'83 Sugar Bowl - I was there, as it happens. I prefer to think of that team as Todd Blackledge's Nittany Lions - that way I get to scream at him on TV during fall weekends when he's broadcasting games. UGA was undefeated and ranked # 1, PSU was # 2 - one of the few #1 vs #2 national championship games in bowl history before the BCS came along. I hated that game - even getting blitzed on Bourbon Street afterwards was no fun.
What most people don't remember about that game - and Herschel's relatively poor performance (barely 100 yds, if I recall correctly) - was that it was his last game for the Bulldogs, but no one knew it at the time except Donald Trump and Herschel, who was a junior and ineligible for the NFL till the following year when his class had graduated (oh, for the old days - times, they have a'changed!).
A few days later, Trump announced his USFL NJ Generals and Herschel as the first signee, causing quite an uproar here in the Peach State. Later on Herschel attributed his lackluster performance in that national championship game to the guilt and dread of announcing he was leaving early. The only time in 30 years I was ever mad at the guy, but he did what was right for him at the time I suppose. That 3-year move cost him $$$ in the long run, though, as well as a few potential records in the NFL.
Scariest sight for pro linebackers and safeties in the late '80s was seeing Herschel swinging out of the backfield as a receiver, then catching the ball with a full head of steam already generated. He was fast, but he also loved to run people over. Guess that's why he's in martial arts now.
And I like your UGA bosses already - old joke: What does a Ga Tech grad call a UGA grad? Boss. OK, I'll admit it - my current boss is a Penn State grad . . .
