The Quest For G-Day

UPDATE: A couple people asked about the tailgating policies for G-Day. Here's the word, from UGA's Mike Mobley...

The policies are the same...here’s a link to those.

http://gamedaygameplan.com/

The one thing that is different is that there obviously aren’t nearly as many permitted lots as there are on a game day. For example, I think we’re only using the East Campus lot for media.

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As you're probably well aware by now, we've reached the final week of spring practice. Georgia will practice today, Wednesday and will have a completely closed practice Friday with no interviews. Saturday is G-Day, and this year, the event will be bigger than ever.

Here's a quick run-down of all you'll need to know to plan your G-Day festivities.

WHO: Me, you, several thousand other people, Wendi Nix
WHAT: Georgia's annual spring G-Day game
WHEN: Saturday at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Sanford Stadium or ESPN

The game will be broadcast live by ESPN (on the main network -- or ESPN1, if you prefer) for the first time in school history. ESPN's crew for the game is Brad Nessler, Kirk Herbstreit and Wendi Nix. (More on that later this week on the blog.)

While you can certainly enjoy the game from the comfort of your living room, Mark Richt is hoping most of you will come out and help fill Sanford Stadium. "We really want to fill it up and encourage our fans to show the nation what we're all about," Richt said.

The admission is completely free, but Georgia is accepting donations to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. This is a charity Richt and the rest of the Georgia coaching staff have worked closely with in the past, and Richt specifically asked us to pass along some info on what the Food Bank was looking for ("Even if it's just on a blog or something," Richt said).

So, don't be a total freeloader, and bring some of the following: Peanut butter, canned soup, canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned or dried beans, baked beans, canned chicken or tuna, cereal, rice, pasta and sauce, plus any kind of pop-top canned goods.

Richt also cautioned that last year, they had to throw away a lot of food because it was past the expiration dates, so please check that stuff closely.

Before the game, Georgia will also hold a lettermen flag football game. The game will bring back at least 80 (and possibly more than 100) former Georgia lettermen for their own scrimmage with a little less hitting but, potentially, a lot more injuries. "Might be fun, might be comical, I don't know," Richt said.

The flag football game will begin at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, immediately preceding the G-Day game. Athens residents Mack Guest and Jack Davis will be the two coaches for the game. Ten former All-SEC standouts headline the list. Those players are: Scott Adams, Kentrell Curry, Tony Cushenberry, Guest, Jim McCullough, Curt McGill, David McKnight, Pud Mosteller, Curt Mull and Greg "Muddy" Waters. Foots Clemens, a linebacker from 1952-54, is the oldest former player scheduled to participate.

As for the G-Day game itself, there won't be too many changes in the rules for this year. They'll play four quarters using a normal game clock, but the quarters will only be 8-10 minutes long (Richt still isn't sure on that). There won't be any kickoffs, instead they'll start drives with the ball placed wherever Georgia's coaches feel is an appropriate average starting field position. The teams will punt, but it won't be live. They will kick field goals and PATs.

As for what to expect in the action: "I want the nation to see a team that plays hard, that competes, that has a good time doing it, is organized and well coached and disciplined," Richt said. "That's what I want the country to see, and that's what I want to see every day in practice."

OK, I think that's about it. Any other questions about the game, let me know and I'll look into it this week for you.