Bulldogs buck football tradition, drop two-a-day practices
ATHENS –- Georgia will abandon a piece of football tradition this summer: two-a-day practices.
The Bulldogs have a tentative practice schedule that, for the first time anyone around the UGA program can recall, calls for no two-a-days.
Two-a-days -– the stuff of legend among generations of players –- have been on the wane with Georgia and most other college teams in recent years. Georgia had three sessions of two-a-days last summer.
NCAA rules limit teams to 29 practices before the first game, and Georgia basically decided that preparation for the season can be more productive with 29 one-a-days, allowing time between sessions for more film review and walk-throughs.
But it is a break with tradition, to be sure.
“The older you are, the tougher it was back then,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Wednesday. “Talk to the older coaches on our staff; they had four- or five-a-days. That’s how Coach [Stacy] Searels and Coach [Rodney] Garner would like to say they had it at Auburn.”
Georgia Tech will continue to have a limited number of two-a-days this year. The Yellow Jackets have three days of double practices on their preseason schedule, spokesman Dean Buchan said.
Bobo said that Georgia’s staff discussed the elimination of two-a-days and that coach Mark Richt made the decision “after visiting some places and talking to some other head coaches” who have dropped double practices in recent years.
“The good is you can teach a little better [with one-a-days], where you might not be able to get as tough as you would like them,” Bobo said. “But everybody is playing with a limited number [of players] now, and there’s a fine line with injuries. You can see what injuries do to a football team. … I think we’ve got a good plan.”
The players, you can be sure, will welcome the demise of two-a-days.
“In their minds, mentally, they’re probably going to think it’s a break,” Bobo said. “But we’re still going to have 29 practices to get ready for the first game, no matter how you break it down.”
And it’s still going to be hot.
Georgia begins practice July 31, about a week earlier than usual, for its Sept. 4 opener against Louisiana-Lafayette. The Bulldogs are generally scheduled to practice six days per week throughout August.
Georgia Tech starts practice Aug. 5 for its Sept. 4 opener against South Carolina State.
Other UGA news today:
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191 comments Add your comment
KimZ'spackage
July 14th, 2010
5:08 pm
Zeb Damon was playing flag football when he got busted for DUI. Wow just Wow. Flag football with is friend.
ScoutDawg
July 14th, 2010
5:12 pm
Atl jerkit I have no problem believing you have mastered “hip flexibility” or whatever you kids want to call it now. I do however love your LOL, ROTFLMAO, or whatever acronyms it is you use! Just like my 14 yr. old daughter. NERD.
Beast from the East
July 14th, 2010
5:15 pm
Sounds like a good idea. More time on the mental aspect of the game and less physical exertion. The mental part has been UGA’s downfall the past couple of years (ie: penalties, turnovers and blown assignments). It’ll be interesting to see if some other teams in the SEC follow suit in the coming years.
Way to think outside of the box, Coach Richt!
Bulldog59
July 14th, 2010
5:17 pm
Delbert, I’m LMAO, good comparison
Jesse James
July 14th, 2010
5:19 pm
It is good to see that a coach is not scared to go against tradition and try something new. It is kind of like high school football. Spring Practice is a joke. Ask most high school coaches and they say they do it just because everybody else does. Many do not like it and they know that a kid playing another sport is hampered by Spring Football especially if they hold it in Jan. or Feb.
VolzRule
July 14th, 2010
5:20 pm
I wonder how things are going in hallowed Knoxville with the outstanding recruiting class of 2009. The Default Setting is “Blame Kiffin”…which is fun, but it’s also easy. And the easy answers are rarely the right ones. It is worth pointing out, however, the fate of Kiffin’s February 2009 signing class, which we praised for its excellence at the last minute:
(List sorted by Rivals ranking)
#1 Bryce Brown: transferred from program
#2 Janzen Jackson: involved with robbery at Pilot, but charges dropped; reportedly was present at the Bar Knoxville fight, but walked away
#3 Jerod Askew: redshirt
#4 Nu’Keese Richardson: dismissed from team after robbery at Pilot, making a strong case for worst judgment in a crowded field with this class
#5 Marlon Walls: idefinitely suspended today in relation to Bar Knoxville fight
#6 Eric Gordon: redshirt
#7 James Green: did not qualify
#8 Darren Myles: dismissed from team after second arrest in four months, evaded and resisted arrest before assaulting a police officer after Bar Knoxville fight
#9 David Oku: contributor on special teams and in the mix at RB
#10 JerQuari Schofield: redshirt
#11 Marsalis Teague: contributor at WR
#12 Mike Edwards: dismissed from team after robbery at Pilot
#13 Daniel Hood: redshirt, prior issues
#14 Arthur Jeffery: redshirt
#15 Greg King: indefinitely suspended today in relation to Bar Knoxville fight
#16 Robert Nelson: redshirt
#17 Nyshier Oliver: cited for shoplifting last fall
#18 Zach Rogers: minor contributor at WR
#19 Nigel Mitchell-Thronton: contributor at LB
#20 Kevin Revis: redshirt
#21 Rae Sykes: no signficant contribution
#22 Toney Williams: medical redshirt
Of Kiffin’s 22 signees, six of the top twelve are either not with the team or are on indefinite suspension. Ed Orgeron’s infamous “We’re not angels, and we’re not going to recruit angels” quote was quite right.
But…there’s a reason it’s called the Fulmer Cup and not the Kiffin Cup (not yet, anyway). Discipline problems at Tennessee were not a new thing for Lane Kiffin, nor are they new for Derek Dooley. The difference for Fulmer was, the vast majority of his discipline problems did not involve such large groups of players at once, and did not involve such serious crimes. I don’t know if you can fairly draw a straight line between the group incidents and Kiffin’s recruits, but it is worth pointing out that we’ve seen a third of our 2009 class run into serious problems, and they’ve only played one year.
dagnabit
July 14th, 2010
5:21 pm
SPANKY owns a pair of red panties and the DUI cell at the Athen’s jail.
andrew
July 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
i saw joe cox sunday afternoon at the chik fil a in commerce. the one by the tanger outlets. he was eating with another guy i couldnt recognize
Borodawg
July 14th, 2010
5:24 pm
Some o’ you brainiacks who say CMR is getting soft; players will be outa shape blah blah blah….This aint rocket surgery. They’re still running 29 practices. They are NOT cutting back on the number of practices. They are NOT gonna spend every afternoon in an air-conditioned room watching film, etc etc. Read the sentence in the article…”allowing time between sessions for more film review and walk-throughs…” Several other top programs are and have been doing the same thing. And as has been so astutely pointed out, usually the 2nd of 2-a-days leads to a point of diminishing returns anyway.
I think it’s a swell idea.
Gooooo Dawgs!
ReddJonn68
July 14th, 2010
5:27 pm
Dang VolzRule, good info why does this guy even have a job ( Kiffin ). Evans had an acohol problem, Kifffin is a con- artist.
whatever
July 14th, 2010
5:28 pm
who cares what they do at this point, UGA disapoints every year SOME how….forget em
CHDawg
July 14th, 2010
5:28 pm
I like it! Way back in the day coaches used to dehydrate the players because they thought it made them tough. Dumb ideas need to be discarded. One a day= 1 – much more time in practice, overall, when counting mental aspects; 2 – much more time for recovery, making increased exertion possible. 3 – more time for stretching and conditioning, reducing injuries, hopefully. 4 – more time to bond as a unit; last and not least 5 – less time over the summer to go out and get arrested for something!
VA DAWG
July 14th, 2010
5:31 pm
The home of Georgia strong safety Shawn Williams was lost in a fire Tuesday night in his hometown of Damascus.
Fund-raising efforts have been established to assist in expenses
necessary to replace the belongings lost in the fire. After consultation
with the NCAA, donations must be deposited into a special account at the
Bank of Early (county): Bank of Early, PO Box 527, Blakely, GA 39823, Attn:
Andy Smith.
Tar heel Bob
July 14th, 2010
5:32 pm
Still trying to confirm If Dean Smith has passed away. Sports Radio station in Greenville SC was trying to confirm.
BigGAdawg
July 14th, 2010
5:34 pm
Atlanta Jackets, “Mutts can only handle one a day. Burn!!! LOL!!!”
What’s next from the clever corner, maybe a “BaZinga” or two. “Burn”–Really??
Tell you what, we can handle the fuzzybutt bees–and that is what counts. In the worst season UGA has had in a decade we still won the ACC. It will only get worse for you from here on in. Yuk Yuk Yuk!!!
Go Dawgs! WOOF!
VolzRule
July 14th, 2010
5:35 pm
andrew
July 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
Did the guy Cox was with have pants hanging halfway down the crack of his arse and was he holding something up to his face? If so it could have been DaRick Rogers.
VolzRule
July 14th, 2010
5:37 pm
BigGAdawg
July 14th, 2010
5:34 pm
I also thought Atlanta Jacket might start giving it the Curly “woob woob woob” or “nyuk nyuk nyuk”.
KimZ'spackage
July 14th, 2010
5:48 pm
Espn has nothing on Dean Smith passing either. I think you have that wrong UNC Bob
mgdawg
July 14th, 2010
5:52 pm
This may actually lead to increased practice time. Usually practice during a two a day aren’t as long as a practice during a one a day, for instance a two-a-day may consist of two practices an hour and a half a piece a one-a-day may consist of a practice that is 2 hours. When you add it up, they are spending more time on the field. I love the idea, I’ve worked with a college football team and that second practice on the same day is usually a waste. Also, during one-a-days you’ll practice in the heat of the day a lot of times getting you more used to the heat. Not mentioning injuries should go down, more time for the mental part of the game, and don’t be shortsighted richt was heading this way with just 3 two-a-days last year, I don’t think this was something grantham demanded.
bkbroila4224
July 14th, 2010
6:00 pm
As a former Football Player…Not flag football..BTW…who actually experienced 2-a-days, the second practice was always sluggish for player and coach alike, and was very unproductive…
Atlanta Jackets
July 14th, 2010
6:01 pm
Drats! Gotta go now. Momma is calling me to supper. Oh well the basement was smelling a bit gaming anyway.
Al Franken
July 14th, 2010
6:04 pm
This will not have a bearing on the outcome of the season. I agree with the logic of spending more time reviewing film and having more focused practice. When the body is fatigued it’s more susceptable to injury. Good move!
Montavius Funkinspankin
July 14th, 2010
6:06 pm
((((((((30-24))))))))
TOTAL DOMINATION!!!!!!!!!!
Paul in RDU
July 14th, 2010
6:06 pm
Tar Heel Bob – If Dean Smith had passed away it would be the only thing on the local news here in the Triangle. Not a single report
CDAWG
July 14th, 2010
6:11 pm
UGAClassof2004, well said. I would have done away with 2-a-days back with the salt pills!
Logan Gray: full-time wide receiver AND backup quarterback? | UGA sports blog
July 14th, 2010
6:13 pm
[...] Dogs break football tradition, drop two-a-days [...]
bkbroila4224
July 14th, 2010
6:13 pm
It’s official…If you say, “BURN!!!” and think it’s cool…YOU are a N.E.R.D
Tide Roll
July 14th, 2010
6:15 pm
HEARD RUMOR THAT FLORIDA FANS ARE HIRING AN AIRPLANE TO FLY A GIANT RED PANTY AROUND ALLTEL DURING THE GA/FLA GAME.CAN ANYONE CONFIRM?
Tar heel Bob
July 14th, 2010
6:18 pm
Thanks Paul……. Ive been searching myself since the Clemson Greenville sports station mentioned this. They did say it was unconfirmed but their source was a credible one. They also did say they get stuff like that all the time. I dont even understand why they even mentioned it if its unconfirmed.
bkbroila4224
July 14th, 2010
6:23 pm
Tide Roll…can’t confirm or deny, but that is pretty funny…don’t think it will happen.
Damon Evans
July 14th, 2010
6:26 pm
What is the new phrase for the night ‘good people’ ?
Gt4ever
July 14th, 2010
6:26 pm
Well guys…. It will give each player more time with their parole officer….. I think it’s a GREAT idea….
Delbert D.
July 14th, 2010
6:35 pm
@Yeah Delbert D.
July 14th, 2010
4:33 pm
“Here are a few more; Mooney, Salibury and Lavin, Houston, Hamilton and Hall. All of their issues except for a couple here are/were with g-i-r-l-s and hard knuckles.
“UGA does have some 19 year olds that do booze it and we did have Montrez Robinson who has gone.”
Keep them coming, if you choose to. I won’t comment on the University of Georgia or any other schools’ offenses.
Tarrant (all charges dismissed) and Hall are on Georgia Tech’s current coach’s watch; his players. Hall’s battery on his live-in girlfriend was inexcusable, never mind that it was an escalating argument over their joint checking account. The running total is 1 case under investigation with Hall’s indefinite suspension.
Mike
July 14th, 2010
6:41 pm
I had three-a-days one year in high school – way too much. But two-a-days were good for conditioning, I thought. Kids today would rather go out and drink all night than condition thmeselves. After two-a-days, you didn’t feel like doing anything but go to sleep. What a bunch of pussies. Keep coddling these guys and we want be able to beat the Girl Scouts. Yes, I’m a huge UGA fan and 25 year season ticket holder. We need to put on two jock straps, as my old coach said, and get after it …
Dawghater
July 14th, 2010
6:45 pm
Too Many Kids in Jail for two a days! Woof Woof!
Facebook campaign likes Matt Stinchcomb for Georgia AD | UGA sports blog
July 14th, 2010
6:46 pm
[...] Dogs break football tradition, drop two-a-day practices [...]
Paul in RDU
July 14th, 2010
6:47 pm
Bob – I’d guess they just wanted to try to boost their audience.
BTW – Judging by yout name you might be interested in this one. The top sports story on the local news was about a Pro-Am b’ball game last night where a team with some UNC players played a team with NCSU recruits. UNC has some studs coming in – Barnes and Bullock combined for 55 in a win.
Dawghater
July 14th, 2010
6:48 pm
The bars in Athens just saw their sales go up and the bail bondsmen will enjoy the added business. YEE HAW boys, no more late practice. Happy Hour starts at 5 and as long as we are bailed out of jail by 8 we can make the 10 o clock practice. Woof! Woof!
Tech Sting
July 14th, 2010
6:52 pm
More swimming, easy practices, richt’s a players’ coach!!!
jzdawg
July 14th, 2010
7:04 pm
Start the practices at midnight so we can keep the players out of the bars and out of trouble.
ryan
July 14th, 2010
7:08 pm
Its like that movie that was filmed here the Crazies what is CMR thinking !
Big L
July 14th, 2010
7:10 pm
So the techies are gonna have 3 two a days and are talkin crap cause we ain’t having any. 3 two a days give u trash talkin privelages. So what are we gonna say when tech leaves practice early to have a scavenger hunt to find a bra with him sized cups.
Big L
July 14th, 2010
7:17 pm
The main difference between players now and 15 years ago is they live it all year round. Two a days got fat asses like me back into playing shape cause we didnt have strength and conditioning. They are needless at UGA’s level.
bkbroila4224
July 14th, 2010
7:22 pm
Wow…you techies could write jokes for Dane Cook…that was not a joke, you really could…His are almost as corny and repetitive!
mason
July 14th, 2010
7:28 pm
(( 30-24 ))
hahahahahahahaha
daisy Mae
July 14th, 2010
7:32 pm
I guess you thought that the dogs were only half perpared last year. This year will be a joke, also CMR last year. Do you know what we call CMR at Wal Mart where I work–A SLACKER
jasont13
July 14th, 2010
7:47 pm
Funny all these Tech people talk so much crap about it but their FIRST THREE practices are two a days. Funny to talk so much crap about a sport you yourself probably never played.
jerry
July 14th, 2010
7:55 pm
Will the players be drunk or sober when they practice?
Big L
July 14th, 2010
8:01 pm
Funny how the techtards aint embarrased about getting beat bya “complete team of drunks.” what would we do to the jerkits if we were sober? They better hope they dont find out.
FLA DAWG
July 14th, 2010
8:19 pm
Well, with “One A Days” we probably won’t get injured in preseason.
By the way, if The Dawgs perform on opening gameday against Laffer – Lou the way they did against Ga Southern then we will know how then season will go from there.