Sugar Bowl: 12/21 News and Notes

ATHENS - News and notes from Georgia's Sugar Bowl practices.

LAST DAY IN ATHENS: Georgia practiced Wednesday for the final time this season in Athens, and the team’s seniors had a little fun with it. Fullback Tony Milton, the only senior running back, was carried off the field by the rest of the players at his position. Receiver Bryan McClendon played one snap at tight guard during a goal line drill “just to see what it was like,” Richt said. And all the team’s seniors got out of post-practice conditioning sprints.

The rest of the team had their conditioning session shortened thanks to the freshman and sophomore classes, which sang “Jingle Bells.”

“They just kept going, dashing through the snow, and the whole bit,” Richt said. “When they finally stopped, we cut (it) down to four gassers for everybody, two for the juniors and none for the seniors. They’ll do anything to cut off a couple gassers.”

The team will take the next five days off before meeting in Atlanta on the afternoon of Dec. 27. The Bulldogs will hold their first bowl workout on Dec. 28 at St. Pius X Catholic High School in northeast Atlanta.

The Bulldogs had several choices for bowl practice sites and picked St. Pius because it has an artificial surface similar to the FieldTurf in the Georgia Dome and on two of Georgia’s practice fields.

ACADEMIC ISSUES: All of Georgia’s regular contributors remained academically eligible during fall semester and will be able to participate in the Sugar Bowl.

QUARTERBACK UPDATE: Although quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said Tuesday no decisions had been made regarding the quarterback depth chart next spring practice, Richt had a different take Wednesday.

“Joe (Tereshinski) is definitely our No. 1 quarterback going into spring,” Richt said.

ACTING ROLES: Georgia has been able to find a suitable scout team fill-in for speedy West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton in equally fast cornerback Ramarcus Brown. However, they haven’t been able to find a good match for shifty quarterback Pat White, so Joe Cox has make due.

“I’m definitely not as fast as him,” Cox said. “I try to do my best, though.”