Georgia football: G-Day Game canceled by SEC, practice delayed through April 15

Georgia football learned Tuesday that the 2020 G-Day Game is canceled. The SEC suspends all spring competitions including spring scrimmages.

A spring tradition in Athens won’t happen this year. Georgia football is forced to cancel the 2020 G-Day Game as the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have forced the SEC to cancel all spring competition, as well as pro days conducted at SEC schools. Georgia was one of the schools set to host a pro day.

The competition on the practice field may still happen, however. The SEC has suspended practice through at least April 15, so there is a chance Georgia football and other SEC teams can get a spring practice season in before teams go on hiatus in June and July. Georgia football hasn’t announced a new date for the beginning of spring practice and may wait for the beginning of April to make that decision.

The delay will give some Bulldogs a chance to heal from late-season injuries so they can participate more in the spring. The player this could help the most is quarterback D’Wan Mathis. He missed most of the 2019 season after a cyst was found on his brain in May. Formal practices with coaches may be banned, but Mathis can still work independently to work on his mechanics.

The late start to the spring practices will prove another positive for the indoor practice facility Georgia football finally received in 2017. The average temperature in March, when spring practice usually begins is 66 degrees. The average temperature in April, when spring wraps up is 71 degrees. The average temperature in May when spring practice may end this year is 81 degrees.

The hot temperatures would force some schools to radically change their practices. Schools with indoor fields can move practices inside if temperatures climb too high.