ugaathletics

In this episode Suzanne Yoculan Leebern, former head coach of the women's gymnastics program at UGA from 1983 to 2009, shares her secret sauce for becoming one of the most decorated coaches in the history of collegiate gymnastics. During her tenure, she turned the UGA gymnastics program into a national powerhouse. Named the NCAA coach of the year 5 times, she led the team to 10 NCAA championship titles, 16 Southeastern Conference titles, 22 NCAA Regional crowns, and produced 37 NCAA individual champions (including 3-time all-around winner Courtney Kupets) and 58 Gym Dogs with 306 All-America honors. In 2010, she was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. And to top it all off, along with Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson, she was featured in the 2014 ESPN documentary Sarah & Suzanne, about the rivalry of the two coaches and their gymnastic teams.

In this episode meet Karen Lichey Usry, 1999 Gymnast of the Year! The story of her and her husband Mike Usry, former UGA football player, is one of love, athletics, 2 national championships, 1 touchdown, and a family of 4.

Karin Lichey Usry is a former GymDog from 1996-1999 and was part of the undefeated and national champion 1998 and 1999 teams. In her days as a collegiate gymnast, she was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 1996 and the Gymnast of the Year in 1999, and the She won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top gymnast in 1999. She earned first-team All-America certificates in all five categories 1998 and 1999 and earned a total of 11 All-America awards in her career. And she belongs to a very special club with a membership total of 1 – she is the only collegiate gymnast to have ever scored a perfect 40.0 in the all-around, meaning she scored a perfect 10 in the floor, vault, bars, and beam.

3On Mike’s collegiate career: Mike Usry was a UGA football player, a quarterback. He was a highly recruited QB out of high school. Once he got to UGA, he was always the first one in the gym and worked hard to be at the top of his game. However, he was there at a time when Mike Bobo was the QB and later Quincy Carter, who had been a baseball player. While Mike did not get tons of time on the field, the moments that he had were memorable, which included a huge clutch play wherein he passed the ball to fullback Patrick Pass (a future eight-year NFL player) who ran the ball 40 yards for a touchdown!

On how Karin met Mike: Before there was texting and iPhones, Karin and Mike were introduced thru mutual friends at a bowling alley in Athens. After they met, with a little courage and a landline (yes a real telephone!), Karin called Mike…and the rest was history!

33N83W is a podcast curated for the alumni and fans of the University of Georgia. It’s my mission with every episode to remind you of all the reasons why you can be proud to be a bulldawg! I do this every episode by introducing you to the alumni and people who have made a difference and continue to inspire us. Listen to 33N83W on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Spreaker.

In this episode Dan DeLamater takes us inside the Touchdown Club of Athens, a club that was established in 1946 for UGA football fans and that now hosts well-known speakers from ESPN sports broadcasters to UGA football greats at its coveted member meetings at the Athens Country Club, and has the patronage of the legendary Loran Smith among many others. Dan is the clubs most recent past president, and he shares with us some private stories about some of its patrons and speakers including one on Coach Kirby Smart! Dan is also a frequent guest lecturer at the Terry College of Business. He is married to a UGA alumna and parent of two UGA students. What makes his story even more inspiring is that he dedicates his time and support to the University, all while never having attended UGA as a student (he graduated from Georgia State). If you are a fan of UGA football, parent to UGA students, or a Terry College of Business student or alum, this episode is one you do not want to miss!

33N83W is a podcast curated for the alumni and fans of the University of Georgia. It’s our mission with every episode to remind you of all the reasons why you can be proud to be a Bulldawg! We do this every episode by introducing you to the alumni and people who have made a difference and continue to inspire us!

In this episode, Michael Cheney, President of the UGA Alumni Sports Industry Council, tells us all about the new Council, its mission, and how he was able build it from an idea he had to an illustrious board of advisors of sport industry veterans and providing scholarships to students within the UGA Sport Management and Policy Program in only two short years. The Council currently includes the likes of Vince Thompson, Founder and CEO of MELT; Percy Vaughn VP at Kia Motors America and Chairman of the Chick-Fil-A Bowl Board; Chip Caray, Play-by-Play Announcer for the Atlanta Braves & Fox Sports South; Susan Goodenow, VP of Marketing and Communications for Chicago Bulls; and David Koonin, Agent for Creative Artists Agency Sports, to name a few. Coach Jack Bauerle serves as its Athletic Department Liaison.

The UGA Alumni Sports Industry Council is an external advisory board that serves the students and faculty at UGA by providing access to practical professional experience in and executives across multiple sports business related disciplines. It provides guest lecturers, reviews and contributes to curriculum, fundraises for and provides scholarships thru the UGA Foundation, works with students in career development, provides access to coveted internships, and sponsors an annual on campus internship program.

Michael is a Terry College of Business alumnus with extensive experience in marketing having developed partnership marketing and sponsorship strategies for Coca-Cola, Sprite, PowerAde, Visa, and BMW, among others. He has negotiated with the IOC, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB Media, and multiple sports teams across all major US Sports, the US Open, Pebble Beach, IMG College and many more. He is currently a California Bulldog, but flies cross country to Athens, GA often because he is a parent to current Swim Dog, Teagan Cheney, and to a future Swim Dog, Brennan Cheney! Brennan will be joining the UGA Swim Team in 2021! To inquire about the Council or to donate to the scholarship you may reach Michael directly at ugasportscouncil@gmail.com.

33N83W is a podcast curated for the alumni and fans of the University of Georgia. It’s our mission with every episode to remind you of all the reasons why you can be proud to be a Bulldawg! We do this every episode by introducing you to the alumni and people who have made a difference and continue to inspire us!