G-DAY GLANCE• Georgia spring football game• Today, 3 p.m., Sanford Stadium• CSS tape-delay TV, 5 p.m.• Spring award winners, D2
The annual G-Day spring football game takes place this afternoon at Sanford Stadium, and the "G" will not stand for gimmicky.
Georgia's 15th and final spring workout has been accompanied by a little flavor through the years, but coach Mark Richt said today's version has been simplified. Even the tradition of the winning team feasting on steak and lobster and the losers relegated to beanie weenies has been ditched.
"The problem with that is half the kids like beanie weenies better than steak and lobster, so it didn't seem to be a big motivator," Richt said. "We're just going to play ball for the love of the game and for the love of playing between the hedges in front of family and friends and the fans."
Last year's teams were determined by draft, with Aaron Murray and Brandon Boykin picking the Black team and Ben Jones and Christian Robinson selecting the Red team, which created excitement among the players. Last year's game also drew an announced crowd of 43,117.
There has been no draft this year, and many of Georgia's most intriguing players will sit out today because of injuries.
Sophomore Malcolm Mitchell, who led the team in receiving yards per game last season but is now a cornerback, isn't competing, nor are two early enrollees, tailback Keith Marshall and quarterback Faton Bauta. Marshall was able to participate only in the first spring scrimmage before being sidelined by a hamstring pull.
"It would have been nice to see Keith, but it was good to see him the little bit we got the chance to see," Richt said. "He's definitely a guy who we feel like did a good job when it comes to recruiting. He's a talented hard-working guy."
Bulldogs fans still will get to watch Murray, the third-year starting quarterback, and Tavarres King, who set a school record with 205 receiving yards in the Outback Bowl. They also will see tailback Isaiah Crowell, who rushed for 850 yards as a freshman, and a defense that ranked among the nation's top five statistically last season.
"We really want to be the best defense in the country this year," senior defensive end Cornelius Washington said, "and the only way to do that is to go out and practice that way."
G-Day starts at 3 p.m.