University of Georgia Athletics
Ware Shines in Georgia Debut
September 04, 2004 | Football
Sept. 4, 2004
Danny Ware had made history as a Georgia running back and he was coming out of the game. As the coaches sent in his backup, Thomas Brown, Ware got pats on the back from his teammates up and down the sideline.
But when Brown came up just inches short of the goal line on his subsequent rushing attempt, coaches John Eason and Ken Rucker yelled for Ware to return to the game. Then they yelled again. And again.
"I thought I was done for the day," Ware said. "I was over on the bench trying to get some water."
Luckily, Ware heard the coaches in time to get back into the game and leap into the end zone from a yard out. That capped an effort in which he rushed for 135 yards and scored three touchdowns, leading Georgia to a 48-28 win over Georgia Southern at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
It was historical enough that Ware, a true freshman from Rockmart, started at tailback for the Bulldogs. No rookie had started the season opener at that position since 1943 when Charles "Rabbit" Smith did so. Then by gaining 135 yards, Ware broke Georgia's 14-game drought of not having a 100-yard rusher. The three touchdowns were the most since Musa Smith scored thrice against Arkansas State in 2001.
| Danny Ware and Russ Tanner. Photo by Dave Marck. |
"It hasn't hit me yet," Ware said. "I'm sure when I see highlights of the game on ESPN that I'll get pretty excited. People have been comparing me to Herschel Walker, and I'm thinking, `I can't fit into those shoes.' I just wanted to run hard and make things happen."
He met each of those goals, especially the part about running hard. On several occasions, the first defender to reach Ware wasn't the one to bring him down. Ware likes contact and isn't shy about lowering his shoulder pads and dishing out some punishment.
"He's the type of back you love to have back there," center Russ Tanner said. "If you give him just a little hole, he can get into it and then break a tackle. If he keeps doing that, he'll be a good one."
"We have goals for running backs for every game, and one of them in YAC -- yards after contact," quarterback D.J. Shockley said. "Danny did a good job to keep running every time. It wasn't a surprise for us because he's done a good job in practice. For him, this first game was all about getting his confidence up."
"Danny ran beautifully," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "As the game wore on, he was breaking tackles even better."
| Ware at practice. Photo by Jamison Malcolm. |
Ware said he had been dreaming of his Georgia debut for more than a year. Ware initially signed with the Bulldogs in 2003, but had to attend Hargrave Military Academy when his academics came up short. He exited the Virginia prep school last December in time to join the Bulldogs for Capital One Bowl workouts. Ware also was able to go through all of Georgia's offseason strength and conditioning drills, spring practice, summer workouts and preseason camp -- all without missing a day with injury.
So when projected starter Kregg Lumpkin went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament on the first day of fall camp, Ware was ready to assume the No. 1 job.
"From the first day I went to Hargrave, I was mad at myself," Ware said. "I wanted to do everything I needed to do to get back here. I wanted to be here so bad."
It showed on Saturday. The first time Ware touched the ball, he gained five yards. On his third attempt, he went 10 yards for a touchdown. He added his second score on a 3-yard run on the Bulldogs' first drive of the third quarter.
"The first time I scored, I was excited enough to jump over the goalposts," Ware said. "I was so happy. It was hard to keep my composure."
The only drama remaining by the fourth quarter was whether he could eclipse the 100-yard plateau. When the Eagles pulled to within 41-28 in the fourth quarter, the No. 1 offense returned to the field. Ware's 14-yard run put him over the top, then he sealed it with a 27-yard scamper. He added his third touchdown moments later.
"When a guy runs as hard as Danny does, it makes you want to block even better," offensive guard Max Jean-Gilles said. "If he's going to give that kind of effort, then all of us can hold our block just a little longer. If you give him the right kind of blocking, he's going to take it to the house."
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
GA--Danny Ware 10-yard run (Andy Bailey kick), 4:32. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:16 time of possession. Key to the drive: Defensive end David Pollack blocked a punt, and receiver Reggie Brown had a 14-yard run and a 19-yard catch, the last putting the ball on the Eagles' 9-yard line. Score: Georgia 7-0.
Second Quarter
GS--Brandon Andrews 1-yard run (Jonathan Dudley kick), 10:30. Drive: 19 plays, 80 yards, 9:29 time of possession. Key to the drive: The Eagles converted on fourth-and-1 from the Bulldogs' 6 rather than kick a field goal. Score 7-7.
GA--Bailey 21-yard field goal, 2:40. Drive: 7 plays, 49 yards, 3:40 time of possession. Key to the drive: Tight end Martrez Milner had a 27-yard reception to the Eagles' 23. Score: Georgia 10-7.
GA--Bailey 31-yard field goal, :13. Drive: 5 plays, 7 yards, 1:07 time of possession. After defensive lineman Gerald Anderson's fumble recovery, receiver Fred Gibson had a 12-yard catch to the Eagles' 9. Score: Georgia 13-7.
Third Quarter
GA--Ware 3-yard run (Bailey kick), 12:05. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:55 time of possession. Key to the drive: Gibson had catches of 18 and 11 yards, and Ware had an 18-yard run to the Eagles' 3. Score: Georgia 20-7.
GA--Tyson Browning 72-yard punt return (Bailey kick), 10:49. Score: Georgia 27-7.
GS--Lynon Jefferson 22-yard pass from Trey Hunter ( Dudley kick), 4:44. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 6:05 time of possession. Key to the drive: Georgia Southern converted a fourth-and-1 near midfield to keep the march going. Score: Georgia 27-14.
GA--Thomas Brown 3-yard run (Bailey kick), 2:18. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 2:26 time of possession. Key to the drive: Gibson had a 49-yard catch to the Eagles' 15. Score: Georgia 34-14.
GA--R. Brown 43-yard pass from Greene (Bailey kick), :53. Drive: 3 plays, 44 yards, 1:06 time of possession. Key to the drive: Safety Thomas Davis set the Bulldogs up at midfield with an athletic interception. Score: Georgia 41-14.
Fourth Quarter
GS--Trey Hunter 2-yard run ( Dudley kick), 5:34. Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:37 time of possession. Key to the drive: Andrews had three runs covering 25 yards. Score: Georgia 41-21.
GS--Tim Gehrsitz 25-yard run ( Dudley kick), 3:27. Drive: 4 plays, 52 yards, 1:03 time of possession. Key to the drive: Hunter's 16-yard run put the ball on the Georgia 41. Score: Georgia 41-28
GA--Ware 1-yard run (Bailey kick), :52. Drive: 7 plays, 69 yards, 2:35 time of possession. Key to the drive: Ware had runs of 14, 14 and 27 yards to spark the touchdown march. Score: Georgia 48-28.
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