Comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges except that Nesbitt and Lothridge were both outstanding warriors. They both simply did not like losing and refused to do so. Therein lied each one's greatest strength.
Lothridge, as Dodd said, gave Tech two extra scholarships to award because he didn't need to recruit an outstanding punter or kicker. "Billy the Kid" did it all. (BTW, Furman Bisher gave him that moniker, IIRC.) Furman also said that Billy ran like he was always looking for a place to fall down (a backhanded compliment that we didn't appreciate). Also, Lothridge did not play QB in the Georgia North vs. South annual high school football game. Larry Rakestraw (UGA commit) was the north team's QB while Billy played linebacker for the north. Dodd later said Lothridge was the best QB he ever coached, while Rakestraw...meh. Billy's high school teammate go-to (Gainesville High) was receiver/blocker Billy Martin, also a first team AA End at Tech, and formidable Ted Davis at the other End . Tech had many other outstanding athletes that earned honors during Billy's tenure along with a number of outstanding assistant coaches under Dodd.
Fast forward to Nesbitt. He stepped into a tough and unfamiliar situation after Gailey departed, but elected to stay and adjust to CPJs system. Other outstanding Tech recruits had departed after Gailey left, but several remained...well, everyone knows the Nesbitt story from that time on. Billy would have likely played linebacker, punter, and kicker for CPJ, but probably not QB if he had been on Nesbitt's team. Nesbitt had a tank for a body and a cannon for an arm, but unfortunately could not develop a comfortable feel or rhythm throwing the ball under the CPJ system...especially since CPJ felt that there were three things that could happen when you passed the ball and two of them aren't good. IOW, CPJ preferred not to pass (we all knew that). Nevertheless, Nesbitt inherited an outstanding receiver/blocker who had been recruited by Gailey, and thus reaped the reward. CPJ prefers athletes who would fit his system. Billy could run the option under Dodd, but when Kim King ran it a few years later the difference really showed. Same with passing. King was quicker, faster and smoother. Billy went on to the pros and punted. He even played some in the defensive backfield and perhaps some kickoffs (not certain) before he was injured, IIRC.
Different competition, different coaches, different schemes, different rules, different training, different everything except both had a tremendous desire to win. Comparisons are as difficult as they are pointless.
