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
12:24 pm
Didn’t Bama roll out Pro Combat Uniform last year, Ramma? So your understanding is that Alabama refused any pay to do that, so that wouldn’t lose thier incomparable refusal to accept corporate sponsorship?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 21st, 2011
12:25 pm
Nike Blew it
Nike didnt give us a choice, just stuffed this crap down our throats due to their contract
Once again when Michael Adams is gone this program will be better off
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:37 pm
LSU, Army, Navy, all will wear Nike PC unis this year. Al, Uf, did last year. Next year the list will grow. That darn Adams is behind it all.
Delbert D.
August 21st, 2011
12:40 pm
LSU won’t need as many uniforms.
Wow.....
August 21st, 2011
12:42 pm
Those are UGGGGGGLY. And about as dumb as the mediocre mutts being ranked already.
Erk Russell's Dog
August 21st, 2011
12:46 pm
The investigation at LSU is complete J Jefferson was sleep walking and just was in the wrong place at the wrong time . As for the other 4 LSU players ,they were the search party sent to find J Jefferson. As for the so called bar fight ,well any building on any corner in Baton Rouge can be called a bar.
As for the other non LSU participants in the fight,a sheriffs report said something about Donald Duck in a Prius with Oregon plates. Investigation closed.
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:46 pm
Well, I guess the corporate pig bribe money will have to be prorated in thier case D.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 21st, 2011
12:46 pm
AltamahaDawg
When you sign a contract if your bright enough, you sign a contract that stipulates that you are given a choice from a few uniform concepts. Not this is what we came up with deal with it UGA even if we make you look stupid
You even will stand up for Adams. Please do the program a favor and pull for GT
Back to your tv show “Hillbilly Fishing”
AltamahaDawg
August 21st, 2011
12:58 pm
Lots of not so bright AD’s out there I guess. Perhaps you could school them all in contract negotiations.
Btw, would it make you feel better to know I wasn’t defending Adams, but rather directly making fun of you?
Poopdawg
August 21st, 2011
1:05 pm
Erk, those same officers investigated a death and ruled it suicide. Some nut shot himself 6 times with a shotgun.
playmeortrademe
August 21st, 2011
1:06 pm
Simpy this… As an alum, those uniforms do not represent Georgia. They represent Nike and just happen to be red and black with a G logo slapped on the side of the helmet. The UGAA talk about building Georgia’s brand, but in a nationally televised game lets Nike have the exposure. The Nike Bowl between the Nike Bulldogs and the Nike Broncos…do not adjust your set, those are the actual uniforms, and this is not a Canadian Football game.
Everyone who thinks this will help recruiting needs a reality check. Top-flight recruits 1) pick a school close to home, 2) wins and can give them national exposure, and 3) plays a style of football they like. The pro-combat uniform will not do anything to swing any recruit, and if it does….well, I question where that kid’s head is at.
7576DAWG
August 21st, 2011
1:06 pm
The players may have liked the uniforms but when you don’t have anything to compare them to it’s easy to accept this look. I could have taken a design team incorporated more of a silver britches Pro Combat theme and wouldn’t have compromise what these uniform so desperately lack and that is CLASS.
Coastal Dog SSI
August 21st, 2011
1:08 pm
I’m a long time fan. I like the opening game uniforms. As for tradition, I feel it’s more than a little evident that we need some NEW traditions; for example, a national championship more than one a century. When we have a really dominant club again, then our whiners can rightfully complain about change.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 21st, 2011
1:10 pm
AltamahaDawg
Making fun of me wow LOL, LOL, LOL<
Yea you make an ignorant comment and your making fun of me. Please re-read what I said nike didnt give us a choice they stuffed it down our throat. That wouldnt happen if you signed a contract that stipulates that
And I think I know other teams have Nike Combat Uniforms. Oregon has used 5. I wonder how they got a hold of 5
Stick to your career in Arm Fishing on the Altamaha moron
Poopdawg
August 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
Meme, I believe the University of Oregon has already proved your points wrong.
Mad Dawg 2011. the nike uniforms STINK !!!
August 21st, 2011
1:17 pm
I hope the coaching staff wears rutgers red shirts and pants on the sidelines with team then those loons will stand out !!
Mark Richt is a Moron
August 21st, 2011
1:22 pm
Mark Richt is a Moron………Go Yellow Jackets beat the crap out of those retards in the Red Combat Uniforms…….
Mad Dawg 2011. the nike uniforms STINK !!!
August 21st, 2011
1:24 pm
If Donnan was fired for adding a black stripe to the helmet, the current coach should be tarred and feathered and chased out of town for allowing this nike obomination !!!
Jimmy Crack
August 21st, 2011
1:32 pm
Agree Flat Tire. As soon as Adams has made enough money in his multitude of palm-greasing endeavors in the name of higher learning retires and hangs up his power-mad hat, UGA can finally return to the days of respectability and tradition. The problem is that he is still in power. What is Richt supposed to say when these contractual obligations in the form of candy striper uniforms come about, tell him, “No President Adams, your ideas are pure crap, your breath stinks like my dog’s butt and I never liked you in the first place”?
Stewie
August 21st, 2011
1:35 pm
I didn’t realize the “Starlight Express” people made football uniforms.
playmeortrademe
August 21st, 2011
1:35 pm
We can only dream that the team will come out of the tunnel wearing Georgia’s red helmet, red jerseys, and silver britches made by Russell Athletic.
but, but…the players like ‘em…..WHO CARES! Teach them respect for UGA traditions and reverence for past championship teams and they might decide that wearing the real UGA uniform, and integrity, means something.
Foo U Nike….
Commerce Dawg
August 21st, 2011
1:36 pm
These uniforms are ugly folks. Everybody remember the reason we hated the black Florida uniforms because it didn’t look like Georgia on the field. Looks like another bad uniform game where our time should be spent getting ready to play football not worry about what to wear.
CANEDAWG, the nike uniforms STINK like...... !!!
August 21st, 2011
1:39 pm
Georgia should add more silver to the current dull grey pants they call silver in error. Then wear the black jersey some, with having to declare a stupid blackout. Stop allowing money to dumb down the program. If the fans like the jersey they will buy them without silly promotions, that just fire up the opposing team…..circa Bama 41 UGa 30 in 2008 !!
Poopdawg
August 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
Meme, I care and I believe the players care. It’s not a uniform change just a special design for a special game. I am also an alumni that understands marketing . I don’t like the new unis but its just 1 game. I have seen worst ( any team with the color orange as their main color)
War Dang Dawg
August 21st, 2011
1:48 pm
The transformation is complete – under Richt, we’ve officially become the Gators. Tacky, garish, and classless. We even choke in the WLOCP like Florida pre-1990s.
Fire Richt. Let’s become Georgia again.
CANEDAWG, the nike uniforms STINK like...... !!!
August 21st, 2011
1:48 pm
Don’t allow nike to declare stupid blackout promotions to wear the black jersey at UGA. (that’s what I meant to say). Nike money is really dumbing down the UGA football program and CMR.
The horrible uniform is his way of paying the traditional Dawgs back who have him on the hotseat.
SuperB
August 21st, 2011
1:58 pm
To “Dawg Gawn” and all others you say nothing is the same as it was (in uniforms.) Have you seen the uniforms of:
NY Yankees (had them for 80 years,) Celtics, Colts, Cowboys, Alabama, LSU– and countless other great teams. and they don’t wear gimmick uniforms like the awful “costumes” NIke designs. When you have a great uniform (like Georgia) why change it? Georgia may “get over” Mark Richt if he is fired after this season and Greg McGarity should have said “nada’ to these tacky costumes.
War Dang Dawg
August 21st, 2011
2:00 pm
tckr83, don’t make fun of the Red Raiders from Lubbock, they’d probably kick our butts worse than Boise State. This is the state of Georgia football under Corch Richt.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 21st, 2011
2:01 pm
Frankly, Im sick of:
Uniform changes
Dancing in the endzone
Growing beards
Energy Vampires
Dancing on the field during tv timeouts
Dream Team talk
Whatever happened to showing up for a game; keep your mouth shut and punching the enemy in the mouth
You either come to UGA because this where you want to be or leave
and if you cant coach your players up then its time for a new career
playmeortrademe
August 21st, 2011
2:03 pm
Pooper scooper, Oregon is winning because, 1) USC is on probation, 2) UCLA is a train wreck and can’t get it’s act together to get the So Cal kids 3) and Washington still hasn’t recovered from the Don James probation. The Pac-10/12 is a traditionally weak conference and with USC not able to dominate, there is no one there to even remotely test them. Easy to look good when everyone else sucks. Easy to put up 40-50 points per game…and then guess what, a decent defense holds you to 19.
s’alright. The Mighty Lord of Sports Phil Knight will get his championship eventually, he just needs the NCAA to put a few more teams on probation.
autotrader
August 21st, 2011
2:10 pm
I predict I will get a worn out jeep cherokee crammed with the lot of ‘new’ uniforms the week after the Boise State game. I plan on sending it to the crusher where it, and the ‘new’ uniforms belong.
jim
August 21st, 2011
2:11 pm
I can see it now….as the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS take the field.
Disappointed fan
August 21st, 2011
2:14 pm
These uniforms are terrible. Georgia has had some of the nicest uniforms in the country the last few years, even if the teams and coaching haven’t lived up to the standard. Why do people feel compelled to change something that is working fine? Nike money?
Poopdawg
August 21st, 2011
2:18 pm
Meme, good reasons for Oregon’s success. Oregon’s recruiting is also a big reason for their success. Recruits love Oregon’s uni combos. I believe Chip Kelly deserves a little credit .
7576DAWG
August 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
You can incorporate a Pro Combat uniform and not compromise Tradition. As much as I have praised McGarity in my opinion he dropped the ball on this one. Maybe the all Blue look was okay at Florida but the all Red look isn’t at Georgia. When you say Silver Britches it only bring one team to mind. The design team that Nike used are artist , not sports people and certainly not Georgia football minded. I’m sure they don’t have the athletic skills to beat themselves out of a wet paper bag. They live in California and don’t have a clue to what Tradition means in the SEC . It was our responsibility to make sure that Tradition wasn’t lost in a marketing decision. The SEC plus the state of Texas take their football very serious. Other parts of the country don’t have a clue to how fanatical our true football fans are and who will still support the program no matter what. CMR and other say it’s just one game but we all know that’s how you get things started , just a foot hold at first and more later. Georgia has way too much money and make huge profits every year to compromise, ever.
Bottom line is if our AD, and or President had thought any they would have seen how important it is to some fans and made more of an effort to incorporate the Pro Combat look and blend it without compromising TRADITION. Some who just got a big laugh out of it or smirk and say “IT’S JUST ONE GAME ” don’t have a clue what the definition of Tradition is and why it is so important to some people and they never will.
playmeortrademe
August 21st, 2011
2:24 pm
Here’s what I predict about Oregon…they will become (if they aren’t already) the Miami of the next decade. They’ll win because they will play one tough game per year and 11 cupcakes, everyone not living in Oregon will hate them except for the bandwagoners who also suddenly like the Mavericks and Packers. Oregon may win a few championships like Miami when they are lucky enough to draw an equally weak sister in the title game and not an SEC team. Then a former player/alum/booster, perhaps Knight himself, will cross the line and that will be it. Miami all over again.
I’d rather win ZERO national championships than ever be looked at the way Miami is today. You think anybody today is associating Miami football with championships? Win with class and integrity so it will mean something 20-30 years down the road.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 21st, 2011
2:28 pm
7576DAWG
Altamaha Dawg will be on here shortly to scold you and make fun of you like he supposedly did at me at 12:37
Altamaha you there?
Tinker Bell Dawggie
August 21st, 2011
2:30 pm
They look FABulous!
Dawg Squeeze
August 21st, 2011
2:32 pm
playmeordtrademe……..I hereby grant your wish…..ZERO national championships……31 years and counting.
tckr83
August 21st, 2011
2:33 pm
Was in no way making fun of the Texas Tech Red Raiders… simply implying that the pro-combat uniforms were apparently wearing in the Chic-fil-a game this year will look like: Boise vs. Texas Tech.
I was all for the pro-combat jersey: I saw what Alabama/Florida’s looked like and with everyone from the players on up the chain saying these were a throwback to tradition… I just don’t see it. And Nike’s explanations of the uniform in regards to Georgia tradition are laughable and incorrect. Believe the website was Georgiadogs.com or thedawgbone.com. It’s on one of the two somewhere.
As always, go Dawgs!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
August 21st, 2011
2:34 pm
What’s really nice, is there’s a palce to hook the hancduffs while awaiting trial.
playmeortrademe
August 21st, 2011
2:35 pm
and Chip Kelly succeeds because Uncle Phil is building him a lot of pretty facilities. All Chip has to do is open the door to the showroom. Everything else is designed to sell itself. No expense is spared when a lot of other programs are helping you funnel money into your program. This is one reason why I predict the Oregon will be universally hated throughout college football sooner or later.
ladyluckjc
August 21st, 2011
2:58 pm
power rangers, unite!
Poopdawg
August 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
Meme, sounds like your trying to start the “I HATE OREGON” bandwagon. So your saying the fact that recruits love their uni combos has had no positive influence on the Oregon program?
DAWG 2008
August 21st, 2011
3:40 pm
I think the uniforms are growing on me. But, we could play in our pamjamas and I wouldn’t care, as long as we WIN!!! It’s not about what we wear, it’s how we play the game! GOO DAWGS!!!!
Pete
August 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
Just like I said………… AFter Boise destroys this pup team their gonna destroy a good sec team in a BCS bowl. LSU, Alabama, one of those teams is gonna get destroyed by Boise come bowl time.
BSU 55-0
Boise quiets the Dome in the first few minutes. The pup team can’t even beat crap teams like UCF or Colorado.
THEY HAVE NO CHANCE AGAINST THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY.
playmeortrademe
August 21st, 2011
4:05 pm
sooper pooper,
Yeah, I guess I am trying to start an “I hate Oregon “Nike” U. bandwagon.” There will be one soon enough. Look, I’m sure the uni combos look cool to their recruits, and I’m sure when asked directly “Where the uniforms a factor in your decision?”, I’m sure an 18 year-old is going to say “yeah” in the way 18-year olds do. But there is no way the unis have had the impact that winning and the upgrade in facilities have at Nike U. It’s winning, exposure, the chance to go pro, and facilities.
m a double t
August 21st, 2011
4:11 pm
just like wearing black to their own funeral in athens a few years ago… 31-0 @ halftime… ouch.. enjoy your last season as coach MR… kirby smart is coming soon… RMFT!!!!
Pete
August 21st, 2011
4:12 pm
ugly, ugly, ugly I guess we are becoming Oregon
GET OVER IT!
August 21st, 2011
4:21 pm
GET OVER THE UNIFORMS PEOPLE IT’S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL! JUST WIN BABY!