2005 Fall Camp: Day 13 News and notes

ATHENS - News and notes from Day 13 of Georgia's fall camp.

OWENS IN MIX

True freshman defensive tackle Jeff Owens is a virtual lock to play this year, Richt said. Owens is a second-team defensive tackle already and probably will get plenty of work in the first game since Kedric Golston will be serving a one-game suspension.

INJURY UPDATE

The large circle of injured Bulldogs watching from the sidelines is expected to shrink greatly this week with the season-opener against Boise State less than two weeks away.

Wide receivers Mario Raley (hamstring), Sean Bailey (hamstring) and Demiko Goodman (shoulder), offensive linemen Nick Jones (ankle) and Zeb McKinzey (stinger), defensive tackle Golston (hip), safety Drew Williams(elbow) and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (shoulder muscle) all are expected back at full strength Monday.

Linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler (ankle) could be back as early as Monday, and offensive linemen Josh Brock (concussion) and Ian Smith (concussion) still are day-to-day.

Wide receivers A.J. Bryant (shoulder) and Mohamed Massaquoi (hamstring) and offensive lineman Michael Turner (shoulder) aren’t expected back until early next week. Richt called it “doubtful” but “possible” Bryant, a former Peach County standout, will be available for the Boise State game.

Defensive tackles Gerald Anderson (ankle) and Kade Weston (hamstring) were back at practice Saturday. Offensive tackle Ken Shackleford missed Saturday’s practice to attend a funeral.

ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE

A mention of walk-on defensive lineman Andrew Gully on Saturday got Richt’s mind wandering to the game’s of H-O-R-S-E he challenges his players to when they visit his home.

“I’ve never lost a game for H-O-R-S-E yet at my house, so this game we had about 10 guys participating,” Richt said. “It came down to me and Gully. We both had S, and it was going down to the wire, and I shot the old free throw with the eyes closed and put him away. “It was the most dramatic game of horse in the three-year history of the tournament, and I’m still the undefeated champion of H-O-R-S-E ... at my house. Fred Gibson was one of my victims, I was real proud of that. And then I whipped him at pool, too. He was so confident he was going to whip me at both, but he left crying.”

PRESEASON RANKING

The Bulldogs were ranked No. 13 Saturday in the first Associated Press poll of the season. The AP poll will no longer be used as part of the BCS calculations but the organization still will crown its own national champion.

“There certainly is a greater chance this year that we’ll have a split national championship,” said Richt, before adding that he doesn’t value one title more than the other.

“If we won the BCS national championship, that would be awesome,” he said. “If we won the AP national championship, that’d be awesome, too. If we won both, that’d be great. If we get in that position, I wouldn’t be worried about which one it was.”

Georgia was ranked No. 13 in the first coaches’ poll of the year.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The first fan in line to see Uga VI at UGA’s Picture Day on Saturday showed up at midnight. Tickets for pictures with Uga were handed out beginning at 8 a.m.

The dog didn’t make his appearance until 1 p.m. The fan, from Summerville, was not identified.