As a New Orleans newspaper so rightly said, "Ryan was the South's most sensational center.” Ryan was a true fighter on the defense, no backfield man or center however heavy or fast could move him from his middle station. Roaming about the center of the defense, he was alert for opponents passes, breaking them up and often knocking them down. One of Ryan's top seasons was on the 1926 team that started the year with 26-7 win over Southern Miss. and closed the year with a 30-0 shutout of Jacksonville State. On the diamond as a pitcher, the lefty was one of the mainstays of the Badger pitching corps. He put stuff on the ball that would do credit to a Houdini as far as mysteriousness is concerned. During his time, the Badger Baseball team had wins over Southern Miss., B1G champion Wisconsin and Alabama. The 1927 squad is considered one the best in Badger history, going undefeated against college competition. "Big George" also lettered as starter on the varsity basketball team.