Sept. 1, 2010

 Football Practice Report |  Richt Press Conference

ATHENS, Ga. --- Under cloudy skies and temperatures hovering around 92 degrees, the Georgia Bulldogs held a 90-minute practice in jerseys, helmets and shorts Wednesday.

With the team close to wrapping up preparations for Saturday's season opener, Bulldog head coach Mark Richt said today's workout was more like a Thursday session using it as a dress rehearsal. 

"Our focus was good, the teaching going on, and the scout team work was good," said Richt. "If we have another day like that Thursday, I'll feel like we've done everything we can to be ready."

Richt added that final decisions were being made on how many freshmen could play Saturday. He mentioned that freshmen Alexander Ogletree, Alec Ogletree, T.J. Stripling and Derek Owens were likely to see action on special teams.

"When you're working on your special teams, the coaches want to know if guys are going to be available or if they are going to be redshirted," said Richt.

Richt is beginning his 10th season with the Bulldogs, and he was asked to reflect on that milestone.

"It's kind of neat because 10 years is a while," said Richt. "It went by fast for me, and a part of me feels like I've been here my whole life. You hope to see the players from their freshmen year through their senior years and then when then come back and they are settled in their life. I've only been three places in 25 years, with Coach Bowden at Florida State, the one year at East Carolina and now at Georgia. That's nice for me and my family."

Georgia, which has been ranked No. 21 and No. 23 in the preseason editions of the USA Today coaches and Associated Press polls, respectively, will begin the 2010 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 4 against Louisiana-Lafayette at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff against the Ragin' Cajuns is slated for 12:21 p.m., and it will be televised on the SEC Network nationwide.