Sept. 25, 2013
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Robert Lavette, Georgia Tech’s all-time leading rusher, will represent the Yellow Jackets as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2013 Class of Legends at the 9th Annual Dr Pepper Football Championship Game.
One legend representing every ACC school will be honored at the league’s championship game Dec. 7 in Charlotte, N.C.
Lavette, who played running back at Tech from 1981 to 1984, is the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,066 yards. He is one of only five ACC running backs to have topped the 4,000-yard mark and still ranks fourth on the league’s all-time rushing list.
Lavette is also expected to be on hand Thursday night when Georgia Tech hosts Virginia Tech. Lavette is one of more than 35 Yellow Jacket All-Americans who will be on the Flats as part of Georgia Tech’s celebration of Historic Grant Field’s 100th anniversary.
While playing for the Bill Curry-coached Tech teams of the early 1980s, Lavette topped the 1,000-yard mark in rushing twice, gaining 1,208 yards and scoring a then ACC-record 19 touchdowns in 1982. A versatile performer, Lavette ended his Tech career as the school’s leading career rusher, pass receiver (114 catches) and scorer (276 points).
At his best in the big games, Lavette contributed greatly to Tech’s upsets over No. 1-ranked Alabama in 1981 and 13th-ranked Clemson in 1984. He earned third-team All-America honors in 1984 by the Football News and was a first-team All-ACC selection in 1982 and 1984. Selected in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Lavettte played three seasons for the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. A native of Cartersville, Ga., he now resides in Austell, Ga.
Other members of the 2013 Legends Class: Former Maryland quarterback Boomer Esiason (West Islip, N.Y.), Clemson safety Terry Kinard (Sumter, S.C.), Virginia defensive end Tom Scott (Baltimore, Md.), Syracuse running back Floyd Little (New Haven, Conn.), Pitt head coach Johnny Majors (Lynchburg, Tenn.), Boston College running back Mike Cloud (Portsmouth, R.I.), Duke halfback and end Wes Chesson (Edenton, N.C.), Florida State guard Jamie Dukes (Orlando, Fla.), Miami’s Edgerrin James (Immokalee, Fla.), North Carolina’s Ken Willard (Richmond, Va.), NC State’s Buckey twins, Dave Buckey (Akron, Ohio) and Don Buckey (Akron), Virginia Tech wide receiver Andre Davis (Niskayuna, N.Y.), and Wake Forest quarterback Jay Venuto (Salem, N.J.).
The Legends will be honored during this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game weekend. They will be honored at the ACC Night of Legends sponsored by the Belk Bowl on Friday, Dec. 6, and on Dec. 7, during ceremonies at Bank of America Stadium for the 9th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, which will be nationally televised with either a 7:45 pm (ESPN) or 8 p.m. (ABC) kickoff.
Tickets for the Night of Legends are priced at $85 each and are available at this link.
The group of 15 former gridiron standouts from current ACC schools includes a former ACC Football Player of the Year; 10 former All-Americas, including six first-team All-America honorees; and 12 players who combined for 97 years in the National Football League. Twelve of the Legends were drafted into the NFL, including six first- or second-round draft choices.
In all, the collection of players combined for two national championships, five ACC Championships and one Super Bowl title.
