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'My God, a freshman!': An oral history of Herschel Walker's encounter with Bill Bates

ESPN

Even 35 years later, nobody can believe what they saw on Sept. 6, 1980.

On that day, Georgia running back Herschel Walker and Tennessee safety Bill Bates met in one of the most famous collisions in college football history. Former teammates and coaches from both teams still shake their heads in disbelief at the shock of the moment -- and how it launched the legend of an all-time college football great.

"It was just one of those plays that was meant to be," former Georgia offensive tackle Jeff Harper said. "Nobody knew who Herschel was and nobody had seen what he could do outside of us."

But before he set any records, or ran through any opposing safeties, Walker -- Georgia's fourth-string running back entering that game -- first had to make it onto the field.

"When we put in Herschel, it was like night and day," Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley said. "I don't think he knew where he was running, but one thing was for sure --- he was going somewhere in a hurry."

As the Bulldogs and Volunteers prepare to play yet again at Neyland Stadium on Saturday -- with Bates' son, Dillon, suiting up for the Vols as a backup linebacker -- more than a dozen people remembered one of the most famous plays in college football history.

CLick here for thoughts from Walker, Dooley, Bates and more on the famous -- or infamous -- play.