Practice report: Dogs 19th, Crowell wows and uniform debate
UGA and Nike showed off the Bulldogs' Pro Combat uniform that the team will wear for its opening game against Boise State. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com)
ATHENS – Online fan reaction to Georgia’s new Nike Pro Combat uniforms, publicly unveiled on Saturday, was generally negative. This came as no surprise to Bulldogs coach Mark Richt.
“I think there are a lot of people that just don’t want to get away from [tradition] and I don’t blame them,” Richt said. “That’s the reason we’re sticking it out there two weeks in advance, so everybody can get over it.”
The new design features a silver helmet with a wide red stripe down the middle, red jersey, red pants, llong black socks, all in the Nike “Pro Combat” style. UGA and Boise State both agreed to wear the specially-designed uniforms for one game only when they play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game on Sept. 3 in the Georgia Dome.
Georgia has a 2-2 record under Richt when it has changed its uniforms. The Bulldogs famously beat Auburn 45-20 in their first-ever “blackout” in 2007. They also rolled Hawaii 41-20 in black jerseys and pants in the 2008 Sugar Bowl.
But the last two times it hasn’t gone well. Georgia lost to Alabama 41-30 – after trailing 31-0 at halftime – in 2008. Wearing black helmets and black pants in 2009, the Bulldogs fell to Florida 41-17.
“We’re due,” Richt said. “I doubt we’ll do any surprise uniforms anymore. At least everybody’s got time to digest it this time. If everybody just thinks about what’s most important and that’s playing the game, I think we’ll all be fine.”
Richt said it’s not about motivation or breaking with tradition.
“When the players saw it, they liked it and that’s the big thing,” he said. “And it’s a special game. It’s not what we would call a traditional uniform but it’s not a traditional game either. That’s kind of why we did it.”
Meanwhile, the players love them.
“I think they’re awesome,” junior wide receiver Tavarres King said. “We’ve still got to play so it’s not a magic potion or anything. But I love what Nike has done for us. We’re blessed to have those uniforms. I’m excited about them.”
Said linebacker Christian Robinson: “I do like tradition, but I think one game out of the year you can do something new. It’s not like we’re changing our whole style for the whole season. It’s one game. If it’s upsetting somebody that bad, I’m sorry.”
Dogs 19th in AP poll
The Associated Press Top 25 was released Saturday and Georgia was ranked 19th. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 22 in the coaches’ poll released earlier this month.
“That’s good,” Richt said. “It’s nice to be ranked.”
Said senior defensive end DeAngelo Tyson: “That’s pretty good. We can’t go anywhere but up starting at 19. We just don’t want to go down.”
Boise State, Georgia’s opening opponent, was ranked No. 5.
“Good. I’m very excited,” Georgia’s King said of the Broncos. “They should be 5, if not even higher.”
Crowell wows team at practice
Tailback Isaiah Crowell apparently is completely recovered from the groin injury that sidelined him for six days. In his second practice back, Crowell wowed his coaches and teammates in the scrimmage portion of Saturday morning’s practice.
“Isaiah went live today and he made some plays,” Richt said. “He had a couple of great runs and a great catch and run after the catch for a touchdown.”
Said King: “Isaiah Crowell came in and was just making plays all over. I was excited about that.”
It was the first time Crowell has gone full speed since injuring the groin on Aug. 12.
“He went a little yesterday and that was enough for him, I think, to realize he could go,” Richt said. “We had a great competitive day and he wanted to be a part of it. So I think his adrenalin took over and he competed and he competed well. It was great to see.”
Injury report
Crowell’s backfield mate Richard Samuel was not about to return. Richt said the junior will be out at least until “early next week” with a strained quadricep muscle.
Nose guard John Jenkins sat out after being sidelined with a mild hamstring pull on Friday. Fellow nose guard Kwame Geathers returned from an undisclosed injury that kept him out on Friday. Also, freshman wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell was out Saturday due to a pulled leg muscle. Freshman outside linebacker Ray Drew will be out at least another week with a separated shoulder suffered in a scooter accident.
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797 comments Add your comment
Junior Samples
August 21st, 2011
12:36 am
“Fish Fry” Paul Johnson said tech never gets caught up with wearing different colored uniforms. Does that include your flag boy? Bwahahahahah! Maybe a gold tutu would work with your scheme?Bwhahahahah!
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:38 am
I know I would not want to be the guy trying to herd 105 young men around in this day and age. And attract 20 more every year. Uniforms, how about dealing with the internet?
Tdawg
August 21st, 2011
12:39 am
Coach please tell me that you are not planning on wearing these god awful uniforms ever again. Just how much was the university paid to wear this joke of a uniform?
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:40 am
I will bet anything that somebody, someday, and very soon, WILL tell Paul Johnson his boys are wearing some fancy new uniforms to a particular game. .
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
12:42 am
Strength and Conditioning doesn’t have anything to do with Stretching ?
Say what ?
The uni is horrid, a
CLOWN SUIT
Boise State blogs are poor, at best. I went over there and tried to carry on a conversation. It is not possible. They do not want to hear, like so many blogs I have no respect for, what is the truth.
The truth very clearly is that with 15 Boise State in the NFL to our 45, Scout.com is correct with the last 5 recruiting classes averaging # 69 for Boise State and # 11 for Mark Richt.
Now, frankly it is true that Boise State plays a weak schedule; but, the real Truth, is that when they are not playing a weak scheduled team, they
LOSE.
31 games against the 6 BCS Conferences and Boise State has won exactly 8 games.
Every SEC team has always beat Boise State.
8-23 clearly shows the NFL and Scout.com Rivals are correct that Boise State is no match-up for UGA.
Boise State just needs to play more games like this one. Then, there would be no question about them. Look at them the last time they came here. The year before they had a 12-1 record with the same quarterback; the year after they had a 14-0 record with the same quarterback and we beat them by Five (5) Touchdowns with this same, said, quarterback.
COMCAST ISP. If you are getting garbage adding to your screen RedANDblackDawg, sir, what you need to do is to call comcast. They come to your home for free. They will run a test, replace connectors, check your speed, and fine tune the connection. Aren’t you paying them $150 a month like the rest of us ? Why ask us for what to do, when you obviously only have to call them. Some outlets are farther away from the splitter and are troublesome. They can re-route if that is your choice for where you want to use your PC. Their meter will tell them everything they need to know about your connection. Your connection is bad.
CHDawg August 20th, 2011 7:08 am
“The hamstrings and groins may not have much to do with S&C”
CHDawg, sir, half the team has hamstrings. Stretching is the 1st thing you do in Strength and Conditioning Training everywhere but here obviously, and the last thing you do in S and C everywhere but here obviously, and the 1st and last thing you do before and after every practice. This is poor coaching. And, please note that these are the very crucial players we are counting on to have spent this entire camp learning for the 1st time ever with no game experience. We have failed.
RED PANTS, yuk. One look at Oregon Ducks’ uni is all I needed to know that I didn’t want them to have the only say in what the uni looked like. You can stipulate in the Nike Contract that your helmet has the G, that your pants are silver and that your jersey is this color red. Their system can still be fully implemented as a uni.
I hate the uni. Totally hate it. The players did not say they love the red pants, what they like is the system that makes up the uni. Nike knows nothing about color combinations, nor would they in the least feel constrained to have us demand we have silver britches.
CLOWN SUIT
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:44 am
LD, don’t you think it was Mcgarity? That would really be his job. I doubt Adams had anything to do with Nike Pro Combat uniforms.
dan heavern
August 21st, 2011
12:45 am
Mark Richt must be out of his mind to dress hiis team as clowns for the most important game of his career
SLCDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:51 am
Don’t hate them bc they are new or differen ( black jerseys looked good), but bc they are freaking ugly. Thanks Nike.
LakeDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:52 am
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:44 am
LD, don’t you think it was Mcgarity? That would really be his job. I doubt Adams had anything to do with Nike Pro Combat uniforms.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
You might be right. I know he was the one who had to sign off on the final version. However, this was a money making decision and probably originated in the AA office, which Adams heads.
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:59 am
They are ugly. I believe that when we see them on the field worn by players that we know, and not on some mannequin, they wont seen as bad.
LakeDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:59 am
But maybe it originated with McGarity.
LakeDawg
August 21st, 2011
1:04 am
I’m just ready to get the season started. I hope all you Dawgs vent your frustration 2nite and then put it aside. Dawg Nation doesn’t need to be divided going into the season. Its been good talking with you AltamahaDawg. Go Dawgs!
ugakev
August 21st, 2011
1:14 am
hey everybody! We are wearing these amazing looking uniforms whether you like them or not hahahahahahahaha…Go Dawgs!!!! GATA
joe joe
August 21st, 2011
1:16 am
I’m a fan of another SEC school & we have worn these things before. The kids(players) love them & it brings in money, however I’m not a big fan of these “Uni’s a week” that Oregon wears & that their boss promotes. Let the rollers derby & softball teams wear these tragic uniforms.
too tuff 44
August 21st, 2011
1:23 am
looks like an arena football team…the tradtional uga helmet should never be messed with..ask Jim Donnan he added that stupic stripe and sealed his fate…I suer wish cmr would stop this mess…wow..as a fan…deflating and embarrasing to see those uni.s Go dawgs…but surely disappointed…good grief looks silly…(i dont care what the players think..the University should not allow a uniform change! I thought cmr said after the florida game that was it messing with the uniforms…..bad omen im afraid…good gracious!
D@MMITILUVTHEMDAWGD
August 21st, 2011
1:24 am
I LOVE the HELMET. The rest will have grown on me by game day. I think they will look a lot better on the kids. Having said that….it’s about the KIDS. If they LIKE them a little…I LOVE them a lot. It’s a new day and these are new day kids. Besides…it’s not like this is THE new uniform. I’m just excited about the season man!! The Dawgs have NEVER been down for too long and I feel a “RISING UP” coming on man. Hometown boys (Isaiah Crowell, Bruce Figgins, & remember the name….JARVIS JONES) are going to be front and center with Bruce opening holes for Isaiah and Jarvis giving opponenets THE BUSINESS at Outside Linebacker. LET’S GO!! LET’S DO IT!! I’m so amped up man I could crap a stick of Dy-No-Mite!!! This feels like UGA vs. Hawaii 2008. High-Powered Mountain West team with a hyped-up QB vs. SEC “SMASH MOUF / BIG BOY” FOOTBALL!! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Let’s Get It ON!!!!
too tuff 44
August 21st, 2011
1:26 am
one more thing face it another distraction from concentrating on football! I cant believe uga is allowing this change!
Dmac
August 21st, 2011
1:47 am
Guys aren’t we all UGA fans? Is all this over stupid uniforms? Granted the uniforms aren’t the sharpest looking ones. They are loud(red on red,my god really?). But lets look at the big picture,the kids like it. And you know what,the recruits like it. So we as fans can complain all we want but its just one game. They aren’t changed for good. We still have the classiest looking uniforms in college football. But a little change has never hurt anyone. To be honest if it helps get us more recruits than more power to that. This is a nationally televised game. Recruits are gonna be watching and they like the unis. So lets grin and bear it for the sake of our program.
Reddog
August 21st, 2011
1:54 am
If the players are excited about the new uniforms, then I am excited about them. Let the games begin!
dlh82
August 21st, 2011
2:08 am
If we are tacky enough to wear this-we better win
bugsquacher
August 21st, 2011
2:39 am
after this game, I hope these uniforms go in the same bin as the black helmets…….the permanent Bin (as in the big thrash bin behind Stanford stadium)
the traditional uniforms are one of the best looking in the NCAA, Richt and his band of clowns need to go….. after this season maybe so…….
mcdaviddawg
August 21st, 2011
2:39 am
just one more reason to get a new coach
How about letting the fans who pay the freight vote on uniform?
August 21st, 2011
2:46 am
America is all about polls. How about letting UGA fans vote on the darn uniform?
Stinger2
August 21st, 2011
4:01 am
This blog illustrates the typical mentality of UGA fans:They get so out of sorts on issues that really do not matter nor have an influence on the games the team plays. Moreover, you “Dawg” fans have no control at all over decisions such as uniform selection. Why don`t you people just try to be “fans” instead of trying to run the show. If you don`t like the way CMR and McGarity are handling things, spend your money on something else.
Captain Allen Waters
August 21st, 2011
4:13 am
Nike should take their bucks to the bank and leave uniforms alone! They are absurd when modern designers could do much better. Our traditional uniform would be more like UGA! I am glad Larry and Erk do not have to put up with these absurdities! 8pm EST is 530am here in India, but I will watch if not flying.
Captain Allen Waters
Captain Allen Waters
August 21st, 2011
4:18 am
I am glad we showed them SEC in the last game! Any chance the defense watched that game? Go play on your blue turf and enjoy the season. I have never watched a game on that absurd field!
Big Daddy"CaneDawg". Ignorance reigns at UGA under CMR !
August 21st, 2011
5:32 am
“I think Nike did a great job of trying to capture a lot of the tradition of Georgia football,” Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt said after Saturday’s practice. “Some things are very subtle that fans may not be able to see, but the players can see.”
THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE THREAD OF UGA TRADITION CAPTURED IN THE AWFUL SCARLET/RUTGERS RED PRO COMBAT NIKE UNIFORM. WHAT’S CMR’S PROBLEM TO MAKE SUCH A FICTIOUS STATEMENT. WE REALLY NEED NEW LEADERSHIP BAD AT UGA !!! THE UGA FANS SHOULD PROTEST THESE UGLY UNIFORMS AND ASK FOR SOME RESIGNATIONS !!!!
Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/08/20/1700868/uniforms-have-fans-seeing-red.html#ixzz1VeZr7JFt
Bulldawg Richie
August 21st, 2011
5:33 am
All you crybabies that are whining about tradition should just go get a life. I think the new uniforms look great for this one time deal. Let’s play ball.
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
5:50 am
Stinger2,
If UGA fans did as you want us to, would we be as good as you’ve been ?
Big Daddy"CaneDawg". Ignorance reigns at UGA under CMR !
August 21st, 2011
6:07 am
bull hawg bichie richie: You and nike can go straight to HADES !!! the uniform still sucks and so do you !!!
tony
August 21st, 2011
6:15 am
Who idea was it to change uniforms and why? Do they hate the traditional uniforms? I wish they would just focus on the game and bring a nc to Athens.
Big Daddy"CaneDawg". the uniforms STINK !!!
August 21st, 2011
6:29 am
@Stinger2: You’ve got a lot of nerve to be on a UGA blog talking about uniforms. Those stale old gold and white uniforms that Tech wears are yard sale cheap looking and just as ugly. LMAO !!! You guys might need to go back to your 1990 uniforms when Tech looked and played halfway decent and maybe people in the weak ACC will take the yellow Stingers seriously for once. LOL !! You look bad you play bad. That addage fits Tech perfectly !! You guys are so bad Addidas nike or UnderArmor wouldn’t touch Tech with a 50 foot pole for uniforms. So just keep on hating UGA and we’ll keep crushing Tech !!!
Babydocdawg
August 21st, 2011
7:14 am
It’s one game people. Let us just support the team and stop splitting hairs. Yes we have beautiful regular uniforms but this hype about the unis needs to stop.
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
7:21 am
CLOWN SUITS
vs a team who is nothing but a joke. A team made up of 5 recruiting classes Scout.com ranks the aveage # 69 rank all 5 years. We avg # 11. In the 5 years 0 Top 100 according to Scout.com for Boise State to 21 for us. In the 5 years making up Boise State’s roster 1 player either 5-Star or 4-Star according to Scout.com and that Kellen Moore a 4-Star in 2007 to UGA with 51. 15 Boise State NFL players to our 45. 10 games of the 12 Boise State regular season games are according to Rivals ranked their # 81 average opponent all season long except for TCU and us.
RED PANTS are horrible, but I guess red panties are worse – but not by much.
red&black
August 21st, 2011
7:29 am
Hey BBB’s (Boise Blue Boys), get ready to get “bitch slapped”……..SEC style…………
BigDaddy
August 21st, 2011
7:31 am
Change to numbers to Silver outlined in Black and it looks alot better.
Shirly Hemphill
August 21st, 2011
7:35 am
Can’t polish a turd, but you can put a swoosh on one.
heyberto
August 21st, 2011
7:36 am
If we’re going to break with tradition, at least make it look cool. This does not. Whoever it was at UGA that worked with Nike on the design should not be allowed to do that anymore. They had a chance to get the fans on board with a cool design and blew it. I would have liked to have said that while I prefer the traditional unis, I like what they did with these.. but I can’t. If the players are excited, then that’s good. Let’s win the game and forget these unis ever happened.
UGASlobberknocker
August 21st, 2011
7:36 am
Hate em. What is wrong with the basic classic uniform?
I hope this is the first and last time we see these hideous uniforms.
dap01
August 21st, 2011
7:37 am
Boycot Nike! Are we being paid by Nike? Who works for who?
UGA has been sold out.
Jed Clampett
August 21st, 2011
7:43 am
uniforms look like some backwoods highschool
red&black
August 21st, 2011
7:43 am
Shirly Hemphill: You have a wonderful way with words, and no truer ones were ever spoken…..
Midtown Dawg
August 21st, 2011
7:45 am
I am not one to comment on the style of what color goes where and what colors are on the helmet vs. the pants. These things change. What is disappointing to me is the color of red is not Georgia red. Why on earth did Nike feel they had to change the color of red? I would be fine with these uniforms if they had just made sure the colors matched Georgia’s colors – that doesn’t seem like too much to ask.
What I think is really neat is how the gloves come together to form the G – very cool.
red&black
August 21st, 2011
7:50 am
Jed, I think you may have something there. Maybe the fabric was sewn at a quilting bee, and Bubba painted the helments in the barn, after waaaayyy to much “shine”….Seems plausible. What would scare me is the fact that UGA actually paid for these damn things. Good thing they were given to us. along with bags of cash (I hope)……
heyberto
August 21st, 2011
7:53 am
Does Nike hope to sell replicas in the bookstore? I don’t see that happening.
Honest Ingine
August 21st, 2011
7:56 am
OK, Coach, What are you thinking? If you don’t like GA TRADITION THEN LEAVE….Ive been a big supporter of CMR, but man these uniforms sux.
red&black
August 21st, 2011
7:57 am
@Big Daddy “Cane Dawg”, Stinger2 has to get on a UGA site. What the hell do they have talk about on their site? Pity the fool…………
Dawg gone...
August 21st, 2011
7:58 am
Sounds like UGA has already won there first game by score of 69-11. Tell me, how does UGA’s previous 5 recruiting classes stack up against UCF before last year Liberty Bowl? I am sure UGA won that game by a greater score than 69-11, right? Oh, recruiting doesn’t always add up exactly with wins. Character comes into play and UGA will fold like a cheap suit when the going gets tough. No heart. I predict the best part of UGA’s 2011 football season will come under an interim coach- UGA fans better hope that comes early and not a late season change. Face it, CMR should be gone already. Lame Coach Coaching (get over it, really?)
voiceoftheraidersnfhs
August 21st, 2011
8:06 am
Dawgs new jerseys are awesome! They need to mix it up. Lets kick Bosie States -utt in the Dome!
Nub
August 21st, 2011
8:08 am
The truth….. All fans griping and complaining about the uni’s are the same fan’s griping and complaining about the football program…. Win the east!!!!!!