Georgia Sports Communications/For Immediate Release/Sept. 28, 2016
ATHENS—–The 25th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs continued preparations for their SEC home opener by conducting a two-hour practice Wednesday at the Club Sports Complex on Milledge Avenue.
Earlier in the day, Georgia’s Kirby Smart participated in the SEC Coaches weekly media teleconference. He said the Bulldogs are focused on facing an experienced and senior-laden team in 11th-ranked Tennessee. Last Saturday, Georgia dropped a 45-14 decision to No. 23 Ole Miss in Oxford, which was its second straight SEC road game. This season, Georgia has played three of its first four games away from Sanford Stadium for the first time since 1966.
“We’re excited to be at home; this will be only our second one this year, and the guys are looking forward to it,” said Smart. “We’re looking to play a more complete game than last week. We have to make corrections and improve. We have to face the truth, the facts and don’t sweep it under the rug. I did see some good things, and there was some positive reinforcement. There was great teaching from that game.”
In last week’s Ole Miss game, junior tailback Nick Chubb did not see action in the second half due to an ankle injury, and Smart was asked if his availability changes the game plan for Saturday.
“Our mindset is balance, and that’s what we’re sticking with,” Smart added. “It’s not markedly different with our running backs. We’ve got some young guys that are not as experienced as Nick, but they’re good players. For Nick, it’s important to come back and play in this one, but it’s out of his control. I’m rooting for us to play our best game.”
Smart was asked about senior quarterback Greyson Lambert helping prepare freshman quarterback Jacob Eason this season.
“Greyson does a great job in meetings and in practice in showing Jacob how to study for a game, to prepare for a game,” said Smart. “He has more experience in that, and he’s helping direct a young man. It also gives Jacob reassurance to have that from a guy he competed with in the spring and fall.”
Tennessee enters Saturday’s game flying high after a 21-point comeback to beat Florida, which snapped an 11-year losing streak in the series with the Gators. Meanwhile, UT holds a 22-21-2 series lead over the Bulldogs as it dates back to 1899. Georgia saw its five-game winning streak in the UT series end last year when the Volunteers rallied for a 38-31 victory in Knoxville.
