ATHENS, Ga. - Saturday's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette will be the first start for Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray and the first game for Todd Grantham as defensive coordinator.
It's also the first game with Greg McGarity as Georgia's athletic director.
McGarity officially begins his new job today after spending the past 18 years at Florida, where he served as Jeremy Foley's right-hand man. The Gators won three national titles in football while McGarity was in Gainesville, and he was asked Tuesday about his expectations for Georgia this season.
"I don't want to put a win total on any sport," he said. "I've met with half these coaches now, and I've shared with them the expectations we have for coaches. You just want to be in the hunt. I think with every sport that we sponsor, you want to be in the hunt for championships."
McGarity listed swimming, tennis, softball and football as Georgia sports already in title contention.
"I think it would really be unfair to tell a coach he has to win 10 or 11 games, or whatever that number is," he said.
Much of McGarity's game-day responsibilities at Florida involved overseeing operations of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which even included picking up trash. Before Florida's second home game of the '92 season, a 28-21 win over LSU, McGarity was handed a squeegee by a member of the stadium cleanup crew.
McGarity said he kept that squeegee in his Florida office until he left.
Calhoun pride
Bulldogs fifth-year senior receiver Kris Durham continues to keep close tabs on his hometown Calhoun Yellow Jackets, and he was pleased with their 27-14 win at Dalton last Friday night. The Catamounts are led by offensive tackle Watts Dantzler, who has committed to Georgia, but Calhoun held Dalton to 160 total yards.
"Watts was in town for one of our practices, and I told him that Calhoun was coming after him and that he better be ready," Durham said. "I told Watts that we would beat him by two touchdowns. Calhoun has played for two state titles since I've left, back-to-back actually, so they're not without talent.
"I've tried to contact him, but unfortunately he hasn't returned my calls."
Before last Friday, the Yellow Jackets had not defeated the Catamounts in consecutive seasons.
Sanford sellout again
Georgia's game against the Ragin' Cajuns is now sold out, marking the 58th consecutive sellout since Mark Richt became coach. The last Bulldogs home game that didn't sell out was a 27-15 loss to Georgia Tech on Nov. 25, 2000.
"God bless America!" Richt said when informed of the sellout. "We're undefeated. Everybody's in a great mood. It's awesome. Now we've got to play."
Odds and ends
Richt was less festive when asked if there was any update to the ongoing NCAA inquiry, refusing to comment. ... Backup center Chris Burnette (concussion) and reserve inside linebacker Richard Samuel (leg) are questionable.