Ask anybody on Georgia’s football team about Ben Jones and his face will light up. The senior from Centreville, Ala., is not only a four-year starter and a team captain in every sense of the word, he’s also the consummate country boy with a unique personality to boot.
“He’s a character,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “He’s a great guy. He showed up and started at center as a freshman in the Southeastern Conference. That’s not easy to do. I don’t know if he’s missed a snap unless we took him out. I can’t remember a time he’s missed a snap.
“There might have been a time he missed a practice, but I sure don’t remember it. He’s just a tough guy who loves football. He’s a great student of the game.”
Jones will start his last regular-season game for the Bulldogs on Saturday against Georgia Tech and will again serve as one of the team captains. In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week, Jones talked about his pregame ritual and his thoughts on playing the Yellow Jackets.
Q: First of all, what’s with your ritual of coming out on the field for pregame warmups barefooted?
A: I walk the Dawg Walk with my cleats on, but as soon as I get to the locker room I take my socks and shoes off, go back on the field, walk the field, do my snaps with [quarterback Aaron] Murray before the game and just hang out and get the feel of it. I've been doing that ever since high school, so I just kept doing it when I got here.
In high school we always took a nap before we went on the field, so I just wouldn’t have my shoes on. So I’d wake up and I’d just walk straight out. I just didn’t want to go through the hassle of putting my socks and shoes on. We had a good senior year, so I just kept it going. I came here and I figured I might as well keep doing it.
Q: What if it’s extremely cold?
A: It doesn't matter. I have alligator skin. I don't ever wear shoes at home. I used to play basketball on a cement basketball court with my brother. I'm used to wearing no shoes. It just doesn't bother me.
Q: You seem like an emotional guy, especially after Georgia wins. How would you describe your style of play?
A: I play with a lot of emotion. I think that's why I played well in the games. You've got to have a little edge when you're playing football, especially as an O-lineman. You're not scoring touchdowns, you're not making tackles. You're doing the dirty work so the other guys get the glory. We all take pride in that. So if you have a great game, if the backs are doing well and Murray has a great game, we feel like we've had a great game.
This year we’ve had a lot of those games. I know once we win a big game, I like to be able to release that and show how happy I am to get a ‘W’ and get this program back on track. It means all the world to me.
Q: You’re an Alabama native, but have been with the Bulldogs four years now. How do you view the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry?
A: Coming in, Auburn was the biggest rivalry game for me because I grew up in Alabama. But after that first year Tech won and that was definitely the biggest game I've ever played in. Once you lose to a rival, that's when you realize it's a rivalry game and you don't ever want to lose to those guys again. That's our goal, and I definitely want to end my senior year beating Tech.
Q: What’s your thoughts on this year’s game against Georgia Tech?
A: As an offensive line we've got to come out and dominate up front to give Murray time to open up the passing game and open up holes for the backs. We just need to control the ball and get ahead because Tech has a great offense, and they take a lot of pride in it. They can run off a lot of clock if they're having a good game.
So we don’t want to put too much stress on our defense. If we can get up I think they’ll have a great game because I think they’re one of the top defenses in the country. We rely on them, and I’m glad they’re on our side.
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