Ramsey Student Center lifeguard Alexander Hope received a phone call Tuesday night asking if he would come in early Wednesday for an extra shift. It turned out to be the Georgia senior's most stressful day during his year on the job.

The Bulldogs blew off their morning practice and instead headed to the high dives at the Ramsey Center pool for the second year in a row. They players took turns jumping, cannonballing, flopping and flipping from anywhere between the baby board at 3 feet to the high dive at 33 feet.

"I was seriously terrified that Matthew Stafford was going to break his back ... trying to do a back flip," Hope said. "If one of those guys got hurt while I was guarding, I would never forgive myself. None of my friends would ever forgive me."

The gray skies and rainfall ruined coach Mark Richt's plans for making the team dress out in full pads and surprising them with the fun day.

"When the weather hit like it did, I had them convinced we were going to come over here and do a walkthrough like we normally do on a rain day," he said. "So we got in there and stretched a little bit, and I told everyone to get nice and flexible so they don't pull a hamstring off the high dive."

Richt dived backward twice himself off the high dive.

"I thought I hit them pretty good," Richt said. "I don't know if I was truly vertical. I don't know how big the splash was at the end. We're trying to minimize splashes."

The coach mostly acted as cheerleader, though. He stood beside freshman Bacarri Rambo as the cornerback got on all fours to peer over the ledge of the 33-foot high dive. He backed away, but after some encouragement from both Richt and his teammates, he took the plunge.

The team was having so much fun that Teresa Piper, assistant director for aquatics, had to shout into a microphone at the players to jump only one at a time.

After about 45 minutes, Richt wrapped up the morning by thanking the Ramsey Center.

"Thank you lifeguards, and God Bless America," he said.

Sturdivant aftermath

The offensive lineman aren't deterred by the uncertainty of their future without Trinton Sturdivant.

Center Chris Davis and right tackle Kiante Tripp spoke solemnly about the loss of Georgia's left tackle to a season-ending knee injury, but their faces also showed a steady determination.

"Great teams have adversity, and we got to find a way to fight through the adversity," Davis said. "Somebody's got to step up and fill in."

There is still no clear-cut favorite on who will take on the responsibility. Much like Tuesday's practice, the Bulldogs rotated several players in the first string's lineup Wednesday, including Josh Davis, who was Sturdivant's backup; junior Vince Vance, the current starter at left guard; Clint Boling, who started at right guard as a true freshman last season; and starting right tackle Kiante Tripp.

Georgia isn't ready to declare any permanent changes, but Richt said he has been pleased with Davis' effort in the rotation.

"I think anytime a guy ahead of you gets hurt and the team is like hey we're counting on you, there's a little greater sense of urgency. I think he's feeling that, but in a positive way," Richt said.

Sturdivant protected quarterback Stafford's blind side all last season, but Stafford said he isn't concerned with some new personnel stepping in.

"You got to trust whoever's in there no matter who they are," Stafford said.

Davis and Tripp both said they would make the switch to left tackle if the coaches needed them to.

With the potential shuffling, Cordy Glenn is currently No. 1 at right guard but could move to right tackle if Georgia decides to move Tripp to the left side.

Glenn could not share his input because offensive line coach Stacy Searels does not allow true freshman to speak to the media. But Davis and Tripp have been impressed with how quickly he has gelled with the team.

"He's shown good steps and good initiative to get better," Davis said. "Honestly I didn't expect him to jump to a starting roll but he's come into camp and he's worked his butt off. He's earned everything he's gotten."

Ellerbe watches

Starting middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe wore a green non-contact jersey during Wednesday's practice.

Richt said he believed the senior bruised the rotator cuff in his shoulder, but was not 100 percent certain about the injury.

"It's nothing serious," Richt said.