Dawgs Resume Bowl Practice

FOOTBALL

After three days of final exams, the Dawgs resumed preparations for their Independence Bowl matchup against Texas A&M with a two-hour workout today.

It was the second bowl practice for the Dawgs, who are slated to hold five more practices in Athens before the team reconvenes in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 24.

"I was very encouraged with today's practice," Richt said. "I thought the guys showed great focus and energy. It was one of the best practices we've had."

Earlier Richt met with the media during UGA's Bowl Media Day and discussed the challenges Texas A&M will pose to the Dawgs, particularly on offense.

"Texas A&M is an outstanding football team with a great football tradition," Richt said. "Coach [Mike] Sherman has their team on the rise and playing extremely well late in the year. They love to spread it out, go fast-paced, go with three-receiver sets, four-receiver sets, a no-back, five-receiver look. They get into certain personnel groups and give you every formation known to mankind and do it in a very quick manner, so it'll be a challenge just to recognize what's happening and get lined up properly. We'll try to get after it."

Richt also said injured sophomore receiver A.J. Green is expected to play in the bowl game after missing the final two games of the regular season.

"He'll be in some non-contact probably most of the bowl practice, but as we get closer to the game, we are going to let him get in a little blocking and full-speed and some things that might let him know he's confident that it feels fine," Richt said.