University of Georgia Athletics
Steve Greer -- The Last 200-Pound All-America Lineman
February 05, 2015 | Football
By Loran Smith
In the sixties, Georgia experienced eyebrow raising success recruiting in South Carolina. There was a salient influence. The best players in the Palmetto State wanted to play in the Southeastern Conference. When Kent Lawrence, who grew up sitting on a grassy knoll in the end zone for Clemson games, signed with the Bulldogs, it was too much for the colorful Frank Howard, the long-time Tiger coach.
He began referring to the SEC as the knucklehead league. The Atlantic Coast Conference had a minimum admission score of 760. The minimum for the SEC was 750, a mere ten points difference, but the players Georgia signed were academically capable. ACC coaches knew what the issue was. In a conversation at a popular restaurant in Atlanta a few years later, Howard confided. "That one really hurt," he said of Lawrence. "To have a boy like that, with all that speed, to grow up under your nose and lose him is tough to take." In one class, 1965, Georgia, led by backfield coach Frank Inman, who enjoyed signature success recruiting Carolina kids, signed six South Carolinians, who would be significant contributors for the Bulldogs. Five would become starters.
Less than an hour north of Clemson, the Bulldogs found a gem of a defensive lineman, Steve Greer of Greer, S. C., one of the quickest linemen ever to wear the Red and Black. In addition to Lawrence and Greer, the Bulldogs signed Wayne Byrd of Florence, Pat Rodrigue and Steve Farnsworth of Greenville and Greer's teammate Steve Woodward.
On signing day, however, Lawrence, Greer and Woodward were in Gainesville, Florida listening to the Gator's pitch. They had been told they would return home by charter plane, but a funny thing happened. Weather caused the flight to be canceled. The prized recruits were given a rental car by Florida to return home. The most efficient highway route in those days brought them through Athens. "This is where we are going to school, anyway," somebody said as they passed by the campus. When they got home, Inman was waiting with grants-in-aid for each player. Soon they were in Athens and Florida was hunting its rental car.
Greer's hometown was named for an ancestor, a Scottish forebear whose roots go back to clan McGregor and Rob Roy. The Scots were keen at the art of fighting which may have something to do with the competitive abilities of a latter day Greer, who chose football as a means of earning a college degree with football picking up the tab. Greer, who will be inducted into the UGA Circle of Honor on Friday night, has a remarkable resume. Even in the sixties he was considered a lightweight at 5-11, 200 pounds. His remarkable quickness led him to All-America honors and two SEC championship rings, 1966 and 1968, although he missed the '66 season with knee surgery.
Mike Cavan, quarterback on the 1968 team and Greer's close friend, remembers that opposing teams accused Greer of lining up off sides. Greer often was in the quarterback's lap as soon as he took the snap. He was a three year starter who played on three bowl teams--nobody loved to play and compete more than Greer. If Coach Howard were around, Greer could needle him about the way things turned out for the knuckleheads Georgia recruited. Greer spent his life in coaching, working with several championship teams. Woodward returned to Greer and became a successful athletic director. Lawrence became a judge. Rodrigue is a very successful businessman, Farnsworth an accomplished salesman and Byrd one of the most respected attorneys in the state of South Carolina.
Greer's love of the outdoors has given him unending pleasure. Casting for a bass was as much fun as making a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. Knocking down a pair of quail on a covey rise was just as exhilarating. His athletic skills have brought him signature status--membership in Georgia's Circle of Honor.
It would be interesting to know, if it could be established, when the last 200 pound lineman made All-America. Probably date's back to Rob Roy's time.
