ATHENS, Ga. -- No. 18 Georgia split its Saturday baseball doubleheader with No. 7 Kentucky -- winning 7-6 in the opener before falling 9-8 in Game 2 -- to set up Sunday’s rubber match in the key SEC series.
After Georgia blew a 6-0 lead in the top of the seventh of the opener, Brett DeLoach (3-for-4, two runs, RBI) belted the two-out, go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh to stake Blake Dieterich to a lead he would protect over the final two scoreless innings.
Georgia staked Game 1 starter Alex Wood to a 6-0 lead before he and reliever Bryan Benzor (4-1) combined to lose the lead. The Wildcats scored four runs in the seventh inning off Wood -- three on a homer by freshman slugger Austin Cousino -- and two more off Benzor to tie the score at 6 by the end of the inning.
After Georgia blew a 6-0 lead in the top of the seventh of the opener, Brett DeLoach (3-for-4, two runs, RBI) belted the two-out, go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh to stake Blake Dieterich to a lead he would protect over the final two scoreless innings.
Georgia staked Game 1 starter Alex Wood to a 6-0 lead before he and reliever Bryan Benzor (4-1) combined to lose the lead. The Wildcats scored four runs in the seventh inning off Wood -- three on a homer by freshman slugger Austin Cousino -- and two more off Benzor to tie the score at 6 by the end of the inning.
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Sacks, Rome's 2 TDs highlight scrimmage 
March, 31, 2012
3/31/12
5:21
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Throughout the first portion of Georgia’s spring football practices, the Bulldogs’ defense dominated more often than not.
The defense finished Saturday’s scrimmage at Sanford Stadium with 12 sacks, but the offense is beginning to hold its own more effectively.
Redshirt freshman tight end Jay Rome was the offensive star of the scrimmage, catching a 30-yard touchdown from Hutson Mason and making an acrobatic touchdown catch from Parker Welch just inside the back pylon during a goal-line drill.
The defense finished Saturday’s scrimmage at Sanford Stadium with 12 sacks, but the offense is beginning to hold its own more effectively.
Redshirt freshman tight end Jay Rome was the offensive star of the scrimmage, catching a 30-yard touchdown from Hutson Mason and making an acrobatic touchdown catch from Parker Welch just inside the back pylon during a goal-line drill.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Attrition from Georgia’s 2010 signing class continued on Saturday when Bulldogs coach Mark Richt announced that safety Marc Deas intends to transfer.
Seven members of that 19-player signing class have now either transferred, been kicked off the team or never arrived on campus to begin with.
“I talked to him yesterday. Really almost identical situation [to junior defensive lineman Derrick Lott, who on Friday announced plans to transfer, as well],” Richt said. “Just feeling like he wasn’t going to get the kind of playing time he was hoping for at Georgia.
Seven members of that 19-player signing class have now either transferred, been kicked off the team or never arrived on campus to begin with.
“I talked to him yesterday. Really almost identical situation [to junior defensive lineman Derrick Lott, who on Friday announced plans to transfer, as well],” Richt said. “Just feeling like he wasn’t going to get the kind of playing time he was hoping for at Georgia.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia announced Friday evening that junior defensive lineman Derrick Lott will transfer in search of increased playing time elsewhere.
"Derrick and I met and he believes he will have opportunities for more playing time elsewhere," Georgia coach Mark Richt said in a university statement. "We support him and will assist in any way possible during this process."
Lott played in five games and recorded 10 total tackles in his UGA career, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
"Derrick and I met and he believes he will have opportunities for more playing time elsewhere," Georgia coach Mark Richt said in a university statement. "We support him and will assist in any way possible during this process."
Lott played in five games and recorded 10 total tackles in his UGA career, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
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DawgNation interview: OLB Dexter Morant
March, 31, 2012
3/31/12
7:54
AM ET
By
Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
It has been two years and three surgeries since outside linebacker Dexter Morant saw the field. He is healthy and looking to show what he can do. DawgNation caught up with Morant to get the latest on his health, position changes and new jewelry.Bowden: Universal drug rules would be fair
March, 30, 2012
3/30/12
1:11
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Bobby Bowden faced his share of crises in 34 years as the legendary football coach at Florida State.
“I had troubles. Y’all have heard of ‘Free Shoes University,’ haven’t you?” Bowden asked a group of reporters Friday morning prior to addressing the gathered high school coaches at Georgia’s annual coaching clinic.
Bowden’s program was the recipient of that derisive nickname when agents were found to have spent thousands of dollars on shoes for Seminoles players. That scandal was one of a handful of times in the longtime coach’s tenure where outside observers questioned whether he was a tough enough disciplinarian.
“I had troubles. Y’all have heard of ‘Free Shoes University,’ haven’t you?” Bowden asked a group of reporters Friday morning prior to addressing the gathered high school coaches at Georgia’s annual coaching clinic.
Bowden’s program was the recipient of that derisive nickname when agents were found to have spent thousands of dollars on shoes for Seminoles players. That scandal was one of a handful of times in the longtime coach’s tenure where outside observers questioned whether he was a tough enough disciplinarian.
The Peach State has firmly entrenched itself in producing the fourth most FBS talent in the country, and while Georgia has some growing to do before it catches California in overall talent, it trails only Florida in FBS signees per player. Over 100 prospects from Georgia in the 2013 class are already claiming offers, with close to 10 in the 2014 class. In today's Peach State Quick Hitters, one glance at the number of schools mentioned by the prospects and it becomes evident that colleges from coast to coast are hoping to sign players from Georgia. Get the latest on several of the top recruits in Georgia right here:
- Defensive lineman Marcus Adams (East Point, Ga./Tri-Cities) says Ole Miss has offered.
- Running back Peyton Barber (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) says Ole Miss, Purdue, Clemson, UNC, Vanderbilt, UCF, Kentucky and Louisville have offered.
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The Georgia coaches have sent out at least 12 offers to high school prospects in the 2013 class that they believe will be a good fit for the Bulldogs on the offensive line. The coaches have also offered Maryland’s starting left tackle, Max Garcia, who has requested a transfer from the ACC school in order to play closer to home.
Garcia would redshirt next season and be eligible to play for two years starting in 2013. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman recently visited Athens to take in a Georgia practice. He also spoke with Mark Richt who tried to sell Garcia on the Bulldogs.
“One thing that still remains with me until this day that Coach Richt said was that there's nothing more exciting and beneficial to playing for your state university,” Garcia said. “To hear of a local guy going to their state university really brings something out in the community and just keeps a great relationship between the university and high school which I love with a passion. I take a lot of pride from where I come from.”
Garcia played his prep football at Norcross High School before enrolling at Maryland. He is visiting a number of schools to decide where he wants to continue his collegiate career. Garcia has already visited Ole Miss and is heading to Florida today.
Garcia would redshirt next season and be eligible to play for two years starting in 2013. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman recently visited Athens to take in a Georgia practice. He also spoke with Mark Richt who tried to sell Garcia on the Bulldogs.
“One thing that still remains with me until this day that Coach Richt said was that there's nothing more exciting and beneficial to playing for your state university,” Garcia said. “To hear of a local guy going to their state university really brings something out in the community and just keeps a great relationship between the university and high school which I love with a passion. I take a lot of pride from where I come from.”
Garcia played his prep football at Norcross High School before enrolling at Maryland. He is visiting a number of schools to decide where he wants to continue his collegiate career. Garcia has already visited Ole Miss and is heading to Florida today.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- After blowing late leads to lose last Saturday and Sunday at Vanderbilt and then turning in a flat performance in Tuesday’s loss to Clemson, No. 18 Georgia enters this weekend’s series against No. 7 Kentucky with little to no momentum.
That makes the weekend’s assignment even more difficult, as the Wildcats (25-1, 5-1 SEC) started the season 22-0 -- including an SEC-opening three-game sweep of defending national champion South Carolina.
“We’ve just got to put it behind us. Every day’s a new day,” Georgia outfielder Hunter Cole said of the Bulldogs’ three-game losing streak. “We’ve got a big series with Kentucky this weekend coming in at home, so we’ve just got to look forward to that, keep our heads up and really clean things up at practice and try to get some momentum going into Friday night.”
That makes the weekend’s assignment even more difficult, as the Wildcats (25-1, 5-1 SEC) started the season 22-0 -- including an SEC-opening three-game sweep of defending national champion South Carolina.
“We’ve just got to put it behind us. Every day’s a new day,” Georgia outfielder Hunter Cole said of the Bulldogs’ three-game losing streak. “We’ve got a big series with Kentucky this weekend coming in at home, so we’ve just got to look forward to that, keep our heads up and really clean things up at practice and try to get some momentum going into Friday night.”
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ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia showcased one of the most talented wideouts in the last few years in A.J. Green. So why are the Bulldogs not stacked three deep with elite receivers trying to be the next big star? And is an early college signing period good for college football? ESPNDawgNation answers these questions and more in this week’s recruiting mailbag.
Dawgontap: By my count, in the 300 kids being evaluated for the top 150 ... 33 are designated as WR (doesn't count the ATH that might play WR), 8 of these guys have committed verbally. It seems that even with Tramel Terry probably being a WR for us (although an ATH) that this is a position that the Dawgs tend to have the most trouble really attracting true interest from the top players. Other positions, we seemingly get quite a few top-5 guys in the country at most other positions. While we have had a few -- A.J. Green comes immediately to mind -- why is WR a position we don't tend to get as many top guys as most others?
KA: I think Georgia has done a solid job bringing in top local talent at wide receiver, and supplementing it with out of state guys when possible or needed. That has been the Bulldogs’ formula for success over the last decade with guys like Green, Mohammad Massaquoi and recently Marlon Brown. As far as elite wideouts go, there are really only a few each year, and in Green’s case, possibly less than 10 a decade. When you look at local talent, the state of Georgia has produced just six top-10 wideouts in the last five years -- Malcolm Mitchell, Da’Rick Rogers, Markeith Ambles, Tai-ler Jones, Brce Butler and Joshua Jarboe. Two of those years there were no receivers listed among the top-10 wide receiver rankings. Georgia signed Malcolm Mitchell, lost Rogers at the last minute, did not target Ambles or Jarboe, and did not really push for Jones and Butler. A case could be made that most of those are wise decisions based on production to date.
Dawgontap: By my count, in the 300 kids being evaluated for the top 150 ... 33 are designated as WR (doesn't count the ATH that might play WR), 8 of these guys have committed verbally. It seems that even with Tramel Terry probably being a WR for us (although an ATH) that this is a position that the Dawgs tend to have the most trouble really attracting true interest from the top players. Other positions, we seemingly get quite a few top-5 guys in the country at most other positions. While we have had a few -- A.J. Green comes immediately to mind -- why is WR a position we don't tend to get as many top guys as most others?
KA: I think Georgia has done a solid job bringing in top local talent at wide receiver, and supplementing it with out of state guys when possible or needed. That has been the Bulldogs’ formula for success over the last decade with guys like Green, Mohammad Massaquoi and recently Marlon Brown. As far as elite wideouts go, there are really only a few each year, and in Green’s case, possibly less than 10 a decade. When you look at local talent, the state of Georgia has produced just six top-10 wideouts in the last five years -- Malcolm Mitchell, Da’Rick Rogers, Markeith Ambles, Tai-ler Jones, Brce Butler and Joshua Jarboe. Two of those years there were no receivers listed among the top-10 wide receiver rankings. Georgia signed Malcolm Mitchell, lost Rogers at the last minute, did not target Ambles or Jarboe, and did not really push for Jones and Butler. A case could be made that most of those are wise decisions based on production to date.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Perhaps no position coach on Georgia’s staff is starting from scratch this spring moreso than tight ends coach John Lilly.
Lilly had one of the nation’s most productive tight ends last season in Orson Charles -- who opted to leave UGA after his junior year to enter the NFL draft -- and also had a solid second option in 2011 senior Aron White, who tied Charles for the school’s tight end career record with 10 touchdowns.
With Charles and White out of the picture, Lilly is left with rising junior Arthur Lynch and redshirt freshman Jay Rome to play a much more active role this season. Lynch has two career receptions and played mostly as a blocker and on special teams last year, while Rome -- ESPN’s top-rated tight end prospect in 2011 -- is trying to catch up after spending the winter with Georgia’s basketball team as a walk-on forward.
Lilly had one of the nation’s most productive tight ends last season in Orson Charles -- who opted to leave UGA after his junior year to enter the NFL draft -- and also had a solid second option in 2011 senior Aron White, who tied Charles for the school’s tight end career record with 10 touchdowns.
With Charles and White out of the picture, Lilly is left with rising junior Arthur Lynch and redshirt freshman Jay Rome to play a much more active role this season. Lynch has two career receptions and played mostly as a blocker and on special teams last year, while Rome -- ESPN’s top-rated tight end prospect in 2011 -- is trying to catch up after spending the winter with Georgia’s basketball team as a walk-on forward.
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Spring Day 6: Mitchell works on offense
March, 30, 2012
3/30/12
12:39
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Mark Richt drew headlines after Thursday’s practice over a subject he mostly refused to discuss: reports concerning the ensuing suspensions of safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree for failed drug tests.
Richt would not confirm anything related to those reports, but when responding to football-related questions, Georgia’s coach revealed a handful of interesting details.
* First of all, he said receiver-turned-cornerback Malcolm Mitchell chipped in on offense a bit in Thursday’s sixth practice of the spring. To this point, Mitchell had played exclusively on defense, where he will provide much-needed depth at cornerback while also trying to continue playing receiver.
Richt would not confirm anything related to those reports, but when responding to football-related questions, Georgia’s coach revealed a handful of interesting details.
* First of all, he said receiver-turned-cornerback Malcolm Mitchell chipped in on offense a bit in Thursday’s sixth practice of the spring. To this point, Mitchell had played exclusively on defense, where he will provide much-needed depth at cornerback while also trying to continue playing receiver.
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Richt refuses to comment on suspensions
March, 29, 2012
3/29/12
9:18
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia coach Mark Richt refused to comment Thursday on reports that All-American safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree will be suspended to start the season after failing drug tests.
Before Richt entered Thursday’s post-practice press conference, UGA sports information assistants distributed a statement from Richt saying that, “There is a process we follow regarding team guidelines and policies. I cannot make any comment until that process has run its course.”
Richt referred to that statement as soon as he entered the room and answered questions related to possible suspensions in only the vaguest possible terms.
Before Richt entered Thursday’s post-practice press conference, UGA sports information assistants distributed a statement from Richt saying that, “There is a process we follow regarding team guidelines and policies. I cannot make any comment until that process has run its course.”
Richt referred to that statement as soon as he entered the room and answered questions related to possible suspensions in only the vaguest possible terms.
Foster might transfer to attend UA early
March, 29, 2012
3/29/12
6:31
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
LaGRANGE, Ga. -- Life’s supposed to come easy for the top high school football players in the country.
That’s not been the case for Georgia linebacker Reuben Foster, an Alabama commitment who has had to deal with a lot in the past couple of months.
Charlie Flowers, Foster’s head coach and father figure, was fired from Troup County High School in February over an apparent improper transfer of at least one football player into the school district, an act Foster believes his coach didn’t commit.
That’s not been the case for Georgia linebacker Reuben Foster, an Alabama commitment who has had to deal with a lot in the past couple of months.
Charlie Flowers, Foster’s head coach and father figure, was fired from Troup County High School in February over an apparent improper transfer of at least one football player into the school district, an act Foster believes his coach didn’t commit.
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Georgia All-American safety Bacarri Rambo has been suspended for four games for failing a drug test, his high school coach said Thursday.
A source close to the situation also confirmed for ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that Rambo's suspension was drug-related.
Alan Ingram, Rambo's coach at Seminole County High School in Donalsonville, Ga., said he believes Rambo was a victim of circumstance.
Read the complete story here.
A source close to the situation also confirmed for ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that Rambo's suspension was drug-related.
Alan Ingram, Rambo's coach at Seminole County High School in Donalsonville, Ga., said he believes Rambo was a victim of circumstance.
Read the complete story here.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ching
David Ching came to ESPN.com in 2011 after six years covering UGA for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. He lives in Athens. Email him at davidchingespn@gmail.com.
Radi Nabulsi
Radi Nabulsi joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Rivals.com for four years and for the UGA Athletic Association since 1993. Nabulsi is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and lives in Athens. He can be reached at radinabulsiespn@gmail.com.
Kipp Adams
Kipp Adams joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Georgia football and basketball recruiting for five years at Rivals.com. He lives in Sandy Springs, Ga., and enjoys spending time with his two sons. He can be reached at kippadamsespn@gmail.com.