Bulldogs celebrate end of ‘camp’ with annual ‘Watermelon Day’

Georgia tight end Arthur Lynch (L) and Christian Conley pose for pictures during "Watermelon Day" Saturday at Sanford Stadium. (UGA photo by Evan Stichler)

Georgia tight end Arthur Lynch (L) and wideout Christian Conley pose for pictures during "Watermelon Day" Saturday at Sanford Stadium. (UGA photo by Evan Stichler)

ATHENS — Today was “Watermelon Day” for the Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. It’s a tradition that dates back to the Vince Dooley days and perhaps beyond in which the team celebrates the end of “camp” by sharing watermelon after the morning practice on the last day of two-a-days.

Of course, the significance of it has dwindled considerably  in recent years as Georgia — like all other FBS programs — is limited by NCAA rule to just two twice-a-day practice sessions. And the Bulldogs have completed only 12 of 28 preseason practices, so they’re far from actually completing anything. But with fall semester beginning on Monday, I guess it’s reason enough to celebrate with a melon-cutting.

Following is a link to a short video of the festivities on georgiadogs.com. You’ll note that coach Mark Richt is without his goatee and that receiver-turned-cornerback Malcolm Mitchell is in a green, non-contact jersey. We’ll try to get to the bottom of those important developments later.

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61 comments Add your comment

Big L

August 12th, 2012
1:56 pm

@Tide Roll, ur right , our lack of national titles is a sore point. But the fact that Wal Mart is not our state capitol makes up for a lot of that. You keep bein a Bammer and celebrating those titles in the frozen pizza section.

bucket

August 12th, 2012
2:33 pm

I love how these anonymous blogs has turned everyone into a internet tough guy! Since the UGA squad is full of a bunch of pansies, I’m sure the real Georgia fan, Game Changer, will feel it is his obligation to go over to the practice fields next week and tell Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree, John Jenkins, and all their brothers how soft they are!

bryan

August 12th, 2012
3:09 pm

Nice Wesley Snipes look by Conley.

Game Changer

August 12th, 2012
4:27 pm

J Jones – best outside pass rusher in college football, avg at everything else asked of a SEC linebacker. Very weak at tackling

J Jenkins — outstanding size and power, big heart and plays hard, 50lbs overweight, after two or three plays cannot contribute on the following plays ( lose 50 lbs and may be top defensive lineman pick

A Ogletree — best strong safety in college football 2012, just slightly better that average SEC linebacker due to size and power ( glad he is willing to help the UGA team out by playing LB )

bwkdawg

August 12th, 2012
4:44 pm

@ Game Changer

Why should J Jenkins worry about being a top defensive lineman if he’s going to be academically ineligible right……… Oh yea thats right he made the deans list, guess you don’t know what your talking about after all.

TDawg

August 12th, 2012
5:15 pm

Game Changer is easily the worst Georgia fan I have ever crossed paths with. What a bitter man.

For the good Dawgs getting close to time to spend a day in Athens watching our Dawgs. Hope all of our average per GC’s anal(yses) players are able to hold up.

Mike Franklin

August 12th, 2012
8:58 pm

The NCAA, along with the BCS and ESPN have ruined this game.

Peach State Pride

August 12th, 2012
9:51 pm

The melons came from Layton Farms in Franklin County, 30 mins north of Athens, and I know Kenneth Layton was happy to supply them. A great UGA tradition!

Go Dawgs

Buzz 2011

August 13th, 2012
6:03 am

Watermelon Day? Serving the ones at Clarke County Jail watermelon too?
Watermelon Day? Welcome to country High school, Thuga style!
” We gun this state”..

UGA Insider

August 13th, 2012
11:06 am

Defense- awesome
Offense- much better than 2011. Will surprise many.
Special Teams- Horrible. I would be willing to trade with anyone in the nation… yes, even Valdosta State.

ugalee

August 14th, 2012
1:21 pm

I was wondering what the picture would be when i read the title. You just know they had to include at least one White guy in the picture to avoid the outcry from the woe is me race card crowd