UGA Football Information Thread for the Upcoming NCAA Football Season

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Bulldogs schedule is meat and tomatoes

By Jeff Schultz | Friday, August 25, 2006, 03:00 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jeff Schultz

• Smoltz waiting for word on future
• Tech's changes point to 7-5 again
• Bulldogs schedule is meat and tomatoes
• Tackle Jackson has mass appeal
• Dump Duckett, start Stafford

Assuming Mel Gibson didn’t serve in the past as a Georgia tight end or head of the Athens Christian Coalition, it has been a relatively quiet offseason for the Bulldogs. Either Mark Richt’s threats to his blue-chip convicts finally sunk in or players just couldn’t work their way into another beer-induced frenzy after falling behind to West Virginia, 28-0.
The Dogs might as well keep resting. The first eight weeks is less a schedule than a walk through a mattress warehouse. It’s probably why Richt thinks he can get by with Joe Tereshinski at quarterback until Matthew Stafford looks functional. Besides, Stafford should be ready for the Florida game. And he’s never lost to the Gators. (That’s one.)
Sept. 2: Western Kentucky
As long as the NCAA’s Dept. of Hypocrisy is going to find some way to justify 12-game schedules — while maintaining they’re all about academics — I’ve got no problem with SEC schools opening the season against Division 1-AA meat by-products. That said, I hope the Hilltoppers have a good HMO plan.
• Prediction: Duh.
Sept. 9: South Carolina
Steve Spurrier could take the Prairie View job, and sphincters would still tighten in Athens. When Spurrier came to Georgia last year, Richt mudwrestled his playbook and nearly lost. Spurrier won seven games last season, the Gamecocks’ best year since Lou Holtz’s last rulebook burning four years earlier. On a related note, be sure to stop by Holtz’s Used Soul kiosk before the game.
• Prediction: Narrow escape.
Sept. 16: UAB
UAB coach Watson Brown stepped down as athletics director after last season’s 5-6 splat. The school has yet to name a replacement, leading to speculation he may reclaim the job. Given his team plays Oklahoma and Georgia in the first three weeks, I’m thinking he might just want to lay low for awhile. Waiter, hemlock!
• Prediction: Not so close.
Sept. 23: Colorado
This football program is one cheap mood candle short of a Tombstone brothel. Of course, if coach Gary Barnett hadn’t lost to Texas 70-3, the debauchery in Boulder could’ve been overlooked. The Buffs say they’re trying to disinfect things. They hired coach Dan Hawkins (Boise State), who reacted by jumping out of an airplane this spring. The parachute opened. We’re not certain if that was by design.
• Prediction: Win.
Sept. 30: at Ole Miss
It doesn’t take much to get people excited in Oxford (not that one, the icky one). The new Old Ms. quarterback is Brent Schaeffer, who scrambled to qualify at a junior college after getting run out of Tennessee (which isn’t easy to do). While in Knoxville, Schaeffer got into a dorm brawl and was charged with assault. He pled guilty to “offensive touching.” Personally, as a guy, I think I’d rather have “assault” on my record.
• Prediction: 5-0.
Oct. 7: Tennessee
David Cutcliffe is back as offensive coordinator, which means fewer decisions for Phil Fulmer. Now I know how standup comics felt when Nixon left office. The Vowels went 5-6 last season, including losses to Spurrier and Vanderbilt. The last time a UT coach felt this much heat, Fulmer was clogging on Johnny Majors’ casket.
• Prediction: Win.
Oct. 14: Vanderbilt
It’s homecoming. Ever notice nobody ever schedules, like, Oklahoma, for homecoming? It’s always the football equivalent of Liechtenstein. Since 1968, Vandy has been Georgia’s homecoming opponent 15 times. That’s even more than Kentucky (11), which I assume is Vandy’s homecoming meat. Where was I?
• Prediction: Win.
Oct. 21: Mississippi State
I realize Sylvester Croom hasn’t won a lot of games yet, but you’ve got to love a coach who said after this year’s first practice: “We had a couple of fat guys who played like fat guys. And we’re not mentally tough enough. We haven’t been the first two years we’ve been here, and we weren’t today.” Alrighty, then.
• Prediction: Another W.
Oct. 28: Florida
So if I’ve got this right, and I can’t recall ever being wrong, the Doggies will be 8-0 going to Jacksonville. And there’s nothing like that annual seamless transition from rapture to misery every fall when the Gators come-a-slappin’. Urban Meyer’s offense will be better than a year ago — and Florida will be coming off a bye week after consecutive games against Alabama, LSU and Auburn. Ugas go bye-bye.
• Prediction: Loss.
Nov. 4: at Kentucky
Rich Brooks is 9-25 (4-20 in the SEC) in three seasons, which makes you wonder what hallucinogen AD Mitch Barnhart was on when he announced Brooks would be back for another season. To his credit, Brooks never loses sight of things down the stretch — Kentucky lost its last two games by 51 points. Hello, Kittys.
• Prediction: Win.
Nov. 11: at Auburn
There’s a chance this game might be rescheduled, pending ceremonies to honor the Tigers’ front seven by Bob’s House of Catfish and Sociology Degrees. If this turns out to be only a minor annoyance on the wide scale of SEC academic fraud scandals, Auburn should win the SEC. With honors.
• Prediction: Loss.
Nov. 25: Georgia Tech
The last five meetings have gone to the Doggies, and they’ll be coming off a bye. Tech will be playing for the sixth straight week. I know. Rivalry game. But the money is on logic.
• Prediction: 10-2.
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[dirty]

No decision yet on playmakers

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/26/06 Athens — Georgia now knows who is going to handle the ball most of the time.
But the Bulldogs are still searching for the playmakers to surround quarterback Joe Tereshinski.
So far, the only consensus votes from several Bulldogs coaches are for running back Thomas Brown and wide
receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.
"We have got a lot of guys with playmaking ability, but we have got to find that out as we get going," quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said. "But it is the same thing as the quarterbacks. It is kind of easy to go out there and make plays out here during the week. But when the lights go on, who is going to step up and make some plays?"
Offensive line coach Neil Callaway, who doubles as offensive coordinator, named two other potential big-play candidates: junior flanker Mikey Henderson, who converted from cornerback in the spring, and senior tight end Martrez Milner.
"[Milner] has been good," Callaway said. "We all know the history with [dropping passes] but as far as this fall camp, he has been good."
As for others who have been making plays in camp, Callaway said senior Mario Raley (17 career catches) has looked solid.
"We have not had nearly as many drops as we've had in the past," Callaway said.
Young linemen aren't quite ready
As it stands now, Georgia plans to use only six offensive linemen against Western Kentucky. Two players are suspended (Daniel Inman, Ian Smith), and the freshmen might not be ready by a week from today.
"At this point, I don't see any of them [playing]," said Callaway, who added there's still time for one of the newcomers to catch up in practice next week.
The one backup lineman Callaway said he would use is Seth Watts, a sophomore who played sparingly last season.
Third-string QBs still have a shot
While Blake Barnes and Matthew Stafford exclusively ran the scout team during Thursday's scrimmage, the third-string quarterbacks are still seeing action during practice.
Both backups acknowledged their snaps have decreased dramatically in practice, making it more difficult to climb the depth chart. But they're not out of the picture just yet, Bobo pointed out.
"There is no guarantee the rotation is going to stay set," he said. "If we feel a guy is playing better than another, we're going to move them."
Expectations haven't been set high for second-string quarterback Joe Cox, who should get work in the opener against Western Kentucky.
"He is going to have some rust and he is just going to have to work his way through it," Bobo said of the redshirt freshman.

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Quentin Moses: This is my town

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Quentin Moses sits down for a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit and orange juice at Mama Shugs, one of his favorite breakfast restaurants, in Winterville.
Briana Brough/Staff
Quentin Moses greets Deandre Barnett, 14, at the East Athens Community Center. Moses attended camp at the center as a child and was a counselor there during the summer for the past several years. He was "great with the kids, especially the teenagers," said facility supervisor Bob Betz.
Briana Brough
Quentin Moses sits in the football stadium at Cedar Shoals High School, his alma mater. Besides football, Moses excelled in basketball and track and field while at the school.
Briana Brough
Moses wore No. 44 at Cedar Shoals, where he was a standout player.
File/Staff
Moses now wears No. 94 for the Bulldogs.
File/Staff
Click thumbnails to view


By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
The front passenger seat in the SUV is pushed all the way back. Quentin Moses opens the door and reclines the chair to make the ride a bit more comfy for his 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame.
On this mid-July day, Georgia's senior defensive end already has sweated through a 6:30 a.m. workout, showered and now is ready to turn into Fodor's - the tour guide to his Athens.
It's the Classic City through the eyes of a homegrown product who has grown into the marquee player of the hometown's biggest show.
"Being in my situation, you just cherish this whole situation a lot more," Quentin Moses said heading on College Station Road, toward the loop. "For the most part, you've got so many people here that are just Georgia fans. Young people. Old people. Middle-aged people. Little kids. Everybody is Georgia fans."
First stop is breakfast.
Moses is picking the place.
We're heading to Mama Shug's Country Kitchen in Winterville (not far from the home he grew up in on the North side), and Moses is offering directions.
"Keep straight."
"Make a right."
"Take a left at the red light."
He's also explaining the pitfalls of making it big in your own backyard.
"Everybody's so proud of you because you just made it to Georgia," Moses said. "Now being talked about with some of the elite players in the nation, it's a lot to take in. A lot of people who remember you and people who you used to know in high school, grew up with and might have taken different paths, sometimes people can't understand why you can't do what they do or hang out with them like you used to. People talk about you, saying you changed and that you act different. It's good and bad, but I think the good outweighs the bad."
Things could have been different.
Imagine Moses in powder blue in Chapel Hill, N.C. Moses said he felt the right "vibe" during the recruiting process at North Carolina his senior year at Cedar Shoals.
So who should Georgia fans thank for Moses staying in Athens? Try Jim Harrick, whose basketball legacy here is clouded by NCAA violations.
Basketball was Moses' passion, even if football was his future. Harrick told him he had a place on the squad saved for him as a walk-on.
"That's all it took," Moses said.
Moses gave up basketball after one season and was mostly overlooked at Georgia until last season, when he finally cracked the starting lineup after two-time All-American David Pollack's celebrated career was over.
Moses more than adequately filled in, finishing second in the SEC with 111/2 sacks and leading the team with 201/2 tackles for loss.
Now, Sports Illustrated sends a reporter to Athens for a profile. Now, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli is reporting that Moses is rated as the No. 1 senior prospect in next year's NFL draft by one scouting service. Now, Georgia is promoting him as an All-American.
"I'd rather come in like last season, when people were talking about who's going to fill Pollack's shoes." Moses said. "It wasn't all this hype and all this attention on me. I'd rather not have it this way. I know how I feel when I played (Arron) Sears from Tennessee last year, or some of the top offensive tackles. I feel I've got to get off on them. 'He's the best. This is how I've got to make my name.' "
For a guy on top of the college football world, it can be kind of lonely sometimes.
Many of Moses' closest friends have moved on. When he first arrived at Georgia, he hung out with football/basketball player Fred Gibson and hoopsters like Wayne Arnold, Damien Wilkins and Steve Thomas. His best football buddies - Bryan McClendon, Tim Jennings and D.J. Shockley - are now in NFL camps.
He's grown close to cornerback Ramarcus Brown because both of their girlfriends go to Georgia State. Moses has known Marquita Goings since they attended Cedar Shoals, where she was a cheerleader and won a state pole vault title in 2004.
He hasn't been able to see her as much lately because he doesn't even have his own ride.
Driving in luxury will have to wait until that multimillion-dollar contract.
"I'm far from an Escalade right now," Moses said.
Moses is borrowing Brown's car because his '95 Chevy was stolen while parked at a friend's house. On this day, it's in the shop, needing a new steering column.
"They found it the next day," Moses said. "I had some rims on it, and they just stripped it. They took it to a neighborhood where they were building new houses and pulled it in one of the garages and stripped it down. I got a call the next morning."
* * *
Mama Shug's is calling.
Moses began frequenting the restaurant next to the Golden Pantry on Sundays when he went to church with his mother, Claudette Smith.
He comes around enough that owner James Morse knows what Moses wants before he utters a word: A sausage, egg and cheese biscuit. The specials listed on the board behind the counter on this day include fried chicken, steak and gravy, blackeyed peas, green beans and mac and cheese.
"That's pretty good food," Moses said. "I just like that home-cooked taste."
Growing up, Quentin's mother cooked breakfast before school.
She would fix grits, eggs, bacon or ham when she got home from the graveyard shift or before she left for a morning shift at the manufacturing plant Power Partners, where she is a technician making transformers. (Quentin's father Preston Moses, who lives in Oglethorpe County, is a welder there).
The biscuits at Mama Shug's are as big as pancakes. Regis is on the television. There's a man at a table across the way typing on his laptop.
It's already late enough in the morning that the guy listed as the No. 4 overall senior prospect by Mel Kiper Jr. can eat in peace.
Only one player from Athens has ever been a first-round draft pick - Clarke Central's Dunta Robinson, who played at South Carolina - was taken by Houston with the 10th overall pick in 2004.
"I try not to even think about it," Moses said between bites. "My whole deal is, you can get caught up in all that, but if you focus on all that instead of playing football, there's just a lot of unnecessary stress."
Georgia saw plenty of upside in Moses when he was a 6-4, 210-pound high school senior but labeled him as a "potential" player in their recruiting meetings.
"We identified him, but it wasn't like we were fighting 10 schools for him," said Jon Fabris, Moses' position coach.
Georgia coaches hoped the same long arms and explosion that Moses showed in the basketball gym, would translate off the edge as a pass rusher.
"With a 'potential' guy, you're just hoping that it will happen," said Georgia Southern coach and former Georgia defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, who recruited Moses to Georgia. "The one advantage he had is he was a very intelligent guy, a very smart guy. That gives him a chance to kind of figure out what he has to do to push that process."
Georgia fans held their breath last January that Moses would return for his senior season. He weighed entering the NFL draft after the Sugar Bowl loss.
"I knew as far as maturing as a football player, staying was the best decision to me," Moses said. "On the business aspect, if I had gotten back a first- or second-round grade, I'm thinking, 'You never know what can happen next year. I've got to go.' "
The decision was made for him when an NFL advisory committee pegged him for the third or fourth round.
"That sealed the deal," Moses said.
Now, Moses is being pushed for a slew of national defensive awards. He shakes his head when shown the mailing the school sent out to football writers.
"This is the type of stuff I don't like," Moses said.
Moses reads his name on the list of Georgia's career sack leaders.
He's fifth with 201/2, needing 151/2 this season to tie Pollack on the school's career list.
"I didn't realize all this stuff," he said.

* * *
Out the door and back on the road, Moses is heading to the East Athens Community Center.
To get there, he passes by the Nellie B Homes public housing projects.
"The crazy thing about it is, some of the best athletes - just pure athletes - they were always over here," Moses said.
It's a high-crime area that was targeted by a local drug task force trying to clean up the streets.
"Growing up in this environment - it's a tough environment," said Ellis Bradford, who directs the community center's summer daycamp. "You want someone to be doing some positive things in the community. Seeing (Moses) do positive stuff at Georgia gives a lot of the kids something to look up to. 'If Quentin can do it, I can do the same thing.' "
Danny Davenport knew Moses way back when. Moses played Athens Youth Organization football at Satterfield Park when he was 10.
"He constantly took advantage of opportunities and had a good role model - his mother - who kept him grounded and focused on things, and he listened," said Davenport, executive director of the Clarke Youth Association (CYA).
Moses used to come here as a camper and played countless hours on the basketball courts, even jumping the fence after hours to play more.
The problem for today's black kids growing up in Athens, like Moses did, Davenport said, is they can't simply walk over and play in a community basketball league like he did because fees were implemented in 2003.
"We don't always have enough programs, and what I call positive people, to make you feel wanted to be involved," Davenport said. "A lot of times, when you're in poverty, you feel it when people do it because they have to, not because it's in their heart."
Moses is one of those positive people. He spent previous summers as a daycamp counselor at the center. Davenport said he still answers the call when he's asked to speak to kids.
"The big thing is, he's got the respect of those kids, so they'll listen to him," said Bob Betz, the community center supervisor. "He doesn't preach to them. He has a very subtle, general way of getting the point across - stay in school, pay attention and set expectations very high."
Moses was responsible for his own lesson plans as a camp counselor and did much more than lead playtime. He led a group project of about 15 kids who were asked to make an end-of-camp presentation in front of campers, parents and staff that included talking about famous historical black figures.
On this day, some young girls want to show Moses what they are learning. Moses crosses his arms and watches them perform a jazz dance for him to music from "The Wiz."
On the second floor, Moses walks in the room and the boys playing pool, ping-pong and air hockey greet him with "Q."
Moses can always go home again because he's never left.
* * *
The one-story, three-bedroom home on Kevin Lane where Moses was raised and his mother still lives in North Athens still has the Christmas gift from older brother Ricky out in front of it.
Well, not all of it.
The basketball hoop replaced the clothes basket that 8-year-old Quentin used to stick on top of the refrigerator in the garage and take shots at with friends.
Moses said he was 6-4 by the eighth grade before his growth spurt all but stopped. When he arrived at Cedar Shoals, Ricky critiqued his game footage and wanted to do something to improve his brother's outside shooting.
So he took the backboard off.
"Everything would have to be pure," Moses said. "There ain't no lucky bounces or lucky rolls."
Step inside the front door and trophies and plaques from Moses' AAU, Cedar Shoals and Georgia days fill the room.
Moses comes over now at least two times a week and sometimes leaves his pit bulls "Achilles" and "Brick," who he bought from former teammate McClendon, in the doghouse on the side.
It wasn't all about play for Moses when he grew up. His mother stayed on him about his classwork, and he said he didn't get anything below a B until college.
"I got my first 'C' my sophomore year," Moses said.
* * *
The final stop is the old high school.
Moses always looked forward to going to a Cedar Shoals game when Georgia's preseason camp ended, but the high school season now starts two weeks later and the Jaguars will open the season the same weekend as the Bulldogs.
Moses looks over the football field and reflects on seasons that usually ended when the postseason began.
"We never could make it far in the playoffs," Moses said. "You get to college and all those guys have all that storytelling how they lost in the Dome. We barely made it. First round. That's it."
Moses has told the story of VanGorder offering him a scholarship on the sidelines after the first series of a Cedar Shoals-Clarke Central crosstown clash his senior season. VanGorder didn't recall it exactly that way.
"I remember he went out and had a great series and one play in particular," VanGorder said. "They ran a toss away from him, and he ran it down from the back side. There might have been someone standing there, and I said, 'I'll take him right now.' "
Moses played tight end, linebacker and defensive end at Cedar Shoals. Jaguars coach Scott Wilkins has said Moses' athletic ability is matched by the passion he brings to the field.
"As much as he loves to win, he hates to lose," Wilkins said.
Former Georgia quarterback David Greene had his high school jersey number retired at South Gwinnett in Snellville. Moses' number hasn't been retired yet, but everybody in this town knows Georgia's No. 94 wherever he goes.
"I don't hardly think he can go in Athens and not know a lot of people from all walks of life," Fabris said. "He can mingle with the well-to-do, upper crust, but also the folks from back in the neighborhood that maybe no one will ever hear from. Everybody's going to want to get their pictures printed with Quentin."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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Richt is at home in Athens

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Coach Mark Richt.
David Walter Banks/Staff
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By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
When Mark Richt decided to leave the comfort and prosperity of being the offensive coordinator at national power Florida State to run his own program at Georgia, there were plenty of folks who wondered just how long he would stay in Athens. // An up-and-coming high school linebacker from Thomson was one of them. // "When I first heard he had signed here, I said, 'This is just another stepping stone for him,' " said Danny Verdun Wheeler, now a senior. "As soon as he started recruiting me and I got here, I understood that he began roots here, he began planting seeds here. It's hard to plant an apple tree and not watch it grow. He's planting an apple tree here and it's growing so great and getting real big. I'd never want to leave, and I'm pretty sure he won't leave."
Richt and Georgia strengthened their commitment to each other when he signed a new eight-year contract this summer worth at least $2 million a season including longevity incentives.
"To have the university say pretty emphatically that we want you to be here, that makes you feel good and I guess it makes you feel more peaceful about things," Richt said in his office two days before practices began for his sixth season at Georgia.
The deal's hefty buyout if Richt were to leave gives Georgia fans reason to feel secure that the coach who has led the Bulldogs to three trips to the SEC title game in the past four years - winning in 2005 and 2002 - isn't going anywhere.
Another indication Richt has plans to stick around: Richt's sister, Nikki, and her husband Brad Johnson, the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback, put their Tallahassee, Fla., home on the market and are in the process of buying a $1.6 million home in the Five Points section of Athens.
Richt's sister, Mikki, and her husband, Kevin Hynes, Georgia's team chaplain, have lived in the area since Richt arrived. Richt's father, Lou, also lives in Watkinsville.
Brad Johnson's mother has plans to move from Tampa, Fla., to Athens. So does Richt's mother, Helen.
"Oh, yeah," Richt said. "She'll be looking. She'll be coming, too."
Hynes said Georgia's commitment to Richt convinced more of Richt's extended family to make Athens home.
"They knew Mark wasn't going back to Florida State," Hynes said. "As soon as Mark got here, he wanted to put roots down and he did not want to go anywhere. When Brad saw the school do what they did - he was like, 'OK, let's go.' (Mark) doesn't want to move his children here, there and everywhere like in the coaching profession."
Richt said he and his wife, Katharyn, made the determination that they would love Athens before they moved there.
"It's a state of mind," Richt said. "You choose to be happy or you can choose to critique every little thing that comes down the pike and you may find yourself wanting to move back from wherever you came from. We weren't even going to allow ourselves to think that way. We chose Athens and we had every expectation of becoming a part of the community right away."
Richt didn't dive head-first into the Georgia job when then-athletic director Vince Dooley offered it to him in December 2000. Instead he stuck his foot in the water, felt the temperature and made a late night decision about whether making the move to Athens was right for him and his family.
Richt interviewed for the job in New York and Tallahassee, Fla., and when Dooley called to offer the job at about 9 one night, it was a couple of days earlier than Richt expected.
"It kind of caught me off guard, and I just told him that I wasn't sure I wanted to take it," Richt said. "Tallahassee, being a place we were very happy with, was one reason why, and then the other was just the overwhelming responsibility of the job. I just got cold feet is really what happened. I just got nervous, and I got a little fearful of just thinking of the life change."
Richt weighed the reward of heading the Georgia program versus the cost it could have on the relationship with his family and to his own health because of the demands of what he called a "tough job."
"All those things were running through my mind," Richt said. "I didn't turn it down, but I just said I wasn't sure."
Dooley's recollection is a little different.
"He said he thought he would stay," Dooley said. "He really wanted the job, but when it came, I think it just showed the human nature of it, he just was not sure."
Dooley said he asked Richt to call back first thing in the morning if he changed his mind because he would have to move on in the search. Richt searched his soul for an answer.
"My wife is saying, 'God doesn't give you the spirit of fear' and my brother (Craig) is basically saying 'What are you nuts?' and tried to talk some sense into me," Richt said.
Richt called Dooley back at about 2 a.m with the decision.
"I didn't want him to call me and say you know what, I changed my mind," Richt said. "I wanted to call him and say I want it before he had a chance to say he didn't want me."
Now, 46, Richt has a 52-13 record after five seasons, which already has him in elite company in the coaching ranks.
Only three SEC coaches with at least five seasons have a better winning percentage than Richt and they coached in the first half of the 20th century: Tennessee's Robert Neyland and Alabama's Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas.
With success comes the security of Richt's eight-year deal.
It's the type of security Dooley, Georgia's all-time winningest coach, didn't enjoy until after the national title of 1980, his 17th season.
Dooley said in the 1970s he worked under a four-year contract that got down to near the final year. When he turned down an offer from his alma mater, Auburn, to be coach and athletic director, he got a five-year rollover contract.
"That was part of helping to feel like it's home for a long period of time," Dooley said. "I had decided I had been here too long. My family had been here too long and I had too much invested. When I made that decision to stay, I don't think there was any question that we were going to be here for the duration."
Under Dooley, Georgia posted four straight seasons of 10 or more wins from 1980-83. With another 10-win season this year, Richt would join Bear Bryant and Steve Spurrier as the only coaches in SEC history to hit that double-digit mark in five straight seasons.
"I don't think the pressure to win is any greater now," Richt said. "When you first come in as a first-year head coach, you're hoping you can win one game. If anything, there's a little bit more peace in knowing that you survived five years and actually had a good bit of success. You're thinking maybe some of the things we're doing are good. You always want to improve, but you feel like if we could do it last year, why can't we do it this year?"
Losing three NFL draft picks in the secondary, having just two starters back on the offensive line and most important, trying to find a starting quarterback might be reasons to wonder if Georgia can stay among the nation's elite programs.
"Every year, Coach Richt puts so much emphasis on teamwork and togetherness that you don't even worry about when you lose those great players," senior defensive end Quentin Moses said.
Richt has made the right decisions in picking his quarterback before.
"You get used to the fact that you're going to have a new guy every once in a while," Richt said. "We've been fortunate to have David Greene and (D.J.) Shockley be ready to step in and help us win an SEC championship. That's been wonderful. If history repeats itself, we'll find somebody who's going to play well."
Georgia, by nearly all accounts, is landing top 10 rated classes year after year and figures to be able to restock.
"Last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us, and we ended up winning the (SEC) championship," senior center Nick Jones said. "We're seeing how we're getting better recruits. We're just reloading instead of rebuilding."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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The heat is on

Football

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Greg Talley, who started at quarterback for Georgia from 1989-91, said he's glad the Internet wasn't around when he played.
University of Georgia / Special
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| | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
The game day bus ride from Georgia's practice fields to Sanford Stadium was nothing new for Greg Talley. He had made the short drive with his teammates a dozen times since arriving at Georgia two years earlier.
But he felt different this time. He wasn't headed to the stadium as a redshirt freshman or a backup quarterback. A sophomore, Talley was the starter for the season opener against Baylor in 1989, and it finally dawned on him what that meant.
"I remember thinking to myself, 'Why am I so lucky? Why is it me?' he said.
Fifth-year senior Joe Tereshinski might be thinking something similar when he retraces Talley's route and trucks toward Sanford Stadium on Saturday morning for his season-opening start against Western Kentucky.
Tereshinski will join a long list of Bulldogs quarterbacks who have christened a season. But while some aspects of being the starting quarterback have drastically changed, some have remained the same.
"Regardless of the time period, there has to be some leadership there," said former All-American Eric Zeier, who as a first-year freshman, edged Talley for the starting role six games into the 1991 season. "You've got to have poise, and the guys around you must trust and respect the direction in which you're taking them."
That concerned him when he first arrived at Georgia. But after enrolling early and taking part in spring practice - the same thing Matthew Stafford did this year - Zeier felt like the veteran players had accepted him when he replaced Talley.
"Coming in early was a tremendous benefit," said Zeier, a mortgage broker in Atlanta. "I remember our last running test before the season. I was running with my teammates, freshmen and veterans alike. I felt the bond. I wasn't an outsider."
Zeier and Talley said current Georgia quarterbacks have more responsibility than they did, mainly because offenses during that time were not as complicated.
"When I got up there, we were big tailbacks, I-formation and we rammed it down your throat," said Talley, who is a lawyer in his hometown of Valdosta. "The quarterback wasn't asked to do a lot. He was asked to play a very different role than they do today.
"They're asked to make a lot more decisions with where the ball goes, even with the running game. Every play, they're given an option to check to a different side based on what a defense is doing. People don't understand the complexity of the decisions they have to make."
Then there's the limelight and the pressure of the position. The excess of both elements have increased, even in the past decade since Mike Bobo started for the Bulldogs.
"You play the quarterback position and 93,000 come to the games," said Bobo, who is now Georgia's quarterbacks coach. "The spotlight is on the quarterback at any level. There's more of a spotlight here because we're a major university and we're playing in the (SEC). It's probably a little more so now than when I played because of the success we've had under coach (Mark) Richt. People expect a lot more now."
Tereshinski and Georgia's future quarterbacks can partially blame David Greene. Starting as a redshirt freshman in 2001, Greene went 42-10, took Georgia to two SEC Championship games, winning one, and helped the Bulldogs finish in the top 10 in three of four seasons.
"Early in my career, I didn't feel it (pressure) at all because I was kind of oblivious to it; I was like 'Hey, I'm here playing ball,' " he said. "When I came in, it was Coach Richt's first year. Georgia fans were used to 8-4 seasons. Now, I think the expectations are so much higher that you're expected to win every single ball game. If you don't win, people want answers. They want to know why you lose."
Media scrutiny and the proliferation of the Internet also has upped the attention on the quarterback, Bobo said. Zeier, Talley and Bobo are glad that wasn't a factor during their playing days.
"The Internet was around in the '90s, but not like it is now," Bobo said. "Guys really have to be more aware of the situations they're in than maybe they used to."
Said Talley: "All these chat rooms and Dawgvents, and people aren't subject to journalistic requirements. It's crazy. That's just another dimension those guys have to deal with."
Four quarterbacks started Georgia training camp with the goal of taking the first game snap of 2006. Now, Tereshinki has been selected as the starter against Western Kentucky, sophomore Joe Cox is his backup and co-No. 3s Blake Barnes and Stafford are still waiting for their opportunities.
"Those guys should all be proud of what they've done," Bobo said. "They're all in select company. Not many people can say they've been a Georgia quarterback."
Opener: W. Kentucky at Georgia 12:30 p.m. Saturday (Lincoln Financial)

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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Defense now faster, thanks to freshmen

Notebook

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
Akeem Hebron thought his days as a linebacker might be over when he signed with Georgia. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds at Good Counsel High School in Maryland, Hebron figured his size might mean a future at safety.
Georgia coaches had different thoughts.
"They told me there was no way I was going to move to safety, that I was going to play linebacker because they liked my speed," Hebron said.
That seems to be the rule more than the exception in this recruiting class.
"We got faster this year for sure," coach Mark Richt said. "We hit the nail on the head pretty good with speed and quickness."
The timing couldn't be better after Georgia's Sugar Bowl loss brought home the message that an upgrade in speed on defense was in order. Georgia gave up 382 rushing yards to West Virginia.
The four-man linebacker corps - which also includes Darius Dewberry, Akeem Dent and Darryl Gamble - that Georgia signed last February began to address the need at a position that was hurt by injuries and attrition.
"Every time we're out there (linebackers coach John Jancek's) stressing getting to the ball as fast as you can. No jogging around," said Hebron, now a 214-pound freshman. "Our defense is made of speed so he's just wanting us to run to the ball all the time."
Said Jancek: "All those linebackers run pretty good. They're taller, rangier type kids, and they seem to move around pretty good back there."
From the tall, lanky defensive linemen to the secondary, there has been an improvement in speed throughout the defense, defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said.
"If we've got to sacrifice size, we're going to pick speed and athleticism over that," Martinez said.

Tackles headed in different direction
Georgia is preparing to play a freshman defensive tackle in its opener Saturday, but not the one who was originally expected to play.
Geno Atkins, who played last year at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is slated to play, but January enrollee Ricardo Crawford is not.
"He's not figuring into the plans the first week," defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. "The guy missed about six days in camp, and it's hard to get somebody ready to play that's not out there practicing. That's valuable work that he's missed. He's got to grow up in a hurry."
Crawford missed four practices after going home to North Carolina for a family illness, and several more because of a collarbone injury.
"There's been a lot of tough love given in that room, but Geno has responded one way and Ricardo has responded another," Garner said. "(Atkins) has some real good potential. I'm pleased with the way he's responded."
Georgia made a late recruiting push to get Atkins, the Florida 5A defensive player of the year. He played just one year on the defensive line in high school.
"Geno stepped his game up tremendously since practice started," senior defensive tackle Ray Gant said. "I think Geno is going to see a lot of playing time coming up."

Gant uncertain about his status for opener
Gant has plans to meet with a doctor on Monday to examine his shoulder injury and expects to practice at full speed that day. He doesn't know if he will play against Western Kentucky.
"They don't want to rush me back," Gant said. "They want me to take my time and definitely be ready to go in a couple of weeks."
Gant hasn't practiced since injuring his right shoulder on Aug. 10. He returned to Georgia after traveling to Arizona for the funeral of an aunt who died in a traffic accident.
Linebacker Tony Taylor (thigh bruise) and defensive tackle Jeff Owens (hamstring) were injured in Saturday's practice but are expected back Monday.
Richt said receiver Mikey Henderson, who sustained a minor injury in Thursday's scrimmage to the same ankle he broke in 2004, should practice Monday. Receiver Demiko Goodman (hamstring) and cornerback Bryan Evans (knee) also are expected to return to practice Monday. Fullback Des Williams (knee) could play in the opener, Richt said. Fullback Jason Johnson (ankle) did not practice Saturday.

This and that
Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley is among a group of former coaches invited to be on a review panel for the NCAA Football Future Coaches Academy, which will assist recent college players who seek a career in college coaching. The academy is sponsored by the NCAA's office for diversity and inclusion. ... Crawford wasn't available for postpractice interviews Saturday. Garner said Crawford simply "got hot. He got tired."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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Experiences have helped develop Southerland into a solid fullback

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Brannan Southerland
David Walter Banks/Staff
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By John Kaltefleiter | john.kaltefleiter@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
Brannan Southerland needs no extraneous explanation concerning the ebbs and flows of a college football season.
Southerland has two in-game experiences to prove he's fairly knowledgeable on the subject.
The high point of his initial season as Georgia's starting fullback came in the first quarter at Tennessee, when he scored his first career touchdown and gave the Bulldogs a lead they never relinquished.
Five weeks later at home against Auburn, his devastating fumble-turned-touchdown in the fourth quarter sparked the Tigers to an eventual last-minute win.
"I tasted both ends of it last year," Southerland said. "I thought the touchdown at Tennessee was big for us. Obviously, my fumble cost us."
Southerland spent the final four games trying to atone for his slip up against Auburn, and he produced modest results with a touchdown against Kentucky and one against Georgia Tech.
What's different for him is the fact he's much more prepared heading into this season.
Southerland had no idea when, or if, he'd become the Bulldogs' starting fullback when he came to Georgia in 2004.
He expected to redshirt - which he did - and Southerland figured Des Williams would anchor the fullback spot until he graduated.
But Williams tore a pectoral muscle while lifting weights during the summer and was lost for 2005, thrusting Southerland into the starting role.
"I was green and fresh last year," he said. "I'm a little more focused. I don't want to be caught off-guard this season."
Tailback Thomas Brown admitted there was some concern whether or not Southerland could replace Williams and be effective as a rookie. But his blocking skills made Brown a believer.
"He was a lot like myself," Brown said. "When he came in, he was a little bit shy and didn't have full confidence in himself. Brannan's gained a lot more confidence.
"Brannan's a monster. He's a very strong kid. Fullbacks like him are somewhat like offensive linemen. They do the dirty work, and the skill guys, the quarterbacks and receivers, get all the glory. If it wasn't for them, none of us would be able to do what we do."
Southerland missed spring practice after undergoing shoulder surgery in January. However, he feels much stronger than he did at the end of 2005, and is pegged as the starter heading into the season.
"We've got a bunch of fullbacks in there, and we're all going to push each other," he said. "I might be in the starting role right now, but I have to work hard to hold that spot."
Running backs coach Tony Ball, who replaced Kirby Smart in February, has seen Southerland only on the practice field.
He has seen enough to gauge his talent.
"I like the fact that he can run and then get his body into a football position and hit somebody quickly," Ball said. "That's his athleticism. He understands his role as a fullback, and he's a throwback. That's what I love about him."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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Owens learned much in his freshman year and now is being asked to lead

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Jeff Owens
David Walter Banks/Staff
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By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
Jeff Owens grew up trying to emulate his big brothers.
Anthony Owens played cornerback at Division I-AA Norfolk State. Clifton Owens was a linebacker at Division II Lincoln in Missouri.
"I always looked up to them and wanted to be like them," Owens said.
Now, Georgia's sophomore defensive tackle is simply trying to live up to the expectations that surround him.
That's what happens when you go from an unproven player right out of high school to one who plays his way onto the Sporting News Freshman All-American team.
"There's no pressure," Owens said. "I've just got to live up to the hype."
Owens is moving from a backup role to the starting lineup after the departures of interior line stalwarts Kedric Golston and Gerald Anderson.
The seniors played the role of mentors to Owens.
"I came in the summer and they taught me all summer, teaching me the ropes," Owens said. "Taking me to the film room, watching film and just trying to have me a step ahead of everybody."
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Owens played in all 13 games as a freshman and used his quickness to make 17 tackles and 21/2 sacks in a season in which he saw more game action than he anticipated.
It didn't take him long to feel like he belonged. Try the season opener against Boise State.
"Just the first time I stepped on the field and hit somebody," Owens said.
Growing up in Sunrise, Fla., nearby Miami was popular in the Owens household.
Owens was a regular at home games at the Orange Bowl, about 30 minutes from his home.
But Owens turned down "The U," among others, to play for Georgia.
"It was really hard," he said. "There were a lot of people pulling me toward Miami, but my heart was at Georgia."
Georgia has quickly fallen for Owens as well, and hopes the relationship grows stronger.
"Jeff has so much room for improvement. So much," defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. "He's just scratching the surface. His fundamentals last year at times were atrocious. He has to work to become a more fundamentally sound football player. We have to get his motor going at a high rate."
Owens said Garner has challenged him "a whole lot" to improve his game and become a leader in only his second year.
"He's got to play better than he played his freshman year," defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "That's going to be a major challenge for him. People didn't know that much about him (last season). Now they do."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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Marcus Washington is a key component in the linebacking corps

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Marcus Washington
David Walter Banks/Staff
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By John Kaltefleiter | john.kaltefleiter@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
Immediate playing time was not a factor when Marcus Washington picked Georgia over Auburn and Alabama in 2004.
Frankly, the linebacker expected a redshirt or a few special teams appearances at the most.
But Washington's track into the defensive lineup shortened after he signed last year, thanks to injuries and the departures of linebackers Derrick White and Josh Johnson, the non-admittance of Jamar Chaney, and Darius Dewberry's detour to prep school.
"We needed Marcus to be a backup and to play," linebackers coach John Jancek said. "We really needed him to play because of our numbers and lack of depth."
Washington entered 2005 slotted behind veteran Tony Taylor at middle linebacker. Initially, when he was on the field in games, he found himself using his natural talent to compensate for his lack of knowledge of the schemes.
It wasn't until after Georgia's trip to Tennessee, five games into the season, that Washington felt more comfortable and prepared on the field.
"I had some bubble guts, was a little nervous before that game," said Washington who played in 12 games. "That was my first taste of a big-time game. After that, I realized it was not all that hard."
Jancek said Washington's smoother-than-usual leap from high school to college made it easier to utilize him.
"To come in and play middle linebacker in a highly competitive league was a testament to his preparation in high school and his dedication once he got here to learn the package," Jancek said. "Typically, you don't find kids who have the fundamentals in line like he did. From that point, it was just a matter of him learning the package and going from there."
Washington earned starter Jarvis Jackson's respect during camp.
He was pleased that Washington received a lot of game reps last season.
"He definitely came in faster and stronger than I did when I first came in; that really caught my eye," Jackson said. "(Playing) gave him the experience to be a good backup. He's really coming around."
Unlike last season, Georgia's linebacking corps is crowded.
Three veteran starters return, Dewberry is now in the mix, and Brandon Miller and Washington have shown they're capable of playing in the SEC.
It leads Washington to believe that there's a lot of promise in the unit, this season and beyond.
"We've got a great group of guys," Washington said. "We're real comfortable where we're at right now. That's the biggest difference."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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Asher Allen seeks to have a Champ Bailey-like impact at Georgia

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Asher Allen
David Walter Banks/Staff
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By John Kaltefleiter | john.kaltefleiter@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
The framed photo of Champ Bailey hanging inside Georgia's lockerroom gets a nod and a smile from Asher Allen before every practice.
Bailey's picture is Allen's constant reminder of what type of player he hopes to become when his time with the Bulldogs is finished.
Naturally, there's been a number of Bailey wannabes at Georgia since he left for the NFL and became a Pro Bowl cornerback. But out of all of them, Allen might possess skills most comparable to the former All-American.
"With me on the field, I've always felt like there's always a chance for me to make a big play," Allen said. "With my speed burst and my knack to find the ball, I think that's what the coaches are looking for."
Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, who threw Allen into a race to replace Tim Jennings at one of Georgia's vacated cornerback spots, said he feels comfortable starting a freshman in the season opener if needed.
Even Bailey didn't do that.
"As a freshman, he's above average, maturity-wise," Martinez said. "He's picked up things pretty well, right from the beginning. It's a lot easier for a corner to come in here and play as a freshman as opposed to a safety or a linebacker."
Funny thing is, Allen has not played cornerback in an official game since his sophomore year at Tucker. Allen moved to free safety his junior season to bolster Tucker's defense, which was equipped to stop the run. He suffered a shoulder injury as a senior and played just one game, a playoff loss.
Tucker coach Bill Ballard is convinced Allen's scrubbed senior year and his transition to cornerback won't matter.
"He really reminds me of a Champ Bailey-type of player," Ballard said. "He's used to stiff competition, and the thing he's got going for him is he's got a positive attitude. If something bad were to happen, a mistake in his coverage or a missed tackle, he's got that bounce-back ability."
Allen credits his parents for that.
"They always said you can't go back and change the past," he said. "You just can't make two bad plays. If I mess up on a play, I know I have to come back and make a heck of a play the next time."
Allen said enrolling at Georgia in the winter and participating in spring practice was a smart move.
It showed on G-Day when he intercepted Joe Cox and streaked 100 yards for a touchdown.
"I'm glad I did that in the (spring) game, but if I could do that in a real game, it would be more important," Allen said. "Coming in early and being able to know the playbook and getting to know my teammates and coaches, that was a big thing."
Sophomore receiver Mohamed Massaquoi has liked what he's seen so far.
"Asher is a hard worker and a high-intensity guy," he said. "He's one of those guys that you know you're going to get the best effort from him all the time. He absolutely hates to lose."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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Thomas Flowers is one of the nation's best punt returners

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Thomas Flowers
Diane Cebula / Staff
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By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 5:49 AM on Sunday, August 27, 2006
Celebrity status can be cemented sometimes with one special play. Think Lindsay Scott's touchdown catch against Florida or Theron Sapp's drought-ending touchdown run against Georgia Tech.
Or in the eyes of one 7-year- old boy, there is Thomas Flowers' 54-yard punt return for a touchdown against Tennessee last season.
Flowers got his own walk in the sun this summer. He was greeted by the youngster while spending a day at the Athens YMCA camp in Tallulah Falls.
"He asked me my name, and I said, 'Thomas,' " Flowers said.
"Thomas Flowers!" the boy said. "You're the guy that returned that punt against Tennessee."
"I was like, 'Yeah, how did you know that?' " Flowers said. "He said, 'We're some big Bulldog fans, I'm telling you.' "
Flowers' fourth-quarter touchdown against Tennessee last Oct. 8 helped clinch a 27-14 victory and gave him a signature play.
"I didn't know a lot of people paid attention to it," Flowers said. "I mean, I knew I returned a punt against Tennessee to win the game, but I didn't know it had the big impact like it did."
Flowers, a redshirt junior from Austell, hopes to make more impact as a punt returner and at cornerback. He will have to try to regain his job returning punts after he serves a two-game suspension for violating team rules.
"I'm keeping a positive attitude and am working just as hard as if I'm on the No. 1 unit," Flowers said. "I'll be fine when I come back."
Georgia had a revolving door at punt returner (Tyson Browning and Tim Jennings) before Flowers showed in 2004 he could not only get yardage but wouldn't cough up the ball.
"In my opinion, that's the second most pressurized job in college football besides placekicking," said assistant coach Jon Fabris, who oversees the punt return team. "You've got to have ice water in your veins for that job. I've known some good football players at Georgia since I've been here, guys that are in the NFL, that were like, 'Please, don't put me back there.' "
Not Flowers, who has finished in the top 15 nationally in punt returns each of the past two seasons. He was 14th with 13.69 yards per return last year and 12th at 15.13 yards in 2004.
Flowers is second - barely - on Georgia's career list in punt return average behind Zippy Morroco, who led the team in punt returns in 1950 and 1951.
It's a fact that Fabris has imprinted in his memory bank as Flowers enters the season with a 14.167 career average.
"If his career ended today, he would be two-hundredths of a yard shy of the all-time average in the history of Georgia football," Fabris said.
"That's cool," Flowers said, "but I don't pay any attention to records. I'm here trying to win ballgames."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082706

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GEORGIA REPORT
Third QB might play for Dogs in opener

Published on: 08/29/06 Athens — Mark Richt made the big decision and doesn't appear to be sweating the small ones.
The Georgia coach, who selected Joe Tereshinski and Joe Cox as his Nos. 1 and 2 quarterbacks a week ago, still hasn't decided how he'll use the tandem Saturday against Western Kentucky.
"We don't know how we are going to sub the quarterbacks," Richt said Monday.
Richt isn't even sure it will just be Cox and Tereshinski in the game, despite the fact that those were the only ones who got time with the offense in the team's final scrimmage.
"It's not 100 percent," Richt said of just that pair playing.
Richt acknowledged that the coaching staff has considered that if a third quarterback went into the game, there's a possibility it could be sophomore Blake Barnes over freshman Matthew Stafford because of redshirt issues.
But, he added, that doesn't rule out Stafford.
Richt isn't just keeping the media in the dark.
Players don't know when and how much they might play, either.
"I have no idea," Cox said. "... The good news about what he is doing is I have got to keep my head in the game the whole time. It's not going to be like, 'Well, you're going to have the third quarter.' Then I wouldn't have to pay attention the whole time."
Richt happy for Shockley
The regular quarterback meeting was interrupted for a congratulatory call to former quarterback D.J. Shockley, who made the Falcons' roster.
Richt had tried to call Shockley a couple of times, but hadn't reached his former player.
"He's big-time now," Richt said. "He doesn't have to answer the phone calls from me and Coach[Mike] Bobo anymore.
"We're just thrilled to death for him. That is just great, great news."
Fullback Williams returns
Des Williams was back in practice Monday and could be back on the field for the first time since 2004.
Williams, the No. 1 fullback leaving spring in 2005, suffered a pectoral muscle injury that forced him to redshirt.
A knee injury put him on the sideline for a few weeks this summer.
Now healthy, Williams has stepped into a crowded fullback spot. Brannan Southerland played in all 13 games last season.
The sophomore underwent offseason shoulder surgery but is back at full strength.
"He should be more confident," Richt said. "It is hard to get much stronger than he was last year. It will be interesting to see him and Des both work where one guy doesn't have to take all the pounding. Don't be surprised to see Jason Johnson in the game at fullback or tailback."
Briefly ...
Defensive tackle Ray Gant, who'd been held out with a shoulder injury, was back in practice and still may play in Saturday's opener. Johnson, wide receiver Demiko Goodman and cornerback Bryan Evans also returned from injuries Monday. ... Kentucky, which hosts Georgia on Nov. 4, named junior Andre Woodson its starting quarterback Monday. Woodson beat out sophomore Curtis Pulley.

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Dogs' opponent 'used to winning'

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/29/06 Athens — Because it's his personality to believe and deliver every word with conviction, Joe Tereshinski said the following with a straight face:
"Western Kentucky is used to winning. They have got some good athletes. It's going to be a tough, hard-hitting game."
Oddsmakers think differently, giving the Hilltoppers so little a chance of making Tereshinski and Georgia sweat Saturday that they haven't even established a betting line on the game.
Here are a few things you should know, but might not, about the Bulldogs' season-opening opponent from Bowling Green, Ky.
1. Tereshinski is right. The Hilltoppers are used to winning.
The Division I-AA program claimed the 2002 national title. In David Elson's three years as head coach, the Hilltoppers are 24-12. But they ended last season on a four-game losing streak and have gone down against Auburn (twice) and Kansas State (twice) by a combined score of 160-33 the past four seasons.
2. Western Kentucky's most famous football alum? Rod Smart, a.k.a. "He Hate Me" of XFL fame. Smart, who played running back for the Hilltoppers from 1997-99, is now with the Oakland Raiders.
Western also produced current Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel and former NFL head man Joe Bugel. The globetrotting Jerry Glanville, in Atlanta this week while his Hawaii defense tunes up for Alabama, was a WKU assistant in 1967.
3. The Hilltoppers' most accomplished Peach State product is kicker Chris James, a Fayetteville native and former Starr's Mill star. A preseason All-America pick, he's the active career I-AA leader in field goal percentage (82.76) and can boom kicks from afar (career long: 52 yards).
4. Western plays a 3-4 defense and features just one player who approaches 300 pounds on the defensive line. Chris Walker checks in at 290. The next largest defensive lineman is 265-pound Dusty Bear.
5. Quarterback Justin Haddix has 36 starts under his belt. Tereshinski has one. Haddix has a few other things over Tereshinski as well.
The senior is the school's career record holder in both completion percentage (55.4) and pass efficiency rating (137.29). He's also second among the all-time leaders at WKU with 370 completions, 5,743 passing yards and 36 touchdowns, and is third with 6,679 yards of total offense.
6. Western may not be a Division I-A program, but it's not without I-A experience.
On Monday, the Hilltoppers announced that two I-A transfers had enrolled in school and are immediately eligible: junior wide receiver Jamar Jones, who played sparingly at Michigan State, and sophomore linebacker Tyler Tipton, who played mostly special teams in his two years at Pitt.
Earlier, the Hilltoppers added quarterback David Wolke, who was buried on Notre Dame's depth chart behind Brady Quinn and others.
7. In a year, Western spends $3,416 per football player, according to Department of Education figures. Georgia spends $32,428 per player.
Western has a $2.27 million football budget. Georgia has a football budget of $12.5 million.
Western's overall athletic budget is $14.6 million. The Bulldogs' overall athletic budget is $45 million.
8. Western is all about the big play — or at least it has been in this year's camp. In two scrimmages, Haddix and backup Brandon C. Smith have combined to throw for 474 yards with eight touchdown passes. Three went for more than 35 yards.
9. Saturday will be Western's first date with the Bulldogs — and the second time in three years Georgia has kicked off the season against a I-AA team. In the 2004 opener, Georgia beat Georgia Southern 48-28.
Georgia is 5-0 in openers under Mark Richt, also taking down Arkansas State (2001), Clemson (2002 and '03) and Boise State (2005).
10. Georgia will write a $400,000 check to Western for Saturday's game. The Bulldogs paid Boise State $600,000 for last year's opener.

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Georgia Prepares to Battle Western Kentucky in Season Opener

Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications Release: 08/28/2006

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New Season, New QB For the second year in a row, Georgia faces a new opponent to start a season along with a senior signal-caller with little experience. In 2005, D.J. Shockley’s performance in the rout of Boise State assured the Bulldog nation that Georgia was well equipped at quarterback. Joe Tereshinksi aims to do the same in his second career start but his first in Sanford Stadium. Tereshinski is a three-year contributor with one start coming in the 2005 game against Florida in Jacksonville. For his career he is 25-for-49 for 371 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Tereshinski will become the fourth Athens native to start at QB in a season opener: Jeff Pyburn, So.-Sr.: 1977-78-79 (2-1 in openers) 1977 - d. Oregon, 27-16: Final Record 5-6 1978 - d. Baylor, 16-14: Final Record 9-2-1 1979 - lost to Wake Forest, 22-21 Final Record 6-5 Andy Johnson, So.: 1971 (1-0-1 in openers) 1971 - d. Oregon State, 56-25 Final Record 11-1 1973 - tied Pittsburgh, 7-7 Final Record 7-4-1 Fran Tarkenton, Sr.: 1960 (0-1 in opener) 1960 - lost to Alabama, 21-6 Final Record 6-4 Home Sweet Home The Bulldogs own an all-time record of 290-100-11 (.737), including a 61-15-1 mark in home openers. Georgia has won its home opener in nine consecutive years. The last time Georgia dropped its home opener was in 1996, falling 11-7 to Southern Miss in Jim Donnan’s debut at the helm. Bulldogs Tough Against Non-Conference Foes Under the direction of Mark Richt, Georgia owns a 20-2 record against teams from outside the Southeastern Conference. The only losses came in bowl games to Boston College (20-16, 2001 Music City) and West Virginia (38-35, 2006 Sugar). At home, the Bulldogs own a record of 13-0 against non-conference foes. Aiming for Another Top 10 Finish Georgia enters the 2006 season seeking its record fifth straight top 10 finish in the final rankings. Twice in school history, Georgia has enjoyed a four-year stretch where it was a fixture in the final top 10 rankings: Class of 1983 Class of 2005 (43-4-1) (44-9) 1980 - #1 (final AP rank) 2002 - #3 1981 - #6 2003 - #7 1982 - #4 2004 - #7 1983 - #4 2005 - #10 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. Returning Bulldog All-Stars Brandon Coutu (PK), Gordon Ely-Kelso (P) and Quentin Moses (DE) all have a chance to rank among the top Bulldogs of all-time at their respective positions. Coutu is one of the league’s top scorers, Ely-Kelso is climbing the UGA record book for punting and Moses for sacks. Only Georgia’s Billy Bennett (2002-03) and Ole Miss’ Jonathan Nichols (2003) scored more points kicking in a season than Coutu in 2005 (114). Ely-Kelso’s 7,133 yards ranks 4th best in school history while the 176 punts ranks 5th. The record holder is Spike Jones with 194 punts for 8,043 yards from 1967-69. Moses has 20.5 career sacks, 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. Georgia in the 2005 NCAA Final Stats Category UGA (NCAA) Scoring Defense 16.4 pts. (8th) Total Defense 313.5 yds. (18th) Passing Defense 169.6 yds. (7th) Rushing Defense 143.8 yds. (52nd) Turnover Margin +11 (14th) Scoring Offense 29.5 pts. (42nd) Total Offense 391.2 yds. (49th) Passing Offense 229.0 yds. (49th) Rushing Offense 162.2 yds. (43rd) Going Inside Georgia’s Numbers Starters Returning: Offense (4), Defense (5), Special Teams (2) 81% of Rushing yards Returning = (1713 of 2108) 13% of Passing yards Returning = (389 of 2977) 51% of Receiving yards Returning = (1516 of 2977) 69% of Scoring Returning = (264 of 384) 68% of Sacks Returning = (23 of 34) 65% of Tackles Returning = (543 of 830) 44% of Interceptions Returning = (7 of 16)

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The Offense

Joe T’s Time

Joe Tereshinski III, a third-generation Bulldog, is set to lead Georgia’s group of quarterbacks in 2006. Over the last three years he watched as David Greene and D.J. Shockley led Georgia to 52 wins and two SEC titles. Greene is now a member of the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks while Shockley was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.
The Tereshinski family is the only one in UGA history that has produced three generations of Bulldog starters. Tereshinski’s father, Joe Jr., uncle Wally and grandfather Joe Sr. all started for the Bulldogs.
Joe Tereshinski: A three-year contributor with one career start (2005 Florida), he has seen most of his playing time on special teams as the personal protector on the punt team. His first career pass attempt came in 2005. For his career, he is 25-for-49 for 371 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. He helped preserve a 23-20 win over Arkansas (5-for-9, 91 yards) last season when D.J. Shockley went down with a knee injury. The following week, Tereshinski made his first career start, a 14-10 loss to #16 Florida in Jacksonville.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tereshinski scored Georgia’s lone TD (the first of his career) against the Gators on a 9-yard reception from RB Thomas Brown! Tereshinski has even long snapped during his career (Clemson in 2003 and 2005 Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin).
Joe Cox: A redshirt in 2005, he helped direct the Bulldog scout team. He was a part of a standout prep combination with Bulldog Mohamed Massaquoi at Independence High School in North Carolina. Cox was 31-0 as a starting QB.
Blake Barnes: A redshirt in 2004, he appeared in three Bulldog games in 2005. In his Georgia career, he is 2-for-3 for a total of 9 yards. Barnes is a former Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Mississippi.
Matthew Stafford: He is widely considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation by various recruiting analysts. He led Highland Park (Park Cities, Texas) to its first state title since 1957. Stafford enrolled at UGA in January of 2006.
Who’s Going to Catch It?

Mohamed Massaquoi (38 rec., 505 yds, 2 TDs) came on strong in the second half of 2005 and ended up his freshman season ranked second on the team in receptions. He posted a breakout performance against #15 Auburn in game nine with a career-high six catches for 108 yards and 1 TD. It was the best game by a Bulldog receiver in 2005.
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. Also, the Bulldogs will be without Sean Bailey (16 rec., 364 yds, 4 TDs) who will miss the 2006 season due to a knee injury that happened during Nokia Sugar Bowl practice in Athens. In 2005, Bailey was the team’s top deep threat who averaged a team-best 22.8 yards per catch and had six plays of 29 yards or more.
With Pope and Bailey now gone, one of the storylines for this season will be who will emerge to help shoulder the load at receiver?
Junior CB Mikey Henderson moved to receiver during spring drills and responded by catching a 64-yard TD pass in the G-Day game. Kenneth Harris (11 rec., 216 yds, 1 TD) saw action in all 13 games last year as a sophomore and got his first career start for the injured Bailey in the Nokia Sugar Bowl. The rest of Georgia’s returning receiving corps who look for an increased role in 2006 include senior Mario Raley, junior A.J. Bryant, sophomore Demiko Goodman and redshirt freshman Michael Moore. Also, true freshman Kris Durham enrolled in January of 2006 and will battle with the aforementioned group.
Over the years, another favorite target in the Bulldogs offense has been the tight end and Georgia returns senior Martrez Milner (14 rec., 291 yds, 2 TDs).
The Sum Of All Rushers

In 2005, Georgia’s rushing offense ranked 3rd in the SEC (162.2 yds./g). The Bulldogs leading the way included tailbacks Thomas Brown, Danny Ware and Kregg Lumpkin. 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 the year, Brown averaged 5.0 yards per carry, Ware 4.9 yards per carry and Lumpkin 5.1 yards per carry.
Georgia had a redshirt freshman at fullback in Brannan Southerland who had just 18 carries but scored three TDs. Also, the Bulldogs welcome back fullback Des Williams. He missed last year due to a torn pectoralis muscle. And Jason Johnson, a junior from Chicago, recently received a scholarship, and will contribute in the backfield.
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

• Lumpkin posted his best game of the year with 74 yards on 11 carries in the 14-7 road win over #20 Ga. Tech
• Ware broke loose for a 52-yard TD run against Kentucky which marked the longest rush and rushing TD by a Bulldog since 1999 (Patrick Pass 58 yards vs. LSU)
• Brown gained 73 of his yards at #8 UT by carrying the ball all nine times on a nine-play drive capped by an 18-yard scamper to make it 27-7
• Ware notched his first 100-yard game of the year and fifth of his career when he gained 109 yards on 13 attempts vs. La.-Monroe.
• Brown ran for a career-high 144 yards on 20 carries with 1 TD vs. South Carolina. It was his fifth career 100-yard game.
• In the win over #18 Boise State, the trio of Brown, Ware and Lumpkin combined for 82 yards on 19 carries, however the leading rusher was Shockley (5 rushes for 85 yards, 1 TD).
• The most impressive team effort of the year came in the road win over then #8 Tennessee when the Bulldogs gained 198 yards against the nation’s fourth-ranked rushing defense.

DID YOU KNOW?
Thomas Brown became the first Bulldog to lead the team in rushing in back-to-back years since Robert Edwards in 1996-97. The last Bulldog to do it three consecutive years was long-time NFL standout Garrison Hearst who tallied 3,279 yards and 33 TDs in his Georgia career from 1990-92. He won the Doak Walker Award as a junior and then left for the NFL.
A Few New Faces Up Front

To open the season senior center Nick Jones is the only returning starter up front for the Bulldogs who said goodbye to a senior-laden group including consensus All-America guard Max Jean-Gilles (4th round, Philadelphia), tackle Dennis Roland (free agent, Dallas) and the center rotation of Russ Tanner (free agent, Indianapolis), Ryan Schnetzer (Ga. Medical College).
Senior tackle Daniel Inman and redshirt freshman center/guard Ian Smith are serving two-game suspensions to start the year.
Last year’s veteran unit had combined for 173 career starts.
Last season Georgia ranked second in the SEC in fewest sacks allowed (20 in 363 pass attempts).
Joining Jones up front in the Western Kentucky game include senior tackle Ken Shackleford, junior tackle Chester Adams, junior guard Fernando Velasco and senior tackle Michael Turner. Georgia has redshirt guard Seth Watts ready as a reserve along with true freshman Kevin Perez.

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The Defense

Junkyard Dawgs Collar Another SEC Title

Willie Martinez enters 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 with several more expected to be taken in the 2006 draft (6 off the 2001 team, 4 from 2002, 3 from 2003, 4 from the 2004 and 5 from 2005).

Year	Scoring Def.	NCAA Rank	Total Def.	NCAA Rank	TO Margin	NCAA Rank
2001	18.9 pts/game	17th	361.5 yards	49th	+1	53rd
2002	15.1 pts/game	4th	303.5 yards	15th	+8	32nd
2003	14.5 pts/game	T2nd	276.9 yards	4th	+11	14th
2004	16.5 pts/game	9th	288.9 yards	8th	-2	t73th
2005	16.4 pts/game	8th	313.5 yards	18th	+11	14th

“No-Name” Defense Led Georgia In 2005; Moses to Lead in 2006

The pundits felt the 2005 Bulldog defense would slip with the loss of first-rounders David Pollack and Thomas Davis, second-rounder Odell Thurman and coordinator Brian VanGorder to the NFL. However, the 2005 unit, led by Athens native DE Quentin Moses and senior safety Greg Blue (SAF, Minnesota Vikings) posted All-Star seasons. Blue was a consensus All-America selection. Moses, like Blue, was a 1st Team All-SEC selection in 2005. Moses returns returns to headline the Georgia defense in 2006.
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.
Along with Moses, Georgia has another experienced defensive end in Charles Johnson. He ranked second on the team in sacks with four, was third on the team with 8.5 TFL and recovered two fumbles including one for a TD. He was named the team’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the conclusion of spring drills. Also, Georgia welcomes back Marcus Howard (13 games played), Jeremy Lomax (4 games played) and Roderick Battle (redshirt).
Establishing A Presence Inside

With the departure of three senior tackles, Georgia will have a new look up front in 2006. The lone familiar face is the versatile Ray Gant, who has logged time at tackle and end. He made seven starts in 2005, but has battled a shoulder injury and is doubtful for the Western Kentucky game. Along with Gant, Georgia returns Jeff Owens (13 games played) and Dale Dixson (8 games, 1 start) who saw signifcant action as the Bulldogs like to rotate their front four.
There are several Bulldogs with an opportunity for an increased role in 2006 including Kade Weston (redshirt in 2005), and Marquis Elmore. True freshmen who have a chance to contribute include Ricardo Crawford and Geno Atkins.
Starting Secondary To Feature New Faces

The lone returning member of the 2005 starting secondary will be 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.
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 group has picked up where it left off last year by dominating pre-season practices with several interceptions throughout camp.
In 2005 Georgia surrendered just eight TD passes, which ranked in a tie for first (Auburn) in SEC for the fewest allowed.
Several Bulldogs gained valuable experience last season in supporting roles including cornerback Paul Oliver (2 starts, played in all 13 games), free safety Kelin Johnson (1 start, played in all 13), rover C.J. Byrd (played in all 13 games) along with cornerback Ramarcus Brown (earned spring’s Most Improved Defensive Back award). Also, Bulldog prospects who look for an expanded role in 2006 include Bryan Evans, Donavon Baldwin and true freshmen Asher Allen, Prince Miller and Rashad Jones.
Linebackers Showed Versatility and Perseverance

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.
Overall, Jackson (84 stops) ranked 2nd on the team in tackles while Verdun Wheeler (62 stops) was 4th and Taylor (55 stops) was 6th on the squad in tackles.
Miller, Taylor, Jackson and Danny 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.
Georgia has a host of speedy, talented freshmen LBs including Darius Dewberry that look to contribute in 2006.

2006 Pre-Season Honors
Tra Battle	All-SEC by The Sporting News and the SEC Coaches and Second Team by SEC Media, Bednarik Award Watch List
Thomas Brown	Maxwell Award Watch List and All-SEC Third Team by the SEC Coaches and Media
Brandon Coutu	All-SEC by The Sporting News and Blue Ribbon College Yearbook, Nation’s No. 3 kicker by The Sporting News, SEC First Team by SEC Coaches and Media
Gordon Ely-Kelso	All-SEC Second Team and Nation’s No. 4 Punter by The Sporting News, SEC Second Team by SEC Coaches and the SEC Media
Thomas Flowers	All-SEC Third Team by SEC Coaches
Nick Jones	All-SEC by the SEC Media
Daniel Inman	All-SEC by The Sporting News, Blue Ribbon College Yearbook, the SEC Coaches and SEC Media
Jarvis Jackson	All-SEC Third Team by SEC Coaches and Second Team by SEC Media
Nick Jones	All-SEC by The Sporting News and the SEC Coaches, Rimington Award Watch List
Martrez Milner	All-SEC by The Sporting News and Third Team by the SEC Coaches and First Team by SEC Media
Quentin Moses	SEC Defensive Player of the Year and All-SEC by Sporting News and Blue Ribbon College Yearbook; Coaches and Media All-SEC First Team; Nation’s No. 1 Defensive End by The Sporting News; Bednarik Award Watch List; Nagurski Trophy Watch List; Walter Camp Award Watch List; SI.com’s “Top Player in the SEC”
Paul Oliver	All-SEC Third Team by SEC Coaches
Tony Taylor	All-SEC Second Team by The Sporting News and Second Team by the SEC Coaches, All-SEC Third Teamby the SEC Media; Bednarik Award Watch List

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Special Teams Coutu Can Put It Through From 50-Plus In 2005, sophomore Brandon Coutu led the SEC in Scoring and ranked 20th nationally with 114 points. 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). 2005 Highlights for Coutu SEC-best 7-for-9 from 40-49 yards plus 3-for-5 from 50+yards in 2005 Made 23-of-29 FG (79%) overall and 25-32 FG Atts. (78%) in his career Also 40-for-40 in PAT attempts this year and 43-for-43 in his career 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), and he nailed a career-best 58-yard field goal. The 58-yarder 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. Coutu has served as Georgia’s place-kicker since the fourth quarter of the Ga. Tech game in 2004. Up until that kick in the Georgia-Ga. Tech matchup, Andy Bailey had taken every attempt for the Bulldogs. However, Coutu got a chance against the Jackets and booted a 44-yarder to help Georgia to a 19-13 win. Also, Coutu had handled kickoff duties all year. He was 1-for-2 in field goals at the Outback Bowl. 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)

Fielding the Punts and Kicks Georgia ranked 3rd in the SEC in punt returns (13.8) and 10th in kickoff returns at 19.5 yards/return. To start the season the Bulldogs will have a new punt returner while pre-season All-SEC junior Thomas Flowers serves a two-game suspension. The top candidates to fill in for Flowers will be junior Mikey Henderson and freshman Asher Allen. Neither has returned a punt in college, but both were return men in high school. Henderson had a kickoff and punt return for TDs as a senior at Buford High and Allen returned seven punts and two kickoffs for TDs as a junior at Tucker High. Last year Flowers ranked 2nd in the SEC and 14th nationally with a 13.7 average. In the kickoff return department, Georgia looks to replace 2005 seniors Tyson Browning and Bryan McClendon. Ramarcus Brown moved into a starting role after Browning’s season-ending injury in the Kentucky game. In the SEC Championship game win over #3 LSU, the freshman had two returns for 43 yards. He was the lone safety during kick returns against the Tigers, and he helped spark the blocked punt in the game as a blitzing gunner. For the year, Brown averaged 21.2 (4 for 85). 22 Blocks, 8 Special Teams TDs In The Richt Era Georgia has blocked 12 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. 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 8 Special Teams TDs in the Richt era plus a safety. There is one current Bulldog who has a Special Teams TD: Thomas Flowers: 54-yard punt return at #8 Tennessee in 2005 Junior transfer walk-on Jeff Henson will take over the role of graduated Bulldog Brian Jordan at long snapper. Punter Gordon Ely-Kelso will serve as the team’s holder this year, following the graduation of Lee Jackson. Here’s a look at Henson’s bio: Jeff Henson SN, Jr., 6-3, 248 Gainesville, Ga. West Hall H.S. JEFF HENSON: Born: Oct. 24, 1982…High School: West Hall…played four years of football, all spent on the defensive side of the ball and at snapper…named to the All-Area team as a senior and earned the team’s Special Teams Award…high school teammate of Martrez Milner. College: Attended Gainesville State College (non football-playing school) from 2004-06 prior to arriving in Athens in the fall of ’06.

Ely-Kelso Booms Them High and Pins Them Deep

Punter Gordon Ely-Kelso, a native of Athens, Ga., continues to be a strength in Georgia’s special teams. He was one of 10 semifinalists for the 2005 Ray Guy Award which goes to the nation’s top punter. As a junior last year, he had a 42.9 overall avg. (57 for 2,443 yards)
2005 Highlights for Ely-Kelso

• The Bulldogs ranked 3rd in the SEC and 8th nationally in Punting with a Net Average of 38.7
• Ranked 2nd in the SEC with 40% of his punts landing inside the 20 {I20} (23-of-57).
• Set SEC Championship Game Record with a 45.8 average on 4 punts plus #3 LSU had Zero Ret. Yards and he had one downed at the 3
• Executed a successful fake punt against Kentucky with a 34-yard scamper which led to Bulldogs first score
• In the 14-7 road win over #20 Ga. Tech, he had 10 punts for a 40.8 avg. with 4 I20
• In the 27-14 road win over then #8 Tennessee, he had 6 punts for a 42.5 avg., with three I20 including one at the 1 and one at the 2.
• In the 23-20 win over Arkansas, he had 6 punts for a 48.2 avg., with 4 I20.
• Ely-Kelso’s Career: 176 punts, *7,133 yards, 40.5 avg., 56 Punts Inside 20
• The 7,133 yards ranks 4th best in school history while the 176 punts ranks 5th. The record holder is Spike Jones with 194 punts for 8,043 yards from 1967-69.

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ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football team entered the final stages of preseason camp on Monday with a full-pads session lasting just shy of two hours at the Woodruff Practice Fields. The season opener for the Bulldogs will be on Saturday as Western Kentucky comes to Sanford Stadium. Georgia's players went through their final workout in full pads on Monday.
"It was the last day in full pads, the last day to tackle, the last day to block below the waist," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I thought we had pretty good effort today. We made some mistakes, particularly on offense, but hopefully we'll get better."
The Bulldogs will work out in shells on Tuesday and shorts on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for the Hilltoppers. Richt said the Bulldogs will prepare for and perform against the Gateway Conference squad the way they would any other opponent.
"It doesn't matter," Richt said. "We will play as hard as we can. We don't treat this game any differently."
Richt said the Bulldogs' scout team has done a good job of simulating Western Kentucky in workouts.
"They're the backbone of the team," Richt said. "Some of them are walk-ons, and they do it for no other reason than the love of the game. I'm thankful those guys are here."
Richt said he tried to call former quarterback D.J. Shockley on Monday after learning that Shockley had made the Atlanta Falcons roster. Richt tried him early in the morning and during the afternoon quarterbacks meeting, but didn't reach him either time.
"He's big time. He didn't have to answer," Richt said with a laugh. "That was great, great news. We are so happy for him."
Georgia opens the season Saturday at home against Western Kentucky. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., and the game will be televised live by Lincoln Financial Sports. All Georgia games are broadcast live on the Bulldog Radio Network on AM 750 WSB in Atlanta and both 106.1 FM and 960 The Ref in Athens. Also, they can be heard on georgiadogs.com, the official website of UGA Athletics.









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Richt wants game plan designed for Tereshinski

Story Photos - Click to Enlarge

Georgia quarterback Joe Tereshinski will make his second career start on Saturday. The Bulldogs ran on 42 of 64 plays in his first start, a 14-10 loss to Florida last season.
File/Staff
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By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 11:02 PM on Monday, August 28, 2006
Students at Whit Davis Elementary School signed a banner to show their support for Joe Tereshinski when the Georgia quarterback made his first college start against Florida last season. Joe's mother, Cathy, who teaches fifth grade there, brought it to him.
Tereshinski will make his next start Saturday against Western Kentucky, and has something that he didn't have when he was in the lineup against the Gators: A game plan tailor-made to take advantage of what he can bring to the offense.
"Last year's Florida game, I didn't want to devise a plan that was going to be predicated on whether he played good or bad," coach Mark Richt said. "If he played good, we win, if he played bad, we lose. I didn't think that was fair to put that kind of pressure on him."
Tereshinski was 8 of 21 for 100 yards and an interception, rushed for 37 yards and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass against Florida in a 14-10 loss.
The Bulldogs ran 42 of their 64 plays. That included Tereshinski running on a third-and-10 at the Georgia 40 with less than two minutes left on a play that lost 1 yard.
"In hindsight, maybe I should have just let it rip," Richt said. "That won't be the case this season. We're building this thing around what he can do. We're going to try to tailor it to his strengths. He does understand everything we've put in over the last four years. He won't have any trouble with any kind of schemes or thoughts or checks, recognition of defenses. He's going to do really good in that area."
Tereshinski said he felt like Richt probably held back "a little bit" to keep the pressure off him in a nationally televised game against one of Georgia's biggest rivals.
"Going into this year, having more reps with the (first-team offense) kind of gave me more leadership and confidence," Tereshinski said. "I think it will give a chance to open the offense up a little more because he's been able to learn about me a little bit more developing in the offense."
Tereshinski will head into the season opener as the starter after holding off three challengers to the job. He thinks he's ready to handle Georgia's playbook.
"I feel like I can make the throws and shouldn't hold anything back," Tereshinski said. "Each team has different strengths and weaknesses and he's going to design plays based on what we execute better than others and how those plays are best for that team."
If those plays don't work out like they are drawn up on paper, Tereshinski knows the brunt of the backlash from fans could be directed at him.
"I've talked to him about that," said quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo, who played the position at Georgia from 1994-97. "Playing here and playing quarterback, I know, you're going to get an earful. They're going to be booing you one minute and cheering you the next. We've got three guys behind him that have a lot of accolades coming out of high school and they're always going to love the next guy."
Bobo believes Tereshinski's background - he's a third-generation Bulldog who grew up around the program where his father is on staff - should help.
"I think Joe is a very strong individual and I think he'll be very well prepared for that. The bottom line is you want to please your teammates and the coaches," Bobo said. "You just can't get caught up with what the fans or the media are saying whether it's good or bad."
Tereshinski insists that he's not giving a thought to what might happen from the fans if he tosses a couple of incompletions in a row.
"I don't want to put that kind of pressure on myself, and I'm not going to," he said. "You have to know that if you don't play well, that's going to happen. You can only control so much, and people's feelings are one of those things that you can't."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082906

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Bulldogs wary of run threats

Bulldog Notebook

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 11:02 PM on Monday, August 28, 2006
Nobody is saying that Western Kentucky's running game will bring back nightmares of West Virginia's Pat White and Steve Slaton but Georgia will head into Saturday's season-opener with respect for the Hilltoppers' backfield.
Quarterback Justin Haddix has 936 career rushing yards and 36 career touchdown passes. Running back Lerron Moore is coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons. The Hilltoppers ranked 14th in I-AA last season in rushing at nearly 229 yards per game.
"They averaged over 200 yards a game running the ball and obviously that's been our Achilles' heel at the end of the year," Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "That sets up their play action. The process of not giving up big plays is going to be huge."
Haddix leads an offense that includes some option. The senior rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown last year in a 37-14 loss to Auburn. He had eight rushing touchdowns in 2005.
"Their quarterback is the best player on their team," Georgia freshman linebacker Darius Dewberry said. "We've seen him on film and coaches tell us he's their best player."

Quarterback rotation still being hatched
Georgia coach Mark Richt knows he's going to play starter Joe Tereshinski and backup Joe Cox Saturday but isn't sure exactly how the quarterbacks will be used.
"We don't know how we're going to sub the quarterbacks," Richt said. "Right now I'm leaning more towards feel. By the end of the week, we might try to get a little bit of structure in there as far as a first-half series, but I don't know if we'll do that or not."
Richt said it's "not 100 percent," that a third quarterback won't be used. Asked if sophomore Blake Barnes is more likely to play than freshman Matthew Stafford because Stafford still is eligible for a redshirt, Richt said "Not necessarily, but that's definitely been thought about."

I-A or I-AA doesn't matter to Richt
After Georgia's last full-contact practice before the opener, Richt said the offense had a lot of mistakes and had to repeat too many plays against the scout team.
Asked about playing a I-AA opponent, Richt made it clear he wants to see plenty of effort regardless of the other team.
"It doesn't matter if it's I-AA," Richt said. "We're playing Western Kentucky and we're going to play as hard as we can play and if we don't, we'll take their (butt) out of the game. That's all there is to that. I don't treat it any different."

Evans, Goodman return to practice
Cornerback Bryan Evans (sprained MCL) and wide receiver Demiko Goodman (hip flexor) returned to practice Monday.
Evans wore a green non-contact jersey and got second-team reps in practice behind cornerback Paul Oliver. "I'm not 100 percent, but I can still get the job done," Evans said. Goodman said his knee "is not as bad as it could have been," and added that he "felt good for the first (time) in a while."
Fullbacks Des Williams (knee) and Jason Johnson (ankle) practiced in green non-contact jerseys as did receiver Tony Wilson (shoulder) and tight end NaDerris Ward (shoulder).
"I think everybody came out with a pretty clean bill of health," Richt said. "I think anybody that came back did some work and felt real good about what happened."
Defensive tackle Ray Gant (shoulder) got limited work, and was scheduled to see a doctor Monday evening.

Harris holds onto starting flanker job
Redshirt sophomore Kenneth Harris has held off Mikey Henderson and A.J. Bryant for the starting flanker job, Richt said.
"They're all going to play," Richt said. "We'll roll our receivers pretty good in this game."
Harris, who had 11 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown as a freshman, began the preseason on top of the depth chart.
"We've pushed each other so hard that we've all gotten so much better," Harris said.

This and that
Two transfers from Division I-A programs have joined Western Kentucky, the school announced Monday. Wide receiver Jamar Jones comes from Michigan State and linebacker Tyler Tipton spent the past two years at Pittsburgh. Both are immediately eligible. ... Richt left a message Monday morning for former Bulldog D.J. Shockley to congratulate the quarterback on winning the Falcons' third-string job. "My wife and I cheered for him this morning," Richt said. "We called him during the quarterback meeting also but he didn't answer the phone then. He's big-time now. We're thrilled to death for him. That's great, great news."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082906

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Updated Tuesday, August 29 at 11:30 PM

West Hall's Milner hopes to continue 'Tight End U' tradition by The Associated Press ATHENS - Former West Hall standout Martrez Milner calls Georgia ``Tight End U.'' because of the school's recent line of tight ends now playing in the NFL. Jermaine Wiggins, Randy McMichael, Ben Watson and Leonard Pope have entered the league in the past seven years. Milner played behind McMichael, Watson and Pope at Georgia. Now it's Milner's turn, and even before becoming a full-time starter, the fifth-year senior from Gainesville has won all-star recognition. In results from 104 reporters at SEC Media Days this summer in Birmingham, Milner was voted first-team All-SEC, narrowly edging Kentucky's Jacob Tamme. Milner says the honor ``means a lot to me,'' but he also acknowledges that the voting really was for Pope, Watson and Georgia's tradition at the position. ``It's a reflection of what tight ends were here before me,'' he said Tuesday as No. 15 Georgia continued its practice schedule for Saturday's season-opening game against Western Kentucky. ``Really I haven't made a contribution to my team like I wanted to make in the past years. I just know that with the athletic ability that I have and what my teammates have done before me, speaking of Ben Watson and Pope and Randy McMichael, that I have to keep the tradition going on and keep the legacy alive and keep this Tight End U.'' Milner (6-4, 255) has played in 36 games, including six starts, the last three seasons. He has 19 receptions for 383 yards and two touchdowns in his career but is a long way from matching the standards set by Pope, a third-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals this year. Georgia's assistant coaches are unusually candid when speaking of Milner's past, which includes too many dropped passes. ``I think he has something to prove to himself,'' said tight ends coach David Johnson. ``I think he has something to prove to our squad, that he is somebody to be trusted, somebody we can rely on.'' Added offensive coordinator Neil Callaway: ``We all know the history with 'Trez, but as far as this fall he's been good.'' The tight end position remained a concern as recently as the spring G-Day game when Milner and backup Tripp Chandler combined for four drops. ``I've had ups and downs my whole college career,'' Milner said. ``To have the opportunity of becoming all-SEC preseason, it means a lot to me, but I can't rest on that. I want to be all-SEC in the postseason.'' Milner has shown flashes which have had the coaches believing he would be another star. He rose quickly up the depth chart and was listed as the No. 2 tight end entering his freshman season. Milner had two starts as a sophomore in 2004. He had four starts last season and set a career high with 111 yards receiving against Boise State. Coach Mark Richt said Milner had ``a pretty decent season.'' ``He caught a bunch of balls and made some nice plays for us, more early in the year than later,'' Richt said. But Pope was the top tight end, and often the top receiver, the last two years as Milner's wait continued for a full-time opportunity. Milner had to wait even though he arrived at Georgia one year before Pope, who did not have a redshirt season. ``I'm honestly satisfied with the way I handled that situation,'' Milner said. ``I think any athlete on any level would get mad. ``I think I handled it pretty well. I could have got mad and hurt him more than I hurt myself because on game days and practices we learned from each other. Off the field we were like brothers. We talked almost every day. I'm really going to miss that because Pope was a great player.'' Pope led Georgia with 39 receptions for 541 yards and four touchdowns last season. It would be a surprise if Milner approaches those numbers. ``Right now, everyone is talking about what Leonard Pope did,'' Milner said. ``I'm not trying to live up to what he did. I'm just trying to live up to Martrez Milner becoming a great player for my teammates.'' Chandler (6-6, 262) and Coleman Watson (6-3, 223) are the top backups at tight end. Milner says the tradition is secure. ``We have great athletes behind me,'' he said. ``I have to keep my head up because if I let down any they'll take the position. This is Tight End U. and I want to keep it going. I think we can keep it going for a long time.'' Notes: Senior defensive tackle Ray Gant (shoulder) has moved from doubtful to questionable and may make another jump to probable, Richt said Tuesday. ``He feels pretty good,'' Richt said. ``He's confident he can go.'' ... Richt said fullbacks Des Williams (knee) and Jason Johnson (ankle) ``both look like they've got a shot at playing.''

©Copyright 2006 AccessNorthGa.com / WDUN News/Talk 550.

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GEORGIA
Dogs plan more for Tereshinski

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/31/06 Athens — As Joe Tereshinski nears his second start, Georgia coach Mark Richt has continued to defend the quarterback's first one.
That game — a 14-10 loss last fall to Florida — was more about the playbook, not the player, Richt has pointed out several times.

Brant Sanderlin / AJC (ENLARGE)

Joe Tereshinski (left) is consoled by former Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley after last season's 14-10 loss to Florida in Jacksonville. It was the only start of Tereshinski's career.

"He was outstanding in that game," Richt said. "Some of the things we asked him to do weren't that wise. Sometimes we'll say, 'If you see this look, check to this play,' and usually we're smart enough to get to the right one. But in that particular game, some of the things we asked him to check to, which he did exactly the way we asked him to, were not that good, in hindsight.
"It wasn't Joe's fault we weren't having success. It was more my fault and our coaching staff's fault."
Tereshinski, for one, doesn't hide behind his statistics from that game: 8-for-21 for 100 yards with an interception.
"I feel like there were plays to be made, still," the fifth-year senior said. "But we didn't execute them the way that they were designed."
This week against Western Kentucky, the design should be much different. Georgia is still going to focus on its running game because at this moment that is the offense's strength.
But the playbook will open a little wider for Tereshinski.
"We are going to have to make the throws, and a quarterback has to make plays in this league, and ultimately Joe is going to have to make them," quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said. "I feel comfortable that we can call anything in the playbook.
"Now there are certain things that he throws better or doesn't throw as well as the other guys. But that is the same with [former quarterbacks D.J.] Shockley or [David] Greene. Some throws, the guys just don't do as well. It is not suited for his passing game strength. But we still are going to be able to stretch the ball down the field. If we don't, they are going to put eight or nine in the box and walk up and press us outside. We are going to have to stretch the football down the field."
That means the coaching staff not only has to trust Tereshinski's arm, but also his ability to take care of the ball under pressure. With only six offensive linemen available Saturday, there could be some pressure put on Tereshinski.
Tereshinski is all about doing what's asked. That trait is most likely what makes him the best-suited quarterback at this time. He knows how to manage the game called by Richt.
And now, Richt said, he knows Tereshinski can handle more than the conservative plan used against Florida.
"I really feel like I will get the chance to open the offense up a little bit more because [Richt] has been able to learn about me a little more and see me develop into the offense," Tereshinski said. "I feel like I can make the throws and shouldn't hold anything back."

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Every snap a test for Tereshinski

By Jeff Schultz | Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 06:16 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jeff Schultz

• Every snap a test for Tereshinski
• Jeff Schultz: Tuesday Countdown
• Smoltz waiting for word on future
• Tech's changes point to 7-5 again
• Bulldogs schedule is meat and tomatoes

Athens — Mark Richt calls Joe Tereshinski “a good preparation guy.” I suppose there are worst things you can call your starting quarterback. Imagine where Emeril would be without a good preparation guy. Who would chop the carrots?
Joe Tereshinski is a good kid. A smart kid. The kind of kid you can foresee doing something really significant with his life, thereby reducing having played football at Georgia to an afterthought (shocking, I know).
He has sat in meetings with David Greene and D.J. Shockley. But by all appearances, that’s as close as he gets to either. He hasn’t projected Greene’s cool or consistency. He doesn’t have Shockley’s talent and play-making ability.
Good kid. Smart kid. Starting quarterback?
“I tend not to think about [the doubts],” Tereshinski said. “But there’s something to prove, something to go out there and show people that you can play, and you can play mistake-free football.”
Georgia opens the season Saturday against Western Kentucky, another of college football’s I-AA sacrifices willing to take a payoff for a beating. As tests go, Western Kentucky won’t equal Florida or Auburn or even South Carolina next week.
But every snap will be a test for Tereshinski because he won’t start any series with the depth chart security of his predecessors. The question is whether he can avoid becoming more than the answer to a trivia question, “Who played after Greene and Shockley and before Matthew Stafford?”
The question is whether he is a starting quarterback for any reason other than longevity.
It’s only Western Kentucky. There are a lot of “onlys” on Georgia’s schedule. The first eight games should break down as seven “onlys” and one Spurrier. That road of marshmallows should play in Tereshinski’s favor. (Then again, a case could be made that the schedule could’ve played in Stafford’s favor, regarding his development.)
Richt denies he’ll be on guard with his play-calling with Tereshinski. “We’ll have a normal Georgia quarterback gameplan,” he said.
Whatever that is. Even if Tereshinski is voted the least likely to ignite an offense, he’s also the least likely to spontaneously combust. That might be the biggest reason he’s in there: Richt doesn’t feel like it’ll be a struggle to control him.
“I always have an expression for the quarterbacks: ‘Don’t turn a bad play into a catastrophe,’ ” he said. “If you do things the way we ask you, you’ll probably throw to the right guy about 90 percent of the time. But there are times when things break down. It should be protected beautifully, but the guy misses a block. Or it should be open but the guy runs the wrong route. Or you think it’s a good play but they happen to have a good defense called.
“What are you going to do now? Are you going to throw it up for grabs? Are you going to try to run around and be a hero? Are you going to get a 15-yard sack? Are you going to manage that situation and throw the ball out of bounds, or step up in the pocket and maybe take a 3-yard sack? [Tereshinski has] just done a really good job of not turning any bad situations into a catastrophe.”
But at some point, won’t the quarterback have to make a play?
“I feel like I can make any throw they ask me to,” Tereshinski said. “I don’t think I limit this team by any means. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a playmaker, compared to Thomas Brown and Mohamed Massaquoi and Martrez Milner. They’ve proven themselves. As long as you get the ball to those, then you’re giving yourself a chance to win.”
Good kid. Smart kid. But his resume has one start, a loss at Florida. He went 8 for 21 for the injured Shockley. There’s little else to go on. He’s not viewed as a cornerstone of the program, but a temp.
“You’re playing for a series. You’re playing for more playing time,” he said. “Like Coach Richt said, he’s going to play more than one quarterback, most likely.”
If nothing else, he seems prepared.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, UGA / SEC

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Pair tackles starting assignments

Football

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 3:26 AM on Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Michael Turner has been a career backup at Georgia, and Ken Shackleford an on-again, off-again part of a sometimes three-man rotation at offensive tackle.
Georgia fans now have reason to cross their fingers and hope that these seniors can be solid starters for the first two games of the season because the offensive line depth consists of one guy: sophomore guard Seth Watts.
"We've been practicing with no depth. It's not going to be any different," Turner said. "We went through two-a-days without any depth. We practice hurt and we're going to have to play hurt. If one of us gets hurt, it really doesn't matter."
Preseason All-SEC offensive tackle Daniel Inman and backup center Ian Smith are suspended until the UAB game on Sept. 16 and backup guard Zeb McKinzey is out with a shoulder injury.
Georgia's coaching staff hopes to work through those absences without having to use freshmen linemen Kevin Perez, Chris Davis and Josh Davis. Freshman tackle John Miller is out with a shoulder injury.
Turner is hardly complaining about the predicament. He's getting ready for his first start since his days at Brookwood High School.
"It's going to be nothing but excitement," said Turner, who expects about 10 family members at the game, when he'll serve as Inman's replacement. "I can't wait."
The 6-foot-4, 287-pound Turner came to Georgia as a tight end, and played there as a freshman.
He moved to the offensive line, and has practiced at tackle, guard and center.
"Michael has been one of those guys who I always thought had real good ability and could be a good player," offensive line coach Neil Callaway said. "It seems like inevitably something happens to him. He gets hurt doing something, or for whatever reason, was missing work and wasn't there much."
An assortment of injuries - ankle, foot and shoulder - and a one-game suspension to start last season have kept him off the field.
"You have no idea how frustrating it's been," Turner said. "I came in here and played as a freshman, then I got hurt. I expected to play a lot. Things went how they went. I sat and waited. Now it's finally my turn and I'm just ready to show everybody."
So is Shackleford, who saw significant playing time early last season along with Inman and Dennis Roland, but his playing time dwindled as the season progressed.
"Looking back, two years ago and last year, I thought he played pretty well," Callaway said. "I should have played him more last year. I thought he started off well last year, and then had some family problems (a death in the family) that were a distraction."
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Villa Rica product has been limited by a hamstring injury, but is ready to be a fixture in the lineup. His only college start came against Vanderbilt in 2004, when he replaced an injured Roland.
"I've been waiting for my opportunity to finally start here at this great university," Shackleford said. "Now I'm getting my opportunity, and I want to make the best of it."
Especially because the clock is ticking on his Georgia career.
"Everybody has aspirations to take it to the next level," Shackleford said. "I'm not well-known as some of the other guys, so it's basically a do or die season to me."
Callaway envisions a rotation at offensive tackle when Inman returns.
"Basically the three of them will rotate and play the whole game," Callaway said.
Shackleford is readying himself for his increased role.
"I definitely am preparing myself for it," he said. "The way it's looking so far, yeah, you've got to prepare yourself for the worst."
Opener: W. Kentucky at Georgia 12:30 p.m. Saturday (Lincoln Financial)

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 083006

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Tereshinski won't shy from contact

Notebook

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 3:26 AM on Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Georgia quarterback Joe Tereshinski has earned a reputation as a hard-nosed, tough player.
The fifth-year senior never has shied away from collisions and would be about the last guy expected to slide away from trouble on the run. That will probably have to change if Tereshinski wants to remain healthy.
D.J. Shockley was an elusive runner, but Tereshinski is apt to try to barrel over a tackler.
"Joe's a more physical runner, which is not necessarily a good thing at the quarterback position," coach Mark Richt said. "A guy that might want to physically take people on, you don't last very long when you do that."
Tereshinski rushed for 37 yards in his start against Florida last year, including a 20-yard gain. He said he rushed for more than 100 yards in a game when he played at Athens Academy.
"I don't think I've ever slid before," Tereshinski said. "I might have run out of bounds once or twice, but that was probably to stop the clock, so I didn't get tackled in bounds."
Richt said design runs are in the game plan.
"If it's first-and-10 and you're running just to gain a couple of yards, go down, why not?" Tereshinski said. "We'll play another down and stay healthy. At the same time, if it's for the ball game and it's third-and-2 and you have to get to those chains, by all means I'm lowering my shoulder."

Brown the man at TB, kickoff returner
With Thomas Brown back deep, Richt sounds confident that Georgia's three-year malaise on kickoff returns could be coming to an end.
"I think our kickoff return team will definitely go up in the charts," Richt said.
Georgia's 19.46 yards per return was 82nd in the nation last season. Georgia was 112th in 2004 and 100th in 2003.
Georgia is going to having just one man deep on kickoff returns, something it occasionally used late last season.
"We just want who we think is our best returner in there right now, and we think Thomas is that guy," Richt said.
Brown isn't concerned about risking injury on kickoff returns.
"I'm not really every worried about taking a shot and getting knocked out," he said. "I'm going to go out there and attack it full speed."

Verdun Wheeler to start; Miller to play
Senior Danny Verdun Wheeler has supplanted junior Brandon Miller as starting strongside linebacker, but both players should get plenty of snaps Saturday.
Miller also has worked at weakside linebacker this preseason and said he's practiced some at middle linebacker. Miller started 10 games on the strong side last season.

Putting a positive spin on Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky rides a four-game losing streak into Saturday's game dating to last season, losing to Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Youngstown State and Florida International.
"We're playing a team that not long ago has won a national championship at the I-AA level and is used to winning," Richt said, referring to the team's 2002 national title. "I've said it many times, I'd rather play a Division I team that doesn't know how to win as compared to a I-AA team that does."

Gant expects to play Saturday
Senior defensive tackle Ray Gant was cleared to play after his sore shoulder was examined by doctors. After Tuesday's practice, Gant said he felt "great."
"I think I'll be out there, but I'm not quite sure how much I'll play," Gant said. "Hopefully, I'll get a few snaps here and there."
Richt said cornerback Bryan Evans (knee) is expected to play and indicated that fullback Des Williams (knee) was probable and Jason Johnson (ankle) questionable, but that was before Johnson appeared to sustain further injury early in practice.

Verdun Wheeler to start; Miller to play
Senior Danny Verdun Wheeler has supplanted junior Brandon Miller as starting strongside linebacker, but both players should get plenty of snaps Saturday.
“I’m supposed to get a couple of snaps at weakside linebacker,” Verdun Wheeler said. “I’ll start out at (strongside) and you never know what can happen. I stay ready.”
Miller also has worked at weakside linebacker this preseason and said he's practiced some at middle linebacker. Miller started 10 games on the strong side last season.
“I’m never going to say it doesn’t matter because it matters,” Miller said about the starting job. “I’m always going to be a competitive guy.”

This and that
Richt again said that he's not sure how the quarterbacks would be used beyond Tereshinski. Backup Joe Cox is also expected to play. "Right now we haven't really nailed down what we're going to do at the quarterback position other than right now, we want to make sure that Joe T. gets off to a good start," Richt said. ... Freshmen Asher Allen and Prince Miller will both see time at nickel back, defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 083006

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Updated Thursday, August 31 at 1:54 AM

Stronger Brown hopes offseason work leads to big year for Bulldogs by The Associated Press ATHENS - Thomas Brown looks like the kind of running back who might see time returning kicks. That's because he looks like the kind of back who may be too small to carry the full load on offense. Look again. At 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, Brown is small for a major college running back, but the junior from Tucker has led Georgia in rushing in each of his first two years. Brown already was the undisputed starting tailback even though each of his backups, Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware, also have started games. Then Brown kicked it up a notch with an of ``I didn't have the type year that I wanted to last year,'' Thomas Brown fseason conditioning program that left him as the strongest player, pound for pound, in school history. Sure, Brown is only 5-foot-8, but he boasts a 470-pound bench press. Yes, he only weighs 190 pounds, but he can power-clean that's from the floor to over his head 347 pounds. And he also recorded a 610-pound squat, giving him three records for Georgia running backs of any size. ``That's a total of 1,427 pounds,'' Dave Van Halanger, the team's director of strength and conditioning, said Wednesday. ``Divide that by his weight and you get a 7.55 body index, which is the highest we've ever had here at the University of Georgia.'' Added Van Halanger: ``I've been doing this for 30 years. He's one of the strongest, pound for pound, I've had, and he always does it with a great attitude.'' Van Halanger notes that his staff doesn't hold the same standards as would be seen in weightlifting competitions. For example, instead of two-second intervals between the bench presses, players are allowed to bounce the bar back up. Still, by any measure, that's a lot of weight. ``It means a lot because it's something I never would have thought of or dreamed of coming here,'' Brown said. ``I was always a pretty strong kid and I worked hard in the weight room, but to be named the strongest pound for pound, especially for my size, really motivates me.'' Brown says he is motivated to improve his 2005 totals of 736 yards rushing as No. 15 Georgia opens its season Saturday against Western Kentucky. ``I didn't have the type year that I wanted to last year,'' Brown said this week. ``I just put a lot of work in to get my all-around game ready to go.'' Brown rushed for 875 yards as a freshman in 2004. Even while sharing the carries with Lumpkin and Ware, Brown expects better numbers this season. ``Your body breaks down during the season and the more you build it up during the offseason the better you'll be able to stay healthy,'' he said. Brown hopes that as a stronger back, he'll be better able to break through first and second hits for long runs. Other than a 52-yard run against West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl, Brown's longest run last season was for 18 yards. Brown also hopes for some big gains on kickoff returns. Coach Mark Richt is using his top tailback on kickoff returns simply because Brown is also the best return specialist on the team. ``We just want who we think is our best returner. We think Thomas is that guy,'' Richt said. ``If you watch our special teams, you'll see some pretty prominent names. We really want to improve in that area. It's a commitment to win the special teams.'' Brown says he's not worried that taking a big hit on a return could knock him out of a game. ``You don't ever worry about taking a shot or anything like that,'' he said. ``I'm going at it at full speed.'' Meanwhile, Van Halanger says Brown has been a great workout role model for the freshmen. ``He's very competitive,'' Van Halanger said. ``He wants to beat everybody. He wants to work harder than everybody. ``Guys like that make my job so easy, because when the freshmen come in they want to know how it's done. I say 'Look at Thomas Brown.' He's stronger. He looks faster. He's really improved his football ability.'' (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

©Copyright 2006 AccessNorthGa.com / WDUN News/Talk 550.

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GEORGIA REPORT
Stafford wants to play, not redshirt

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/01/06 Athens — Georgia coach Mark Richt still isn't saying who he wants to play as the third and fourth quarterbacks Saturday — or whether he plans to go that far down the depth chart at all.
But Matthew Stafford is pretty certain of one thing — he wants to see the field against Western Kentucky.
When asked about risking a redshirt season by playing in the opener, Stafford made one thing perfectly clear:
"I want to play."
Now, is he ready?
In the freshman's estimation, the answer is yes. Stafford, listed as a co-No. 3 alongside Blake Barnes, said he has gotten enough snaps against the scout team this week and is prepared for Western Kentucky's defense.
To this point, Richt has only confirmed that two quarterbacks — Joe Tereshinski and Joe Cox — would play against WKU. Richt is still debating a third quarterback and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a redshirt for Stafford, the Bulldogs' most highly rated quarterback recruit.
Oliver's thefts have been 'Krazy'
Rick Moranis has taught Georgia's defensive backs something Richt & Co. could not.
It was Moranis' film "Little Giants" that gave the Bulldogs an idea of how to make some big grabs.
"We looked at 'Little Giants' and we saw when the guy put glue on his hands, so we did that," safety Tra Battle joked.
While nobody actually went to those lengths, it has appeared as if Paul Oliver got hold of the Krazy Glue. The cornerback from Kennesaw estimated that he's had one interception a day since practice began four weeks ago. He wouldn't reveal which quarterback he's picked off the most.
Eight will miss season opener
Out for the opener because of health issues: fullback Jason Johnson (ankle), defensive lineman Marquis Elmore (knee), defensive end Brandon Wood (shoulder) and offensive lineman Zeb McKinzey (shoulder).
Offensive lineman Ian Smith (elbow) has been cleared medically but now must sit out the first two games due to a suspension. Fellow lineman Daniel Inman, cornerback Thomas Flowers and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe also are serving suspensions.
Oregon added to future schedule
Georgia could make two trips out west in future years.
Thursday, the Bulldogs announced a two-game series with Oregon. They'll travel to Eugene for a game in 2015, then host the Ducks in 2016. Game dates have not been set.
The school is also in talks with Oregon State about a three-game series. Georgia would host the Beavers in 2007 and 2017, and travel to Corvallis, Ore., in 2011.
Earlier, Georgia signed on for series with Colorado (2006, 2010), Arizona State (2008, 2009), Louisville (2011, 2012) and Clemson (2013, 2014).
Etc.
Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin were named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to college football's top running back. ... Georgia checks in at No. 6 on Yahoo's list of the most-searched college football programs, trailing Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, Southern Cal and Penn State. The top-rated player searched? Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. Auburn tailback and Dacula native Kenny Irons was No. 9.

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Updated Thursday, August 31 at 10:48 PM

Richt: Dogs will start Kade Wilson Saturday at defensive tackle by The Associated Press ATHENS - Georgia coach Mark Richt said Thursday redshirt freshman Kade Weston will start ahead of Dale Dixson at defensive tackle when the No. 15 Bulldogs open their season Saturday against Western Kentucky. Richt said Dixson, a senior, will play ``a bunch'' in the game. Weston (6-5, 310) had eight tackles and two sacks in the G-Day spring game. The native of Red Bank, N.J., was a Parade magazine All-American in high school. Weston moved ahead of Dixson, who played in eight games with one start last season. Joining Weston on the starting defensive line will be ends Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson and tackle Jeff Owens, a sophomore. Richt moved the practice schedule up an hour Thursday to avoid heavy rain. ``We're thankful we got it in,'' said Richt. ``We got a little wet at the end but it was a good day. We threw and caught the ball well, which is what you hope to stay ahead of schedule.'' (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

©Copyright 2006 AccessNorthGa.com / WDUN News/Talk 550.

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This Kid is from My hometown


Football is a snap for this walk-on

Football

Story Photos - Click to Enlarge

Long snapper Jeff Henson hasn't played in a game since high school in 2000.
University of Georgia / Special
Click thumbnails to view


By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 12:49 AM on Friday, September 1, 2006
The guy who will be snapping the ball for kicker Brandon Coutu and punter Gordon Ely-Kelso is as well-versed in closing costs and multiple listings as hash marks and hang times.
Jeff Henson last played football in 2000 for West Hall High School, got his real estate license and spent a couple of years in the working world.
After two years at Gainesville State College, Henson is now majoring in real estate at Georgia's Terry College of Business and still keeping his eye on the housing market and interest rates.
"They're fluctuating," Henson said. "From where I'm from in Hall County, it's a real fast growing area. People are out there are buying and selling all the time."
Henson was a four-year defensive line starter at West Hall, where he also served as long snapper. Never mind that he hasn't played since Jim Donnan was still coaching at Georgia.
"It's kind of shocking, isn't it?" said Georgia assistant coach David Johnson, who oversees the kickers and snappers. "He just kind of shows up. The biggest concern we had was his eligibility, making sure he was squared away with his classes that he took and that they all transferred."
Henson was accepted to Georgia in May and won the job as the long snapper in preseason practices. Johnson said the team's snappers usually have camped at Georgia or walked on and worked their way through the system.
"I didn't know if his passion for football was still there," said Georgia tight end Martrez Milner, a high school teammate of Henson. "It was a surprise for me but I'm not surprised he's out with some of the best athletes in the nation. In high school, he was a tremendous athlete. He can tackle well."
Henson, who turns 24 in October and is listed at 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, played baseball on a middle school team that he said won a state championship. He said he trained and worked out consistently even when he was away from football.
"I'm in better shape now than I was in high school," he said.
The difference now is that Henson will make his snaps in Sanford Stadium with a television audience watching.
"Anytime you go out there and play in front of 95,000 people, I'm sure there's going to be nerves," Henson said. "Hopefully it will turn into positive energy. I always handled pressure well in high school. I'm not really too concerned about it."
That demeanor has impressed his teammates, who don't see a typical first-year college player.
"We've all been really impressed with his m ental attitude," Ely-Kelso said. "You see a lot of kickers and snappers that are head cases, but he's done really well. He'll get yelled at by a coach and doesn't let it get to him. You see guys that are fresh out of high school and they're worse off because they expect they're going to be really good. He came in and just worked hard and whatever happened, happened."
Henson may play on a team where most of the players have NFL aspirations, but he'll be ready to return to the world of real estate when his playing days are done.
"That's what I want to do when I graduate college," Henson said. "I love it. That's where I intend on going."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 090106

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Clock rules draw Richt's ire

Football Notebook

By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 12:50 AM on Friday, September 1, 2006
Georgia's home football games last season averaged 3 hours and 21 minutes, but new NCAA clock rules that will be on display at Sanford Stadium on Saturday are designed to shorten that time.
They have drawn a backlash from college coaches, including Georgia coach Mark Richt, who sounded off about the subject again this week.
"I'm not real thrilled about it," Richt said. "A lot of defensive coaches got on the (rules) committee and decided that would be a good idea to shorten the game and have less yards and less plays and less touchdowns. I'm sure that it had something to do with some people wanting to shorten the game for TV, but I don't see why we should have TV dictate to us how we play our game."
The clock will now start on the kickoff, not when the returner touches the ball. On first downs after a change of possession, the 25-second clock will begin at a ready-for-play signal, not at the snap.
"People are going to have to be ready to snap the ball when the referees move out of the way on the change of possession if you don't want 25 seconds of game clock to run off," Richt said. "The excitement that the fans love is going to be shortened. I don't think it's a good rule. ... Hopefully, we'll change that thing back after one season."
Televised games averaged 3 hours and 20 minutes last season. John Adams, the secretary-editor of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, estimates that the new rule changes could trim almost 12 minutes off a game.
"Do I like the rule?" defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "I can go 50-50. If you're behind in the game, you're not going to like the rule. If you're winning, you're going to like the rule.
"I think you'll see a lot more no-huddle concepts to get more plays. We've got to be prepared for that because I know there's pressure to always score a lot of points in a lot of programs."
Georgia adds Oregon to future schedules
Georgia is continuing to look out West to beef up its future nonconference football schedules.
The Bulldogs have locked up games with Oregon in 2015 and 2016, the school said on Thursday. Georgia will travel to Eugene in 2015 and Oregon plays in Athens in 2016. Exact dates haven't been set.
Colorado (2006 and 2010) and Arizona State (2008 and 2009) already have series with Georgia, as does Louisville (2011 and 2012) and Clemson (2013 and 2014).
Georgia beat Oregon in its only previous meeting, 27-16, in 1977. Associate athletic director Arthur Johnson said last week that Georgia was close to adding Oregon State for a three-game series, starting next season.
Richt playing QB plan close to vest
Joe Tereshinski is the starter and Joe Cox his backup, but Richt hasn't revealed the plan beyond that. Richt said the staff still had not "nailed it down" Thursday, which he said "next to G-Day, might have been the busiest day of my life."
He had two speaking engagements at night.
Richt didn't say whether Blake Barnes or Matthew Stafford would play or how he would use Cox.
"I'm sorry I don't have that for you, and if I knew it, I'm not sure I would tell you," Richt said. "I might tell you, but right now, we haven't nailed it down."
This and that
South Carolina, Georgia's next opponent, gets a jump start on preparing for the Bulldogs after its Thursday night game against Mississippi State. "I think it's a nice advantage for them," Richt said. "They've got a very late game Thursday, so they'll get (today) and Saturday, and we may get at least the evening Saturday." ... Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin are on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which goes the nation's top running back. ... The Dawg Walk will be at 10:45 a.m.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 090106

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Georgia vs. Western Kentucky
Many game-time decisions for Dogs

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/02/06 OK, so everybody knows who Georgia is playing — Western Kentucky. It's just that not everybody knows who is playing for Georgia.
What is known as kickoff approaches is that Joe Tereshinski and Joe Cox will see time at quarterback. Blake Barnes is a maybe. Matthew Stafford? A maybe not.
"I would feel comfortable playing any of those quarterbacks," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
While Richt hasn't tipped his hand about who'll play when, we know that Tereshinski will start, Cox will play some ... and coaches are cognizant of Stafford and the possibility of redshirting the highly touted freshman.
Now, as for what coaches want to see out of those quarterbacks: "We will have a normal Georgia quarterback game plan that will force [Tereshinski] to make a lot of decisions at the line of scrimmage," Richt said. "Should we run this way? Should we run that way? Should we throw the ball?
"There are some options that he will have at the line of scrimmage and he will have to make those decisions."
Those decisions will have to come quickly, as the offensive line is expected to have only six players available. One of those, guard Chester Adams, has had his physical conditioning questioned this week by his head coach.
"Every time [Tereshinski] drops back to throw the football, he has got to understand the protection," Richt said. "He has got to know when he is protected and when he is not. He has got to communicate to everybody on certain blitzes, 'You guys have to have certain sight adjustments, certain route adjustments.'
"And then he has got to be able to progress properly. He has got to be able to stand in there and throw strikes."
First time as starters
Several first-time starters will see action for Georgia, including Ramarcus Brown and Kelin Johnson in the secondary.
Brown will be at cornerback. Johnson is at safety. The veteran of that secondary is Tra Battle, who already has dispensed some words of wisdom.
"I told Kelin, 'Just make sure you are deeper than their deepest,' " Battle said.
The playmaker and leader in the secondary so far has been Paul Oliver. The junior from Kennesaw started two games last season — losses to Florida and Auburn — and led the team with three interceptions. Word is, he been picking off an average of a pass a day in practice.
"Toward the end of last season and spring he really started to mature as a dominant leader on our defense," defensive end Quentin Moses said. "We need him when you are losing 75 percent of the secondary. You have to somebody step up and be ready for those top receivers in the nation like [Georgia Tech's] Calvin Johnson.
"You know he can get the job done. The plays he has made in the offseason, you know he is ready. He is just waiting for his opportunity. Hopefully, he can go out and make his mark."
Opponent doesn't matter to team, fans
Tennessee opens up against Cal. Georgia Tech hosts Notre Dame. Florida State takes on Miami.
And Georgia? Well, the fact that the Bulldogs are kicking off against a Division I-AA team doesn't seem to matter to the players or the hardcore fans who follow them.
"I don't care if we are playing Sister Mary and the Blind, man," safety Kelin Johnson said. "I want to show the Georgia nation the Bulldogs are back, and we've got to defend the title. We are the top school in the SEC, and we've got to defend that right."
As for defending the scheduling of a I-AA team, Mark Richt has had a stock answer for all questioners.
"I'd rather play a Division I-A [team] that doesn't know how to win as opposed to a I-AA team that does know how to win," he said.
Western Kentucky has showed it knows how to win, taking the I-AA national title in 2002 and getting off to a 6-1 start last season before finishing 0-4. The Hilltoppers have never defeated an SEC team.
QB picks his spots
The playbook won't be as conservative as it was in Joe Tereshinski's first start, a loss last year to Florida. But don't expect some high-flying, deep-ball bonanza, either.
"We have to use our strengths, and early on, that is going to be our tailbacks," Georgia quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said. "That is not because of Joe T., but I think early on the strength of our offense is the running backs."
Tereshinski realizes this and knows he'll have to pick his spots.
"Whatever they call I just want to be able to run it," he said. "If they feel comfortable with me having the ball, by all means I would love to have it. If they don't think I have the tools to run some of the plays, they won't call them, and I won't be upset by that."
Verdun Wheeler shows off versatility
Kickoff's not even here, and already Georgia is playing musical chairs with its linebacking corps.
Danny Verdun Wheeler is back at the strong side, where he'll start and split time with Brandon Miller. But that might not be the only spot Verdun Wheeler plays.
"We are already preparing for [changing positions]," the senior said. "I am supposed to get a couple of snaps at weak side linebacker Saturday after starting out at [strong side], so you never know what could happen."
What has happened is that Verdun Wheeler has turned himself into a glue guy that can plug any hole.
"I guess I think of myself as a necessity," he said. "We need at least one linebacker like me that is willing to open up his arsenal and play anything Coach asks. We need that."
Experience leads 'Toppers
Quarterback Justin Haddix has started all 36 games David Elson has coached at Western Kentucky. The senior brings a wealth of experience and success to the field. Last fall, Haddix threw for a career-high 172 yards per game and had 15 passing touchdowns.
Haddix is complemented by running back Lerron Moore. He has played in every game of his three-year career and rushed for more than 1,000 yards in two of those seasons.
"Offensively, they are not a lot different than us as far as how they line up," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "They play a lot of I-formation football, some three-receiver sets with a tight end and a back. They love to run isolation. They will run a power [formation] at you, and they will run some option game in there."
Haddix is also good with the play-action pass and can scramble on broken plays.
"He is a tough kid, he runs well, makes plays on the move and reminds us a little bit of D.J. Shockley," Richt said.
Western returns its entire offensive line from last season.
Mitchell turns scouts' heads
While most of the next-level prospects play for Georgia, Western Kentucky does feature a defensive back/return specialist who has caught the eye of pro scouts.
Dennis Mitchell is a small cornerback in the mold of former Bulldogs star Tim Jennings. But he has quickness to the ball and knows how to get his hands on it. Mitchell has six career interceptions and broke up 11 passes last season. He also averages 20 yards per kickoff return and 13.7 yards per punt return.
"He is extremely fast and doubles as a return man, and is probably an All-American candidate in both positions," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
Regular season rout
Under Mark Richt, Georgia is 20-2 against non-conference teams. The only losses? To Boston College in the 2001 Music City Bowl and to West Virginia in January's Sugar Bowl.
Haddix under pressure from Moses
Western Kentucky quarterback Justin Haddix will have to contend with one of college football's premier pass rushers in Georgia's Quentin Moses, who has climbed to second on Mel Kiper Jr.'s list of the top senior pro prospects:
1. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
2. Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia
3. Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
4. Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State
5. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
Names and numbers
• Six Georgia high school players are on WKU's roster, including former Starr's Mill standout Chris James, a preseason I-AA All-America kicker.
• The last time Western played a game in the state of Georgia? Oct. 31, 1987, when it fell 23-20 at Georgia Southern.
• Before he became Georgia's men's basketball coach, Dennis Felton won 100 games and steered the Hilltoppers to three NCAA tournament appearances in five seasons.
• Western offered Georgia defensive end Quentin Moses a basketball scholarship coming out of Cedar Shoals High.
Hometown proud
Joe Tereshinski will become the fourth Athens native to start an opener at quarterback for Georgia. How the others fared:
FRAN TARKENTON
1960: Lost to Alabama 21-6
ANDY JOHNSON
1971: Beat Oregon State 56-25
1973: Tied Pitt 7-7
JEFF PYBURN
1977: Beat Oregon 27-16
1978: Beat Baylor 16-14
1979: Lost to Wake Forest 22-21

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GEORGIA REPORT
No. 3 Ware closes gap in RB race

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/05/06 Athens — Danny Ware knew his position — third on the depth chart — and knew it would be easy to be forgotten.
The running back made sure he wasn't Saturday. Ware led Georgia in rushing with 68 yards on six carries and had a 41-yard touchdown run in a 48-12 win over Western Kentucky. All those yards have allowed him to inch closer to Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin on the depth chart.
"He deserves more opportunity," coach Mark Richt said. "I don't know if he will move up the depth chart. He may. He sure ran the ball well."
Said Ware: "I had a lot more determination and had something I wanted to prove. I just wanted to go out there and make things happen and show people just because I am No. 3 doesn't mean I can't make things happen."
What happened to the junior last season was a drop in production — then carries — at the end of the year. After eight carries for 71 yards against Kentucky, Ware slipped out of sight. He started the preseason No. 3.
"It is one of those things where it seems like I get complacent going on down toward the end of the year," Ware said. "This year I want to prove I can stay on top of my game and full of hustle and fight all year long."
Spurrier pleased with defense
It takes pretty solid defense to turn the head of the offensive-minded Steve Spurrier. But the Gamecocks' defense accomplished that Thursday against Mississippi State, coming up with its first shutout of the Spurrier era.
"Our defense did play exceptionally well against Mississippi State," the South Carolina coach said.
The optimism is guarded, however. The Gamecocks were, after all, taking on an offense that ranked last in the SEC a year ago.
"Our defensive coaches are trying to keep it in perspective," Spurrier said.
Not Richt.
"Considering they have 10 new starters, it is unbelievable," Richt said. "They look very fast and very physical. They look an awful lot like our defense in scheme, athletes and effort."
Moses honored for play Saturday
Quentin Moses earned SEC defensive lineman of the week honors for his one-sack effort against Western Kentucky. Moses, a senior end, had 2 1/2 tackles for loss. He has 21 1/2 career sacks.

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True freshmen pitch in on 'D'

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/03/06 Athens — It took eight series, 20 plays and nearly 25 minutes of game clock, but finally Western Kentucky got a first down.
"I thought we could've moved the ball more on the ground," Hilltoppers running back Lerron Moore said after Saturday's 48-12 shellacking. "But we couldn't execute."
Or maybe it was just that Georgia's defense was able to execute.
"We were all running to the ball, communicating. That is what makes a great defense," Bulldogs safety Kelin Johnson said. "That is what we had, and that is what we have to have all season."
OK, Georgia may very well have just that. But it's unlikely the Bulldogs will be able to hold a team to no first downs for the majority of the first half and 193 yards overall. Don't count on a repeat performance next week against South Carolina in Columbia.
"South Carolina looked fast and good," defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said of the Gamecocks' 15-0 Thursday night win at Mississippi State. "It is a tough environment to play in and we have got to make some improvements.
"We made some mistakes that we cannot consistently make down the road here — missed tackles, missed sacks."
But what wasn't missing were players. Georgia went way down the depth chart and played four true freshmen on defense — Asher Allen, Prince Miller, Geno Atkins and Darius Dewberry. Several other first-time players also saw action, including Kade Weston, Bryan Evans and Roderick Battle.
"You have got some young guys. They are going to fight for you," Johnson said. "You need a blow, you know now you've got younger guys that are going to come in and play as hard as they can."
The view for Martinez was similar.
"I saw guys that wanted to play," he said. "I saw some good things and some . . . mistakes. I am kind of hoping that they minimize their mistakes. But I like them because they want to play. They are into pleasing and the more depth we can develop, the better for us because we have got to go 11 weeks in a row."
That means staying healthy, which was a concern of coach Mark Richt's. Before Saturday's game even started, he made a point to seek out safety Kelin Johnson and tell him to play with his head. Richt didn't want Johnson to risk his body trying too hard to live up to the hard-hitting tradition of Georgia's safeties.
Johnson came out unscathed and led the team in tackles (six). He also had Georgia's only interception.
"All that was a long time coming," Johnson said. "Every hit I got made me just want to get that next one. They all felt really good."
The only bad feelings of the day came when a miscommunication in the secondary led to a 17-yard touchdown pass from Justin Haddix to Curtis Hamilton.
That was just little blown coverage and we bounced back," Johnson said. "We forgot about it."
But they'll long remember Saturday's first half.
"You do something like that," Martinez said, "you know you are doing pretty good."

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Family ties on Gamecock defense strong
South Carolina twins grew up as Georgia fans

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/06/06 Columbia — If you happened to be in downtown Athens on Saturday night, you might have come across a couple of Atlas-looking young men strolling down the sidewalk. If so, a few thoughts probably crossed your mind.
"There go a couple of Georgia football players."

Rich Glickstein / The State (ENLARGE)

South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley (52) makes a tackle in the season opener against Mississippi State.

"Wait, am I seeing double?"
You would have been right on one of those counts. They were football players from Georgia. However, the two guys in question play football at South Carolina.
And no, you weren't seeing double. Jasper and Casper Brinkley are identical twins from Thomson who were indeed in Athens on Saturday. They were hanging out with their buddy and fellow Thomson High alum Danny Verdun Wheeler, a starting linebacker for the Bulldogs.
"Yeah, we were there," admitted Jasper, South Carolina's starting middle linebacker. "We didn't go to the game but we went out and hung out with some friends and some of their players. We've been going to Athens for years."
In fact, had things gone the way they wanted, "Jap" and "Cap," as they're known by friends and teammates, would be wearing silver britches this season. Both players envisioned playing for the Bulldogs when they finished at Georgia Military College last year.
However, Georgia offered only Jasper a scholarship. The Bulldogs were unable to take on the Brinkleys as a package deal, as the twins insisted. South Carolina, along with Arizona State and a few other Division I-A programs, was.
"They offered me and not my brother," Jasper said Tuesday. "We just wanted to stay together."
That's part of the story, but not the whole story, according to Georgia recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner.
"We recruited both kids," said Garner, who also serves as the Bulldogs' defensive line coach. "Athletically, trust me, we liked them both. But there's more to it than that. I don't want to put anybody down. All I can say is it's very, very difficult for us to get [junior college] kids into school. That had a lot to do with it."
By all indications, Georgia would be glad to have either player on its roster.
Jasper, who is 6 feet 2 and 250 pounds, was accepted at South Carolina last winter and was able to enroll in time for spring practice. He earned the starting job at middle linebacker by the "second or third practice," according to coach Steve Spurrier. Jasper managed 11 tackles, a sack and 1 1/2 tackles for loss in South Carolina's 15-0 win over Mississippi State last Thursday.
Casper (6-3, 250) didn't arrive on campus until the start of preseason camp but still managed to earn the starting job at defensive end. He had three tackles in Starkville while splitting time with Eric Norwood.
"We've been very pleased with both young men," Spurrier said. "They love to practice, they love football and their commitment level is super. Hopefully it will rub off on other guys on our team."
Bert Williams, the head coach and athletics director at GMC, took his entire team to see the Brinkleys play on the way to Ennis, Texas, for its game against Navarro College.
"I'm not surprised," Williams said of the twins' quick success. "Those guys were outstanding talents and great players for us. They've got the size and speed to play SEC ball."
Obviously, both players are extremely motivated to play the Bulldogs on Saturday night in Columbia.
"It's pretty much huge," Jasper said. "It's not that I have anything against Georgia. Now that we're here, it's about the SEC and they're the defending champions. We want to beat them."
For Casper, it's a little more personal.
"I never thought I'd be playing against Georgia," he said. "I thought I'd be playing for them. They could have had two good athletes. I want to prove they made a mistake. Hopefully, we'll make them sorry."

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GEORGIA REPORT
Stafford anxious for more

By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/06/06 Athens — Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford said he is ready and prepared for more.
Maybe not more playing time, as no one is quite sure yet how that will shake out. But at least some more responsibility and wrinkles when the freshman gets in the game.

File (ENLARGE)

Freshman Matthew Stafford says he's prepared if the Bulldogs decide to expand their playbook.

"I feel like I am ready and right there, ready to play with whatever [quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo] wants me to handle," Stafford said.
In Saturday's rout of Western Kentucky, Bobo simplified the game plan for Stafford to put him in a better position to succeed. Now Stafford wants more.
On the latest depth chart, he's listed alongside Joe Cox as the backup, with the word "or" separating their names.
"I'm just going out there and trying to study as much as I can and figure out what we are doing as a team and execute," Stafford said.
After watching film of the opener, Stafford said he executed well. But he quickly added, "It is kind of hard to mess up in nine plays. We really didn't have a whole lot of surface area to mess up."
He may not have a whole lot to mess up this week, either. Coach Mark Richt is concerned about opening Stafford's playbook too much.
"I wouldn't get too complicated with him," Richt said. "We will see how he studies the game. If he can handle everything in practice, there is a pretty good chance he can handle it in the game."
The one thing Stafford did that few expected was scramble for 19 yards. That's not typically part of his game.
"Don't expect to see that anymore," Stafford said. "I am probably going to get walked down from behind. Coach Bobo definitely alluded to that probably not happening again."
Not that it couldn't, but most teams Georgia plays will have significantly more speed on defense than the Hilltoppers.
Joe T knows he has to compete
Joe Tereshinski, who isn't about to loosen his grip on the No. 1 quarterback spot, said he expected Stafford & Co. to make a run at his job.
"From early on, I knew it wouldn't be over," he said. "It's something I've got to put in the back of my mind. The focus can't be beating out other guys. It has to be on helping the team."
Henderson's status still undetermined
The status of punt returner/wide receiver Mikey Henderson is still up in the air. Henderson has had a tweaked hamstring and has been in a non-contact jersey this week. Richt said Henderson would be re-evaluated today.
Defensive tackle Marquis Elmore (knee) is back in practice but in a non-contact jersey. He will be reevaluated today for soreness and swelling and is questionable for Saturday.
Offensive lineman Zeb McKinzey (shoulder) remains out of practice. Fullback Jason Johnson (ankle) is expected to play.
For South Carolina, center Chris White is also battling a shoulder injury but is expected to play. Quarterback Blake Mitchell (leg) practiced Tuesday.