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Famed Fyffe football standout dies

By Jared Felkins
The Times-Journal

Published December 15, 2008

Danny Ridgeway is remembered in football circles as a man of firsts.

Ridgeway was the first and only football player to have his No. 12 jersey retired at Fyffe High School. After a knee injury between his freshman and sophomore years at the University of Alabama, Ridgeway was reportedly the only player to be allowed to run in plays for then-coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Ridgeway died Sunday at his home in Jackson, Tenn., after a fight with cancer. He left behind two sons, Ry and Cody, who was a punter at Ole Miss, and a daughter, Kara.

Ridgeway was a quarterback during his playing days at Fyffe from 1966-70. According to school records, he was named a high school All-American in 1970 and was voted most valuable player in the 1971 Alabama high school all-star game.

After the injury, Alabama teammates said he taught himself to kick field goals and became quite prolific doing so as well. According to Alabama football records, Ridgeway converted 71 of 75 point-after tries and was 7 of 9 in field goals for a total of 92 points. He was also an Academic All-SEC selection in 1975.

“The thing that stood out to me was his desire and his ability to persevere,” said former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose, who was a freshman with Ridgeway in 1971. “He had a lot of opportunities and reasons to quit, but he had too much determination.”

DuBose said Bryant thought so much of Ridgeway’s determination, the famed coach allowed him to run in plays into the offensive huddle. This was before the National Collegiate Athletic Association prohibited breaking the huddle with 12 men on the field.

“He had to be in good shape because he ran on the field, gave the offense the play, and ran off the field again,” said Charlie Hannah, who played defensive tackle at Alabama from 1973-76. “If it was near the end zone, he had to run 70-80 yards to get back to the sidelines.”

During his time at Alabama, Ridgeway helped the Tide win three Southeastern Conference championships and one national title.

“Everyone appreciated his attitude,” Hannah said. “He not only found his value as a kicker, but in other ways as well. He contributed any way he could.

“He was a short-yardage kicker who was injured. But he wanted to play. I think he was one of the last straight-line kickers.”

And Hannah said running plays was just another way Ridgeway felt he could contribute to the team.

“He could run, but there was a big difference in running a straight line and playing football,” Hannah said. “That was his job, and he did it without reluctance or resentment. He was just one of those guys everyone liked. The attitude he had was great considering the cards he was dealt. He just kind of rolled with the punches. He got injured and wanted to stay a part of the team.”

Ridgeway was inducted into the DeKalb County Hall of Fame in 1998.

Funeral visitation will be today from 4-8 p.m. in Jackson, Tenn., and a service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First Methodist Church in Jackson. Visitation will also be Thursday from 9-11 a.m. at Fyffe Church of God. Burial will follow in Fyffe.

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