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
SugarHillDawg
August 20th, 2011
8:55 pm
I HATE those DAMN red pants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shankit
August 20th, 2011
8:56 pm
Nike uniforms are made in China.
Russell uniforms are made in Alabama.
Tough choice.
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
8:57 pm
Personally I think they are butt ugly, and would rather see the normal gear. But this was absolutely what UGA needed, this game. A chance to be in the national spotlight . A rally point for a better offseason preparation, and a boon to recruiting. If this is the price to pay for this game, it was well worth it. I don’t know too many organization that wouldn’t be willing to accept a small condition, for the opportunity to improve itself.
BigBadJohn
August 20th, 2011
8:58 pm
GAY!!
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
8:58 pm
A river Dawg ,I get where you are coming from . But is there a Dawg on this 2011 that could run Bill Bates over.Back in that day 1979 the game was only on the radio ,could only hear Munson describe the red pants.
Hmmmmmmmmm
August 20th, 2011
9:02 pm
Very Gay! Nothing wrong with gay…… I mean I guess… What an embarrasment for the state of Georgia…. Good Grief…
BigBadJohn
August 20th, 2011
9:03 pm
UGAY!!!
shankit
August 20th, 2011
9:03 pm
Tressel would still be coach if he had these uniforms a couple of years ago. There would have been no need for tattoos.
Rabid Dawg'84
August 20th, 2011
9:04 pm
I love our away uni more than home – always like the helmet, jersey and pants 3 different colors. I like this helmet and jersey, but would like to see black pants with them. I wuoldn’t mind buying this jersey.
trey
August 20th, 2011
9:05 pm
I LOVE EM…F YOU AND ALL YOU FANS THAT DONT
Hmmmmmmmmm
August 20th, 2011
9:06 pm
Good trey,
then go back and snuggle with your boyfriend…..
trey
August 20th, 2011
9:06 pm
THE ONES WHO DONT LIKE EM ARE GA HICKS WHO WEAR JEANS AND BOOTS AND HAVE BIG BELLIES—THEY THINK ANYTHING COOL IS 2 BLACK AND THEY HATE IT
Bulldog Bred
August 20th, 2011
9:06 pm
Dear God. It looks like Nike now owns our athletic department. I am sick of gimmick uniforms and Nike calling the shots. Give me the standard Georgia uniform anyday. Can you imagine Nike cramming this piece of crap down Alabama’s throat? Penn State’s? Let’s take a few less bucks and tell Nike to stuff it.
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be DAWGS
August 20th, 2011
9:07 pm
UGA-ly mutts
trey
August 20th, 2011
9:07 pm
NAAA ID RATHER SNUGGLE WITH YA WIFE LIKE I DID LAST NITE
trey
August 20th, 2011
9:07 pm
THE ONES WHO DONT LIKE EM ARE GA HICKS WHO WEAR JEANS AND BOOTS AND HAVE BIG BELLIES—THEY THINK ANYTHING COOL IS 2 BLACK AND THEY HATE IT…
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
9:08 pm
I’m really not sure how the question about Bates has anything to do with the point I was making.
But as far as the other. Are you suggesting that a departure from tradition is fine if you just hear it, and not see it? Do the UGA fans at that game count?
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
9:09 pm
Trey school starts Monday ,I hope the other boys in the 6th grade don’t find out your secret.Not that there is anything wrong with it.
trey
August 20th, 2011
9:10 pm
ONLY REDNECK FAT WHITE BOYS DONT LIKE THESE UNIS—GO BACK TO YOUR WRANGLER JEANS, BROWN BEAT UP GYPSIE BOOTS AND PLAID COLLARED SHIRTS
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
9:13 pm
BTW, does it have that Dawg face on the front or not?
rodney charles
August 20th, 2011
9:13 pm
another gimmick to disguise a failing program. UGA football has been irrelevant on the national stage for half a decade. new uni’s will not change the fact that program sucks. dump richt and get a real man as coach.donnan was be better than this wuss.
gt4ever
August 20th, 2011
9:13 pm
Trey,
Your a MORON!… This has nothing to do with “black”, but more to do with butt UGLY unis… I mean you guys have sharp uniforms already, why embarass yourself and the state of Georgia by wearing this crap? I don’t think you lose this game, but if you do lose, whoever picked these color combinations should be Fired… It’s really kinda funny…. National TV and everything…
chip
August 20th, 2011
9:16 pm
they look like mighty morphin power rangers uniforms
gt4ever
August 20th, 2011
9:16 pm
Erk,
Trey is already out of the closet…..
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
9:16 pm
Trey ,now don’t take this the wrong way ,but just because you wear skinny jeans and got cut from the jv cheerleading team ,does not make it OK for you to call people fat .You might hurt there self a-steem
mark
August 20th, 2011
9:17 pm
I remember when the Braves went to the god awful softball uniforms in 75. These are worse.
rodney charles
August 20th, 2011
9:18 pm
the wussification of UGA football continues. please hire a true male as HC and athletic director. UGA appears to be spearheading transgender football.
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
9:21 pm
A river Dawg for the last time I don’t care what color your pants are. It is your performance on the football field that matters.Giving up 30 points a game is a tradition I do not care to see or listen to.
Strange Murphy
August 20th, 2011
9:22 pm
Uniforms are ugly as shat. They’re embarrassing!
cookieman
August 20th, 2011
9:22 pm
Change is good . Love the uniforms.
rodney charles
August 20th, 2011
9:23 pm
And I forgot to say that I’m a man who likes men!
rodney charles
August 20th, 2011
9:24 pm
Go Yellow Jackets!!!
shankit
August 20th, 2011
9:27 pm
Wonder what Terrell could have gotten with one of these autographed jerseys?
rodney charles
August 20th, 2011
9:27 pm
And I love Michael Adams
shankit
August 20th, 2011
9:28 pm
Nike – Made in China.
trey
August 20th, 2011
9:29 pm
I’m with you rodney! Let’s go somewhere where we can hold hands.
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
9:29 pm
A river Dawg UGA will wear whatever colored pants that Nike tells them to wear.Money talks and Nike has the money.So I hope the Dawgs play well in the dome and win I won’t be there ,will be coaching a baseball team in Greenville SC.that weekend.
Dawg Tired
August 20th, 2011
9:30 pm
Trey’s problems make the uniforms look ok. Talk about a man in need of serious counseling. That’s one sick dude. At least we can change into our regular uniforms. What’s Trey going to do? His problems require a whole lot more than a simple change of clothes. Come the South Carolina game, a mere 7 days later, we’ll be back in good looking uniforms and Trey will still be a sicko.
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
9:30 pm
Well then, you know what might help? If you would stop commenting to me about the uniforms.
Steve "The King" Spurrier
August 20th, 2011
9:30 pm
I think it may be time to pull out the black helmets.
If the Dawgs actually score against Boise, have the whole team run to the end zone and jump up and down!!
Paint some chicken bones blue and tie them to the back of your helmets too.
Try ANYTHING for a winning season!!
Bill
August 20th, 2011
9:30 pm
You can change the uniforms, but the team will still be uglier than the new ones. WDE!
Steve "The King" Spurrier
August 20th, 2011
9:31 pm
I wish I could play the Dawgs twice this year.
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
9:32 pm
Rodney and Trey if you two like Michael Adams so much buy him Ga Tech season tickets.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
August 20th, 2011
9:34 pm
The helmets need a big bulldog mouth with big sharp teeth up front.
Poopdawg
August 20th, 2011
9:34 pm
Has Tide roll complained yet about the Manikin being too white?
NOBODYYOUKNOW
August 20th, 2011
9:35 pm
Why you taking me out?
shankit
August 20th, 2011
9:40 pm
LSU is wearing traditional Russell uniforms against Oregon and their gimmick uniforms in their season opening. Just wondering. Anybody want Oregon against the Chinese Bandits?
Dawg Tired
August 20th, 2011
9:40 pm
Amazing how someone who supports a team that is 1-4 against us the last 5 years can be so boorish. However, I must say I am not that surprised. It’s fairly typical for that group.
War Dang Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:43 pm
Trey has a point. Our players will look sharp with their dreads hanging out the back of those Arena Football League uniforms. Who cares what us good-ole-boy alums think, anyway.
It was fun watching that UCF defensive lineman wreak havoc on our offense in the bowl game. You know, the country boy who dreamed of playing for Georgia since he was a kid but didn’t draw any interest from Richt and Co. Didn’t run a fast enough 40, I guess.
Thank God Donnan drafted David Pollack. Not sure Richt would have.
War Dang Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:45 pm
RECRUITED Pollack, I meant