University of Georgia Athletics
A Very Special G-Day
April 16, 2016 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
"Well, opening remarks will be: Wow."
That was how Georgia coach Kirby Smart began his news conference Saturday afternoon, following a memorable and special G-Day game at Sanford Stadium.
For months, the Bulldogs' new head football coach has been pushing for a packed stadium for the spring game. The previous high was 46,815, one year ago. Officially the attendance Saturday was 93,000, though there's plenty of reason to think several thousand more made their way inside the stadium, which has a capacity of 92,746.
In the second quarter the stadium's public address announcer asked fans to squeeze in a little tighter in each row, allowing a few more fans a seat. That's how packed the stadium was Saturday.
"I tell you what, for the fan base to come out to support our program and to support our kids the way they did, it touches me in my heart and makes a special moment," Smart said, later adding. "It speaks volumes for where Georgia's headed and what it can do."
And the crowd had much to entertain it. There was hip-hop artist Ludacris performing a few songs before the game and then there was a lot of offense in the White squad's 34-14 win over the Red.
When Smart was asked to assess the day, he separated the team from the program. It was a marvelous day for the program, but as a coach — and especially a longtime defensive coordinator — the play of the team left a bit to be desired. Smart typically stood behind the offense, about 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, on every play.
There will be much time to dissect every play and every player on the team, but this day was about the program.
"It was wonderful, man," safety Dominick Sanders said. "The atmosphere was great. We're very thankful for the fans that came out to watch the game."
Georgia had been pushing to get 93,000 into Sanford Stadium for a long time, but did Sanders expect to see an overflow crowd?
"I didn't expect to see the amount we had out there today," he said, "but man it was a blessing to have everybody out there to watch the spring game and to see the newcomers, the early enrollees and all of us as a whole unit."
Throwing Deep
The longest touchdown pass of the day was a 7-yarder from freshman Jacob Eason to his roommate and fellow early-enrollee, tight end Isaac Nauta. But there were seven completions of at least 20 yards to set up other scoring drives.
Brice Ramsey hit wideout Reggie Davis for a 39-yard completion and on his next drive he hit wideout Jayson Stanley for 38. Ramsey, who like Greyson Lambert played for the Red and White squads, finished G-Day 16 of 25 for 224 yards. Lambert, who opened the game at quarterback, was 11-for-32 for 140 yards and an interception.
As expected, when Eason took the field at quarterback for the first time the very highly-touted recruit received a big, lasting ovation.
"When he took the field we all knew the crowd was going to go crazy," receiver Terry Godwin said. "We were just waiting for it and we were all like, both sidelines, just sitting there smiling. We just knew he was going to go out there and do what he was supposed to do."
Eason, who played exclusively with the Red offense, didn't disappoint. Though there was a wait since he other than holding on some kicks he didn't play until the second quarter.
"I don't think he knew there were 93,000 people out there, because he sure didn't [show it]," Smart said.
Eason came in with 10:43 left in the first half and completed four straight passes. The first two were simple screens to running back Brendan Douglas for a combined 22 yards. His third of four straight completions was a 35-yarder to wideout Riley Ridley.
In the end, Eason was 19-for-29 for 244 yards and the TD to Nauta. He was also sacked (not actually tackled since all the QBs were in no-contact jerseys) several times after holding the ball a bit to long, or when the White threw blitzes at him.
Godwin said he liked all the deep balls to wideouts.
"I feel like that's what we're here to do," he said.
Stanley led all receivers with four catches for 87 yards and Davis had two for 56. In all, 12 different players had at least one reception.
The race for the starting quarterback job wasn't decided coming in to Saturday's game and it wasn't decided after it. Smart said there's a whole summer of work to be put in before anyone claims the No. 1 job.
"The summer months for us are going to be a chance to observe and watch players grow," Smart said. "All three of those guys have got to get better feet. All three of those guys have got to compete and do a better job of executing the offense."
Happy Return
Cornerback Aaron Davis provided one of the defensive highlights in a scrimmage mostly comprised of big offensive plays. Late in the third quarter, Davis picked off a Greyson Lambert pass at the White squad's 2-yard line and then scurried and scampered his way 98 yards for a touchdown.
"I caught it and then I just went back to my return days and tried to figure out the best and fastest way to get in the end zone," said Davis, who had 47 tackles last season.
It was the only takeaway of the game.
'No Feeling Like It'
The score didn't matter — it never does — but the smiles did. They were everywhere.
Georgia's annual lettermen flag football game at the stadium prior to the G-Day game, it's about reuniting with former teammates and former fellow Bulldogs. It's about lacing up the clears at Sanford yet again, and maybe, just maybe, finding some magic and glory one more time.
Des Williams personified why the game is a very popular G-Day tradition. The former fullback Williams, who wrapped up his career in 2006, caught the game-tying touchdown pass, his second TD reception of the game. More importantly, he had an absolute blast.
"We're still competitive and want to win, but at the end of the day we're having a good time with our brothers, so it's all good," Williams said after the Red and Black squads tied 26-26.
Trailing 26-20 with seconds left in the game, the Red squad came out of a timeout and pulled off a trick play to tie. With the ball inside the 5-yard line, a direct snap went to a receiver in motion, who flipped the ball to a barely-open Williams just across the goal line.
It was a very creative, unexpected trick play, especially for a lettermen's flag football game.
"Well, we've all got this great Georgia education, so we tried to make it happen not he field, as well," Williams said.
They tried the same play on the conversion attempt as the Red went for the win, but couldn't get off a pass. And sure fun with the top priority, but don't think these Dogs didn't want to win. They did, but at least none walked off the field with a loss.
Williams owns a successful landscaping business in Buford, Ga., and admits he's probably best known by Georgia fans for the replica (a little more than 20 yards long) of the Sanford Stadium field he built in his backyard. It's a marvelous recreation (there are photos online), but it's not the same as doing what he did at the real thing on Saturday.
"I tell you what, there's no feeling like it," Williams said.
And that might just sum up the entire day at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
