UGA players not concerned about Tech ring

Orlando — Georgia football players had little reaction to news that Georgia Tech is giving rings to its players bearing the score of the Yellow Jackets’ victory over the Bulldogs: 45-42.

“I mean, they won the game,” Georgia defensive tackle Corvey Irvin said when asked about the rings. “I mean, that’s over.

“It’s about Michigan State [Georgia’s opponent in Thursday’s Capital One Bowl] right now. Georgia Tech beat us. It was a great ballgame. They were victorious, but that’s in the past.

“We’re trying to get on to new things. We’re trying to get the 2009 season started off by beating Michigan State.”

Several other Georgia players — quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and cornerback Asher Allen — declined comment on Tech’s rings.

Asked if he had won a game that he would like to have commemorated on a ring, Stafford said: “Not really.”

Schools are allowed to give gifts worth up to $350 to players on bowl teams. Tech, which is in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, is giving players the ring and a $170 gift card.

Tech Coach Paul Johnson left the design of the ring to the team’s seniors, who decided to include the score of the Georgia game.

Tech’s Nov. 29 victory in Athens snapped a seven-game losing drought to the Bulldogs.