Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GAME 2 Bulldogs ready for domination Georgia at USC 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 Williams-Brice Stadium TV: ESPN By STEPHEN DEMEDIS THE GAMECOCK Entering the season, the Georgia Bulldogs are considered to be heavy favorites to win not only the SEC, but also the National Championship game in Miami. The Bulldogs ended their 11-3 run last year with a victory over Purdue in the Capital One Bowl and return 17 starters, including 10 on offense, to this year’s squad. Laden with talent and experience, Georgia should finish its season near the top of the national rankings. The offense’s success will rest on the shoulders of senior quarterback David Greene, who was recently named a candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Greene passed up a chance to jump to the NFL and returned to Georgia for his fourth year as a starter. After passing for 3,307 yards last year, the 6-foot-3-inch signal caller is on pace to break nearly every career passing record at UGA. This season, Greene will look to avoid injuries that have plagued him in the past, and he will benefit from an improved offensive line and healthy wide receivers. Greene’s two big receiving threats will be seniors Reggie Brown and Fred Gibson. The two starters were both hampered by injuries last year and will hope to stay healthy for the 2004 campaign. The receiver position is one of the deepest on the team thanks to a strong recruiting class, including the athletic AJ Bryant. The team will have to find a replacement for tight end Ben Watson, who is now in the NFL. The most improved aspect of the offense should be the offensive line. The 2002 team started five seniors, so last year’s unit was comprised of five Jfm inexperienced MBL underclassmen. This year's ^I resembles the unit from 2002 g as all five starters return. Anchored by Max Jean- flH Giles, who w i 1 ' MlBg^ protect B|^Pr Greene’s ’wjipgjp blind side, jag ■ the line should be much more stable, which should help keep Greene healthy. l ne only truly negative news to come out of Athens regards running back Kregg Lumpkin, who was lost for the season due to injury. Lumpkin was supposed to compete for the starting role in what was to be a b a c k - b y - committee attack. Last season, HH9 Lumpkin stepped into the starting lineup and gained over 500 yards while scoring five ^ touchdowns. In his absence, the ball will be handed to Michael ^B Cooper, an All-SEC Freshman last ^B season. Keep an eye out for true ■ freshman running back Danny B Ware. As the offense is carried by Greene, the defense is carried by Greene’s little league teammate, I defensive end David Pollack. A ' tenacious pass rusher, Pollack was NFL bound, but was convinced by his ID quarterback to w return, much to the disappointment of every tackle and quarterback in the SEC. Last season, the Ted Hendricks award winner totaled 92 tackles and 7.5 sacks, despite facing numerous double-teams. With the return of senior Will Thompson from injury at the ■ other end spot, Pollack should get more one-on-one chances to ^B wreak havoc once again. The defense around Pollack is a H fairly strong unit despite being slightly ^B depleted by departures and injuries. H Georgia lost team leader Sean Jones to I graduation and star linebacker Tony Taylor to injury. Taylor was clearly the pi best linebacker in one of Georgia’s deepest positions. The team will Bp look to Odell Thurman, following a suspension, to fill the void left by Taylor’s injury. Defensive ■ back is one of Georgia’s biggest areas of concern. The cornerbacks are young and untested. Junior free safety Thomas Davis will have to be the defense’s backbone. He ♦ Please see GEORGIA, page 12 JEFF BLAKE/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Freshman running back Danny Ware will see significant playing time. 700 GE8VAIS STREET 80S-8250 saueiimqw.' —ALL'srowsspra— Ticket! ON SAlt NOW at all Tkketniasler Outlets, online at mob or charge by phone 803.783.2222. All dates, acts and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. A service charge is added to each ticket pike.