Georgia tries to stay in shape for Sugar Bowl

ShareThis

The Georgia Bulldogs won't face live gridiron competition for another three weeks, but coach Mark Richt is making sure his squad stays sharp prior to the holidays.No. 4 Georgia (10-2) has had two practices in preparation for its Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl meeting with No. 10 Hawaii (12-0), with both designed to keep the players in game-shape."We're still more concerned about working on fundamentals and just letting the guys run around and play a little football and not forget completely how to play," Richt said. "That's the main reason for (the practices). After exams are over, our coaches will have studied (film) pretty well."The BCS bowl berth came on the heels of a stretch that saw the Bulldogs win its final six games. As the number of upsets continued to increase it appeared UGA might get a shot at playing in New Orleans later in January -- for the national championship -- but in the final BCS rankings the club was leapfrogged by SEC champion LSU, which takes on Ohio State for all the marbles.Richt lobbied for his program, but quickly moved on."Here's the deal, you're the head coach at Georgia, you have an outside shot to become a champion and I needed to say what I could say to try and sway the vote because it's a popularity contest," Richt said. "It's kind of a beauty contest, and politicking was the only thing I felt like I could do. If nothing else, to let the players know I love them and care about them and want to fight for them. I wanted the team and Bulldog Nation to know that I was going to fight to try to get in that game because that's the goal of everybody across this country."I know (Hawaii coach June Jones), being undefeated, feels like they could've or should've had a chance to play for the national championship also. Why not them? It's just one of those wacky years, and everybody got a chance to Fila bust a little bit. We just didn't have enough to stand on."Richt said his players shook off the disappointment as well."The guys, once they got over the fact that they were out of the national championship hunt, started to think about what is about to happen and how important it is to our football team and what an unbelievable challenge we have in front us," Richt said. "I think the guys are going to be extremely excited. (We have) plenty of time to get jacked up about a bowl game."Although the more serious practices are still ahead, Richt and his staff are already trying to figure out a way to slow down the Warriors' high-powered offense, which led the nation in scoring (46 points per game) and was second in passing (450 yards per game)."People that have played them have said their receivers are as good as any in the country," Richt said. "With the quarterback and receiver situation there, you won't go to any school in America and find a better bunch."(Contact Scott Adamson of the Anderson Independent-Mail in Anderson, S.C., at www.andersonsc.com.)