UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 04
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Observations from Georgia’s practice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Carter Strickland and I are out at Georgia’s first practice now and watching as they work out in shorts and helmets. The first five days are considered an acclimation period so I believe that means no full contact until after that. I’ll get clarification after practice. Meanwhile, as usual, everybody looks good and fast when they’re not in full pads.
The first interesting item of the day was pointed out by Carter. Guess who is attending today’s practice? Clemson commitment A,J. Harmon.
I’ll be providing short comments throughout in the comments section so keep coming back. Also, read some of Richt’s comments and those from a few players in the other blog already up and running. Thanks for hanging out!
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Richt, players ready to get started
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greetings from the auditorium of UGA’s Rankin Smith Academic Achievement Center, just across Sanford Drive from the Woodruff Practice Fields. We’ve just completed interviews at media day here and, in a few hours, will make our way over to the football complex for the first practice of the 2007 season.
Quickly, I’ll give you a rundown of what was said over here. The day began with opening remarks from head coach Mark Richt, who then fielded questions from a media contingent of a couple of dozen. After that we interviewed selected players in an open Q&A session in the student lounge. Some of the players in attendance included QB Matthew Stafford, WR Sean Bailey, TBs Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin, LB Brandon Miller, DTs Jeff Owens and Kade Weston, OL Fernando Velasco, PK Brandon Coutu and S Kelin Johnson. I may have missed one or two (apologies if I did) but that’s whom I immediately recall seeing. I didn’t talk to them personally but I think we hit them all between Carter Strickland and me. We’ll report some of what was said immmediately and some of the other stuff we’ll be saving for stories and features we’ll be offering daily from now through the end of the regular season.
Quickly, here are some of the things Richt said. I’ll update throughout the day in the comments section more on Richt and then some comments from the players:
General comment on starting practices: “We’ve been working hard and are ready to go. The guys actually went out this morning and walked through assignments with their coaches, offense, defense and special teams. Everything starts in earnest today. We’ll be in shorts today, the first of the five-day acclimation period, then we’ll have five days of one-a-days, then two-a-day, one-a-day, two-a-day until school starts. We have 29 practice opportunities until our first ballgame against Oklahoma State. I feel very good about our team . I feel good about the way we finished last year and I feel very good about the momentum we carry in from the offseason. The guys worked hard and came back looking in great shape.”
On offensive lineman Ian Smith quitting on Friday: “He came to see me yesterday and said he had decided for health reasons he did not want to pursue playing football anymore… . He will stay with our program. He will continue to utilize our athletic and academic resources and be part of our program and part of our family. He just won’t be one of the 85 anymore.”
On suspending TE Tripp Chandler and QB Blake Barnes for the first game: I felt like the punishment was about right for what happened. That’s why I chose that amount of time. Of course, there’s a lot of other things those guys have to do. There’s other things that are involved… . Punishment, education, love. That’s the cornerstone of discipline here and at home with my family.”
On whether there is a discipline problem, or the perception of one: “There’s not a discipline problem on our team at all, I don’t think. We’ve had some guys make some mistakes. Some may say it was minor. I don’t know. Everything they do that’s against the rules or against the law is wrong. Some are more minor than others, certainly. I’m not alarmed our shocked these guys are making some foolish mistakes. Some of them are relatively innocent, some of the scooter stuff.
“For instance, I know Caleb [King] knew his license was suspended. He had no idea you had to have a license to ride a scooter. Now he should have known that; we probably should have told him. But we only had him about a week. We had Scooter 101 in our team meeting yesterday. We did have that.
“NaDerris [Ward] was sitting behind a car that was indecisive abnout what to do at an intersection where the light was green. He decided to go around like I think most everybody in America would probably do. He gets stopped. But he did have a valid license from California but he didn’t have it on his body.
“Nonetheless, those are laws and they were broken. Those things happen. But I’m not alarmed at all. I think we have a very disciplined football team. I think we have a great bunch of guys that really care about doing things right. I’m excited about them… . And now we have a Scooter Policy.”
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