The Georgia Bulldogs stepped up preparations for the 2010 season by donning full pads for the first time Saturday. Mark Richt was pleased with the effort as he stated during his post practice presser:
"“You know what, I thought they did really good today.” “I think they fought through the heat and practiced with a lot of energy. When you look at the week in its entirety, it was very, very good. We’ve been very fortunate on injuries with nothing more than bumps and bruises. There’s a really good feeling surrounding this team. It has a good mental edge to it.”"
The saga of Dexter Morant took another twist Saturday as the true freshman requested a return to the team after a recent return home to Manning S. C. “Dexter called me the other night and said he thought he really made a big mistake and wanted to come back,” Richt said. “I talked to Coach (Todd) Grantham and the seniors about it and everybody thinks that Dexter should be allowed back on the team. Nobody wants him to make a decision like that that would really affect him the rest of his life in a negative way. They voted to keep him, and that’s what we’re going to do. It kinds of reminds me of a former Georgia player I was told about. I think he left and went home six times, and Coach Dooley sent a different assistant coach to get him and bring him back six times. He ended up becoming an All-American and playing in a Super Bowl.”
Morant did participate in Saturday’s practice in a limited role with jersey and shorts. He will have to go through a 5 day acclamation period before joining his teammates for full pratcice in which he is shceduled to be at full speed next Friday.
Georgia’s first game will be four weeks from Saturday, on Sept. 4 against Louisiana-Lafayette at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff for the opener against the Ragin’ Cajuns is set for 12:21 p.m., and the contest will be televised on the SEC Network nationwide.
Leash Laws
Sophmore WR Rantavious Wooten has a sprained left knee that will keep him out for at least 2 weeks according to Coach Mark Richt. Wooten was in a knee brace during Saturday’s practice riding a stationary bike. Surgery is not expected to be needed according to Richt. Wooten is expected to be ready for the Dogs opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept 4th.
Richt also stated that Akeem Dent (toe injury) should be ready for the opener as well. “I think we’ve got a pretty good shot at Dent, too,” Richt said. “Dent got stitches out and he’s going to be able to start underwater treadmill kind of stuff.”
Lots of ooohs and aaahs were being heard during the Saturday practice as Walk-on QB Greg Bingham did something that you usually only see in movies. Bingham took a 3 step drop and fired a pass so hard at Junior WR Israel Troupe that it knocked his helmet off.
“I got a kick out of it,” Bingham said. “I think everybody else did, too. It was just one of those fun moments in football.”
Troupe apparently didn’t have his helmet strapped on.
“In the history of football, I don’t think that’s ever happened,” Troupe said while on the practice field.