ATHENS — Hines Ward was a visitor at Georgia’s spring football practice Tuesday, but you had to look hard to find him.
Dressed head-to-toe in Bulldogs’ coaching garb, it was difficult to distinguish him from any number of assistant coaches, grad assistants, managers or trainers. But Ward wasn’t trying to be incognito. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star wide receiver and recent NFL retiree came to his alma mater to try to figure out whether college coaching would be a vocation he cared to pursuit.
“He just wanted to come over and spend the day with me and kind of see what coaching was like,” said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who played all four years at Georgia with Ward (1994-97). “He’s trying to see if that’s something he wants to go into.”
Ward is expected to shadow Bobo for a couple of more days. The Bulldogs are conducting a coaches’ clinic that begins Thursday.
“He wanted ... to see what all we do, not just out there practicing but what we’re doing in recruiting, meetings, everything,” Bobo said. “... I hate that he couldn’t come out there and help us coach. All he could do was stand over there and watch.”
NCAA rules prevent Ward or any outside experts from coaching on the field. However, he did address the team in the locker room before practice. Ward was not available for comment.
Smith hires lawyer
Branden Smith, a cornerback from Atlanta who was charged with marijuana possession earlier this month, has retained an attorney and has an April 24 court date for a bench trial.
A bench trial is when a judge hears a case and rules on it without a jury. Smith was scheduled to face the misdemeanor charges April 10. Smith’s lawyer, Hamp Baxley of Dothan, Ala., said they have not yet decided how to proceed with the case.
“We haven’t made any decision about whether he’s going to plea or find some alternative dispute resolution or what,” Baxley said Tuesday. “We’re at the very beginning of the process right now.”
Smith was on his way to a spring-break vacation in Panama City Beach, Fla., on March 11 when he was pulled over by a Henry County (Ala.) Sheriff’s deputy outside Headland, Ala., at 11:30 p.m. for a malfunctioning tag light.
The police officer claims to have detected the odor of marijuana in the 2007 Dodge Charger that Smith was driving and reported that a bag containing less than one ounce of marijuana was discovered under a seat during a search. Smith and passenger Danze Woods were charged with possession and taken to the Henry County Jail, police said. Smith was released on a $2,000 bond.
Missing Mitchell
Bobo was measured in his comments, but you can tell he’s not thrilled about the move of Malcolm Mitchell to defense for spring practice.
“It is what it is right now,” Bobo said. “He has to do what’s best for the team and help the defense, but it’s kind of back to recruiting in my mind. I’m recruiting the crap out of him daily.”
Meanwhile, secondary coach Scott Lakatos said he likes what he has seen of Mitchell at cornerback.
“He’s doing great. He’s such a good athlete he could be anything he wants to be,” Lakatos said.
Etc.
Cornerback Damian Swann, who was a star center fielder at Grady High, said he wants to play baseball at Georgia. He wouldn’t attempt it until next season and only with approval from coach Mark Richt. ... Tailback Richard Samuel is being cross-trained at fullback. ... Nose guard John Jenkins missed practice Tuesday to attend to some academic responsibilities, according to defensive line coach Rodney Garner. ... Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham does not expect outside linebacker Sterling Bailey (foot) to play this spring. ... Wide receiver Rantavious Wooten remained sidelined with a pulled leg muscle. ... Dallas Lee is getting more work at center. Lee started seven games at guard before suffering a broken leg this past season.
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