George Cecil "Kid" Woodruff Sr. (November 29, 1888 – November 16, 1968) was an American businessman and football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Georgia from 1923 to 1927.
Born in Columbus, Georgia in 1889, Woodruff attended Columbus High School and the University School for Boys in Stone Mountain, Georgia[1] before enrolling at the University of Georgia in Athens in 1907. He played quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs football team during the 1907 and 1908 seasons before taking a year off from school to travel around the United States and Mexico. After returning to the university and rejoining the football team in 1910 and 1911, when he was team captain, Woodruff graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869-1919 era team.[2]
After the 1922 season, Georgia football head coach Herman Stegeman moved to the position of athletic director, and Woodruff was hired as the new head coach at a salary of $1 a year. Woodruff was the third former Georgia player to become the Bulldogs' head coach, preceded by Ernest Brown and Marvin D. Dickinson and followed by Johnny Griffith, Ray Goff, and Kirby Smart.
Woodruff brought to Athens the Notre Dame offensive scheme as well as assistant coaches Frank Thomas and Harry Mehre, who were Knute Rockne's disciples. Jim Crowley, who was one of the Four Horsemen at Notre Dame, was also an assistant coach under Woodruff at Georgia. Woodruff compiled a record of 30–16–1 over five seasons, including his 1927 "Dream and Wonder team's" upset of Yale.
After the 1927 season, Woodruff stepped down to focus on his insurance business. Georgia governor Richard Russell, Jr. appointed Woodruff as an initial member of the University System of GeorgiaBoard of Regents in 1932, where Woodruff would serve until 1945. His son reported that Woodruff would call Dwight D. Eisenhower, cursing at him, telling him to get Georgia players out of the Army.[3]
Legacy
Woodruff Hall, the former basketball arena at the University of Georgia, was named in honor of Woodruff and his older brother, Harry "Big Kid" Woodruff, who also attended Georgia and played quarterback. Woodruff Hall stood on the site of the current Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Georgia's current outdoor football practice field is also named in honor of George Woodruff.
Woodruff was instrumental in arranging for the annual Auburn–Georgia football game to be played in Columbus for many years.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Cecil Woodruff.
History of the University of Georgia, Thomas Walter Reed, Imprint: Athens, Georgia : University of Georgia, ca.1949, pp.3543-3561
Reed, Thomas Walter (c. 1949). "Athletics at the University from the Beginning Through 1947". History of the University of Georgia. dlg.galileo.usg.edu. pp. 3543–3561. Retrieved January 12, 2007.
New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for George Woodruff
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For other people with the same name see George Woodruff disambiguation This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message George Cecil Kid Woodruff Sr November 29 1888 November 16 1968 was an American businessman and football player and coach He served as the head football coach at the University of Georgia from 1923 to 1927 George Cecil WoodruffWoodruff in 1925Biographical detailsBorn 1888 11 29 November 29 1888Columbus GeorgiaDiedNovember 16 1968 1968 11 16 aged 79 Columbus GeorgiaPlaying career1907 1908Georgia1910 1911GeorgiaPosition s QuarterbackCoaching career HC unless noted 1923 1927GeorgiaHead coaching recordOverall30 16 1 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Professional and coaching career 3 Legacy 4 Head coaching record 5 References 6 SourcesEarly life and education Edit Woodruff at University School Born in Columbus Georgia in 1889 Woodruff attended Columbus High School and the University School for Boys in Stone Mountain Georgia 1 before enrolling at the University of Georgia in Athens in 1907 He played quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs football team during the 1907 and 1908 seasons before taking a year off from school to travel around the United States and Mexico After returning to the university and rejoining the football team in 1910 and 1911 when he was team captain Woodruff graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912 He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All Time Southeast 1869 1919 era team 2 Professional and coaching career EditFollowing graduation Woodruff became an insurance salesman in Columbus He served in World War I as a major in the 82nd Infantry All American Division of the United States Army He was Kirk Newell s backup on the 1917 Camp Gordon football team He then returned to his successful insurance business after the war After the 1922 season Georgia football head coach Herman Stegeman moved to the position of athletic director and Woodruff was hired as the new head coach at a salary of 1 a year Woodruff was the third former Georgia player to become the Bulldogs head coach preceded by Ernest Brown and Marvin D Dickinson and followed by Johnny Griffith Ray Goff and Kirby Smart Woodruff brought to Athens the Notre Dame offensive scheme as well as assistant coaches Frank Thomas and Harry Mehre who were Knute Rockne s disciples Jim Crowley who was one of the Four Horsemen at Notre Dame was also an assistant coach under Woodruff at Georgia Woodruff compiled a record of 30 16 1 over five seasons including his 1927 Dream and Wonder team s upset of Yale After the 1927 season Woodruff stepped down to focus on his insurance business Georgia governor Richard Russell Jr appointed Woodruff as an initial member of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in 1932 where Woodruff would serve until 1945 His son reported that Woodruff would call Dwight D Eisenhower cursing at him telling him to get Georgia players out of the Army 3 Legacy EditWoodruff Hall the former basketball arena at the University of Georgia was named in honor of Woodruff and his older brother Harry Big Kid Woodruff who also attended Georgia and played quarterback Woodruff Hall stood on the site of the current Henry W Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Georgia s current outdoor football practice field is also named in honor of George Woodruff Woodruff was instrumental in arranging for the annual Auburn Georgia football game to be played in Columbus for many years Head coaching record EditYear Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl playoffsGeorgia Bulldogs Southern Conference 1923 1927 1923 Georgia 5 3 1 4 2 5th1924 Georgia 7 3 5 1 T 2nd1925 Georgia 4 5 2 4 14th1926 Georgia 5 4 4 2 T 4th1927 Georgia 9 1 6 1 5thGeorgia 30 16 1 21 10Total 30 16 1References Edit Stone Mountain Wins Prep Game Atlanta Constitution November 30 1906 p 10 Retrieved March 29 2015 via Newspapers com U T Greats On All Time Southeast Team Kingsport Post July 31 1969 http www ledger enquirer com sports article29318674 htmlSources Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Cecil Woodruff History of the University of Georgia Thomas Walter Reed Imprint Athens Georgia University of Georgia ca 1949 pp 3543 3561 Reed Thomas Walter c 1949 Athletics at the University from the Beginning Through 1947 History of the University of Georgia dlg galileo usg edu pp 3543 3561 Retrieved January 12 2007 New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for George Woodruff George Cecil Woodruff at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Cecil Woodruff amp oldid 1107468981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
