Practice report: Boise State’s Tommy Smith will feel at home in the Dome
ATHENS – Everybody in Boise, Idaho, is excited about playing Georgia in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 3, but no one is more excited than Tommy Smith.
Smith
Smith is a junior inside linebacker for the Broncos and, thanks to quarterback Michael Tamburo’s transfer to UGA, the only Boise State player from Atlanta, or Georgia, for that matter. As such, he has been the No. 1 thorn-in-the-side of his teammates the past few weeks.
Players get just two tickets apiece for away games. Smith said he needs 27 — at least.
“I’ve got 17 right now,” Smith said in a telephone interview this week. “I thought this would be an easy game to get tickets for but it’s been pretty hard. Hopefully I can get 10 more.”
It’s a problem Smith is happy to have. Playing Georgia in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game – playing Georgia anywhere, in fact — is something Smith never dreamed of when he signed with the Broncos out of North Atlanta High.
“Definitely not in the Georgia Dome,” Smith said. “I’m really excited about getting back home and playing in the Georgia Dome in front of my friends and family. I found out when it was released to the newspaper. I started thinking then about how many tickets I could get.”
Smith said he and his family used to attend Atlanta Falcons’ games regularly at the Dome. But he’s never had the pleasure of playing in it. His North Atlanta teams never made it that far in the high school playoffs.
Smith is currently a backup linebacker to Byron Hout, a senior who’s best known for being knocked out by Oregon’s LaGarrett Blount in 2009. Smith plays regularly, though, and filled in last season when Hout was out with a broken foot. He has had 49 tackles the last two seasons and was named to the All-WAC academic team both years.
So how did this Atlantan end up all the way out in Boise?
“It was all about how recruiting played out,” said Smith, a two-star rated recruit. “I wasn’t that highly recruited out of high school. I had a couple of offers but nothing major. Somehow I found myself all the way out Boise on a recruiting visit and I liked it. It was in the winter, like a couple of days before the Super Bowl. There was snow everywhere. I thought it was pretty cool.”
Tailback talk
There were conflicting reports after practice Thursday as to how much tailback Richard Samuel was able to participate. Running backs coach Bryan McClendon said the big junior was able to do everything, including 11-on-11 work. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo insisted he did not have Samuel for 11-on-11.
Suffice it to say, Samuel is back and is involved in preparations for the Boise State game. The 6-2, 238-pound running back has been out for nearly two weeks with a strained quadriceps.
Nevertheless, McClendon indicated that, barring further injury setbacks, Samuel will likely be the starter against Boise State.
“If they’re healthy it’d be Richard and Isaiah right now,” he said when asked the order of appearance. But he said Crowell will play a significant role against Boise State and may eventually start this season.
“You definitely want to see him just keep improving,” McClendon said. “He’s put himself in great position to get a lot of work in that first ballgame. He’s a guy we’re going to have to depend on a lot.
McClendon also listed Brandon Harton ahead of Ken Malcome for the third and fourth spots.
Injury report
Asked to comment on the play of nose guard John Jenkins, defensive line coach Rodney Garner groused. “If you want to know about him you have to ask Ron Courson,” he said.
Courson is, of course, Georgia’s director of sports medicine. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Jenkins remains in Courson’s charge. He has now been out a week with a pulled hamstring.
Harton was also out Thursday with an undisclosed leg injury suffered in Wednesday’s scrimmage. McClendon indicated it was not serious. Fullback Bruce Figgins (hamstring) and wide receivers Marlon Brown (ankle) and Malcolm Mitchell (hamstring) also sat out.
Etc. . . .
Georgia practiced for 90 minutes Thursday in a workout that focused mainly on special teams. . . Offensive line coach Will Friend said sophomore Dallas Lee will be the “first guy in” off the bench for the Bulldogs at either guard position or center. He’d be followed by David Andrews, then Austin Long. However, Kenarious Gates would shift from guard to either left or right tackle if one has to come out of the game. Lee would actually be . . . Outside linebacker Ray Drew has recovered enough from the separated shoulder he suffered in a scooter crash to be counted on to play against Boise State. “He’ll play and he’ll give us some depth,” defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “I think he’ll be a guy that will continue to rise as the season goes.” . . . Safety Corey Moore and cornerback Damian Swann are freshmen currently playing on the second-team defense.
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268 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
If Oregon played at Boise St., it would look like Fright Night.
Athens Dawg
August 25th, 2011
9:35 pm
Prozac, yes I am going to the game but not actually “in the dome”. I’m tailgating. I’d rather tailgate. It’s so much fun. But yes I’ll be there “technically”.
CHDawg
August 25th, 2011
9:37 pm
Spud bowl, actually 9 days might work better. I wouldn’t come on a UGA blog criticizing our academics, while incorrectly adding and spelling your way through your insulting diatribe. You strike me as an impostor troll.
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
9:38 pm
It will be a sad day in Georgia if Boise State runs away with this game. What will come of all the conversations and comments about this lowly 2-3 Star recruit team beating a might SEC contender? Huh. Who will be left to bully?…
Athens Dawg
August 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
Idaho Mashed Potatoes, what if Georgia runs away with the game? Boise will never be heard from again. Do you remember when Hawaii was running the WAC with Colt Brennan and all those “great” receivers. The “Jerry Rice’s of CFB”? Have you heard from them after that beating we gave them in the Sugar Bowl? I haven’t.
Prozac Dawg
August 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
@Delbert & JAWJe,
Their unis will become red from ours. Blood doesn’t have to be involved; but it can be as lon as it’s theirs.
@CHDawg,
I don’t know if Murray is being positive and Richt is strategizing or if they have different opinions. Don’t have any know how as to how CMR might actually play all of this. I wonder if the Boise coaches keep up with any of this???
Go Dawgs
August 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
Who’s AD was fired for a “crooked program” -that’s what I though
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
9:41 pm
A couple of years ago, a poster named “VaTech” played this silly game for a week on all blogs involving Georgia Tech.
Go Dawgs
August 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Enter your comments here
animaldr
August 25th, 2011
9:43 pm
IDAHO-Is Boise really the model NCAA program? Maybe compared to Miami. But they are is some big time trouble in multiple sports the likes of which UGA has not seen.
Athens Dawg
August 25th, 2011
9:43 pm
Hawaii was hyped up so much for that game vs. us. I literally haven’t heard a peep out of the Hawaii program after that win. I literally haven’t. Like seriously where did they go? What happened with their football team? That’s how it’ll be if we blow Boise out. Next Sunday night, there just might be no more Boise.
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
9:44 pm
“Go Dawgs” Responding to the AD being fired…Are you serious? You mean because the Boise State WOMENS TENNIS coach was found to have been improperly recruiting? Or that Boise State let some Freshman sleep on the floor of some students rooms? Yes, he was fired… That was a seriously bad scandal…You really showed me
CHDawg
August 25th, 2011
9:45 pm
I suspect they start thinking about strategy about now. Also, getting fans’ expectations too high could be bad. He is probably grading on a tough scale.
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
9:45 pm
The AD was there for 30 years and didn’t know anything about NCAA compliance. I read an article about it today. They were sitting ducks. Broncos, that is.
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
9:45 pm
Yes, you are all right. If Boise loses I will eat my words. I mean, hell they are the Bulldogs. Seriously, I like the coach and always liked Georgia but really hope that we can show (for a second or third time… OK and VT) that we are for reall…
Columbus
August 25th, 2011
9:46 pm
Tide Roll,
You are right all BUT named the starter. It has been said all along that Samuel is #1 and start opening day as of every day before today. Crowell would only be the starter if Samuel is out and that is because Samuel is WAY ahead of Crowell in experience and knowing what to do and when to do it. Even Herschel did not start or play this early and UGA did not hardly ever pass back then so not much to know as far as pass blocking. So maybe Crowell and most every guy on the team needs to grow up some. Maybe Crowell is doing just fine and you are starting rumors and spreading negativity with no basic in facts but instead is only from your little trouble-making mind. Crowell has never been number one and while he has made strides, he never will be number one without learning most ALL he has to do and EARNING IT IN A GAME, unless there is an injury. Why do I even respond to your foolishness? Thats probably what you want. Wasting my time on nonsense.
The Truth
August 25th, 2011
9:47 pm
A correction:
Hout was not knocked out by Blount; he was knocked to the ground with a suckerpunch–but it wasn’t a knockout.
Gotta keep the homers straight!
Athens Dawg
August 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
Idaho, where is your win vs. the SEC. If you can name me a team that you beat from the SEC then I’ll shut up. I swear. VT? Ok you won by 3. No big deal. Win a game by a comfortable margin and then holler at me. BEAT THE SEC then talk. The SEC is just a totally different brand of football from the WAC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-10 or 12 whatever. It just is!
animaldr
August 25th, 2011
9:51 pm
16 arrests this off season (football) and a multi sport (including football) NCAA investigation, and a AD Resignation. Boise- “The model program”.
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
9:52 pm
The NCAA blog written by the Colorado St. compliance guy mentioned the Boise St. situation with the incoming freshmen staying in players’ rooms. One of the proposed rules for deregulation may cover situations like that.
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
9:53 pm
Truth – Hout actually turned back toward Blount and smiled at him after he got hit.
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
9:53 pm
Athens Dawg, we have no win vs the SEC because they generally do not want to play us one for one. You know the deal. Its all about money. They lose to a BSU and the look like sissies. They come to Boise State and lose ticket sales because our stadium is a LOT smaller. They lose the chance to hit a BCS game. All losses of potential pride and money. I actually give CREDIT to Georgia as the ONLY real SEC willing to play BSU. Thanks! We will see soon if the hype is real…
CHDawg
August 25th, 2011
9:54 pm
Spud, your QB was a Heisman finalist, you have several top draftees, and the seniors are 38-2. You really won’t be defined by this game…granted, it is a big one for both programs. Your problem is that the Dawgs were 6-7 last year. If you win big, the press will say UGA is weak. If we win big, they will say it is just BSU. Same issue.
Athens Dawg
August 25th, 2011
9:54 pm
I don’t understand the Boise hype. I just don’t get it. They have a new OC, they lost Pettis and Young, the have a new punter and kicker, smallish O-line…good QB, not great, good. They’re RB is decent. They’re defense lost a lot of talent in the secondary. Wide receivers dropping balls. I just don’t see how they are going to physically line up and dominate us. To beat us, they’re going to have to dominate us and I just don’t see us letting that happen. To beat us will mean that Boise blocked Geathers and Jenkins sucessfully, they got after Murray and took him out of his game, they shut down Samuel & Crowell, they shut our receivers down, our O-line forgot how to block, etc. It would take a lot for Boise to beat us.
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
9:56 pm
I am hoping for that 4 Super Conference idea. Down with the BCS. We can see a playoff and stop the stupid “mine is bigger than yours” thing…
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
9:59 pm
Agreed Athens Dawg, I think its a harder victory for us than most fans want to think. Yet we all can dream.
Columbus
August 25th, 2011
10:00 pm
June Jones left Hawaii. Thats where they went. We are ready for you and Boise to get here too Tommy! BIG TIME READY! You get a good education and enjoy playing football and I wish you the best and I am glad you got to play ball at Boise St. But you and all your boys know that you are overmatched against a strong SEC team. It is early in the season so that could be to your advantage, especially early in the game. Could be a disadvantage too because Boise might be a little off also first game. But have no illusions because come the 2nd half, UGA will dominate the game on both sides of the ball and put 45 up on your defense. So do all your scoring early if you can because, come the 2nd half, it’s over. Too strong, too fast, too good and stronger than you are expecting. Go Dawgs.
Dawgs upset #5 Boise St. in the Chik-Fil-A Classic. 1-0
JAWJeRDAWG
August 25th, 2011
10:01 pm
Exactly, Prozac Dawg; red-tinted from the viciouus hits and arm-wrapping tackling our D will put on them with our Dawg-red uniforms! Can’t wait to get to the Dome! .. Go Dawgs!
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
10:01 pm
Athens – Boise St. OT Nate Potter is on several 1st team AA lists. He’s 6-6 300. Had to check my Boise St. assessment file for the actual size.
CHDawg
August 25th, 2011
10:02 pm
Athens, looking at their stats they are great, and they have beaten some good teams. They are winners. The question is how good their stats would be if they played an SEC schedule. It will be interesting. Their TBs are very good. How the lines do against guys that are 50lbs bigger will be interesting.
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
10:04 pm
The defense is another story. A DE, DT and safety on preseason AA teams.
Athens Dawg
August 25th, 2011
10:06 pm
Nate Potter is the only guy I respect on their O-line. He has NFL potential. Now he will give our defensive ends fits. He’s good. A protypical LT. Are Boise’s uniforms really all white? Can somebody post a link so I can see?
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
10:06 pm
Thing is, they all want to win. Each team. At this point in the season its who wants it more that may be the deciding factor. I am a little worried about Georgia coming off of a bad season last few years and needing to prove something. Also, sucks that its in the Dome. I just hope that each team can play well and that way we can find out if there really IS a vast difference between the conferences.
bitter dawgs fan
August 25th, 2011
10:09 pm
1979–georgia went 5@6—-attitude and a great 1980 recruiting class made for a 12-0 national
—————-championship year——–its been 31 years——–only the cream of the crop can rise to the
————————————-top———–well its down to these 2011 playas trying to rise up
—————————————————from a 6-7 2010 record———————yaaaaaw
———————————-fact crowell is no hershall——–butt who is??????
———————-lissen only on saturday did dooly no what he really had——hershall was 3rd string
—————-at tennersa—-on 3rd down he face a great sec linebacker and ran right through him
——————go figure–evan dooly could not believe what he had seen———-or munson
————————-only TIME WILL TELL——————–TROLLS
Prozac Dawg
August 25th, 2011
10:09 pm
@ Idaho Potato Head,
CHDawg summed it up nicely.
We all know what you want. Respect for your program by playing in the NC game. But the stars are never going to align for Boise until there are those Superconferences. It’s just plain disrespectful to the rest of college football who does bust their hump 6-7 games a year by making absurd claims. Toledo ain’t LSU! Sorry!! By the way, I hope we stomp you.
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
10:09 pm
http://www.obnug.com/
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
Maybe the front of the uniform is all blue.
Athens Dawg
August 25th, 2011
10:15 pm
They’re uniforms are pretty cool. I really like their helmets. I like the all white. Anyways, I agree Idaho Potato that this game will come down to who wants it more. I think UGA would almost have to want it more right? Coming off a 6-7 season, your coach on the hot seat, the nation doubting you, etc. Wouldn’t you want to come out hot and beat your opponent.
Dr. Morpheus
August 25th, 2011
10:18 pm
The scouting services rate Boise State’s recruiting classes far down the list for 2009, 2010 and 2011. Georgia is in the upper echelon each of those years. How does Boise State manage to get a preseason ranking of #5 with such an apparent talent gap?
JAWJeRDAWG
August 25th, 2011
10:18 pm
Idaho Potato Bowl
In essence, this is your biggest ‘bowl’ game yet. You be us and we don’ beat ourselves and, as soon as I return from Atlanta, I’ll be one of the first to congratulate you.
Just feel tha UGA just has too much to lose, and don’t expect a let down. Far from it. Boise State is a good team, I just feel that because of last year’s terrible outcomes, UGA wants it more, and will give you more than you could ever thought you’d see or play.
You are a telented football team; I’ll give you that, I just feel that we have the desire to win and win we will. Time will tell. Just hope both play their best with no injuries that will hurt us, UGA down the road, particularly against our conference foe, SC.
We haven’t proved we can play for four complete quarters, but I think this team will, and you will know that you have played a true SEC team.
UGA prevails, or I’ll congratulate you. Win, and I will only say best wishes for the rest of the season, and know that we truly have a chance in the SEC East this year. .. Go Dawgs!
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
To Prozac Dawg,
I agree with the Superconference Idea and unfortunately every team cannot play every other team each year. I dont disagree that the SEC is the strongest conference…yet…I hope we stomp U! I know we wont get the respect we want, but any W in the column is a step toward that NC game we all want.
Tom Resident Georgia Fan
August 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
Players are softer these days just like everything else in our sissy society. Keep electing the same sorry career political asses and you get what you deserve!! Just be sure they don’t affect football!!!
Spike 80DF
August 25th, 2011
10:21 pm
funny, conflicting reports on practices and scrimmages. i’m ok with it and i totally agree with closed practices and not giving stats or injury status, everyone will know the stats on saturdays when they really matter….
Delbert D.
August 25th, 2011
10:21 pm
The different color gloves are interesting. We used to put red tape on the left wrist of new guys (FNGs) and green on the right back in my submarine days.
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
10:21 pm
To JAWJeRDAWG, I respect that man! I wish you well and my guys well. I just hope we want it more. And on another note, hope we can all keep it clean and all our guys walk off the field without injury!
Ole Yeller Dawg
August 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
Rumor has it, that Coach Chris Peterson will not allow a BS player to wear the # 1 jersey – whats up with that?
http://www.obnug.com Boise State Nike Pro Combat all white uniform
Cassandra
August 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
A team that goes 7 and 6 cannot be considered a SEC contender.
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
10:23 pm
To Dr. Morpheus, talent means less than what is DONE WITH a teams talent…
basstringerfish
August 25th, 2011
10:24 pm
Well one thing I do know as a Dawg fan is that no matter who Boise Stae has lining up,when they step between the lines they will be well coached and well prepared. As we have unfortunately seen the past two years, that means something. We have all seen how Boise can game plan when they have the time off for BCS Bowl game – now they have had all summer. Make no mistake, who they play means nothing for this game because its the first game. I say walk a mile in a SEC team’s shoes for a season versus WAC or Mountain West to tell me how good you really are. BS doesn’t play in a conference that has 3 BCS teams and 6-7 bowl teams to knock everyone out…it’s apples and oranges. However, for the first game…both teams have had the same time to prepaare, no one is beat up, etc…who coaches up whom? Who plays football or who plays to their hype as these high star recruits? I remember Oklahoma State a few years ago…that was a defining game game for them…same with BS this year to propel the 2011 BS hype…on paper? Yes we should win. But will our staff rise up and beat BS coaching? I sure hope so. I’m postponing my 23rd anniversary trip to watch this game. Would hate to be disappointed…I don’t thinkI willl be. UGA is on The Energy Bus!!!
Idaho Potato Bowl
August 25th, 2011
10:25 pm
not negating talent, just less important than the “fight thats in the dog”