UGA's Cox named SEC Offensive Player of Week

By TIM TUCKER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Another day, another award for Georgia quarterback Joe Cox.

The fifth-year senior Monday was named the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Week for his performance — 18 of 26 passing for 375 yards with a school-record-tying five touchdowns — in Saturday’s 52-41 win over Arkansas.

On Sunday, Cox was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.


Butler leads league

Georgia’s Drew Butler, whose 64-yard punt was a key late-game play in the win over Arkansas, is the SEC’s leading punter by a wide margin.

He is averaging 54.5 yards per punt, almost 10 yards better than the league’s next best.

“He’s got a tremendously strong focus right now,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said of Butler, who is in his first season as the Bulldogs’ No. 1 punter. “We kind of put it on him that we need you to be a consistent performer, not just a guy who can do it five or six out of 10 times. And he took that to heart.”


Etc.

Defensive back Vance Cuff, injured Saturday, was diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He was listed as day-to-day by UGA Monday. ... Georgia did not practice Monday. Richt changed the weekly schedule this season so that the players work Sunday night, take off Monday, then begin preparations for the next game on Tuesday. ... None of this will surprise you: Georgia is last in the SEC in scoring defense (34 points per game), total defense (406.3 yards per game), pass defense (285.3 yards per game) and turnover margin (-2.33 per game). ...

As much as Georgia has been penalized in the first three games (86.3 yards per game), its opponents have been penalized more (101.3 yards per game). Look for more flags Saturday. While Georgia ranks 115th among the 120 major-college teams in penalty yards, Arizona State ranks 118th (94.5 yards per game). ... Former All-Americans Matt Stinchcomb (football), Kim Arnold (gymnastics), Bernadette Locke (basketball) and Brent Noon (track and field) will be inducted Friday into UGA’s Circle of Honor, the school’s highest tribute to former athletes and coaches. The four also will be recognized at Saturday’s football game.