Georgia: Tereshinski keeps traditions going
For the Tereshinski family of Athens, Ga., playing football for the Bulldogs is a family ritual. Winning SEC championships is another tradition that three generations of Tereshinskis have shared.
"My grandfather was a tight end/defensive end when he played at Georgia," Joe Tereshinski III said. "My father came to UGA to be a fullback, but ended up playing center. I also had an uncle that was a tight end at Georgia."
The family has never strayed from their Bulldog heritage. Although Joe III checked out other schools, the loyalty to the team he grew up with was too much for him to go anywhere else.
"I looked at a couple of other places," he said. "But everywhere I went, I thought to myself 'this isn't Georgia.' The camaraderie of the players, the fact I grew up around here. Georgia is part of my family, and it's a big part of me. I was a Bulldog straight from the crib."
Joe III has never called anywhere else home but Athens, and Sanford Stadium.
"It's electrifying," he said of the stadium. "Georgia football is an all day affair. From tailgating in the morning to partying at night. When you get a win here, it ties everyone together. You'd wait in your red and black, just waiting to walk to the stadium that day."
As for winning, well, that has come as natural to the Tereshinski family as wearing the Georgia "G".
"My grandfather was on the 1942 national championship team," Joe III said. "My dad and uncle were on the 1976 SEC championship team, and I've been on two SEC championship teams in 2003 and 2005. Hopefully this year, we win a national title as well as another SEC title."
The Georgia pride runs deep in the Tereshinski family, but especially deep during certain games.
"The two I circle are Florida and Georgia Tech," Tereshinski said. "You just never lose to Georgia Tech. Losing to them leaves a bad taste in the mouth. If we won all our games and lost to them, it's a bad season for us."
As for Joe III's memories, he carries some now that he'll always keep with him.
"I'll always remember playing in the SEC," he said. "The players that I played with, the camaraderie that we all shared, and what we all did together as a team. The memories here, you develop together and they carry with you forever."
As does Bulldog blood in the Tereshinski family tree.
