On Monday in Athens, Bulldog football players and coaches said the same things -- and there was absolutely nothing flippant about the remarks.
Whether it was the young quarterbacks, 3-4 defense, assistant coaches or practice schedule, there was little talk of the old and much of the new as Georgia began earnest preparations for the 2010 season with first day of fall camp in Athens.
"We're all intrigued, the fans, me, (new defensive coordinator) coach (Todd) Grantham, the players..." Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt said of his new team's new defensive set-up. "There's a lot of anticipation."
Not that everything's up in the air: Richt enters practice assured of the most experienced offensive line in the Southeastern Conference, one of the most explosive players in the SEC in wide receiver A.J. Green and a talented stable of running backs, including Washaun Ealey and Caleb King. But short of that, the Bulldogs have some key questions to answer as they set about the next 40 or so training sessions until Louisiana Lafayette pays a visit to Athens on Sept. 4. Chief among those is how a redshirt freshman who has never taken a snap in a college game will handle the pressures of starting at quarterback in the Southeastern Conference.
"Aaron (Murray) is doing a very good job learning what he needs to learn and becoming a team leader," Richt said of the Bulldogs new starter under center heading into 2010. "But our quarterback (meeting) room may be the youngest in the history of college football. It's a little scary."
After entering the spring battling for the starting position, Murray, a 19-year-old from Tampa, Fla., found himself thrust into the spotlight alone after fellow freshman Zach Mettenberger was released from the team following an arrest in the spring. And after junior back-up Logan Gray was shifted to wide receiver, Murray quickly found himself as the only experienced member of a group that now includes true freshman Huston Mason and two walk-ons.
"It's weird being the veteran all of a sudden," Murray said, chuckling at all the attention he was receiving from a throng of reporters. "But even though I know some of the fans may think it's scary having this many young guys at the position, I'm not scared
Georgia running back Caleb King, left, blasts through a running drill on Monday in Athens.
Georgia's quarterbacks, including starter Aaron Murray, left, watch during practice on Monday in Athens.
Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo, right, snags a one-handed interception behind a teammate during practice on Monday in Athens.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/8/231198