Georgia Wednesday Bowl Practice Report

Rain Greets Bulldogs Again During Another Bowl Workout
ATHENS, Ga. – The 16th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs practiced for 90 minutes Wednesday morning, hitting the field in full pads for an 8 a.m. workout.
“It was another competitive day out there with good fundamental work,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt. “We went a little earlier because of possible bad weather. Ron Courson, our director of sports medicine and assistant head coach for weather, hit the nail on the head today. He said the rain was coming at 9:30, and it started raining at 9:30.”
Richt said he was pleased that the defense dominated the inside contact drills. Georgia has had its share of injuries this year starting in the preseason and continuing throughout the campaign. Overall, Richt said the health of the team is not great.
“I’d say we were in the mid-20s as far as the number of guys who didn’t practice today,” said Richt. “It’s the worst season we’ve had with guys missing practice due to injuries including the season-ending ones.”
All-Southeastern Conference wide receiver A.J. Green did not practice Wednesday due to a groin injury that has bothered him most of the year, according to Richt who added he hopes Green will be full speed when the team reports to Orlando for the bowl game.
The Bulldogs (9-3) will face 19th-ranked Michigan State (9-3) on Jan, 1, 2009 in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando. Georgia will take a couple of days off due to final exams and practice again Saturday. Final exams begin at Georgia on Thursday and conclude Dec. 17. Fall commencement will be Friday, Dec. 19. The team will reconvene at the bowl site on Friday, Dec. 26 and an evening workout is planned that night.
One of the team’s activities during the bowl trip will be an opportunity to visit the theme parks. The Florida Citrus Sports organization conducts two bowl games in Orlando, the Champs Sports Bowl featuring Florida State and Wisconsin on Dec. 27 and the Capital One Bowl. Richt said the team might look at the possibility of attending the FSU-Wisconsin game.
“I know when we played in the Sugar Bowl in Atlanta, we went to the Chick-fil-a Bowl,” said Richt. “I think it would be a great idea, I’d like to go watch the Champs Sports Bowl, and it might be something our guys want to do too.”
Richt, who is in his eighth season leading the Bulldogs, came to Georgia from Florida State where he spent the previous 15 years, the last seven as offensive coordinator. Richt will be in Orlando Thursday for the Capital One Bowl contract-signing luncheon. Bulldog All-America running back Knowshon Moreno left practice early Wednesday to fly to Orlando for the 18th annual ESPN College Football Awards show.
Moreno is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back.  The awards show will air live Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Walt Disney World Resort. The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards features the live presentation of nine awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award; The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contribution to College Football Award; and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team.
Richt said he was not sure if he would be attending the awards show but Bulldog running backs coach Tony Ball would be there with Moreno.
“It’s an honor for the position coach to be there, and Tony (Ball) will be there with Knowshon,” said Richt. “I’ve been there with the QBs (quarterbacks) before.”