William Morgan Blake (February, 1889 – July 26, 1953) was an early 20th-century American sportswriter in the South who in his 24 years on the job covered seven Rose Bowl games. He also taught the south's largest Sunday School class.[1][2]
Morgan Blake | |
---|---|
Born | William Morgan Blake February 1889 (1889-02) Fayetteville, Tennessee, United States |
Died | July 26, 1953(1953-07-26) (aged 64) Atlanta, Georgia |
Occupation | Sportswriter |
Alma mater | Vanderbilt University |
A law graduate from Vanderbilt University in 1911, he began newspaper work on the Nashville Tennessean. He then switched to the Nashville Banner as a political writer, until eventually becoming a sports editor of the Atlanta Journal in 1916.[1][3]
Blake ranked Don Hutson led Alabama as the best football team he ever saw. He is one proposed originator of the "Golden Tornado" nickname for Georgia Tech.[4] He is also one for the Georgia Bulldogs. He wrote a story about school nicknames for football teams and proposed:
The Georgia Bulldogs would sound good because there is a certain dignity about a bulldog, as well as ferocity.[5]
Blake was known for his coverage of golfer Bobby Jones.[6] He retired in 1951.
Teaching at the Agoga Men's Bible Class at the Baptist Tabernacle of Atlanta, his class frequently reached 2,000 and was rated as the largest in the south.[1] He also wrote religious news columns.
Georgia Bulldogs football | |
---|---|
Venues |
|
Bowls & rivalries |
|
Culture & lore |
|
People |
|
Seasons |
|
National championship seasons in bold |