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Georgia fans thankful for spring practice
Published February 26, 2006
With all the success enjoyed by the University of Georgia football program, its no wonder that Bulldog fans are getting excited with the start of spring practice.
Several questions look to be at least partially answered beginning March 4 when the Dogs begin offseason drills. Who will be the quarterback? Does UGA have the talent to reclaim the title in the most competitive division in college football? How will Mark Richt replace a loss of six defensive and seven offensive starters?
“We’ve got a lot of good players coming back,” Richt told a media gathering last week. “We’re losing a lot of good players and a lot more seniors than we lost last year, but we have talented guys who are excited about their opportunity.
“When one guy leaves, another one steps up. Will they produce as well and will the seniors lead as well? That’s the big question.”
Georgia is enjoying one of the finest runs in the program’s history, and the returning Bulldogs are accustomed to double-digit wins. Dating back to 2002, Georgia has posted 44 victories, has won two SEC championships and played for another, and has been a constant fixture in the national top 10. So as the Bulldogs embark on the start of the 2006 season with spring practice, their goals remain the same.
“Every year is a new challenge,” Richt said. “The league is very tough and there are so many close games. You can be a heck of a team and lose three or four games by one or two points and people don’t think highly of you. Our players and coaches believe we’ll be challenging for the title every year. That’s the goal.”
Another goal for Richt and his staff will be to replace D.J. Shockley at quarterback. The spring practice depth chart lists senior Joe Tereshinski as No. 1, followed in order by redshirt sophomore Blake Barnes, redshirt freshman Joe Cox and freshman Matthew Stafford, the much-heralded prep phenom from Texas. Stafford will participate in spring drills and give the coaches an idea of his potential. He passed for more than 4,000 yards as a high school senior.
The team’s top two rushers from 2005 return to the fold in junior tailbacks Thomas Brown and Danny Ware. Brown ran for 736 yards last fall, while Ware picked up 492 yards.
Mohamed Massaquoi will be back to pull in passes from whoever wins the quarterback job.
As a freshman, Massaquoi caught 38 aerials for 505 yards and two touchdowns.
Georgia has 14 days of drills scheduled, culminating with the annual G-Day game at noon on April 8.
The glorified practice will probably attract one of the biggest crowds in recent memory since the Dogs will have so many new faces on display, especially at quarterback.
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