Odds and ends
McClendon confirmed that freshman defensive end Chauncey Rivers, who was arrested Saturday for marijuana possession, has been suspended for the bowl. Several media outlets in Georgia recently reported that freshman receiver Shaquery Wilson had left the team, but McClendon said that was not the case. Former Ridgeland High cornerback Devin Bowman, who did not play in Georgia's last seven games, is scheduled to graduate Friday with a degree in housing.
His 3-year-old daughter didn't view it as any big deal, but his 8-year-old son thought it was cool and was not shy in providing advice.
"I told him we were going to do a press conference, and I asked what I should do," McClendon said, beginning to smile. "He said, 'Just make sure there is nothing in your nose.' I said, 'OK. I think I can handle that.' He is excited."
McClendon is the temporary face of the Bulldogs (9-3) as they prepare for their TaxSlayer Bowl matchup against Penn State (7-5) on Jan. 2. Georgia held its initial bowl practice Wednesday evening, working out for two hours.
The Bulldogs, for the first time in program history, are playing a bowl without their head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
"It's definitely one of the most foreign experiences for me," outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. "I've never been in this position before. It's different, and it's forced me and some of the other seniors to take an even bigger leadership role in keeping guys dialed in and really focused on winning for all the sacrifices we made in the offseason."
Georgia was allotted 8,000 tickets for the TaxSlayer Bowl but has sold fewer than 5,000.
McClendon was tabbed by athletic director Greg McGarity to oversee postseason preparation after former head coach Mark Richt declined the opportunity to coach in the bowl after accepting an offer to become Miami's head coach. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt left last Friday to assume the same job at Alabama, and it was announced this week that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer would not accompany the team to Jacksonville.
Inside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler also has left the program, so Georgia's staff for the bowl will include director of recruiting Todd Hartley (special teams), director of player personnel Sam Petitto (defensive backs), quality control coordinator Olten Downs (receivers) and graduate assistants Courtney Coard (linebackers) and Steve Shimko (quarterbacks).
"It's just another situation for this team to handle," quarterback Greyson Lambert said. "We've become such a tight-knit group over the course of the season that we're just excited to come out here and play another game and try to get 40 wins for the seniors. That's really what our focus is on."
Tight ends coach John Lilly will call the offensive plays in the bowl, while outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer will handle the defensive signals. Lilly called the plays in the Belk Bowl last December after offensive coordinator Mike Bobo left to become Colorado State's head coach.
Georgia routed Louisville 37-14 in Charlotte, and the Bulldogs defeated Texas A&M 44-20 in the 2009 Independence Bowl following the dismissals of defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, linebackers coach John Jancek and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris.
"Last year, to a certain extent, helps with Mike having to take a job and us having to do things a little bit different," McClendon said. "Guys had to adjust to that a little bit. All of that stuff helps."
Sherrer and running backs coach Thomas Brown are expected to be retained by new head coach Kirby Smart, who is finishing his duties as Alabama's defensive coordinator. Smart has hired Jim Chaney as offensive coordinator, Sam Pittman as offensive line coach and Glenn Schumann to a defensive position, and Chaney and Pittman attended Wednesday night's practice.
McClendon has not been recruiting for Smart, as Brown and Sherrer have done, so his interim head coach status may be his final role with the Bulldogs.
"It's been about the kids," said McClendon, who admitted he's asked Richt for some input. "That stuff will take care of itself a little later on, but right now everything is just geared toward this bowl game and getting the team ready so we can go out there and have a good showing."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.