Georgia’s players and coaches have signed approximately 20 helmets and footballs that will be auctioned off in October to raise money for Hurricane Katrina relief. The online auction will be held at www.georgiadogs.com.
The idea came from Benjamin Boyd, a redshirt freshman walk-on from Thomasville.
“I think it was a great idea by Benjamin, and all the guys were behind it,” Richt said. “All the Bulldogs fans out there will hopefully be fired up about the items because they’ll be nice to have and because it’s a good cause.”
The entire team signed two helmets and two footballs, and then each position grouping signed a football and helmet, Richt said.
PRACTICE REPORT: Defensive end Charles Johnson left Thursday’s practice due to a sprained ankle.
Wide receiver A.J. Bryant and tight end Martrez Milner didn’t practice at all in the Bulldogs’ last workout of the week. All three are expected back next week.
Safety C.J. Byrd is practicing with a large cast on his right hand.
LIGHT HEADED: Defensive tackle Gerald Anderson doesn’t know if he was unconscious or not after being hit by teammate Kedric Golston during the Mississippi State game. Anderson and Golston ran into each other rushing the quarterback in the first half of that game and Anderson was knocked out of the game due to a concussion.
“It was kind of freakish what happened,” he said. “I don’t think I was (knocked out). I really don’t remember. All I remember was being on the sideline.”
Anderson isn’t practicing this week but is expected to return Monday or Tuesday and be ready to play Oct. 8 against Tennessee. This is his third concussion, he said.
“They said I had two before, but compared to this, I think those were just headaches,” he said. “This is the real deal.”
GETTING THERE: Freshman wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi isn’t a finished product, but he’s making progress. Massaquoi led Georgia with a career-high four catches for 42 yards against Mississippi State.
“It did feel good,” he said, “just the whole atmosphere and being able to contribute.
Said quarterback D.J. Shockley: “He’s coming along really well. There are still situations where he’s running the wrong routes or doing the wrong thing, but he’s learning.”
His progress is particularly impressive considering he missed almost all of the Bulldogs’ preseason practice due to a hamstring injury.
“Each day is valuable,” he said. “Even if you are at practice and don’t utilize your time, you’re missing a lot of things. Missing those three weeks, I missed a lot.”
LINEBACKERS OK: Linebackers coach John Jancek said there’s no problem with linebackers Brandon Miller and Dannell Ellerbe.
Miller had just one tackle against Mississippi State but helped his teammates make plays, Jancek said. Ellerbe sat out last week’s game due to his ankle injury and not performance issues, Jancek said. He is practicing this week.