Former University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley has reclaimed something he thought he'd never see again: The national championship ring he won while working as an assistant coach at Auburn University in 1957.

The ring was stolen from Dooley's home in Athens, Georgia, in 2011, and Dooley thought it was gone for good.

But the Athens Banner-Herald reports the ring showed up in a pawn shop last week in Athens.

Police were alerted after a woman sold the ring for $400, and it stood out to officer Gene Davis because he investigated the theft four years ago.

Dooley says he takes his hat off to the officer for staying with the case so long.

Dooley's initials were on the ring and helped identify it as belonging to Dooley.

 

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