Georgia Football: Friday Practice Report

Fullback Quayvon Hicks, Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The fifth-ranked Georgia football team logged a 90-minute practice in shorts on Friday as preparations continue for the Bulldogs’ 2013 season opener.

The Bulldogs will open the season Saturday, Aug. 31, at No. 8 Clemson. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be televised nationally by ABC. The Georgia-Clemson game is 2013’s only season-opening top-10 matchup.

Coach Mark Richt said he was pleased that Friday’s practice was held with 90-degree temperatures since the previous days have been milder.

“When it turns hot and humid, it affects your body, and I was proud of the way the guys pushed through it and got better today,” Richt said. “I’ve been looking at the weather pattern, and during warmups next week the forecast is for it to still be in the low 80s and very humid. Even if it’s 78 at kickoff, that’s still relatively warm. If you factor in the humidity, it will test everybody.”

Richt said the Bulldogs will have a short practice on Saturday, followed by a full pads workout on Monday. Said Richt, “We hope to get everybody’s legs back under them and be as healthy as we can be. I don’t think we’ll tackle again until the game. I want us to be as fresh as possible.”

Richt was asked what advice he will give to the true freshmen or first-time players who suit up against the Tigers.

“We want to educate them that it’s a 60-minute game,” Richt said. “There are lots of snaps and lots of battles. If you don’t win some battles early on, you can’t go in the tank. You have to keep fighting and you have to make your share of plays. Play the next play, good or bad, and focus on what’s next. You can’t just say it’s a bad day. There might be a bad play, but not a bad day.”

Richt also was asked about fullback Quayvon Hicks.

“If you drew up a fullback in our system, you’d just about be drawing him up,” Richt said. “He’s very athletic, he’s got good running skills and he catches the ball pretty well. Sometimes, a fullback has to make adjustments when he’s the lead blocker. You’ve got to be agile to be a really good fullback, and he is that. He’s a good one.”