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■ GEORGIA Continued from page 4 led the team in tackles last season with 138 and will have an even bigger load without Jones, his partner in crime from last year. While Georgia has the talent to reach a late January bowl, they will have to earn their invitation as they face their fair share of formidable opponents in the regular season. After facing South Carolina in Columbia, the Bulldogs return to Athens for a four-game home stand including games against LSU and Tennessee. After playing an experienced Vanderbilt team, the team hits the road for the next four weeks, making stops in Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Lexington, and Auburn. The toughest trip on the road will be against the Florida Gators, whom Georgia has never beaten under the leadership of head coach Mark Richt. The Bulldogs end their regular season against in-state rivals Georgia Tech. Richt’s experienced team has big expectations to live up to this season. They have the experience and talent to meet their lofty goals. Despite a tough conference schedule, the SEC East champs should return to Atlanta and have a shot to advance from there to Miami. ■ ALABAMA Continued from page 7 backs coach, said to the Birmingham News. “He made a play or two every year but never really had a chance to go with it. I’m just real proud of him.” However, with strong runners like Kenneth Darby and Tim Castille in the wings, depth at running back is one thing head coach Mike Shula doesn’t have to worry about. Depth could pop up as an issue at offensive line, as several players have come down with injuries during the summer. Still, if Bama’s o-line can get and stay healthy for the 2004 campaign, the Crimson Tide offense should be able to scare some teams, especially with All American offensive line candidate Wesley Britt. One major problem for the offense, though, is how it performs without quarterback Brodie Croyle. In the Tide’s last scrimmage of the summer on Aug. 24, Croyle sat out and the offense suffered. According to the Birmingham News, neither Spencer Pennington nor Marc Gullion was able to effectively handle the offense, which should put a bit of panic in the minds of Tide fans. After all, Croyle was injured for most of last season, and Bama may need one of its backups to fill the void this fall if the starting quarterback goes down with an injury. The offense has been dominating the defense in scrimmages in the offseason. One reason could be that injuries in practice have affected depth to;^he point where a junior transfer from The Citadel has been awarded a scholarship and a backup spot at left defensive tackle. Though the defense has been beset by injuries over the summer, most of the injuries have been minor affairs and should cleared up by the first game. Alabama’s schedule this year is devoid of top-flight non-conference opponents like Oklahoma, giving the Tide a chance to make a run. Indeed, many analysts have said that there is a significant chance Bama would be 7-0 when the Tide goes to visit Tennessee during the third Saturday in October this year. Of course, to do that, Alabama will have to beat USC in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 2. ■ ARKANSAS Continued from page 11 last fall, going 11 for 15 on field goals and 40 for 41 on PATs. He also led the team in scoring last year, totaling 73 points. Skinner was a solid performer for the Hogs last fall, averaging 39.9 yards per punt, with a long of 58. His biggest stat was 16 punts inside the 20-yard line and only one block. With young talent and inexperience, the Hogs could be looking at a tough road to travel. Early games against New Mexico State and Louisiana-Monroe could be the only breathing room Arkansas gets this fall. The biggest game of the season could be the rematch with Texas in Fayetteville. The Hogs stunned the Horns last year, as they notched a 38-28 upset victory over the then No. 5 team in America. Added to that are road games against Florida, Auburn, USC and Mississippi State. Arkansas does get Alabama and Ole Miss at home, but chose Georgia as its homecoming opposition. And, of course, the Hogs get defending national champion LSU in their season finale for “The Boot.” L,