This week we’ve largely been focused on one rite of spring the state of Georgia treasures, the Masters.
But today brings another landmark event of the spring calendar: the G Day spring scrimmage. The “game” (more on this momentarily) will kick off at 1:00 pm, with the Dawg Walk to start at 11:50.
I have a love/hate relationship with this event. On the one hand, some of my favorite childhood memories involve wandering around Sanford Stadium on a spring afternoon watching the intersquad competition between some of my heroes. On the other, the game is reliably unreliable in terms of telling us anything about the coming season. This year may set a record for obfuscation due to a variety of factors.
The Revolution Won’t Be Televised
For the first time in recent memory the G Day game will not be televised. The official reason is that the staff is using it as a big recruiting event and wants to be able to manage the timeline on its own without accommodating the television routine. I guess.
The upshot is that if you’re not actually going to be in the Classic City your only option to follow along in real time will be via radio on the Bulldog Radio Network, a charming throwback to the old days.
Next Man (And The Next One, And The Next One….) Up
One of the other perpetual peculiarities of the G Day game is that a large number of starters are usually out due to either nagging injury or recuperation from off-season surgeries. This year is no exception, except that the MASH list is exceptionally long. Among the players who may or may not be on the field.
RB Branson Robinson: After suffering a terrible knee injury in fall camp Robinson missed all of 2023, finally made it back to the field for the first six games of 2024, but has since been dealing with another knee injury.
RB Roderick Robinson: The other Mr. Robinson broke his ankle during Sugar Bowl practice and hasn’t seen action this spring other than conditioning to the side.
OL Drew Bobo: Starting center has been dealing with a hyperextended knee and is unlikely to see action.
OL Daniel Calhoun: The promising tackle will miss G Day with a foot injury.
OL Marques Easley: Easley is suspended as a result of a March arrest for reckless conduct and reckless driving.
OL Monroe Freeling: The presumed starter is out recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder.
WR Zachariah Branch: The Southern Cal transfer has made a lot of noise this spring with his explosiveness and separation. But he’s also reportedly dealing with a hamstring injury, and may or may not get to show off his skills for the Sanford Stadium crowd just yet.
WR Nitro Tuggle: Tuggle’s absence isn’t injury-related, but rather due to his indefinite suspension due to a March arrest for reckless driving.
CB Daylen Everette: The one established starter at corner is out recovering from hernia surgery.
Edge Gabe Harris: Harris has been “banged up” is Kirby Smart’s parlance, so his availability for Saturday is anyone’s guess.
DT Christian Miller: Miller, Georgia’s most experienced defensive lineman, is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Safety Jaylen Morgan: The freshman defender is recovering from shoulder surgery and is out for spring.
Punter Brett Thorson: The Thunder from Down Under suffered a knee injury in the SEC Championship Game and is out until at least fall camp.
Rules? There Are No Rules!!!!
Due to the avalanche of injuries outlined above Coach Smart has admitted that the game may not strictly follow a game-like format. If certain position groups are just too thin to make it productive, the game may simply be a controlled practice situation.
So fans who show up tomorrow may just be showing up to watch some drills and maybe a little 7-on-7 on a pleasant spring day in the Classic City. There are worse ways to pass an April day, but fans who expect a game day environment may be a little disappointed.
Still, this is as close to actual Georgia Bulldog football as we’ll get for another four and a half months. So let’s enjoy it for what it’s worth.
Go ‘Dawgs!!!