Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Georgia: Moreno in Heisman race?
Georgias tailback could get an invitation to New York
By: David Paschall
ATHENS, Ga. Texas junior quarterback Colt McCoy has completed 81.8 percent of his passes for the nations top-ranked team and could be hard to beat for this years Heisman Trophy.
Georgia sophomore tailback Knowshon Moreno disappeared from the Heisman hunt following the Sept. 27 loss to Alabama but may have worked himself back in the picture after rushing for 335 yards the past two games. Moreno gained 172 yards against Vanderbilt on Oct. 18 and 163 last Saturday at LSU, and he heads into this weeks game against Florida with 925 yards and 12 touchdowns.
I think Im seeing things a little better now, and the game has kind of slowed down, Moreno said. I still feel like Im learning and maturing.
Moreno isnt one to discuss the Heisman race, but maintaining his recent stretch could result in him becoming just the fourth player in Georgia history to be invited to New Yorks Downtown Athletic Club for the ceremony. Halfback Frank Sinkwich was invited in 1942 as the award winner, as was tailback Herschel Walker in 1982. That was the first year multiple finalists were invited.
Tailback Garrison Hearst was invited in 1992, when he finished third in the balloting.
Any time you have someone who has a chance to be in the running for the greatest individual player, you take pride in that, fullback Brannan Southerland said. If Knowshon was to get invited, that would be a reflection on our offense and the blocking of our O-line, tight ends and everybody.
Said receiver Kenneth Harris: We all know its in the back of our mind, and as a receiver you want to block downfield as much as you can so he can get invited to New York. He has the clips for the Heisman Trophy. I hope he gets invited.
Left tackle Clint Boling said there was a play against LSU in which the line didnt get the check off in time, so half went one way and half the other. Moreno still managed 4 or 5 yards on the play, Boling pointed out.
If he can do that without anybody blocking for him, thats pretty good, Boling said. Blocking for him is easy, because he does a lot of it himself. We just try to help him out a little bit.
Those days are over
Georgia coach Mark Richt answered several questions Tuesday concerning Florida, but one he didnt have to hear was his inability to beat the Gators. Richt is only 2-5 in this series, yet last seasons 42-30 win resulted in a split of the past four meetings.
Florida has really done such a fantastic job in the last 15 to 20 years, but the last few have been pretty even, he said. When you look at the entire series, Georgia still has a pretty good lead there.
The Bulldogs lead the series 47-37-2 according to Georgia records and 46-37-2 according to Florida records. The Gators recognize the series starting in 1915 and do not include a 52-0 loss at Macon in 1904.
Pheta Beta backfield
Third-string fullback Fred Munzenmaier scored his first touchdown this season on a 1-yard run last Saturday at LSU. The short-yardage formation included Georgias top two fullbacks, Southerland and Shaun Chapas.
We talk about it all the time, Munzenmaier said of the three-fullback set. We say were a fullback fraternity, the Pheta Betas. We call it the Pheta Beta backfield, and its kind of fun to do that and all be in there at the same time.
Odds and ends
Georgia and Florida rank 1-2 in the SEC for the best records during the past decade, with the Bulldogs 104-31 (.770) and the Gators 99-35 (.739). ... Sophomore middle linebacker Darryl Gamble said he has seven pictures from the LSU game, in which he returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and is deciding which one he wants framed. ... Gamble was named Tuesday as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. ... Junior cornerback Bryan Evans is now playing more at backup free safety behind Reshad Jones. ... Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said senior middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (knee) looked good at Tuesdays practice and should play Saturday.