Georgia: Injuries modify G-Day format

c The Bulldogs began spring practice with 16 scholarship players out with injuries and since have suffered setbacks at their thinnest positions. G-Day is scheduled to have eight- or 10-minute quarters, and it is being televised by ESPN for the first time.

“We’re trying to get as much continuity as possible, but it’s really hard to do so once you get past the No. 1 units," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. “When we get back together as a team, we’ll have 40-50 more healthy bodies with the players not out there this spring and the freshmen coming in.”

The Red team today will consist of the No. 1 offense and the No. 2 defense, while the Black team will contain the No. 1 defense and the No. 2 offense. Several players will compete for both squads.

Bulldogs defensive coordinator Willie Martinez had four scholarship ends at the start of spring and lost two when Demarcus Dobbs fractured his foot and Jeremy Longo injured his shoulder. Martinez received some walk-ons for help, including Ben Harbin of Dalton, and hopes today can produce as much quality contact work as possible.

“Obviously I like the way we do it,” Martinez said. “The scrimmages are game-like for us, and that’s how I look at G-Day. You’re always cautious about it, but any time you can see a game-like situation and the atmosphere, especially with a crowd, is good.”

Georgia also went this spring with just six scholarship receivers, and they became five when senior Kris Durham from Calhoun sustained a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Durham has yet to redshirt and will do so this fall.

Three-receiver sets today may be rare.

“It gets tiring during the scrimmages, but we have walk-ons out there competing for spots, too,” senior receiver Michael Moore said. “We’ve got some bodies out there.”

G-Day is free of charge, so Richt is hoping for a nice crowd. The largest spring crowd since he became the Georgia coach was 25,134 in 2004.

“It’s going to be 73 degrees and should be a beautiful day ‘between the hedges,’” he said. “If anyone has a youth group, a scouting group or a youth sports team, this would be a nice time to grab them up and bring them on.”

Awards announced

Georgia announced its spring award winners Friday, and among the more notable recipients were junior tackle Clint Boling (best all-around offensive player), sophomore center Ben Jones (True Grit Award) and sophomore quarterback Logan Gray (biggest offensive surprise).