Chick-fil-A Bowl: Dec. 16 News and Notes

ATHENS - Josh Kendall's news and notes from Georgia's Chick-fil-A Bowl practices.

CALLAWAY STILL IN IT: Offensive coordinator Neil Callaway remains a very strong candidate for the head coaching job at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and an announcement about the job could come as early as today or Monday. Callaway, a 51-year-old Macon native, was Garner’s position coach at Auburn, and Garner said it’s past time for Callaway to get a head coaching job. Callaway and his wife Karen are the godparents to Garner’s 4-year-old daughter.

“That’s what he means to me,” Garner said. “I’m elated for him and his family. I think he’s overdue. He’s paid his dues. He has a proven resume, he’s a good man, a great coach, a great teacher. I think it’s long overdue, and I’m excited that he’s getting this opportunity and I’m hoping it all works out.”

MORE LINE MOVEMENT?: Georgia coach Mark Richt and Callaway have told junior offensive guard Chester Adams to be prepared to go back to tackle next season.

“They’ve told me to be ready to get my weight down 5 or 10 more pounds so I can go back out there,” he said. “I guess I can see where they are coming from. He shouldn’t feel right trying to get a true freshman out there trying to protect his quarterback so I can kind of see that.”

The Bulldogs are losing all three of their tackles – Daniel Inman, Ken Shackleford and Michael Turner -- after the bowl game. Adams, 6-foot-4, 320 pounds, played tackle his first two seasons at Georgia but is now more comfortable guard, where he’s started 10 games.

“I really have grown to love guard right now,” he said. “It’s helped me improve a lot, but tackle is nice, too.”

PRACTICE REPORT: The Bulldogs (8-4) practiced twice Saturday as they continue to prepare for the Chick-fil-A Bowl against No. 14 Virginia Tech (10-2) on Dec. 30 in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome.