Tony’s Take | Dawgs_Jackets | Gunner | Edition 107 

By Tony Duckworth, [email protected]

Dawg_Jackets.  A senior member of the YMCA stopped me to ask about my thoughts on the upcoming CFB season earlier this week.  He bleeds Red and Black. We talked for a couple of minutes.  He asked me if I ever imagined college football would be in the state that it is today.  He believes that P4 CFB is now professional.   He’s not wrong, but everyone knows there is no getting that genie back in the bottle.  

Given that water cooler conversation, and knowing we are approaching the middle of August, why not write about CFB? 

I am a rare Georgia Peach who wants both UGA and GA Tech to be successful.  My dad bought me a T-shirt when I was a teen that read “My two favorite teams are GA Tech and whoever is playing Georgia”, so pulling for both P4 in-state teams was a long shot. 

A WWII veteran fellow church member, who played for the Dawgs, gave me a cassette tape of the 1980 UGA National Championship season when I was 11. As you can see, I had adults influencing my fandom.  I remember pulling for UGA during that memorable season.  One of the most iconic plays in Bulldogs lore is Buck to Lindsay against those Gators. 

Trailing 21–20 with just over 60 seconds remaining, UGA faced 3rd-and-8 from its own 8-yard line. Valdosta native Buck (QB) Belue scrambled away from the Gators D, and spun it to Lindsay (WR) Scott in the middle of the field.   Scott ran 92 yards for the game-winning touchdown to defeat Florida to preserve an undefeated season.  Dawgs fans can still hear legendary broadcast Larry Munson screaming ‘Run Lindsay, run!”  

A decade later, Tech pulled off an improbable season and won a shared 1990 national championship when polls decided the champions.  The Ramblin’ Wreck Faithful are still proud of that amazing run. 

I own the commemorative Coke bottles of the ‘80 and ‘90 seasons.  So, for the upcoming 2026 season, GO JACKETS AND GO DAWGS! 

Gunner.  Who is Gunner Stockton?  For starters, he drives his grandpa’s 300,000+ miles 1984 F-150 with four on the floor.  When asked, Gunner doesn’t believe any of his teammates could drive the classic truck. 

My dad purchased three on the tree suped-up full-size truck from my Uncle James when I was a teenager.  It was royal blue metal beast, and as I recall, a Chevy.  About the only time I drove it was a few miles up the road to a dirt road where the large county trash cans rested.  Surprisingly, I picked up changing gears quickly and the light rear would fishtail when punched on a dirt road.  While it wasn’t smart at the time, the stories my dad shared about drag racing on the streets indicated the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.  I, like Gunner, am confident few if any of my friends could have moved to 2nd or 3^rd gear in that hoss. 

The thing that strikes me about Gunner is his sheepish, boyish humility during interviews despite him being a fierce competitor.  None of us have been in the film room, huddle, weight room, training, or practice field, but clearly Gunner has command of the team.  The team rallies around him, throwing his body around and taking hard hits while bouncing back and moving to the next play. 

I have liked Gunner since he took over luxury car driving Carson Beck in the SEC title game against the Longhorns.  For me, I have always preferred CFB QB’s who are dual threats.  While running with the ball presents risk of injury, there is something to be said for those who can make positive yards with their feet when the designed pass play doesn’t materialize.  Knowing when to slide, run out of bounds, throw it away all demonstrate the QB’s football IQ.  Gunner has the QB IQ to know when and why. 

In addition to his toughness, leadership, and ability to make plays with his feet (3.6 yards per carry despite sacks counting against a QB’s running yards stat line), Gunner’s 2025 season stats are really impressive.     

CMP  ATT   PCT   YDS   TD INT RA 

313   452  69.2%   3,482  27    7   147.9 

GA Tech’s starting QB, Haynes King, has had similar characteristics the past few seasons, but I believe while there is room to grow Gunner is a more accurate passer down the field. 

No sport builds with anticipation to the start of the season like CFB, so ready or not – Are You Ready For Some College Football?  I know I am.   

Tony Duckworth is a native of Macon and is the President and CEO of the Albany Area YMCA. Tony worked in intercollegiate athletics for thirty-one years. He was an NCAA Division II Director of Athletics at three universities following ten years as a head men’s basketball coach at two colleges. Email Tony Duckworth at [email protected].