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
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
10:36 am
Then there is the 3rd option that applies to 80% of the fan base.
Tony
August 21st, 2011
10:37 am
Donnan changed a stripe and everyon raised hell. Ritch changes the whole deal and it is wonderful. I guess it is true God does no wrong.
tckr83
August 21st, 2011
10:38 am
Which is…
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
10:45 am
which is …that real fans spend all day putting down anyone who dares to not settle for what is and has been going on around here, including the
CLOWN SUITS
Escaped from Email Purgatory
August 21st, 2011
10:50 am
This uni is uglier than Phil Knight’s hair do.
Maybe Knight can pay Richt and Petersen to sport one of his Nike-Do’s on the sidelines during the game.
Never has a man [Knight] done less with what God gave him to work with. Donald Trump should give him the name of his barber.
Kevin Jackson
August 21st, 2011
10:51 am
i wish all you old people hurry up and die.. always crying about new things.. idiots hate change..
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
10:59 am
Nothing is wrong with The Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Uniform.
The “system” Nike implemented is what the players like.
No one likes the red pants, and there is no way that Nick Saban would have let Nike give him this, and settle for it.
No way.
CLOWN SUITS.
I was told there would be no discussion of red panties, the night that happened, by the same guy who I suppose we are supposed to be sitting on the edge of our collective seats waiting for whatever it was he started to say before his ISP went down – he said it would never be posted. In this blog, he said that that night, that that would be the end of that.
Now, he says the unis are fine.
He is the same guy who said Joe Cox was great. That he threw the deep ball as well as any quarterback ever.
Last season, after we should have gone 12-2, and instead put up numbers that we have to go back to 1953 to find a worse season – he just simply quit blogging totally.
Now, all of a sudden, he can blog again and whined once now this season about some issue with blogging.
Yeah, like starting a sentence and stopping.
Still sitting there squirming in your chair hiding behind your keyboard trying to THINK of something to say that will not make you a fool
again
ITSJUSTME
August 21st, 2011
11:00 am
I’m a Techie and you guys just wait till we come on the feild with our sexy lingerie. Its designed so you can cop a feel when you’re in a pile. I just love it when we play our big sweaty rivals. Those big smelly mens.
tckr83
August 21st, 2011
11:01 am
Kevin… Tell us how you really feel.
The uniforms are crap, get over it. One of the worst and most lazily done pro-combats to date. Alabama and Florida fans weren’t complaining about their pro-combat uniforms because they looked good… we look like a pimp on meth.
The gloves are cool though…
JD
August 21st, 2011
11:01 am
Ok not really on topic, but who expects any discipline for the LSU players by Les Miles before the Oregon game? Not only did they violate team rules, but are involved in a police investigation for a bar fight. I’m also sure, that the school will go out of their way (payoff) to get the victims to drop any charges. This is a classic example of big business in college football. At least les is making the team run more, what a joke!
Big Al
August 21st, 2011
11:02 am
Hope they can block in tackle in new uniforms.
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
11:03 am
11-3 with 10 cupcakes including especially Boise State
Homepage | MrSEC.com
August 21st, 2011
11:04 am
[...] Reaction to Georgia’s Nike uniforms. Fans don’t like them but players do. Georgia is 2-2 under Mark Richt when wearing non-traditional [...]
Michael
August 21st, 2011
11:05 am
I hate them!. Everybody I know hates them. We have the best uniforms in the country. DON’T MESS WITH THEM. The new one look like a Arena Football Team. Nike needs to get off the drugs!
wde
August 21st, 2011
11:06 am
@Thomas Brown got a question..exactly how do you know what Nick Saban would do about uniforms or anything else? Oh that’s right you know exactly what is wrong with the UGA program so I’m sure Coach Saban is calling you for advice right?
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
11:09 am
If they want to come up with an Excuse to play Zach Mettenberger as Mark Richt’s “coaching staff” should have done in the game with Okie State with his chronic shoulder and flu that day, Les Miles has all he needs.
4 guys beat up.
Jordan Jefferson threw 4 punches, 3 missed their target.
No scratches on Jordan Jefferson. What does that tell you ?
Darron Thomas “smokin’ Thomas” is the one who should have been disciplined, like Chip Kelly should have been by that footoball program # 41 in all-time wins desperate to win over The SEC, Oregon Ducks with no one at their games and their 1-win over any team who finished in the AP Poll Top 25.
The 1 thing that can be said for this blog, is that you can say whatever you want.
Only the Georgia tek nerds and Boise State WIMPS are afraid to sit there and continue after we get through with their last salvo – weak as it is with both of their records vs the 6 BCS Conferences forever.
tckr83
August 21st, 2011
11:10 am
WDE – go look at what Nike came up with for Alabama’s pro-combat… that’s how we know.
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
11:10 am
wde
All I have to ask you sir is, do you like the uni ?
john stevens
August 21st, 2011
11:11 am
Mark Richt will change the mascot to a kangaroo for money. Tradition does not matter to him. In the last 4 years his teams have lost 4, 5 ,6 , and 7 games. Get rid of him!
JohnG
August 21st, 2011
11:14 am
The unis suk. Get back to tradition and play like the Georgia Bulldogs and u will not need crap like this
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
11:15 am
I lie wde : Also, are you satisfied with 21 Losses these last 5 years wde ? An average in excess of 4 losses a year ?
Do you think that Coach Richt has shown a propensity to hire a great coaching staff, or fire a not so great coaching staff, wde ?
Are you satisfied that with 26 players who could have played vs Boise State, that no longer are on this roster are not MIS-MANAGEMENT of the talent at UGA by Mark Richt’s “coaching staff” sir, are you wde ?
Yeah, you have been reading my points.
You know what I know about UGA football.
Go ahead answer just a few short questions, wde, since you can ask me questions. That is fair right ? Ask you a couple of questions ? Nothing too hard. Simple yes and no questions, right ?
JD
August 21st, 2011
11:16 am
I like the “everyone was accounted for at the 10:30 bed check” statement. What a bunch of prima donna morons to put the team at risk by acting like idiots. (and Jefferson is not a stupid freshman)
Jaydawg
August 21st, 2011
11:16 am
I didnt realize that our red and black could ever appear as nauseating as Oregon, but the designers of this atrocity has certainly done it.Gimmicks dont win games; coaching and players do.This demonstrates Richts desperation to motivate his players to a level that he and his assistants(friends and former players)arent capable of doing.I guess this is what having more time to study the game of football produces-more gimmicks.Anybody remember what uniforms Saban had Alabama wear for this game?The same ones theyve always worn &the same they wore in the Rose Bowl beating Texas for the national championship.
UGA Fans Have Too Many Bong Smokers
August 21st, 2011
11:19 am
I like the uni
Its just missing a nice sunflower on pinned to the shoulder
I wonder what the uni will be against FL?
Pansy pink or wimpy light blue to go with the beat down mood that will happen again
LOL
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
11:20 am
JohnG,
Sir.
You have to get it exactly right the Richt-0-Files. It is 21 Losses over the last 5 years, averaging more than 4 Losses a year over the last entire 5 years including in the same timeframe 13-12 vs The SEC East. Not 22 Losses the last 4 years.
And, moreover, they always come back with WINS over his 10 years, so you must proactively discuss his 3 wins in 12 games vs teams finishing that season in the AP Poll Top 10.
And, his 10 Losses in 10 years to 10 teams who did not even finish in the AP Poll Top 25.
Not that they will ANSWER ANY QUESTION.
Just ask you questions.
Like you are supposed to answer their questions, but that they have no such obligation themselves.
Strange Murphy
August 21st, 2011
11:24 am
Uniforms are queer as shat!
wde
August 21st, 2011
11:25 am
@Thomas Brown nope I don’t really like them, however it is a one game deal that was a part of the game promotion, Boise is wearing them too..a good showing vs Boise and by the USC game no one will even remember the darn things. If it is the consuming cause of concern for a fan I’m afraid they are sort of missing the point. We get to test ourselves against a top 10 team to start the season on national TV that is the point not the uniforms its beating Boise and winning the East.
Ben Clarke
August 21st, 2011
11:25 am
Holy Crap! I thought Boise’s all-blue was bad, so I guess this puts us in the same boat. Can’t wait for the circus to come to town on 9/3. It’s time to stop selling our soul to the corporate giants.
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
11:28 am
wde,
Ok then.
“@Thomas Brown got a question..exactly how do you know what Nick Saban would do about uniforms or anything else? Oh that’s right you know exactly what is wrong with the UGA program so I’m sure Coach Saban is calling you for advice right?”
So, why exactly are you picking on me about the uniforms when you yourself absolutely hate them ?
Is there something, not obvious looking at your posts then, that is wrong with you ?
wde
August 21st, 2011
11:29 am
@Thomas Brown oh bye the way I don’t like the Tide’s uniforms either could you talk to your good buddy Saban and see if you can talk some sense into him. Since you and him are so close would you ask him how he liked that 4th place finish in the East last year.
wde
August 21st, 2011
11:31 am
@Thomas Brown I’m picking on you because your a troll pure and simple but no worries mate, I’m out I have a BBQ to attend have a trollish good time the rest of the day…..tell Nick I said Hey!
tckr83
August 21st, 2011
11:33 am
wde = hit and run artist.
UGA Fans Have Too Many Bong Smokers
August 21st, 2011
11:34 am
wde
Boise is not a top 10 team
Let me give you a drink of what I like to call Reality Flavored kool-aid
If UGA loses to Boise you will lose to S.C the next week
Then after that; you have lost the team, and Miss St will come in and beat you and after that a loss to Tenn is probable
puppytracks
August 21st, 2011
11:41 am
i don’t like any of their uniforms … no matter what you put on them, they still suck. it’s like spraying cologne on a terd to make it smell good.
why did the birds fly upside down over UGA? B/c there is nothing worth crapping on.
Jimmy Crack
August 21st, 2011
11:51 am
Keith, thanks to the inventions of science, WE AIN’T NEVER GONNA DIE, SUCKA!
Unfortunately for the younger generation, “change” to them is really just another color suit without a care of why the suit needs changing, just like the accessories in their video games. In this uniform argument, they are just rejecting tradition for the sake of rejecting tradition. Shallow, but expected.
He Hate Gator
August 21st, 2011
11:56 am
Ok, they’re sliver helmets then…..how does that change anything? again, I can live with the uni except the helmets, white or silver…
tony
August 21st, 2011
11:56 am
Why does Mr.Richt keep drawing negative attention to himself and to the team. He should have known this would put a bad taste in people mouths. True christians suppose to bring peace and unity amongst men not division. Galatians 5:22-23 Shame on you Mr.Richt.
LHarding Dawg
August 21st, 2011
11:58 am
Thomas Brown, the hate guy. He hates everything about Georgia Football.
The rest of the SEC
August 21st, 2011
11:58 am
Sheesh. Not only are you going to take a whupping from Boise on national tv but you’re going to look awfully stupid in taking that beatdown. Just another uniform fiasco similar to the blackout embarrassent by the Bammers.
Ramma Bama
August 21st, 2011
12:00 pm
Alabama sticks with their classic uniforms—-Nike money doesn’t matter. The Tide already has millions, so they can’t be bribed by big corporations looking for a marketing gimmick.
Easy Money
August 21st, 2011
12:02 pm
Nike will probably pay UGA a few million for this 1-game gimmick. Will Richt, McGarity and Adams get a cut of that bling—maybe a couple of hundred thousand each?
Troll Power Ratings
August 21st, 2011
12:03 pm
The unis have sort of a tropical fish look. Whatever, just win the game.
Thomas Brown
August 21st, 2011
12:06 pm
LHarding Dawg just hates on fans.
Unwilling to look back 58 years to find a season in which we lost more than the 7 losses we just put up.
Tripple Lindy
August 21st, 2011
12:07 pm
Terrible. We’ll look like Texas Tech out there. When this game was announced, I knew Tinker Hattfield and his obnoxious design team at Nike would force this crap on us. They have no allegiance, they just want to push their brand. Sadly, the athletic department completely bowed to corporate interests.
Erik
August 21st, 2011
12:08 pm
i think the only thing that should be changed are the pants. the helmet and jersey are nice. silver britches would have made that uniform amazing.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 21st, 2011
12:09 pm
LHarding Dawg
Your a typical kool-aid drinker who cant handle the truth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXoNE14U_zM
Chris
August 21st, 2011
12:14 pm
The one-game uniforms look like the Power Rangers, a childrens oriented sci-fi tv show. Nike must have some very youthful designers on staff.
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:18 pm
Lharding, don’t you think football is just his excuse.
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
August 21st, 2011
12:18 pm
I like our traditional unis better, but it’s good to change things up every once in a while. Heck, I’d like us to go back to the black uniforms every once in a while. Those were sharp, and to anyone who thinks, “We got beat by Alabama wearing those,” we also beat the tar outta Auburn and Hawaii wearing them. Also, that ‘08 defense was not very good (read: sucked).
As for these, sometimes unis can look awful standing still, but when you get them in motion, they work a lot better. That sounds kinda contradictory, but it isn’t. Trust me.
Also, this isn’t a motivational “gimmick” by Coach Richt. Boise is wearing Pro Combat unis of their own. So enough of that nonsense.
Either way, I think the Dawgs go into the Dome with something to prove and the ability to prove it and come out with a big win (14-17 points is my margin).
Dawg-98 Panther-03
August 21st, 2011
12:22 pm
Come check out your little Bro, GSU Friday night before the Boise Smackdown. Can’t wait for BOTH of my alma maters to get off to a great start!!
GO DAWGS
GO PANTHERS