Looking Back to August 2004

ATHENS - Mike Lough takes a look back at when the Bulldogs were at this time last season.

A year ago at this time, Georgia was preparing for a season without tailback Kregg Lumpkin and the first three games without suspended linebacker Odell Thurman. David Pollack and Max Jean-Gilles missed notable practice time with injuries, the Bulldogs were looking for a kicker, and one topic was an unsigned three-year contract for then-defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.

One irony: the linebacker who replaced the suspended Thurman for those three games would be suspended right after spring practice and then dismissed from the team two months later. Derrick White has since landed at Clark Atlanta.

Three players were suspended for at least the opener: fullback Jeremy Thomas, Thurman, cornerback Mike Gilliam, punter gordon Ely-Kelso,

Also, a year ago Sunday, the preseason AP poll had Georgia ranked No. 3. This year's first poll comes out this Saturday.