Vince Dooley hospitalized with 'mild case of COVID'. Here are three things to know
Former Georgia Bulldogs football coach Vince Dooley was hospitalized locally after contracting what was described as a "mild case of COVID", according to a spokesman for the university's athletic department.
Dooley, who was Georgia's head coach from 1964-1988, also was a member of Auburn's coaching staff from 1956-63 after his playing career with the Tigers from 1951-53 as a quarterback.
Dooley, who was also the school's athletic director from 1979 through 2004, was scheduled to appear at the UGA Bookstore today, as he often does before home football games.
CBS Sports wished him a speedy recovery during today's Georgia-Auburn broadcast today. Here are three things to know about the coach.
Bull-dog market: Stock market closes up on a day when Vince Dooley and UGA officials ring closing bell
More on Vince: Loran Smith looks back at his career
Vince Dooley recently celebrated his 90th birthday serenaded by the Redcoat band
At the season-opening 49-3 win over Oregon, UGA's Redcoat band played "Happy Birthday" for the coach, who celebrated his 90th birthday the following day.
Dooley remains active in his retirement, as columnist Loran Smith wrote recently, with interests in gardening and history.
Dooley is well known for his major support of the marching band.
Vince Dooley won a national title as Georgia Bulldogs coach
With Herschel Walker as his major weapon, Vince Dooley coached the Bulldogs to a 12-0 record in 1980, including a 17-10 victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
The Bulldogs won the national title, which up until last season was Georgia's lone title in the sport.
He coached the Bulldogs to 201 wins in total, including six SEC championships. Two came in consecutive seasons following the national title.
At one point, Vince Dooley was asked about possibly coming on to coach Notre Dame
Dooley grew up a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, having listened to Irish games while playing quarterback for McGill Catholic High School in Mobile, Ala.
“That’s where I wanted to go,” Vince Dooley said. “I used to say my prayers at night. I was a big Notre Dame fan early on, but they never recognized my talent down in Mobile.”
And yes, it was ironic that the team his Bulldogs beat to win the championship was Notre Dame. But interestingly, Dooley says he was approached later on to coach the Irish, likely in the early 1980s.
“We had a conversation about Notre Dame on a plane coming back one time,” Dooley said in 2017. “There was an opening. He asked if I had some interest.”
But Dooley stuck around as the Bulldogs coach until he retired in 1988.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Vince Dooley goes to hospital with 'mild case of COVID'. What to know.
