Bobby Pope: Gary Faulkner had a standout career at Jones County and Georgia Tech
The Jones County football team recently finished the 2015 season with a 9-2 record after losing 28-22 to Glynn Academy on Nov. 13. The nine wins tied the record for second most in program history. The 2014 team established the program record with 10 wins. Those 10 wins were only the sixth time the Greyhounds had recorded eight or more victories in a season. In fact, in their 69 years of action on the gridiron, the Greyhounds have had a total of 21 winning campaigns while recording an overall record of 286-398-13.
The 1968 team, led by running back Gary Faulkner, was just the second team to win eight games in a season, finishing the year at 8-2. Faulkner, a first-team Class B All-State selection, rushed for 1,117 yards and 25 touchdowns that season and as was highly recruited. He accepted a scholarship to Georgia Tech, becoming Jerry Glanville's first signee as a Yellow Jackets assistant coach.
Glanville, who coached the Georgia Tech freshman team, enlisted the freshman squad to help recruit Faulkner. En route to a game in Moultrie to play Florida State, those Yellow Jackets stopped off in Fort Valley for a contest between Jones County and the home-standing Green Wave and lined the entry way to the Greyhounds' dressing room at halftime to greet Faulkner and wish him well. That would be a big-time NCAA violation today.
Glanville went on to become the head coach of the Houston Oilers and the Atlanta Falcons. Prior to starting his career with Georgia Tech, Faulkner was the leading rusher for the South team in the North-South All-Star game played at Porter Stadium as he gained 33 yards on six carries. He also had an interception for the winning South team.
Faulkner redshirted his freshman season and then earned a starting spot as a sophomore safety for the Yellow Jackets in 1971. That season, he set a Georgia Tech record that stood for more than 13 years with 102 tackles by a defensive back, and he had two interceptions. Those 102 tackles still rank in the top five in Georgia Tech history. Against rival Georgia that season, he was in on 15 tackles -- 10 solo and five assists.
As a junior, Faulkner had 66 tackles, including nine solo tackles against Tennessee and a combination of 13 solo tackles and assists against Auburn. He also had a 49-yard touchdown run following a pass interception against Clemson. That was one of two interceptions he had against the Tigers in that game.
In Georgia Tech's 31-30 win over the Johnny Majors-coached Iowa State team in the 1972 Liberty Bowl, Faulkner was the game's defensive MVP. He had a 19-yard touchdown run following an interception, a touchdown-saving tackle and also a key fumble recovery that setup the Yellow Jackets' winning touchdown.
He suffered a knee injury in that game that ended his collegiate career. He was a student assistant coach at Georgia Tech in his senior season. Football injuries to Faulkner have resulted in seven knee surgeries, including two for ACL tears and another for a complete knee replacement.
Faulkner, who earned a degree in industrial management from Georgia Tech, coached two different stints at Tattnall Square from 1975-77 and 1980-81, as well as one season at Barnesville Academy in 1979. He had an overall record of 31-33 as a head coach. Following his coaching days, he worked as a contractor, and for the past 13 years, he has been teaching construction in high school and this year is at the Hutchings Career Center.
While knee problems have been a concern for the former Jones County standout, he is now battling renal cancer and has had his right kidney removed. He is currently on a chemo pill regimen for the disease.
Faulkner still loves the game of football, saying that if he had a chance to play again, he would be ready tomorrow despite all the health issues he has encountered.
Contact Bobby Pope at bobbypope428@gmail.com
This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Bobby Pope: Gary Faulkner had a standout career at Jones County and Georgia Tech ."