Bulldogs pass on chance to wear Nike Pro Combat uniforms again
NOTE: These are just my notes from Wednesday’s practice but I thought folks might want to comment on Georgia’s uniform situation. . . .
ATHENS – Georgia coach Mark Richt made a promise to his players before playing Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. If they made it back to the Georgia Dome as SEC Eastern Division champions, he told them then, they could wear their Nike Pro Combat uniforms in the SEC Championship game.
Thankfully, he said on Wednesday, the Bulldogs did not hold him to his promise.
“A couple of them actually said, ‘don’t do it, Coach,” Richt said with a grin.
As a result, “Georgia are red with silver britches,” Richt said following Georgia’s last full-contact workout on Wednesday. “No Pro Combats. Nobody even asked me.”
Georgia hasn’t performed well in recent years when it deviated from its traditional uniform of red helmets, red jerseys and silver pants. They lost to No. 5 Boise State 35-21 while wearing the all-red Pro Combat uniforms on Sept. 3; they lost 41-17 wearing black helmets against Florida in 2009; and they lost 41-30 wearing black jerseys against Alabama in 2008.
LSU is the home team in the SEC title game this year but chose to wear its traditional home white jerseys. That allowed Georgia to don its home red.
Richt did say one unnamed player asked about the possibility of wearing the black jerseys. But he quickly dismissed the notion.
“They think you can snap your finger and get a bunch of brand new jerseys,” Richt said. “That has to be planned out.”
But the Pro Combats remain at the ready.
“They thought were cool,” Richt said of the tight-fitting, mostly-red-and-some-silver ensemble. “I thought that’d be a nice incentive. As it turned out it wasn’t much of an incentive.”
‘As the Tailbacks Turn’
Either Richt is just tired of discussing the subject or there has been a new development in the weekly saga that is Georgia’s tailback rotation. Whatever the case, the previously jovial Richt turned positively dour when he was asked to update the situation Wednesday.
“I don’t want to talk about tailbacks,” Richt said. “I really don’t. Let’s just talk about something else. I was really in a good mood and then you had to ask that. . . . No more tailback questions until after the game.”
Twice-suspended, often-injured starter Isaiah Crowell is trying to make it back from a sprained left ankle the sidelined him for the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs also have held out hope that backup Richard Samuel could come back this week from Nov. 1 ankle surgery. Two other tailbacks have been subjected to suspensions and four different tailbacks have started this season.
“I don’t blame you for asking really but I don’t have any good answers,” Richt said, “so I’m just not going to answer it.”
Still hope for Tyson
DeAngelo Tyson (ankle) did not practice on Tuesday but Richt said the Bulldogs’ starting defensive end has “got a chance” to play on Saturday.
“Tomorrow we’ll see how much he’s progressed,” Richt said. “There’s a possibility he’ll get practice reps tomorrow, depending on how he starts out and warms up and that kind of thing.”
‘Honey Badger’ speaks
Most of the interview opportunities for LSU players had expired before word of Georgia’s defensive confidence had fully infiltrated the Tigers’ camp. But cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, better known as “Honey Badger,” did talk to the Gannett News Service about it.
Of the assertion by Georgia’s Jarvis Jones that the Bulldogs’ defense was as good if not better than LSU’s, Mathieu said: “He may have a point. I know those guys are going to go out there and play hard, and I’m sure he’s going to play extra hard.”
Known himself as a bit of a bulletin-board tweeter, Mathieu was asked why he did not respond to Jones via Twitter. “It was extremely tough not to,” he said. “But I’ve got to keep my team first.”
Few injuries for LSU
LSU starting free safety Eric Reid (thigh) and backup tailback Alfred Blue (ankle) are expected to be ready after missing the Arkansas game. Starting defensive tackle Michael Brockers (knee) is also expected to play. He played hurt last week.
Practice update
Georgia practiced for two hours in full pads Wednesday on another extremely cold day.
“The colder it is the faster they practice,” Richt said with a laugh. “There is more incentive to stay warm, so they move around quicker. Even when it’s time for a break they’re like, ‘let’s skip the break and go on to the next period.’”
The Bulldogs’ practice ended with temperatures in the low 40s. It was a relatively balmy 60 in Baton Rouge on Wednesday with Thursday expecting to reach 66. Of course, Saturday’s game will be played in 70-degree temperatures inside the Georgia Dome.
Richt said practicing in such cold conditions “could be” an issue for the Bulldogs.
“It will be warm in there,” he said of the Dome. “It was warm last time we were in there and it’ll be humid. I have seen guys cramp up in the Dome before because it does get warm. I can’t imagine it not heating up with all the fans in there.”
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562 comments Add your comment
RxDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:09 am
@ Tailbacks “I don’t blame you for asking really but I don’t have any good answers,” Richt said, “so I’m just not going to answer it.”
Awe crap… this is the key to the game. If the Dawgs can establish a running game, we can beat LSU. But if we get stuck running 160 pound Thomas/Harton combo were dead in the water and LSU will crush a one demensional passing attack. My exciment just got dampered a little.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:09 am
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/30/jarrett-lee-others-may-be-ineligible-for-lsus-postseason/
schmeckdawg
December 1st, 2011
11:10 am
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
10:40 am
Roger that Schmeck. Hated those uni’s. A silver helmet? Forget that crap. After the gloves, the rest of that uniform sucked. They were boring too.
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AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe Bob Thibodaux
December 1st, 2011
11:10 am
ARdawg
http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/1458493-123/alleva-no-lsu-players-ineligible.html
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:13 am
See link, AD is saying it’s all unfounded and the semester isn’t even over yet. That may be true, but I know some schools try to finish semesters early for football when December rolls around so they can focus on practice.
Spike 80DF
December 1st, 2011
11:13 am
hmmm…sounds like this WILL be a blackout because Nike CAN snap it’s finger and have new jersey’s with a days notice. that’s the same thing Richt said back in 2007, that there was not enough time to get black jersey’s. personally, i think the whole thing is a joke, wear your red hats and red jerseys and silver britches and quit with all the uniform junk….
RxDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:14 am
As far as the uni’s, the only different thing I’d embrace would be the black jersey’s. Just don’t make a big todo out of it.
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
11:15 am
“The current semester is not complete and finals are still ahead…”
You have to infer from that qualification that someone is in jeopardy? I kind of do.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
December 1st, 2011
11:19 am
RxDawg
This is the biggest game in the SEC all season. The winner gets a SEC championship ring.
It is appropriate that both teams will wear their home field uniforms.
I hate it when Nike puts those white “Penn State” helmets on the LSU uniform. It just isn’t traditional, and this game Saturday is all about tradition.
JBT
ARdawg
December 1st, 2011
11:20 am
Kind’a sounds like someone tossing a red herring don’t it? LSU is a run oriented offense that hasn’t relied on Lee much this year anyway. Jefferson is a bull but, not much threat to control the game. It’s those brusing TBs LSU has that will likely carry the load
Disoriented Dawg
December 1st, 2011
11:21 am
Pretty good argument that Bama shouldn’t have a shot at the NC game because they already lost to LSU. Only thing is that the same argument says that we shouldn’t get to play for the SEC Championship since we lost to South Carolina.
Whatever… The rules are different for the Dawgs. We’re Special!
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:21 am
I agree Kelly. Some guys though, and every AD in the country knows it, can’t qualify even aceing the finals. Fact is, that’s true even for a lot of non athletes in school.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:25 am
Disoriented Dawg
December 1st, 2011
11:21 am
Pretty good argument that Bama shouldn’t have a shot at the NC game because they already lost to LSU. Only thing is that the same argument says that we shouldn’t get to play for the SEC Championship since we lost to South Carolina.
Whatever… The rules are different for the Dawgs. We’re Special!
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Did you listen to yourself say this before you posted it? Did it make sense to you? Winning a division and winning a conference despite losing to another team isn’t even comparable to being GIVEN a shot at a title game agains the team you lost to earlier in the year. Holy crap, I have heard it all now.
gt4ever
December 1st, 2011
11:26 am
DawginLex,
I agree, the BCs is just that CRAP…. I like Coach Richt personally, and I picked him to go undefeated after the first two defeats.. I would say you have a outside chance to beat LSU, although I think that LSU and Alabama are the two best teams in college football… They probably deserve to play each other again…. We shall see…
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
11:27 am
Tampa: True. It probably won’t matter much either way.
AR: I think you’re probably right. LSU can run its offense successfully with either guy (and probably the guy behind them) at QB. They’re a run first team w/ four great backs and at least one receiver who can get past the DB’s regularly.
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
11:27 am
Tampa – I’m over in Lakeland.
DIT
December 1st, 2011
11:33 am
@TampaDawg
Dude, I’m glad you saw that as well. You beat me to the post. I don’t believe he even thought about what he/she typed before hitting the submit icon.
Talk about being “Disoriented”
Steve O.
December 1st, 2011
11:34 am
Enter your comments here
Steve O.
December 1st, 2011
11:34 am
Thank God!!
bruce mac
December 1st, 2011
11:37 am
Wow, according to LSU fans this team would wipe the field if they played the Green Bay Packers. If you are so confident bet the house on it, you only have to give us 15 points and that is nothing for the mighty Tigers. I suspect LSU beats the Dawgs, but you all must have major doubts about it or why else would you spend so much time on the UGA blog trying to convince yourselves. Wow.
schmeckdawg
December 1st, 2011
11:38 am
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
10:24 am
I know schmeckdawg. I had forgotten about it. Living in Florida we get in tune with the Hurricane season. I asked the question of when was it played in the Georgia Dome forgetting about it being moved in 2005. But now the master of the 3 page useless stat post keeps bringing it up like it’s the smoking gun he was looking for.
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That’s pretty damn funny TampaDawg!!!!!!!!1
dawgfarts
December 1st, 2011
11:41 am
UGA is toast .. go ahead and apply the butter
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:46 am
Well how’s it going then neighbor Kelly? What part of Lakeland? I go to church out that way at the Lakeland Center.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:47 am
thanks Schmeck .. and DIT .. One day, wittle Thomas Brown will maybe understand there is a reason CMR is coaching while TB is blogging. Or maybe not. He doesn’t seem that smart. If CMR were let go after the season ended, he would have a job before the month was over.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:48 am
Bruce, you could not possibly have worded that post any better. Great job.
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
11:50 am
I’m up in North Lakeland near Old Polk City Rd.
Reality Check
December 1st, 2011
11:50 am
I listened to 870 out of New Orleans that carry’s the LSU games and everyone kept talking about Alabama and the NC game for what it is worth. Unfortunately, even as a Dawg fan I think LSU can beat UGA at 75% mental focus.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
11:51 am
Cool stuff Kelly. Great to hear more passionate Dawg fans this far down in Florida. It get’s lonely down here sometimes. I actually live just over the Tampa city lines in Wesley Chapel.
ARdawg
December 1st, 2011
11:54 am
Kelly, Tampa
Sounds like you guys are the nucleus of the South FL Bulldog club
DIT
December 1st, 2011
11:55 am
I’m in Lutz
Alphare
December 1st, 2011
11:56 am
seriously, if you are not superstitious, why a uniform even matters.
showing a different color once in a while is fun.
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
11:56 am
One of my clients is in Wesley Chapel. Yeah…a lot of orange and blue round these parts for sure.
DIT
December 1st, 2011
11:56 am
TampaDawg – I was in New Tampa for about 5 years before moving over to Lutz!
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
11:57 am
Well, DIT, we’re all right in the same area.
Alphare: It’s not superstition on my part. I want to avoid nausea watching the game.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
12:01 pm
We should look into a get together. DIT, Lutz is a nice area for sure. I feel like I am there all the time. The three of us at a “future” bowl game?????
DIT
December 1st, 2011
12:01 pm
Kelly I agree, Those were just ugly uni’s. I would not mind bringing out the black jersey’s. As another poster said, just don’t make a big deal out of it.
For Munson though, keep the “Silver Britches”
TampaDawg & Kelly – It’s small world!
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
12:01 pm
About the unis…when they first revealed those UGA power ranger things here at the AJC, I thought some Tech fan had hacked their box and was playing a joke. Of course, then I saw the Maryland atrocity and those shamrock helmets and concluded that whomever designed those uniforms was not a football fan.
GAFansRDelusional
December 1st, 2011
12:02 pm
It doesn’t matter what GA wears to the game. They’re dressing for their funerals.
Upset!
December 1st, 2011
12:02 pm
Ga will upset LSU—take it to the bank! Ga’s angry D will shut down lsu’s overrated offense. Murray and Crowell will light it up big!! Ga 30 lsu 19
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
12:03 pm
Tampa…I’ve got some savings just in case a trip to Raymond James or the Citrus Bowl is in order. I’d like to take my dad for a Christmas gift. Of course, I’d prefer to watch the Sugar from home, but contingency plans being what they are, I’d settle for either central Florida bowl.
ARdawg
December 1st, 2011
12:03 pm
Those uni’s would be great if they are filming a rap video but, for playing football, not so much
DIT
December 1st, 2011
12:04 pm
Could be a possibility TampaDawg. You mentioned the church you go to in Laeland. In Lutz I attend Idlewild.
I already told my son if the Dawgs play in their bowl in Tampa I will take him. Of course my 2 daughters say what about us… I just told them no gator stuff if they go.
Though I graduated from UGA, my wife graduated from UF. So we have a divided house.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
12:04 pm
Amen to that! Could not agree more Kelly. You in DIT???
Kelly
December 1st, 2011
12:04 pm
(I haven’t been to a UGA game since they played Purdue in Orlando…not even Jax and I have relatives there and in St. Augustine)
DIT
December 1st, 2011
12:05 pm
I’m in!
gt4ever
December 1st, 2011
12:05 pm
Upset is possible, but it will be the FIRST real football team you play since your first two games….. Anything can happen, that’s why you play the game….
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
12:06 pm
Hmmm DIT, sounds like a balancing act there. I was just at Idlewild for the Casting Crowns concert (great show). I have never been to the Citrus Bowl so that would be cool but I am pulling for Sugar first, and then Outback.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
12:07 pm
yeah, I got family in Jax Kelly. I used to live there back in the Herschel days. I was a kid and we were hardly in the financial situation to get to the game though.
TampaDawg
December 1st, 2011
12:07 pm
GAFansRDelusional = GTFansRPresent
StackedDeck
December 1st, 2011
12:08 pm
HunkerDown you ‘Silver Britches’ and play some ‘junkyard Bull Dawg Football!!! GO DAWGS!!!!
UGA / 74′