Dawgs very used to the ATL

ATLANTA – Georgia’s coaches and players gathered for Chick-fil-A Bowl preparations Monday night in Atlanta and looked at an itinerary that must have seemed very familiar.

The Bulldogs (8-4), who play No. 14 Virginia Tech (10-2) on Saturday night in the Georgia Dome, were just in Atlanta for a bowl game last year. That time it was the displaced Sugar Bowl, but the traditional bowl-week activities were virtually the same, such as Tuesday night’s trip to ESPN Zone or Thursday night’s trip to the Georgia Aquarium.

“We’re doing pretty much the same things we did last year,” defensive tackle Jeff Owens said with very limited enthusiasm. “We’ve got to go to do it, but it won’t last that long. I’m just going to relax in my room and play Xbox.”

Most of the Bulldogs arrived without incident Monday evening after a four-day holiday break, but Washington County native Seth Watts, a reserve offensive lineman, did not make the trip for disciplinary reasons.

Watts, who played in all 12 games this year but only sparingly, has been suspended from the bowl but will be back with the team for spring practice, Coach Mark Richt said Tuesday morning before his team held a two-hour workout in full pads.

“He just did not behave well enough to come to the bowl,” Richt said.

The game will kick off at 8:07 p.m. and be televised by ESPN.