For the past decade or so, Mike Bobo has been an ever-present whirling dervish on Georgia’s practice fields.
With his play script either rolled up in his hand or tucked in his waistband, the Bulldogs’ longtime offensive coordinator would dart from behind the huddle to the middle of the line of scrimmage and into the secondary and back, barking out calls and screaming out instant feedback in equal parts praise and criticism after every play.
But there was a different man in that role on Friday. John Lilly, Georgia’s tight ends coach, has stepped in to fill Bobo’s role as play-caller for the Belk Bowl. Not only will Lilly be up in the coaches booth making the calls over the headset against Louisville on Tuesday, but he also has been charged with implementing the game plan left behind by Bobo when he left town for Colorado State on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs’ coaches and players said the offensive game plan was “90 to 95 percent” installed before the team left Athens. Now they’re in the implementation and trimming stage.
“It’s definitely weird,” Hutson Mason, Georgia’s fifth-year senior starting quarterback, said of Bobo not being around. “Maybe a tad bit more quiet.”
Said coach Mark Richt: “Mike not being here is definitely different, for sure. But we’ve got very capable coaches taking care of business right now.”
Lilly definitely wasn’t as loud, but he was just as frenetic as Bobo as the Bulldogs practiced for the second time Friday since arriving in Charlotte. On the practice field at least, Lilly has largely abandoned his post with Georgia’s tight ends to oversee the offensive operation. He is still conducting the tight ends meetings, while Richt, graduate assistant Doug Saylor and volunteer coach Jon Richt sit in with the quarterbacks.
But as the offense puts in its plan for the Cardinals, it’s Lilly who’s in charge of its execution. He’s getting considerable assistance from Georgia’s other offensive assistants, including offensive line coach and running game coordinator Will Friend, who will join Bobo at Colorado State after the bowl.
Richt is not making Lilly or any of the Bulldogs’ assistant coaches available for interviews this week. But it’s evident by Lilly’s energy and focus he is taking his job seriously.
“He’s the man for it,” freshman tight end Jeb Blazevich said. “He’s always working overtime, always working really hard. He’s passionate about the game. I just can’t say enough good things about him in terms of what he knows and the care he has for each one of us. … He’s a great fit and he’s going to call the plays well.”
Richt was asked why he chose Lilly to handle the duties rather than himself or other offensive assistants such as receivers coach Tony Ball or running backs coach Bryan McClendon.
“He’s been with the system a good bit and he’s called a lot of the spring games,” Richt said. “When Mike’s been on one side, Lilly’s been calling the game on the other side.”
As for whether the Bulldogs’ performance could enhance Lilly’s candidacy to become Bobo’s successor, Richt bristled. “I’m not really getting into that other than right now we think John is going to give us the best shot at calling the best game.”
That’s another ongoing facet of Georgia’s preparation for this bowl game. With both Bobo and Friend heading out the door, Richt is having to consider replacements and screen candidates. But he’s trying to limit the intrusion in the final days leading to Tuesday’s matchup.
“There’s a little bit of that going through my brain right now,” Richt said. “But if I get too involved in that and not involved in what’s happening here, I don’t think it’s wise. You can’t help but have messages come to you, and thoughts will go through my mind as I’ve got my head on the pillow, whether it’s going to bed or waking up. But then you’ve got to get on track and make sure we’re doing what we need to do for this ballgame.”
As for that game, the Bulldogs continue to express confidence in their ability to perform amid the swirling uncertainty.
“We’ve been able to adjust and adapt and that’s what we’re having to do right now,” senior center David Andrews said. “I don’t think it’s going to affect us much in the game. Obviously it will affect us next year. We may decide to do something different, but we’re running the same offense we’ve run for the last four years.”
Said Mason: “I think the guys are going to enjoy playing for Lilly. They love him and this is a great opportunity for him and for us.”
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