ATHENS, Ga. -- The SEC office released the conference’s 2013 football schedule Thursday afternoon, and while it is only a one-year setup -- the league hopes to develop a long-term scheduling system for 2014 and beyond -- it does address one of Bulldogs fans’ biggest gripes.
Every other season since 1996, Georgia has played Tennessee and Vanderbilt on consecutive weekends, playing both games in Athens one year and making trips to Knoxville and Nashville on back-to-back weekends the next season. In 2013, the midseason trips to Tennessee are broken up by an Oct. 12 home game against Missouri.
Perhaps the two most-discussed facets of the schedule will be how a scheduling quirk will bring the Bulldogs back to Auburn next year for back-to-back seasons, and that the South Carolina game, which before this season had been Georgia’s SEC opener every season since 1992, moves back to the front of the schedule.
"The 2013 schedule will obviously be very challenging,” UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said in a university release. “Our number one priority throughout this process was to protect our long-standing rivalry game against Auburn, and in order to keep this series intact, it necessitated a return to Auburn in 2013. We will start working on the 2014 rotating SEC schedule this Spring, and we can confirm that Auburn will be returning to Athens in 2014."
Let’s dig into some of the finer points of the Bulldogs’ new league slate:
Every other season since 1996, Georgia has played Tennessee and Vanderbilt on consecutive weekends, playing both games in Athens one year and making trips to Knoxville and Nashville on back-to-back weekends the next season. In 2013, the midseason trips to Tennessee are broken up by an Oct. 12 home game against Missouri.
Perhaps the two most-discussed facets of the schedule will be how a scheduling quirk will bring the Bulldogs back to Auburn next year for back-to-back seasons, and that the South Carolina game, which before this season had been Georgia’s SEC opener every season since 1992, moves back to the front of the schedule.
"The 2013 schedule will obviously be very challenging,” UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said in a university release. “Our number one priority throughout this process was to protect our long-standing rivalry game against Auburn, and in order to keep this series intact, it necessitated a return to Auburn in 2013. We will start working on the 2014 rotating SEC schedule this Spring, and we can confirm that Auburn will be returning to Athens in 2014."
Let’s dig into some of the finer points of the Bulldogs’ new league slate:
ATHENS, Ga. -- Away from the court, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope does not seem like the type of guy who would get overly excited about anything. But the soft-spoken sophomore and Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox admit that there were times in his Freshman All-SEC season where he simply was not under control.
“I think Kentavious is really naturally a very quiet, soft-spoken young man, but when the scoreboard turns on or when we start playing, his personality changes and he cares about winning, he cares about playing hard and sometimes we have to slow him down,” Fox said.
“I think looking back at last year, he had a lot of plays defensively where maybe he picked up a foul or two because he didn’t know how to control his motor, he was so aggressive.”
“I think Kentavious is really naturally a very quiet, soft-spoken young man, but when the scoreboard turns on or when we start playing, his personality changes and he cares about winning, he cares about playing hard and sometimes we have to slow him down,” Fox said.
“I think looking back at last year, he had a lot of plays defensively where maybe he picked up a foul or two because he didn’t know how to control his motor, he was so aggressive.”
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All-American safety Bacarri Rambo missed Georgia’s first four games of the season due to violating team rules. He suited up against Tennessee and South Carolina, playing with mixed results as he himself readily admits.
“I still left some plays out there on the field,” Rambo said. “I need to do better. I got a little rusty.”
That rust was most apparent in the second play of the game against the Gamecocks when he allowed what appeared to be a certain interception to be ripped from his arms by South Carolina’s Damiere Byrd.
“I still was [rusty] last week, but now I am over it,” Rambo said. “That is the thing about playing defensive back; you have to have amnesia. You have to forget about the goods and the bads.”
Rambo said he is looking forward to Kentucky and facing the Wildcats’ La’Rod King. His body just needs to catch up to his mind.
“I just feel like I am a little rusty, not mentally put physically,” Rambo said. “My timing is off but my mind is in the right place.”
Five storylines: Georgia vs. Kentucky 
October, 18, 2012
10/18/12
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David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Saturday’s matchup between Georgia and Kentucky seems like a blowout in the making, but we’ve seen these circumstances before.
The 11th-ranked Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1 SEC) -- four-touchdown favorites over the Wildcats (1-6, 0-4) -- have been double-digit favorites against Kentucky several times in the last six seasons and haven’t always won comfortably. Take last season for example, when 30.5-point favorite Georgia trailed for most of the first half before squeaking by with a 19-10 win that clinched the SEC East title.
The injury-depleted Wildcats are once again big underdogs on Saturday, but Georgia is no certainty itself after a flat performance in its last game out -- a 35-7 loss to South Carolina two weekends ago.
The 11th-ranked Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1 SEC) -- four-touchdown favorites over the Wildcats (1-6, 0-4) -- have been double-digit favorites against Kentucky several times in the last six seasons and haven’t always won comfortably. Take last season for example, when 30.5-point favorite Georgia trailed for most of the first half before squeaking by with a 19-10 win that clinched the SEC East title.
The injury-depleted Wildcats are once again big underdogs on Saturday, but Georgia is no certainty itself after a flat performance in its last game out -- a 35-7 loss to South Carolina two weekends ago.
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Bobo: Recovering balance key for offense
October, 18, 2012
10/18/12
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David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Mike Bobo pinpoints one critical error as the difference between the Georgia offense that steamrolled opponents for the first five games and the one that lost its bite and nearly got shut out in the Bulldogs’ most recent game against South Carolina.
“We’ve got to stay more committed to the run,” said Bobo, Georgia’s offensive coordinator, who later added, “I did a poor job.”
The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1 SEC) set a school record by scoring 40-plus points in each of their first five games, but produced only one garbage-time touchdown in a 35-7 loss against the Gamecocks two weekends ago.
“We’ve got to stay more committed to the run,” said Bobo, Georgia’s offensive coordinator, who later added, “I did a poor job.”
The Bulldogs (5-1, 3-1 SEC) set a school record by scoring 40-plus points in each of their first five games, but produced only one garbage-time touchdown in a 35-7 loss against the Gamecocks two weekends ago.
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Loganville (Ga.) Grayson senior Robert Nkemdiche is the No. 1 prospect in the ESPN 150 and considered one of the most talented defensive linemen to ever play in Georgia. As a highly sought-after recruit with offers from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Oregon, Nkemdiche has agreed to chronicle his senior season and recruiting experience through a weekly diary with RecruitingNation.
Hey, what’s up everybody, this is Robert Nkemdiche. I play for Grayson High School, the defending AAAAA state champions, although this year we are in the new AAAAAA classification. We came into this season with national recognition and high expectations, but last month we lost a tough game to Parkview. That really served as a wake-up call and set us back on our path to the state championship.
Everything is going great for us right now. We are jelling and our coaches are doing a great job of keeping us focused for each game. Our offense is really starting to hit its stride and our defense has had back-to-back shutouts.
Hey, what’s up everybody, this is Robert Nkemdiche. I play for Grayson High School, the defending AAAAA state champions, although this year we are in the new AAAAAA classification. We came into this season with national recognition and high expectations, but last month we lost a tough game to Parkview. That really served as a wake-up call and set us back on our path to the state championship.
Everything is going great for us right now. We are jelling and our coaches are doing a great job of keeping us focused for each game. Our offense is really starting to hit its stride and our defense has had back-to-back shutouts.
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A recent decommitment has given Class of 2014 receiver Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) new freedom to explore his options and perhaps opened the door for USC to snag one of the top recruits in the Peach State.
"I just got off the phone with USC and they're saying how much they can use me," Kitt said Wednesday night. "They really want me, even with the scholarship limitations. It means a lot to me."
Kitt, who reopened his recruitment last week by decommitting from Georgia, has USC in his top three along with Clemson and Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete gained interest in the Trojans while on a visit to campus this past summer.
"I just got off the phone with USC and they're saying how much they can use me," Kitt said Wednesday night. "They really want me, even with the scholarship limitations. It means a lot to me."
Kitt, who reopened his recruitment last week by decommitting from Georgia, has USC in his top three along with Clemson and Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete gained interest in the Trojans while on a visit to campus this past summer.
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Jenkins could fill Jones' shoes again
October, 17, 2012
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David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Jordan Jenkins has played the Jarvis Jones role already this season, when the true freshman outside linebacker replaced
his injured All-American “big brother” in Georgia’s starting lineup against Florida Atlantic.
If Jenkins fills in for Jones -- who has not practiced since spraining an ankle in an Oct. 6 loss to South Carolina -- against Kentucky on Saturday, he already has a goal in mind.
his injured All-American “big brother” in Georgia’s starting lineup against Florida Atlantic.
If Jenkins fills in for Jones -- who has not practiced since spraining an ankle in an Oct. 6 loss to South Carolina -- against Kentucky on Saturday, he already has a goal in mind.
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Miss. State sees ATH Ashton Shumpert at TB
October, 17, 2012
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Dave Hooker | ESPN.com
Ashton Shumpert is being recruited to Mississippi State as a running back, the ESPN 300 prospect from Fulton (Miss.) Itawamba told ESPN via text message this week.
Shumpert, who could also play defensive back or linebacker in college, visited Starkville, Miss., last week to see the Bulldogs beat Tennessee. Shumpert has said he has no preference concerning his college position.
"I enjoyed it," said Shumpert, who noted a conversation with Mississippi State running backs coach Greg Knox as a highlight of the trip.
Shumpert has also recently visited Ole Miss and Georgia, who he has said he grew up rooting for.
Shumpert, who could also play defensive back or linebacker in college, visited Starkville, Miss., last week to see the Bulldogs beat Tennessee. Shumpert has said he has no preference concerning his college position.
"I enjoyed it," said Shumpert, who noted a conversation with Mississippi State running backs coach Greg Knox as a highlight of the trip.
Shumpert has also recently visited Ole Miss and Georgia, who he has said he grew up rooting for.
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Big 3: Bulldogs focused on staying in race
October, 17, 2012
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David Ching | ESPN.com
Georgia coach Mark Richt used his time on the SEC’s weekly teleconference Wednesday to discuss how the Bulldogs addressed their defensive communication issues during the bye week, the increasing parity within the SEC East and how Georgia hopes to keep itself in the race to defend its division title.
1. Cut back on big plays
Richt said the Bulldogs held a full-contact practice last Wednesday, as they would during spring workouts, so they could work on fundamental tackling skills. The open date also allowed the coaches and players to address the communication issues that have occurred in the secondary -- the culprit in many of the big plays the Bulldogs surrendered in the first half of the season.
1. Cut back on big plays
Richt said the Bulldogs held a full-contact practice last Wednesday, as they would during spring workouts, so they could work on fundamental tackling skills. The open date also allowed the coaches and players to address the communication issues that have occurred in the secondary -- the culprit in many of the big plays the Bulldogs surrendered in the first half of the season.
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Re-ranking the SEC's best 25 players, Part 2
October, 17, 2012
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Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
Now that you've seen Chris Low's top 25, it's time to see what my list of the top 25 players in the SEC looks like.
I'm not perfect, but I'll try to be:
1. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: Who has been more exciting than Johnny Football? The Aggies aren't 5-1 without him or his 1,600 passing yards, 676 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.
2. Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida: He's powering Florida's offense and he's been the SEC's best back thus far. He's extremely explosive and is strong enough to bully his way to extra yards and wear down defenses.
I'm not perfect, but I'll try to be:
1. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: Who has been more exciting than Johnny Football? The Aggies aren't 5-1 without him or his 1,600 passing yards, 676 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.
2. Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida: He's powering Florida's offense and he's been the SEC's best back thus far. He's extremely explosive and is strong enough to bully his way to extra yards and wear down defenses.
Harris, Barden among '14 QBs to watch
October, 17, 2012
10/17/12
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Radi Nabulsi | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- As Georgia closes out its 2013 recruiting class, the Bulldogs’ coaching staff is hitting the road and the film room to evaluate the next crop of talented recruits. A few offers have already gone out to some of the some members of the Class of 2014, but each week new names emerge.
We are going to take a position-by-position look at some of the 2014 prospects whose profile pages you may want to add to your favorites. Here is a look at the quarterbacks Georgia has seen or may offer.
Needs: 0-1. Committed: None
We are going to take a position-by-position look at some of the 2014 prospects whose profile pages you may want to add to your favorites. Here is a look at the quarterbacks Georgia has seen or may offer.
Needs: 0-1. Committed: None
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia coach Mark Richt immediately singled out one player last week when asked whom he envisioned playing a larger role in the second half of the season.
After watching Garrison Smith play an increasingly effective role in the Bulldogs’ defensive line rotation, Richt said he expects the junior defensive end to continue his emergence as the season progresses.
“Garrison has been playing, but I think he should play more snaps,” Richt said. “For two reasons: One, to help other guys get a little bit of a rest, and that he has been productive when he’s been in there, so you feel like he probably should get a little more of a rotation than he’s getting right now.”
After watching Garrison Smith play an increasingly effective role in the Bulldogs’ defensive line rotation, Richt said he expects the junior defensive end to continue his emergence as the season progresses.
“Garrison has been playing, but I think he should play more snaps,” Richt said. “For two reasons: One, to help other guys get a little bit of a rest, and that he has been productive when he’s been in there, so you feel like he probably should get a little more of a rotation than he’s getting right now.”
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Grantham: Bye week restored continuity
October, 16, 2012
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David Ching | ESPN.com
AP Photo/Paul AbellGeorgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham used the bye week to work on his defense's on-field communication.But defensive coordinator Todd Grantham clearly is relieved to have had last week’s open date to evaluate the miscommunications and misplays that helped opposing offenses accumulate 13 “explosive plays” -- which he defines as any play that covered 24 or more yards -- in the first half of the season.
“We basically had three objectives in the bye week,” Grantham said after Tuesday’s practice. “No. 1 is we had to get some guys healthy. No. 2 is we wanted to get some continuity with the guys that we have available right now. And then the last thing is we took a look at each individual player and said, ‘Here are the things you’ve got to do to improve to make our team better. And if you do that and take a team attitude, we’ll be better.’
Georgia is starting the second half of the season this week with renewed vigor after South Carolina lost to LSU on Saturday. Besides preparing for Kentucky, the Bulldogs’ coaches spent the bye week on the recruiting trail trying to shore up some commitments and make headway with other top targets. DawgNation joined ESPN’s Athens affiliate 960 The Ref to talk about that and more. Some of the topics discussed were:
Listen to the radio show here.
- What happened with wide receiver commit Demarre Kitt?
- What is the latest on Tramel Terry and Clemson?
- Is a grade of B- correct for the Georgia defense?
- Will Georgia benefit in recruiting from Auburn’s struggles on the field?
Listen to the radio show 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.