ATHENS — This was supposed to be a laid-back week for the Georgia Bulldogs, what with a nonconference opponent coming in for a homecoming game sandwiched between a pair of bitter rivals.
Then Tuesday happened.
At the end of the day, the Bulldogs (6-2, 5-1 SEC) found themselves down four tailbacks. Star freshman Isaiah Crowell and backups Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome were suspended for Saturday’s game for failing UGA-administered drug tests. Earlier that morning, Richard Samuel, star of the Florida victory, underwent season-ending surgery for an ankle injury suffered on the last play of that game.
Suddenly, the Bulldogs’ six-game winning streak wasn’t the topic of conversation, and just as quickly a layer of intrigue was added for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. game against New Mexico State (3-5).
“Something bad happens, it’s life. It goes on,” Georgia wide receiver Tavarres King said. “You just have to keep rolling with the punches, just like you do in a game. If something bad happens in a game, you have to face the adversity and keep playing. That’s what we plan to do.”
The Bulldogs are down to their fifth- and sixth-string tailbacks, Brandon Harton and Kyle Karempelis. Harton is a 5-foot-6, 174-pound sophomore who was placed on scholarship the last week of preseason camp. Karempelis (5-9, 180) came to Georgia as an invited walk-on.
“These young guys are getting an opportunity to play running back for the University of Georgia when they thought that probably wasn’t very likely,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “All of the sudden they’re getting the opportunity to do something they’ve probably dreamed of, and that’s a great thing.
“The rest of the team, the special teams, the defense, the offensive line, the receiving corps, the quarterback, everybody’s got to play a little bit better and make sure the situation is not going to cost us.”
Exactly how much Georgia will depend on the young backs is unclear. With New Mexico State featuring the nation’s 107th-ranked defense, the Bulldogs probably aren’t overly concerned about their offense.
They can bring over Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith from their posts in the secondary. There has been talk of unleashing safety Nick Marshall, a high school quarterback, in the rarely used “Wild Dog” formation, and last we checked, Georgia is pretty decent at passing.
The real challenge for the Bulldogs will come on defense. New Mexico State comes in with the nation’s 16th-ranked passing offense (297.3 yards per game) and has averaged better than 460 yards per game in the past five contests. Wideout Taveon Rogers is No. 2 in the nation in all-purpose yards and has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Georgia has allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
“I’ve watched the tape,” Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “They’ve got athletes; they’ve got guys that can move; they can throw the ball; they’ve got good passing concepts. So we’ve got to be ready to play.”
Grantham’s defenders seem genuinely excited about Saturday’s challenge.
“New Mexico State throws the ball a lot, so I’ve challenged the DBs to get our hands on some of those balls,” safety Shawn Williams said. “They have great athletes and a great offense and a great scheme and a great quarterback, but that gives us the opportunity to show how good our secondary is.”
Georgia’s defense has been up for every challenge since the second week of the season. The Bulldogs come in ranked No. 7 in the nation in total defense, 13th against the pass, and have allowed only six touchdowns in the past six games.
So the day sets up nicely for the Bulldogs. Players and fans will be treated to cool, comfortable temperatures and fair skies, and the whole affair should be over to the hosts’ satisfaction in plenty of time to get home for the evening’s marquee TV games.
But the true-blue Georgia fan won’t be focused on the Alabama-LSU game like the rest of the country. The 7:15 p.m. game between Arkansas and South Carolina in Fayetteville will get their attention. Should the Razorbacks win, the Bulldogs will be in sole possession of first place in the SEC’s Eastern Division before the clock strikes midnight.
By then, three thoroughly shamed tailbacks should be back in the fold.
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