ATHENS – There's a lot of things Georgia players don't want to be called, and this season one of those labels is "energy vampire."
It's a new distinction for anyone on the team who complains or doesn't meet certain standards. If a teammate is nominated by another player for the "energy vampire board" and coach Mark Richt approves, the offending player ends up with his photo plastered all over video boards in the weight room, usually photo-shopped to include fangs and other unflattering enhancements.
"If you say something negative, if you're not doing something positive when we're doing activities as a team, you can be called an 'energy vampire,'" sophomore linebacker Chase Vasser said. "Anybody who hears you say something like, 'I don't want to be here,' you can be turned into the coach and you'll get your face on the board. They'll take a picture of you and put a wig on you with some vampire teeth and crazy-looking eyes."
Mark Richt borrowed this motivational technique from Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith, who found it in a book titled "The Energy Bus," which was written by Jon Gordon.
"It's something that coach Smith of the Falcons had read and incorporated it with his team," Richt said. "When he came to speak at our summer clinic he was talking about a positive attitude. He said when guys aren't positive, they call them ‘energy vampires.' So I was asking him about that and that's where he came from."
Richt said anybody can end up with the vampire tag, even him, but all nominations have to come through him.
"I don't want [the players] just taking it over and making up stuff," Richt said. "It's got to be legit. ... We're looking for guys who want to be positive."
Smith continues to impress
Branden Smith again came away with the play of the day at practice. The junior cornerback hit a freshman receiver so hard it knocked the other guy's helmet off.
"I was just trying to show them that this is not high school football anymore; this is SEC football," Smith said.
Over the weekend, Smith had five interceptions in one practice.
"Branden Smith has really continued to impress me," Richt said. "He's just practicing with a greater focus than I've ever seen him practice with. He's a lot more physical."
Players make contact
The Bulldogs had their first full-contact practice Monday morning and as expected it made for a lively workout. Officially, Richt said the defense won, using the team's scoring system. He said it was tied 17-17 going into the last four or five plays before the No. 3 defense dominated the No. 3 offense.
This and that
Georgia will hold two practices on Tuesday, at 8:45 a.m. and 5 p.m., with just one other two-a-day schedule coming. ... Senior cornerbacker Brandon Boykin added the Paul Hornung award to his preaseason watch lists. ... Tailbacks Richard Samuel and Isaiah Crowell split time with the No. 1 offense on Monday. "Those two guys were impressive today," Richt said. ... Tailback Brandon Harton was out with mild concussion. He should return later this week. ... Freshman cornerback Chris Sanders was held out of contact because of a bruised shoulder suffered Sunday. ... Boykin and Jakar Hamilton are still out with hamstring pulls.
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