University of Georgia Athletics
No. 4 Bulldogs Back In Athens
October 17, 2005 | Football
Oct. 17, 2005
| ||||||||||||
|
Rankings, Radio, and TV
| National Rankings: Radio: | National TV: TV Replay: Internet Broadcast: |
Headlines
Bulldogs Back In Athens
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After a successful three-game roadtrip, fourth-ranked Georgia returns to Sanford Stadium for the first time since Sept. 17th and faces the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-4, 0-3 SEC). At 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the SEC, the Bulldogs look to take a step closer to returning to Atlanta for another SEC Championship game appearance.
In fact, the Bulldogs last league title came in 2002 when it posted a 30-3 win over the Razorbacks. Last week, Georgia posted a 34-17 win over Vanderbilt while Arkansas fell by the same score at home to #21 Auburn.
Georgia-Arkansas Series
The Bulldogs own a 7-3 edge over the Razorbacks including winning the last four meetings. Last year, Georgia defeated Arkansas 20-14 in Fayetteville after UA carried a 14-10 lead to halftime.
Arkansas will be making only its third trip to Athens, and the Razorbacks are 1-1 here in Sanford Stadium. UA won 20-10 in 1993 while Georgia claimed the 2001 meeting, 34-23. The first four meetings in the series came in four different bowl games: 1969 Sugar Bowl (16-2 UA); the 1976 Cotton Bowl (UA 31-10); 1987 Liberty Bowl (UGA 20-17); and the 1991 Independence Bowl (UGA 24-15).
Rushing To A Conclusion
One of the storylines Saturday will be the rushing attacks of both squads as the Razorbacks lead the SEC and rank sixth nationally by averaging 263.3 yards a game. They have a pair of talented freshman in Darren McFadden (82.0 yds/g) and Felix Jones (62.0) while the Bulldogs counter with sophomores Thomas Brown (78.6) and Danny Ware (47.7). Georgia ranks second in the league in rushing at 189.7 yards a game.
However defensively, the Bulldogs rank second in the SEC and eighth nationally by allowing just 91.2 rushing yards a game while Arkansas' defense is 11th in the league at stopping the run (189.5).
Bulldogs Have Top Five Defense
Through six games Georgia's opponents have scored 76 points. Georgia's Scoring Defense ranks 5th nationally at 12.7 points a game. Here's a few notes on how and when the opponents have scored.
*Boise St. (13): UGA led 38-0 before BSU scored
*South Carolina (15): An INT Return for a TD
*La.-Monroe (7): Recovered onside kick to start 2nd half and compiled a 53-yard TD drive
*Miss. State. (10): A field goal on its opening drive; A late fourth-quarter TD with Georgia up 23-3
*#8 Tennessee (14): INT Ret. set up 1-yard TD drive; A 24-yard TD pass on final play of the game
*Vanderbilt (17): 3 scoring drives of at least 50 yards including a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:54. After the game, Georgia coach Mark Richt said the Commodores were the best offense they had seen this season.
They Wrote It...
"From D.J. Shockley's tool belt hangs a great variety of implements, more than enough to get him any number of union jobs. Consider his outing Saturday night at Vanderbilt, where once he got into rhythm, Shockley's biggest decision was which tool to wield. His first eight completions, for example, found eight different sets of hands. A total of 10 different receivers crowded onto the Georgia stat sheet."
- Steve Hummer. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 16, 2005
Silver Anniversary of Championship
The 2005 season marks the 25th anniversary of Georgia's national championship team that posted a perfect 12-0 mark. The 1980 team culminated the season with a 17-10 win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. A reunion will be held at the final home game (Nov. 19 vs. Kentucky).
Head Coach Mark Richt
In 2005, he has led Bulldogs to a 6-0 start for the second time in his tenure...Current streak of three straight years with a top 10 finish in the national rankings, a first for the Bulldogs since the 1980-83 seasons...Final ranking of 6th (Coaches), 7th (AP) after going 10-2 in 2004...Final ranking of 6th (Coaches), 7th (AP) after going 11-3 in 2003 including a share of the 2003 SEC Eastern Division title...Named the 2002 SEC Coach of the Year after directing the Bulldogs to the SEC title, the first for Georgia since 1982...Set a school record with a 13-win season in 2002, capped by a Nokia Sugar Bowl victory over Fla. State...In 2001, posted best record by a first-year coach at Georgia since 1920 when Herman Stegeman went 8-0-1, Richt's Bulldogs posted an 8-4 mark...Came to UGA from Fla. State (1990-2000), serving as the offensive coordinator from 1994-2000.
>> Coach Richt's Complete Bio and Stats
Georgia in the Top 25 Polls in 2004/2005
At 6-0, Georgia is back in the top five. The Bulldogs were ranked in the top 10 in at least one of the national polls every week during the 2004 season. In fact, Georgia's #3 preseason ranking in 2004 was the best since the 2002 SEC Champion squad was a consensus #3 in the final polls after going 13-1 and winning the Nokia Sugar Bowl. DID YOU KNOW? After going 10-2 in 2004, Georgia secured its third straight top 10 finish, something they hadn't done since 1980-83.
| 2005 | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |||||||||||||||
| pre. | 6 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | 4 | Final | |||||
| AP | 13 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Coaches | 13 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Harris | NP | NP | NP | NP | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| FWAA | 14 | NP | NP | NP | NP | NP | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||
Offense
Steady Shockley At The Controls
Senior D.J. Shockley has been named to the 11-man AFCA National Good Works Team
*Owns a 6-0 career record as a starter
*Leads SEC, 13th nationally in Pass Efficiency (155.1)
*First Bulldog rookie starting QB to lead his team to a 6-0 start since John Lastinger in 1982. He directed Georgia to an undefeated regular season (11-0) before falling to Penn. State in the Sugar Bowl.
*Last week, threw 3 TD passes on 3rd down scrambles in 34-17 road win over Vanderbilt (10-, 6- and 18-yarders)
*Led Georgia to its first road win over a top 10 team since 2001 as Bulldogs beat #8 Tennessee in front of 108,470; Went 16-for-27 for 207 yards; Had 51 yards rushing; Forced UT to jump offsides four times
*Against MSU, set career highs, going 21-for-36 for 312 yards
*Established records in his collegiate debut as a starter; Accounted for a school record six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) and tied the school mark for TD passes in the 48-13 thrashing of #18 Boise State
As a three-year backup to the nation's all-time winningest quarterback in David Greene, Shockley entered the 2005 season with 26 games and no starts. Here's a look at his career numbers.
2002-04: 67-133 for 967 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs; 329 yards rushing, 76 atts., 3 TDs.
2005: 89-154 for 1,464 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs; 224 yards rushing, 43 atts., 3 TDs
Total: 156-287 for 2,431 yards, 21 TDs, 8 INTs; 553 yards rushing, 119 atts., 6 TDs
Behind Shockley, there are two backups who attempted their first collegiate passes (both completions) in the season opening rout of #18 Boise State playing the entire fourth quarter. Junior Joe Tereshinski III had played sparingly at QB in his career. However, he has been a vital part of special teams in his first two seasons and has played wide receiver on the scout team. For his career, Tereshinski is 8-of-14 for 116 yards and no TDs. Redshirt freshman Blake Barnes made his debut in the final series of the season opener. For his career, he is 1-for-1 for 6 yards and no TDs.
Paving the Way for the SEC's Top Offense
The starting lineup of tackles Daniel Inman and Dennis Roland, guards Max Jean-Gilles and Nick Jones and the center rotation of Russ Tanner and Ryan Schnetzer have a combined 138 career starts.
*Anchor the Bulldogs who lead the SEC in Total Offense (454.0/g), 2nd in Rushing (189.7/g) and 1st in Passing (264.3).
*Has allowed only 8 sacks in 169 pass attempts, which is 3rd fewest in the SEC.
*Three Bulldogs have earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week Honors this year (Roland vs. USC, Inman vs. La.-Monroe & Vandy; Jean-Gilles vs. #8 Tennessee).
*Helped offense tally 198 yards rushing on 42 attempts at #8 Tennessee who was ranked fourth nationally in rushing defense at 67.2 ypg.
Big Targets Have Been Key Options
Junior tight ends Leonard Pope and Martrez Milner have combined for 24 catches for 477 yards and 3 TDs.
*The 6-8, 250-pound Pope, ranks 2nd on the team with 14 rec. (225 yards; 1 TD)
*Led the Bulldogs against #8 Tennessee with 4 receptions for 70 yards.
* The 6-4, 250-pound Milner, ranks 4th with 10 rec.; 2nd in yards at 252; 2 TDs.
*Career-best and team-high 111 yards receiving on only three catches in season-opening win over #18 Boise State including a 56-yard TD, which is the longest scoring play of the year.
The Bulldogs have utilized a talented tight end duo just about every year since 1997. Several of these former Bulldogs now star in the NFL including three who have been on Super Bowl teams. In fact, Jermaine Wiggins and Ben Watson have won championships with the New England Patriots.
1997: Wiggins, Larry Brown: 31 of 209 rec. (15%), 4 TDs
1998: Wiggins & Brown: 56 of 190 rec. (29%), 3 TDs
1999: Randy McMichael, Jevaris Johnson: 65 of 221 rec. (29%), 5 TDs
2000: McMichael & Johnson: 43 of 181 rec. (24%), 1 TD
2001: McMichael & Watson: 35 of 204 rec. (17%), 2 TDs
2002: Ben Watson: 31 of 257 (12%), 3 TDs
2003: Watson, Robert Brannon, Pope & Milner: 29 of 274 (11%), 2 TDs
2004: Pope & Milner: 29 of 201 (14%), 6 TDs
2005: Pope & Milner: 24 of 98 (24%), 3 TDs
Running A Balanced Attack
Georgia's rushing offense ranks second in the SEC (189.7/g) and the Bulldogs have an assortment of weapons. The most impressive effort of the year came in the road win over #8 Tennessee when they gained 198 yards against the nation's fourth ranked rushing defense. Here's a look at the game-by-game leaders and season highlights.
BSC: QB D.J. Shockley 85 yds, 1 TD
USC: Thomas Brown, 144 yds, 1 TD
LM: Danny Ware, 109 yds, 0 TD
MSU: Ware, 42 yds, 0 TD
UT: Brown, 94 yards, 1 TD
VU: Brown, 91 yards, 0 TD
*Brown gained 73 of his yards at #8 UT by carrying the ball all nine times on a nine-play drive capped by an 18-yard scamper to make it 27-7.
*Ware notched his first 100-yard game of the year and fifth of his career when he gained 109 yards on 13 attempts vs. La.-Monroe.
*Brown ran for a career-high 144 yards on 20 carries with 1 TD vs. USC. It was his fifth career 100-yard game.
*Five current Bulldogs have started a game (Brown, Ware, Kregg Lumpkin, seniors Tyson Browning and Tony Milton).
*In the win over BSU, the trio of Brown, Ware and Lumpkin combined for 82 yards on 19 carries, however the leading rusher happened to be senior QB D.J. Shockley (5 rushes for 85 yards, 1 TD).
Also, Georgia's fullback, redshirt freshman Brannan Southerland, has garnered praise from the coaching staff for his play as a first-year starter. He has proven to be a solid blocker, short-yardage runner and capable option out of the backfield. Junior starting fullback Des Williams was lost for the year with a torn pectoral muscle in summer workouts
DID YOU KNOW? For the last eight years, Georgia has had a different rushing leader. Thomas Brown could become the first Bulldog to end this stretch since Robert Edwards in 1996-97.
Veteran McClendon Headlines Young Group
Senior Bryan McClendon waited patiently behind eventual NFL draft picks Reggie Brown (Philadelphia, 2nd Round) and Fred Gibson (Pittsburgh, 4th round) for the better part of three seasons. This year, McClendon leads the team with a career-best 18 catches for 264 yards and 1 TD.
McClendon made one of the biggest catches of the season against South Carolina. He was on the receiving end of a 27-yard strike from D.J. Shockley on 3rd-and-22 from the Georgia 8 yard line late in the game that resulted in a first down and helped clinch the win. His first career TD reception came in the road win over Vanderbilt this year. It was his 38th career catch. The 37 catches without a TD was the most by a Bulldog in records dating back to 1974!
Fifteen different Bulldogs have caught a pass this season including seven receivers.
The highlights for some of them include:
*Redshirt freshman Kenneth Harris (8 rec., 186 yards, 1 TD) caught a 40-yard TD on his very first play on the field against #18 Boise State.
*True freshman Mohamed Massaquoi (12 rec., 177 yards, 1 TD) notched his first career TD against Vanderbilt, a diving six-yarder on 3rd and goal
*Junior Sean Bailey (7 rec., 168 yards, 2 TDs) tied his career-long with a 53-yard reception against Vanderbilt.
Harris, McClendon and Bailey have combined for 10 catches that have covered 25+ yards. Harris has four of them while McClendon and Bailey have three apiece.
Defense
Junkyard Dawgs
Secondary coach Willie Martinez was promoted to defensive coordinator for 2005 and the defense is as good as ever. Since 2001, a total of 17 former Bulldog defenders have moved on to the NFL (6 off the 2001 team, 4 from 2002, 3 from 2003 and 4 from the 2004 squads).
| Year | Scoring Def. | NCAA Rank | Total Def. | NCAA Rank | TO Margin | NCAA Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 18.9 pts/game | 17th | 361.5 yards | 49th | +1 | 53rd |
| 2002 | 15.1 pts/game | 4th | 303.5 yards | 15th | +8 | 32nd |
| 2003 | 14.5 pts/game | T2nd | 276.9 yards | 4th | +11 | 14th |
| 2004 | 16.5 pts/game | 9th | 288.9 yards | 8th | -2 | t73th |
| 2005 | 12.7 pts/game | 5th | 286.3 yards | 11th | +9 | 3rd |
Look Who's Tackling
Don't worry about what you lost, realize what you have. Coming in to the 2005 season, the pundits felt the Bulldog defense would slip with the loss of first-rounders David Pollack and Thomas Davis and second-rounder Odell Thurman and coordinator Brian Van Gorder to the NFL. However, this year's unit, led by junior DE Quentin Moses and senior safety Greg Blue are having All-Star seasons. Moses has been the SEC Lineman of the Week twice this season (vs. MSU & Vandy).
2004
David Pollack: 12.5 sacks, 17.5 TFL
Thomas Davis: 81 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT
Odell Thurman: 65 tackles, 3 sacks, 11 TFL
2005
Quentin Moses: team-high 7 sacks, 12.5 TFLs
Greg Blue: team-high 51 tackles, 2 INTs
*Tony Taylor, Jarvis Jackson, Danny Verdun
*All have started at MLB due to various injuries Wheeler: Combined 79 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 TFL
Oskie! Jennings Joins The Club
Georgia had just five interceptions in 2004, the fewest in records going back to 1948. Well, the Bulldogs have already passed that number with 10 INTs including four picks against Boise State in the opener. The four INTs against the Broncos were the most since a 1999 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville. Last week against Vanderbilt, senior CB Tim Jennings became the latest Bulldog and final member of the starting secondary to notch an INT this year.
The newest member of the starting secondary, junior Tra Battle, a one-time walk-on and high school QB, is having his finest season. He has stepped in at rover and is tied with Blue with two interceptions. Battle ranks second on the team in tackles with 36.
"GTBB" = Get The Ball Back
10 Bulldog Interceptions This Season
*Tra Battle and *Greg Blue: 2 each; Paul Oliver, *DeMario Minter, Tony Taylor, *Dannell Ellerbe, *Thomas Flowers, Tim Jennings: 1 each
*Career first
Linebacker Rotation
The Georgia linebacking corps, now under the direction of John Jancek, started six different trios during the 2004 season and no player started every game. This season, it has been more of the same due to injuries with sophomore Brandon Miller the lone exception. The Bulldogs have used the same starting lineup at linebacker in only three games this season (Miller-SLB, Tony Taylor-MLB and Jarvis Jackson-WLB). Taylor, Jackson and Danny Verdun Wheeler have all missed games due to various ailments.
Jackson returned to a starting spot versus #8 Tennessee and responded with eight tackles. Jackson sustained a thumb injury versus USC on Sept. 10th, had surgery Sept. 13th and returned for some action against Miss. State on Sept. 24th. Jackson ranked among the team leaders in tackles through the first two games including a career-high 10 against USC.
While he was out, Verdun Wheeler, who led the linebackers with nine starts last year, moved back in to a starting role Against La.-Monroe, he posted a career-high 11 tackles. The top tackler among linebackers was Taylor. However, he injured his elbow in the first half against #8 Tennessee and has not yet returned. Taylor missed all of 2004 with a knee injury.
Georgia's reserve linebackers who have seen some action include redshirt freshman Dannell Ellerbe, true freshman Marcus Washington, junior Olaolu Sanni-Osomo and senior Jamario Smith.
Did You Know?
The 2003 eventual co-national champion LSU Tigers are the only team to score more than 30 points in a game against the Bulldogs in the Richt era. Ten of those 34 points in the 2003 SEC Championship Game came on a safety and an interception return for a touchdown.
Plugging The Middle
Senior tackles Gerald Anderson and Kedric Golston, the anchors of Georgia's defensive front with 50 career starts, are now both sidelined. Anderson (concussion) got injured in the Miss. State game, played briefly against UT but then missed the Vanderbilt game. Golston injured his elbow in the second quarter of the Vandy game. Both are expected to be out for the Arkansas game.
The Bulldogs now turn to junior Ray Gant, senior Darrius Swain, junior Dale Dixson and true freshman Jeffrey Owens to fill in. Gant and Swain are the only two that have ever started and Gant is the only one to have done that this season.
Paper Or Plastic?
The Bulldogs have registered 17 sacks and junior ends Quentin Moses and sophomore Charles Johnson have combined for 10 of them. Johnson and Moses combined for one of the most memorable moments by the defense this season. Against La.-Monroe, Moses sacked QB Steven Jyles near the goal line and caused a fumble which rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Johnson for a touchdown. Johnson came up with a big play at #8 Tennessee, getting a sack, forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble on the same play.
Moses, a two-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week recipient this season, has 16 career sacks including 7 this year. The 16 career sacks leads all activce SEC players. Also, senior Will Thompson, granted a sixth-year by the NCAA after a medical redshirt in 2003, has 10.5 career sacks.
GEORGIA SACKS IN 2005
Boise State none
South Carolina 4 for - 32 yards
La.-Monroe 3 for - 23 yards
@ Miss. State 4 for - 27 yards
@ #8 Tennessee 2 for -16 yards
@ Vanderbilt 4 for -33 yards
Total 17 for -131 yards
Defensive Touchdowns
Georgia has scored nine defensive touchdowns in the Mark Richt era. The Bulldogs have scored 4 TDs at home and 5 on the road.
2001 (2): Jermaine Phillips 82-yard INT Ret. @ Ole Miss; Tim Wansley 28-yard INT Ret. @ Ga. Tech
2002 (4): David Pollack INT in endzone @ USC; Kentrell Curry 78-yard INT Ret. vs. New Mexico St.; Tim Jennings 64-yard INT Ret. vs. Ole Miss; Bruce Thornton 71-yard INT Ret vs. FSU @ Nokia Sugar Bowl
2003 (2): Sean Jones 92-yard Fumble Ret. @ Tennessee; Odell Thurman 99-yard INT Ret. vs. Auburn
2005 (1): Charles Johnson Fumble Rec. in endzone vs. Boise St.
Special Teams
Coutu Puts it Through
Sophomore Brandon Coutu leads the SEC in Scoring and ranks 15th nationally with 61 points. He earned the starting place-kicking job this season and has made 15 of 19 FG attempts in his career including 13-for-16 this year. Coutu has made seven straight field goals. He is 22-for-22 in PAT attempts too.
*Accounted for 10 points in road win over Vanderbilt, 2 FGs, 4 PATs
*Tallied 8 points in the road win over #8 Tennessee, 2 FGs, 2 PATs
*Scored 11 points in the road win over Miss. State; 3-for-5 in FG (Misses from 41 and 53 yards in rainy, windy conditions)
*Career-high 14 points in the win over La.-Monroe (3 FGs, 5 PATs), and he nailed a career-best 58-yard field goal. The 58-yarder is the longest in school history without a tee (The NCAA did not allow a kicking tee after the 1988 season) and the third longest overall. It was the longest since Kevin Butler's SEC record-tying and Bulldog record 60-yarder to beat Clemson in 1984. Coutu's field goal was the longest made by an SEC kicker since Butler's against the Tigers.
*12 points in the season-opening win over Boise State, 2 FGs, 6 PATs.
Until the final FG in the Georgia-Georgia Tech matchup last season, sophomore Andy Bailey had taken every attempt for the Bulldogs. However, Coutu got a chance against the Jackets in the fourth quarter and booted a 44-yarder to help Georgia to a 19-13 win. Coutu had handled kickoff duties all year. He was 1-for-2 in field goals at the Outback Bowl.
In 2004, Bailey ended up as the fourth-highest scorer in the SEC with a 7.1 average (78 points). He was 14-of-20 FGs including making a career-long 46-yarder versus Kentucky.
Senior snapper Brian Jordan is in his third year as a starter while senior Lee Jackson is again the holder and backup punter. Jordan recovered a fumble after a Bulldog punt in the La.-Monroe game.
Longest Field Goals in Georgia Bulldog History
*60 Kevin Butler vs. Clemson in 1984
59 Kevin Butler vs. Ole Miss in 1982
58 Brandon Coutu vs. La.-Monroe in 2005
58 Allan Leavitt vs. Vanderbilt in 1976
*Shares SEC Record with Fuad Reveiz (Tennessee vs. Ga. Tech in 1982); Chris Perkins (Florida vs. Tulane in 1984)
Kicker Comparison
Former Bulldog All-SEC place-kicker Billy Bennet (2000-03) ranks second in NCAA history among kickers with 409 points. Current place-kicker Brandon Coutu is on pace to better Bennett's performance from his sophomore season .
Bennett in 2001 (12 games): 85 points, 17-for-25 FG, LG-55; 34x34 PATs
Coutu in 2005 (6 games): 61 points, 13-for-16 FG, LG-58; 22x22 PATs
Ely-Kelso Handling the Punts
Junior punter Gordon Ely-Kelso continues to be a strength in Georgia's special teams. Ely-Kelso and the Bulldogs rank third in the SEC in Punting with a 41.1 average and Net Punting Average at 37.7.
In Georgia's 17-15 win over South Carolina, the Athens, Ga., native had five punts for a 44.8 avg. with a 60-yarder and four inside the 20.
In Georgia's 27-14 road win over #8 Tennessee, had six punts for a 42.5 avg., with three inside the 20 including one downed at the 1 and one at the 2.
Ely-Kelso's Career: 142 punts, 5,636 yards, 39.7 avg., 45 Inside 20
Flowers Leads Georgia Return Men
Sophomore Thomas Flowers has returned punts for Georgia's again this season while senior Bryan McClendon, Flowers and sophomore Danny Ware have been handling kickoff return duties.
Flowers again leads the SEC and is ranked 9th nationally with a 16.3yards/punt return while McClendon is averaging 19.2 yards on kickoff returns. Flowers biggest punt return of the year came at #8 Tennesssee when he scampered for a 54-yard TD to give the Bulldogs a 20-7 lead in the fourth quarter. For the game, he had two returns for 66 yards (33.0 avg.) and earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The punt return for a TD was the first surrendered by the Vols since 2001 when Georgia's Damien Gary took one back 72 yards.
Georgia ranks 2nd in the SEC in punt returns (16.3) but 11th in kickoff returns at 17.5 yards/return.
Bulldog Blocks and Special Teams TDs
Georgia has blocked 11 Punts, 8 Field Goals and 2 PATs in the Richt era and converted them in to 74 points.
2005: Blocked 1 Punt and turned it in to 7 points.
2004: Blocked 2 Punts and turned them in to 7 Points.
2003: Blocked 4 FGs, 2 Punts and 1 PAT and turned them in to 17 points.
2002: Set School record: Blocked 5 Punts and 4 FGs and turned them in to 40 points.
2001: Blocked 1 Punt and 1 PAT and turned them in to 3 points.
Current Bulldogs who have blocked a punt or field goal include:
Tyson Browning: Blocked a punt vs. Vanderbilt in 2005.
Kedric Golston: Blocked a PAT vs. LSU in 2003 SEC Championship Game.
Bryan McClendon: Blocked a punt vs. Georgia Tech in 2003.
Overall, the Bulldogs have 8 Special Teams touchdowns in the Richt era plus a safety.
Current Bulldogs who have a Special Teams TD include:
Thomas Flowers: 54-yard punt return at #8 Tennessee in 2005
Tyson Browning: 72-yard punt return vs. Georgia Southern in 2004
Other Items of Note
A Winning Legacy
The 2005 Georgia senior class owns a 40-6 career record, including 3-0 in bowl games.
The best four-year record was by the Class of 1983 that went 43-4-1 including a national championship (1980) and three straight SEC titles (1980-82). The Class of 1983 went 2-2 in bowl games.
Georgia's only senior class to go 4-0 in bowl games was the Class of 2000 under former head coach Jim Donnan. That group included current Pro Bowl stars Marcus Stroud (Jaguars) and Richard Seymour (Patriots) and won two Outback Bowls, one Peach Bowl and the O'ahu Bowl.
This year's group of seniors could become just the second class to finish ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 four consecutive years along with the group from 1983.
Overtime History For the Bulldogs
Since overtime was first used in 1996, the Bulldogs have been involved in five of these games including two in bowl games, and they are 3-2.
1996 (Nov. 16): Georgia d. Auburn 56-49 in 4OT in Auburn, Ala.
1999 (Nov. 27): Ga. Tech d. Georgia 51-48 in Atlanta
2000 (Jan. 1): Georgia d. Purdue 28-25 to win Outback Bowl (Tampa)
2000 (Nov. 11): Auburn d. Georgia 29-26 in Auburn, Ala.
2004 (Jan. 1): Georgia d. Purdue 34-27 to win Capital One Bowl (Orlando)
Notes from these Overtime Games
*The 1996 UGA-Auburn game in Auburn was the first in SEC history to go to overtime.
*The 1999 UGA-Ga. Tech game in Atlanta, Kendrell Bell blocked Luke Magnet's first 38-yard field goal in overtime but since it was third down and the Yellow Jackets recovered, they got to kick it again and this time he made a 38-yarder. Overall, the teams combined for a Georgia record 1,097 yards of total offense. Georgia had the first possession in OT and a Quincy Carter pass was intercepted in the endzone.
*Against Purdue at the 2000 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Georgia set a record for the largest comeback in bowl history along with in school history as it once trailed 25-0 in the second quarter. Purdue missed a 43-yarder in OT and then Hap Hines made a 21-yarder for the win.
*In the 2000 UGA-Auburn game in Auburn, it marked the 1st time in 9 years that the home team won. Georgia got a 25-yard FG from Billy Bennett in OT but the Tigers answered with a TD for the win.
*Georgia built a 24-0 lead only to see Purdue cut it to 14 by halftime and then tie it at 24-all with nine seconds left. In overtime, Kregg Lumpkin plunged in from one yard out for the go-ahead TD and then the Bulldog defense held as Tony Taylor intercepted a pass on fourth and goal at the four.
Bulldog Game Captains
BSU: Dennis Roland, OT and D.J. Shockley, QB (offense), Gerald Anderson, NT (defense), DeMario Minter, SCB (special teams); Honorary Captain: Charlie Dean, Safety (1981-83)
USC: Max Jean-Gilles, OG (O), Quentin Moses, DE and Greg Blue, FS (D) and Tony Taylor, MLB (ST); Honorary Captain: Jimmy Harper, QB (1952-55)
ULM: Russ Tanner, C and Bryan McClendon, SE (O), Tim Jennings, CB (D) and Mike Gilliam, CB (ST); Honorary Captain: Ronnie Harris, CB (1981-82)
MSU: Ryan Schnetzer, C (O), Greg Blue, FS (D), Kedric Golston, DT (D) and Brian Jordan, SN (ST)
UT: D.J. Shockley, QB (O), Greg Blue, FS & Kedric Golston, DT (D) and Bryan McClendon, SE (ST)
VU: Max Jean-Gilles, OG (O), Kedric Golston, DT and DeMario Minter, SCB (D), and Gordon Ely-Kelso, P (ST)
UA: TBA, Honorary Captain: Tommy Lawhorne, LB (1965-67)
Points Off Turnovers
Georgia has scored 53 points off 18 turnovers in 2005 while its opponents have just 13 points off 9 Bulldog miscues. Georgia is 2nd in the SEC and ranks 5th nationally with a +9 Turnover Margin. Georgia's defense is tied for first in the SEC (UF) with 10 interceptions while the 18 turnovers has passed last year's output.
Last year, the Bulldogs ranked 6th in the SEC with a -2 Turnover Margin. In 2004, Georgia scored 58 points off 17 turnovers while opponents managed 46 points off 19 Bulldog turnovers.
#18 Boise St.: UGA converts 4 INTs, 2 Fumbles in to 24 points; BSU got no points off 1 Bulldog Fumble.
S. Carolina: UGA converts 2 INTs in to 3 points; USC got 6 points off 2 Bulldog INTs.
La.-Monroe: UGA converts 1 INT, 3 Fumbles in to 20 points; ULM got no points off 2 Bulldog Fumbles.
Miss St.: UGA converts 1 INT, 1 Fumble in to 3 points; MSU got no points off 1 Bulldog Fumble.
#8 Tenn.: UGA converts 1 INT, 2 Fumbles in to 3 points; UT got 7 points off 1 Bulldog INT and 1 Fumble.
Vandy: UGA converts 1 INT in to 0 points (end of game, downs) VU got no points off 1 Bulldog INT.
Off to a Good Start: Reviewing The First Possession
Georgia has scored a TD on 3 of its 6 opening drives this season while Miss. State is the only opponent to score on its opening drive, managing a field goal but the Bulldogs answered with a TD.
#18 Boise St.: BSU wins toss, elects to receive: BSU throws INT on 1st Play; Georgia drives 37 yards for a TD.
S. Carolina: UGA wins toss, defers: USC three & out for 6 yards, Punts; Georgia three & out for 2 yards, Punts.
La.-Monroe: UGA wins toss, defers: ULM drives 30 yards, then Punts; Georgia drives 94 yards for a TD.
@Miss St.: UGA wins toss, defers: MSU drives 58 yards and gets a 34-yard FG, Georgia drives 80 yards for a TD.
@#8 Tenn.: UT wins toss, defers: Georgia drives 25 yards, then Punts; UT drives 40 yards, then Punts
@Vandy: VU wins toss, defers: Georgia drives 18 yards, then Punts; VU drives 46 yards, then Punts
Bulldogs on Watch Lists For National Awards
Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Award: Quentin Moses, DE
Bednarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award: Greg Blue, FS
Butkus Award: Tony Taylor, LB
Doak Walker Award: Thomas Brown, RB; Danny Ware, RB
Draddy Trophy: D.J. Shockley, QB (semifinalist)
Maxwell Award: Thomas Brown, RB; Leonard Pope, TE; D.J. Shockley, QB
Outland Trophy: Max Jean-Gilles, OG
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: D.J. Shockley, QB
John Mackey Award: Leonard Pope, TE
