ATHENS, Ga. - There must not be any questions on the Scholastic Aptitude Test about the "Rooskie.''
Vanderbilt safety Jonathan Shaub is the proud owner of a perfect 1,600 on his SAT, but Shaub bit on a play fake Saturday that gave Georgia the lead for good in its 48-17 trouncing of the Commodores.
With the game tied 7-7 after one quarter, Georgia opened up the second
quarter with a third-and-six play from its 35.
In came the call from the sideline: 44-Flatback-Rooskie.
Less than a year ago, that play worked for a 56-yard touchdown pass from David Greene to Terrence Edwards in a loss to Auburn, and Georgia coach Mark Richt made the call again.
Greene faked a handoff to tailback Musa Smith, and for the next few seconds the only question was who was doing a better acting job - Greene, Smith or Edwards.
Smith lowered his head, holding an imaginary ball as he plowed into the line, drawing attention from Vanderbilt defensive linemen and linebackers.
Greene held the ball with his left hand against his left hip, away from the line of scrimmage, as he stood calmly watching Smith and his imaginary running play.
Meanwhile, in perhaps the most crucial fake, Edwards held up near the line in a blocking position, further convincing Shaub to commit to the running play.
But with the safety running toward the line, Edwards took off downfield, completely free of any attention from the Vanderbilt defensive backs.
Waiting for just the right moment, Greene suddenly pulled the ball off his hip and delivered the pass down the middle of the field toward Edwards, who was standing alone behind the defense.
"It was too easy,'' Edwards said. "But then I had to concentrate. I've never had to concentrate more in my life than on that catch.''
Edwards had to reach up a little to make the catch, but after that he had an easy stroll into the end zone for the 65-yard touchdown play.
Said Greene: "He kind of just turned around and walked in the end zone. He was really, really open.''
Added Greene: "I just felt bad for Musa, because they were drilling Musa and he didn't even have the ball.''
After sending in the play, Richt was worried that Vanderbilt lined up in a defensive formation that might stop the play.
"It's hard to run that play more than one time a year,'' Richt said. "People begin to take a look at that thing. ... All the acting was good and it was open.''
The play gave Georgia a 14-7 lead, and by the end of the second quarter the Bulldogs had pushed the advantage to 31-10.
Edwards finished the day with seven catches for 163 yards. He now has a team-record nine career games with at least 100 yards receiving, and two of those games were boosted by long Rooskie plays for touchdowns.
Reminded of Shaub's SAT score, Edwards said: "It sure makes me look
smarter.''