Johnny Isakson: “For the past 40 years, Vince Dooley has had an enduring impact on the University of Georgia, Southeastern Conference…”

“For the past 40 years, Vince Dooley has had an enduring impact on the University of Georgia, Southeastern Conference, and collegiate athletics across the country. He has been a man of great foresight in times of charting the future, stability in times of change, and vision in critical times that have shaped the path of college athletics. His national stature was reinforced when he was chosen from athletic leaders around the country to chair a national sportsmanship summit in the spring, 2003. There is no stronger indicator of Georgia's overall athletic prominence than its recent success in the annual Sears Directors Cup which includes a second place finish in the 1998-99 season, third place finish in 2000-01, and top ten finishes in four of the past five years. Under his watch as athletic director (since 1979), Georgia teams have won 18 national championships (nine in the past five years) including an unprecedented four during the 1998-99 year (women's swimming, gymnastics, men's tennis, men's golf).”