ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia first-year football coach Kirby Smart used very few words in media opportunities last week when discussing the Bulldogs wearing their black jerseys for the first time since a 2008 loss to Alabama.
After Saturday's 35-21 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, he explained why.
"I just don't think it should be the focus," he said. "I was in support of doing it. I'm just not in support of talking to you guys about it. If I make it a big deal, then the players make it a big deal, and then you all make it a big deal."
The Bulldogs have a 3-1 record in black jerseys, defeating Auburn in 2007 and Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl after that season. They brought them out the following year against the Crimson Tide but fell behind 31-0 at halftime and had not worn them since.
Smart, who was in his first season as Alabama's defensive coordinator in 2008, did not think the jerseys provided any extra energy against the Ragin' Cajuns.
"I feel like we have good energy every game, I really do," he said. "The only difference was the color of the jersey. I think that it's cool if the whole stadium buys in and does a blackout. I think that's great, but it's not like you should have more or less energy.
"You create your energy. Not a jersey."
Players heard next to nothing about the jerseys last week.
"He came in Monday and was like, 'By the way, we're wearing black jerseys,' and then he went on about the schemes," junior tailback Nick Chubb said. "He didn't want it to be a distraction."
Said sophomore defensive tackle Trent Thompson: "He definitely wanted us stay focused on our opponent and not the black jerseys."
The race is on
With one game remaining in the regular season, the Bulldogs have a seven-way tie for the team high in interceptions among Deandre Baker, Juwan Briscoe, Aaron Davis, Quincy Mauger, Malkom Parrish, Dominick Sanders and Maurice Smith. Each has two interceptions, with Baker, Davis and Parrish collecting their second on Saturday.
"There is a lot of talent back there," Baker said. "Everyone is tied right now, and it's like a competition. We want to see who's going to finish the season with the most."
A mighty wind
Stout winds from the west, ranging from 17 to 28 mph, were present throughout Saturday's game. Georgia chose to punt at ULL's 30-yard line instead of trying a field goal into the wind, and the Ragin' Cajuns went for it on fourth-and-13 from Georgia's 28 and were unsuccessful.
"We thought it was about a 10-yard wind," Smart said. "We felt good from the 35 one way and felt good from the 25 the other way. It was tough, and it impacts the kicking more than it does the throwing, although it does affect some throwing.
"It was more than 20 miles an hour at times, which is a lot more than it was at South Carolina."
Odds and ends
The 45-yard opening kickoff return by Reggie Davis was a yard short of his season long against Tennessee. Junior guard Dyshon Sims started on the left side in place of Isaiah Wynn (knee injury), who had his 23-game starting streak snapped. Sophomore inside linebacker Roquan Smith had a team-high seven tackles against ULL and now has a team-high 69 this season, while freshman defensive lineman Tyler Clark had a career-high five stops. Backup quarterback Greyson Lambert played the final two series, which was his first action since the second game against Nicholls State.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.