Spring Break
Courtney Kupets, the greatest Bulldog. Ever.
TYLER ESTEP
Issue date: 6/26/09 Section: Opinions
• Charley Trippi: One of the greatest and most versatile college football players of his era. Played quarterback and tailback, came in second in Heisman voting and took the Maxwell award in 1946 (after fighting in World War II), helping lead Georgia to an undefeated season.
Also an All-American baseball player, and still holds the Diamond Dog single-season batting average record (.464).
• Dominique Wilkins: Ah, he is The Human Highlight Reel: a great performer and a fantastically gifted athlete. Absolutely the best Georgia basketball player ever, even if he only played two full seasons in Athens.
But what did he win? Oh yeah. Nothing. In fact, Georgia won the SEC Tournament and went to the Final Four the year after he left school.
• Kara Lynn Joyce: An absolutely fantastic swimmer. Between 2004 and 2007, took 18 NCAA titles for Georgia, nine individually and nine as part of a relay.
• Gordon Beckham: The slugger of all Georgia sluggers. School-record 28 home runs in 2008w, and a career record of 53. Two College World Series appearances.
Honorable mention: Buck Belue (quarterback on that 1980 national championship team, hit .447 for the Diamond Dogs in 1982) and Karin Lichey (still the only gymnast ever to post a perfect 40.0 in the all-around).
It basically comes down to this: titles. And Kupets has them, both individual and team. She's no doubt the best all-arounder ever; and, as the only gymnast to ever win NCAA titles in all five events, she can stake a claim as the best "all-around" gymnast to ever roam the mats. She is literally one of the top gymnasts of all time on every single event.
Joyce's accomplishments are the only ones that can even remotely compare to that.
At the Honda ceremony, the emcee pronounced Kupets' name more like "kaputs," and, because of the nature of her sport, that is exactly what her career as a gymnast is.
But her legend as the greatest athlete Georgia has ever seen never will be.
-Tyler Estep is a sportswriter for The Red & Black
Also an All-American baseball player, and still holds the Diamond Dog single-season batting average record (.464).
• Dominique Wilkins: Ah, he is The Human Highlight Reel: a great performer and a fantastically gifted athlete. Absolutely the best Georgia basketball player ever, even if he only played two full seasons in Athens.
But what did he win? Oh yeah. Nothing. In fact, Georgia won the SEC Tournament and went to the Final Four the year after he left school.
• Kara Lynn Joyce: An absolutely fantastic swimmer. Between 2004 and 2007, took 18 NCAA titles for Georgia, nine individually and nine as part of a relay.
• Gordon Beckham: The slugger of all Georgia sluggers. School-record 28 home runs in 2008w, and a career record of 53. Two College World Series appearances.
Honorable mention: Buck Belue (quarterback on that 1980 national championship team, hit .447 for the Diamond Dogs in 1982) and Karin Lichey (still the only gymnast ever to post a perfect 40.0 in the all-around).
It basically comes down to this: titles. And Kupets has them, both individual and team. She's no doubt the best all-arounder ever; and, as the only gymnast to ever win NCAA titles in all five events, she can stake a claim as the best "all-around" gymnast to ever roam the mats. She is literally one of the top gymnasts of all time on every single event.
Joyce's accomplishments are the only ones that can even remotely compare to that.
At the Honda ceremony, the emcee pronounced Kupets' name more like "kaputs," and, because of the nature of her sport, that is exactly what her career as a gymnast is.
But her legend as the greatest athlete Georgia has ever seen never will be.
-Tyler Estep is a sportswriter for The Red & Black
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
TenSpeed
posted 6/25/09 @ 7:38 AM EST
The best all 'round football player EVER. Dennis Hughes.
mcarver
posted 6/25/09 @ 11:35 AM EST
I'm still going to go with Herschel Walker. The man is a legend in general let alone Georgia's legend. He's even going to be in a poker tourney for legends. (Continued…)
Richard
posted 6/26/09 @ 4:45 PM EST
I don't know. tough call. Not to take anything away from Kupets. She is an incredible athlete. But gymnastics isn't really a true "team sport" and it's tough to try to compare players from sports in which one cannot win individual titles like football or basketball. (Continued…)
'81 Alum
posted 6/26/09 @ 6:32 PM EST
She really is great but I think you have forgotten someone. Don't you think an Olympic Gold Medalist (and world record holder) deserves a little consideration? Oh, the UGA track is named after him, too. (Continued…)
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