Sugar-y rewards

Goodwill is good medicine

Georgia’s team visited Ochsner Hospital for Children on Monday in New Orleans before the upcoming Sugar Bowl against Baylor.

NEW ORLEANS — The Georgia Bulldogs completed their fourth day of on-site preparation for the Sugar Bowl with a closed practice. But before they got down to business, they spread a little holiday cheer.

Members of the team accompanied head coach Kirby Smart on a visit to Oschner Medical Center. They visited with families room-to-room while talking and playing with patients and children in common areas.

It is a UGA tradition to visit sick children whenever they play on the road. The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs (11-2) play No. 7 Baylor (11-2) on Wednesday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Making for a particularly touching scene was Georgia seniors Tyler Simmons and Charlie Woerner praying with Tiffany Ruis of New Orleans and her 6-month-old daughter Rose toward the end of the visit. Woerner’s prayer could not be overheard, but whatever he said left both Ruis and Simmons with tears in their eyes.

Woerner, a senior tight end from Tiger, Ga., spent a lot of time praying for a lot of families. So much so that a teammate had say, “Come on, Charlie, we’ve got to go,” as the Bulldogs were boarding their bus to return to the team hotel.

Other scenes at the hospital included tight end Eli Wolf playing peek-a-boo with 8-month-old Harlem Williams, and cornerback Eric Stokes playing with a train set along with two little boys.

The highlight for 5-year-old Preston Parham was getting a football from Smart, who told him to take it to over to defensive lineman Jordan Davis and freshman George Pickens to get it signed.

“You’ll want their autographs,” Smart told the youngster.

At least 13 Georgia players to miss game

If you’re keeping tabs, you’ll need to be add a couple of more names to the list of Georgia players missing in action in New Orleans.

The latest ones to be confirmed as absent are senior offensive lineman D’Marcus Hayes and sophomore linebacker Quay Walker. Including injuries, that brings to 13 the number of regular contributors who will be missing the Sugar Bowl matchup.

“We’re going to focus on who’s here,” Smart said upon arrival in New Orleans. “This trip, this team and this game, and that’s really it.”

That was defensive coordinator Dan Lanning’s answer when asked Monday about the absence of senior defensive back Tyrique McGhee.

“All I’m speaking about are the players that are here,” Lanning said at the defensive players and coaches news conference. “Got great respect for every guy that’s helped us throughout this season, done great things for us this season. But the guys that are here, those are the guys that we’re going to compete with.”

Alaysia Mitchell, 9, stands next to Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm during a team photo with parents and patients at Ochsner Hospital for Children in New Orleans.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart gives 5-year-old Preston Parham a football and a sharpie and then sends him over to his players to collect autographs.

CURTIS COMPTON/ CCOMPTON@AJC. COM Tyler Simmons (left) bows his head as Charlie Woerner prays over Tiffany Ruis and her 6-month-old daughter Rose.