About Joe
Joe Delany was awarded a full football scholarship to Georgia Tech and earned letters in 1956-57-58. He was elected as Captain of the 1954 Freshman Team. Joe was on the team that defeated Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl in January 1956 and again in the Gator Bowl in December 1956. He was elected by Bobby Dodd as the Most Valuable Player in 1958 and was selected to play in the North-South Shrine All Star game in 1958.
*Officiated in the 2nd SEC championship game held
in Birmingham, Alabama in 1993.
*Officiated in the 1st SEC championship game held in the Georgia Dome in 1994.
*Officiated in 20 bowl games of which six were National Championship games.
*At retirement, was the only official in the USA to work in all five major bowls -
Cotton, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, and Rose.
*Was selected to become a Technical Advisor in Football Officiating for 1995- 2007. This position is involved in selection, training, critiques and reporting
weekly to the SEC Supervisor of Football Officials on games observed and film watched and graded during the SEC football season.
*Wrote a Supplemental Mechanics Manual of Football Officiating for the SEC. This manual was used by the SEC Football Officials for 12 straight years until Joe’s retirement. This manual clearly states the correct position for all seven Football Officials to be in so that they will be "in the right place at the right time" on any given type of play.
*Won the George Gardner Award in 1997 for outstanding service and dedication to College Football Officiating.
*Was rated #1 at his position by five different Supervisors of Football Officials for 20 straight years (each having their own method of grading) .
*Officiated in the 1st SEC championship game held in the Georgia Dome in 1994.
*Officiated in 20 bowl games of which six were National Championship games.
*At retirement, was the only official in the USA to work in all five major bowls -
Cotton, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, and Rose.
*Was selected to become a Technical Advisor in Football Officiating for 1995- 2007. This position is involved in selection, training, critiques and reporting
weekly to the SEC Supervisor of Football Officials on games observed and film watched and graded during the SEC football season.
*Wrote a Supplemental Mechanics Manual of Football Officiating for the SEC. This manual was used by the SEC Football Officials for 12 straight years until Joe’s retirement. This manual clearly states the correct position for all seven Football Officials to be in so that they will be "in the right place at the right time" on any given type of play.
*Won the George Gardner Award in 1997 for outstanding service and dedication to College Football Officiating.
*Was rated #1 at his position by five different Supervisors of Football Officials for 20 straight years (each having their own method of grading) .
*Inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 for his dedication of 45 years working with the SEC. (30 years on the field and 15 years of training, film work etc.)
Check weekly for Joe's evaluation of the past week's games and predictions for the upcoming week's games. Every Friday Joe will go to his memory vault and tell all the details of stories from the past. From his playing days at Ga Tech to officiating bowl games from California to Florida. He will also take time to answer ANY QUESTIONS you may have. Just comment below and he will be in touch. You don't want to miss it!
The 1956 Ga Tech football team. Joe is on the third row from the bottom,
third player from the right.
Joe made the cover of Sports Illustrated by officiating the National Championship game
between Clemson and Nebraska in 1982.
