University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Wrap Up Bowl Preparations In Athens
December 20, 2011 | Football
Dec. 20, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. --- The 18th-ranked Georgia football team held its final practice of 2011 in Athens on Tuesday as the Bulldogs continued preparations for the Outback Bowl contest against Michigan State.
The Bulldogs and the Spartans will square off Jan. 2 in Tampa, Fla., in the Outback Bowl. Georgia's players and coaches will reconvene in Tampa on Dec. 26.
The Bulldogs worked out for about an hour on Tuesday.
"I thought we prepared well," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "We had the right amount of practices and we practiced each day for a good amount of time. I thought everything we did the last few days was valuable."
Richt was asked if he thought having quarterback Aaron Murray and tight end Orson Charles playing in their hometown of Tampa would be a distraction. "As many big games as they've played in, I don't think it will be a factor," Richt said. "Maybe for a freshman or a sophomore who hasn't played that many games, it would be, but I don't think it will be for those guys."
Richt also was asked for his impressions on Michigan State's defensive front. "They've got a couple of really big inside guys who push into the quarterback's face," Richt said. "If you're not firm up front, there's not an area for the QB to step up."
The Bulldogs will be making their 15th consecutive bowl appearance, and Georgia ranks as one of the top five bowl teams of all time in wins and appearances. The Bulldogs are 26-17-3 in bowls.
This will be the third meeting between Georgia and Michigan State in bowl games, with the Bulldogs claiming a 34-27 win in the 1989 Gator Bowl in Vince Dooley's final game as Georgia's coach and a 24-12 win in the 2009 Capital One Bowl.
Kickoff for the game between Georgia (10-3) and Michigan State (10-3) is slated for 1 p.m., and the game will be televised by ABC. A win would give the Bulldogs their fourth season of at least 11 wins under Richt.
