Jake Scott, a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and a legend at Georgia, passed away Nov. 19. He was 75.
"One of the most gifted athletes to ever set foot on the college gridiron, Jake Scott was tough, fast and fearless," said NFF Chairman
Archie Manning. "Off the field, he was great fun, and his induction in 2011 brought back a lot of SEC and NFL memories. We had a lot of laughs. I was personally saddened to learn of his passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."
A consensus All-American in 1968, Scott played safety and returned kicks at Georgia from 1967-68, leading the Bulldogs to an SEC championship his final year in Athens. In addition to making numerous All-America teams in 1968, he was named the SEC's Most Valuable Player by the
Nashville Banner.
"I think it's a team honor more than it is a personal honor, because football is a team sport and if it wasn't for the good players around me at Georgia or the good players around me in Miami, I wouldn't be there," said Scott during a 2011 conference call announcing his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. "I'm just thankful for my teammates. I'm appreciative of what I'm getting but I wish they would've gotten more publicity... I've been real lucky and I'm thankful for it."
A two-time First Team All-SEC pick, Scott led the conference in interceptions in 1967 and 1968. His 16 career interceptions remain a school record, and he is one of three players in SEC history to return two picks for touchdowns in the same game. He led the Bulldogs to the league crown in 1968 by intercepting 10 passes (tied for second-most in school history) and compiling 440 punt return yards, which ranks fourth in school history. Scott led Georgia to 1967 Liberty Bowl and the Bulldogs the 1968 SEC championship which included an undefeated regular season (8-0-2) and an invitation to the Sugar Bowl.
A First Team Academic All-SEC performer as a sophomore, Scott bypassed his senior campaign to play for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. Scott later played nine seasons in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins and started 123-of-126 career games. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro was named the Super Bowl VII MVP for the undefeated Dolphins squad in 1972. He is Miami's all-time leader in interceptions and punt returns. Scott shared the defensive backfield on the Dolphin teams for six seasons with
Dick Anderson, a 1993 College Football Hall of Fame inductee from Colorado.
"Jake Scott was a very unique individual as well as the best teammate one could ever have," said Anderson when asked to reflect on his passing. "Every time, I see
Joe Namath he cusses at me, saying: 'you guys were never where you were supposed to be.' I respond: 'No Joe we were where we were supposed to be, but you just did not know where that was going to be' because we played as a team." And that's the main reason we were successful… To be able to play with somebody like Jake Scott and the communication we had was very, very special."
Scott was voted to the College Coaches All-Time All-America Team in 1983 and is a member of the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll in 2010. Considered by College Football Hall of Fame coach
Vince Dooley to be the finest athlete he ever coached, Scott was a member of the Quarter Century All-SEC Team and the SEC All-Time Defensive Team. Born July 20, 1945, in Greenwood S.C., Scott lived in Hanalei, Hawaii after retiring.
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