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
Master P
August 20th, 2011
9:45 pm
Crowell’s back—full speed baby!!! Look for IC to run all over Boise’s weak defense! Dawgs roll!!!!
ga gator
August 20th, 2011
9:45 pm
Erk Russell’s Dog, you must be gay to bring up Gayturds morphadite.
Mobile Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:47 pm
I don’t think the unis look terrible, some people just like our Dawgs they way they have always been. If Richt wins he will probably be forgiven, if he loses it’s likely he’s laying the path for his way out of town, probably ends up in the ACC, unless he decides to pursue his mission work. Either way, I don’t think the uniform change is appropriate. And I probably won’t get over it either. Just another straw on Richts back.
ETown Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:47 pm
Can the Dawgs bring out the black uniforms against florida? Fla’s way down and this is finally the year when Ga can beat them bad!!! Back in black baby!!!
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
9:49 pm
A river Dawg come on I have been as patient as I can with you.You are right my freshman year at Uga they wore white pants. when I was a junior UGA wore red pants and the silver pants. Can’t say any thing about my senior year ,Got title nined out of my baseball scholarship and did not care what color the football teams pants were,and I still dont give a s##t.
shankit
August 20th, 2011
9:49 pm
ga gator – And what was the name of the taxidermist in Alachua that mounted ya’ll’s mascot that is on display in your skyboxes. Only team I know of that kills their mascot and has him mounted UGA rest in peace.
Steve
August 20th, 2011
9:51 pm
Those uniforms are absolutely horrific. Are we trying to become a Mtn West team? Arena Football? Hellp.
Stick to tradition. That is what college football is about.
drdawg
August 20th, 2011
9:56 pm
Much to do about nothing. If the Dawgs win, I want some stock in the helmets.
Just please don’t pull any new crap in Jax other than win.
Sun Devil dave
August 20th, 2011
9:57 pm
Hidious. Absolutly Hidious. Putrid. Vile. Simply put, Ugly.
chris
August 20th, 2011
9:59 pm
whats funny is the people that are bitching about the uniforms almost 100% didn’t even attend UGA. I just find it funny that rednecks just go for the team/school that they didn’t attend.
beachdog
August 20th, 2011
10:01 pm
as long as the players llike the uniforms, it’s none of our business
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
10:03 pm
Hey Ga gator if you can’t come up with anything more creative than the gay card than, oh s##t that is what I did . You sir I will apologize to.Don’t want to rile up any Gator fans this early..Wait until October for that to start. And I was only kidding about UGA having a mole on the Florida coaching staff,really just kidding.
T2go
August 20th, 2011
10:06 pm
The unis are not that bad….red jersey and red pants is not the best combo. What is really tragic is the helmets. That is just plain ugly as hell…..giant silver stripe!? Im an artist and feel I have a pretty good understanding of these things…
Look at all the new NFL logos over the past decade…they are all terrible. Go back and look at Tampas old logo or even the falcons. They were so much better 20 years ago. The Carolina panthers logo is soooooo lame. But the reason for this is marketing. They want things that can be readable no matter the size…so they are simplified and have brighter( less sophisticated) color schemes. Its not laziness as much as capitalism ruining yet another thing.
They should have left the Dawgs helmets alone….that outfit looks like some Canadian football something or ‘nother.
Anyway GO Dawgs!
T2go
August 20th, 2011
10:08 pm
….That said….who really cares what the uniforms look like….GO GEORGIA….BEAT BOISE!!!!
jaglaw
August 20th, 2011
10:08 pm
Who cares what uniforms they wear…….just win baby!!!!!!
I can’t believe so much interest and argument goes into a freaking uniform worn for one game( a bowl game ay that). That type of superficial analysis is why our program was 6-7 last year. And the idiot who said CMR should have had imput with the design should be ashamed. If.our coach was designing uniforms the last six months we would be in some serious trouble. Get real people.
gianni versace bowl committee
August 20th, 2011
10:08 pm
Hi guys
First annual Gianni Versace bowl game in sunny Miami.
Open invitation to Georgia Bulldogs vs. Oregon “Aflac” Ducks
Special half time appearance by Elton John.
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
10:09 pm
Hey Hanky Panky I thought Chip was the buffoon broadcasting the Braves game.There is another buffoon named Chip.
SickandTired
August 20th, 2011
10:09 pm
I think they are beautiful and go right with Mark Richt’s path to the complete and total demise of any sort of tradition. What’s next? Why don’t we go out and recruit a kid that wants #34. Why not Mark. Be cool. You are the man. The day u are fired, I’ll help you pack.
playmeortrademe
August 20th, 2011
10:11 pm
College Football USED to be about tradition.
E$PN has killed it with Wednesday night games, Thursday night games, Friday night games, contrived early season matchups, BCS manipulation, and super-bowl long pre-game shows that beat any shred of a story into the ground until an unsuccessful old coach can do his shtick and put on a mascot head.
Then Nike bought any program that wanted to sign on the dotted line. Well, guess what, everyone sold their souls so Phil “sweatshop” Knight could build his college athletics empire at Oregon. Have fun competing against Oregon in the near future. The only thing saving everybody from an Oregon reign of terror is that Eugene is just too far away from So California, Texas, and Florida.
Mike
August 20th, 2011
10:11 pm
These uniforms are SWEET!!!!
shankit
August 20th, 2011
10:12 pm
Combat Uniforms?
Get outa my fox hole.
French Foreign Legion maybe.
Dawg Tired
August 20th, 2011
10:16 pm
I”m guessing the Auburn crowd is now looking up the word boorish. That could take a while.
shankit
August 20th, 2011
10:17 pm
Bought a new Nooki wedge, shanked it every time I used it.
Going back to Spalding.
Spike 80DF
August 20th, 2011
10:17 pm
i’m not a big fan of the uni’s but the atmosphere in the dome will be electric in 2 weeks and when the Dawgs come running out i’m sure i’ll love them. beating boise’s a$$ won’t hurt either…
wild bill
August 20th, 2011
10:18 pm
These are the butt-ugliest things I have seen in a long time. I am already embarrassed. Wearing clown uniforms is no way to follow up on a losing season. Tell Nike to take a flying leap and get back to the traditional uniforms……..fast!!
shankit
August 20th, 2011
10:19 pm
Bought a new sleeve of Nooki 20XXI golf balls.
Actually fouled them off.
Going back to Titleist.
Mobile Dawg
August 20th, 2011
10:19 pm
Good news earlier about Crowell. Let’s get Samuel ready, for some reason I think he’s the key to winning this game, and the Oline of course. That is if the coaching staff doesn’t get in the way.
Hairy Perry
August 20th, 2011
10:20 pm
I was at picture day with some family. I was not real impressed with the new look, but I’m not going to pitch a fit about it. The important thing is the players are exited about it and it’s just for one game. They are not so bad. Some fans will cry about anything no matter what it is.”Get over it”.
T-Dawg
August 20th, 2011
10:20 pm
First to claim “First!” I thought that was the whole point of the blog…
Hope the uniforms are forgotten as soon as possible. It should be about the athletes and theirplay on the field. Glad to see Crowell coming back and Jones and Charles not being held up by NCAA shenanigans like that wide receiver from last year. Bring on all the players from both teams and let’s PLAY THE GAME !!!
Ian Poulter
August 20th, 2011
10:21 pm
I think these uniforms are hideous, I would never be caught dead in this garb.
jaglaw
August 20th, 2011
10:22 pm
I hear you Hairy Perry. Amen!!!!!
jaglaw
August 20th, 2011
10:24 pm
Hairy Perry for President.
Liberace
August 20th, 2011
10:25 pm
Is Nike furnishing Candelabra to the Tuba player?
jaglaw
August 20th, 2011
10:25 pm
nobody in America cares what Ian Poultry thinks.
Hairy Perry
August 20th, 2011
10:27 pm
I think it would have looked cooler if the helmets had been white, with the red stripe and white face mask without stripe down center. Just fun thought.
Mobile Dawg
August 20th, 2011
10:27 pm
Let’s start a blog for standing up for Tradition. Remember Hootie Johnson sending Martha Burk packing, and who could forget last year, “turn your hat around”. Hootie for President, UGA, USA, oh yeah. Don’t have to wonder what he would tell Nike!
I'm Just Saying
August 20th, 2011
10:28 pm
CMR = Fashionista
Erk Russell's Dog
August 20th, 2011
10:29 pm
All traditions fade away slowly and eventually die . I remember a great UGA tradition , the baseball team hanging out at the athletic dorm and bogarting beers off the football team after a big win ,especially after the Ga Fla game .I guess that tradition died a while back But what memories they were.Don’t judge us,baseball players at Uga have always been the red headed step children of the athletic dept.
Zumadawg
August 20th, 2011
10:29 pm
Coach Richt should understand is that most dawg fans are’t “gitting over” those putrid uniforms were just tollerating them. Why woud Nike want to inflict such pain on the Dawg Nation? How about running this by Munson
Hairy Perry
August 20th, 2011
10:30 pm
Thanks for the vote jaglaw………………..GOODNIGHT!
shankit
August 20th, 2011
10:32 pm
Can’t hardly wait for this classic, going to the tanning booth every day,
and just got me a new set of sun glasses. Went to Needless Markup
and got me a Prada combat cap.
Bow Wow
August 20th, 2011
10:33 pm
Russ is looking good. And we finally get to wear the red panties.
dawg stuck in Gulf Shores
August 20th, 2011
10:33 pm
LOVE THE UNIFORMS!!! WE BAD, WE BAD!
toker
August 20th, 2011
10:35 pm
They look like astronauts…
shankit
August 20th, 2011
10:37 pm
Heard Nooki may be cutting a deal to paint the turf Red.
Roger
August 20th, 2011
10:37 pm
The uniforms look like crap! Another payoff to Nike who will be marketing this garbage as UGA uniforms within 2 weeks, just like they do with their hometown Oregon Ducks – which is an embarassment. Be a Bulldog; play like a Bulldog; and for god’s sake, dress like a Bulldog!
Richt should worry more about coaching this team up, rather than accepting Nike’s selection of Bulldog uniforms for their commercial benefit.
Bdawg
August 20th, 2011
10:40 pm
No, brooksdawg, cmr does not play head games
He Hate Gator
August 20th, 2011
10:43 pm
I can live with the uniform except for the white helmet. More importantly is how they play in them.
Mike Franklin
August 20th, 2011
10:46 pm
The new unis really blow. I hate white helmets… and the jerseys look like Falcons’ leftovers.
They should have stuck with the black jerseys. We would have learned to ‘get over it’ that the Dawgs don’t win every time they wear them.
Common Richt, grow some stones.
ugakev
August 20th, 2011
10:49 pm
he hate gator, you dont even know the color of the helmet. It’s silver and it looks amazing. I would go as far as to say we should wear these uniforms more than once. I dont know what some of you are looking at but those uniforms are sharp. GO DAWGS!!!!