It's official - No handshake between UGA, OSU

By TIM TUCKER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

There will be no pregame handshake among the Georgia and Oklahoma State football teams before Saturday's game in Stillwater, Okla.

Oklahoma State associate athletics director Kevin Klintworth said by e-mail this morning that the school has decided against the full-team handshakes "after much deliberation among our coaching staff."

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has asked all college teams playing season openers this weekend to shake hands at midfield before the games as a gesture of sportsmanship.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy earlier this week expressed reservations about the AFCA's handshake initiative, fearing that the convergence of 175 or so fired-up players at midfield could lead to some sort of out-of-control pregame incident.

Georgia coach Mark Richt said Wednesday night that the decision was up to Oklahoma State as the home team. "We'll do whatever they decide," Richt said.