In case you missed it, here is my practice report from Friday . . .
ATHENS – Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell need not worry about forgetting an assignment when the Bulldogs face No. 5 Boise State next Saturday. If Crowell is not sure what to do, all he has to do is ask.
“Especially in the first few games,” Murray said this week. “Those are going to be like home games for us, without a bunch of crowd noise. So we should be able to communicate a lot and I think that’s going to help with him getting his feet wet. I told him, ‘I’m right there with you. No matter what, you just look at me.’ I’m right beside him most of the time anyway or he’s right behind me.”
That said, Murray added that he doesn’t believe Crowell is going to need much assistance. Not from what he has seen in practices the last month.
“Isaiah’s looking great right now,” Murray said. “He’s working. He’s going a great job studying playbook and watching film. He’s meeting with [running backs coach Bryan] McClendon. And he’s looks good out there on the field in practice. He’s confident, he’s making some unbelievable cuts, he’s catching the ball nicely. I’m excited about seeing what he can do in that first game.”
Murray said it’s important for fans to realize that Crowell won’t be perfect in the early going and maybe not ever. But he says he can assure that the five-star prospect from Columbus is as good advertised.
“There are tons of guys who came in with all this hype that are, quote-unquote, busts,” he said. “But the way Isaiah has been working and studying his plays and everything, he looks great right now. I know it’s different when you get in there and there are TV cameras and 70 to 90,000 people yelling. But as of right now everybody on the team is excited about seeing what he can do.”
Long road to Atlanta
Max Corbet has been Boise State’s assistant athletic director for media relations for 25 years. In that time he has seen the Broncos’ football program rise from WAC also-ran to the most feared BCS-buster in the land.
He has also logged thousands of miles as the team crisscrossed the nation for football games. He recently talked to the AJC’s Doug Roberson about the logistical hurdles the Broncos will face in coming to Atlanta to play Georgia.
“It’s a long road trip but no different than the Virginia Tech game last year, which worked well for us,” Corbet said of that 33-30 victory. “Hopefully it will be the same this time.”
Corbet said Boise will go to Michigan State next year and Washington in 2013. ESPN is brokering those games just as it did the one Saturday against Georgia.
As for facing the Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome, he said it’s not ideal for the Broncos. “We are really in their backyard,” Corbet said. “It’s just one of those things. It’s not in Athens but it might as well be. Last year, eighty percent or more of the stadium was Virginia Tech people. That’s part of it. We don’t sit around and fret about it. We prepare for it.”
Corbet said Boise State will be arriving in Atlanta on Thursday.
At home in Dome
The Bulldogs bussed to Atlanta Friday in order to hold a closed practice at the Georgia Dome. The “dress rehearsal” practice even included the Bulldogs wearing their Nike Pro Combat uniforms, according to a tweet from quarterback Aaron Murray.
Head coach Mark Richt was extremely secretive about the practice but athletic director Greg McGarity was not sure why.
“Mark just asked me if they could do it and I said yes, of course,” McGarity said. “The Falcons are in there Thursday and Georgia State plays there Friday, so I think it was the only day we could get in there.”
Etc. . . .
Cornerback Branden Smith was spotted on campus Friday in a walking cast, or “boot.” UGA Sports Communications director Claude Felton said there would be no update provided Friday on Smith. . . . Georgia will work out again Saturday morning at 9:45 a.m. . . . Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said he expects nose guard John Jenkins (hamstring) to return to practice Saturday.
146 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 27th, 2011
1:09 pm
Lets hope the offensive line has Crowells back
Pete
August 27th, 2011
1:11 pm
If you guys aren’t impressed with Boise how the hell do you get up every morning rooting for you 7 loss UGA team.
I feel sorry for you pup fans, really, I do.
Hairy Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:13 pm
Boys Eez is nothing but a second rate horses backside program that cant play with real men like SEC. I wonders how Boys Eez is goning play rest of season onec we puts the QBs all out with hurting.
They cant come to our house and home of SEC champs and do nothing. Dawgs must protect this house and will be goning 3-0 in Atlanta this year.
We got Dream Team from state recruits and they knows how to win in Dome. We just needs to get these men on field and Boys Eez be to scared to play againts the speed and size of SEC mens.
Coach Richt know how to get Dream Team ready and done a beat down on Boys Eez before. Now thats we know how to play assingments in 3-4 for this year, we goning unload a whooping can on Boys Eez QB that gots a big mouth.
Thomas Brown
August 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
http://en.terra.com/addon/img/68c9c1de-GEORGE-LOPEZ480X400p.jpg
The Smurfs
Hairy Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
And Boys Eez is called that cause they like a bunch of Easy Boys if they was in prison. They goning roll over and lay down like they wimpy that gots no manhood for fight.
David Greene
August 27th, 2011
1:33 pm
Its ood for players to have each others backs. Pollack and I had each others backs….and fronts.
BSU Fan
August 27th, 2011
1:35 pm
Hairy Dawg, let me guess…BA in English with a specialization in Grammar?
chilidawg
August 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
memo to Georgia Dome crew: In an effort to save energy, all air conditioning systems are to be turned off at 7:00 p.m. on September 2. Turn them back on September 4.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
Mark Richt seems pleased with his team. Every interview you watch he’s relaxed like he’s not worried about a thing. He knows something we don’t know.
UGAer
August 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Boise easily dominates the DAWGers. All UGA fans will immediate start making excuses for the lose. Then the DAWGers lose to South Carolina and UGA fans will want Richt fired. UGA fans suffer from the delusion that the DAWGS are a perennial national championship contender. They are not and have not been for over 30 years. The “Dream” team will be just that…a DREAM. Run away you mangy, smelly mutts. GO UCF!!!
georgia bulldogs fan in nwfla
August 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
good luck dawgs and gods speed to endzone , many times!
ugab
August 27th, 2011
2:03 pm
I hope B. Smith’s injury is not an bad injury. We need Smith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
There are people on this board that just like to stir up trouble. Most of them have never played football and doesn’t know what it takes both physically and mentally. They come onto a UGA blog every day to see if there’s any updates so they can talk. It’s so immature. Please grow up.
Prozac Dawg
August 27th, 2011
2:22 pm
Branden Smith has, of course, hurt his foot. Surgery is not required. He is listed as day-to-day. Jenkins, Figgins are in green jerseys. Not too good.
Prozac Dawg
August 27th, 2011
2:24 pm
Mitchell and Samuel are back in red jerseys. Better news
Pete Please Be on This Blog Next Sunday After UGA Beats Boise Back TO REALITY
August 27th, 2011
2:38 pm
Pete
Enjoy running your mouth another 7 days bud
Reality will be setting in come midnight September 4th morning
Vesaversa
August 27th, 2011
2:42 pm
This season should determine if UGA keep coach Mark Richt. I am hoping that the Dawgs have wining season but i have my dough’s and it all fall on the shoulder of Richt.
Go Dawgs
kb
August 27th, 2011
2:46 pm
UGAer and Pete are tech trolls, they have to hide behind another program since there’s has been pathetic for the better part of the last 6 decades.
Gay Dawg
August 27th, 2011
2:52 pm
LOVE THEM HAIRY DAWGS!
Dirty Dawg
August 27th, 2011
3:00 pm
The deal with Branden wearing a ‘boot’ is that he’s trying to ‘break in’ those new pro-combat cleats – one at a time – and he’s not allowed to be seen in public with them in ‘plain sight’…see?
As for Mark Richt knowing something ‘we’ don’t know – if you’re talking about everybody posting here and/or reading it, then I damn sure hope he does…of course that doesn’t keep most of us from telling him how he should be doing stuff, does it?
Boise State has every right to be proud, and confident. After all they’ve haven’t become the darlings of the ESPNers just because they love that blue turf. They’re good ‘copy’ and have given the TV guys a lot to talk about over the years. If we lose this game then we’ll have some spanin’ to do, but we’ll still have our entire season ahead of us and even if we should, perish the thought, lose the next one too we’ll still be able to ‘run the table’ and, likely, win the East – long-shot sure, but it would still be ‘in the cards’.
Now think about Boise State…if they lose next Saturday, it’s over. Their entire season,,,the shot at the BCS-NC game is gone…before Labor Day. Who’da thunk it? In fact, it must make the smurfs sick to think about it. Then again maybe that’s why they’re making so much of it here and now – got to enjoy it while you can, don’t you? Kinda like the Auburn folks, they ‘won’ the NC and are gonna enjoy that for as long as possible…at least until it becomes an embarrassing reminder of ‘how they got it’.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
3:02 pm
I laugh at people who bash us because we had a down season. What team doesn’t? You can’t win 10 games every year, although Richt has almost about done that since he’s been here. He had a down year, big deal. KEY FACT is though that out of the 7 losses, 4 were decided by 7 points or less so it could have gone either way. Mental errors and costly mistakes and critical times and not finishing were our downfall last season. Not because we don’t have a good football team. We don’t suck. We just didn’t finish and make the plays when we needed to.
Look for us to make the plays when they count this season. Starting next Saturday against Boise State University.
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
3:05 pm
If we beat Boise the people that said we were going to lose are then going to come back and say “Well it was Boise after all, and you SHOULD HAVE beat them.” That’s what I don’t get. Why would you talk trash, spew out all these random scores “55-0.” “229-0.” “57-7″. And then if we win, come back and say some crap like that? That’s so hypocritical and so stupid. If you think we’re going to lose to Boise then go ahead and say it, it’s your opinion and your entitled, but if we win, don’t come back here and say “Well that’s what your supposed to do.” It was Boise after all.”
Athens Dawg
August 27th, 2011
3:07 pm
All for all these Tech critters running around here under different teams’ names, give it a break. You just came off a 6-7 season and couldn’t beat your in-state rival in their worst season since 1996. Suck it up and just relish in the fact that you can’t beat UGA. 9-1 in the last 10 years. We’re about to make it 10-1.
TampaDawg
August 27th, 2011
3:30 pm
Well gee UGAer, whatever your fake name is. Guess you forgot about our BCS game appearances 3 times in the 2000s. Heck you said over 30 years. How about the two sugar bowl appearances in 81 and 82 that would have added 2 more NCs. YOUR team may not be a perennial NC contender but any team that can run the SEC will be.
TampaDawg
August 27th, 2011
3:48 pm
Pete, it’s hard to be impressed by a team with 5 quality wins over a span of about .. well, 5 YEARS! Hard to be impressed by a team that plays such powerhouses as New Mexico, UNLV, SDSU, and Nevada .. and then lose or nearly lose to Nevada every year. One of those big wins was against VT and they turn around and lose to that other top 10 powerhouse (in Division II that is) James Madison. Yeah, I am not impressed and if they were playing your team, you wouldn’t be either. Unless you’re a GT fan.
curdawg
August 27th, 2011
4:07 pm
Wish we were playing BS outside instead of in a house. It would be a considerable home field advantage. Those westerners know heat, but they just aren’t prepared for our late summer humidity. I figure it’d worth at least a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
Steve Spurrier
August 27th, 2011
4:37 pm
All my boys are healthy. WHAT HAPPENS TO KIDS WHO GO TO UGA?
UGAer
August 27th, 2011
5:16 pm
Would of, could of, should of,…Tampa Dog, so what! GO UCF!!!
SwannyP
August 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
I cannot wait for BSU to shutdown this bulldog team…Then when UGA wins the SEC there will be no way that Boise State does not play in NCG! Go Big Blue!
ringleader
August 27th, 2011
5:46 pm
Prozac……….That was last year with Crowell……He ripped his offensive line, and they quit on him. I do not agree with what he did, nor do I agree with what his line did.
He also got some personal foul flags as well
Hairy Dawg
August 27th, 2011
6:45 pm
Sometimes the lazy OL needs being ripped by RB. But we got Ben Jones and he get mad and dirty against lazy OL so Crowell want have to do it.
With good OL like Dawgs Crowell goning be running loose all year and taking it to house. Then we just beats Boys Eez and Visor Boy chickens to run tables on schedule all way to SEC game. Upset Bammers and we will win BCS champs. Dream Team added to veterans talent makes Dawgs team winners this year. Coach Richt showing all haters what it means to be Christian to help with winning.
Go DAWGS!
Hairy Dawg
August 27th, 2011
6:48 pm
all the way to SEC championships game.
Georgia Football Holds a ‘Secret’ Practice on Neutral Field in Atlanta at hoops227.org
August 27th, 2011
7:07 pm
[...] just asked me if they could do it and I said yes, of course,” Greg McGarity told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The Falcons are in there Thursday and Georgia State plays there Friday, so I think it was the [...]
KakNiqueTree
August 27th, 2011
7:33 pm
Guessing that Boise State will play Michigan State @ Ford Field in Detroit and UWashington @ the Seahawks stadium just like they’re playing Georgia @ the Dome and they played Va. Tech @ the Redskins Stadium. Keep this up this theme and they’ll play in every NFL stadium within this decade!
Same Story Different Season
August 27th, 2011
7:39 pm
Same Pre-Season Hype as every year for the puppy chow gang.
Results will be the same again – wait til they call for Bobo’s head after the first game.
Murray’s got Crowell’s back, how is Murray going to do that when he is either running for his life or laying on his back looking up at the lights….
AJC tries to sell them some newspapers though, if not for all the hype, hype, hype getting the doggie fans a rabies rudy, they probably wouldn’t still be in business.
Just wait til reality hits again and you get chomped by my Gators this year…..again – what will that be 20 out of the last 22?????? We may not have the best year, but we own you overated mutts every year.
Toughest part about living in ATL and being a Gator is the obnoxious articles every day about the world beater doggies who are always living in the glory days of the past.
ALL the WAY?
August 27th, 2011
7:39 pm
They are going to be fine, if they go 2-0, and beat fl, they will go all the way.
i said it,
Vandals Reek
August 27th, 2011
8:23 pm
Dawg fans can talk all the smack they want. But please Dawg fans, pay homage to the facts below:
As we head into the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game on September 3rd, we have heard all of the insults from the fans of Georgia and other BCS teams.
Every cliche’ argument from strength of schedule to playing on the “smurf turf” has been brought forth in an effort to minimize the Broncos’ impressive run over the past 10 years.
This happens every year, whether its Virginia Tech before they lost or Oregon before they lost twice to Boise State.
If a Georgia fan brings up “The Blue” with some snide remark like the “smurf turf” hurts my eyes, or you have an advantage with your all-blue uniform, simply fire back with some stats.
1. Boise State is 46-12 on green fields in the past 10 years with only five losses in the past five years. That record is the third-best away record in all of Division FBS schools.
2. The players see the field on a different plane while playing, otherwise it would be really tough for BSU to dominate every opposing team on the blue when his receivers are camouflaged.
3. Boise State beat Fresno State 51-0 at Bronco Stadium wearing orange uniforms. This was actually one of the most dominating performances in BSU history. Maybe they should wear a different colored uniform on “The Blue.”
Who has the better uniform going in to the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game?
Boise State
84.2%Georgia
15.8%Total votes: 158
Another argument they bring up is the weak schedule.
1. There is some validity in this argument but just point out that the Mountain West Conference is actually ranked higher then the Big East—a fellow BCS conference.
2. Also, point out that Boise State wins when they get to play BCS schools. In the Chris Petersen era, Boise has lost only one game against a BCS team including some wins over Oregon when they won the Pac-10 in 2009 and Virginia Tech when they won the ACC in 2010. But don’t worry, this argument will get easier after a win in Atlanta.
3. Third argument you could make is that in BCS rankings (which takes strength of schedule into account), Boise State has finished the season ranked:
in the BCS top five twice in the past five years
in the BCS top 10 five times in the past seven years
and in the BCS top 25 seven times in the past eight years.
Keep in mind, BSU has only been a Division 1-A school since 1996 and didn’t join the WAC until 2001.
From the Georgia fans, you will also get the argument of the last time Boise went to Georgia and we lost by a significant amount.
I guess the blue turf really does give them an advantage. 1. Other then the obvious argument that the two teams meeting in 2011 are vastly different than the teams that met in 2005, BSU was being coached by Dan Hawkins at that point, and he did not adequately prepare Boise State like Coach Petersen would have. That is evident when he went to Colorado and proceeded to tank the Buffaloes during his tenure there.
2. You will have to concede that Georgia was very good that year. They went on to win the SEC championship, and BSU was in a rebuilding year but still only lost four games. They should have won. This year is much different. This Boise State team is much better, and this Georgia team is much worse then the last time they met.
Some will want to bring up the Nevada game last year. Well, if its a Georgia fan, this is too easy.
1. Just comment on their big wins over Idaho State and Louisiana-Lafayette in their 6-7 run last year. However, don’t mention the fact that they lost to an unranked Mississippi State, Florida and Colorado as it may hurt some feelings. Also, try to contain the laughter if you have to mention Colorado. Meanwhile, BSU hasn’t had a losing season in 13 years.
2. You can mention that Nevada finished the season at No. 11 right behind No. 9 Boise State but far ahead of Georgia, and Nevada finished 13-1 that year. Plus BSU lost in overtime by three.
The Boise State NASCAR. Photo Courtesy of Brian Scott 3. Don’t mention the bowl loss to Central Florida either. I bet that one stings Georgia fans too.
The last insult I hear a lot is the fact that BSU is essentially a high school team because our stadium holds 33,500 fans, and they are right it does only hold about 34,000.
1. There is only one argument to this, and that is Boise has only been a Division 1-A school for the last 15 years. Georgia has been playing at a high level for over 100 years.
In that 100 years, Sanford Stadium is the best they can come up with? Hell, it’s not even good enough for the kickoff game let alone the best in the SEC. Give Boise State 100 years and see what kind of stadium they come up with.
In the next five years, BSU will increase its stadium from 33,500 to 53,000, and BSU will still maintain their home winning streak.
Some other interesting facts to use against Georgia. Did you know:
Boise State has the same amount of BCS bowl wins as Georgia.
Boise State has been ranked higher then Georgia in the BCS in four of the last five years?
Boise State has a NASCAR race car and Georgia doesn’t? That especially crushes Georgia fans. Oh, and it will race in Atlanta the same day BSU plays Georgia. Well played Broncos.
And last but not least, go ahead and mention the fact that the Georgia coach thought Kellen Moore had graduated, and that’s why they took the game but then tried to cover it up by saying he was joking. Joke or not, that sure is motivating for his players.
Hopefully, this helps you fight the good fight against the BCS powers or at least gives you some fire power against that crazed Georgia fan in your office.
Plus, at the very least, you can comment on Georgia’s hideous bright red Nike Pro Combat Uniform with the red stripe down the face mask.
Good luck Dawg fans and let the games begin.
Hairy Dawg
August 27th, 2011
8:27 pm
Listen to the little Gaytors. I got a friend who goning get rich from buying up all the http://www.firemuschwies.com web sites and selling them to Gaytors in about 2 weeks. Gaytors are back to Zooking it from hiring traitor Muschumps and flabby Wies. Urban nervous breakdowns is over and Teblows is 4th string out in Denver. That shows how you can’t get to NFL by playing for Gaytors.
Dawgs brought in Dream Team while Gaytors got stuck with left in waiting Muschumps. Wies has never done anything at college except be loser at ND. I cant wait till we put Gaytors in place at bottom of SEC East while we swagger this year. Go Fawgs!
Hairy Dawg
August 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Typo correction: Dawgs!
Thomas Brown
August 28th, 2011
12:00 am
kb August 27th, 2011 11:28 am
“Thomas , you put such effort but only focus on the negative aspects of Richts tenure. Just for example you mention the blow out losses to LSU but don’t mention the 3 blowout victories.over LSU, 2004 45-16 over Saban coached tigers, 2005 35-14 in SEC championship game, 2008 in Baton rouge 52-38.”
2004 LSU finished # 16 in the AP Poll. That is just a Top 25 team. One game. If you want to say something positive about Mark Richt other than my 2 points that (1) he is 3-9 vs teams finishing in the AP Poll Top 10 and (2) has 16 More Losses to teams who either did not finish in the AP Poll Top 10 (ten times) or would not have finished in the AP Poll Top 25 without the win over Mark Richt (another 6 times) in Mark Richt’s tenure, then put up Mark Richt’s record vs teams finishing in the AP Poll Top 25 all 10 years.
It is a LOSING RECORD. Your rebuttal is one game 2004 (8 years ago) he beat the # 16 LSU team. When in fact, Mark Richt has a LOSING RECORD to teams who finished that season he played them in the AP Poll Top 25.
17-24
17-24 is what Mark Richt is against teams who finished in the AP Poll Top 25.
2005, I already gave Mark Richt credit for that repeatedly above. He beat # 6 LSU in The SEC Championship Game 2005, I have repeatedly stated; and I said about it, that Mark Richt ended the season # 3 best in The SEC in the AP Poll. LSU ended up HIGHER RANKED than UGA, and rightfully so 2005; so too did Alabama finish AHEAD of Mark Richt 2005.
2008, LSU did not finish in the AP Poll Top 25 at all. You want to give credit to Mark Richt for beating an LSU team that did not finish in the AP Poll Top 25. Why, pray tell ? I just finished putting up the 10 teams who did not finish in the AP Poll Top 25 who did beat Mark Richt anyway, and another 6 who would not have finished in the AP Poll Top 25 had they not beat Mark Richt. Your reply, Mark Richt beat an unranked football team in 2008. If this is the best you can come up with for positives for Mark Richt, no wonder, I post what I do about Mark Richt’s 1st ten years here.
Frank T
August 28th, 2011
10:56 am
Georgia would be practicing in the GA Dome. I would love to see them grow a pari and play a game outside the south. GO BRONCOS!!
Thomas Brown
August 28th, 2011
11:13 am
“UGA hasn’t beaten a legitimate NC contender in how long?”
11-3 Choke-la-homa 2007 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat ?
11-3 Virginia Tech 2010 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat # 16 AP Poll ?
5-7 Oregon State 2010 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat ?
10-3 Oregon 2009 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat ?
10-3 Oregon 2008 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat ?
10-4 Oregon State 2006 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat # 21 AP Poll ?
7-5 Oregon State 2004 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat ?
5-6 Oregon State 2005 now is some great NC contender Boise State beat ?
Go ahead BSUWhiteHorse, tell me please which of these 8 wins in 31 games vs the 6 BCS Conferences, are really in your mind wins over some great NC contender ?
Jordan
August 28th, 2011
6:32 pm
Currently working on a three-part series breaking down the 2011 Georgia Bulldogs. Here’s my take on the offense: http://isportsweb.com/2011/08/28/2011-georgia-bulldogs-preview-offense-edition/
SatillaDawg
August 29th, 2011
2:35 pm
How ‘Bout Them Dawgs!
Can’t wait ’til Saturday!
Go you Hairy Dawgs!
First two games are Must Wins, Dawgs.
Don’t blow it.
Sic ‘em!
L.A. BULLDAWG
August 30th, 2011
12:40 am
BOISE ST. LOST TWO OF THEIR BEST PLAYMAKERS: AUSTIN PETTIS, AND TITUS YOUNG. UGA LOST ONLY ONE: A.J. GREEN. HUMMM, DO THE MATH! UGA JUST RELOADS! GO DAWGS!!!
Don
September 1st, 2011
12:19 pm
I keep reading on different boards where the smurfs keep bragging about beating Virginia Tech
which was according to them there toughest game last year. Correct me if I am wrong but didn’t they beat Virginia Tech by a whopping 3 points and didn’t Tech also the very next week get beat by that Power house James Madison by 5 points.LOL LOL LOL That says a Lott about that big Smurf win.