Georgia players get retribution

ATLANTA — There was ample motivation for Georgia players coming into Saturday’s renewal of “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate.”

There was the growing concern over coach Mark Richt’s future, the possibility of securing a New Year’s Day bowl game and, of course, getting revenge against Georgia Tech after last season’s overtime loss.

The last of those, apparently, was on the minds of players following the 13-7 win. It seems the Bulldogs wanted retribution for Tech players ripping up some hedges.

A coach’s future or avenging the shrubbery?

“It came from watching the video last year of tearing our hedges off and really defacing our field,” said senior linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who was part of a small group that tried to form a Georgia “G” in the end zone grass following the final horn.

“What they did last year was unacceptable. We were going to take it to the middle and plant a real ‘G’ on that field, but it didn’t work out.”

Richt, who was not aware of the move, did not condone it, though hinted it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“They did that? I didn’t see that,” he responded when told of the celebration. “It’s good to celebrate, but there is a line you draw and damaging other people’s property is not good — but it goes both ways.”

Even mild-mannered senior linebacker Jake Ganus, who was not part of the game last year, seemed OK with the move.

“I have seen that video a hundred times, watching those guys tear up the hedges,” he said. “It made my stomach hurt for those guys that had to endure it. We wanted a little revenge.”

Richt ‘ready to recruit’

The coach, rumored to be on a very hot seat after Georgia lost three of four games midway through the season and struggled in last week’s win over Georgia Southern, insisted he has been told nothing about his future one way or the other.

According to Richt, his plans this week are the same as they’ve been every other year at this time.

“I don’t need any clarity right now,” he said about his situation. “I’m ready to recruit. I’ve had no conversation whatsoever (with AD Greg McGarity). Nothing is scheduled right now.

“The Lord is in charge of everything, and I’m on fire with everything he has in store for me. The plan for me is to get on the recruiting trail and secure a great signing class and to prepare us for the upcoming bowl game.”

According to sophomore running back Sony Michel, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season Saturday, Richt hasn’t talked about the situation with players.

“He never really addressed that,” Michel said. “We just wanted to focus on our opponents. I’m not worried about it. No matter what happens, we’re going to fight for each other, and there’s no doubt in my mind Coach Richt is going to be there for us.”

Odd penalty aids TD

It was humorous afterward, but a strange personal-foul penalty called on Ganus late in the game both confused and angered Georgia coaches and helped lead to Georgia Tech’s lone score.

Just as Justin Thomas’ third-down pass sailed incomplete out of bounds, Ganus started waving his hands in what the referee thought was a taunting motion. Turns out the linebacker was signaling for a “punt-safe” formation, the same signal used for an incomplete pass.

“We were signaling punt safe, which is also the sign for incomplete pass,” Richt said. “I guess no comment is the best comment right now. It’s like your mother says, ‘If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.’ Well, you can quote my mother on this one.”