New look, powerful play for Dogs

Web posted January 2, 1998

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By Anthony Dasher
Morris News Service

TAMPA, Fla. -- It was a new-look Georgia team which beat Wisconsin 33-6 Thursday in the Outback Bowl.

The Bulldogs substituted their ``silver britches'' with black pants, which the team wore with their traditional white jerseys and red helmets.

``The players came to me a while back and requested we do something special for the bowl game,'' Georgia coach Jim Donnan said. ``The idea the players liked the best was wearing black pants. After discussing it with (athletic director) Vince Dooley we decided to go along with the players' suggestion for this game.''

Georgia's traditional silver pants were worn during the coach Wally Butts era, but were discontinued when Dooley became head football coach in 1964. Dooley then reestablished the ``silver britches'' tradition in 1980.

QUICKNESS VS. SPEED:

One obvious difference between the Bulldogs and the Badgers was Georgia's edge in overall team speed -- particularly on the line of scrimmage.

Wisconsin featured a massive offensive front, with an average height of 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds. But Georgia's defensive line simply had too much speed, and the Bulldogs were able to effectively employ a scheme using various stunts and slants to stymie the Wisconsin offense.

Even with massive right tackle Aaron Gibson (6-7, 370) at their disposal, the Badgers managed just 74 yards rushing, including 36 by All-American running back Ron Dayne.

``As big as they are, they weren't as strong as some of the teams we face in the Southeastern Conference,'' Georgia defensive lineman Derrick Byrd said. ``In the SEC, we face teams that are big and strong and fast. Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Mississippi State, they were all stronger than Wisconsin. We knew they were big, but so what? They still had to come out and play football.''

Georgia's offense showed off its speed. Wisconsin never could catch running back Robert Edwards, who tied an Outback Bowl record with three touchdowns, including a 40-yard scoring run. Even fullback Olandis Gary got into the act when he broke loose on a season-best 44-yard scamper to get Georgia out of a first-quarter hole.

``Being in Wisconsin, we can't always get guys who want to come up to cold country,'' Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said. ``We have to work with what we're dealt. But it's obvious, if we want to be a Top 10 team in the future, we've got to be a lot quicker than what we are.''

TOLBERT EMBARRASSED:

Georgia linebacker Brandon Tolbert endured a little kidding from his teammates after his second-quarter interception.

Tolbert appeared to be heading for a possible score, but was chased down by Gibson, who at 6-foot-7 and 370 pounds, is the second-largest player in Division I-A football.

``They got on me a little bit, that's no lie,'' said Tolbert, whose return covered 28 yards. ``I'm probably going to be hearing about that the rest of my life.''

STRANGE HAPPENINGS:

Senior receiver Drew Cronic and junior back Dave Williams won't soon forget their roles in the Outback Bowl.

The 5-foot-8, 150-pound Cronic, Georgia's holder for extra points and field goals this year, took a handoff after lining up at tailback for the Bulldogs' final offensive play. He was knocked down for no gain.

Williams (5-11, 206), a seldom-used running back with just one carry for three yards, was inserted at defensive end on the game's last play.

KICKING WOES:

Georgia's kicking woes continued Saturday when Hap Hines had his first extra-point attempt blocked.

Botched kicks have plagued Georgia all season, as Hines' miss was the fourth extra-point he failed to convert this year. For the year, Georgia kickers were just 42-of-47 on extra-point attempts and just 8 of 15 on field-goal tries.