Archive for the ‘Notes’ Category

Georgia enters SEC Tournament a desperate team once again. After dropping two of three games to last-place Alabama in the final regular-season series this past weekend, the Bulldogs are assured of nothing beyond this week’s double-elimination tournament in Hoover.

But that’s kind of the way it has been all season for the eighth-seeded Diamond Dogs, who open play late tonight against fifth-seeded Vanderbilt. They faced adversity even before the first pitch of the season. So needing to win a couple of games in the conference tournament is hardly a daunting task.

“We’re on edge a little bit,” said pitcher Alex Wood, who will get the start against the Commodores. “We feel like we need to win two or three to be safe. But we’re used to having our backs against the wall. We’re ready to get started and excited about playing Vanderbilt.”

Because it dropped two of three to Alabama — including an excruciating 6-4 loss in Game 3 — Georgia (31-24, 14-15 SEC) finished a game below .500 in …

Continue reading It’s ‘Desperation Dogs’ again as Georgia faces Vandy in SEC tournament »

ATHENS — The NCAA Men’s Golf Regional at the UGA Golf Course is underway today and the Bulldogs are feeling good about advancing to the NCAA Championships.

And why shouldn’t they? There has been a lot of good karma oozing out of the Bulldogs’ clubhouse  at the Boyd Golf Center here lately.

University of Georgia golfers or alums have been winning tournaments all over the place for the past year or so, including those played right there off their back porch. Two weeks ago Hudson Swafford holed a bunker shot on the 72nd hole and shot a final-round 62 to win the Stadion Classic Nationwide Tournament at UGA. That came exactly a year after Swafford’s teammate Russell Henley won the same event as a UGA senior. Georgia alums Bubba Watson, Harris English, Chris Kirk, Erik Compton and Brendan Todd all have won tournaments in the last year.

So with the Bulldogs playing a regional on their home turf, there has to be some good vibes flowing. Right?

“There are a lot of good things going on, …

Continue reading UGA golfers hopes to ride wave of good karma through NCAA regionals »

ATHENS – There are some nervous coaches around Georgia’s athletic department these days. That tends to happen when the coach of perennial top 10 program abruptly resigns the week after finishing 11th.

Georgia gymnastics coach Jay Clark offered his resignation shortly after meeting with UGA athletic director Greg McGarity on May 4 and it served as an overture to his staff. Clark had two years remaining on a five-year contract he signed when he succeeded ultra-successful head coach Suzanne Yoculan in 2009.

The Gym Dogs weren’t awful under Clark, not by a long stretch. But they fell well short of the standards set by Yoculan’s teams, which won 10 national championships, including their last five in a row.

“We’re expected to win championships and we wanted to,” Clark said. “We just didn’t get it done.”

It didn’t matter that Clark was part of that run as an assistant coach for Yoculan or that of two of his gymnasts were crowned individual national champions. Three consecutive …

Continue reading Florida influence apparent in management style of UGA’s Greg McGarity »

ATHENS — For a little while there, the horrifying thought of not being able to play in the NCAA Championships while hosting them entered the minds of the Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday. But just as quickly, the No. 3-ranked and No. 2-seeded Bulldogs put that notion to rest and steamrolled Florida State in singles to advance to this week’s Round of 16.

Georgia (25-2) lost the doubles point in its second-round match against Florida State on Sunday afternoon. But in the matter of an hour it was clear the Bulldogs weren’t in mid-stumble toward a face plant. The Bulldogs quickly regained their balance and clinched victory with Wil Spencer’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles.

“When you lose your doubles it kind of gets your attention,” Georgia coach Manuel Diaz said. “When that happens you either raise your level or you just kind of get a little tense and play a little scared. We didn’t do that today. We played very assertively and confidently. We showed can handle a little adversity …

Continue reading No. 2 seed Georgia ready again to rock NCAA tennis championships »

Following is the (uncut) news story I filed for the newspaper on the resignation of gymnastics coach Jay Clark. You should note the comments from Gym Dogs coaching legend Suzanne Yoculan, who said “anything could happen” when asked if she’d consider coming back from retirement. You should also note that McGarity said “I don’t think so” when asked if they’d consider her a candidate. Below the story is the actual news release cirulated by UGA at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and then the comments I got from Clark and McGarity. . . .

ATHENS – Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity has often said that he judges the Bulldogs’ coaches on SEC championships and NCAA postseason performances. Georgia gymnastics coach Jay Clark on Friday felt the wrath of that philosophy as he resigned just three years after succeeding legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan.

Clark met with Athletic Director Greg McGarity Friday afternoon and tendered his resignation in person at some point during that meeting. Clark, …

Continue reading UPDATED: UGA gymnastics coach Jay Clark resigns after third year »

ATHENS – I just returned a short time ago from the UGA Chapel where Dr. Michael Adams’ announced he was retiring as the University of Georgia’s president after 15 years. It was a very brief and matter-of-fact affair where Adams essentially read from a prepared statement that he had handed out to reporters beforehand, greeted well wishers at the end and took questions for about five minutes.

One of the first calls I made afterward was to former Georgia football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley. Clearly Coach Dooley was expecting some calls as he spoke as though he might be reading from a prepared statement. Not surprisingly, he rebuffed repeated attempts to get him to engage in the his controversial relationship with Adams, who refused to extend his contract in 2003 and essentially forced Dooley into retirement.

Here’s what Dooley said/read:

“First of all, I commend President Adams on his retirement, his service and his contributions to the University of Georgia. I do …

Continue reading Vince Dooley: ‘I look forward to Bulldog Nation uniting under new leadership’ »

UGA's athletic facilities saw dramatic improvement during the tenure of Dr. Michael Adams, seen here at the dedication of the expanded football complex in February of 2011. (AJC photo by Curtis Comption)

ATHENS – One of the most successful — and tumultuous — periods in the University of Georgia’s long history will come to an end when Dr. Michael A. Adams officially retires as the school’s president 13 months from now. Adams will make that decision public on Thursday, The AJC has learned.

The question I want to pose is, what will Adams’ legacy be with regard to Georgia’s athletics?

Certainly, Georgia’s athletic teams continued to fare well and maybe even improved during his tenure. He took over for Charles Knapp in 1997, which was coach Jim Donnan’s second year as the Bulldogs’ football coach.

It was only a short time later that UGA supporters witnessed Adams’ willingness to weigh in on athletic matters. After Georgia lost to Georgia Tech for the third year in a row in Athens …

Continue reading What will Michael Adams’ legacy be in regard to UGA athletics? »

Georgia sophomore Brian Carter will be playing in the first professional tournament of his career on a sponsor exemption in teh Stadion Classic at UGA. (UGA photo by Evey Wilson)

ATHENS – Georgia’s Brian Carter is playing in his first professional golf tournament on Thursday. He’s worried, but it’s not what you’d think.

Weighing most heavily on Carter’s mind on the eve of the Stadion Classic at UGA golf tournament – a Nationwide Tour event — was how he was going to do in three final exams. While the professionals were practicing on the UGA Golf Course and playing in Wednesday’s pro-am, Carter was going to be in the middle of a comprehensive final in consumer economics.

“I’m probably more nervous about that than I am the golf,” said Carter, a sophomore from Augusta.

Carter had nothing on teammate Nicholas Reach. The freshman from Moscow, Pa., had finals Wednesday in calculus and economics. He, too, is going to be teeing off with the pros on Thursday.

“I’ve been grinding on …

Continue reading Georgia golfers get a hands-on education in Stadion Classic at UGA »

Brandon Boykin's kick-returning skills — the is one of three 100-yard returns he had — figure to benefit him greatly with the Philadephia Eagles. (AP photo)

Saturday represented “redemption day” in the NFL draft for a few Georgia Bulldogs.

Brandon Boykin and Orson Charles both projected as higher draft picks than when they were finally chosen in the fourth round. Charles, a tight end from Tampa who had a year of eligibility remaining, had to wait until the Cincinnati Benglas took him with the 116th pick overall early Saturday afternoon. Boykin, a defensive back and kick returner out of Fayetteville, went seven picks later to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Both were all-conference selections and highly-productive football players at Georgia, only to see their NFL stock devalued before the draft.

Charles had already been hurt by poor workouts when he was arrested for DUI in Athens on March 9. Boykin suffered a broken leg in the midst of an impressive performance in the Senior Bowl …

Continue reading Saturday a day of redemption for as six more Bulldogs go in NFL draft »

The best thing about spring for Georgia coach Mark Richt, here jogging off the field after the G-Day Game, is the Bulldogs escaped without a single serious injury. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)

ATHENS – Georgia wrapped up its spring practice with a surprisingly exciting G-Day Game on April 14, won by the offense-oriented Red team 32-31 over the Black.

But, truthfully, there is really not much anyone can take out of a spring scrimmage. Did the offense look good or was the defense bad, etc.? Georgia coach Mark Richt probably put it all in perspective the best when he talked this week about the Bulldogs’ spring accomplishments.

“The most exciting thing for me might have been the fact that no one had an injury that would last more than a week or two after spring ball,” Richt said. “Right now the entire team should be healthy beginning in June to go through the entire off-season program. So if we don’t have any setbacks this summer, when we roll into camp it might be the first …

Continue reading UGA football: Some questions answered, others linger for Bulldogs »

We now know who was Georgia’s “Plan B” to Tony Parker.

Houston Kessler, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward out of Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, signed with the Bulldogs on Tuesday night and faxed in his signed letter-of-intent Wednesday morning, his coach confirmed.

“They have been watching him since his sophomore year,” Landmark Christian coach Chip McAllister said via email. “They have always really liked him. He had a huge year this year and as the season wore on things just fell into place.”

Kessler is a UGA legacy, the son of former Georgia basketball player Chad Kessler and the nephew of the late Alec Kessler, who starred for the Bulldogs’ 1990 SEC championship team. Kessler averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds as a senior at the Class A private school and finished as Landmark’s career scoring leader at 1,600 points. The War Eagles have gone 39-16 over the past two seasons, including a 20-8 mark in 2012 that was capped by a Round of 16 showing in the Class A state …

Continue reading Georgia lands legacy Houston Kessler as final signee of 2012 hoops class »

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel expects a raucous atmosphere for the school's first SEC game against Georgia on Sept. 8.

Georgia fans have often asked me what awaits the Bulldogs when they visit Missouri on September 8th. Well, I’ve never been to Columbia, Mo., either. But I know the Tigers and their fans will be especially fired up for their first SEC game in history.

Here’s what Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel thinks:

“It will be mammoth here. Our fans are so excited about being a part of the SEC. That being the first game is going to make it a big, big, game here. People are talking about it already; rarely do they ever do that. They understand we’re playing a great Georgia team. We understand that. When we switched leagues, that enthusiasm really for that game and from our fanbase in general has been remarkably positive for us.”

Pinkel was taking part in his first SEC teleconference call on Tuesday. Thirteen of the 14 coaches — Arkansas’ new guy, John L. Smith, wasn’t due to be …

Continue reading Missouri’s Gary Pinkel expects ‘mammoth’ atmosphere for Georgia game »

Georgia's Ken Malcome has embraced his role on the team as a power runner who 'can carry the load.' (UGA photo by Rob Saye)

ATHENS – This past summer, Ken Malcome said he hoped Georgia fans would call him by his hometown nickname of “Boo.” Less than a year later, Malcome has put the kibosh on that.

“I actually kind of stopped that,” Malcome said this past week. “Next year if I have a good year, I’ll let people call me that. I figured I haven’t done anything so I don’t deserve to be called Boo yet. I’ve told everybody just to call me Ken for now.”

Silly as it may seem, such a proclamation is just another sign of the tremendous growth in maturity the Bulldogs are observing in Malcome. The soon-to-be redshirt sophomore from Decatur started at tailback for the No. 1 offense in the G-Day Game this past Saturday. Not even six months before that, Malcome sat in coach Mark Richt’s office informing him of his intention to transfer due to a lack of playing time and general …

Continue reading Tailback Ken Malcome is on track for success with Bulldogs »

Russell Henley hoist the winner's trophy after winning last years Stadion Classic at UGA Nationwide Tournament while still an amatuer. (Photo by Robert Matre reprinted with permission)

ATHENS – It’s good to be a “Dawg” these days. At least that’s what former members of the UGA golf team are saying.

Three of them were back on campus on Monday as part of media day for the Stadion Classic at UGA. The annual Nationwide Tour event on the UGA Golf Course is set to tee off May 3-6. Defending champion Russell Henley – who won last year’s tournament while still a senior at Georgia – Hudson Swafford and Richard Scott are now Nationwide regulars and are back to play again. Scott, who played on the Bulldogs’ 2005 national championship team, is also a Nationwide player and accepted a sponsor’s exemption from the Stadion on Monday.

They represent a small part of what has been a really big year in pro golf for the Bulldogs. You may recall that 2000-2001 UGA letterman Bubba Watson recently …

Continue reading Bubba Watson not only Bulldog burning it up in pro golf »

Sophomore tailback Isaiah Crowell showed good form for the Red team during Saturday's G-Day Game at Sanford Stadium. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)

G-DAY GAME REPORT
By CHIP TOWERS & TIM TUCKER

Reuben Faloughi slapped the ball loose from quarterback Parker Welch and outside linebacker Ricky Lowe snatched it out of the air in mid-stride and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown.

“Ricky Lowe making a play,” Georgia coach Mark Richt marveled afterward. “That was awesome!”

Executed with just 1:40 left in the fourth quarter, that proved to be the game-winning play as Lowe’s Red team held on to defeat the Black 32-31 before 44,117. Made by one former and one current walkon, it was AJC Play of the Day for G-Day.

“That was more contact on the quarterback than we’ve had all spring,” Richt said with a laugh. “ . . . But the ball got hit, pops up and Ricky made a play and takes it to the house.”

That play represented one half of a surprisingly exciting ending to an otherwise dull …

Continue reading Backups come up with play of game as Red edges Black 32-21 in G-Day Game »

Athens – Georgia on Friday released its annual list of spring football practice awards.

Highlighting the list was most valuable player awards for quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Hutson Mason on offense and outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and noseguard John Jenkins on defense. Also, for the second year in a row, offensive lineman Kolton Houston came away with the coveted “Coffee County Hustle Award.” He shared it this year with defensive end Garrison Smith and walkon wideout Michael Erdman.

Here’s the full list:

• MVP (offense) – Aaron Murray, QB, Tampa, Fla.; Hutson Mason, QB, Marietta, Ga.
• True Grit Award (offense) – Arthur Lynch, TE, Dartmouth, Mass.
• Coffee County Hustle Award (offense) – Kolton Houston, OG, Buford, Ga.; Michael Erdman, SE, Merritt Island, Fla.
• Most Improved Player (offense) – Ken Malcome, TB, Decatur, Ga.
• Outstanding Walk-On (offense) – Merritt Hall, FB, Alpharetta, Ga.
• MVP (defense) – Jarvis Jones, OLB, Columbus, Ga.; John Jenkins, NG, Meriden, Conn.
• True …

Continue reading Georgia’s Murray, Jones, Jenkins garner MVP awards for spring practice »

ATHENS – Georgia finally released its rosters for the G-Day Game late Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Basically the Black Team is the defensive team and the Red Team is the offensive team. The No. 1 units for those respective sides of the ball are represented and they’re stacked even deeper at certain positions. Accordingly, expect the Black, with two All-Americans and 10 returning starters, to be favored to win.
• Quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Hutson Mason are both on the Red team, as well as tailbacks Isaiah Crowell and Ken Malcome and every standout wide receiver. The starting offensive line, as cited by position coach Will Friend earlier this week, is wearing red — LT Kenarious Gates, LG Dallas Lee, C David Andrews, RG Chris Burnette, RT Kolton Houston.
• The Black team features the entire starting defense and includes newly minted cornerback Malcolm Mitchell. However, Mitchell is expected to have to sit out due to a recent hamstring pull.
• Noseguard Kwame Geathers …

Continue reading Defensive-minded Black Team favored over Red as G-Day rosters revealed »

ATHENS – In his head, Marc Deas had moved on. All that was left was for him was  to decide betweenUCF or Georgia Southern.

But then the sophomore defensive back from Kissimmee, Fla., went to a cookout this past weekend and everything changed.

“I was away from the team for about a week and I went to a cookout and I was really enjoying the time with my teammates and stuff,” said Deas, who had informed coach Mark Richt on March 31 he wanted to transfer. “They were talking about the scrimmage and how everything was going. I really enjoyed my time with them and there was a bunch of laughs and smiles and that’s when I realized this is where I need to be.”

On Monday, Deas met with Richt and asked if he could return to the team. Richt reinstated Deas and the the 6-foot-1, 197-pound strong safety returned to practice for the first time in 11 days on Tuesday.

“He told me a couple of stories about how he can relate from him at Miami and his brother and the Air Force,” Deas said of Richt. …

Continue reading Marc Deas: ‘It was blessing I was able to come back’ »

Georgia head strength coach Joe Tereshinski (center) introduces assistants Sherman Armstrong (L) and John Thomas.

ATHENS — Three weeks after hiring two major additions to his staff, Georgia strength and conditioning director Joe Tereshinski sat down before reporters on Tuesday to explain his motives and detail his plans.

Tereshinski, 58, took over the Bulldogs’ strength program in January of 2011 after serving as an assistant strength coach and video coordinator for the previous 29 years. After losing three of his assistants since the end of the 2011 season — a fourth will be departing for another job soon — Tereshinski brought in John Thomas from Penn State as senior associate director and Sherman Armstrong from Tampa as an assistant and speed specialist.

“The University of Georgia was very fortunate to get John Thomas to come down from Penn State, where he was the head strength coach for the last 20 years,” Tereshinski said. “I feel like I pulled off the biggest coup ever …

Continue reading Joe T: Georgia strength program ‘better off’ with hires of Thomas, Armstrong »

THE TEN AT 10:

1. Georgia is about to have another change within its strength and conditioning program. Rex Bradberry, who has served in one capacity or another in that department since 2002, is leaving UGA after accepting a position as a strength and conditioning specialist for the U.S. Army. Bradberry, 29, will be training Special Forces troops at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Bradberry

“I can’t go into much detail other than I will be handling all their physical training,” said Bradberry, who has already signed a contract but is awaiting security clearance. “I’ll be preparing those teams for battle and hopefully will prevent them from injury and help them save their lives. I’ll also be working with the ‘Wounded Warrior’ project. I’m doing a rehabilitation program for them to help bring them back to a more functioning way of life.”

Bradberry will be a civilian contractor and is not enlisting. He actually signed the contract two weeks ago but was told his security clearance …

Continue reading Ten@10: More changes ahead for UGA’s strength & conditioning, recruiting »

ATHENS – Georgia fans have lost one of their best reasons to come to the G-Day Game next Saturday.

Keith Marshall, the highly-touted tailback out of Raleigh, has been effectively scratched from the lineup due to a hamstring injury suffered a week ago. The 5-foot-11, 202-pound midyear enrollee was unable to practice again Saturday as the Bulldogs conducted their second scrimmage of spring practice. Coach Mark Richt said the window is almost shut on him being able to play in the annual spring game.

“I would say the chance of Keith going is probably not very good,” Richt said. “Right at this minute I’d say he’s doubtful.”

That’s a shame because all spring reports on Marshall had been very positive.

“You can tell why he was the No. 1 running back in the country,” senior receiver Tavarres King said. “That kid is impressive.”

Said running backs coach Bryan McClendon: “Just a super guy, just very conscientious. He’s smart. He’s a sharp kid who wants to to do well at everything. …

Continue reading Practice update: Keith Marshall, Richard Samuel, Shawn Williams likely out for G-Day »

Here’s a little video chat I did earlier today with Noah Coslov of Cinesport about Georgia’s spring football practices. He asks me about how the Bulldogs are handling suspensions and attrition, how much excitement there is about the Missouri game and whether Mark Richt is feeling any pressure this year. . . .

Continue reading Video: Can Bulldogs overcome attrition and is there excitement about Missouri? »

ATHENS – Georgia is in the midst of a major rebuilding effort on the offensive line with only two returning starters. But there is at least one relative newbie who is showing a lot of promise.

Kolton Houston, a sophomore from Buford, had to sit out this past season because of an “NCAA eligibility issue.” That issue is expected to be resolved before next fall and there are strong indications the 6-foot-5, 291-pounder will be among Georgia’s starting five for the season opener.

“We’re expecting Kolton to be a good player for us this year,” offensive line coach Will Friend said. “He’s a good athlete, he’s got good strength, he can run well. He’s probably the best athlete of the guards that we’ve got, to be honest with you. If he can continue to get tougher and continue to improve, he’s going to be a good player for us.”

Interview requests for Houston continue to be denied. But his teammates on the line don’t mind talking him up.

“Kolton Houston, I’ve always been high on him,” …

Continue reading OG Kolton Houston drawing praise of coaches, players »

The return of John Jenkins at noseguard gives Georgia's defense reason for hope. (UGA photo by Jim Hipple)

ATHENS – We know that Georgia will be missing a lot of pieces from its defense in the early going this coming season. But the Bulldogs won’t be missing some primary parts in the middle and that’s a big thing.

Pun intended.

Big John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers are back to man the middle from the noseguard position this fall. Not only are they present and accounted for this spring — by all accounts, they’ve managed to avoid the suspension bug that has been going around – but they’ve been playing at a high level.

“John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers are really, really coming on,” Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. “I’ve got to stay onto them about fundamentals and about steps, pad level, hand placement and just little things. . . . We may not be quite there, but I’ve been very, very, pleased with both kids.”

It can’t be overstated how important it is to have a …

Continue reading D-line provides hope, stability for Georgia’s defense »

ATHENS – Georgia held its first formal scrimmage of the spring Saturday at Sanford Stadium. And while the defense dominated as it has been throughout, there were some positive signs for the offense.

Namely, Jay Rome.

The redshirt freshman tight end from Valdosta got loose for two touchdowns, including a leaping grab in the corner of the end zone that had coaches and players buzzing long after the two-hour scrimmage concluded.

“It was pretty acrobatic,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “He had to kind of turn his body and reach back and snag it. He landed off his feet and the ball didn’t come out.”

Rome’s other touchdown came on a 30-yard pass from Hutson Mason down the middle of the field, a la Orson Charles.

“I ran a little seam route up the middle,” Rome recounted. “I don’t know if it was a broken coverage or what but I looked up and there was nobody in the middle and I just reached up and caught the ball and jogged in. There was nobody around.”

But it was the short touchdown …

Continue reading TE Jay Rome stands out in Bulldogs’ first scrimmage of spring »

ATHENS — Defensive lineman Derrick Lott has become the latest roster casualty for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Lott, a 6-foot4, 303-pound junior from Kennesaw, decided to transfer “in order to obtain more playing time,” according to an announcement Friday night by head coach Mark Richt. No word on where Lott is headed but, if it is on the FBS level (formerly Division 1) he will have to sit out a year.

Lott

“Derrick and I met and he believes he will have opportunities for more playing time elsewhere,” Richt said in a statement. “We support him and will assist in any way possible during this process.”

Lott could not be reached for comment. He was probably attending a show.

Lott played in just five career games. He concludes his UGA career with 10 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

Defensive line coach Rodney Garner spoke glowingly of Lott’s progress and abilities earlier this week. Though a career backup, Lott had tripped over some bad fortune — he ripped open his leg in a …

Continue reading DL Derrick Lott becomes latest roster casualty for Bulldogs »

ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t shed much light on the Bulldogs’ suspension situation when he addressed an unusually large media contingent at the end of Thursday’s practice. In fact, he didn’t as much as flick on a flashlight.

Richt would not even confirm that there are new suspensions despite numerous report Thursday that at least two of Georgia’s defensive stars have run afoul of the athletic association’s drug policy.

“I can’t confirm anything,” Richt told more than a dozen reporters and two Atlanta television news crews. “I’m just going to be waiting for us to go through our process. When there’s something to report, I’ll report it to everybody.”

Earlier Thursday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was able to confirm that All-America safety Bacarri Rambo is facing a four-game suspension for failing a UGA-administered drug test this week. Rambo’s high school coach, Alan Ingram of Seminole County, said it was Rambo’s second violation of Georgia’s drug policy …

Continue reading Georgia coach Mark Richt sidesteps questions on player suspensions »

ATHENS — Bacarri Rambo will miss the first four games of the coming football season after testing positive for marijuana use, his high school coach confirmed Thursday.

Rambo

Seminole County coach Alan Ingram told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Rambo accidentally consumed some brownies containing pot during a spring break trip to Panama City Beach two weeks ago. Because Rambo had violated Georgia’s alcohol and drug policy last year — that resulted in a one-game suspension to open last season — he is subjected to random tests by UGA. He was tested recently and that sample came back positive.

According to UGA’s 2011-12 student-athlete handbook, a second offense of the athletic association’s drug policy calls for a suspension from 30 percent of competition dates. That means Rambo, an All-American safety, will be out for games against Buffalo, Missouri, Florida Atlantic and Vanderbilt.

“He’s just tore up about it,” said Alan Ingram, Rambo’s coach at Seminole County High in …

Continue reading Baccari Rambo will be suspended 4 games after positive test for marijuana »

Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Hines Ward (R) talks to Georgia coach Mark Richt during Tuesday's spring practice in Athens. A recent NFL retiree, Ward is trying to decide if college coaching is a career he wants to pursue. (UGA photo by Steven Colquitt)

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

ATHENS – Hines Ward was a visitor at Georgia’s spring football practice on Tuesday, but you had to look hard to find him.

Dressed head-to-toe in Bulldogs’ coaching garb, unless you looked very closely it was impossible to distinguish him from any number of assistant coaches, grad assistants, managers or trainers. But Ward wasn’t trying to be incognito. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star and recent NFL retiree came to his alma mater to try to get an idea whether college coaching would be a vocation he cared to pursuit.

“He just wanted to come over and spend the day with me and kind of see what coaching was like,” said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who played all four years at Georgia with Ward (1994-97). “He’s …

Continue reading UPDATED: Hines Ward says he wants to help Bulldogs win a national championship »

Sophomore cornerback Damian Swann is also a fleet-footed center fielder in baseball and says he would like to go out for Georgia's baseball team next year. (UGA photo)

THE TEN AT 10:

1. Georgia defensive back Damian Swann says he wants to play baseball. The rising sophomore cornerback was an all-star center fielder at Grady High School and played travel ball under his father all his life.

“I talked to Coach Eller about it,” said Swann, referring to baseball assistant coach Jason Eller. “Coach Eller recruited me in baseball the summer before I came [to UGA]. He liked what he saw. He told me if I wanted to play it’d be up to Coach Richt and I could come out and try.”

Swann has yet to have that conversation with the Bulldogs’ coach, and right now football is a high priority for him. The former AJC Super 11 selection played in 10 games as a true freshman and is being counted on to fill the void left by suspended starters Sanders Commings and Branden Smith. Swann said he …

Continue reading Ten@10: CB Damian Swann wants to join UGA’s other dual-sport athletes »