Georgia Bulldogs are in final countdown to season opener

ATHENS — Georgia hosts Appalachian State on Saturday evening in its season opener. While few expect Appalachian State to challenge the Bulldogs between the hedges, Michigan fans know anything can happen.

In 2007, the Mountaineers stunned Michigan 34-32 on the Wolverines’ home turf and got on the radar of some people who might not have given Appalachian State a second thought before that Sept. 1 game.

“I remember the game,” UGA coach Kirby Smart said at a news conference Monday. “I remember the blocked kick. No. 1, it helped them recruit probably a little bit more, I would not say nationally, but even more than just regionally. They were able to go out and get players from Florida because of that game. It gave them great exposure.”

In preventing a recurrence at Sanford Stadium, it boils down to who wants the win more, Smart indicated.

“There were a lot of great players in that game for App State, just like this team here has,” the second-year Georgia coach said. “They have some really talented guys who are fast. Those guys — this is the opportunity of a lifetime for them.

“You have to understand that their want and desire cannot be more than your want and desire. That is really what this game comes down to is who can get off the block and who can block, and they do those things well.”

Smart said he’s hoping the Dawgs will get a big crowd for the 4 p.m. Dog Walk ahead of the 6:15 p.m. kickoff. He also said he likes the way his Dawgs are looking heading into their final practices before the season opener.

“We are excited about where the team is right now,” he said. “A lot of these guys are itching and getting ready to play. Good news is we have four or five practices to clean some things up, and we worked Saturday on these guys as well.

“I know the players are excited. They respect Appalachian State, the history of the program, the teams they played last year they played really well and they do a tremendous job.”

It’s also different starting the season with a year as head coach under his belt.

“It’s hard to measure (the difference),” he said. “I can’t quantify it for you by a number or a measure. Certainly having played however many games, it makes you much more comfortable coming into this season as opposed to the first one, but I don’t know exactly how much more.”

Regarding questions about Saturday’s matchup, Smart said the status of senior defensive back Malkom Parrish is still undetermined.

“We are fighting to get Malkom back,” he said. “Do not know if he is going to make it back or not, but we are trying to get him back for this game, and the starting secondary will probably be determined throughout the week based on that and a couple of other guys who are in good position battles.

“So it will be close, probably a game-time decision at some of those spots in the secondary.”

Smart said there was no “set plan” for getting quarterback Jake Fromm in the game.

“Jacob Eason is our quarterback,” he said. “If the opportunity presents itself to play Jake Fromm, then we will do that. If something happens to Jacob Eason, then obviously we will be ready to play Jake Fromm. He has been working as our No. 2 quarterback, but it is not like we have a set, designed plan.

“We have talked about that with him. We will play our offense, run our offense, and if it presents itself, then it presents itself. But it is not something set in stone.”

The coach also said he expects the defense to play with more intensity this season.

“I thought last year we played OK on defense, we didn’t play great,” Smart said. “I think this year we need to play better. We need to play with a little more demeanor and attitude. I have seen some of that in camp. I think they’ve done a good job of changing some things up.”

Meanwhile, Smart said his coaching staff is going down its checklist to get ready for game day.

“We are executing everything we have done in the past to make sure we have every situation that could come up covered,” he said. “As you well know, sometimes the unexpected can happen, so the biggest thing for us is being prepared for that.”