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Georgia’s honorary captain named for Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game vs. Oregon
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Former Georgia star tailback Willie McClendon will serve as an honorary captain, along with ex-Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, when the defending national champion Bulldogs and Ducks clash on Sept. 3 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
McClendon and Mariota will join the current team captains of both teams at midfield during the pregame coin toss, as officials for the annual early season spectacle keep with their tradition of highlighting former standouts from each program.
We’re excited to welcome Willie McClendon as @GeorgiaFootball's Honorary Captain for #CFAKickoff! ??
?: https://t.co/1vhskIvyIG pic.twitter.com/bRxdvKGY7b
— Aflac Kickoff Game (@AflacKickoff) August 24, 2022
McClendon played under legendary Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley from 1976-78 and was the SEC Player of the Year in ’78 as a junior after rushing for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 1977, in the only previous meeting between Georgia and Oregon, McClendon scored the game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead the Bulldogs to a 27-16 victory.
McClendon was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft in 1979 by the Chicago Bears. He played 4 seasons for the Bears from 1979-82 and later served as an assistant coach at Georgia from 1989-93.
Georgia will be making its third appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The Bulldogs’ last appearance was a 33-24 victory over North Carolina in 2016, which was Kirby Smart’s first win as Georgia head coach. Oregon is the defending Pac-12 North Division champions.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
