Vernon Smith
- January 14, 1908
- September 29, 1988
- 80 years
About Vernon Smith
Vernon Smith, 80, American college football player (Georgia Bulldogs).
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Full Biography
|Vernon "Catfish" Smith (January 14, 1908 – September 29, 1988) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, coach, and military officer. A three-sport athlete at the University of Georgia, Smith was named to the 1931 College Football All-America Team as an end. After his playing days, he served as the co-head basketball coach at his alma mater during the 1937–38 season. Smith was also the head baseball coach at Georgia from 1934 to 1937 and at the University of South Carolina from 1938 to 1939 and again from 1946 to 1947. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1979.
Early life and playing career
Smith was born Macon, Georgia. His nickname of "Catfish" is attributed to a story in which he bit the head off of one as a 25-cent bet while a student at Lanier High School in Macon. He and a friend were fishing in Walnut Creek.
Smith played football at the University of Georgia from 1929 to 1931 and was named an All-American in 1931. In 1929, he scored all 15 points for Georgia in an upset of Yale—scoring one touchdown by falling on a blocked punt in the end zone and another by receiving a pass, kicking an extra point and tackling a Yale player for a safety. The game was the first-ever played at Sanford Stadium. Smith wore number 9, and stood 6'2" and 190 pounds. He made an all-time Georgia Bulldogs football team picked in 1935. He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1920-1969 era team. Smith was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Coaching and military career
After completing his Georgia career as a football player in 1931 (he graduated with a B.S. in 1933), Catfish Smith went into coaching from 1932 to 1941 and coached football at Georgia, the University of South Carolina and the University of Mississippi. He was also the head baseball coach at the University of Georgia and the University of South Carolina. He then joined the United States Army Air Forces, retiring in 1963 with the rank of colonel.
Honors
Smith's sports honors include induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1966 and in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
His military honors included the Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Reserve Medal, and Air Force Longevity Medal.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Smith_(American_football)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 22, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Vernon Smith's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Vernon Smith born?
- A.September 29, 1931
- B.January 14, 1933
- C.September 29, 1988
- D.January 14, 1908correct
Vernon Smith was born on January 14, 1908.
Source: biography header
2.What is the origin of Vernon Smith's nickname, "Catfish"?
- A.His teammates gave him the name during his freshman year.
- B.He caught a giant catfish in Walnut Creek.
- C.He grew up on a catfish farm in Macon.
- D.He bit the head off a catfish for a 25-cent bet.correct
The nickname Catfish is attributed to a story where Vernon Smith bit the head off one as a 25-cent bet while a student at Lanier High School.
Source: early life and playing career
3.In which city was Vernon Smith born?
- A.Atlanta, Georgia
- B.Macon, Georgiacorrect
- C.Athens, Georgia
- D.Savannah, Georgia
Vernon Smith was born in Macon, Georgia.
Source: early life and playing career
4.What was the significance of the 1929 Georgia versus Yale football game for Vernon Smith?
- A.Vernon Smith was named team captain for the first time.
- B.Vernon Smith scored all 15 points for Georgia in the upset.correct
- C.Vernon Smith scored the winning touchdown in overtime.
- D.Vernon Smith broke his leg during the opening kickoff.
During the 1929 game against Yale, Vernon Smith scored all 15 points for Georgia in the upset victory.
Source: early life and playing career
5.To which fraternity did Vernon Smith belong while in college?
- A.Kappa Alpha
- B.Sigma Chicorrect
- C.Phi Delta Theta
- D.Delta Tau Delta
Vernon Smith was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Source: early life and playing career
6.What year was Vernon Smith inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame?
- A.1935
- B.1931
- C.1966
- D.1979correct
Vernon Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
Source: honors section
7.At which rank did Vernon Smith retire from the United States Army Air Forces?
- A.Colonelcorrect
- B.Captain
- C.Major
- D.Lieutenant Colonel
Vernon Smith retired from the United States Army Air Forces in 1963 with the rank of colonel.
Source: coaching and military career
8.Which university did Vernon Smith coach at during the 1937–38 season?
- A.Georgia Tech
- B.University of South Carolina
- C.University of Mississippi
- D.University of Georgiacorrect
Vernon Smith served as the co-head basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Georgia, during the 1937–38 season.
Source: biography header
9.What was Vernon Smith's uniform number while playing for the University of Georgia?
- A.25
- B.15
- C.7
- D.9correct
Vernon Smith wore number 9 while playing football for the University of Georgia.
Source: early life and playing career
10.Besides football and baseball, what was the third sport Vernon Smith played at the University of Georgia?
- A.Wrestling
- B.Tennis
- C.Track and field
- D.Basketballcorrect
Vernon Smith was a three-sport athlete at the University of Georgia, participating in football, basketball, and baseball.
Source: biography header
11.In what year was Vernon Smith inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame?
- A.1935
- B.1979
- C.1931
- D.1966correct
Vernon Smith's sports honors include induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1966.
Source: honors section
12.Which of the following military honors was awarded to Vernon Smith?
- A.Medal of Honor
- B.Legion of Meritcorrect
- C.Purple Heart
- D.Silver Star
Vernon Smith's military honors included the Legion of Merit.
Source: honors section
13.Between 1938 and 1947, Vernon Smith served as the head baseball coach at which university?
- A.University of Mississippi
- B.Lanier High School
- C.University of Georgia
- D.University of South Carolinacorrect
Vernon Smith served as the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina from 1938 to 1939 and again from 1946 to 1947.
Source: biography header
14.What was the result of Vernon Smith being nominated for the Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1920-1969 era team?
- A.He was selected as a coach.
- B.He was selected as an end.
- C.He was selected as the team captain.
- D.He was not selected.correct
Vernon Smith was nominated but not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1920-1969 era team.
Source: early life and playing career
15.What was the significance of the 1929 Georgia game against Yale for the stadium?
- A.It was the opening game of the college football season.
- B.It was the first-ever game played at Sanford Stadium.correct
- C.It was the game where the stadium was renamed.
- D.It was the final game played at the old stadium.
The 1929 game against Yale was the first-ever played at Sanford Stadium.
Source: early life and playing career
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