<table border="0"><tbody><tr><td></td> <td><font size="3">Game 1: #13 Georgia (0-0) vs. Oklahoma State (0-0)</font>Date: Sept. 1, 2007 Site: Athens, Ga. Stadium: Sanford Stadium (92,746)Radio: Georgia Bulldog Radio Network National TV: ESPN2 National Radio: Touchdown Radio Network TV Replay: CSS, Tues. at 7 p.m. Internet Broadcast: G-Xtra on http://www.georgiadogs.com</td></tr></tbody></table> </p> <font size="3">Zero-to-Sixty in Six Seasons</font>Mark Richt is one of just four active coaches (and 10 overall) who have won at least 60 games in their first six seasons. His victories include two SEC Championships and 19 wins over ranked teams. His current winning percentage of .782 (61-17) is fourth among active coaches.Georgia has attended a bowl game every season since 2001 and the current streak of post-season appearances stands at 10, tying the school record set from 1980-89.Coach (1st 6 Seasons)..............School, 6-Year MarkBob Stoops (1999-2004).............Oklahoma, 67-13Pete Carroll (2001- )....................USC, 65-12Mark Richt (2001- )....................Georgia, 61-17Urban Meyer (2001- )..................Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, 61-12<font size="3">Season Openers At Sanford Stadium</font>The Bulldogs own an all-time Sanford Stadium record of 295-102-1 including 62-15-1 in home openers. Georgia has won its home opener 10 consecutive years. The last time Georgia lost its home opener was 1996, falling 11-7 to Southern Mississippi in former coach Jim Donnan’s debut.Current head coach Mark Richt is 6-0 in season openers and 6-0 in home openers. In fact under Richt, the Bulldogs are 25-2 against non-conference foes including 17-0 in Sanford Stadium.Overall, Richt’s Bulldogs are 32-6 at home. The last time Georgia lost a non-conference game at home was during the Donnan era in 2000. Georgia Tech posted a 27-15 win. To finish on a positive note, Richt is 6-0 all-time against the Yellow Jackets.<font size="3">Simply The Best</font>Georgia has the SEC’s best record during the last five seasons as well as the last 10 seasons. The Bulldogs are 53-13 (.803) the last five seasons and 96-30 (.762) during the last decade. Georgia is the only SEC team to be ranked in the AP Top 25 ten straight seasons.<u>Record Last Five Seasons (2002-2006) Record Last 10 Seasons (1997-2006)</u>GEORGIA 53-13 (.803) GEORGIA 96-30 (.762)LSU 52-13 (.800) Florida 94-32 (.746)Auburn 50-14 (.781) Tennessee 94-32 (.746)<font size="3">Stafford Headlines Bulldog QBs</font>Georgia sophomore QB Matthew Stafford led Georgia to three consecutive wins over ranked opponents to close the 2006 campaign. Stafford finished the season 6-2 as a starter, capped by wins over #5 Auburn, #16 Ga. Tech and #14 Va. Tech. He helped rally the Bulldogs from an 18-point deficit to the Hokies as Georgia earned a win in the Chick-fil-a Bowl 31-24. He earned Offensive MVP honors for his performance.After leading UGA to a 14-13 comeback against Colorado, redshirt sophomore Joe Cox started at Ole Miss. Along with Cox, Georgia’s scholarship signal callers also include junior Blake Barnes and true freshman Logan Gray.Matthew Stafford (So.): See (.pdf)Joe Cox (RSo.): See (.pdf)<font size="3">Southerland Leading Action in the Backfield</font>Fullback Brannan Southerland led the team with 60 points, rushing for eight TDs and catching two in 2006. His 10 TDs came on 60 total touches (46 carries, 14 receptions).Southerland was the first Georgia fullback in 40 years to lead the Bulldogs in scoring. The last was All-SEC FB Theron Sapp with 30 points on five touchdowns in 1957. Georgia also will get a look at a pair of redshirt freshmen this season in Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmaier. Also, senior running back Jason Johnson has carried a big load during the preseason scrimmages. He could be rewarded with playing time in the backfield too.<font size="3">Bulldogs 2-0 With Bobo at the Controls</font>Entering his seventh season on the Georgia staff, Mike Bobo begins his first full year as offensive coordinator/QB coach. Bobo was given the reins of the Bulldog offense during the last two games of the 2006 season when Georgia knocked off #16 Ga. Tech and #14 Va. Tech, which boasted two of the nation’s top defenses. The Hokies had the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense.In Georgia’s win over Ga. Tech, it marked the first time since 1991 that coach Mark Richt did not call a play in a game.<font size="3">Unlimited Options In The Running Game</font>Georgia welcomes back its leading rusher from 2006 in senior Kregg Lumpkin. He appeared in all 13 games and gained 798 yards with six TDs. Also, he was Georgia’s third-leading receiver with 17 catches for 116 yards. He posted a career-high 105 yards on 21 carries in Georgia’s 37-15 win at #5 Auburn. Senior Thomas Brown was lost for 2006 after getting injured on a second-half kickoff return against Vanderbilt in game seven (Oct. 14). He looks to have made a full recovery from that ACL injury. Brown was Georgia’s top threat as a kickoff returner, averaging 25.3 yards, which ranked 3rd in the SEC at the time of his injury.In the spring and continuing this preseason, Georgia got a long look at redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno. A product of Belford, N.J., he had two TDs and 68 yards rushing yards in the annual G-Day game. He is second all-time in New Jersey HS football with 6,268 yards rushing.<font size="3">Rebuilding Up Front</font>Not only is Georgia looking to replace three starters along the offensive line, but the Bulldogs will have a new tight end as well as a new OL coach after Neil Callaway left to become the head coach of UAB.Georgia has seniors Chester Adams and Fernando Velasco returning and a host of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen. Scott Haverkamp (Butler CC) and Vince Vance (Ga. Military College) both enter the 2007 season with JUCO playing experience. Velasco started every game last season and has 14 for his career. Adams made 11 starts in 2006. During preseason camp, three true freshmen who saw extensive action were Trinton Sturdivant (Anson HS, Wadesboro, N.C.), Clint Boling (Chattahooche HS, Alpharetta, Ga.) and Justin Anderson (Irwin Co., Ocilla, Ga.) along with redshirt freshmen Chris Davis and Kevin Perez. The last true freshman to start a season opener on offense was tailback Danny Ware in 2004. The last true freshman to start in a Bulldogs’ opener was defensive tackle Kedric Golston in 2002. Also, Georgia moved redshirt freshman defensive lineman Kiante Tripp to offensive tackle, a spot he played throughout his prep career at Westlake in Atlanta.The Bulldogs hired Stacy Searels, who comes to the Bulldogs after serving as OL coach at LSU the past four seasons where the Tigers won a national title (2003), one SEC title (2003) and two Western Division crowns (2003, 2005).<font size="3">Top Targets Return</font>Georgia’s receiving corps gets a boost with the return of senior Sean Bailey, who missed the 2006 campaign with a knee injury. Bailey hopes ignite a group that caught just four of Georgia’s 12 TD passes last season. Bailey has seven TD catches in his career. When he was last on the field, he helped Georgia to the 2005 SEC title with a pair of TD grabs and 74 yards receiving in a win over third-ranked LSU. He went down with a knee injury in bowl practice that year.The Bulldogs four TD receptions by receivers last year came from Mohamed Massaquoi (2) and graduated senior Mario Raley (2).Massaquoi tied for the team high in receptions with TE Martrez Milner (Atlanta Falcons), as they both registered 30 catches apiece. That was the lowest total for a Georgia receiving leader since 1990 (Sean Hummings, 25 for 376 yards).Georgia’s returning group also includes junior Kenneth Harris, senior A.J. Bryant, junior Demiko Goodman, sophomore Kris Durham, sophomore Michael Moore and senior Mikey Henderson.During preseason camp, redshirt sophomore Michael Moore and redshirt freshman Tony Wilson made strides towards earning playing time during the 2007 season. Moore hopes to build on the pair of catches he registered in 2006.<font size="3">Inside the Numbers</font>Willie Martinez is entering his third year as the defensive coordinator and seventh overall on Mark Richt’s staff. Since 2001, a total of 29 former Bulldog defenders have moved on to the NFL (6 off the 2001 team, 4 from 2002, 3 from 2003, 4 from the 2004, 5 from 2005 and 7 from 2006).Georgia ranked third in the SEC and eighth nationally in total defense last year, allowing 258.2 yards per game. Overall, Georgia allowed 17.6 points a game, which ranked 20th nationally. See (.pdf)<font size="3">Johnson Returns to Lead Defense in 2007</font>Out of Georgia’s top five tacklers in 2006, only senior safety Kelin Johnson is returning to the Bulldogs in 2007. Johnson ranked third on the team with 60 stops and the Daytona Beach, Fla., native is the only returner on Georgia’s defense who had an interception last year. The Bulldogs picked off 19 passes last year including two by Johnson.Johnson has appeared in 38 games in his career and started all 13 games last year. Thanks in part to Johnson’s return, Georgia’s most experienced unit on the defense will be the secondary. Sophomore Bryan Evans started the last three games of 2006 for Ramarcus Brown, who also started nine games. Prince Miller and Asher Allen each saw significant playing time in the secondary. Also lining up at safety will be junior CJ Byrd, who appeared in 13 games for the Bulldogs last season. He is projected to start in 2007.Allen also served as the kick returner the last four games plus he returned four punts for 54 yards. His combined return average of 20.6 was the sixth-best average in SEC history and second-best in the Georgia record book.Also, a pair of redshirts from last year expected to watch this season are Reshad Jones and Quintin Banks. In the annual G-Day game last spring, Jones notched one interception and a pass break-up to pace the defense. Both of the aforementioned Bulldogs have had a very good preseason camp.<font size="3">Bulldogs Replacing Veteran LBs</font>Last year’s linebacker group had a combined 91 career starts and now have moved on to NFL camps. This year, senior Brandon Miller is Georgia’s only returning linebacker with starting experience (15 starts including five in 2006).Georgia’s only other experienced linebackers are sophomore Darius Dewberry and juniors Marcus Washington and Dannell Ellerbe. All three were key members of the special teams and Dewberry and Washington missed time due to various ailments. Dewberrry and Washington played in 11 games each, tallying six stops and four stops, respectively. Ellerbe played in 10 contests with seven tackles. Ellerbe and Washington will operate primarily from the middle linebacker spot. Once a candidate at MLB, Miller looks to return to his usual spot at SLB.A host of Bulldogs redshirted at linebacker last season including Akeem Dent and Darryl Gamble who will see their first action against OSU. Meanwhile, true freshman Rennie Curran (Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga.) has been impressive at WLB during preseason camp and likely will see the field against the Cowboys. As coaches like to say, he has a “nose for the football.”Georgia is looking to replace overall team MVP Tony Taylor, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons. Also, Georgia lost seniors Danny Verdun-Wheeler (Chicago Bears) and Jarvis Jackson (Tennessee Titans).<font size="3">WANTED: Bookends</font>Georgia lost NFL defensive bookends Quentin Moses (Oakland Raiders) and Charles Johnson (Carolina Panthers) and now look for a new pair to step forward. That pair combined for 14 of the team’s 33 sacks in 2006.Sophomore Roderick Battle and senior Marcus Howard played in reserve roles a year ago, each appearing in all 13 games. Battle had four tackles while Howard had 11. Also, junior Jeremy Lomax played in nine games. Battle registered a sack in Georgia’s win over Ole Miss and at home against #16 Ga. Tech. He finished the year with six quarterback pressures. Against the Jackets, Howard had three tackles including a forced fumble. His career high of four tackles in a game came againt Ga. Tech in 2005. Lomax had a career-high three tackles and a sack against UAB. Redshirts expected to contribute at DE are Demarcus Dobbs, Michael Lemon, Brandon Wood plus Jarius Wynn (Ga. Military Coll.).<font size="3">The Bulldogs Up Front </font>With the departure of seniors Ray Gant and Dale Dixson to graduation, junior Jeff Owens and sophomores Geno Atkins and Kade Weston look to lead the interior of the defensive line. Owens started 12 games with 26 stops and 19 quarterback pressures which led all defensive tackles, while Weston had 13 tackles and 14 QBPs with six starts. A year ago, Atkins, who finished with nine total tackles, highlighted the interior unit’s performance at #5 Auburn, when he registered two sacks including one on the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage. Others who will see action this year include redshirt freshman Ricardo Crawford, sophomore Tripp Taylor and junior college addition Corvey Irvin (Georgia Military College).<font size="3"><u>Special Teams</u></font><font size="3">Coutu Can Put It Through From 50-Plus </font>Georgia’s special teams features one of the nation’s top returning place kickers in senior Brandon Coutu. He was the preseason First Team All-SEC Special Teams selection by the league coaches. Overall he is 35-for-43 in FGs including 5-for-9 from 50+ yards. He is 12 of his last 15 from 40 yards or more.After missing the final seven games of the regular season last year due to a hamstring injury, he returned for the Chick-fil-A Bowl. He was 3-for-3 including making a 51-yarder.When he was lost for the 2006 regular season just prior to the Tennessee game, he was tied for third in the SEC with 7-for-8 in FGs and had 15 PATs and 36 points. His 55-yard FG against UAB tied for the fifth-longest in Division I-A in 2006.He is a perfect 65-for-65 in PATs for his career. See (.pdf)<font size="3">24 Blocks, 12 Special Teams TDs Since 2001</font>Since Mark Richt and his staff have been at Georgia, the Bulldogs have blocked 13 Punts, 9 Field Goals and 2 PATs and converted them in to 88 points. Georgia’s entire coaching staff is involved in special teams. For specific areas, please see (.pdf).2006 (2): Blocked 1 Punt and 1 FG and turned them into 7 points.2005 (2): Blocked 2 Punts and turned them in to 14 points. 2004 (2): Blocked 2 Punts and turned them in to 7 Points.2003 (7): Blocked 4 FGs, 2 Punts,1 PAT and turned them in to 17 points.2002 (9): Set School Rec.: Blocked 5 Punts, 4 FGs, turned them in to 40 points.2001 (2): Blocked 1 Punt, 1 PAT and turned them in to 3 points.The Bulldogs have 12 Special Teams TDs plus a safety in the last six seasons. There are four current Bulldogs who have a Special Teams TD:Thomas Brown: 99-yard KO ret. vs. #13 Tennessee in 2006Thomas Flowers: 54-yard punt ret. at #8 Tennessee in 2005Mikey Henderson: 67-yard punt ret. against WKU and 86-yard punt ret. vs. #13 Tennessee in 2006CJ Byrd: 11-yard punt ret. against UAB in 2006 following a Prince Miller punt-block<font size="3">Now Punting... </font>With the graduation of four-year starter Gordon Ely-Kelso, Georgia will have a new punter this season. Ely-Kelso concluded his career as the Bulldog record holder for most punts (224) and yards (9,003). His career average was 40.2 and his net average was 37.7. He had only two punts blocked in his career and both came last season. The candidates for the punting job include redshirt sophomore Brian Mimbs and true freshman Drew Butler (Peachtree Ridge HS, Duluth, Ga.).Mimbs has seen action as a holder and kickoff specialist during his career. One of Mimbs’ memorable moments came last year as he helped spark Georgia’s 31-24 comeback over #14 Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl with a successful onside kick early in the third quarter. Georgia trailed 21-6 when Mimbs executed the kick and then recovered it. It led to Georgia’s first touchdown.Butler is the son of former Georgia All-American Kevin Butler who became the first kicker ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2001). He enjoyed a fine NFL career including a 1986 Super Bowl championship with the Chicago Bears.<font size="3">Now Kicking Off... </font>One of the more interesting rule changes by the NCAA in the offseason involved moving the kickoff five yards back to the 30. Over the years, Georgia has employed a directional approach to its kickoffs. This season, the candidates here include seniors Brandon Coutu, Ben Wilson, Andy Bailey and redshirt freshman Bo Stansell of nearby Watkinsville, Ga., and Oconee County HS.<font size="3">Return Men </font>Sophomore Asher Allen posted a combined return average of 20.6 last season, which ranked as the sixth-best average in SEC history and second-best in the Georgia record book.He served as the kick returner the last four games of the 2006 season. He had five for 128 yards against Kentucky. Georgia did not have a kickoff return against #5 Auburn. Allen had three for 58 yards against #16 Ga. Tech including a long of 32 to set up the game-winning drive. Then, he had four KO returns for 81 yards and a long of 27 against #14 Va. Tech. Allen also returned four punts for 54 yards. Allen along with senior Thomas Brown and redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno are the top options to return kickoffs in 2007. Brown has made a succesful return from an ACL injury that came during a kickoff return last season against Vanderbilt. Brown tied a school record with a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD against Tennessee last year. For punts, Georgia welcomes back one of the league’s best in senior Mikey Henderson (25 ret., 367 yards, 14.7 avg., 2 TDs) who was a Preseason First Team All-SEC Special Teams selection by the league coaches.<font size="3">Snapper Henson Earns Scholarship </font>Junior snapper Jeff Henson is one of three Bulldogs who recently went from walk-on status to earning a scholarship. Henson along with senior free safety Andrew Williams and senior linebacker Chris Gaunder were placed on scholarship by Coach Richt this summer.The 24-year-old Henson played football at West Hall HS in Gainesville and then went into the real estate business in 2003. A year later, he decided to attend Gainesville State where there is no football team. He arrived at Georgia as a walk-on in the fall of 2006 and earned the snapper job.“Jeff has done an oustanding job handling this very difficult position,” said Richt. “He’s provided stability at an important sport and we feel he’s well-deserving of the scholarship.”<font size="3">DefenseSlim Number of Returning</font>Starters on Defense;Johnson, Velasco Own Longest StreakA total of 16 current Bulldogs have made a start on offense while the defense has just six current players who have ever started.Senior offensive lineman Fernando Velasco and senior safety Kelin Johnson lead the team with 13 consecutive starts.Senior running back Thomas Brown has the most career starts of any current Bulldog with 20 while senior linebacker Brandon Miller is next with 15.See (.pdf)<font size="3">Points Off Turnovers</font>Georgia scored 93 points off 30 turnovers while its opponents had 80 points off 31 Bulldog miscues.<font size="3">Top Dog</font>The 2006 season marked the 50th anniversary of the Uga legacy of mascots at the University of Georgia. The current mascot, Uga VI (“Uga V’s Whatchagot Loran&rdquo, has an eight-year record of 76-25. At 65 pounds he’s the biggest of all the Ugas and just one win away from tying Uga IV for the most wins by an Uga. See (.pdf)<font size="3">The 700 Club</font>Georgia became the 11th program in Divsion I-A history with at least 700 all-time victories as the Bulldogs reached the benchmark in the 2006 win at Auburn. The Bulldogs have been on the fast track in recent years to join the 700 Club, posting 10 consecutive seasons with at least eight wins. That stretch includes five seasons with 10 or more victories.</p> </p> <font size="4">Game Notes:</font> http://www.georgiadogs.com/pdf1/82305.pdf?...;DB_OEM_ID=8800</p> <font size="4">Courtesy of:</font> http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbm...;ATCLID=1178428 </p>
<p align="center"><font size="6" color="#ff6600">Oklahoma State Cowboys</font></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">http://www.okstate.com//pdf2/82173.pdf?SPS...EM_ID=200</p> </p>
Good game..</p> The defense missed way too many tackles and was out of position on a lot of plays, they got the win and should win next week but the defense is still not very good. I think the offense could challenge to be the best in the conference, though. The offensive line played above my expectations. It's great to see Sean Bailey and Thomas Brown back on the field after season ending ACL injuries. Knowshon Moreno lived up to the hype, over 100 total yards out of the back field. And Matt Stafford looks extremely comfortable in the offense. Can't wait to watch this team blow out South Carolina next Saturday. </p>
