Georgia breaks 'in a good spirit'

photo Georgia coach Mark Richt watches his team play against the Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field in Atlanta.

That's a wrap.

HOLIDAY TRAVELERSThe college football programs with the most bowl appearances along with their records:SCHOOL NO. RECORDAlabama 58 32-22-3Tennessee 49 25-24-0Texas 49 25-22-2Southern Cal 48 31-16-0Nebraska 47 24-23-0Georgia 46 26-17-3Note: Alabama and USC each has vacated one bowl victory due to NCAA sanctions.

The Georgia Bulldogs completed their on-campus workouts for the Outback Bowl with a one-hour workout Tuesday morning. Players then left for their hometowns and will reconvene in Tampa on Monday, with practices resuming next Tuesday for the Jan. 2 matchup against Michigan State.

"Everybody is in a good spirit," coach Mark Richt said. "I thought we prepared well. We had the right number of practices, and I thought everything we did was valuable."

The Bulldogs were without four starters during their preparation in Athens. Senior defensive end DeAngelo Tyson, senior punter Drew Butler and junior inside linebacker Michael Gilliard are recovering from ankle injuries, and sophomore right guard Chris Burnette has a sinus infection.

Richt expects Butler and Burnette to be fine once the Tampa practices begin, but he is less certain about Tyson and Gilliard. Should those two not play, sophomore Garrison Smith likely would start for Tyson, with junior Christian Robinson likely replacing Gilliard.

One off-the-field situation that is not expected to be resolved between now and the Outback Bowl's 1 p.m. kickoff on ABC is Richt's contract extension. He and athletic director Greg McGarity began those talks last week.

"It's not a major rush," Richt said. "Greg and I trust each other. Nothing is going to happen before the game."

Richt was asked Tuesday about backup quarterback Hutson Mason, who said this past weekend that he may transfer after the bowl or ask to be redshirted, which would put a year between him and starter Aaron Murray. Mason, a 6-foot-3, 196-pound sophomore from Marietta, has played this season only in the four games that were decided by 30 or more points.

"I can understand where he's coming from," Richt said. "We have talked, and I'm trying to help him make whatever decision he needs to make. We value him and think he's a very good player.

"We want him to stay, I can tell you that."

Upcoming Events