story was Georgia's 35–0 loss to Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
and Griffith was quoted in the article as "bitterly" saying, "I never had a chance, did I" after the game. Butts sued the Post and Butts, Griffith and Bear Bryant all testified. Griffith denied that he made the statement attributed to him and otherwise called the facts of the Post story into question. Butts and Bryant also vehemently denied the truth of the story. Butts eventually won the case.
After Georgia, Griffith did some assistant coaching at Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
under Bobby Dodd
Bobby Dodd
Robert Lee Dodd was an American college football coach at Georgia Tech. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and coach, something that only three people have accomplished....
, coaching quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Kim King
Kim King
D. Kimbrough King was Georgia Tech's starting quarterback for three years beginning in 1965. During his career, he led the team in 712 plays, completing 243 passes for 2763 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 506 yards, placing him in Tech's all-time top 10 quarterbacks...
, among others. He also became a key figure in the development of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is located in Macon, Georgia. It is the largest state sports hall of fame in America at .-Exhibitions:The Hall of Fame houses over of exhibit space broken down into sections including Hall of Fame Inductees, High School, collegiate sports, Olympic, Paralympic,...
and was inducted into the Hall in 1997 as a contributor. Griffith died on April 28, 2003, in Duluth, Georgia
Duluth, Georgia
Duluth is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia and an increasingly more affluent and developed suburb of Atlanta. Unincorporated portions of Forsyth County also have Duluth as a mailing address, though this area is outside city limits...
.