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LOOK: Georgia fans celebrate Vince Dooley's 90th birthday before Oregon game

by:Austin Brezina•09/03/22•

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Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Georgia Bulldogs planned a special birthday celebration for former coach and athletic director Vince Dooley on Saturday, who turns 90 this weekend. Dooley is still the winningest Georgia coach in program history, with a career record of 201-77-10. Under his command, the Bulldogs won six SEC titles, including three in a row from 1980-82. Georgia named their field “Dooley Field” in his honor in 2019, following over half a century of time with the school.

The surprise celebration featured a cake in the shape of the number “90” and a smaller cake with a candle he could blow out for the fans.

Vince Dooley’s birthday surprise

Dooley’s actual birthday is on Sept. 4, and his on-field celebration came as a complete surprise to the long-time Bulldogs leader. He will turn 90 years old on Sunday, and Georgia brought him onto the field before kickoff while telling him it was a celebration for “Peach Bowl legends.” As Dooley stood on the field next to legendary player Herschel Walker, Dooley found out the real purpose for the on-field tribute.

The Bulldogs brought out a giant birthday cake while the band played “Happy Birthday” as the entire stadium sang along.

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Dooley spent 25 years as coach of the Bulldogs from 1964-88, and served as athletic director from 1979-2004 before retiring into a consultant role. As a coach, Dooley led Georgia to their second national championship in 1980. As an athletic director, Georgia sports teams won 23 national titles and 78 SEC titles in total.

Dooley was born in Mobile, Alabama and began his college career as quarterback of the Auburn Tigers in 1951. He graduated from Auburn in 1954 and later coached under Ralph “Shug” Jordan as an assistant from 1956-63. Dooley also served in the United States Marine Corps, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.