Saturday, April 30, 2011

Dawgs Shutout Hogs

BASEBALL

Georgia junior Michael Palazzone pitched eight innings of shutout baseball en route to the Dawgs 3-0 victory over No. 14 Arkansas Saturday at Foley Field.

Palazzone improved to 8-1 overall with a 1.94 ERA and notched his fifth win over a ranked team. In the SEC, he is 6-0 this season with a 1.74 ERA. Palazzone scattered four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five through eight innings. Also, junior Tyler Maloof came on to pitch the ninth to register his NCAA-leading 15th save.

“Michael throws all three pitches to both sides of the plate,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “That’s what makes him so good. I think everybody in their lineup saw fastballs, breaking balls and changeups at some point today.”

The Dawgs (23-21, 12-8 SEC) took an early lead when junior catcher Joey Delmonico scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third after junior Peter Verdin (2-for-3, 2 RBI) singled to right field. Delmonico led off the frame with a double and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Conor Welton.

The Dawgs increased their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. Junior first baseman Jonathan Hester reached on a base hit and later was driven in by Verdin. Junior second baseman Levi Hyams collected his second career triple, both this season, to drive in Welton for a 3-0 advantage.

“Levi (Hyams) was on it all day,” said Perno. “He hit the ball hard. I had a good feeling about him.”

The Razorbacks (29-12, 10-10 SEC) had runners on third in the fourth and eighth frames but were unable to capitalize. Saturday marked the first time they had been shutout this season and the first since the 2010 SEC Tournament when Vanderbilt blanked them.

Georgia, playing the nation’s most difficult schedule, improved to 12-14 against Top 25 teams this season.

The Dawgs wrap up the series against the Razorbacks Sunday at 2 p.m. at Foley Field. The Dawgs will start junior left-hander Craig Gullickson (3-2, 7.11 ERA) while the Razorbacks will counter with sophomore left-hander Cade Lynch (4-2, 2.89 ERA).

Friday, April 29, 2011

A.J. Green Picked 4th By Bengals

A.J. GreenThe Cincinnati Bengals made receiver A.J. Green the first Dawg to be picked in the 2011 NFL Draft after selecting him in the opening round with the fourth overall pick on Thursday night.

Green, a 6-4, 212-pound native of Summerville, South Carolina, was selected to the 2010 Walter Camp All-America Second Team and to the Pro Football Weekly All-American Team after leading the team with 57 catches for 848 yards and nine touchdowns last season. The Biletnikoff Award semifinalist finished his three-year career with 2,619 yards receiving with 23 scores in just 32 games played.

Rennie Curran was the first Dawg chosen in the 2010 draft after he went in the third round. Green joins Matthew Stafford (2009 – No. 1 pick) and Knowshon Moreno (2009 – No. 12) as the three first round picks over the last three seasons.

Geno Atkins was taken 120th overall in the fourth round of last year’s draft, marking the last time the Bengals selected a Dawg. In the 2005 draft, Cincinnati drafted David Pollack as the 17th overall pick in the first round.

The Atlanta Falcons made an effort to trade into position to get Green but could not close the deal and settled for Julio Jones with the 6th pick.

Linebackers Justin Houston and Akeem Dent were selected in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday. Houston was taken with the 70th overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Atlanta Falcons picked Dent with the 91st selection.

DSC_6235A native of Statesboro, Ga., Houston was a finalist for the 2010 Butkus and Nagurski awards as the team's third leading tackler. He also was second in the SEC with 10 sacks (.77 average) as a junior last season. For his career, Houston recorded 125 total tackles, 20 sacks and 38 tackles for loss. His 20 sacks ranks seventh in the Georgia record book. He is the first Dawg to be drafted by the Chiefs.

G-Day 2010 171_thumbDent, a native of Douglass, Ga., led the Dawgs with 126 tackles as a senior in 2010 and was voted to the All-SEC Second Team. He started all 13 games for Georgia and was the team’s leading tackler nine times. Dent had at least 10 tackles in seven games and finished the season ranked second in the SEC with 9.7 tackles per game. He is the eighth Dawg to be drafted by the Falcons and the first since Thomas Brown in 2008.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Dawgs Beat Tech

BASEBALL

On a night when injured Dawg Johnathan Taylor returned briefly to watch his team in action, Georgia responded with a 6-4 win over ninth-ranked Georgia Tech Tuesday in front of a crowd of 18,156 at Turner Field.

Powered by a five-run outburst led by junior shortstop Kyle Farmer (2-for-5, 3 RBI), the Dawgs improved to 7-2 all-time in the “Spring Baseball Classic” against the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech (30-11) had won the two on-campus meetings earlier this year, but on Tuesday, the Dawgs picked up their SEC-leading 11th win over a ranked opponent. Junior Tyler Maloof notched his SEC-leading 14th save, pitching a scoreless ninth frame.

Taylor, a 5-8, 181-pound native of Acworth, Ga., is currently a patient at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. He suffered a serious neck injury on March 6 in an outfield collision during a game against Florida State. Tuesday marked the first time he was back around in his teammates since the accident. He met with the team before the game and watched the first four innings from the dugout before returning to the Sheperd Center.

“We had an opportunity to spend some time with J.T. before the game, and he looks great and is doing great,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “The last time we all saw him together was very emotional because he was in intensive care right after the accident. Tonight, it was nice to see his smile again and the guys had a chance to visit. He’s got a magnetic personality. It’s going to be a long haul, and we’re all in this together. It was just a wonderful night.

“We did a great job and this was a huge win for us,” Perno added. “We got the big inning in the fourth and made it stick. That’s becoming the key for us. The last eight and two-thirds we didn’t walk anybody, and that was big. Tonight was about putting guys in the right situations and getting the job done.”

Georgia went to the bullpen with one out in the second after junior right-hander Ben Cornwell staked the Yellow Jackets to a 2-0 lead. He gave up a one-out double to Daniel Palka, issued a four-pitch walk to Zane Evans and then Mott Hyde drew a walk to load the bases. Brandon Thomas followed with an infield single to score the first run. A wild pitch allowed the second run to score and Cornwell was lifted in favor of sophomore Bryan Benzor. He got Kyle Wren to groundout to first and then Tech’s base runners got caught in a run down and Hyde was thrown out at the plate to end the frame.

Georgia tried to answer in the top of the third after a couple of two-out walks to Levi Hyams and Conor Welton. However, freshman right-hander Matt Grimes retired shortstop Farmer on a first-pitch fly out to right field.

The Dawgs chased Grimes in the fourth. Georgia pushed across its first run in the frame when junior left fielder Zach Cone drew a leadoff walk, stole second (11-for-11 on the year), went to third on a one-out base hit by Kevin Ruiz and scored when Jonathan Hester extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI-single. Then with two outs, third baseman Curt Powell kept the inning going with a bunt single to load the bases for Hyams. The junior second baseman smashed a two-run single to right to put the Dawgs in front 3-2.

It extended Hyams’ hitting streak to a career-best 12 games. Tech turned to freshman DeAndre Smelter. Welton worked a walk to load the bases for Farmer. The Southeastern Conference RBI-leader added two more to his total with a two-run single to make it 5-3. Farmer has 43 RBI on the season. Cone came up for the second time in the inning and was hit by a pitch to load the bases for designated hitter Brett DeLoach who bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the five-run outburst. Grimes’ final line was 3.2 innings pitched, surrendering five runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

“It was really exciting to see J.T. again, he gave us a lot of life, a lot of energy and we wanted to come out and get him a win,” said Hyams.

Tech got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Hyde, scoring Palka who reached on a one-out single and went to third on a double by Zane Evans. Farmer made a running over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left to keep Georgia in front 5-3. After retiring the first Tech batter in the fifth, Georgia brought in senior John Hermam. Benzor gave the Dawgs a career-high three innings and allowed just one run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. In the sixth, Tech closed it to 5-4 with a solo home run from Daniel Palka,his eighth of the year. Herman provided 1.2 innings before turning it over to sophomore right-hander Earl Daniels to start the bottom of the seventh.

With two outs in the eighth, Farmer delivered again with an RBI-single to make it 6-4, scoring Hyams who was on after a base hit and went to second on a stolen base. Georgia junior left-hander Blake Dieterich pitched the eighth and Maloof took care of the Jackets in the ninth.

The Dawgs return to SEC action Friday for the first of a three-game series with 14th-ranked Arkansas (28-11, 9-9 SEC). First pitch at Foley Field is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Diamond Dawgs Take Series From Vols

BASEBALL

Junior Kyle Farmer tied a career-high with four RBI and the Dawg bullpen threw seven shutout innings to register a 5-3 SEC series-clinching win over Tennessee Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

“We did it the hard way here, losing an extra-inning game on Friday and then coming back to win the series with good wins Saturday and today,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “Kyle had another big day for us and the bullpen was outstanding.”

Junior second baseman Levi Hyams led off the game with a double to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games. Tennessee sophomore right-hander Nick Blount came back to strike out freshman Conor Welton. Then, Farmer (2-for-3, 4 RBI) smashed a two-run home run, his second blast in as many at bats, to put the Dawgs in front 2-0. In Saturday’s 8-6 win over the Volunteers, Farmer delivered a three-run home run in the top of the ninth. Farmer now has a team-leading six home runs and 41 RBI. Zach Cone followed with a single and then moved into scoring position with his 10th stolen base of the year. After retiring Brett DeLoach on a flyout, first baseman Jonathan Hester lined a 3-2 pitch into center for a run-scoring single and then was thrown out trying to go to second to end the outburst.

Tennessee (22-17, 5-13 SEC) looked to answer in the bottom of the first after a leadoff double from Andrew Toles. However, junior left-hander Craig Gullickson retired the next three Volunteers to maintain the 3-0 edge. Tennessee came through in the second after loading the bases with one out on two hits and a walk. Gullickson struck out Wes Walker for the second out and then gave up a two-run single to Toles on a 3-2 offering. After a mound visit by Georgia coach David Perno, Gullickson got Zach Osborne to hit a soft grounder back to him to keep the Dawgs in front 3-2.

In the third, the Volunteers tied the game and chased Gullickson. Khayyan Norfolk led off with a single and scored on a double by Matt Duffy to make it 3-3. After going 2-0 on Horne, Georgia went to the bullpen in junior left-hander Chase Hawkins. Horne drew a walk and then Hawkins got Davis Morgan to bounce to third when Curt Powell started a double play. Hawkins got the Dawgs out of further trouble in that frame as the Volunteers stranded their fourth runner in scoring position in the game.

Georgia (21-20, 11-7 SEC) reclaimed the lead with a two-out rally in the fifth. Hyams and Welton reached on a pair of walks and then Farmer continued a productive day with a two-run double off Jerod Pepper for a 5-3 lead. Hawkins cruised through the fourth and fifth frames before allowing two straight hits to start the bottom of the sixth and after a sacrifice bunt, Georgia went to sophomore right-hander Earl Daniels to face pinch-hitter Ethan Bennett with two men in scoring position. He got Bennett to pop out to Farmer and then Toles put a charge in to one to right that Peter Verdin hauled in up against the wall to keep it 5-3 Dawgs.

In the seventh, Tennessee put two on with one out against Daniels, and then he battled back to strike out the next two Volunteers in Horne and Daniel Morgan to send it to the eighth. Daniels tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and then sophomore left-hander Blake Dieterich pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts to pick up his second save. Hawkins began the streak of scoreless innings by the bullpen, going 3.1 to collect his second win of the year and his first career SEC victory.

Georgia will be back in action Tuesday when it travels to Turner Field in Atlanta to face ninth-ranked Georgia Tech (30-11) at 7 p.m. on SportSouth. The ninth annual “Spring Baseball Classic For Kids” raises more than $200,000 annually for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and its Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor Program. Since 2004, there have more than 20,000 tickets sold annually. Georgia holds a 6-2 edge in the series at Turner Field.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Mark Richt Post Spring Press Conference

FOOTBALL

DSC_6838Georgia head coach Mark Richt discussed his team’s spring practice during a Southeastern Conference coaches media teleconference today.

Following G-Day, which was the 15th and final practice session of the spring, Richt was encouraged by what he saw from his team.

“I think we got better this spring and practiced with the right amount of intensity,” said Richt. “I liked what I saw out there.”

Georgia had its annual G-Day spring game on April 16. Quarterback Aaron Murray led the White team to an 18-11 victory behind 122 yards passing and a touchdown. Receiver Tavarres King led the aerial assault on the Red team after hauling in five catches for 62 yards.

“We are very thankful to have a guy like Murray at quarterback,” said Richt. “The minute he stepped on campus, he began preparing to be the starting quarterback at the University of Georgia. He watches film, studies fundamentals and does whatever it takes to be successful. There isn’t one guy on our team who would say that Aaron isn’t putting in the time to take this team to the top.”

One unfortunate portion outcome of the spring was losing starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant to a knee injury. This is the third injury of this sort that Sturdivant has suffered. Cordy Glenn has now been penciled in to play left tackle but Richt said the back-up at that position is undecided.

“That’s a good question,” Richt said. “Our candidates at that position are guys like Justin Anderson, Austin Long, A.J. Harmon and Kenarious Gates, who is also athletic and big enough to play at that spot. Some of it is going to depend on who ends up being the starter at right tackle and then we’ll go from there. Some of the true freshmen who are coming in could also end up throwing their hat in the ring there.”

Sunday, April 17, 2011

More Pictures From G-Day

FOOTBALL

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Walk-on defensive back Conner Norman had a very productive spring, he intercepts a Hutson Mason pass intended for Tavarres King.

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Hairy Dawg greets some pups over the hedges.

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Matthew Stafford, A.J. Green and Kris Durham, Stafford just ask Green for a loan.

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Brandon Harton (20) is 5’6” and 165 pounds, Jarvis Jones (29) is 6’3” and 240 pounds both had great springs.

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D.J. Shockley and David Greene together again between the hedges.

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Russ enjoys the sunshine.

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Brent Benedict (73), Kolton Houston (75) and Hugh Williams (67) take a break.

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Cornelius Washington looks to have a big year.

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Dawg Fans.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

G-Day 2011

FOOTBALL

DSC_8290Aaron Murray threw for 122 yards and a touchdown as the Black team defeated the Red team 18-11 in the annual Georgia G-Day spring football game Saturday. The announced attendance of 43,117 set a G-Day record.

Although the Red team compiled more offensive yardage — 266 to the Black's 225 -- four turnovers (three fumbles and an interception) cost them the win.

"Today was a great day with beautiful weather," said head coach Mark Richt. "We managed to make it out without any injuries and I felt both sides played extremely well."

At halftime, the Red team held a 5-3 lead after it picked up an early safety and both teams traded field goals.

CSC_8117In the second half, both teams picked up a rushing touchdown, but a 28-yard screen pass from Aaron Murray to Branden Smith gave the Black team the only passing touchdown of the day and proved to be the difference in the game.

"We made some great plays on offense and our running game was outstanding," said Murray. "I think we moved the ball really well today. We all fell positive about who we are, what we are about and what we can do this fall."

Murray completed 12 of 17 passes for 122 yards with a touchdown. Hutson Mason of the Red team recorded 109 yards through the air with an interception.

DSC_8236The Red team's Carlton Thomas led all rushers with 48 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Ken Malcome paced the Black squad with 39 yards on 7 carries and also recorded a touchdown.

Defensively, Chase Vasser and Alec Ogletree both made seven tackles each to lead the Black and Red teams, respectively.

Reuben Faloughi added three sacks for the Black team and Derrick Lott had two for the Red including a sack of Murray in the end zone for a safety.

The rosters for each team was selected by two team captains in a draft earlier this week. Murray and Brandon Boykin (who sat out the game with injury) represented the Black team, while Ben Jones and Christian Robinson picked for the Red.

DSC_7813"I think the draft brought a lot of excitement to the game," said Jones. "It was interesting to try something different and I think it worked out well."

Jones has switched jerseys this spring, he has worn 61 the past three years and will wear number 60 this season to honor his father.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Spring Awards

FOOTBALL

University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt announced the team’s spring football awards Friday in conjunction with the coming weekend’s annual spring G-Day football game.

The awards are given annually at the conclusion of spring practice to recognize improvement, dedication and performance on the field.

Highlighting the list of awards were the recipients of the long-standing Coffee County Hustle Award given annually to the players showing the most desire during spring drills. Recipients include Kolton Houston, OT, Buford, Ga., and Christian Robinson, ILB, Norcross, Ga.

The list of 2011 awards is as follows:

MVP (offense): Aaron Murray, QB, Tampa, Fla.; Orson Charles, TE, Tampa, Fla.

True Grit Award (Offense): Ben Jones, C, Centreville, Ala.

Coffee County Hustle Award (Offense): Kolton Houston, OT, Buford

Most Improved Player (Offense): Alexander Ogletree, FB, Newnan; Hutson Mason, QB, Marietta

Outstanding Walk-On (Offense): Brandon Harton, TB, Reidsville; Taylor Bradberry, FLK, Winder

MVP (Defense): Kwame Geathers, N, Georgetown, S.C.

True Grit Award (Defense): Brandon Boykin, CB/KOR, Fayetteville; Shawn Williams, FS, Damascus

Coffee County Hustle Award (Defense): Christian Robinson, ILB, Norcross

Most Improved Player (Defense): Jordan Love, CB, Glen Allen, Va.; Branden Smith, CB, Atlanta

Outstanding Walk-On (Defense): Connor Norman, CB, Duluth

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Final Spring Practice

FOOTBALL

Georgia’s football team practiced for the final time of the spring at the Woodruff Practice Fields during an hour session on Thursday afternoon.

This was the Dawgs’ 14th and final practice of the spring. The team will square off against each other at the annual spring G-Day game on Saturday afternoon.

“It was a short practice today, but everyone did pretty well,” said head coach Mark Richt, adding that steak and lobster will be the dinner of the victors at G-Day and Beanie Weenies will be the dinner for the losing team. “There was not a lot at stake between the offense and defense out there today since there was no conditioning after the practice. But both groups wanted to keep score anyway and the defense came out on top.”

Following a lettermen’s dinner on Thursday night, Georgia will have several more events in conjunction with the spring game. Many lettermen from the past are penciled in to compete in a flag football game at 11:15 a.m. in the morning on Saturday.

“Our lettermen’s dinner is a chance for the current players to meet and get to know former players, which makes for a really nice event,” Richt said.

DSC_6043Richt mentioned that he does not think junior tailback Washaun Ealey will play because of a hamstring injury suffered earlier in the spring. Decisions on several of the other injured players for G-Day has yet to be made.

One of the assistant coaches who will be helping to guide Georgia’s defense for the coming season is Kirk Olivadotti. Coaching the inside linebackers, Olivadotti came to Georgia from the Washington Redskins and brings a wealth of knowledge regarding the 3-4 defense.

“I have a different approach to some of the fundamentals, but the expectations on the guys haven’t changed,” said Olivadotti. “Understanding the 3-4 defense is the No. 1 goal. If you don’t know where to be on a certain play, make sure you go 100 percent and we will figure out the problem later.”

DSC_0764Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is continuing the defense’s transition to a 3-4 for a second year. One of the players who he will be counting on during the 2011 season is redshirt sophomore Jarvis Jones. Jones, who transferred from USC and redshirted the 2010 season, is expected to be lining up at outside linebacker for Georgia in the fall.

“You have got to have playmakers at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense for it to be a success,” Grantham said. “One advantage of having the bowl practices was that we got to practice Jarvis and some other guys a lot who we knew weren’t going to play in the bowl game. (Jarvis) played in the middle during those practices and he could probably play there too. But he’s very athletic, has good hands and is a fluid outside linebacker and should be able to make a difference there. I think Jarvis is ahead of the guys last year at linebacker just from the standpoint of understanding the linebacker position.”

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Nemi Is A Dawg

BASKETBALL

University of Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox announced on Wednesday the signing of Nemanja Djurisic, a native of Montenegro, to a national letter-of-intent to attend UGA and play next season for the Dawgs.

Though Djurisic originally hails from Podgorica, Montenegro, he played the 2010-11 season at the South Kent School in South Kent, Connecticut. In his lone season there, the 6-8, 230-pound forward averaged 20.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the Cardinal, which went 18-14. South Kent's prep basketball program has recently produced Isaiah Thomas of Washington and Andray Blatche of the NBA's Washington Wizards.

"We're very excited to have added 'Nemi' to the program for next year," Fox said. "He's a terrific shooter with good size and a great feel for the game."

Djurisic also has extensive experience playing internationally for four straight Montenegrin national teams at the 2007-10 Under 18 European Championships.

The signing of Djurisic brings the number of 2010-11 Georgia signees to four. He joins the following trio, who signed last November during the early signing period: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a 6-6 guard from Greenville, Georgia; Tim Dixon, a 6-10 forward from Columbus, Georgia; and John Florveus, a 7-0 center from Fort Myers, Florida.

The spring signing period began today and lasts through May 18.

Lady Dawgs Sign Two

BASKETBALL

Junior college standouts Danielle Bennett and Marisela Rodriguez inked letters-of-intent with the Lady Dawgs today, the first day of the NCAA's spring signing period. Both players will join the program in the fall as juniors.

Bennett, a 5-10, wing originally from Springfield, Missouri, averaged 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Hillsborough (Florida) Community College Lady Hawks during the 2010-11 season. She was named the All-Mid Florida Conference Player of the Year after ranking among league's the top-10 individual leaders in scoring (third), rebounding (ninth), three-point percentage (fourth at .382), free throw percentage (third at .778) and steals (seventh at 2.7).

"We're excited to have Danielle," coach Andy Landers said. "She's a skilled player who can pass, handle and shoot. I'm especially impressed with her desire to be the best that she can be and her personal work ethic that has facilitated her continued improvement. She's already a solid perimeter player with the potential to become even better. She's a very welcome addition to our guard corps."

"Danielle is a great kid and a very impressive young lady," Hillsborough head coach Tommy Jones said. "She's the type of person where good is not good enough. She wants to be great. And that's at everything, on the court and in the classroom. She's probably best known for her shot. She's got a beautiful and incredibly accurate shot from 22-feet in. I think she's a much more athletic and well-rounded player than she's shown. She's coming to Georgia to make an impact, and I'm confident she has the skills and determination to do just that."

Bennett was named All-State for Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association as both a junior and a senior at Springfield Central High School. She played at SIU Edwardsville as a freshman, averaging 6.8 ppg and 3.1 rpg.

Rodriguez is a 6-4, forward from Garden City, Kansas, and Garden City Community College. She was a two-time All-Jayhawk Conference Western Division selection, earning first-team honors as a sophomore after being a second-team pick as a freshman. Rodriguez also was tabbed the Kansas Jayhawk Conference's Western Division Freshman of the Year in 2010. She averaged 11.2 ppg and 7.8 rpg as a sophomore.

"We're excited that Marisela will give us much-needed height and skill at the forward position," Landers said. "She impresses me in a variety of ways.

She has excellent mobility, a terrific touch and a very good repertoire of low-post moves. Perhaps even more exciting is her interest in continuing to discover how good she can really be. She has an outstanding foundation to build on, and I'm sure she'll continue to develop in every facet."

"Marisela has really grown in her two years here," Garden City head coach Alaura Sharp said. "She is exactly what every coach is looking for in a player...someone who will come in and do the work and even put in the extra time to help make sure they blossom into the player that they can become.

She's been an excellent representative of our program and has matured as a young woman during her time here, too. I'm excited she has the opportunity to continue her playing career and development at Georgia."

Rogriguez was named third-team All-State for Class 6A as a senior when she averaged 12.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg and 2.5 bpg while leading Garden City to its first state tournament appearance in 21 years.

Dawgs–Boise State Kickoff Set

FOOTBALL

Chick-fil-a_college_kickoffWhen the Boise State Broncos and the Dawgs take their respective fields for their spring football games this Saturday, each squad will be working hard to prepare for their marquee season-opening match-up in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in the Georgia Dome on September 3rd.

The game will be nationally telecast on ESPN. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. EST.

With both teams projected to enter the game nationally ranked, this will mark the fourth straight year the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game has hosted two teams in the Top 25 to open the season. Over the last three seasons, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game has hosted teams ranked No. 5, No. 7, No. 9, No. 16, No. 18 and No. 24.

“With Boise State coming in as the winningest team in the nation over the last 10 years and Georgia delivering one of the strongest recruiting classes in the country, this really is a compelling match-up,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO.

Each of the first three games was nationally telecast on ABC and each drew an on-location appearance by ESPN’s College GameDay show ­ marking the first time GameDay has started the season three straight years at the same event.

The game’s projected total team payout of $3.1 million ranks it higher than 18 of last year’s bowl games.

If history is any indicator, the winner of this year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will have taken the first step in putting together a successful season.

In 2008, No. 24 Alabama’s defeat of No. 9 Clemson propelled them 11 spots up the rankings on the way to an eventual No. 1 national ranking and BCS bowl berth. The No. 1 Crimson Tide took advantage of another appearance in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game to defeat No. 7 Virginia Tech in a game that started their national championship run and began Mark Ingram’s successful Heisman Trophy campaign.

The No. 16 LSU Tigers leveraged a victory over No. 18 North Carolina last year to pave the way for a 10-2 season that ended in a No. 8 final national ranking.

The 2011 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will mark only the second meeting all-time between the Broncos and Dawgs. Boise State visited Georgia in 2005, with Georgia earning a 48-13 win in Athens.

The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game was created by the Chick-fil-A Bowl in partnership with ESPN, as a BCS-style game to kick off the season matching two elite football programs on the first Saturday of every season.

About the Chick-fil-A Bowl:

The Chick-fil-A Bowl is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and hosts the longest-running rivalry series between the ACC and SEC.

Now in its 44th year, the Chick-fil-A Bowl has established itself as one of the nation’s elite bowl games with a string of 14 consecutive sellouts and has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the nation. Ten of the last 19 games have been decided by a touchdown or less.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl has disbursed more than $103 million in team payouts over its 43-year history and has increased team payout every year since 1996. The Bowl also leads all other bowl games in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $7 million to organizations in need since 2002.

Other events under the Chick-fil-A Bowl brand include the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge head coach and celebrity golf event each spring and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game season-opening game over Labor Day weekend.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Impact Of Losing Sturdivant

FOOTBALL

sturdivant_trintonKnee injuries are fairly common in football, one player sustaining three is not.

Senior left tackle Trinton Sturdivant is faced with yet another journey down the year long road to recovery following Saturday’s ACL tear. It’s a well worn path and he knows every bump along the way. The first two injuries were to his left knee, this time it’s the right one.

Sturdivant attended Anson High School in Wadesboro, North Carolina where the 6-5, 280 pound lineman became an Army All American and was recruited by nearly every major university in the country. He chose the Dawgs on April 16, 2006 and quickly took over the left tackle position after arriving on campus in the fall of 2007. The true freshman started 13 games and was honored by being named a Freshman All American as well as making the All SEC Freshman Team.

Sturdivant’s sophomore season looked bright and there was already talk of the NFL future that lay ahead. During pre-season camp his left knee exploded and in that instant his future changed. He missed the entire 2008 season.

DSC_0303The fall of 2009 saw the big man back on the field, his rehab complete. The only obstacle to overcome was the mental aspect of not knowing if the knee would hold up to contact. During the third quarter of the opening game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma the question was answered.

The play was to the left side and Sturdivant was all alone when the knee buckled under him.

The long, lonely hours of grueling rehab gave him less than forty five minutes of playing time.

DSC_0308The second surgery was performed using a different technique and the knee held up just fine as he played in 12 games, starting 7 of them at his usual left tackle position in 2010.

The question now is not can he fight back a third time, he’s proven that he is up to that task, but is the reward worth the effort? Is it time to hang up the knee braces and move on to another challenge?

The effects of multiple knee injuries will likely haunt him as he grows older.

What options do the Dawgs have to realign the offensive line?

DSC_5683The first is to move backup A. J. Harmon(#70, 6-5, 345) into the left tackle spot and leave everyone else where they have been all spring. Harmon is a rising redshirt junior who has played the position before but has only played in 7 games during his career. He missed the trip to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis due to academic problems.

The second option is to move Cordy Glenn (6-5, 348) from right tackle to the left side. He was the starting left guard last season before moving to right tackle this spring. The problem then becomes, who plays on the right side? The options there are Harmon or Austin Long (6-5, 304), Kolton Houston (6-5, 291) and incoming freshmen Watts Dantzler (6-7, 320), none of the latter three have ever taken a snap under game conditions.

The first two options involve moving the fewest players but offensive line coach Will Friend has stated that the best five will play and the only sure thing is that Ben Jones will be the center.

DSC_1545The most athletic lineman is sophomore Kenarious Gates (#72, 6-5, 328), who has worked all spring at the left guard position. The possibility of seeing Gates move out to tackle and Harmon, Houston or Chris Burnette (6-2, 313) play guard is also feasible. Sophomore Dallas Lee (6-4, 300) has suffered from asthma like symptoms most of the spring.

Senior Justin “Bean” Anderson (6-5, 342) has all but locked down the right guard position although the possibility exist that he could move to right tackle if Burnette or Lee show they are ready this fall.

With redshirt freshman Brent Benedict (6-5, 312) nearing a complete recovery from his own devastating knee injury and the arrival of freshmen tackles Zach DeBell (6-7, 290) and Xzavier Ward (6-7, 280) this fall, there will be plenty of available large bodies but very little experience to replace a potential All American like Sturdivant.

Will Friend has a lot of work to do, here’s my two cents.

Left TackleKenarious Gates / Zach DeBell / Xzavier Ward

Left GuardA. J. Harmon / Kolton Houston / Hunter Long

CenterBen Jones / Chris Burnette / David Andrews

Right GuardJustin Anderson / Dallas Lee / Brent Benedict

Right TackleCordy Glenn / Austin Long / Watts Dantzler

Phillips Drafted By San Antonio

BASKETBALL

Porsha Phillips, a consensus first-team All-SEC performer for the Lady Dawgs during the 2010-11 season, was drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the third round of the WNBA Draft today.

Phillips, a 6-1, forward, was the No. 30 overall selection. She watched the show at her home in Stone Mountain, Georgia, with her parents, James and Lue, and her brother Jamil. Her other brothers, professional baseball players Brandon and P.J., also were on the phone with the family.

"It's a dream come true," Phillips said. "I was just trying to be patient, have faith in God that I would be drafted and just wanted my name to show up. I was so excited. I actually got a call from head coach Dan Hughes before my name was announced on TV and he said 'Welcome to the Silver Stars.'

"I think I had a good college career, especially as a senior, and it was a lot of hard work," Phillips added. "I still think I have room to grow as a player and I'm excited about that challenge."

Phillips led the SEC in both rebounding and free throw percentage during the 2010-11 campaign. She also became the first Georgia player to average a double-double (10.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg) in nearly a quarter-century, since Katrina McClain did so in 1986-87 en route to winning National Player of the Year honors. Phillips grabbed 365 rebounds as a senior, the fifth-best effort in Lady Dawg history.

"Playing basketball professionally is a goal Porsha worked very hard to achieve," Andy Landers said. "I'm happy and excited that she'll have the opportunity to play at the next level."

With Phillips' selection, 13 Lady Dawgs have been chosen in the last 11 editions of the WNBA Draft, including eight first-rounder's. Twenty-one Georgia players have gone on to play in the league since its inception in 1997, including six during the 2010 campaign. All told, 34 Lady Dawgs have played professionally either in the U.S., Asia, Europe or South America.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sturdivant Tears Right ACL

FOOTBALL

DSC_5656Senior left tackle Trinton Sturdivant suffered the third major knee injury of his career during Saturday’s scrimmage at Sanford Stadium.

Director of sports medicine Ron Courson confirmed the injury and said that Sturdivant will undergo surgery sometime this week to repair the knee.

Sturdivant started 13 games his freshman season at left tackle and made the All SEC Freshman Team, he missed the 2008 season following a torn ACL in his left knee during fall camp.

DSC_0303In the 2009 season opener against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Sturdivant tore the ACL in his left knee a second time. On that play, Sturdivant was in an open area of the field and the knee just seemed to buckle under him. It was repaired using a different surgical technique the second time and has not been an issue since.

Sturdivant is a fifth year senior and would likely be granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA if he applies. That decision may not come until next spring since rehab on an ACL is normally at least a year. Following the second injury, Coach Richt said that the mental aspect of a long rehab is more difficult than the physical requirements.

Sturdivant has shown the mental strength to overcome two serious injuries, he will be challenged again.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Dawgs Hold Second Scrimmage Of Spring

FOOTBALL

The Dawgs held their second scrimmage of the spring at Sanford Stadium on Saturday just one week prior to the annual G-Day game.

The offense recorded five touchdowns on the day, all coming through the air, as Michael Bennett, Tavarres King, Orson Charles, Marlon Brown and Taylor Bradberry all caught touchdown passes. Brown and freshman tailback Brandon Harton led the team with four catches apiece. Bennett had 94 receiving yards including a 66-yard touchdown strike from Christian LeMay, and King had three grabs for 77 yards with a 45-yard touchdown reception.

Hutson Mason threw three of the touchdown passes, while Aaron Murray and LeMay threw one each. Mason went 12-of-19 for 192 yards, while Murray was 11-of-16 for 125 yards.

“The guys protected pretty well, and we threw and caught the ball well,” said coach Mark Richt. “The receivers are guys who will be able to make plays. Time will tell as to how well they will do in games, but I’ve seen enough receivers over the years to know that these guys can run the routes, get off jams, catch the ball, and block. I think they’ll be all right.”

Carlton Thomas led all rushers with 26 yards on eight carries. 

Shaun Williams and Richard Samuel each had seven tackles to pace the defense. Brandon Burrows had six tackles, including two sacks, and Williams and Chase Vasser each had an interception. 

“My goal this spring was to make sure that we are a physical football team and we are a team that is going to get after it every time we put the pads on,” Richt said. “I’ve seen that. They have really competed well and practiced hard. I just think everybody is getting after it.”

Georgia will practice three times next week before it wraps up spring drills Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m. with the annual G-Day Game at Sanford Stadium. Richt noted that the UGA players will draft the teams for this year’s G-Day Game.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Dawgs Prepare For Saturday Scrimmage

FOOTBALL

With temperatures in the 70s and clear skies with a light breeze blowing, the Dawgs practiced for 90 minutes on Thursday during its second session of the week.

Georgia has four practices remaining before the annual G-Day spring game arrives on Saturday, April 16.

“The defense won today, but I thought it was still a pretty spirited practice from both sides,” said coach Mark Richt. “The guys are starting to get tired out there with this being the tenth practice. But hopefully they will get revived on Friday and then be ready for the scrimmage on Saturday. I really appreciate the effort the coaches and staff have put out this spring. They have worked as hard as they can every day.”

In addition to the regular staff that accompanies the Dawgs during each practice at the Woodruff Practice Field, approximately 150 more guests were in attendance on Tuesday. Richt and his staff hosted their yearly University of Georgia faculty and staff appreciate day.

The group was invited to watch a portion of practice before getting to visit with the players they work with following the practice. The faculty and staff then got a tour of the new expansion at Butts-Mehre before sharing a meal with the coaching staff.

“This is our opportunity to tell the faculty how much we appreciate them and just thanks for all that they do,” Richt said. “So many people cooperate together to help get the job done with our players. We monitor our players the best we can, but many outside people are gracious enough to help us. We mostly get good reports and if someone gets going sideways, we like to know about it and get them back on track. Another key element of this is that the faculty gets to see what our guys go through day in and day out and understand more about the rigors that they go through playing football.”

The Dawgs return for a scrimmage at Sanford Stadium on Saturday morning.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Spring Practice Update

FOOTBALL

The Georgia offense won three of five head-to-head competitions with their defensive teammates during Tuesday's spring practice at the Woodruff Practice Fields. The Dawgs worked out for just over two hours in full pads.

"It was a very spirited practice today," head coach Mark Richt said. "We had a great, great day. The offense won the day for the first time this spring.

The offense won three of five competitions but the competition was very, very good and very, very close. The first three drills were decided on the final play."

Center Ben Jones was pleased that his side of the ball rallied after a decisive defeat a week ago.

"We were excited that we were able to come out and win today," Jones said.

"Last Tuesday, I think we were zero for six. No one likes to lose. I know Orson Charles got after it and really got the offense fired up to compete today. We won drills, but the competition was great. It's hard to win those drills. Some times you have to get eight yards on a third and eight and when you do, it gets everyone very excited."

Tuesday's practice was the ninth of 14 sessions before the annual G-Day spring game at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. The Dawgs will have an off day on Wednesday before returning to workouts on Thursday.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Tompkins & Leslie Announce Decisions

BASKETBALL

Thompkins, TreyMugUniversity of Georgia junior Trey Thompkins will enter the 2011 NBA Draft and also plans to hire an agent, effectively ending his career as an amateur, head coach Mark Fox announced today.

Additionally, UGA teammate Travis Leslie, also a junior, will add his name to the list of underclassmen in the NBA Draft but will not hire an agent, thus preserving his collegiate eligibility.

Thompkins, a 6-10 forward from Lithonia, Ga., earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors the past two years. He has led the Dawgs in scoring and rebounding each of his those years and will finish his UGA career with 1,396 points and 693 rebounds. Those figures rank 13th and 10th, respectively, on the school's career charts.

"I have spoken with my family and coaches about my situation, and I feel that it's best for me to forgo my senior season and enter the NBA Draft,"

Thompkins said. "I would just like to thank everyone who has supported me in this decision."

"We certainly appreciate Trey's contributions to the program and we wish him well in the pursuit of his dreams," Fox said.

Leslie, TravisMugLeslie, a 6-4 guard from Decatur, was a second-team All-SEC pick by the league's head coaches this past season. He averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 2011, second on the team behind Thompkins in both categories, and he also handed out 97 assists. Like Thompkins, he surpassed the 1,000-point mark in 2011 and finished the season with 1,099 points, which ranks 30th on the UGA career scoring chart.

"Travis has exercised his right to 'test the waters' as a junior," Fox said.

"We will help him manage that process in a timely manner."

The deadline for collegiate underclassmen to withdraw their names from the draft and preserve eligibility is May 8. The NBA Draft will take place June 23 in Newark, N.J.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Edwards Elected To Hall Of Fame

BASKETBALL

Teresa Edwards, who led Georgia’s Lady Dawg Basketball program to national prominence in the 1980s and is the only U.S. basketball player to participate in five Olympic Games, has been selected to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"It doesn't get any better than this," Edwards said. "There's no other place to go. My first hero was 'Dr. J' and my basketball hero is Michael Jordan. This all started with the boys in Cairo letting a girl play with them and now this girl is being inducted into a hall of fame alongside the greatest men's players of all time. So many people played a part in my journey and I hope each and every one of them knows how much I appreciate them. I feel like a kid all over again, and I'm a little nervous, too. It's like I'm going to be on the grandest of stages. I think I belong, but that doesn't mean I'm not nervous about being there."

Edwards is part of the 10-member Class of 2011 the Hall of Fame announced on Monday in Houston in association with the NCAA Men's Final Four. Edwards was one of six previously announced finalists elected along with players Dennis Rodman and Chris Mullin and coaches Herb Magee, Tara VanDerveer and Tex Winter. The additional inductees selected via committees are: ABA star Artis Gilmore, international honoree Arvydas Sabonis, veteran Thomas "Satch" Sanders and Harlem Globetrotter Reece "Goose" Tatum. They will be enshrined during ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on August 11-13.

"She's going in as part of a group, but in my mind she's a one and only," Georgia coach Andy Landers said. "Teresa is obviously one of the greatest players of all time, but I think what separates her is her competitiveness. Each and every time Teresa laced up those hightops there was only one thing on her mind – winning. We're so blessed to call her one of our own at Georgia."

Edwards remarkable career spanned three decades at the highest levels of competition.

In the summer of 1981 following her junior year at Cairo (Ga.) High School, Edwards became the youngest women's basketball player ever invited to compete in a USA Basketball national tournament when she played for the South team at the National Sports Festival. That began a long and unparalleled career representing the United States on the hardwood.

Edwards was named Georgia's all-classification Player of the Year in 1982 after leading Cairo High's Syrupmaids to the AAA state championship and a 30-1 record. That fall, she began a stellar collegiate career at the University of Georgia. Edwards helped lead the Lady Dawgs to their first-ever NCAA Final Four as a freshman in 1983, an NCAA runner-up finish in 1985 and SEC Championships in 1983, 1984 and 1986. Edwards was a two-time All-American and finished her collegiate career with 1,989 points, 653 assists and 342 steals. Georgia compiled a 116-17 record during her four seasons in Athens.

Edwards earned a spot on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team following her sophomore year at UGA and went on to compete in the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Games. She captured four Olympic Gold Medals ('84, '88, '96 and '00), as well as a Bronze in 1992, and holds the unique distinction of being both the youngest and oldest women's basketball player to win Olympic Gold.

Edwards also represented the U.S. in virtually every significant international competition for the rest of the 20th century. All told, she played in 216 games representing the U.S., scoring 2,000 points, handing out 890 assists, grabbing 576 rebounds and collecting 372 steals while shooting 50.2 percent from the field. The National Teams that Edwards played for compiled a 205-14 record.

Edwards' reputation transcended basketball. In 1996, she was the one competitor among the 10,318 athletes from 197 nations at the Centennial Olympics chosen to read the Athlete's Oath at the Opening Ceremony in Atlanta.

Edwards also enjoyed an ultra-successful professional career. She played in Italy, Japan, Spain, France and Russia before occupying a formative role in the advent of professional leagues in the U.S. Edwards was a member of the ABL's board of directors and served as a player/coach for the Atlanta Glory. She wrapped up her career with the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, Edwards received the WNBA's Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.

The Naismith honor represents the seventh Hall of Fame that will enshrine Edwards. She was a member of the inaugural class for UGA's all-sports Circle of Honor in 1995 and was inducted into the State of Georgia's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, the Grady County (Ga.) Sports Hall of Game in 2009, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Earlier this year, Edwards received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, which annually recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college athletics careers. She also was named the No. 22 greatest female athlete – and No. 2 basketball player – of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated.

Edwards will become the second University of Georgia basketball player in the Naismith Hall of Fame, joining 2006 inductee Dominique Wilkins.

Diamond Dawgs Ranked 30th

BASEBALL

With one of the nation’s toughest schedules and nine wins over ranked opponents, Georgia made its debut at No. 30 in the weekly Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s Top 30 poll Monday. Also, junior Tyler Maloof has been named the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week, the league announced.

The Dawgs completed a three-game Southeastern Conference series sweep of No. 24 Mississippi State this past weekend to even their record at 14-14 including 6-3 in the SEC. Currently in the rugged Eastern Division, they are one game behind No. 2 Vanderbilt (26-3, 7-2 SEC), No. 3 South Carolina (22-5, 7-2 SEC) and No. 4 Florida (24-5, 7-2 SEC).

Eighteen of Georgia’s games this season has come against ranked teams, and the Dawgs are 9-9 in those contests. That’s the most games versus Top 25 teams and the most wins of any team in the SEC. Up next, Georgia plays host to Charleston Southern in a two-game set starting Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Maloof leads the nation with 11 saves and is 11-for-11 in save opportunities this year. A 6-1, 185-pound native of Winder, Georgia, he is in his first season as the closer.

He registered three saves in helping Georgia post its first SEC sweep since 2009. In three appearances versus #24 MSU, he tossed 2.1 innings, did not allow any hits, runs or walks and struck out one.

In Friday’s win, he came on in the 9th with two on and nobody out in a 4-1 game and got a fielder’s choice and double play to get a save. On Saturday, Maloof came on in the 9th with a runner at second and two out in a 4-3 game, and he struck out Adam Frazier for the save. Then on Sunday, he pitched the 9th in a 4-1 game, retiring three straight hitters to get a save and clinch the sweep.

Maloof is the second Dawg pitcher to be honored by the SEC this season, joining Alex Wood who got it on March 14. This week, Maloof shares the SEC pitching award with Florida’s Hudson Randall who fired a four-hit shutout of Tennessee on 74 pitches.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Dawgs Defeat UT-Martin

SOFTBALL

Junior Ashley Razey went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in to lead the second-ranked Dawgs to a 6-0 victory over the University of Tennessee Martin on Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium in front of a crowd of 1,018.

With the victory, Georgia (32-4) completed a two-game series sweep UT Martin (20-14) and extended its NCAA Division I leading active home winning streak to 37 games.

From the circle, freshman Morgan Montemayor and senior Katie Murphy dealt the Skyhawks a one-hit shutout. Montemayor (16-2) earned the win after pitching the first six innings striking out seven, and she carried a no hitter into the fifth before Megan Latimer recorded a leadoff single. Murphy entered to pitch the seventh and retired UT Martin one-two-three to close out the contest. Skyhawk starter Kate Vanderham (3-5) pitched just 2.1 innings allowing four runs to suffer the loss.

Razey plated the first of her two RBI in the opening frame on a single to center that scored seniors Megan Wiggins and Brianna Hesson, who reached on a walk and a fielder's choice, respectively.

In the second, Georgia extended the lead to 3-0. Senior Laura Trout led off with a triple down the right field line, and two batters later, senior Taylor Schlopy picked up an RBI on a groundout to second base.

The Dawgs extended their advantage to 5-0 in the third inning. Hesson drew a one-out walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a double off the right center wall from Razey. After sophomore Maya Branch entered as a pinch runner, junior Kristyn Sandberg added a run-scoring single to shallow right.

In the fifth, Razey notched her fourth RBI on her second double of the game, this time a line shot to left center that scored Hesson from first. Hesson started the frame off with a single to left.

Sunday's game marked the midway point of a 10-game home stand for the Dawgs. The stretch of games at Jack Turner Stadium continues on Wednesday with a Southeastern Conference double header against 10th-ranked Tennessee. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Dawgs Hold First Scrimmage

FOOTBALL

The Dawgs scrimmaged at Sanford Stadium for 90 minutes on Saturday morning as the they continued preparations for the annual G-Day spring game on April 16.

“I thought we had an outstanding scrimmage today in regards to the guys playing with energy,” said head coach Mark Richt. “There was great competition throughout the scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”

Richt singled out several players who had particular strong outings. He mentioned redshirt freshman receiver Michael Bennett, junior receiver Marlon Brown and junior tight end Orson Charles as three of the players who stood out on offense.

“Michael Bennett did some things to catch my eye today,” Richt said, adding that Bennett had a touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. “Marlon also had a touchdown. He reached up and snatched it away from a defender, it was a great catch.”

He also noted the play of redshirt freshman walk-on tailback Brandon Harton. Harton, a native of Reidsville, Ga., made several impressive runs during the scrimmage, including a 65-yard touchdown run.

On defense, Richt said that sophomore outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and senior cornerback Brandon Boykin both made notable plays and that sophomore nose guard Kwame Geathers is showing more development in the middle.

“I thought Kwame had some nice plays out there,” said Richt. “Going against a guy like Ben Jones is not an easy task and Kwame handled it well today.”

Georgia wrapped up their scrimmage with a series of goal-line stands, which Richt said ended in a tie. But the defense won the tiebreaker to end an evenly matched battle on Saturday.

Richt noted that one of the best things to come out of the scrimmage was that no one was injured.

The Dawgs return to action on Tuesday at the Woodruff Practice Fields.