Saturday’s meeting between the Georgia Bulldogs and Marshall Thundering Herd gives us great cause to pay tribute to College Football Hall of Fame member Jim Donnan. The head coach at Georgia from 1996-2000, Donnan rebuilt the talent level at Georgia during a difficult period, coaching numerous great players in Athens, including Kirby Smart.

Donnan came to Georgia from Marshall, which he built into a national power in Division 1-AA. Under his watch, the Thundering Herd captured the 1992 1-AA (now FCS) national title and played in four national championship games. It should be noted that in his first season in Athens, 1996, Marshall, led by Bob Pruett, again won the national title.

His coaching career began rising to prominence as the offensive coordinator for Barry Switzer’s powerhouse Oklahoma teams of the mid 1980s. Switzer hired Donnan to run more of a pro style offense with a young quarterback named Troy Aikman bound for Norman. A matchup of Switzer’s Sooners and Jimmy Johnson’s Miami Hurricanes in 1985 would alter the course of history. Aikman was injured in Miami’s victory in Norman. Switzer and Donnan went back to the wishbone and the Sooners won the national title. Aikman transferred to UCLA. He won three Super Bowls for the Dallas Cowboys, two under Johnson, one under Switzer. Amongst the most famous plays in Sooners history was the tight end reverse to All-American Keith Jackson that Coach Donnan drew up in a mega showdown victory for Oklahoma against Nebraska.

It didn’t take long for Donnan to get Marshall humming. His record and list of standout players was exceptional, and that included his son Todd, one of the great quarterbacks in Thundering Herd history.

When he was called to Athens on Christmas Day, 1995, the Bulldogs were stuck in mediocrity. Meanwhile, Southeastern Conference East Division rivals Florida and Tennessee were amongst the top five programs in all of college football.

Vince Dooley, Georgia’s legendary football coach and athletics director, was quite familiar with Donnan going way back to 1967. It was Dooley’s fourth season as Georgia’s head coach, and the Bulldogs fell to N.C. State 14-7 in the Liberty Bowl to close out the campaign. The Wolfpack quarterback, none other than Jim Donnan, was the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The Greatest Bulldog Ever, Dan Magill, iconic tennis coach wearer of so many hats, was also familiar with Donnan. A great natural athlete, Donnan also excelled at tennis, and won the Atlantic Coast Conference singles championship.

Fast forward some 30 years later, and Georgia had one of the most important great seasons in program history. The Bulldogs of 1997 posted a 10-2 record and finished ranked in the top 10. Arguably the biggest victory of the season came in Jacksonville, as Georgia beat Florida 37-17, breaking a seven game losing streak to Steve Spurrier’s Gators. Amongst the heroes that day in the old Gator Bowl, Robert Edwards, who ran for four touchdowns, and Smart, who picked off a pair of passes.

Other standouts that day included a pair of All-Americans, Champ Bailey at cornerback and Matt Stinchcomb at offensive tackle. Future Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward was also brilliant against the Gators. Georgia’s quarterback? Mike Bobo.

In the eight previous seasons, Georgia had won six or fewer games six times.

Donnan and the Dogs carried that momentum into recruiting and put together one of the most vital and impressive classes in program lore. Three of the top prospects in that group: Jon Stinchcomb, Boss Bailey and Terrance Edwards – all the younger brothers of aforementioned Bulldog standouts. For various reasons, the “little brother trio” all played five years, and they proved to be cornerstone players for the 2002 SEC championship juggernaut coached by Mark Richt.

Sports are littered with “what if” stories. Had replay been around in 1998 and 1999, Georgia would have beaten the Yellow Jackets in both of those years. Joe Hamilton fumbled and was ruled down. Jasper Sanks didn’t fumble but it was ruled he did – plus the Jackets picked the ball up and went backwards into the end zone, so if it was a fumble, it should’ve been a safety. Who knows how history would have transpired.

When his time was done coaching Georgia, Donnan remained close to the game. He has done a lot of television and radio work, with his football acumen and wit shining. He has also been a wonderful resource for Kirby.

“Jim Donnan, the man, I’m so glad this game helps put the spotlight on him,” says Smart. “I’ve been blessed to be around so many great coaches in my life, starting with my dad. Whether it has been as my coach, an adviser, a mentor, a friend, no matter the role, I’ll always be grateful to Coach Donnan.”

The same goes here.

Coach Donnan was always great to this young broadcaster/writer. He always looked out for me, and did everything he could to help advance my career. I remember nearly 30 years ago, he wrote a letter to my radio station General Manager about a business deal, and ended it with “by the way, Jeff Dantzler does a great job for you.”

I’ll never forget that.

Mary Donnan was his rock. Her brave ordeal in the battle against cancer was an inspiration. Coach Donnan’s eulogy at her funeral was incredible.

I often go back to that 1997 season, coming out of a very difficult time for Georgia football, and think, there have been very few Saturdays that Bulldog fans went into thinking the odds were slim.

This incredible run of success in the Kirby Smart dynasty has meant so much to so many people, and that includes, as Coach D would say, “the old coach” – so proud of one of his all-time favorites.