Chick-fil-A Bowl: Dec. 15 Practice Report

ATHENS ­- The Georgia Bulldogs continued preparations for the upcoming Chick-fil-A Bowl with a 90-minute practice session on Friday.

With graduation exercises taking place at the adjacent Stegeman Coliseum, the Bulldogs worked out in spring-like conditions in preparation for their match-up with Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

³We¹re thankful for the opportunity to play another ranked team, and I think Virginia Tech is a great opponent,² Georgia coach Mark Richt said. ³If we were sitting at nine wins and in the top 15, I might say, OI¹m not sure about this.¹ But we need to play a great football team to get respect. We got some against Auburn and Georgia Tech, but we¹ve got a ways to go for people to think we¹re still a strong team.²

Richt was asked after the practice about the status of reserve center Ian Smith, who is on indefinite suspension following his arrest last month. Richt said if Smith were still with the team next year, he is considering giving Smith at least a six-game suspension, which would start with the bowl. However, no final decision has been made at this point.