UGA’s Figgins feels old when telling teammates about ‘that Sugar Bowl’
ATHENS — Bruce Figgins‘ college football career began promisingly. He started the first game of his freshman season for Georgia in 2007 and even caught a touchdown pass in his debut. A few months later, he played in the Sugar Bowl as the Bulldogs routed Hawaii to finish the season ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it?
Figgins
“It seems like forever ago,” Figgins, 22, said. “We talk about it in the locker room, and I say, ‘Man, I’m too old; I got to get out of here; y’all don’t know what I’m talking about.’
“Guys are used to Memphis and Shreveport and the Capital One Bowl,” he continued, recounting the Bulldogs’ more modest postseason destinations of the past three seasons. “All bowls are nice, but I tell them, ‘Oh, that Sugar Bowl!’”
One of just two players on this spring’s roster who appeared in that Sugar Bowl –- offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant is the other -– Figgins now finds himself adjusting to a new position in hopes of finishing his UGA career with a flourish as a fifth-year senior in the fall.
Figgins has moved from tight end, where playing time would have been scarce behind Orson Charles and Aron White, to fullback, where the starting job is open.
“It’s going well,” Figgins said. “I’m doing a lot of learning on the run. Some things are clicking; some things are a little shaky. But we’re getting it done. . . It’s my last go-round.”
Figgins, from Columbus, has played in 37 games for Georgia but has started only four — the 2007 opener against Oklahoma State, two in 2008 and one last season. (He was redshirted in 2009 after shoulder surgery.) He has caught nine passes for 83 yards and three touchdowns, including a 12-yard TD pass from Matthew Stafford in the 2007 opener.
Now listed at 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds, Figgins began the transition from tight end to fullback in December and played “a couple of snaps” at the new position in the Liberty Bowl loss to Central Florida. This spring, he is battling rising sophomore Zander Ogletree for a starting spot. One thing that hasn’t changed for Figgins: his number. He is still proudly wearing No. 89, resisting suggestions that he might want to switch to a fullback-like number in the 40s.
Figgins “is seeing the possibilities of his new role and how it could be really good for him and very good for Georgia,” coach Mark Richt said. One potential advantage, Richt noted, is that when Figgins is in the game, opponents won’t know for sure whether he will line up at fullback or tight end. “It gives them less of a clue” what’s going on, Richt said.
Figgins just wants to be in the game — and to go out with a taste of the success with which he came in.
“That was great, playing in the Sugar Bowl my freshman year,” he said. “I just want to see a championship before I leave. So I want to do my part and contribute to the team the best I can.”
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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230 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
March 24th, 2011
2:02 pm
Yawnn, you went to Florida about like I went to Yale.
You are a bandwagon riding nerd claiming allegiance to florida because your team can’t beat Georgia.
Delta Stewardess
March 24th, 2011
2:07 pm
DawginLEX I though we had many fans screaming for MUSCHAMP when they wanted Richt gone. Is Muschamp the guy from TEXAS that was supposed to be great? Do I have that wrong?
JB
March 24th, 2011
2:12 pm
Yawnn is a Techie because Gators,Tide,War Eagle etc don’t hide behind silly code names. They are proud of who they are, and don’t mind telling you. But when a new BS name pops up on here bad mouthing Dawgs, it’s a Tech Loser
DawginLex
March 24th, 2011
2:20 pm
I never wanted muschamp.
To go head to head with Saban, Miles etc, you have to get a coach with experience or either do waht Chizik did and hire the smartest OC in college football and hire your QB for $180K
Dogs Smell
March 24th, 2011
2:23 pm
Since the inception of the BCS should we name all of the SEC schools that have won a National Championship? Uga isnt one of them . but ohhhhh they have tradition !
DawginLex
March 24th, 2011
2:28 pm
dogs smell,
Should we list the women you have had sex with?
UGA national titles 2
Your female sex partners -0-
Dawg Gone
March 24th, 2011
2:28 pm
Dogs Smell really your team has I suppose? Who is your team or do just pick one as the whim strikes you? Troll
Dogs Smell is a Nozzle
March 24th, 2011
2:32 pm
Dungeons and Dragons on The Reg
Late nights hanging out at Rest Area bathrooms on The Reg
61-39-5 on The Reg
Failed Heisman Campaigns on The Reg
42-34 on The Reg
73-72 on The Reg
RxDawg
March 24th, 2011
2:32 pm
“OL WILL live up to expectations this time around. ”
well yeh… because were not expecting much! lol just kiding
Great story about Bruce. I never forgot about ya and it was great to see you catch that TD this year. I especialy loved how the crowd didn’t forget about you either and gave a shout out BRRUUUUUUCE! Now take your team and teach them how to be champions again.
JB
March 24th, 2011
2:32 pm
Dogs smell is here because the Tech blogs are empty as usual. Fever pitch building for that 11:30 kickoff with Western Carolina…………Boy, what a match up……..Be a hoot if Tech lost….
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
2:34 pm
Again, you have no idea what you are talking about. Preseason All-SEC picked are done as part of the SEC media days. You are talking about about the weekely coaches polls.
Trust me, no grad assitant is selecting the All-SEC QBs to mess with anybodies head.
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
2:35 pm
And our last 3 trips to the Dome have not come as a result from beating the gators.
Delta Stewardess
March 24th, 2011
2:39 pm
Until the big conference stop buying wins from the little conference and FCS then the BCS is a joke. The SEC is not the best even though we have won the most MNC in the BCS. Our teams get a lot of respect. Some is deserved and some is not. CUT OFF the flow of money to the FCS schools and play only Big Boy football. The Dawgs could play Michigan, Notre Dame, and East Carolina. Big name schools but not pushovers or patsies either.
Delta Stewardess
March 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
ALT you are right. Somebody else had to beat the Gators for us. The Trip to the Dome goes more through the Gators than any other team in the SEC East. The Gators had a crappy year and USC still had to win over them to get to the DOME. If you are telling me a trip to the Dome for the SEC East doesn’t go through the Gators, then I want some of what you are smoking or drinking.
Dogs Smell
March 24th, 2011
2:55 pm
Graduate of UT in 88. Only been to Tech to see a game or to hire an E.E. Keep wishing on a Techie !
DawginLex
March 24th, 2011
2:55 pm
Revisionist thinking at its finest here but I would have LOVED to have seen us play Florida in 2005 with a healthy Shockley. All the swooning over Meyer would have taken a huge hit since we would have destroyed them just like Bama did and Sc did.
DawginLex
March 24th, 2011
2:56 pm
41-14 in 2004 and 41-14 in 2010 are 2 of my favorite in person games ever
ClinchCountyDawg
March 24th, 2011
2:57 pm
Delta Stew
UGA plays 8 SEC teams and their instate rival tech every year. Plus, they play a Top Ten team in Boise State. That is a tough schedule.
ClinchCountyDawg
March 24th, 2011
2:58 pm
DawginLex
My favorite in person game was UGA 44 UF 0 in 1982.
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:00 pm
So, what you are telling me is that the team that wins the SEC East has had to have the best record in the SEC East. Thanks.
What I am telling you is that given UF has a brutal schedule, and I doubt they will be considered the front runner. Obviously they are in the East, sooooo they will be a factor in the East, but you are fixated on them beyond the math.
DawginLex
March 24th, 2011
3:16 pm
altamaha is right. We could lose to florida and still win the east because of who florida has to play.
I think florida loses 5
I think it’s us and SC
Dogs Smell
March 24th, 2011
3:19 pm
DawginLex- What time do you wake up? If UF loses 6 then your pups lose 7.
ClinchCountyDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:22 pm
Dawgin Lex
Florida has to play Awbarn, LSU, and Bama back to back to back. That will be tough.
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:23 pm
Richt promised that he would use Logan Gray “heavily”? Really? I don’t recall that and it seems like a very peculiar thing to promise.
ClinchCountyDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:24 pm
Dogs Smell Like Champion
If UAB would have had a kicker last year they would have beaten UT soundly.
JB
March 24th, 2011
3:28 pm
Dogs smell…………..UT huh…..It makes since now. Memory of glory days a faded memory. Welcome to the club.
JB
March 24th, 2011
3:29 pm
But I like the Dooley hire…I know a lot of UT folks that don’t. The guy is smart and i think a pretty good coach. If you’ll give him a little time, I think you’ll be surprised.
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:30 pm
I just saw that post by RX. Good point. This might finally be the year that the O-line has a strong chance to exceed what has become the expectations of them. It would be hard not to, unless they missed the bus or something.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 24th, 2011
3:30 pm
If Figgins can’t open any holes for the RB’s then nobody can. He should be a great athlete in that positon, he can block, he can run and he can catch. Good luck with the season kid and teach those whippersnappers about how good it feels to win.
Ed (The Original)
March 24th, 2011
3:32 pm
“UGA’s Figgins feels old when telling teammates about ‘that Sugar Bowl’”
We hear you, Bruce. The fans feel the same way.
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:32 pm
Is there any coach in the south that has a better opportunity than Will Friend?
Dogs Smell
March 24th, 2011
3:33 pm
ClinchCountyDawg
and if the dogs played a quality out of conf’schedule they would lose more games year after year. We dont wear rose colored glasses every year and speak as though another National Championship is at hand. At least the players on our team can remember Tennessee winning a NC. Even the most redneck of fans in Tennessee are realist .
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:34 pm
Well Ed, you and I felt old before that Sugar Bowl.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 24th, 2011
3:34 pm
JB, the Dooley hire was definitely good for UT. Now if he can just focus on football during his press conferences………
gdawginkalamazoo
March 24th, 2011
3:40 pm
Hey Figgins, a whippersnapper is somebody a lot younger than you just in case you haven’t heard that phrase before. I used to be called a whippersnapper now I am old enough to be called sir and old man among other things which would get sensored here.
Delta Stewardess
March 24th, 2011
3:44 pm
Dooley is from an Auburn Dad and went to UVa. I guess the Tennessee orange doesn’t bother him. I thought it was a good hire too. Figured the Vols would have gone with a more experienced HC, but he is a smart guy with Southern ties.
Dawg Gone
March 24th, 2011
3:44 pm
Dogs Smell you win Troll and Moron award for the day…and your in the top 10 for the week..”Even the most redneck of fans in Tennessee are realist .” Son that is priceless…
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2011
3:49 pm
Oh come on, Smell didn’t even hit “Drink the Koolaid”. He hit the other cliche’s but he never really brought it home. Let’s leave the voting open a few more hours.
JB
March 24th, 2011
3:50 pm
Dooley was like the fifth guy called. “Name” coach’s thought that Kiffen had left the place toxic and didn’t want any part of it, and they may be in trouble yet. Their AD had to hire someone in like 48 hours. The roster was pretty void of letterman. I’m afraid Dooley will spend 3 years restocking that roster and be fired for not going 12-0. Everyone wants what Saban did at Bama in two years.
ClinchCountyDawg
March 24th, 2011
4:03 pm
Replacing a coach is always risky. A lot of good hires don’t work out. Look at all of the coaches at Notre Dame and Lou Holtz and Brad Scott at South Carolina. They all seemed to be great hires at the time. Remember Glenn Mason. He was the hot coach that year. Whatever happened to him?
gdawginkalamazoo
March 24th, 2011
4:15 pm
Clinch, after ol’ Glenn ditched UGA he landed in Minnesota, won a few then got fired for losing too much. Good riddance too.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 24th, 2011
4:18 pm
JB, yes Dooley could very well end up being the Dennis Felton in Knoxville. Steps into a big mess and just can’t quite clean it up quick enough despite a great effort.
ClinchCountyDawg
March 24th, 2011
4:24 pm
gdawginkalamazoo
It would appear that D. Dooley’s main qualification for the job was his last name.
Lindsey
March 24th, 2011
4:41 pm
So many great memories from 2007!!! The OT catch in Bama, running on the field, seeing Moreno fly thru the air and beating Florida, the Blackout and the Sugar Bowl, GO DAWGS!!!
The Original WDE
March 24th, 2011
5:27 pm
Haha glad to see everyone getting along.
I thought 2010 was the year the veteran Georgia OL was a factor? Now you guys are in a similar position as Auburn as far as OL, something I’m willing to admit and deal with coming off a record breaking season.
But yall have no excuse, and for God’s sake quit listing the heights/weights of these guys. Shows about how smart yall are.
The Original WDE
March 24th, 2011
5:29 pm
The most telling and quote-worthy story I’ve seen on Georgia in a while haha
“It seems like forever ago,” Figgins, 22, said. “We talk about it in the locker room, and I say, ‘*Man, I’m too old; I got to get out of here*; y’all don’t know what I’m talking about.’
“Guys are used to Memphis and Shreveport and the Capital One Bowl,”
Ray Barton
March 24th, 2011
6:07 pm
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Gotti
March 24th, 2011
6:39 pm
He’s been in Athens for five years. Has he passed a single course other than remedial reading?
Delta Stewardess
March 24th, 2011
6:44 pm
@Gotti
He is a Speech Communications Major.
Nolan
March 24th, 2011
6:53 pm
Tim-
Please pemrmanently ban the isp of the fake posing as Ray Barton at 6:07 p.m.