Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2006
6B
Bulldogs aim for better kickoff returns
By Marc Weister
Morris News Setvice
ATHENS - It’s become a truism
in recent years for Georgia: The
Bulldogs are annually winning or
contending for SEC titles under
coach Mark Richt and almost annu
ally finishing toward the bottom of
the nation in kickoff returns.
New running backs coach Tony
Ball is in charge of turning around
that trend after former assistants
Kirby Smart and Ken Rucker han
dled kickofF returns the past two
seasons.
“You’ve got to make sure you do
a good job of making sure you have
the right people back there return
ing the ball,” Ball said. “That guy
that’s back there returning it, if
you give him time and you give him
a crease, the right guy back there
Playing at home hard for Sluman
By Garry Smits
Morris News Service
MEDINAH, 111. - Just because Jeff Sluman
is from Chicago doesn’t mean he plays in
tournaments near his home with a comfort
level that translates into results on the golf
course.
Sluman gets the home-field advantage
for this week’s PGA Championship, which
begins Thursday at the Medinah Country
Club. Since he usually doesn’t play in last
week’s International, he’s been home to get
some extra practice at Medinah.
However Sluman, the 1988 PGA cham
pion, who has resisted the urge of most play
ers to move to a warm-weather state such as
Florida, Texas, Arizona or California, said
trying too hard to impress family and friends
actually puts more pressure on him. In four
prior majors played in the Chicago area,
Sluman missed the cut at the 2003 U.S. Open
at Olympia Fields, tied for 54th at the 1999
PGA at Medinah, tied for 14th at the 1990
U.S. Open at Medinah and tied for 24th at the
1989 PGA at Kemper Lakes.
Sluman also has not fared well, historically,
at the Western Open, at Cog Hill.
“I think if you look at my record, when
ever I’ve gone home, I don’t play very well,”
he said. “It’s nice to stay in your own home
and sleep in your own bed. Relatively speak
ing, it’s a relaxing week. It still boils down
to getting out and hitting golf shots and the
» * mf-XVIk-W W * * y w j s * «*• : P • :: :;: >:• *’Ww* w " w | -~ p' F ■ p"j •' p „
/ SAlff OVER 50% OFF JRE COVER PRlCEi
‘*":,\ just Fill Out & Return The Form Below Or Call Our Office At 478-987-1823 •’^
( Name: Phone:
Address: 1
•'■■ ' ■ ' 1 ::;;
City: ' State: Zip:
3 MONTHS - $10.20
AHA A fl
(Above prices include tax)
•MMMMMM MMMMM OTMaMMa
Credit: LJ Master Card U VISA U Discover - Card #:
/Jv'f 'a'v '£•_■% <{•//'t'%si&- r ’’.‘'i.w v’"’ 0 : " y- •-' -y &■ • ; - ' »
1 don't think It mattara who's back there. Mte M
taw speed and ability to make Up plays."
- Georgia junior tailback Thomas Brown
can make it happen.”
The guys getting their shots
at returning kickoffs so far this
preseason include junior tail
back Thomas Brown and fresh
man comerback Asher Allen, who
worked as the top two on Monday.
Receiver Mikey Henderson, corner
back Ramarcus Brown and receiv
er Mario Raley also have gotten
looks.
“I don’t think it matters who’s
back there,” said Thomas Brown.
“We all have speed and ability to
make big plays.”
Big plays have been lacking out
harder I try and the more I want something,
usually that’s the worst you play. I probably
need to relax a little bit more and just eryoy
the moment and that will probably do me a
world of good.”
MayfDtr tl pity: Despite surgery for testicular
cancer last week, Billy Mayfair is still entered
in the PGA and officials expected him to play
as of Monday evening. Mayfair had the two
weeks ago. Doctors have described his cancer
as one of the most successfully treated, if
caught in the early stages.
Thß PGA In Chicago: The PGA Championship
has been staged in the Chicago area six times,
counting this week. Two were at Medinah
(this year and 1999), two were at Olympia
Fields (1961 and 1925), one at Kemper Lakes
(1989) and another at the Floosmoor Country
Club (1920).
There also have been three U.S. Opens at
Medinah (1949, 1975 and 1990).
EHL Paul McGinley of Ireland has with
drawn from the PGA and has been replaced
by Daniel Chopra. McGinley told PGA offi
cials his withdrawal was for personal rea
sons, and they are likely related to the death
last week of Heather Clarke, the wife of
close McGinley friend and two-time PGA
Tour winner Darren Clarke. ... The marquee
group of British Open champion Tiger Woods,
Masters champion Phil Mickelson and U.S.
Open champion Geoff Ogilvy will obviously
draw the most fan attention Thursday and
Friday.
JHoueton Jlailw Journal
P. O. Box 1910 • 1210 Washington Street • Perry, GA 31069
478-987-1823
SPOUTS
of the kickoff return unit in recent
seasons.
Georgia averaged 19.46 yards
on kickoff returns last year, which
ranked ahead of only LSIJ and Ole
Miss in the SEC and 82nd in the
nation. That actually was progress
from 2004 when Georgia ranked
112th in the nation and 2003 when
the Bulldogs were 100th.
Georgia ranked 38th in 2001 and
57th in 2002 when Fred Gibson
handled kickoff returns for the
Bulldogs.
Tyson Browning and Bryan
McClendon returned 20 of 28 kick-
offs last year.
“This year I feel like we’re going
to be up in the top 10 or 15 because
I think we’ve got guys back deep
that understand how to hit it,” said
Ramarcus Brown, who averaged
21.2 yards on four kickoff returns
last season. “You can’t play around
back there. You’ve got to hit the
hole.”
Players say Georgia is now using
a new scheme - one kickoff return
er deep instead of two - but they
think individuals are more impor
tant than schemes.
“I don’t think it’s really been the
scheme in the past, we just haven’t
taken advantage of the opportu
nity,” Thomas Brown said. “We
have to make it a point as players
to make it work.”
Ball knows a thing or two about
Better Ingredients. Robins Federal Credit Union
Better Pizza.
478-987-7272
Grand Opening
This Week Only
(August 14th thru 20th)
50% OFF
Entire Order
50% off regular menu price. $lO minimum order for delivery. Not valid with
any other special offer or coupon. Valid only at the Perry location.
Delivery charge may apply. Expires August 20, 2006. 00036864
~ TRY -
RUTOPRY!
And Bill Your Credit Card
r Quarterly For Your Subscription
. Without All The Hassje! \
I Misaks
THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
returning kicks since he left his
mark as a kickoff returner at
Tenneesee-Chattanooga from 1977-
80. You can still find his name in
the Mocs’ record books. He holds
the single season kickoff return
record with a 37.0 average in 1977;
is second on the program’s career
kick return yardage list with a
26.0 average; and fifth in career
kickoff return yards from 1977-
80 with 1,304. He even made the
school’s all-century team as its kick
returner.
At Georgia, Ball said he is looking
for returners with quickness and
vision on kickoffs and strong run
ners that “when they see it, they
can hit and they hold top speed a
long time. That’s important. You
have to be a strong runner to fin
ish it.”
. Exp: