Pollack Goes out in Style

TAMPA, Fla. - When David Pollack was conscious Saturday in Georgia's 24-21 Outback Bowl win, he had a whale of a game.

David Pollack lay motionless on the Raymond James Stadium turf for a split second in the final minute of the first quarter. It happened after he and several other Bulldogs sacked Wisconsin quarterback John Stocco.

"Big G (Kedrick Golston) knocked me out," Pollack said. "That's what happened."

Later in the game, the senior defensive end suffered a slightly twisted knee. Despite all that, he had one of the best games of his season, recording four tackles, including three sacks.

He was named the game's MVP.

"David Pollack was, as usual, fantastic," Coach Mark Richt said.

Pollack increased his school sack record to 36 for his career. He finishes his collegiate career in fourth place all-time in the SEC, one sack behind former Ole Miss defender Ben Williams.

"I wanted to go out and play hard," Pollack said.

Safety Thomas Davis and linebacker Odell Thurman, who also had stellar games, credited Pollack with making their jobs easier.

"Today there were a lot of times I got free because they were on him," Thurman said.

Pollack made the biggest defensive play of the game when he sacked Stocco in the fourth quarter and stripped him of the ball to stop a Wisconsin drive inside Georgia's 20-yard line. Badgers coach Barry Alvarez described Pollack's day as "solid" and was upset because Pollack's big play came on a missed assignment.

"He's a guy that you want to know where he is," Alvarez said. "That's what disappointed me. We turned him loose. We flat out turned him loose and that's hard to understand."

It was the second time this season, Pollack has recorded a sack, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble on the same play. The first time came against Arkansas. His three sacks were an Outback Bowl record. He finished the season with 12.5.

Following the game, he seemed more excited about the next step in his career than sad to see this one ending.

"I could cry and be sad about it, but why cry?" he said.