Spring Break
Courtney Kupets, the greatest Bulldog. Ever.
TYLER ESTEP
Issue date: 6/26/09 Section: Opinions
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But now, after one of her most recent awards, the debate starts: Is she the greatest Georgia athlete ever?
And it's a one-sided debate. She is.
Earlier in the week, Kupets was given the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup, given to the nation's top female collegiate athlete for the last 33 years. She is the first Georgia athlete to win the award.
Oh, and by the way, she has also: been named the 2009 SEC Female Athlete of the Year, earned 15 All-American titles (the most possible after missing the last half of 2008 with an Achilles tear), won an SEC Gymnast of the Year award and two conference all-around titles, and the list goes on.
An impressive résumé no doubt, but the best Bulldog ever? Take a look: careers before or after Athens will not be taken into account because a) gymnasts don't have a post-college career b) Kupets' Olympic medals would play big anyway c) we are determining the best Georgia athlete, after all.
• Herschel Walker: A good choice, a fantastic athlete, and probably the best-known Georgia legend. He brought Georgia an NCAA championship in football, put them in the national spotlight, and ran for 1.2 million yards.
You could say he's one of the best college football players of all-time, but he's not the best. He's not even the best running back.
• Teresa Edwards: Again, one of the greatest women's basketball players of all-time, definitely the best Georgia ever had, and an inside force to be reckoned with. The only basketball player ever, male or female, to compete in five Olympics.
But that doesn't erase the fact that even she couldn't deliver the national championship that Hall of Fame coach Andy Landers still lacks.
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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