UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

dirty · Sep 12, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Dogs look like Sooners to UAB

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/12/06 Athens ? On Sept. 2, UAB went to Norman, Okla., to play an Oklahoma team with a new quarterback and a stout defense.
Speaking to reporters at his weekly media luncheon Monday, UAB coach Watson Brown said his Blazers team is experiencing feelings of d?j? vu. The similarities between the Sooners and No. 10 Georgia, which they face Saturday, are amazing.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"></table> "[It is] similar because of the defense and Georgia has just lost their starting quarterback," Brown said. "We have been in this situation before so we are just going to have to react to what is thrown at us."
Oklahoma was breaking in first-time starter Paul Thompson after incumbent Rhett Bomar was ruled ineligible in August. The Bulldogs lost starting quarterback Joe Tereshinski to an ankle injury Saturday and will start true freshman Matthew Stafford against UAB.
But the biggest similarity between Oklahoma and Georgia, Brown said, are the defenses.
"Georgia has an unbelievable defense," he said. "I said two weeks ago that Oklahoma may have the best defense that we will play all year, but here I am two weeks later saying that Georgia is probably better, and I really do believe that. They are unbelievably physical and they can run."
The Blazers led Oklahoma 17-14 before Adrian Peterson scored on a 69-yard screen pass late in the third quarter of a 24-17 Oklahoma win.
UAB has made a habit of giving SEC teams fits. It won at LSU in 2000 (13-10) and at Mississippi State in 2004 (27-13). It gave Georgia a scare in 2003 (16-13 loss).
Quick kicks
Tereshinski, out 4-6 weeks, was in an air cast and on crutches Monday. Defensive lineman Ray Gant was in a walking cast. His status for Saturday isn't known. ... Georgia's game with Colorado has been set for 12:30 p.m. and will televised locally by WATL. ... Defensive end Charles Johnson was named SEC defensive player of the week for his one-sack, one-safety effort at South Carolina.

dirty · Sep 12, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Tereshinski sidelined 4-6 weeks
Freshman Stafford will get his first start

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/11/06 Athens ? Joe Tereshinski is out.
Matthew Stafford is in.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td>

Curtis Compton / AJC

(ENLARGE)

</td></tr><tr><td nd="1" class="caption">Georgia QB Joe Tereshinski suffered a high ankle sprain against South Carolina and will not play this week vs. UAB.
</td></tr><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">More coverage

QB forum: Season now in Stafford's hands BLOG
More on Georgia
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> How long it will remain that way is yet to be determined. But Stafford, a true freshman, will start against UAB on Saturday and against Colorado. And at Ole Miss. And then maybe again at home against Tennessee.
By that time, four weeks from now, Tereshinski, a senior, might be healthy enough to play. Then again, he might not. Tereshinski suffered a high ankle sprain against South Carolina on Saturday. Georgia coach Mark Richt said he could be out "four to six weeks."
"Knowing Joe, he will be ready a little bit sooner than normal," Richt said. "[But] I would have to doubt very seriously he could play the next three games anyway."
So Stafford, who was 8 of 19 for 171 yards with three interceptions in a win over South Carolina, will play. So will Joe Cox.
Richt plans to at least get the No. 2 quarterback some reps in the game. But just like in the first two games, when those reps could come will not be made public. Richt said he did not want to pigeon-hole himself by announcing when and how much Cox will play.
The coach also is not backing himself into a corner by naming only one player as Tereshinski's replacement. Stafford's got the nod now, but if he causes too many heads to shake back and forth instead of up and down, Cox might get a shot.
"I don't think anybody has established themselves as a solid No. 1," Richt said. "Quite frankly, we haven't had the performance or a string of performances that make me feel that way. I think we do have more than one good [quarterback], and maybe one guy will settle this thing and we will move on from there."
What Richt is in search of is that "defining moment" he so often talks about. David Greene had his as a redshirt freshman against Tennessee. It was Greene's fourth game in Richt's system. Georgia won 26-24.
"[Stafford and Greene] are relatively close to the same place [in their progression of learning the offense]," Richt said. "The difference is Greene had that defining moment in that Tennessee game that really kind of set him in there really solid."
As for the 18-0 win at South Carolina being Stafford's defining moment: "To some degree it was," Richt said.
But there were too many careless plays with the ball. Two of Stafford's three interceptions could have been avoided had he eschewed downfield glory and thrown the ball out of bounds. This time the interceptions didn't swing the balance of the game. But Richt is aware that if Stafford continues to be careless it could come back to hurt the team.
With that in mind, the game plan, while not as simple as it has been, will not push the young quarterback into areas where he is not comfortable.
"Until the other guys get a chance to do it and show that they can do it, I would still feel more comfortable giving Joe [Tereshinski] more to think through out there," Richt said. "With all the other guys, I would still be spoon-feeding them little by little.
"The more they handle, the more we will give," he continued. "But we don't want them to hit overload. Once you hit overload, that is not a good thing. I didn't see any of that happen [with Stafford]. He did a nice job with what we gave him."
This week, Georgia might be able to give Stafford slightly more. The No. 10 Bulldogs are hosting UAB. The Blazers (1-1) have thrown a scare into some bigger teams in recent years ? Tennessee, Oklahoma and even Georgia. But the talent edge tilts in favor of Georgia, particularly on defense. Georgia has allowed only 12 points in two games, including a safety against Western Kentucky.
Injury update: Offensive lineman Seth Watts (knee) is probable this week. Offensive lineman Michael Turner (ankle) is questionable. Wide receiver/punt returner Mikey Henderson (hamstring) is day to day. Georgia will have offensive linemen Daniel Inman and Ian Smith and punt returner/cornerback Thomas Flowers back from suspension.

dirty · Sep 12, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Blazers aiming for upset

Football

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Despite this hit from former Georgia player Robert Geathers, UAB quarterback Chris Williams, right, kept the Blazers close in 2003.
File/Staff
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By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 12:23 AM on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>It's a showcase weekend for SEC football with a pair of heavyweight national TV tilts between Florida-Tennessee and LSU-Auburn.
Tucked away on pay-per-view, Georgia plays Alabama-Birmingham at Sanford Stadium. It's the kind of game that probably will be an afterthought for many unless the Blazers pull an Akron or a Troy and topple a team from a BCS conference or at least scare the daylights out of one.
UAB senior quarterback Chris Williams knows it's possible.
He had his first college start in place of injured Darrell Hackney against Georgia in 2003, a game in which the 29-point underdogs hung with the Bulldogs. Georgia needed a 31-yard Billy Bennett field goal with 12:47 to play to pull out a 16-13 victory.
UAB (1-1) pushed another bigwig in its season opener Sept. 2, losing at Oklahoma 21-14, and lost 17-10 last season at Tennessee.
"It gives us a lot confidence knowing that we can play with them, but we want a chance to try and beat one of them," said Williams, who came off the bench to complete 12 of 16 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-15 victory over East Carolina Saturday. "We play close with every big team we've played, but we haven't beaten them. That's our goal."
Akron of the Mid-American Conference did it over the weekend. The Zips went on the road and upended ACC member N.C. State 20-17 Saturday.
Sun Belt conference member Troy, which upset Missouri in 2004 and plays at Georgia next season, was tied with No. 9 Florida State with under two minutes to play until the Seminoles pulled out a 24-17 victory.
"They really are good football teams," Georgia coach Mark Richt said of the UABs and Troys. "They have talent. You watch and see, they'll have guys getting drafted and guys getting free agent shots. They've got guys that can play. Both of those programs are especially tough because they usually can run with you pretty well."
UAB had first-round picks in 2005 in receiver Roddy White by Atlanta and in 2002 in defensive end Bryan Thomas by the New York Jets. That's two more first-rounders than Alabama had in that stretch, but when the Crimson Tide comes to town, teams snap to attention.
"Maybe we sneak up on them, but we also have a little bit of talent also," Williams said. "Maybe it's a combination."
UAB is just in its 11th season playing on the Division I-A level and its trip to the 2004 Hawaii Bowl is its lone bowl appearance. The team was picked fifth in the six-team Conference USA East Division.
"They're well-coached." Richt said. "Those guys can definitely beat you. Shoot, it happens all the time, so we've just got to be ready."
So far the big upset hasn't happened this year for Conference USA teams. Florida pounded Central Florida 42-0, BYU cruised over Tulsa 49-24, UCLA defeated Rice 26-16 and Texas Tech ripped SMU 35-3 and edged UTEP in overtime 38-35.
"We sure give it our best shot because we play enough of them," UAB coach Watson Brown said. "We got close. A lot of our teams have, but we still this year haven't gotten one of those. I think we do need to do that. The perception of the league is getting better and better, but until you get that true perception that you want, you're going to have to knock off some of those folks."
Near misses
UAB has visited big-name foes and been an unruly guest in recent years. Here are three close calls:
YEAR OPPONENT RESULT
2003 Georgia 16-13,L
2005 Tennessee 17-10,L
2006 Oklahoma 21-14,L
Saturday: UAB at Georgia 1 p.m. (Pay-per-view)

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091206

dirty · Sep 12, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Kaltefleiter: SEC title game an unlikely odyssey

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South Carolina's Cory Boyd (3) tries to plead his case for a touchdown in the third quarter of the Gamecocks' 18-0 loss to Georgia.
Briana Brough/Staff
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| | Story updated at 7:44 AM on Monday, September 11, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>COLUMBIA, S.C. - Mixed in between the political conjecture and the cocktails, the chatter percolating among some South Carolina pre-game revelers early Saturday was the Gamecocks' reasonable chances of winning the SEC East.
The sober reality - as Georgia proved in its 18-0 win hours later - is that reaching the SEC title game is still a far-fetched notion for a program with just three bowl wins in its long history.
The talent disparity between South Carolina and the rest of the SEC's elite teams (Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, LSU) is as wide as ever. The Gamecocks have Sidney Rice, whose all-around talents are as good as anybody. But the marquee teams each have five or six Rice-like players.
It's no secret that it goes back to recruiting, which in a state like South Carolina is more difficult than finding a trash bin outside of Williams-Brice Stadium.
The state is small and not only does Clemson battle South Carolina for the state's best, Georgia, Florida, Florida State and the North Carolina schools pluck some of the top talent. It's been that way for a while now.
This situation is much different for coach Steve Spurrier. At Florida, he had top-flight recruits galore at his disposal, and even coaxed a few top guys out of South Georgia. At South Carolina, he's lucky if he can land one five-star player within the state.
Spurrier was furious following Saturday night's loss to Georgia, which was the first time he'd been shut out in 193 games dating to 1987 during his first year at Duke. Two years into this gig, Spurrier must realize that matching Florida, Tennessee and Georgia in the East, at least for more than a couple of consecutive seasons, is a task wrought with little chance of success.
If he doesn't know that, maybe he's had one too many cocktails.
<table align="left" border="0"> <tbody><tr><td>

</td></tr> <tr><td><center> John
Kaltefleiter </center>
[FONT=arial,helvetica]more Kaltefleiter columns[/FONT] </td></tr> </tbody></table> Here's a tip for Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom: Leave the defense on the field the entire game. Sounds crazy, but it sure couldn't hurt after the Bulldogs' offense was shut out for the second straight week.
Consider this: In Auburn's 34-0 romp in Starkville, Tigers receiver Courtney Taylor had more receiving yards (103) than six Bulldogs combined. Kenny Irons had only 12 fewer yards than eight Bulldogs runners, and Irons (68 yards) didn't play most of the second half.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are just plain putrid, and fairly or unfairly, the cow-bell handlers are bound to start pointing the finger at Croom. Since his arrival in 2004, the Bulldogs have been shut out five times, including the last two years to Auburn. The finger-pointing likely isn't limited to outside the locker room either. Can't imagine the defensive unit has much love for the offense right now. Can't imagine that the criticism will curtail if that scoreless streak continues.
Alabama needed a 47-yard field goal from a freshman walk-on midway through the fourth quarter to beat Vanderbilt. You don't say?
The Crimson Tide's offense hasn't been as crisp as expected in wins over Hawaii and the Commodores. What has to be troubling for coach Mike Shula is Kenneth Darby's drop-off in production. The senior tailback suffered from a hip pointer during training camp, but has said he's fine. The numbers don't support it. He's averaging just 2.4 yards a carry and hasn't reached the end zone since the third quarter against Utah State last year, a six-game stretch.
To challenge LSU and Auburn for the West title, the Tide needs Darby touchdown runs, not field goals from freshman walk-ons.
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry might be pushing 70, but he's as courageous as ever.
DeBerry's brazen call to disregard a game-tying extra point and go for two with 1:43 left in the Falcons' 31-30 loss at Tennessee was both foolish and brave.
"It's probably the most disappointing game I've ever been involved in," he told the Associated Press. "It's a game that I felt we should have won, a game we could have won."
What somewhat got lost in the post-game shuffle was how Air Force's triple-option attack dominated the Volunteers defense. The Falcons rushed for 276 yards, almost four times as much as the rushing yardage that Tennessee finished with. They also had two more first downs and were 9 for 13 on third down.
What also got lost a bit was Erik Ainge's outing. Tennessee's quarterback had the best performance of his career, going 24-for-29 for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
Let's see if he can replicate that type of efficiency against Florida on Saturday. Something tells me it won't go so smoothly.
John Kaltefleiter is a Banner-Herald sports writer. E-MAIL: john.kaltefleiter@onlineathens.com. PHONE: 706-208-2213.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091106

dirty · Sep 13, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Tereshinski vows to be out just four weeks

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionSubhead goes right here
Published on: 09/13/06 Athens ? Doctors have told Joe Tereshinski he'll be out four to six weeks with his high ankle sprain.
Tereshinski is telling everyone who'll listen four weeks ? "maximum."
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">MORE COVERAGE
? More UGA news
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> "It doesn't matter how much pain it is on the fourth week. I am out there," Georgia's senior quarterback said Tuesday night.
Whether he's the starter Oct. 7 against Tennessee is another matter. Freshman Matthew Stafford will start in Tereshinski's place Saturday against UAB
"I have got to take this like I have got a month to prepare, like it is pretty much the preseason for me," Tereshinski said.
Coach Mark Richt said no one has done anything to lock up the starting job, and nothing is set in stone. But Tereshinski had done enough to win the job during preseason camp and was doing enough to keep it. He was hurt on the first scoring drive Saturday against South Carolina.
"The ball never felt better in my hands before the game and even in that drive," Tereshinski said. "It stinks that it happened right now at the time. But I have got to face it and go after it.
"I do have a leadership role on this team and continue with that and get these guys ready to play."
Ware performing better than billing
Junior Danny Ware, who remains listed as the co-No. 2 tailback on the depth chart, has performed the best of the Bulldogs' top three ball carriers, with 111 yards, two touchdown runs and a 7.4-yard average. Thomas Brown, still listed as the starter, is averaging only 3.7 yards on a team-high 26 carries.
Backup Kregg Lumpkin is averaging 4.8 yards on 13 carries. Ware's production is particularly impressive considering he began the season as the No. 3 back.
"I like what he's done," Richt said. "I think at first, you feel down and sorry for yourself maybe a little bit. I think Danny maybe went through a little bit of that. But then after he did a little soul-searching. It looks like he decided, 'You know what? I'm just going to bust my tail and make them play me more.' "
Richt points out that Brown, who also returns kicks, has shown exceptional versatility. He leads the team in catches (four) and all-purpose yards (101 a game).
"We've never had an effort problem with him. Ever," Richt said. "He's going to run hard and he's going to run fast. Sometimes he's just got to be a little more patient."
Massaquoi listed as No. 1 receiver
Mohamed Massaquoi is back in the starting lineup at split end. Technically, he never left. He was on the field for the first play from scrimmage Saturday as the Bulldogs opened in a three-receiver set. But Mario Raley was listed as the No. 1 starter. Now, it's Massaquoi again. "He played very hard and blocked extremely well," Richt said. A.J. Bryant, who bypassed Kenneth Harris as starting flanker last week, will start again Saturday.
Gant questionable for UAB game
Defensive tackle Ray Gant is questionable for Saturday with a mid-foot sprain. Gant expects to play, but redshirt freshman Kade Weston is set to start.
? Staff writer Chip Towers contributed to this article.

dirty · Sep 13, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA FOOTBALL
3 suspended Dogs set to return

By CARTER STRICKLAND
Published on: 09/13/06 Athens ? Invariably, another Georgia football player will get in trouble and another suspension will be handed out.
Mark Richt knows it. His players do, too.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">MORE COVERAGE
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</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> "They want to eliminate all the extracurricular stuff. We are here to play ball," Georgia defensive tackle Ray Gant said. "But it's definitely impossible."
After serving two-game suspensions, three Bulldogs players are ready to return to the lineup. Cornerback Thomas Flowers and offensive linemen Daniel Inman and Ian Smith will be back Saturday when the Bulldogs host UAB.
"To sit back and watch was sickening," said Flowers, who was benched for violating team rules that weren't made public.
The wait continues for Georgia linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and defensive back Antonio Sims. Ellerbe has one more game to go before his suspension, following alcohol-related charges and theft of a teammate's vehicle, is lifted. Sims, arrested on DUI charges, is out all season after being dismissed from school. He has re-enrolled and is working with the scout team.
Inman, Smith and Flowers were welcomed back with open arms.
Inman, suspended for violating unknown team rules, is the team's top offensive tackle and is expected to get the start Saturday in place of an injured Michael Turner.
Smith, suspended after being charged with public intoxication, is needed in a backup capacity because Georgia is thin along the line.
Flowers' starting job at cornerback might be lost to Ramarcus Brown, but he will play significant minutes Saturday. If Mikey Henderson isn't healthy, Flowers will be the starting punt returner, Richt said.
"I just want to play," Flowers said.
Ditto for Inman.
"It has just been torture knowing at the end of the week that I couldn't play," Inman said.
That's how Richt wanted his players to feel after their off-the-field actions.
"He told us the other day: 'You fail a drug test or anything like that, it is three games starting off,' " linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler. "[The punishment] is getting harsher and harsher. I remember when I first got here, it was a one-game suspension. Then it went up to two games."
Said Gant: "If you have got a harsh penalty, you are going to think twice about what choice you make. You know when Coach Richt is not playing with you. It is something to think about if you are going to have a drink and you are not 21."

dirty · Sep 13, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Holding that line

Senior tackle Inman returns to bolster patchwork unit that has played surprisingly well

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Despite being short-handed the first two games, the offensive line has helped Georgia average 167 yards rushing a game and has allowed only one sack.
Briana Brough/Staff
Click thumbnails to view

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 1:13 AM on Wednesday, September 13, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc> There was doom and gloom for some Georgia fans last spring when they pondered the prospect of an SEC opener without senior offensive tackle Daniel Inman.
The concern centered on how a line that had already lost three starters would hold up with Inman serving a two-game suspension.
Inman watched from his room in East Campus Village as Georgia's offensive line not just survived, but thrived without him in an 18-0 victory over South Carolina on Saturday night.
The unit paved the way for an offense that averaged 5.1 yards per carry and did not surrender a sack to the Gamecocks, who had five against Mississippi State.
"I could see it in their eyes before the game," Inman said. "When they came out, they just had this swagger about them. I think they've improved from week to week, and that's what you have to do. I was very proud of them and really surprised that we improved up front."
Georgia is welcoming Inman back with open arms for Saturday's game against Alabama-Birmingham. The Bulldogs used just six scholarship offensive linemen in their first two games and were down to four in the second half against South Carolina, when offensive tackle Michael Turner injured an ankle and guard Seth Watts sustained a knee injury.
"Lack of depth is something where I shouldn't have put the team into a situation that they had to have," Inman said.
Georgia used walk-on Chris Abbott and was scrambling for healthy bodies near the end of the game.
"We were getting ready to throw somebody in there if something happened," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I started getting ready to grab (tight end) Coleman Watson, and a little later (defensive tackle) Dale Dixson popped up in my view, and was ready to jump in there if we needed help."
Georgia also gains the services of redshirt freshman Ian Smith, who will make a delayed debut after his two-game suspension related to his arrest on public intoxication and underage possession.
"Having Daniel and Ian back just makes us that much better and that much more confident because we have more numbers," center Nick Jones said.
Smith will be the backup at center and guard.
"It was rough, but I'm finally getting the weight off my shoulders and able to get in there and play a little bit," Smith said. "I think I'm way more physically ready than mentally ready. I think I'm definitely as mentally ready as far as I can be."
Georgia should have at least seven scholarship offensive linemen available this week. Watts is probable, but Turner, who started at tackle the first two games, may not be able to play.
Offensive tackle Ken Shackleford played all 61 snaps against South Carolina and 51 of 52 against Western Kentucky.
"You always have to take more pride when you're doing the majority of the work," Shackleford said. "In the past, we rotated and had a little more rest."
Inman sent text messages to Turner and Shackleford before the game, wishing them well.
"They did what I wanted them to, and that's get the 'Ws'," Inman said.
Offensive line coach Neil Callaway said Inman worked hard during preseason camp. Inman said he continued to get quality practice repetitions, but there's no substitute for the real thing.
"It's game week," Inman said. "I actually get to play at the end of the week. It's been torture knowing at the end of the week you couldn't play."
Inman started 25 consecutive games before his suspension, but felt nervous watching film on Monday.
"I was like, 'You've been here for four years. What do you have to be nervous about?'," he said. "You still kind of lose your nerves when you ain't been out there. Just getting back out to Sanford (Stadium) is going to be a great experience."
Saturday: UAB at Georgia 1 p.m. (Pay per view)

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091306

dirty · Sep 13, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

ATHENS, Ga. --- In a move designed to keep the Bulldogs fresh for their upcoming game against the UAB Blazers, 10th-ranked Georgia held a 90-minute indoor workout Wednesday at the Ramsey Student Center.
"We were struggling a bit, and I felt like we needed some rest because UAB runs well, they will be excited to play and I want us to match it," said Georgia coach Mark Richt.
He added the lack of an open date until Nov. 18 was a factor in the decision, as Georgia will play 11 straight games before an off week.
"If we had an open date earlier in the season, then maybe we would've practiced outside today, but I'm thinking about four or five weeks down the road and putting us in position to make it through."
The Bulldogs (2-0) are preparing for a UAB squad that is 1-1 on the year, falling to nationally ranked Oklahoma and then bouncing back with a win over East Carolina this past Saturday. Richt said the Blazers look physical on film and are very versatile on offense. He said he expects it to be a great matchup.
Also on Wednesday, it was announced that Georgia senior defensive end Quentin Moses was among the 11 student-athletes nationally to be selected to the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. He is the 10th Bulldog in school history to be honored by the organization for his dedication and commitment to community service.
"It was great news about Quentin (Moses) making the AFCA Good Works Team," said Richt. "He is an outstanding young man and very deserving. You have to have the community service and be a pretty good football player for the people to recognize you."
Kickoff Saturday between Georgia and UAB in Athens will be 1 p.m., and Comcast Sports Southeast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS) will produce the game as a pay-per-view broadcast. Contact your local cable provider to order the contest for $29.99. All Georgia games are broadcast live on the Bulldog Radio Network on AM 750 WSB in Atlanta and on both 106.1 FM and 960 The Ref in Athens. The radio audio can be heard on georgiadogs.com, the official website of the UGA Athletic Association.

dirty · Sep 13, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Dogs' Stafford shows he can run

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/14/06 Athens ? Before Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford took off running Saturday night in Columbia, he had to do a double take.
"When [the coaches] gave me the quarterback draw [call] from the goal line," Stafford said, "I was waiting for the real play to come in. 'Come on. You guys are kidding? What's the real one?' "
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td>

Brant Sanderlin / AJC

(ENLARGE)

</td></tr><tr><td class="caption">Georgia freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford has scrambled for key yardage in the first two games.
</td></tr></tbody></table> That was it: a draw up the middle from just outside his end zone. The freshman, who last week was told by his position coach he'd be tracked down from behind more times than not on running plays, took off running. He finished with 23 yards and a first down.
Add that 23 yards to his 11-yard scramble and the 19-yard run against Western Kentucky, and you have the top rusher on the team. OK, not in overall yards, but in yards per rush. Stafford, who'll readily admit he isn't exactly fleet afoot, has averaged 17.7 yards per carry in two games.
"I guess I can move a little better than I thought," he said.
Let's not get carried away, lest he get carried off the field. Stafford won't remind any fans of D.J. Shockley when it comes to running the ball.
"He will never be a running quarterback," quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said. "A lot of [his running] depends on the situation and the looks that the defense is giving us. But playing quarterback in this league [with] the defensive fronts and the different things that they do defensively, you have got to be able to move in the pocket. And there are a few times you are going to have to scramble for a first down."
Henderson likely to miss UAB game
When it comes to when Georgia's punt returner might return, coaches are listening to Mikey Henderson. And Henderson is listening to his body.
"It's kind of like a pull," Henderson said of his hamstring. "Basically, my body's natural reaction is to just stop. I can feel it just like tell me, 'Hold on.' "
And until his body says "Go on," Henderson will continue to be on the sideline.
"It is basically on me," said Henderson, who returned two punts for 133 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Western Kentucky but sat out last week against South Carolina.
Thomas Flowers, back from suspension this week, will be the return man if Henderson is out. Freshman Asher Allen returned punts in Henderson's absence.
Moses honored for his good works
Georgia's Quentin Moses was selected to the American Football Coaches Association's 11-man National Good Works Team, which honors players for their commitment to community service.
Moses has participated in Habitat for Humanity, St. Mary's Hospital's visitation program, reading programs at local elementary schools, a Hurricane Katrina relief project and Athens/Clarke County Project REACH. He also volunteers at the East Athens Community Center.

dirty · Sep 15, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Coutu is Dogs' Mr. Automatic
Being more fit helps kicker stay on target

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/15/06 Athens ? The object is to kick a football through a target 18 1/2 feet wide, 10 yards off the ground and 40-something yards away.
Easy enough, right?
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td>

Brant Sanderlin / AJC

(ENLARGE)

</td></tr><tr><td nd="2" class="caption"> Georgia coach Mark Richt says he's confident kicker Brandon Coutu can take a shot at the school record for longest field goal (60 yards) at some point in his career.
</td></tr></tbody></table> Throw in a through-the-legs spiral snap, a catch-hold-and-place by a second party, 20 moving obstacles and 80,000 or so screaming noisemakers.
Oh, and do it all in less than two seconds.
Piece of cake, if you're Brandon Coutu.
Georgia's kicker has made such a task seem as automatic as flicking on a light switch. He's perfect this season (5-for-5 on field goals, 7-for-7 on extra points) and nearly perfect his entire career from 40 to 49 yards.
Coutu has made 11 of 13 (.846) attempts from what's considered the premium distance in college football. Included in that total were kicks of 46, 46 and 42 yards in Saturday's 18-0 win at South Carolina.
The three-point daggers have become quite a weapon for the No. 10 Bulldogs, whose defense is allowing just six points a game.
"Whenever the offense is on the field and we get past the 40-yard line, we know we're getting points," tight end Martrez Milner said.
Added defensive tackle Ray Gant: "You feel good whenever you see him on the field. You know it's in the bag."
Coutu is confident in himself, too, but he knows there's so much more to it than that. In addition to snap and hold, there are many things to consider.
"I'm never content," said Coutu, a Lawrenceville native and Collins Hill High grad. "I always want to hit it better, hit it longer, hit it higher, hit it more down the middle. There's always room for improvement."
Coutu believes kicking is as much about strength as it is mechanics. So he could be found alongside the rest of his Georgia teammates going through offseason "mat drills." During the summer, he enlisted the help of Georgia's strength and conditioning staff to design a workout regimen that would emphasize his midsection.
"I worked on strengthening my core ? everywhere from the hips up to the abs and lower back ? and just getting in good overall physical shape," Coutu said. "Even though being a kicker is not the most demanding thing physically, I figure the better shape I get in the more advantage I'll have over other kickers."
He was the man in the SEC last season, leading the conference in points scored (114) and setting the record for longest field goal without a tee (58 yards vs. Louisiana-Monroe).
Not bad for a guy who wasn't offered a scholarship by Georgia, or any other BCS conference school, for that matter.
"I don't think coaches really looked at my leg strength in high school," said Coutu, who beat out a kicker on scholarship, Andy Bailey, in 2004. "I only had a long of like 47 or something in high school. So I think since I didn't have a 50-yarder, they didn't know how strong my leg was and didn't want to take a chance on me.
"I kind of took that and it made me work a little harder. It pushed me in the weight room."
Coutu made three kicks of 50 or more yards last season, including a 56-yarder against Kentucky and a 51-yarder against LSU, the longest ever in an SEC championship game.
Coach Mark Richt figures he has even more in him. The Georgia and SEC record is 60 yards.
"I think he can make them even farther back than he has so far," said Richt, who asks Coutu before each game what he thinks is his optimum range that day. "I know he can. It's just a matter of timing and getting an opportunity. He's definitely capable of 60 and maybe even farther than that."
Piece of cake.

dirty · Sep 15, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Flowers returns at good time for Dogs

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/15/06 Athens ? A bad break for Mikey Henderson is turning out to be a big break for Thomas Flowers.
Henderson, who had 133 yards and scored a touchdown on his first and only two punt returns of the season, will miss his second consecutive game with a pulled hamstring.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"></table> That's the bad news for the Bulldogs, who host UAB on Saturday. The good news is the return of Flowers, who had to sit out the first two weeks due to disciplinary suspension.
Flowers, a junior from Austell, was second in the SEC and 15th nationally last season with a 13.7-yard return average. He had a 54-yard touchdown at Tennessee last year and set up the game-winning score with a 33-yard return against Georgia Tech.
"Fresh legs," Georgia coach Mark Richt said excitedly.
Richt admitted that, in a way, it's good Henderson can't go this weekend.
"It would've been tough if Mikey had not gotten hurt and kept doing his thing," Richt said. "There's always competition at all positions. When a guy produces like Mikey did, you've always got to consider him."
Georgia leads the nation in punt return average at 30.7 yards.
Richt gets more national exposure
Richt, who just this week landed the cover of the Wheaties box, will be profiled on an ABC Sports special series at 2 p.m. Sept. 23. He's one of six coaches who'll be featured during a three-week period on the show, hosted by former sportscaster Keith Jackson. The series is being held in conjunction with the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.
Cox expected to play, but details uncertain
Joe Cox will play quarterback Saturday. This much we know.
When and how much is another question.
"We want to get him in there," Richt said of the redshirt freshman. "That's all I'll say for certain. Preferably we'll get him in the first half, but I'm not going to guarantee that. It would be nice to get him in sometime in the first half."
Cox began the season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Joe Tereshinski and played in the opener against Western Kentucky, completing 2 of 3 passes for 29 yards with one interception. Cox has since been bypassed by Matthew Stafford, who became the starter when Tereshinski was lost with an ankle injury.
Gant, Turner likely to miss game vs. UAB
Defensive tackle Ray Gant (foot) and offensive tackle Michael Turner (ankle) are likely both out. "[Gant] is trying to convince everybody he can [play]," Richt said. "He might still, but I'd say he's doubtful at best." ... Offensive guard Seth Watts, who had to leave the South Carolina game with a sprained knee, went through Thursday's practice and is probable for Saturday. ... Split end Mohamed Massaquoi (hamstring) rode a stationary bike for much of Thursday's practice but will be able to play.

dirty · Sep 15, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Dogs will honor past champions

By TONY BARNHART
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/15/06 On Saturday, Georgia will honor its SEC title teams of 1946, 1966 and 1976. Each holds a special place in UGA history.
1946
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"></table> ? The stars: Hall of Famer Charley Trippi, who still calls Athens home, finished second in the Heisman Trophy race behind Army's Glenn Davis. Quarterback Johnny Rauch and end Joe Tereshinski Sr., grandfather of current Georgia quarterback Joe Tereshinski, also made names for themselves.
? The season: The Bulldogs went 11-0 and brought home Georgia's second SEC title. Georgia went on to beat Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice and North Carolina 20-10 in the Sugar Bowl. UCLA was the only other unbeaten team, but The Associated Press poll awarded the national title to Army, with Notre Dame No. 2 and Georgia No. 3. It was one of three undefeated teams in UGA history, joining Pop Warner's 4-0 squad of 1896 and Vince Dooley's 12-0 title team of 1980.
1966
? The stars: Dooley's first two recruiting classes began to shine as this team was led by a group of sophomores that included 1968 Outland Trophy winner Bill Stanfill; Billy Payne, who played tight end before moving to defense; tailback Kent Lawrence, one of the fastest players in football; and offensive tackle Edgar Chandler.
? The season: Vince Dooley was 34 and in only his third season in Athens when he won the first of six SEC titles. Georgia clinched it on a muddy field in Auburn, roaring back from
13-0 down to win 21-13. But the players of that era will tell you the biggest win that season came against Florida and Steve Spurrier, the 1966 Heisman winner, 27-10 in Jacksonville. Georgia finished 10-1 and No. 4 in the AP poll, and beat SMU 24-9 in the Cotton Bowl.
1976
? The stars: All-America linemen Mike "Moonpie" Wilson, Joel "Cowboy" Parrish and George Collins protected quarterbacks Ray Goff and Matt Robinson.
? The season: Georgia went 10-2, giving Dooley his third SEC championship and the school its first since 1968. The most memorable win in a season full of them came Oct. 2, when the Bulldogs blanked Alabama
21-0, touching off one of the wildest celebrations ever in Athens. The No. 5 Bulldogs lost 27-3 to Tony Dorsett and eventual national champion Pitt in the Sugar Bowl.

dirty · Sep 15, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Johnson the Bulldogs' 'big bully'

Football

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 12:32 AM on Friday, September 15, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>Ramarcus Brown could tell early on that Charles Johnson had a chance to be a special kind of defensive end.
It wasn't when the cornerback hit Georgia's practice field for the first time with his new teammate in 2004. No, it was a few months earlier, about 15 miles north in Jefferson, at of all places, the Georgia High School Association boys state track meet.
"I used to always read about him in the papers, and him being from Hawkinsville," said Brown, a Tri-Cities High graduate. "I never knew about him, but I'm running in the state track meet and I'm watching the relays and I see this huge guy running the fourth leg and I'm like, 'Dang!' This guy is like 230, 240 (pounds) running the last leg of a relay."
"Dang!" figures to be a common refrain from opposing players this season, if Johnson continues to blow up plays like he did against South Carolina.
Living up to the buzz that surrounded him this spring and preseason, Johnson had four tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry, and oh yeah, he dropped Gamecocks tailback Mike Davis in the end zone for Georgia's first safety in two years. No wonder Georgia coach Mark Richt calls the junior a "big bully."
"I'm totally expecting a whole lot more from him," linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler said. "He's a phenomenal athlete. He's a beast. He's unstoppable. Next week, the week after next, the whole season, we look for Charles to really become a leader and make a lot of plays for this defense."
With preseason All-American Quentin Moses on the other side, Johnson figures to be a feared playmaker. He already has six tackles for loss, tied for first in the NCAA.
"With Quentin on one side and Charles on the other, it's just an unbelievable blessing for us," Richt said.
Georgia's defensive coaches are tempering their comments about Johnson heading into Saturday's game against Alabama-Birmingham. They want to see the junior string together several more performances like he did in last week's win.
"He's played well the last couple of ball games, and we'll leave it at that," defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "We have 12 more games. We've been pleased with his play, and we think he can get better. We feel he's got a tremendous amount of room for improvement."
The 6-foot-2, 265-pound Johnson slimmed down in the offseason and entered the season in peak condition. That has allowed Johnson to improve his play and remain on the field more than last season, when he had 23 tackles and four sacks.
"I just wanted to work harder," Johnson said. "The coaches keep telling me I have the talent but I've got to be consistent with it. Last year, I might do something, then I might drop off. I was an up-and-down guy. I'm just trying to be consistent with it now. I did a couple of things this game, but how am I going to be during the next couple of games?"
The longer Johnson is on the field, the more chances he has to make the kind of plays he did Saturday, when he held his position and dropped Davis for a safety.
"Charles read the play very well," defensive ends coach Jon Fabris said. "He was sitting there doing his responsibility and not running over where it was going. It came back to him, and he was doing what was supposed to be doing. It's good to see a guy play with his head and play with his eyes before the ball's ever snapped."
Saturday: UAB at Georgia 1 p.m.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091506

dirty · Sep 15, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Sagarin rates Blazers high

Notebook

Story Photos - Click to Enlarge

Coming off a two-game suspension, Thomas Flowers will resume his punt-returning duties.
Diane Cebula / Staff
Click thumbnails to view

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 12:32 AM on Friday, September 15, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>There's been plenty of talk this week from Georgia about how the Bulldogs aren't underestimating Alabama-Birmingham heading into Saturday's 1 p.m. game at Sanford Stadium.
If you believe one computer ranking, that's a wise thing for the Bulldogs.
No team that No. 10 Georgia will face from now until November is rated higher in the Sagarin Computer Ratings, except for Tennessee and Florida.
The Blazers are rated 56th in those ratings, one of six computer rankings used in the BCS formula.
"They've got a lot of guys that could very easily step in and play on this team," Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "They've got a whole bunch of talent. I know for a fact that nobody on this team is thinking this is going to be any kind of a pushover. We know this is going to be a big challenge for us."
UAB lost to Oklahoma 24-17 and beat East Carolina 17-12. Coach Mark Richt said Georgia is expecting a game "like a Southeastern Conference battle."
"When you watch that film and you see them get after Oklahoma the way that they did, it helps you motivate your players," Richt said. "You don't have to make up a bunch of stuff and try to convince them of anything."
Henderson out; Gant doubtful for UAB
Thomas Flowers, coming off a two-game suspension, will return punts Saturday because Mikey Henderson will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury.
Henderson returned two punts for 133 yards against Western Kentucky. One, a 64-yarder, was nullified after Henderson fumbled as he headed into the end zone. The other was a 67-yard scamper that counted.
Richt said Flowers, second in the SEC last season with a 13.7 average, has looked good in practice this week.
"Fresh legs," Richt said. "It would have been tough if Mikey never got hurt and Mikey kept doing his thing. When a guy produces like Mikey did, you always got to consider him."
Backup defensive tackle Ray Gant "is doubtful" to play, Richt said. Gant sustained a mid-foot sprain against South Carolina. Richt said offensive tackle Michael Turner (ankle) is very doubtful. Guard Seth Watts (knee) will play.
Richt hopes to get Cox early playing time
Joe Cox, who has moved up to the backup quarterback position behind Stafford, could get playing time in the first half.
"We want to get him in there," Richt said. "That's about all I'd say for certain. Preferably in the first half, but I'm not going to guarantee that."
O-Line matchup could favor Blazers
UAB's offensive line averages a hefty 314 pounds from tackle to tackle, which is why Georgia's coaches are concerned about the matchup in the trenches.
"We're playing against an offensive line that is the most physical offensive line we've played against since Arkansas," defensive line coach Rodney Garner said of a game from Oct. 22 last season. "A lot of coaches would like to have their offensive line."
This and that
Richt will be one of the coaches' featured on an ABC Sports one hour program in conjunction with the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, which honors responsibility and excellence on and off the field. He will be spotlighted on Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. along with Notre Dame's Charlie Weis. Fan votes will help determine the winner. "Notre Dame, there will be people voting in Japan and stuff," Richt said. "We won't have a chance." ... Georgia apparently won't go up against star Mississippi recruit Jerrell Powe on Sept. 30. The NCAA student records review group on Thursday upheld an NCAA staff decision that Powe, a defensive tackle, has not successfully completed initial eligibility requirements. The NCAA expressed concern that Powe, a learning disabled student, completed work with significant assistance.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091506

dirty · Sep 15, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

QBs' interceptions buck recent trend

Football

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 1:33 AM on Thursday, September 14, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>With D.J. Shockley and David Greene at quarterback the past two seasons, Georgia protected the ball like gold at Fort Knox.
A mere seven interceptions in 2005 and only five in 2004 tied for the sixth lowest total in the nation each of those seasons.
Through two games this season, freshman Matthew Stafford and redshirt freshman Joe Cox have combined for four interceptions. Only North Carolina and UTEP have thrown more.
The Bulldogs can shrug off the turnovers because they cruised by Western Kentucky 48-12 and South Carolina 18-0, but they know too many giveaways could come back to haunt them.
"If we keep turning the ball over like we're doing, we're going to lose football games," quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said. "That's the bottom line. We've got to learn to take care of the football."
Since Mark Richt has been at Georgia, the Bulldogs have been in the top 32 nationally for fewest passes intercepted each season except 2003, when the Bulldogs' 12 interceptions tied for 47th.
"That's pretty good," Richt said. "The ball's precious, and you've got to protect it. There are going to be interceptions. I know that. There are a lot of reasons why interceptions happen, but it doesn't need to be the quarterback's fault. If we're just throwing it up for grabs or making bad choices and not respecting the ball like we should, then I've got a problem."
Stafford will make his first college start against Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday after going 8 of 19 for 171 yards with the three interceptions against South Carolina.
He chalked up one interception near the goal line as a great play by the defense on a pass that was deflected.
His other interceptions were plays on which he could have made different decisions, Stafford said. On a crossing route to A.J. Bryant, Stafford said he could have dumped a short pass to Danny Ware or run it himself. On a deep pass to Mohamed Massaquoi, Stafford said he probably should have thrown short or out of bounds.
"We've got to get it in their mind that sometimes there's nothing wrong with punting or hitting a check-down and getting 7 yards and field position," Bobo said. "They've got to learn to throw the ball away. If on their series, it didn't happen for them to make a big play, or they weren't able to move the offense down the field, the defense did a good job on a certain coverage, you've got to burn a ball."
In the opener, Cox was intercepted when he misread a coverage.
"There's just some throws that you think you can make and you find out the hard way that you can't," Cox said. "You try to take certain shots that you think are going to be there, and the speed is different. It's something that you learn."
Stafford threw for 4,018 yards and 38 touchdowns last season in leading Highland Park High School in Dallas to its first state title since 1957.
"I only threw five picks my entire senior year," Stafford said. "It's a big step coming in, but the plays I made were just stupid and foolish. I expect myself to improve drastically."
Stafford will head into Saturday's game with checks he can make at the line of scrimmage, like he did on Danny Ware's 9-yard touchdown run, but probably not as many as Joe Tereshinski, who is in his fifth year in the system.
Richt said improved fundamental footwork will help Stafford improve his accuracy.
"He needs to be more disciplined in his footwork," Richt said. "That's just part of getting used to playing. I think he would have been a little more accurate if he had set his feet a little bit better. He's one of the few guys that can really still put a lot of velocity on the ball while being off balance. I don't want to turn this guy into a robot, either, because he's got such special ability. We just need to discipline his talent."
Saturday: UAB at Georgia 1 p.m. (Pay-per-view)

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091406

dirty · Sep 16, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Football comes naturally to Stafford

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/16/06 Athens
Like a father and son are supposed to, John and Matthew Stafford watched the game together.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td>

Brant Sanderlin / AJC

(ENLARGE)

</td></tr><tr><td nd="2" class="caption"> Saturday against UAB, Matthew Stafford will become the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Georgia since Quincy Carter.
</td></tr></tbody></table> Like future college quarterbacks are supposed to do, Matthew broke down the play for his dad.
"I remember [John] Madden was one of the announcers, and we were sitting there, and there was sweep to the left side. It went nowhere and got blown up," John Stafford said. "Matthew looked at me and said, 'The tackle didn't pull.'
"Two seconds after that, Madden comes on and starts breaking down the play and says, 'If you can see here, the tackle was trying to get out but there is penetration and the play just got blown up.' Matthew was able to see that. He just saw it."
Matthew Stafford was 5 at the time.
So it began for this football prodigy with the preternatural ability to see things on the field and beyond his years. And so, too, began Stafford's feeding of his new habit.
By the seventh grade, Saturday sleep-ins, a cherished right of any adolescent, were gone. Stafford spent those mornings in the film room of his middle school, breaking down his game tape from the day before. By high school, his fingerprints were all over the game plan.
"I feel like I have a pretty decent idea on how to attack a team," said Stafford, a Texan who earned one honor after another during his high school days at Dallas' Highland Park. "I was always in on the plan for the team we played."
When Highland Park coach Randy Allen wanted to split his tackles out as wide receivers, stack the receivers behind them and leave just three down linemen in the state championship game, Stafford saw how that would work, too.
Next came Georgia. Stafford, who Saturday will become the first true freshman to start at quarterback since Quincy Carter, has been one step ahead since arriving on campus.
"When we had our little [football] tests that we have to take home, I might get stuck on something, and he just walks up behind, glances over my shoulder and is like, 'This, this and this,' " freshman wide receiver Kris Durham said. "I write it down. I know it is going to be right."
What has been so right for Stafford for so many games went wrong last weekend. Sure, Georgia won 18-0 at South Carolina. But Stafford, who came on in relief of an injured Joe Tereshinski, flogged himself afterward.
"That game is probably the worst game I have ever played," he said of his 42 percent completion rate and three interceptions.
"We are really very detailed on how we coach these guys, and he has got to be more detailed," coach Mark Richt said. "To think that he was going to do everything perfect was not very realistic at all."
But to expect improvement is. Last week in practice, Stafford estimated he got fewer than 20 percent of the snaps with the first-team offense. With Tereshinski injured this week, Stafford received the majority of the snaps in preparation for UAB.
"It just makes you raise your level of play, being around players like that that are all big-time players and knowing that you have got a big-time job to do," Stafford said. "... I am sure the numbers will improve. And our offense will improve."
As for his decision making, it doesn't take a ton of film study to know it must improve as well. Quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said much of this week's preparation has been devoted to better managing the game.
Come Tennessee, Florida or Auburn week, the Bulldogs know three-interception efforts won't cut it.
"We were lucky last week," Bobo said. "We turned it over three times and we were still able to win that football game. We keep turning it over like that and we are going to lose."
The thing is, young players have that invincible feeling about them. They believe they can make any throw any time. Mainly, because they were able to against high school competition.
"Every play does not have to be a successful play," Bobo stressed. "We have got to get it into their brains that sometimes you have got to throw the ball away and sometimes you have got to punt. And especially with the way our defense is playing, a punt is not a bad thing.
"If it is not open, get rid of the football."
It didn't take a film session or the 12 "gassers" coaches made him run after Monday's practice for that lesson to be learned, Stafford said.
"I knew those were bad decisions right when I made them," he said.
See, he's learning already.
"I really believe he will play better," Richt said. "And he will probably run less gassers, I would hope."

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Ralphie IV vs. Uga VI may best game
Colorado's real-life buffalo to make trip to Athens

By MICHELLE HISKEY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/20/06 The scouting report on the University of Georgia's football opponent Saturday starts with one big buffalo.
Ralphie IV, all 900 pounds of her, will stampede with the University of Colorado team into Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td>

see caption/ University of Colorado

(ENLARGE)

</td></tr><tr><td nd="3" class="caption">Ralphie's handlers bring the University of Colorado mascot onto the field. She got her vaccinations up to date for the trip to Athens.
</td></tr><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr class="railscreen01"><td>Your Turn</td></tr></tbody></table><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <script language="javascript"> function clickVote() { document.pollForm.buttonClicked.value = "yes"; document.pollForm.PageId.value = "poll_vote_submit"; document.pollForm.submit(); } function alert1(){ document.pollForm.buttonClicked.value = ""; } </script> <form method="post" action="/poll/poll/poll/take_poll/PollRefresh.jsp" name="pollForm"> <input name="PageId" value="poll_vote_submit" type="hidden"> <input name="pollID" value="10739" type="hidden"> <input name="page" value="take" type="hidden"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Do you like the idea of Colorado's real-life 'Ralphie' mascot making a visit to Athens Saturday? [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> <td align="right" height="15" width="46">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <input name="choice" value="38032" type="radio"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] As long as it doesn't mess with Uga, it doesn't bother me. [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <input name="choice" value="38033" type="radio"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] There's room for only one animal Between the Hedges, and it's not a buffalo. [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <input name="choice" value="38029" type="radio"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Who cares? I'm going to watch the football game. [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">
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[FONT=arial,helvetica][SIZE=-2]Voter Limit: Once per Hour
View Poll Results [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </form> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED LINKS:
? Pollack 'lucky' to avoid paralysis
? Q and A: Matthew Stafford
? Ralphie IV meets Uga VI
? Bradley: Auburn's BCS shot
? More UGA coverage
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> She's one of the most beloved mascots in the country, as is Uga VI, the 60-pound bulldog whose mug covers the UGA campus. On Saturday, the mascot throwdown between the hedges may be more memorable than the mismatch of the undefeated Bulldogs and winless Buffs.
Even top dog Mark Richt, the UGA coach, has weighed in on the possible impact.
"Surely they are not going to let him stomp all over the field," Richt said Tuesday, unaware the buffalo is female. "I would imagine he is going to do a little damage."
Not so, say Ralphie IV's keepers.
Buffalo don't hurt turf because their split hooves don't dig into the ground.
"It's not like a horse hoof that digs into the ground," said Ben Frei, the lead handler of Ralphie IV and a former steer wrestler. "Her weight is on four legs, and the ones that are on the ground are not really digging in. It's more like she's light on her feet."
Ralphie IV runs so fast she rarely leaves anything to scoop. Her two stadium jaunts ? three minutes before the game and at halftime ? each last 30 seconds, from her entrance to her exit.
"Their team will come out of the northeast corner of [Sanford] Stadium and go right to their sideline on the north side, pretty much a direct shot," said UGA athletic marketing director John Bateman. "Ralphie will steer clear of any pregame groups on the field such as our band, cheerleaders and players ? and Uga, too."
University of Georgia officials extended the invitation to Ralphie IV this summer as a way for two of the nation's most popular live animals to promote this game. A Ralphie has been a fixture at Colorado football games for 40 years. An Uga has been at Georgia for 50.
Ralphie IV, a bottle-fed orphan, rarely road trips this far. She did go to Orlando in December for the Champs Sports Bowl, where the Buffs lost to Clemson. She'll step into her custom black-and-gold trailer around lunchtime today to travel the 1,500 miles to Athens.
Ralphie already has a Georgia connection. Longtime Atlantan and CNN founder Ted Turner, who has raised and promoted bison, donated the Montana-born Ralphie IV to Colorado after reading an article in Bison World magazine about the school's search for a replacement for Ralphie III.
The location of Ralphie's ranch home in Colorado is kept secret because she's been a target before.
Once she was spray painted with another school's colors. That part of her coat was shaved, Frei said.
After the Buffs played in one Big 12 championship game, opposing fans tried to run Ralphie's trailer off the road. She's easy to pick out. The 20-foot trailer is painted black, with gold lettering for her name and sponsors Coors Light and Outback Steakhouse.
To come South, she got her vaccinations up to date. She's got plenty of room to lie down and sleep, and piles of munchies (bales of alfalfa) for the trip. She will spend a night at an Illinois farm owned by an alumnus, Frei said.
She's expected in Athens late Thursday and will stay at an undisclosed location off campus.
"They considered staying on campus," said Bateman, with a nod to UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine, "but with any kind of animal, especially that size and it's very, very popular, similar to Uga, they went with some contacts in the area as a possible host."
One Georgia football player wants his picture with Ralphie, because buffaloes have been nice to him in the past.
"We used to go feed them," said linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler, of the buffalos on a ranch near his hometown of Thomson, in east Georgia. "They like hard corn. You put that in your hand and they eat out of it."
Ralphie IV will have a practice run Friday at Sanford Stadium. On Saturday, she will be applauded by the Colorado fans who bought up their school's allotted tickets for the game. She'll spend the game in her trailer, parked under the east end zone bleachers at Sanford Stadium, Bateman said.
Ralphie IV's handlers want to spread a message to those who think passion for this sport begins and ends with an English bulldog.
"Football tradition in the West is just as alive as it is in the South," said Frei, whose budget for the trip is roughly $2,500. "For us, the Ralphie tradition is so well known and it's one of the big things our fans want to see. We love to carry it on, and we love to support college football."
Uga enjoys similar treatment when traveling. He flies on the team's charter flights, travels among the team's caravan with a police escort and stays in his own hotel room, Bateman said. And he's used to the spotlight being on him.
So with a symbol of the Wild West encroaching on his turf, Uga likely won't take it sitting down ? though he still may slobber over his spiked collar.
"It's David and Goliath," said Bateman of the mascots' sizes. "But what's that old saying, 'It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog'? Uga's going to stand up tall on Saturday."
?Staff writer Carter Strickland contributed to this article.

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

UGA FOOTBALL
Q and A: Matthew Stafford
Freshman QB loathes fear, likes pasta

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/20/06 Athens ? Matthew Stafford could sleep in the huddle.
No kidding. Nothing rattles Georgia's freshman quarterback.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED LINKS:
? Pollack 'lucky' to avoid paralysis
? Q and A: Matthew Stafford
? Ralphie IV meets Uga VI
? Bradley: Auburn's BCS shot
? More UGA coverage
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> D.J. Shockley barely slept a wink before his first start. Ditto for Joe Tereshinski.
And Stafford? "Not a problem," he said of the night before his first start Saturday against UAB.
The true freshman has stayed calm with the storm of expectations swirling around him. As the season progresses, no doubt that storm will only intensify.
But for now, Stafford is in full control and has walked through his first three games with an even-keeled demeanor that has startled even the coaching staff.
Now, quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo says he can finally read Stafford. So can you. Here are a few thoughts from Stafford on a few subjects:
Fear is ... "Not acceptable. Can't have it."
Success is ... "The best."
The one thing I should always do with the ball is ... "Throw it away if it is not there."
The one thing Coach Bobo continues to tell me is ... "To carry out your fake."
My best play so far was ... "Probably that touchdown run last week."
My worst play so far was ... "One of the three picks I threw at South Carolina. Take your pick on which one."
Being named the co-No. 3 quarterback after camp was ... "Tough, but it also kind of set a fire in me."
Being No. 1 now is ... "Enjoyable, but still requires a lot of work."
The one team I always like to watch is ... "Florida State. My parents went there. It is a childhood thing."
The one quarterback I used to watch in college last year was ... "[Vanderbilt's] Jay Cutler. I really liked the way he played and led his team."
The one thing I always want for dinner when I go home is ... "Rigatoni."
The best thing about Athens is ... "The fans."
The worst thing is ... "Never getting to go home [to Texas]."

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Receivers deploy in human waves

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/20/06 Athens ? Georgia had six healthy wide receivers against UAB, and all six played.
If Georgia happens to have eight healthy receivers against Colorado on Saturday, all eight might play. That's the way it goes these days at the Bulldogs' turnstile position.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED LINKS:
? Pollack 'lucky' to avoid paralysis
? Q and A: Matthew Stafford
? Ralphie IV meets Uga VI
? Bradley: Auburn's BCS shot
? More UGA coverage
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> The Bulldogs have tried to employ more no-huddle looks with Matthew Stafford at quarterback and, as a result, have needed more receivers.
That means players such as Michael Moore and Kris Durham are getting more reps, especially while Mohamed Massaquoi's and Mikey Henderson's hamstrings heal. It also means defenses have more to prepare for and more to stop.
"We are building depth, and the thing I like is if you're a defense, you can't say, 'This is the guy we have got to stop,' " Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "You can take it away, but then all of the sudden you are doing things you don't want to do.
"If you are a defensive coordinator, you are going to look at us and say, 'I am not sure there is not one guy that you can plan to stop.' "
The stats reflect that. Twelve Georgia players have at least one catch. Kenneth Harris leads the receivers with 27.3 yards per game. Not far behind is tailback Danny Ware (26.7 yards a game). Then there are five receivers with catches of 20 or more yards.
All this from an offense that hasn't thrown the ball much. In fact, Georgia has thrown 66 passes compared to 104 rushing attempts.
Massaquoi and Henderson were back in practice Tuesday but remain day to day. Wide receiver Mario Raley (elbow contusion) is questionable for Saturday.
Ely-Kelso dreams of punts at altitude
Georgia punter Gordon Ely-Kelso is skeptical of some of Colorado's kicking numbers. After all, the air is thin up there near the Mile High City, the ball travels farther, and the stats might be slightly inflated.
So an asterisk could be in order.
"Like a Barry Bonds thing," Ely-Kelso joked.
Pumped up or not, there's no denying some of the stats, which Ely-Kelso was quick to point out.
"They make it a big point in their media guide to say [Mason Crosby's] 58-yard field goal was at Miami," Ely-Kelso said. "I think it was like the longest field goal at the lowest field level."
Yep, it was. The 58-yard kick was the longest field goal at sea level not off a tee. Miami's Orange Bowl is 7 feet above sea level.
As for Georgia's field goal kicker, Richt is confident in Brandon Coutu's ability from 50 yards and way beyond.
"I have as much confidence in Coutu than I ever did with Sebastian [Janikowski]," Richt said, thinking back to his Florida State days. "Coutu is just as accurate as Sebastian was back in his day."
Ellerbe's return ignites defense
Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe returns from his three-game suspension this week. Even though he won't be in the starting lineup, linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler said his teammate would make an impact.
"Oh, well for the opposing teams," Verdun Wheeler said. "He can play a lot of positions. He has got great speed and is an athlete. We will have his help on special teams. Good luck to Colorado, but we are just adding more wood to the fire."

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Richt fine with co-No. 1 tailbacks

By CARTER STRICKLAND ctrickland@ajc.com and CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/19/06 Athens ? Back before the season began and expectations and experience were all that Georgia had to go on in terms of building a depth chart, coach Mark Richt was confident where the running backs had been placed.
Thomas Brown, the leading rusher in 2005, was a solid No. 1. Kregg Lumpkin, who came on late after an injury, was No. 2, and Danny Ware, who struggled down the stretch, was third.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"></table> "We've got them right where they should be," Richt said of the running backs back then.
Now, three games into the season, Richt says, "If we put them all as co-No. 1s, it's about how I look at them."
On paper at least, Brown remains No. 1. Richt said the depth chart ? which still lists Lumpkin and Ware as co-No. 2s ? remains unchanged because is he is trying to avoid another run of depth-chart generated stories like those the quarterback issue created in the preseason.
"Sometimes it is too big of a deal to make a depth chart move," he said. "It becomes big news. I don't think it is worth making a story of it."
The story so far has been Ware. The preseason third-teamer has been the most productive back, averaging 53 rushing yards per game and, more importantly, 6.9 yards a carry. Meanwhile, Brown has gotten more carries but fewer yards. He has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, has not broken many tackles and was topped short on a fourth and inches against UAB.
Lumpkin, who like Ware has 13 fewer attempts than Brown's 36, is in the middle at 5.0 yards per carry.
Against UAB, Brown and Lumpkin each had 10 rushes and Ware had eight. That was an adjustment from the South Carolina game in which Brown's 16 carries were nearly twice Ware's (9) and Lumpkin's (8).
"Right now everybody is getting about the same amount of carries," Richt aid.
SHUTOUT NO. 3?
The Bulldogs' defense, ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense, has a decent shot to make it three shutouts in a row.
Colorado, winless under new coach Dan Hawkins of Boise State fame, has scored just two touchdowns and 23 points in its first three games, the fewest for the program since 1964. The Buffaloes (0-3) rank 114th out of 119 Division I-A teams in scoring (7.67) and 115th in total offense (193.67).
The last Georgia team to pitch three consecutive shutouts was in 1971. That team went 11-1. The last Bulldogs team to shutout three teams in a season was the 1980 national champions.
HENDERSON RETURNS
Mikey Henderson returned this week, but not to return punts.
The junior from Buford was out of a green, non-contact jersey for the first time in three weeks on Monday after missing most of the last three games and practices with a strained hamstring.
Henderson said while he anticipates getting snaps at wide receiver, Asher Allen will continue to field punts.
Henderson returned two punts for 133 yards and a touchdown before suffering his injury. Thomas Flowers, who was second in the SEC last season, returned two for 40 yards before tearing a ligament in his foot this past Saturday. He's out for the year.
ELLERBE BACK
Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe anticipates playing a lot Saturday despite coming off a three-game suspension.
"It feels like I've been gone all season," he said after getting a lot of work at weakside linebacker and on special teams Monday. "I've got a little pep in my step today. I hated not being a part of those shutouts. Hopefully we'll get some more."
OLE MISS GAME AT 9 P.M.
The good news for Georgia is its Sept. 30th game at Ole miss was picked up by television. It will be carried by ESPN 2. The bad news is the game won't kickoff until 9 p.m. ET.

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Dogs won't take 0-3 Buffs lightly

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/18/06 Athens ? Colorado has scored in 213 straight games.
Georgia has not allowed anyone to score in 123 minutes.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"></table> It's apparent something has to give this weekend when the two teams meet. The someone who hasn't given anything ? a point or many yards ? is Georgia.
The Bulldogs are up to No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (four points per game) and No. 5 in total defense (203 yards allowed per game).
As far as Colorado goes, it is giving plenty ... of blindfolds to fans before every game. The Buffaloes are 114th in scoring offense (7.67 points per game) and 115th in total offense (193 yards per game.)
It's safe to say this is not exactly the matchup envisioned when this series was put together.
Georgia has held up its end. It's No. 9 this week in the Associated Press poll and is 3-0.
It seems all Colorado (0-3) has been held up to lately is scrutiny ? rape allegations, a recruiting scandal and a coach firing, and the athletics department had to borrow $8 million from the university's general fund in June. The $1.1 million to $1.3 million that CU athletics director Mike Bohn expects to make on this game will help.
Georgia coach Mark Richt has never been accused of premature celebration, and this week is no different.
"They are a team that is in a transition," Richt said.
"They are learning a new system and they are battling for something good to happen. So it is going to be a dangerous football team coming in here."
Georgia, however, has a few issues of its own.
Matthew Stafford is still a freshman and still made some plays that drove that point home Saturday against UAB.
"He is going through the growing pains of being a major-college quarterback; with one play he will look like a million dollars and the next he will look like a bust," Richt said.
Those million-dollar plays are coming early for Stafford. In the South Carolina game, Stafford looked and played better in the first few series than he did at the end. Same thing against UAB.
"In the beginning of the game, his fundamentals were much improved," Richt said of the UAB game. "His ballhandling and footwork had improved.
"As the game wore on, like a lot of guys who get tired, his fundamentals began to wane."
That happens, quite simply, because Stafford has not had the cumulative repetitions in practice it takes to be sound for a 60-minute game.
"He is still ingraining these things in his mind," Richt said.
Not that the coach is complaining. The progression is natural, Richt said. And every quarterback goes through this. But it is usually in practice.
"Not many times are you having a true freshman having to mature in front of everyone's eyes, and that is what he is doing," Richt said. "He is just doing it in front of the whole world here."
? Injury update: Punt returner Thomas Flowers is expected to have surgery to repair his foot injury and will miss the rest of the season.
Flowers, a junior who injured the foot in his first game back from a suspension, most likely will apply for an extra season of eligibility because of the injury. But Richt says he is not optimistic the NCAA will grant a sixth season in this situation.

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Hangin' with: Kenneth Harris

Story Photos - Click to Enlarge

Georgia receiver Kenneth Harris liked Goofy and "The Cosby Show" while growing up in Cherryville, N.C.
Diane Cebula / Staff
Click thumbnails to view

| | Story updated at 12:54 AM on Wednesday, September 20, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>Flanker Kenneth Harris, a junior from Cherryville, N.C., has emerged as one of Georgia's top receivers with five receptions for 82 yards, a 16.4-yard average. He's the top receiver in yards and is tied at atop the Bulldogs' leaderboard with tailback Thomas Brown (five catches for 46 yards) and fellow flanker A.J. Bryant (five catches for 32 yards).
Q: What is your earliest football memory?
A: My very first touchdown. I was probably about 10 years old and I broke one from about 40 yards. I was playing with a little pee-wee team in Cherryville.
Q: Who is your favorite former Bulldog now playing in the NFL?
A: Probably Hines Ward, just for the fact that he plays hard and he always looks like he's having fun out there.
Q: Besides actually playing the game, what is your favorite part of gameday?
A: My favorite part of gameday is the Dawg Walk. I think that's everybody's favorite part.
Q: Coca-Cola or Pepsi-Cola?
A: Coca-Cola. I'm not really sure why - I think maybe it just tastes better.
Q: What is your favorite part of practice?
A: Probably when we get together and go one-on-one with the defensive backs.
We get out there and have a little fun and compete with the DBs.
Q: What was your favorite television show growing up?
A: "The Cosby Show."
Q: What's your favorite television show now?
A: I'd have to say "24."
Q: What's your favorite movie?
A: "Bad Boys II"
Q: What's your favorite Walt Disney character from your childhood?
A: I've got to think about that one. It would probably be Goofy. I just like those big ears. I just like Goofy.
Q: What music do you listen to before a game?
A: I usually listen to "We Ready" by Archie (Eversole). That's what we used to listen to in high school and it gets me fired up.
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?
A: I always tape my wrists and I always pray right before the game. Right before we run out, I always say a little prayer to myself. One big thing is I give my mom a kiss right there at the end of the Dawg Walk because she's always standing there.
Q: What's your favorite breakfast cereal?
A: Frosted Flakes
Q: What's your favorite meal?
A: Steak and mashed potatoes.
Q: What was your nickname in high school?
A: Peanut.
Q: What's your nickname now?
A: Cherryville.

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Linebacker likes case of red eye

Notebook

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 12:54 AM on Wednesday, September 20, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>Being brought down to the turf by Georgia linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler might not be what opponents need to fear most. It could be the reaction if Verdun Wheeler gives them his own version of the evil eye.
"Dude, what's wrong with your eye," UAB running back Dan Burks asked Verdun Wheeler after he was tackled in Georgia's 34-0 victory.
"I didn't say nothing to him," Verdun Wheeler said. "I just walked back to the huddle, and after the game he said, 'You got contacts in?' I, 'Yeah, these are the new Nike contacts.' He said, 'Man, I've got to get me some of them.' "
Verdun Wheeler is wearing orange tinted contacts that give his eyes a reddish hue with an orange outer layer. They even frighten his buddies who know he's wearing them.
"It still freaks my teammates out a little bit," Verdun Wheeler said.
The prescription contact lenses block out the sun's glare, Verdun Wheeler said.
"It intensifies the color green, the white lines," Verdun Wheeler said. "I can see the ball better. I might look back at the sun and catch a glimpse of the sun and still keep going and it won't hurt my eyes."
Verdun Wheeler wears them about twice a week in practice and during day games. So while he will wear them Saturday against Colorado, he won't wear them at Ole Miss in a game that begins at 9 p.m.
"It's like wearing shades in a football helmet," Verdun Wheeler said. "I love them. I wish more guys would get some. They're prescription because I'm already blind anyway, so I have to wear something out there."

Going outside the region the norm
Saturday's game is the first of several Georgia has scheduled in recent years with BCS conference teams west of the Mississippi.
Georgia will play Arizona State in 2008-09, Colorado again in 2010, Oregon in 2015-16 and likely will add Oregon State as the season opener next season.
"We are trying to get out of the region," coach Mark Richt said of Georgia's nonconference scheduling philosophy with 12-game schedules that still include the annual game with Georgia Tech. "We're looking for one of those (BCS conference schools) per year, and then a possibly a I-AA opponent."
Georgia isn't going to jump at any major conference program.
"If Southern Cal came up, I'd probably be like, 'I'm not sure I want to do that,' " Richt said. "Southern Cal might be saying, 'I'm not sure I want to do that.' That didn't happen, but we haven't really turned down many opportunities. It's hard to schedule sometimes."

Richt looking for more from tight ends
Tight end Martrez Milner "has been up and down" Richt said, but players behind him aren't pushing for snaps.
Milner's blocking at the end of the UAB game left something to be desired, Richt indicated, and "he's been hot and cold catching the ball. We need him to take off. We need him to take off to really make this thing go."
Richt also would like for Milner to have some competition, but backup Tripp Chandler isn't ready to challenge.
The sophomore from Woodstock had four catches for 87 yards in the spring game, but is still looking for his first collegiate catch.
"He's young still and he's got to be more physical," Richt said. "He hasn't had many opportunities to catch the ball so that hasn't been a factor. To hold up down after down after down, he's got to continue to get better."

This and that
Guard Chester Adams missed his second straight practice because of an illness. Offensive line coach Neil Callaway is hopeful that Adams can return to practice today. His absence Saturday would further complicate depth issues on the offensive line. "They've checked him for two or three different things," Callaway said. "What it is, I'm not exactly sure." Offensive tackle Michael Turner (ankle) appears doubtful. He hasn't practiced this week. Also missing practice Tuesday were defensive tackle Ray Gant (foot) and receiver Mario Raley (elbow). They are questionable. ... Receiver Mikey Henderson said his strained hamstring "got fatigued pretty quickly" in practice. He fielded punts at the start, but said he won't handle that role on Saturday. ... After weeks of talk about Georgia's quarterbacks, Richt didn't get a question about starter Matthew Stafford until 20 minutes into his weekly news conference. "It's settling down - for the moment," he said.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 092006

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Bad memories drive defense

Football

Story Photos - Click to Enlarge

Danny Verdun Wheeler (42) and Georgia's defense are allowing 56.7 yards per game rushing after allowing 382 to West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl.
David Walter Banks/Staff
Click thumbnails to view

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 2:00 AM on Tuesday, September 19, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>Hours before Georgia hit the field on the first day of preseason practices, linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler put front and center the large motivating factor for players on the Bulldogs defense during the offseason.
"Being 52nd against the run, that's a total embarrassment to me, this program and the Bulldog Nation," Verdun Wheeler said. "We're just trying to prove something this year."
Georgia's back-to-back shutouts have grabbed the attention heading into Saturday's game against Colorado, but a statistic that is nearly as important for the defense is ranking seventh in the nation against the run.
The Bulldogs have allowed 56.7 yards per game rushing after giving up 143.9 last season, the most for a Georgia defense since 1996. Arkansas (216), Auburn (227) and West Virginia (382) each topped 200 yards rushing against Georgia in 2005.
"The only thing that we kept on saying is that we have to do a better job against the run," defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "Just to really reemphasize fundamentals and getting better. We obviously weren't proud of the way we played."
Alabama-Birmingham rushed for 135 yards against Oklahoma and 124 against East Carolina, but was held to 68 yards against Georgia, averaging only 1.8 per carry.
"It's amazing. I had flashbacks again of last year when we were watching it," said Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, whose Boise State team lost to Georgia 48-13 to open the 2005 season. "You just go, 'Woo.' They do a nice job, boy. They're big and they're fast and they're well coached and they don't make mistakes. They are very, very good. It's

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091906

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Henderson eyes return

Notebook

Story Photos - Click to Enlarge

Junior Mikey Henderson hopes to play against Colorado, but will not return punts against the Buffaloes.
Diane Cebula / Staff
Click thumbnails to view

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 2:00 AM on Tuesday, September 19, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>Mikey Henderson is optimistic he'll be able to return to the playing field for the first time in three weeks on Saturday against Colorado after missing the last two games with a strained hamstring.
The junior says he won't return punts, but thinks he'll be able to get his first collegiate snaps at wide receiver.
"For me to go back out there and go do everything in a game, we just don't believe it would be beneficial," Henderson said. "I know where I'm going and my muscles are going to know where I'm going (at receiver). At punt return and special teams, I'm more reacting and that reaction is what I can't really do right now."
Henderson, who returned two punts for 133 yards and a touchdown against Western Kentucky, practiced Monday but didn't go full speed.
Thomas Flowers underwent season-ending surgery for a torn ligament in a foot on Monday, coach Mark Richt said on his weekly radio show. Flowers could be out for most of spring practice, Richt said.
Freshman Asher Allen again will step in as Georgia's punt returner. He is third in the SEC with a 13.5 average.
"Asher, I thought, came in and did an admirable job of fielding the ball and making sure we didn't make any mistakes there," Richt said.

McKinzey still out
Georgia has depth on offense at tailback and receiver. The offensive line isn't one of those areas.
"I wish we had more offensive linemen to play," Richt said. "We don't have that luxury right now."
Guard Zeb McKinzey has missed the first three games of the season with a shoulder injury and the redshirt junior isn't sure when or if he'll be able to play this season.
"I can't tell you," McKinzey. "I meet with a physician once a week and it's just not ready to go yet. I'm not going to go out there and do what I've done a few times (and reinjure it.)."
McKinzey said the best scenario would be a return in two weeks - which would be the Tennessee game - and he's thought about pursuing a sixth year medical redshirt.
"At a certain point I don't think it's worth the year to play one or two games."
McKinzey said he's not at that point yet.
In other injury news, offensive tackle Michael Turner (foot) was wearing a walking boot Monday and appears questionable.
Meanwhile, defensive tackle Ray Gant, who missed the last game with mid-foot sprain, said the foot felt good after he ran on it.
"Everything feels like it should be good to go," Gant said.
Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, who missed Saturday's game with a hamstring injury, rode a stationary bike in the early part of practice and said he ran around some. "I'm just getting healthier day by day," Massaquoi said.
Kicker Brandon Coutu, who strained his quadriceps on his second kickoff Saturday, said he expects to kickoff along with handling field goals and extra points.

Ole Miss a late kickoff
It will be a late night in Oxford, Miss., for Georgia's Sept. 30 game against Mississippi. The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. start and will be televised on ESPN2.
Georgia's game last year at Mississippi State was slated for a 9:12 p.m. kickoff before it was moved up to 7:30 p.m. after Hurricane Rita forced the postponement of the Tennessee-LSU game.

Guard receives honor
For the third straight week, a Georgia player picked up SEC weekly honors.
This time it was offensive lineman of the week for guard Fernando Velasco, who graded out at 90 percent and had two "dominator" blocks in the 34-0 win over UAB. Georgia had 198 rushing yards.

This and that
Sophomore linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, returning from a three-game suspension, is working at backup weakside linebacker. "I should be in there a lot," Ellerbe said. "A lot more than I thought." ...Georgia is ranked seventh in the first Master Coaches Survey poll of the 2006 season. The poll is voted on by 17 prominent former coaches including former Georgia coach Vince Dooley. ... Colorado coach Dan Hawkins will be the first coach to bring two different teams to Sanford Stadium in consecutive seasons since Tommy Tuberville in 1999 (Ole Miss and Auburn) ...Georgia has had the same starting lineup on defense in the first three games. The last time that happened was 1988, Dooley's last season as coach.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091906

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Johnston: Defense defines these Bulldogs

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> | | Story updated at 4:30 AM on Sunday, September 17, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc><table align="left" border="0"> <tbody><tr><td>

</td></tr> <tr><td><center> Andy
Johnston </center>
[FONT=arial,helvetica]more Johnston columns[/FONT] </td></tr> </tbody></table> What perfect timing for Georgia. Mark Richt is breaking in his new quarterback. The Bulldogs can't decide on their best receivers. The starting offensive line played together for the first time in three games. And the top running back has one of the worst rushing averages on the team.
So what does Georgia do?
Decide to play defense. Incredibly, spectacularly well, which really is not new, but certainly needed and welcomed right now.
The Bulldogs have been known for the defense for years, dating to the days of Erk Russell, who was honored at halftime on Saturday, and again since Richt and his staff took over in 2001.
There's something special about this group, however.
They seemed more focused, more determined, more energetic, more sound than the star-studded groups of the past five years. There's a big-name player in All-American defensive end Quentin Moses, but he's been relatively quiet through the first quarter of the season, fighting through countless double teams as opposing offenses schemed to stop him.
His mostly nameless, unheralded teammates have excelled. They're flying to the football, forcing turnovers, blowing up plays in the backfield, harassing quarterbacks, intimidating receivers, stuffing running backs, confounding offensive coordinators and doing everything else to make good on that "Keep Out" sign at the goal line.
That big wall in China would have a tough time stopping them right now.
Two shutouts in two weeks. Ten points in three games (remember two points came courtesy of a safety, not exactly the defense's fault). They're stubbornly yielding yards and providing the offense with excellent field position.
The zeroes on the scoreboard have made heroes of these guys.
"Ahh, we're just OK right now," linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler said. "Not taking away nothing from UAB or South Carolina, because they're great teams, but we're going to have to play a whole lot harder and a whole lot faster every week. We can't come out like we did (Saturday). We've got to come out even harder."
That's exactly what Richt needs his defenders to say while the newness rubs off freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The offense is slightly out of sorts, still searching for its identity with Stafford, who said, "We know we are still a work in progress."
Georgia's defense will need to continue to play well during this time of offensive transition. The defenders will need to continue to shut down folks, control the game and hold opponents out of the end zone while Stafford learns and matures and works to connect with his receivers.
The offense is still in spring training.
The defense is in midseason form.
"We tell Matt and whoever else in there, we've got your back," Verdun Wheeler said. "Whatever we can do to help you, that's what we're going to do, week in and week out. I don't care if you throw 100 interceptions, our job is to go out there after every interception and stop them.
"We want him to learn as much as possible, as quick as possible. We're going to have their back. We are a team on this defense."
Gone are Odell Thurman, Thomas Davis, David Pollack, Sean Jones and Greg Blue. They're in the NFL. In their place are Verdun Wheeler, Jarvis Jackson, Kelin Johnson, Ramarcus Brown and Jeff Owens, guys who might not have the names but have the games.
They were expected to dominate Western Kentucky in the opener. They did.
Nobody was sure what to expect against Steve Spurrier and South Carolina last week. All they did was shut down and shut out a Spurrier-coached offense for the first time since 1987.
And then on Saturday, against Alabama-Birmingham, they did it again. Georgia's defense made sure that when it came to offense, UAB was MIA.
"It's always been about defense here," defensive end Charles Johnson said. "That's what we do."
And for Georgia, it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 091706

dirty · Sep 20, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="arttitle"> Bulldogs and Buffaloes To Battle On Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="arttitle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications
</td> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> </td> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="top"> Release: 09/18/2006
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="middle">

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<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" height="90" width="785"> <tbody> <tr> <td> GAME 4: #7/9 Georgia (3-0) vs. Colorado (0-3)

September 23, 2006, 12:30 p.m., at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. (92,746)
Radio: Georgia Bulldog Radio Network
Regional TV: Lincoln Financial Sports (Find Your Local Affiliate)
TV Replay: CSS Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Internet Broadcast: GXtra on GeorgiaDogs.com
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" height="900" width="785"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%;" valign="top"> Junkyard Dawgs Post Consecutive Shutouts

Georgia?s defense is ranked first in the SEC and second nationally in scoring defense (4.0) after posting back-to-back shutouts over South Carolina and UAB. In the season opener, the Bulldogs allowed just 12 points to Western Kentucky, but two came on a safety.
The lone TD surrendered by the Bulldogs came in the second quarter against WKU.
The back-to-back shutouts were the first by Georgia since the 1980 national championship season (S. Carolina, Kentucky), and the 12 points allowed through the first three games are the fewest since 1937 (7 points).
Since 2001, Georgia is the only team to rank among the nation?s top 10 teams at the end of the year four times in scoring defense, finishing as high as second in 2003 by allowing just 14.5 points per game. Georgia?s scoring defense since 2001 ranks second nationally only to Miami:
Nation?s Top Scoring Defenses Since 2001
1. Miami 15.3 pts./g
2. Georgia 15.6 pts./g
3. Va. Tech 15.7 pts./g
4. LSU 15.9 pts./g
5. Ohio State 16.2 pts./g
Georgia vs. the Big XII

Georgia?s meeting with Colorado will be the first between the two teams although the Bulldogs have met several opponents from the Big XII in their history. Georgia is 10-7 all-time against teams now in the Big XII including 4-0 vs. Baylor, 1-0 vs. Missouri, 0-1 vs. Nebraska, 1-3 vs. Texas, 1-3 vs. Texas A&M and 3-0 vs. Texas Tech. The most recent game was a 15-12 win by Georgia over Texas Tech in Athens in 1996.
Georgia will return the meeting with the Buffaloes in Boulder on Oct. 22, 2010.
BIG TEAM, little me

Georgia?s unselfish play at the skill positions makes it tough for opponents to gameplan against the Bulldogs. While a standard depth chart exists, Georgia continues to receive solid contributions from its stable of tailbacks and wideouts when they get the call to action.
GAME 1: 48-12 win over Western Kentucky
? Rushing, 27 carries, 136 yards, 3 TDs
Leader: Danny Ware (6 for 68 yards and a TD)
Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin added rushing TDs.
? Receiving, 12 catches, 159 yards, 2 TDs.
Leader: Thomas Brown (3 catches for 20 yards)
Nine different Bulldogs caught passes.
? Passing, 3 QBs combined for 12-for-25 for 159 yards, 2 TDs and one INT.
Leader: Joe Tereshinski (7-for-17, 90 yards, 1 TD).
GAME 2: 18-0 win at South Carolina
? Rushing, 39 for 198, 1 TD
Leader: Thomas Brown (16 for 69 yards)
Danny Ware added a rushing TD, the only TD of the game.
? Receiving, 10 catches for 189 yards
Leader: Martrez Milner (2 for 40 yards)
Eight different receivers caught passes.
? Passing, 2 QBs combined for 10 of 22 for 189, 0 TDs and 3 INTs.
Leader: Matthew Stafford (8 of 19 for 171 yards and 3 INTs)
GAME 3: 34-0 win over UAB
? Rushing, 38 rushes for 146, 3 TD
Leader: Kregg Lumpkin (10 for 54, 1 TD)
? Receiving, 11 catches for 125 yards
Leader: Kenneth Harris (3 for 30 yards)
7 Bulldogs caught passes
? Passing, 11 for 19, 125 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Leader: Matthew Stafford (10 for 17 for 107 yards)
</td> <td valign="top"> How ?Bout An SEC Title

When Mark Richt arrived at Georgia in 2001, the Bulldogs hadn?t won an SEC title since 1982. Now, Richt is one of only five coaches in SEC history to win two league championships within their first five seasons.
The others were Alabama?s Frank Thomas (1933-34), Georgia?s Vince Dooley (1966, ?68), Florida?s Steve Spurrier (1991, ?93), LSU?s Bernie Moore (1935-36) and Nick Saban (2001, ?03). The latest title for the Bulldogs was their 12th in school history.

Bulldog Bookends

Georgia?s defense, which ranks second in the SEC and fifth nationally in yards allowed (203.7 yards/game), is led by a pair of veteran defensive ends in junior Charles Johnson and senior Quentin Moses.
Moses has 21.5 sacks for his career, which ranks sixth all time. Former three-time All-America defensive end David Pollack holds the mark with 36 while Richard ?Le Sack? Tardits is second with 29.
Johnson is ranked fifth nationally in tackles for loss with seven.
Just like the offense, Georgia?s defensive squad is getting contributions from numerous sources. The Bulldogs are third in the SEC with nine total sacks although the team leader has just 1.5 (Charles Johnson). Georgia?s leading tackler is linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler (16), followed by Charles Johnson with 14.
The Bulldogs lead the league in red zone defense, allowing just one score on four trips inside the 20 yard line. Last week, UAB did not advance to the red zone.
Bulldogs Tough Against Non-Conference Foes

Under the direction of Mark Richt, Georgia owns a 22-2 record against teams from outside the SEC. The only losses came in bowl games to Boston College (20-16, ?01 Music City) and West Virginia (38-35, ?06 Sugar). At home, the Bulldogs own a record of 15-0 against non-conference foes.
2006 Georgia Schedule

Sept. 2 Western Kentucky (LF) W, 48-12
Sept. 9 @ *S. Carolina (ESPN) W, 18-0
Sept. 16 UAB W, 34-0
Sept. 23 Colorado (LF) 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 @ *Ole Miss
Oct. 7 *Tennessee
Oct. 14 *Vanderbilt (Homecoming)
Oct. 21 *Miss. State
Oct. 28 % *Florida (CBS) 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 @ *Kentucky
Nov. 11 @ *Auburn
Nov. 25 Ga. Tech
*SEC game; %Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="arttitle"> Bulldogs and Buffaloes To Battle On Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="arttitle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications
</td> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> </td> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="top"> Release: 09/18/2006
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="middle">

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Offensive Production

Georgia is tied for first in the SEC in scoring at 33.3 points per game. The Bulldogs 48 points in a win over Western Kentucky are the most by any SEC team this year.
Although the Bulldogs lead in the scoring column, no Georgia player is near the top of the conference list in any offensive category. The team?s leading rusher, junior Danny Ware, ranks ninth in the SEC 53.0 yards/g. Freshman Matthew Stafford, now 1-0 as a starter, is 10th in average passing yards per game at 106.
Georgia?s offense knows it has a reliable scoring threat in place kicker Brandon Coutu. He ranks second in the SEC in scoring (1st among kickers) with 32 points this season. Last week against UAB he was good on a kick from 55 yards, the third-longest of his career, and he is 7-for-7 on the year in FG tries.
Freshman Leads Under Center

With senior starter Joe Tereshinski out for at least 3 to 5 more weeks with a high ankle sprain, freshman Matthew Stafford has been elevated to starter for the Bulldogs. Last week against UAB, the Dallas, Texas, native was 10-for-17 for 107 yards with one rushing TD.
Matthew Stafford (Fr.):
? Ranked 10th in the SEC with 106.0 passing yards per game.
? Played all but the opening series at South Carolina, leading the Bulldogs on a TD drive and two FG drives in an 18-0 victory.
? He is the first true freshman QB to start a game since Quincy Carter in 1998. He is the first true freshman QB out of high school to start since Eric Zeier in 1991.
? First career TD pass was a 13-yard strike to junior TE Coleman Watson against Western Kentucky. Stafford?s first career pass reception was to freshman SE Kris Durham for 15 yards, also against WKU.
Plenty of Throwing Options

Twelve different Bulldogs have caught a pass this season, and three share the team lead with five receptions each (Flankers A.J. Bryant and Kenneth Harris and RB Thomas Brown). Georgia has just two TD receptions on the year, one by Mario Raley which covered 18 yards, and the other by TE Coleman Watson on a 13-yarder.
The one element that gets overlooked is the blocking ability of receivers. Richt has praised the blocking of the receivers this season.
Georgia?s leading receiver in 2005 was actually tight end Leonard Pope (39 rec., 541 yds, 4 TDs) who is now playing in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals.
O-Line Protecting The QBs

Georgia has surrendered just three sacks in the first three games, which ranks third in the SEC behind LSU and Tennessee (2 each). Last year the group ranked second in the SEC in fewest sacks allowed (20 in 363 pass attempts).
Seniors Nick Jones and Daniel Inman are the only returning starters from the 2005 SEC Championship team. Against UAB, Jones extended his starting streak to 22 games to lead all Bulldogs. Inman leads all current Bulldogs with 38 total starts in his career.
Senior tackle Ken Shackleford, junior tackle Chester Adams, junior guard/center Fernando Velasco have started each of the last three games for Georgia and have combined for 11 career starts.

</td> <td> The Sum Of All Rushers

For the second year in a row, Georgia?s running game features a three-pronged attack at tailback. Junior starter Thomas Brown, along with juniors Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware have each led the team in rushing one time this year. Ware led the trio against WKU with 68 yards on six carries, and Brown was the rushing leader at South Carolina with 69 yards on 16 tries. Lumpkin finished the win over UAB with 10 carries for 54 yards.
The Bulldogs are averaging 160.0 rushing yards per game so far, ranking third in the SEC.
Against South Carolina, Brown and Lumpkin were both in the starting 11. Brown led the backs with 19 total touches (16 rush, 1 reception, 2 KO returns), followed by Ware with 10 (9 rush, 1 reception) and Lumpkin with nine (8 rush, 1 reception). Ware scored the only rushing TD against the Gamecocks on a 9-yard rush.
In 2005, Georgia?s rushing offense ranked 3rd in the SEC (162.2 yds./g). Brown led the trio with 736 yards and 4 TDs while Ware had 492 yards and 1 TD and Lumpkin finished with 335 yards and 3 TDs.
Each time one of the three rushers touched the ball the result was nearly identical. By the end of 2005, Brown averaged 5.0 yards per carry, Ware 4.9 yards per carry and Lumpkin 5.1 yards per carry.
DID YOU KNOW? The 2005 ground attack was the best ever in the Mark Richt era.
2001 1,878 yards: Leader: Verron Haynes (126 for 691 yds, 7 TDs); 8-4 final rec.
2002 1,954 yards: Leader: Musa Smith (260 for 1,324 yds, 8 TDs); 13-1
2003 1,889 yards: Leader: Michael Cooper (156 for 673 yards, 6 TDs); 11-3
2004 1,882 yards: Leader: Thomas Brown (172 for 875 yards, 8 TDs); 10-2
2005 2,108 yards: Leader: Thomas Brown (147 for 736 yards, 4 TDs); 10-3
Fewer Plays, Shorter Games

The NCAA?s football rules committee made a few changes this season to try and shorten games. The clock starts on kickoffs rather than when the receiving team touches the ball, and after a change of possession, restarts as soon as the football is marked ready to play. Also, kicking tees are an inch shorter to try and limit the number of touchbacks.
In 2005, the Bulldogs averaged 62.9 plays per game in 12.6 posessions. Average game time: 3:23:46.
In the first three games of 2006, Georgia has seen 56.7 plays per game on 12.0 posessions and an average game time of 3:07:40.
The difference? -6.2 plays per game, -0.6 posessions, and a game time shortened by 16 minutes, 6 seconds.
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="arttitle"> Bulldogs and Buffaloes To Battle On Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="arttitle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications
</td> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> </td> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="top"> Release: 09/18/2006
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="middle">

</td> <td class="articlecopy" align="right" valign="middle">

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="B" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="B" valign="top">
</td> <td class="B" valign="top">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right"> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="B" nowrap="nowrap"> Page </td> <td class="B" nowrap="nowrap"> 1 </td> <td class="B" nowrap="nowrap"> 2 </td> <td class="B" nowrap="nowrap"> 3 </td> <td class="B" nowrap="nowrap"> 4 </td> <td class="B" nowrap="nowrap"> 5 </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <script> // assign objects based on browser type // static variables var bUserAgent = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase(); var isFireFox = (bUserAgent.indexOf("firefox") != -1); var isMac = (bUserAgent.indexOf("mac") != -1); var isMute; var mbUseNewWMP ; var bWMPisInited = false; function useNewWMP(){ var mbIsWMP7=false; if(mbUseNewWMP==true || mbUseNewWMP==false){ return mbUseNewWMP; } else { //Discover if WMP7+ is installed //http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=8584&page=2&c=4 //if player=true or plugin = true then mbIsWMP7 var player; var plugin; var hasActiveX=false; try{ if(window.ActiveXObject) { hasActiveX = true; mSupportsScript = false; player = new ActiveXObject("WMPlayer.OCX.7"); mbIsWMP7 = true; } else if (window.GeckoActiveXObject) { hasActiveX = true; player = new GeckoActiveXObject("MediaPlayer.MediaPlayer.1"); mbIsWMP7 = true; } } catch(oError) {} try{ if(navigator.mimeTypes) { plugin = navigator.mimeTypes['application/x-mplayer2'].enabledPlugin; if(!mbIsWMP7){mbIsWMP7 = false;} } } catch (oError) {} mbUseNewWMP = mbIsWMP7; return mbIsWMP7; } } var flash; var mywmp; function assignObjects(){ if(navigator.appName.indexOf("Microsoft") != -1){ mywmp = document.Player; flash = window.document.getElementById("flashObject"); }else { if(isFireFox){ navigator.plugins.refresh(); } mywmp = window.document.getElementById("Player"); flash = window.document.flashObject; } } window.onload = function(){ try{ assignObjects(); }catch(e){ //alert(e); setTimeout("assignObjects();",1000) } } // assigns the URL and calls the player to begin // to autostart, this is called from flash in mozilla and assigned in activex vars for ie. function startWMP(linkSource, playURL){ if(isFireFox && !isMac){ if (!mywmp.controls || !mywmp.URL){ setTimeout("startWMP(0,'"+ playURL+ "')", 10); return; } if(linkSource == 1){ mywmp.URL = playURL; mywmp.controls.play(); try{ flash.resetControls(); }catch(e){} }else{ // change for production //playURL = "/images/8800/videoPlayer/video-16x9.wmv"; mywmp.URL = playURL; mywmp.controls.play(); try{ flash.resetControls(); }catch(e){} } }else if (isMac){ macVar = '<object id="Player" width="368" height="208" classid="CLSID:6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6" name="Player" >' + '
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Junkyard Dawgs Reloading NFL Talent

Willie Martinez is in his second year as the defensive coordinator and fifth overall on Mark Richt?s staff. Since 2001, a total of 22 former Bulldog defenders have moved on to the NFL (6 off the 2001 team, 4 from 2002, 3 from 2003, 4 from the 2004 and 5 from 2005).
Georgia is second nationally in scoring defense at 4.0 pts/game, trailing only Virginia Tech (3.33).
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="90%"> <tbody><tr> <th>Year </th> <th>Scoring Def.</th> <th>NCAA Rank</th> <th>Total Def.</th> <th>NCAA Rank</th> <th>TO Margin</th> <th>NCAA Rank</th></tr> <tr align="center"> <td>2001</td> <td>18.9 pts/game</td> <td>17th</td> <td>361.5 yards</td> <td>49th</td> <td>+1</td> <td>53rd</td></tr> <tr align="center"> <td>2002</td> <td>15.1 pts/game</td> <td>4th</td> <td>303.5 yards</td> <td>15th</td> <td>+8</td> <td>32nd</td></tr> <tr align="center"> <td>2003</td> <td>14.5 pts/game</td> <td>t-2nd</td> <td>276.9 yards</td> <td>4th</td> <td>+11</td> <td>14th</td></tr> <tr align="center"> <td>2004</td> <td>16.5 pts/game</td> <td>9th</td> <td>288.9 yards</td> <td>8th</td> <td>-2</td> <td>t-73rd</td></tr> <tr align="center"> <td>2005</td> <td>16.4 pts/game</td> <td>8th</td> <td>313.5 yards</td> <td>18th</td> <td>+11</td> <td>14th</td></tr> <tr align="center"> <td>2006</td> <td>4.0 pts/game</td> <td>2nd</td> <td>203.67
yards</td> <td>5th</td> <td>+1</td> <td>t-39th</td></tr></tbody></table> A Sack Full of Talent

Annually, Georgia replaces NFL-caliber defenders and 2006 is no exception. This year, Georgia is replacing five NFL players from last year?s team.
Georgia has allowed just 12 points in its first three games (one TD, one FG, one safety), including back-to-back shutouts over South Carolina and UAB.
The defense is ranked third in the SEC with nine sacks on the year. Nine different Bulldogs have a sack, led by Charles Johnson with 1.5. He is fifth in the nation with seven TFLs.
Following the win at South Carolina, the SEC office named Johnson the league?s Defensive Player of the Week.
After week one, Quentin Moses was named the SEC?s Defensive Lineman of the Week.
The Bulldogs registered 34 sacks in 2005 and Moses accounted for a team-leading 11.5 of them. Moses is the eighth Bulldog in school history to record at least 10 sacks in a season. In 2005, Moses ranked second in the SEC in Sacks and Tackles for a Loss. He had a team-high 20.5 TFL for minus 125 yards. The only SEC player to account for more sacks and TFLs in 2005 was then Miss. State senior Willie Evans who collected 15 sacks and 21 TFL for minus 118 yards.
Establishing A Presence Inside

With the departure of three senior tackles, Georgia has a new look up front in 2006. The lone familiar face is the versatile Ray Gant, who missed the UAB game with a foot injury. He made seven starts in 2005. The starting tackles in the first three games have been sophomore Jeff Owens and redshirt freshman Kade Weston.
Also, senior Dale Dixson and freshman Geno Atkins have logged playing time.
Against the Gamecocks, Owens forced a fumble while Dixson recorded a TFL. Against UAB, Owens tied his career high with four tackles, while Atkins also added a career-best four stops.
Starting Secondary Features New Faces

The lone returning member of the 2005 starting secondary is Tra Battle. A one-time walk-on and high school QB, he posted his finest season in 2005. He ranked third on the team in tackles with 71 plus had two interceptions. Battle led the team with eight tackles in the win over South Carolina.
One of the Bulldogs? strengths last season was the ability of the secondary to create turnovers as its motto was ?GTBB? (Get the Ball Back). After the Bulldogs had just five interceptions in 2004 (the fewest in records going back to 1948), Georgia had 16 INTs in 2005 including 14 by the secondary.
The secondary has created three turnovers in the first two games: a forced fumble by Battle and an INT by junior Kelin Johnson against WKU, and a forced fumble by Ramarcus Brown against South Carolina.
Joining Johnson and Battle in the starting lineup the Bulldogs had junior Paul Oliver and Brown. Bulldog prospects who look to make an impact include sophomore CJ Byrd, redshirt freshmen Bryan Evans and Donavon Baldwin, and true freshmen Asher Allen and Prince Miller.
</td> <td width="50%"> More On The Shutouts...

Georgia?s 18-0 win over South Carolina was the first SEC road shutout by the Bulldogs since 1982, a 44-0 win against Florida in Jacksonville.
For South Carolina, it was the first time the Gamecocks had been shutout in 37 games and it was just the second time a Steve Spurrier-coached team did not score a point (Rutgers d. Duke, 1987).
Against UAB, Georgia?s 34-0 win was the first shutout at home since 2000 (New Mexico State), and it marked the first back-to-back shutouts since 1980.
It was the first time UAB did not score in 45 games.
The last time Georgia had more than one shutout in a season was 1981, when the SEC Champion Bulldogs posted three.
Linebackers Show Versatility And Perseverance

In 2006, Georgia?s most experienced unit is the linebacking corps. The starting lineup of Tony Taylor, Jarvis Jackson and Danny Verdun Wheeler have a combined 66 career starts. Verdun Wheeler leads the team in tackles with 15.
The Bulldogs used the same starting lineup at linebacker in only three games in 2005 (Brandon Miller-SLB, Tony Taylor-MLB and Jarvis Jackson-WLB). In 2006, Georgia?s linebacking corps features Jackson in the middle, Taylor on the weak side, and Verdun Wheeler on the strong side. Miller is the top reserve on the strong side while sophomore Marcus Washington is the top reserve behind Jackson.
Taylor, who missed all of 2004 with a knee injury, was the nucleus in the middle last year, but injuries forced him to miss four games.
Miller, Taylor, Jackson and Verdun Wheeler all missed games in 2005 due to various ailments. Jackson and Verdun Wheeler wound up learning two positions and made starts at them along the way. Verdun Wheeler made six starts at WLB and three starts at SLB while Jackson had six starts at WLB and four starts at MLB.
Against UAB, Taylor and Verdun Wheeler led their position with four tackles each.
Also of note, freshman Darius Dewberry has collected five tackles and one TFL in his first two games.
Taylor Finds The Field

Freshman walk-on Paul ?Tripp? Taylor has made his way onto the field in each of Georgia?s first two games as a blocking fullback in short-yardage situations and a defensive tackle. He was one of seven true freshmen who played in the season opener against Western Kentucky.
The Tripp Taylor File:
Born: March 28, 1987...High School: Woodstock (Ga.)...four-year starter in football and was named All-Cherokee County three seasons...earned All-State honors for the wrestling team...High School Coach: Mike O?Brien.
Prep School: Naval Academy Prep...played defensive end for the 2005 season...Prep School Coach: Joe Speed.
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="arttitle"> Bulldogs and Buffaloes To Battle On Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="arttitle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications
</td> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> </td> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="top"> Release: 09/18/2006
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="middle">

</td> <td class="articlecopy" align="right" valign="middle">

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</td> <td class="B" valign="top">
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Coutu Can Put It Through From 50-Plus

Junior Brandon Coutu is 7-for-7 in FGs with 11 PATs for 32 points. His two FGs last week against UAB were from 55 and 38 yards, respectively. For his career he is 15 of 20 from 40 yards or longer, and he has made 11 of his last 12 from that distance. He is a perfect 59-for-59 in PATs for his career.

2006 Highlights for Coutu
*Leading the SEC kickers and 14th nationally in scoring with 32 points.
*Leads the SEC and tied for 3rd nationally at 7-for-7 FGs.
*The South Carolina game was the fifth of his career with three FGs in a game, but the first with all three coming from greatear than 40 yards.
2005 Highlights for Coutu
*Led the SEC in scoring with 114 points.
*SEC-best 7-for-9 from 40-49 yards plus 3-for-5 from 50+yards
*Collected 10 points including tying the SEC Championship game record with a 51-yarder in the 34-13 victory over #3 LSU
*Career-high 14 points in the win over La.-Monroe (3 FGs, 5 PATs)
His 58-yard FG against La.-Monroe marked the longest in SEC history without a tee (The NCAA did not allow a kicking tee after the 1988 season) and the third longest overall. It was the longest since Kevin Butler?s SEC record-tying and Bulldog record 60-yarder to beat Clemson in 1984. Coutu?s field goal was the longest made by an SEC kicker since Butler?s against the Tigers.
Longest Field Goals in Georgia Bulldog History

*60 Kevin Butler vs. Clemson in 1984
59 Kevin Butler vs. Ole Miss in 1982
58 Brandon Coutu vs. La.-Monroe in 2005
58 Allan Leavitt vs. Vanderbilt in 1976
57 Kevin Butler vs. Ga. Tech in 1984
57 Rex Robinson vs. Georgia Tech in 1980
57 Rex Robinson vs. South Carolina in 1980
56 Brandon Coutu vs. Kentucky in 2005
*Shares SEC Record: Fuad Reveiz (Tenn. vs. Ga. Tech in 1982); Chris Perkins (Fla. vs. Tulane in 1984)
DID YOU KNOW? In SEC history, only Georgia?s Billy Bennett (2002-03) and Ole Miss? Jonathan Nichols (2003) have scored more points kicking in a season than Coutu in 2005.
During the Nov. 5 off week in 2005, Georgia coach Mark Richt informed Coutu he would be placed on scholarship starting in January. Also that month, Coutu was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (nation?s top place kicker).
</td> <td> Fielding the Punts and Kicks

Georgia leads the SEC and is second nationally in punt return average at 27.2 (10 for 272, 2 TDs). The most recent score came by sophomore safety CJ Byrd following a blocked punt against UAB. The first TD was a 67-yard return by Mikey Henderson in the season opener. Henderson has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.
Freshman Asher Allen ranks third in the league with a 13.5 average in punt returns, filling in for Henderson and Thomas Flowers.
In the kickoff return department, RB Thomas Brown has seen the most action with four returns for 90 yards (22.5 avg.) returns in three games. As a team, Georgia ranks fourth in the SEC at 22.7. Last season the Bulldogs were 10th in the league in kickoff return average at 19.5.
22 Blocks, 9 Special Teams TDs In The Richt Era

Georgia has blocked 13 Punts, 8 Field Goals and 2 PATs in the Richt era and converted them in to 81 points. No current Bulldog has blocked a punt or field goal in their career.
2006 (1): Blocked 1 Punt and turned it into 7 points.
2005 (2): Blocked 2 Punts and turned them in to 14 points.
2004 (2): Blocked 2 Punts and turned them in to 7 Points.
2003 (7): Blocked 4 FGs, 2 Punts,1 PAT and turned them in to 17 points.
2002 (9): Set School Rec.: Blocked 5 Punts, 4 FGs, turned them in to 40 points.
2001 (2): Blocked 1 Punt, 1 PAT and turned them in to 3 points.
The Bulldogs have 10 Special Teams TDs plus a safety in the last six seasons.
There are three current Bulldogs who have a Special Teams TD:
Thomas Flowers: 54-yard punt return at #8 Tennessee in 2005
Mikey Henderson: 67-yard punt return against Western Kentucky in 2006
CJ Byrd: 11-yard punt return against UAB in 2006 following a Prince Miller punt-block
Henson Locked In At Snapper

Junior walk-on Jeff Henson earned the job as the Bulldogs? long snapper while punter Gordon Ely-Kelso serves as the team?s holder this year. The Bulldogs lost a pair of seniors in these roles following the 2005 campaign.
Henson spent a couple of years in the real estate profession before returning to college, and prior to this season, his last action on the gridiron came in high school.
The Jeff Henson File:
Born: Oct. 24, 1982...High School: West Hall (Gainesville, Ga.)...played four years of football, all spent on the defense and at snapper...named to the All-Area team as a senior and earned the Special Teams Award...high school teammate of current Bulldog senior tight end Martrez Milner.
College: Attended Gainesville State College (no football team) from 2004-06 prior to arriving in Athens in the fall of ?06.
</td></tr></tbody></table> Ely-Kelso Booms Them High and Pins Them Deep

Punter Gordon Ely-Kelso, a native of Athens, Ga., is another Georgia speacial teams weapon. This year he?s had three punts in each of Georgia?s wins. He has a 46.4 average including two of 50-yards or more including four inside the 20. Ely-Kelso ranks second in the SEC with his 46.4 average but his lack of punts per game keeps him off the SEC statistics list. The Bulldogs rank third in the SEC with a net punting average of 41.4.
Ely-Kelso?s Career: 185 punts, *7,551 yards, 40.8 avg., 60 Punts Inside 20
2005 Highlights for Ely-Kelso
* He was one of 10 semifinalists for the 2005 Ray Guy Award which goes to the nation?s top punter.
*The Bulldogs ranked 3rd in the SEC and 8th nationally in Punting with a Net Average of 38.7
*Executed a successful fake punt against Kentucky with a 34-yard scamper which led to Bulldogs first score
</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="arttitle"> Bulldogs and Buffaloes To Battle On Saturday </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="arttitle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications
</td> <td class="articlecopy" align="left" valign="top"> </td> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="top"> Release: 09/18/2006
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="right" valign="middle"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="center" valign="middle">

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Bulldog Schedule Note

The NCAA is again allowing teams to play 12 games in 2006, and Georgia will host seven games in Sanford Stadium for just the third time in school history. The Bulldogs had seven home games in 1980 and 2002.
In 1980 Georgia finished 12-0 overall, 7-0 at home, and claimed the national title with a win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. In the seven home games the Bulldogs outscored their opponents 216-70.
Georgia?s 2002 SEC championship team was also an undefeated 7-0 between the hedges. That season, the Bulldogs outscored the seven visitors by a combined 265-99.
? DID YOU KNOW? Colorado?s Dan Hawkins will become the first coach to bring two different teams to Sanford Stadium in consecutive seasons since Tommy Tuberville in 1999. Hawkins? Boise State squad lost 48-13 in the 2005 Georgia season opener on Sept. 3. He returns a year later with Colorado on Sept. 23.
Tuberville?s Ole Miss team lost 24-17 in Athens on Nov. 21. 1998. Then on Nov. 13, 1999, Tuberville?s Auburn squad beat Georgia 38-21 in Sanford Stadium.
New Foes Highlight Georgia?s Future Schedules

Georgia has games with Arizona State, Colorado, Louisville and Oregon scheduled for future seasons. It will be the first-ever meetings with Arizona State, Colorado and Louisville. Georgia?s last meeting with Oregon was in 1977, a 27-16 Bulldog win in Athens. Here?s a look at the future matchups:

Arizona State (2008-09)
Colorado (2006 and 2010)
Louisville (2011-12)
Oregon (2015-16)

DID YOU KNOW?
The last time Georgia played a team from the Pac-10 was Oregon State in 1987, a 41-7 Georgia win in Athens.
The last time Georgia played a team from the Big XII was Texas Tech in 1996, a 15-12 Georgia win in Athens.
</td> <td> 82 Straight Weeks In The AP Poll
Bulldogs Have 2nd Longest Streak In the Country
Currently, Georgia is second behind Texas for the longest-tenured team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll at 82 consecutive weeks. Texas and Georgia both moved up one spot this week when Miami dropped out of the polls after 107 straight weeks.
Texas last fell out on Oct. 15, 2000 and has been ranked for 96 consecutive weeks.
The Bulldogs have been a fixture in the AP top 25 since winning at #6 Tennessee, 26-24, on Oct. 7 in 2001.
Uga at 50

The 2006 season marks the 50th anniversary of the Uga legacy of mascots at the University of Georgia. The current mascot, Uga VI (?Uga V?s Whatchagot Loran?), has an eight-year record of 69-21. At 55 pounds he?s the biggest of all the Ugas.
Georgia In The Top 25

DID YOU KNOW? After going 10-3 in 2005, Georgia secured its fourth straight top 10 finish, something it had done only one other time in school history (1980-83).
POLLS:
Preseason/Week 1: Coaches: #14, AP: #15
Week 2: Coaches: #11, AP: #12
Week 3: Coaches: #9, AP: #10
Week 4: Coaches: #7, AP: #9
How 'Bout Richt's 'Dogs
Georgia Ranks 6th Among Winningest Programs Since 2001
1. Texas 58-9 (.866)
2. Southern California 56-10 (.848)
3. Boise State 56-11 (.836)
4. Miami, Fla. 54-11 (.831)
5. Oklahoma 57-12 (.826)
6. GEORGIA 55-13 (.809)
7. Ohio State 53-13 (.803)

</td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width: 50%;">

University of Georgia
georgiadogs.com - The Official Site of the University of Georgia Athletic Association
Location: Athens, Ga.
Enrollment: 33,660
Athletic Director: Damon Evans
Nickname / Colors: Bulldogs / Red and Black
Home Field: Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Conference: Southeastern
Head Coach: Mark Richt (Miami, Fla. ?82)
Overall Record: 55-13 (6th season)
2006 Record (SEC): 3-0 (1-0)

</td> <td>

University of Colorado
University of Colorado, Official Athletic Site
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Enrollment: 28,624
Athletic Director: Mike Bohn
Nickname / Colors: Buffaloes / Silver, Gold & Black
Home Field: Folsom Field (53,750)
Conference: Big XII
Head Coach: Dan Hawkins (UC-Davis ?84)
Overall Record: 92-26-1 (11th season)
2006 Record (Big XII): 0-3 (0-0)

</td></tr></tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sm"> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="articlecopy" align="right" width="20">

</td> <td class="articlecopy"> Colorado Game Notes in PDF</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

dirty · Sep 21, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Dogs' opponents lack bite so far
Richt wonders how team will react in big game

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/21/06 Athens ? By now, questions have been answered in the SEC and all around the country.
Florida? Pretty darn good, the Gators proved at Tennessee.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED STORIES

? More UGA coverage
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> Ohio State? Still worthy of being No. 1, the Buckeyes showed at Texas.
Miami? Not quite the dynasty of years past, Hurricanes fans can attest after watching their team stumble to a 1-2 start.
But when it comes to Georgia, the guessing game continues. Are the Bulldogs as good as their national rankings ? No. 7 in the coaches poll, No. 9 in The Associated Press poll? Or has the cupcake competition had more to do with the lofty ranking?
"Every week, it is like 42-7, 34-3, against who?" asked AP pollster John Hoover of the Tulsa (Okla.) World. "And this is the best you have to work with as a voter."
Eight of the other teams in the AP's latest top 10 have played teams that were nationally ranked. Only Georgia (which has roughed up Division I-AA Western Kentucky, South Carolina and UAB) and West Virginia (which has whipped Marshall, Eastern Washington and Maryland) have yet to face a ranked team.
Bulldogs players are ready for an opponent a bit more challenging, which they might not get until Tennessee visits Athens on Oct. 7. Before that, they face Colorado (0-3) and Ole Miss (1-2).
"I would kind of like to see how our team would react to that ? to have a high-stakes game and it be a little closer, so we can see the character of this team and how we react to adversity," safety Tra Battle said. "You can only measure level of skill when you go against the best. ... Until we face them, you will never know."
Even coach Mark Richt admits to having questions about his Bulldogs, who've won their first three games by a combined score of 100-12.
It remains to be seen whether he'll get answers Saturday against Colorado, one of three teams on the schedule that are winless and ranked 101st or lower in Division I-A by BCS computer guru Wes Colley. (Vanderbilt and Mississippi State are the others.)
"We are going to play a really tight game where every single play seems to be the determining factor in whether you win or lose," Richt said. "Every tackle, every kick, every snap, every hold is crucial and every run is so important. We haven't done that yet. When we really hit the wall, it will be interesting to see how we react."
To this point, there's no doubt Georgia has reacted well to what's been put in front of it. The defense has pitched back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 26 years and ranks in the top five nationally overall and in scoring. The schedule has also allowed Georgia to build confidence in a team with a true freshman quarterback, Matthew Stafford, and several new receivers.
"I can't wait to get on that big stage with Florida and Tennessee and feel that atmosphere," receiver Kenneth Harris said.
Richt said he'll probably keep a I-AA team on future nonconference schedules, as well as an opponent from a BCS conference in addition to Georgia Tech.
This week, that BCS team is Colorado. In future years, it will be Oregon, Clemson and Arizona State.
"We haven't turned down many opportunities," Richt said. "If Southern Cal came up, I would probably say I am not sure I want to do that."

dirty · Sep 21, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Colorado falls from peak to valley

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/21/06 Athens ? From the late 1980s to the mid-'90s, Colorado was the epitome of a national powerhouse. The Buffaloes even played for the Big 12 title in the previous two seasons, and won it in 2001.
So it was a different Colorado team Georgia expected to see Saturday when it scheduled the Buffaloes for a home-and-home series a year and a half ago. Instead, the Bulldogs will welcome a winless bunch that already has a Division
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body"> RELATED STORIES

? More UGA coverage
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> I-AA loss on its ledger.
What happened?
New coach Dan Hawkins ? he of Boise State fame ? encountered a mess when he arrived. Off-the-field scandals sapped the energy out of a once-vibrant program that produced a co-national champion and a Heisman Trophy winner in the 1990s.
Former coach Gary Barnett was forced to resign in December, leaving Hawkins little time to salvage the 2006 recruiting class or implement his innovative offense.
But Hawkins, known for his optimistic mind-set, declines to use any of that as excuses for the 0-3 start.
"It's not bad times," he insisted at his weekly news conference. "I know you think all of this is Zig Ziglar kind of stuff, but you are defined by these moments. It is really why I came here, amidst all the stuff that's gone on ? all the turmoil, all the trauma. You find out who you are, how good you are; you have to reinvent yourself."
The Bulldogs say learning Hawkins' ways, which resulted in a 53-11 record at Boise, is all Colorado lacks.
"I know in time it's going to click for them, and they're going to get the confidence they need," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "They're not very far away. The goal is not to let them break out this week."
Two key receivers expected to play
Georgia, which played with six wideouts last week, is up to seven for Saturday. Richt said Mohamed Massaquoi and Mikey Henderson, who sat out last week with hamstring injuries, are both probable. Mario Raley (elbow) is doubtful. ... Former starting quarterback Joe Tereshinski is off crutches and in a walking cast. Asked if he dreaded the depth-chart decisions he'll have to make upon Tereshinski's return in two-to-three weeks, Richt said, "We'll just worry about that when it comes."
Atkins' effort aids line
Senior defensive tackle Ray Gant will miss his second straight game with a sprained foot. What's kept that from being devastating news is the play of freshman Geno Atkins (five tackles and a half-sack). "Injuries have nothing to do with it," line coach Rodney Garner said. "He's playing so well right now you're having to ponder who's starting."

dirty · Sep 23, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

COLORADO (0-3) AT NO. 9 GEORGIA (3-0) ? 12:30 P.M. SATURDAY ? WATL ? 750 AM
Gameday Breakdown: UGA vs. Colorado
Buffaloes stand in way of Bulldogs' shutout stampede

By CARTER STRICKLAND, CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/23/06 Matthew Stafford figures he faced the worst of it more than a month ago. Those were the days when, every day, the freshman quarterback had to go against the Georgia defense.
"They wore us out all camp," Stafford said.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td>

BRANT SANDERLIN / AJC

(ENLARGE)

</td></tr><tr><td class="caption">Danny Ware (28) makes a catch for a first down in the win over South Carolina.
</td></tr><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED STORIES

? More UGA coverage
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> Now the Bulldogs have been doing the same to opponents. Georgia has shut out its past two and not allowed a touchdown in 10 quarters. The last time such a feat was accomplished in Athens was 1980. The last time a Georgia team shut out three consecutive teams was the 1971 season.
Colorado ranks 114th nationally in scoring offense, so don't rule out another shutout.
"We're proud of those two shutouts in a row, and we're fired up to try for a third," cornerback Paul Oliver said.
??????????
Hawkins upbeat amid problems
Dan Hawkins has been here and done that. Actually, make that not done much.
As you may remember, Hawkins was Boise State's coach last year. The Broncos were a chic pick to upset Georgia in the 2005 opener. Georgia rolled 48-13.
And that was a nationally ranked Boise State team that went on to win nine games. This Colorado team, which Hawkins now runs, is unranked and will have to go on a nine-game winning streak to reach a nine-win season.
Colorado, which hasn't beaten a ranked team since 2003, brings a seven-game losing streak to Athens. One of those losses was to Division I-AA Montana State in the opener. Another was a 70-3 throttling by Texas in last season's Big 12 title game.
That loss to Texas, which happened on Gary Barnett's watch, gave Hawkins a sense of things to come.
"When you get in your car and go out on the freeway, there's potential for disaster," Hawkins said in his weekly media address. "And I knew when I left Boise State, there was potential for disaster. That doesn't scare me, that doesn't scare us at all. There's also potential for greatness. So, you can hide in the shadow if you want, but that's not living."
As for living in this moment, it hasn't been easy for Colorado. The Buffs' offense is one of the five worst, statistically, in Division I-A. They managed only a field goal against Arizona State of the Pac-10. The Pac-10 is not a conference known for putting too many athletes on defense.
But those stats haven't stopped Georgia from fretting. Hawkins still runs a multiple-formation offense that can confound and confuse.
"There are a lot of things that we have got to check and make sure we have our calls with all the motion," Bulldogs defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. "They do a great job. That guy is a good coach. They did a good job at Boise State. Last year they were motioning and shifting all over the place, so I expect it would be that same kind of game.
"They are a pretty good 0-3 football team. And they are really doing some pretty good concepts."
??????????
Outlet receivers added to game plan
Danny Ware is tied for the team lead in receptions.
Thomas Brown is tied for fourth.
Neither has that many ? five and three, respectively. But neither is supposed to have that many. Ware and Brown are tailbacks. They, along with Kregg Lumpkin, have helped add a new dimension to Georgia's offense.
Combined, the three backs have nine catches for 128 yards. That yardage accounts for 27 percent of the Bulldogs' passing offense.
All of last season, the trio had 18 catches and accounted for 9 percent of the passing offense.
"Our quarterbacks are willing to take the backs as outlets," coach Mark Richt said. "Some of these are outlet throws and some of them are screens. But the QB is willing to drop it off to the checkdown. That is a great thing."
??????????
Coutu gets some competition from Crosby
The game within the game Saturday might be between the kickers ? Georgia's Brandon Coutu and Colorado's Mason Crosby.
Crosby, a senior, made a 60-yard field goal in 2004 and matched Coutu for the longest field goal in the nation last season with a 58-yarder. Even more impressive: Crosby made his at Miami, making it the longest without a tee at sea level.
Coutu could argue that Crosby, last year's Lou Groza Award runner-up, benefits from Boulder's thin, mile-high air on most of his other kicks.
Today, they have a chance to settle it on the field.
"It is fun to see another guy who definitely has proven himself year after year," Coutu said of Crosby. "And you get to compare yourself and see where you are nationally."
Georgia might be more inclined to go for it rather than opt for a long field goal today because of a strained quadriceps muscle in Coutu's right leg. He injured the muscle kicking off last week, and after that just kicked field goals.
"I am trying to take it a little easier this week and just relax and see what I can do [today]," Coutu said.
If Coutu decided to just go with field goals again and not kick off, Georgia has Andy Bailey and Ben Wilson available.
??????????
Richt needs more info about Ralphie
Georgia coach Mark Richt prides himself on being on top of virtually every aspect of the Bulldogs program. But he appeared to be the least informed this week with regard to Ralphie IV's historic visit to Sanford Stadium.
Ralphie is Colorado's 900-pound live buffalo mascot. She ? yes, it's a girl ? is making the first regular-season trip in 25 years and will lead Colorado's team onto the field before the game and again after halftime.
Richt was asked what he thought about Ralphie's visit during his weekly news conference. "Is he going to get to run on the field?" Richt asked the media.
Informed that Ralphie would indeed stampede between the hedges, Richt laughed and shook his head incredulously.
Of more concern to Georgia's players and coaches is running into Ralphie during the game.
"I'm OK with 300-pound linemen, but I draw the line when you get into the thousands," Georgia safety Tra Battle said with a laugh.
Not to worry. Ralphie will be escorted by nine handlers. And she doesn't remain on the field. She'll spend game time in her customized 20-foot trailer underneath the East grandstands.
??????????
Coaches want more tight end production
Georgia's tight end position comes with certain expectations.
This season, it has been not so subtly put that those expectations are not being met.
"We only have one tight end that's ready to play championship ball," coach Mark Richt said. "It'd be nice for him to have some competition."
That one tight end is senior Martrez Milner. And not even he has been exactly fawned over by the coaching staff.
"He has been up and down," Richt said. "At times he blocked extremely well the last ballgame on some key runs. And a couple of times toward the end, he didn't miss the block but the defender was getting kind of wide and we didn't block as well.
"He has been hot and cold catching the ball. He is still our No. 1 guy right now and we need him to take off to make this thing go."
Milner, who dropped a touchdown the first week but rebounded with a 25-yard catch against South Carolina, has only three catches for 47 yards. But having Dan Hawkins on the other sideline could be a good omen. Last year against Hawkins' Boise State team, Milner had three catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
As for a backup, Tripp Chandler is in that position, but he hasn't matured as rapidly as expected and isn't challenging Milner for time. Third-string tight end Coleman Watson has one of Georgia's two touchdown receptions, catching a pass from Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter against Western Kentucky.

dirty · Sep 23, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Miami not mentioned in Richt's contract

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/22/06 Athens ? Contrary to an Internet report, there is no language in Georgia football coach Mark Richt's contract that would allow him to leave for the University of Miami, his alma mater.
Fox Sports reported Thursday that Richt has an "out in his new contract if Miami comes calling." Richt does have a hefty buyout, as is customary in college coaching contracts, but there is no mention of Miami or any school other than Georgia in the 26-page document, signed in July.
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</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> "There is nothing in there," Richt said after Thursday's practice. "There is no clause.
"And even if I had no buyout, I am not leaving unless Georgia throws me out of town."
If Richt opts to terminate his eight-year contract on or before Dec. 31, 2010, he must pay the school's athletics association the amount of his salary and compensation package for each year remaining on the contract. Richt is due no less than $1.7 million annually.
Should Richt, 46, wait until late in his contract to consider another offer, he must pay no less than $2 million, regardless of how few years are left.
Miami coach Larry Coker has come under fire this season after the Hurricanes' 1-2 start.
Buffaloes minus QB
Colorado senior quarterback James Cox has taken a temporary leave of absence from the team to be with his ailing father in California.
Coach Dan Hawkins said he isn't sure whether Cox will be available for Saturday's game. Cox started the home opener against Montana State. For the season, he has completed 14 of 31 passes for 94 yards.
If Cox is unavailable, true freshman Cody Hawkins, the coach's son, would back up junior starter Bernard Jackson. Redshirt freshman Patrick Devenny, who moved from quarterback to tight end this fall, has taken reps at quarterback and would serve as the Buffs' emergency option.
WR Raley upgraded
Georgia wide receiver Mario Raley (elbow) has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for Saturday. Fellow receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Mikey Henderson (both with sore hamstrings) are probable.
Offensive lineman Michael Turner (ankle) and defensive lineman Ray Gant (foot) are out. Richt said he hopes to have Turner and Gant back next week.

dirty · Sep 23, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Dogs' defense has been stingy from start
Consecutive shutouts, 12 total points in first three games

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/22/06 Athens ? By now, the word is out about Georgia's defense. It's good, or so the numbers tell us.
One number in particular: zero.
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</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game against Colorado ranked No. 5 nationally in yards allowed (203.7 a game) and No. 2 in points allowed (4.0), which is nice. But what sets them apart is they've executed two shutouts in a row, a rarity in college football. Blank the Buffaloes (0-3) this weekend, and the Bulldogs will have shut out three straight opponents for the first time since Erk Russell's defense did it in 1971.
Even coach Mark Richt, reserved by nature and an offensive guru through and through, is borderline giddy about the Dogs putting up doughnuts.
"I'm really excited about shutting people out," he said. "People are talking about it and for good reason. Everybody needs to play well to get a shutout, and that's been happening."
But as the Bulldogs move into the second quarter of the season, it's important that any discussion of the defense includes a healthy dose of perspective.
South Carolina's "Cock-N-Fire" offense, coached by Steve Spurrier, has mostly misfired this season, its 296 yards a game ranking 90th in the nation. Last week's opponent, UAB, is ranked 100th. And Western Kentucky is No. 94 ? in Division I-AA.
"I'll be honest with you, we really don't know how good we are," defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "The thing that we're happy with is we're creating things to our advantage. We're getting three-and-outs, we're doing a good job of tackling, we're not allowing receivers to gain yards after the catch, we're creating long yardage on third down. It doesn't matter who you play, that's the whole object."
Whatever the case, it's hard to shut out anyone in this day and age. According to the Dogs, here's what it takes:
1. Great players
Richt insists he's not surprised with how well the defense is playing, even with the loss of six starters.
"I thought we had a nice mix of young players and veteran players who were fast and talented and played well together," he said. "And when you have D-ends like we have, it's a great place to start."
Ends Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson are nearly unblockable. Add a veteran linebacking corps and a speedy young secondary, and you have the bricks for a wall.
"We run and hit," linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler said. "Look at tape of us. You'll see guys running to the ball from all over the field. You'll see D-linemen in the backfield, then turning and running guys down 20 yards downfield."
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins concurs.
"You just go, 'Woo,' " he said. "They're big and they're fast and they're well-coached and they don't make mistakes. ... It's like jumping into a pool of sharks."
2. Team effort
Georgia's defense is benefiting from the offense and special teams. The Bulldogs rank sixth nationally in net punting average, and their punt-return average is No. 2. That's the recipe for fantastic field position.
In 36 possessions, opponents' average field position to start a drive is their own 20-yard line. The Bulldogs' average field position on offense is their 37. Both marks are the best in the SEC.
"Playing with a long field behind you makes you a little looser," Verdun Wheeler said. "You can go after them more. The coaches can take more risks."
Georgia' offense, while unspectacular, has been run-oriented, possessive and relatively mistake-free.
"It's important to realize that the offense needs to play well and special teams need to play well to get a shutout," Richt said. "I can't tell you how many times I've seen a defense play well enough to get a shutout and the offense throws a pick for a touchdown or turns over the ball deep in their territory or a guy fumbles a punt deep in the red-zone area."
3. Motivation
When Russell died Sept. 8, the Bulldogs dedicated their season to him. His name appears on the back of their helmets and his philosophies are ingrained inside their heads.
Though Russell left UGA well before they were born, Georgia's current players often cite his teachings.
"It's like ol' Erk said: 'Just one more time.' That's our mentality," defensive tackle Ray Gant said. "We just want to win the next play."
Said Verdun Wheeler: "We're just a bunch of guys willing to play hard and play together, just a bunch of Junkyard Dawgs. Junkyard Dawgs II."
4. Momentum
Three games into it, the Bulldogs have some serious momentum ? and, they believe, destiny ? on their side.
While they never set out to hold an opponent scoreless, it sure gets the blood pumping when they have a chance.
"When it gets late in the game and you see that zero up on the scoreboard, you tend to find a little energy deep inside you that you didn't think you had," linebacker Tony Taylor said. "It's a pride thing, trying to keep it up there. It definitely drives you to work a little harder."
5. Fate and fortune
Lest we forget, a football is an oblong-shaped bag of blown-up leather. It bounces funny sometimes. Early on, Georgia has gotten all the bounces.
But as much as luck has to do with it, score and situation have even more.
Georgia has played with the lead. The main reason it was able to shut out South Carolina was when the Gamecocks finally started to get some scoring opportunities in the second half, field goals wouldn't do them any good. Twice the Bulldogs pulled off goal-line stands. Other threats were thwarted with turnovers and negative-yardage plays.
"I don't want to take away from what happened at South Carolina, but we were very fortunate to get a shutout that day," Richt said. "... It's special what's happened so far. They're playing very, very well. I'm not here to say they're the greatest defense in the history of football or the history of Georgia.
"But, when the season is over, if they continued to play this well and do the things they've been doing statistically, there will be a case for it."

dirty · Sep 23, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Game breakdown

Story Photos - Click to Enlarge

Tony Taylor (43), Quentin Moses and the rest of the Georgia defenders have had plenty to celebrate this season.
Diane Cebula / Staff
Click thumbnails to view

| | Story updated at 12:32 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>Offense - Edge: Georgia
Colorado has looked feeble on offense in the first two starts of quarterback Bernard Jackson's career. The Buffaloes are 115th in the nation in passing offense (89.0) and total offense (193.7) and 114th in scoring (7.7). Georgia is tied for the SEC lead in scoring at 33.3 points per game, but is 11th in third-down conversions (32.3 percent).
Defense - Edge: Georgia
It's 123 minutes and 32 seconds and counting since Georgia's defense was last scored upon. Is it fair that the Bulldogs add another piece to the puzzle with the return of linebacker Dannell Ellerbe from a three-game suspension? Colorado's defense has played better than that 0-3 record would indicate. It ranks 28th in the nation against the run (82.3) and is giving up just 18 points per game.
Special teams - Edge: Georgia
Georgia is clicking across the board in special teams from its placekicking to punting to punt blocking and returns. Even the much-maligned kickoff return unit is fourth in the SEC at 22.7 per return. Colorado has one of the nation's top kickers in senior Mason Crosby but its net punting, punt return and kickoff return all rank 86th or lower nationally.
Coaching - Edge: Georgia
Mark Richt convincingly won Round 1 of the head-to-head matchup with Dan Hawkins in a 48-13 rout of Boise State last year. Colorado couldn't get past I-AA Montana State at home and its poor start looks like it will get worse before it gets better. After Georgia, the Buffaloes open Big 12 play at Missouri.
Intangibles - Edge: Georgia
Going up against a winless team might seem like the natural time for a letdown for Georgia, but that shutout streak is something that defensive players would love to keep going. Plus, the offense is still looking to get in gear. Colorado is off to its first 0-3 start since 2000, and going up against Georgia's defense is about the worse thing a fragile team needs.
Overall - Edge: Georgia
Colorado has lost 10 straight games to ranked opponents. Georgia hasn't had three straight shutouts since 1971. About the only one from Colorado who might enjoy this road trip is the live buffalo mascot Ralphie IV. Hawkins needs time for the players to become more comfortable with his system. This matchup could be intriguing in 2010, when the teams meet in Boulder, but not today. - All text by Marc Weiszer

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 092306

dirty · Sep 23, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Georgia fast facts

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> | | Story updated at 12:33 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>The Bulldogs haven't faced a Big 12 team since 1996, when they edged Texas Tech 15-12 during a downpour at Sanford Stadium. The Big 12's first year of existence was 1995.

Georgia has gone 54 games with an offensive touchdown. The last time the Bulldogs failed to reach the end zone on offense was Sept. 14, 2002, during their 13-7 win at South Carolina. Former defensive end David Pollack recorded Georgia's only touchdown on his strip-and-secure play in the end zone.

Georgia doesn't tend to lose the fourth games of the season. In the past 40 years, the Bulldogs are 28-12 in Game 4s. Ole Miss has delivered the bulk of those fourth-game losses during that span with five.

Georgia by the numbers

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> | | Story updated at 12:33 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>2: Georgia's national ranking in scoring defense (4.0). All 12 points the Bulldogs have allowed were against Western Kentucky.
3: Sacks Georgia has allowed in three games, third best in the SEC behind LSU and Tennessee (two each).
22: Non-conference wins under Mark Richt in 24 games, with losses to Boston College and West Virginia in bowl games.
39: Longest pass completed by Matthew Stafford this season, to Mohamed Massaquoi against South Carolina.
56.7: Plays per game for Georgia this season, down 6.2 from 2005 after new NCAA clock rules.

Georgia players to watch

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> | | Story updated at 12:33 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>RB Thomas Brown
Mark Richt is showing plenty of patience with Brown, whose 3.4 yards per carry average doesn't measure up to the guys - Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware - behind him on the depth chart.
WR A.J. Bryant
The junior has started the past two games at flanker and is tied for the team lead with five catches for 32 yards. He's averaging just 6.4 yards per catch, but has the type of speed to become a deep target.
DE Quentin Moses
Moses has had a quiet first three games as defenses gear up to shut down the preseason All-American. He has a team-high eight quarterback pressures, but just one sack and 21/2 tackles for loss.

Colorado fast facts

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> | | Story updated at 12:33 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>Colorado's Dan Hawkins is the first coach since Tommy Tuberville to face Georgia in consecutive seasons but with different teams. Tuberville brought Ole Miss to Athens in 1998, then carried Auburn to town the following season. Hawkins brought Boise State to Athens last season.

The Buffaloes have faced four SEC teams in their history, going 2-7-1 against Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Tennessee. Five of those meetings came in bowl games. They have one regular-season win against an SEC school, a 31-20 win over LSU in 1971.

Colorado's success rate on third down through three games is 27 percent. The Buffaloes have not attempted a fourth-down conversion.

Colorado by the numbers

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> | | Story updated at 12:33 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>0: Wins for Division I-AA Montana State since upsetting Colorado on Sept. 2, losing 45-0 to Division II Chadron State and 35-24 Division I-AA California-Davis.
1: Meeting between Colorado and Georgia after today's game.
60: Yards on a field goal by kicker Mason Crosby against Iowa State in 2004.
213: Games in a row that Colorado has scored.
1,505: Miles between Boulder and Athens.

Colorado players to watch

<sw_photos> </sw_photos> | | Story updated at 12:33 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2006
<mcc story=""></mcc>TB Hugh Charles
Charles is coming off his fourth career 100-yard game after rushing for 109 yards on 20 carries last week. He has 1,045 career rushing yards, the 48th player in Colorado history to reach that plateau.
K Mason Crosby
The Lou Groza runner-up in 2005 needs 13 points to pass RB Eric Bieniemy to become the program's all-time leading scorer. Crosby is 50 of 66 in field goals for his career. He holds 16 school records.
DE Abraham Wright
On pace to become the first Colorado player since Ron Woolfork in 1992 to reach double digits in sacks. Wright has five sacks this season - second in the NCAA - and 141/2 in his career.

Gamehendge · Sep 23, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

good stuff

dirty · Sep 28, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Flying worries Verdun Wheeler

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/28/06
Athens ? Aside from some Ole Miss players, Danny Verdun Wheeler has other problems to tackle this week. It starts with the plane ride to and from Memphis for Saturday night's game.
"The plane kind of bothers me a little bit," the 6-foot-2, 244-pound linebacker said. "We're not average men. We're a little bit bigger than average men. I always wondered what's the weight capacity for a plane.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=caption>Georgia's Danny Verdun Wheeler isn't thrilled about Saturday's late game at Ole Miss.
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"It goes through your head when there's a bunch of big guys sitting next to you."
The next problem for Verdun Wheeler and Georgia is just when that plane will take off early Sunday. Due to a 9:12 p.m. kickoff, the latest ever for a Georgia game, the team won't get back to Athens until around 6:30 a.m., coach Mark Richt estimated.
Verdun Wheeler and several teammates said that's a little early for their tastes. When on the road, they like to play under sunshine, not lights.
"Go ahead and knock it out," Verdun Wheeler said. "[The late start] just makes us more anxious."
And more tired. Sunday is not a day of rest for this team. While players don't have to go through a formal practice, there are always a few things to be done.
The coaching staff has to start to put together a game plan. It just so happens the game plan they will be putting together on no sleep Sunday will be the most important of the season so far.
That's because Tennessee visits next week.
"I love the night game," Richt said. "I don't like what happens after the night game. There is a lot of value to playing the noon game and having the rest of the day to relax a little bit."
What might be most valuable is sleep, which Georgia won't get much of.
"I don't know what missing a night's sleep does for a body," Richt said. "I don't know if you feel it on a Tuesday and you get over it. Or if it can last all week long. We're going to pretend like everybody got a good night's sleep and [the coaches are] going to go to work."
Barnes goes home, likely won't play
Baldwyn, Miss., is about 70 miles from Oxford. Its native son, Blake Barnes, has seemed even farther removed from the Georgia quarterback competition in which he once competed.
"It's tough, but you still got to keep pressing because you don't know what will happen," Barnes said of going home while buried on the Bulldogs' depth chart. "There is an urge to get on the field no matter where it is, especially going back home. I would love to have a chance to play, and play in front of friends and family again."
Barnes, who is yet to play this season, will have 16 to 18 family members at the game, plus a host of friends

dirty · Sep 28, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA FOOTBALL
Richt stresses wins over awards
"The only stat that really does matter is winning the game"

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/27/06 Athens ? Mack Brown tried to hand Matthew Stafford his future.
The Texas coach held it just within his reach, in fact. Thirteen and a half inches tall, 14 inches long, 25 pounds and bronzed right there for Stafford, then one of the nation's top recruits, to grab. The quarterback just had to reach out and take it.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Stafford never did, so Brown put Ricky Williams' Heisman Trophy back in its place. The moment passed and the recruiting ploy failed. As it turns out, that might be as close as Stafford ever comes to a Heisman.
Stafford chose to play at Georgia, which hasn't been producing Heisman winners ? or Heisman candidates, for that matter ? in recent years.
In the five-plus years since Mark Richt's arrival as coach, no Georgia player has finished in the top 10 in Heisman voting. That's despite Georgia being one of the seven winningest programs since 2001.
"Around here, all anybody cares about is winning," Stafford said.
That's games, mind you. Not awards.
But there was a time when Richt was into winning. Awards and games, actually.
When he was at Florida State and the Seminoles offense actually moved, he stewarded Chris Weinke to college football's most prestigious individual honor. He also helped guide Charlie Ward to the Heisman in 1993.
"One of the biggest things ? I'm sure people at Florida State won't like this ? is week in and week out, the competition factor is different," Richt said. "Week in and week out, every game is a war. Every game. It wasn't that way [in the pre-expansion ACC]. Just look at the scores. It wasn't. We could compile more stats."
Weinke passed for 4,167 yards his senior season. Ward had 6,636 total yards in his career.
"Stats, quite frankly, meant a lot more to me then than they do now," Richt said. "The only stat that really does matter is winning the game. I learned that my very first year, probably my second game against South Carolina [a 14-9 loss].
"I was concerned about some style points and concerned about not only winning but winning in style, and it doesn't matter. Style doesn't count."
What does is playing time. And at Georgia, it's split.
Richt spreads carries between three running backs. His preference, he said, would be to list all of them as co-No. 1 on the depth chart.
Then there's the three-man competition behind center, with Stafford, Joe Tereshinski and Joe Cox all expected to be battling for the starting job next week against Tennessee.
Even in a year when the depth chart wasn't so fluid, Richt made moves for playing time. David Greene, Division I-A's winningest quarterback, yielded to D.J. Shockley for a series or two here and there.
Georgia hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver since Richt's second season in Athens.
"He doesn't single out too many people in his offense," fullback Brannan Southerland said. "His offense is a team."
When recruits make the choice to go to Georgia, they understand eye-popping stats might not be part of their futures, like they are at South Carolina (Sidney Rice had 1,143 receiving yards in 2005) or Arkansas (Darren McFadden ran for 1,113).
What Georgia can sell that its SEC competition can't is two league titles in the past four seasons.
"When Coach recruits us, he tells us we could be the next David Pollack or the next David Greene," linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler said. "But once you get here and start looking into our system and Coach Richt's system, it is all team mentality."
Even before a recruit arrives, Richt looks into whether he'd fit into this system.
"He is not just open to anybody coming here," Stafford said. "He realizes it takes a special breed of person to kind of conform to this team atmosphere."
Said Richt: "If you think he is a total prima donna ... he just won't make it at Georgia if all he cares about is him."
Which might explain why the quarterback battle hasn't been contentious. Even after Cox led the Bulldogs back from 13 down against Colorado, he continued to say he was happy with whatever his position on the team.
"We are looking for that," Richt said. "We coach it. We preach it. We don't play favorites. We don't put some guys on a pedestal. We always put team first."
Stafford realized as much early in his recruitment to Georgia. While Brown and Texas were flaunting Williams' Heisman, Richt and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo talked up what the team could do.
The fact that Richt had coached two Heisman winners at the quarterback position never came up.
"Not once," Stafford said.

dirty · Sep 28, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Richt drops guard about poor receiving

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/27/06
Athens ? Mark Richt is out of answers and full of sighs.
All the dropped passes by Georgia's receivers have the coach searching past the good book of coachspeak and into the nether regions of his mind for an explanation. And he hasn't found one yet.
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"I don't know the answer, man," Richt said. "It has been tough. It has been tough."
What's so tough about it is there is no rhyme or reason to which ball will be a grab and which will be a gaffe.
Take Martrez Milner. The tight end dropped a sure touchdown in the first game of the season, a rout of Western Kentucky. Then, with the pressure of a season on his shoulders, Milner hauled in the game-winner Saturday against Colorado.
Go figure.
Richt has been preaching the same message to his receivers as the drops have piled up. Don't let the ball into the body, he's told them time and time again.
"Reach out and snatch the ball," he said. "We have got to trust our hands."
And don't blame it on the velocity of the passes, either, Richt said.
"[Matthew Stafford] will put more zip on the ball than anyone we got," Richt said. "Our receivers better just get ready. They have got to catch it.
"You think [at the next level, receivers] are going to ask Michael Vick or Brett Favre to take something off the ball? That is just a part of it."
Richt is not about to ask Stafford to change his velocity.
"There are certain throws you want to have a good amount of zip," Richt said. "Then there are some passes you want to have some touch. He throws a screen pass with nice touch. He understands touch. I have had some QBs with a big, strong arm and they don't understand touch. Matthew understands that."
There were four clear drops in the Colorado game. All came when Stafford was in the game. All killed drives. In the opener, Joe Tereshinski had four of his passes dropped.
The drops have come from any and all receivers. Even Mohamed Massaquoi, the Bulldogs' most reliable receiver, has had problems.
"[Massaquoi] has let the ball get to his body more than I am used to out of him," Richt said.
Without a solid No. 1 receiver, the rest of the offense has suffered.
"I don't think we have got a guy right now that is scaring anybody when they are playing man coverage," Richt said.

Tereshinski's rehab ahead of schedule
Tereshinski, who injured his ankle against South Carolina, has gone through two limited practices this week and is on schedule to be back close to full strength Monday. Richt was noncommittal as to whether Tereshinski would be placed back atop the depth chart when he returns.
"I am not going to sit here and guarantee anything right now," he said.
As for Tereshinski's rehab, Richt said the senior is on target.
"He is a pretty determined guy now," Richt said. "He is a very serious human being. He has probably broken some sort of record for treatments in a 24-hour period. He wants to get back in there and play."
Dogs experience shorter games
The NCAA wanted games to speed up, and Georgia has obliged.
The average length of a Bulldogs game this year is 3:07. That's down from 3:24 last season.
Georgia's play count has gone from an average of 62.9 to 56.5.
Last week's Wake Forest-Ole Miss game lasted just 2:35, the fastest in Division I-A this season, according to cfbstats.com. It helped that Wake attempted only five passes and ran 53 times.

dirty · Sep 28, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

GEORGIA REPORT
Lumpkin will start for Dogs at tailback

By CARTER STRICKLAND
Published on: 09/26/06
Athens ? As if running nowhere in his first four starts wasn't discouraging enough for Georgia tailback Thomas Brown, now he's moving backward.
Junior Kregg Lumpkin has been plugged into the starting role for Saturday's game at Ole Miss.
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"It is a great honor," Lumpkin said of his first start since the 2004 Capital One Bowl.
Lumpkin ran for a team-high 52 yards on 12 carries in Saturday's 14-13 win over Colorado, by far the best production of the Bulldogs' backs.
He said the move is a signal he's all the way back from a knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2004 season. Lumpkin wasn't 100 percent healthy at the start of last season but finished strong with 74 yards against Georgia Tech and 67 in the Sugar Bowl.
"It is a great feeling to be back," Lumpkin said. "Now I have a chance to come out here, compete and play football, which I love to do."
Brown was at his worst Saturday, with three carries for minus-7 yards. A week earlier, he had a 10-carry, 26-yard effort against UAB.
Brown, who has started every game the past two seasons, came into his junior campaign hoping to put some separation between himself and his tailback competition. But his per-carry average is down from 5.0 in 2005 to 2.9.
Said Lumpkin: "We have got to be around him, be his teammate and be his brother off the field to help him keep his spirits up."
Cox's superb play receives attention
Georgia didn't go through a traditional practice Monday, so quarterback evaluations won't start until today. Even though Matthew Stafford and Joe Cox are in the midst of a competition to see who starts Saturday, neither played the part Monday.
"We are getting to play football on Saturdays on ESPN for the No. 10 team in the country, or whatever we are now, and it is fun," Stafford said.
"You can't get any more fun than that," Cox added.
Cox was named SEC freshman of the week as well as Sporting News' college football player of the week.
Etc.
Georgia's Oct. 7 home game against Tennessee will kick off at 7:45 p.m. and be broadcast by ESPN. CBS picked up two SEC games that day for its doubleheader: Arkansas-Auburn at noon and LSU-Florida at 3:30 p.m. ... Middle linebacker Jarvis Jackson continues to suffer with plantar fascitis and is unsure what his role will be Saturday against the Rebels. Jackson is resting the injury that first appeared in camp. Danny Verdun Wheeler could move into the middle spot if Jackson can't go.

dirty · Sep 28, 2006

Re: UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

Ole Miss transfers struggling

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/26/06
Former Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer was handed the starting job at Ole Miss the day he signed out of junior college in February.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis was offered essentially the same deal at tailback when he agreed to transfer from Indiana.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=caption>Brent Schaeffer had thrown for 127 yards and an interception and had been sacked five times when he was replaced Saturday.
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Yet both players are fighting for their spots atop the depth chart as the Rebels (1-3, 0-1 SEC) prepare for a visit from No. 10 Georgia (4-0, 1-0) on Saturday.
"I'm a little disappointed," coach Ed Orgeron said Monday of his high-profile transfers. "We're not getting out of BenJarvus and Brent what we got in that first game. I thought they were a lot more consistent before."
Schaeffer and Green-Ellis have looked nothing like they did in the opener, a 28-25 win against Memphis. It appeared then that Orgeron's plan for revamping the offense, which included bringing in offensive coordinator Dan Werner from Miami, was going to work.
Schaeffer was solid in the opener, completing 7 of 16 passes for 97 yards. Green-Ellis rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
It was what the Rebels expected from the one-time member of the Big Ten's all-freshman team, who rushed for 1,732 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons at Indiana. His media-guide bio includes the line "Fewer players have ever arrived at Ole Miss with higher expectations."
But since that opener, the Rebels have averaged eight points a game, falling to Missouri, Kentucky and Wake Forest by an average margin of 22.7 points.
Saturday, backup Seth Adams replaced Schaeffer in the fourth quarter of an embarrassing 27-3 loss to the Demon Deacons. At the time, he had completed 13 of 28 passes for 127 yards, had thrown an interception and had been sacked five times. For the season, he has hit 46 percent of his passes for 504 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions.
Orgeron is considering starting Adams against the Bulldogs. "If he is the best quarterback for our team, then we'll play him," he said.
Green-Ellis, who went into last weekend as the SEC's third-leading rusher, had 54 yards on 12 carries against Wake. He's being pushed for playing time by Bruce Hall and Mico McSwain.
"It's just rough right now," Green-Ellis said. "We've just got to get back on track. We have to stop making mistakes and just go out there and play."
It hasn't helped the offense that Schaeffer arrived in Oxford the day before preseason practice began. Complications fulfilling academic transfer requirements kept him at California's College of Sequoias until then.
"He knows the offense," Orgeron said. "It's just his game-time experience that we need. He needs to go through some growing pains. Obviously he was fantastic in the first game, but that was a relatively simple game plan. We didn't have a lot of pressure. Now, we're putting a little more pressure on him, and his pocket presence needs to improve."
Orgeron still thinks his transfers will be difference-makers for the Rebels this season.
"The signing of Brent Schaeffer and getting BenJarvus to transfer put our program ahead a couple of years," Orgeron said. "Those guys are, in my opinion, SEC-type football players that we haven't had here. Those guys are capable of making big plays against the big-time teams we play."

UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

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