Unposted UGA notes

Not sure if these made it into today's paper, but I didn't see them on the LE web site, so I figured I'd post them here. What I say in the lead -- that the media has never picked fewer than two Georgia players on its preseason all-SEC first team -- applies only since Media Days started in Bham in 1992. I'm sure there were media preseason all-SEC teams prior to that, but I'm only talking about the Media Days teams.
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HOOVER, Ala. – Never before has the media picked fewer than two Georgia players for its first-team preseason All-SEC squad.

Never, that is, until voting results were announced at Friday’s final session of SEC Media Days in Birmingham.

Possibly a result of their disappointing 2006 season, the Bulldogs were shut out of the first-team balloting for the first time since the Media Days event started in 1992. Only two Georgia players – place-kicker Brandon Coutu and linebacker Brandon Miller – earned second-team honors, tying Georgia with Mississippi State and Ole Miss for the fewest all-conference players in the league.

“I always tell the guys, ‘If you want recognition, win,’” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “In the preseason, all-SEC doesn’t mean much, really. Postseason all-SEC means something. If we win, if we become a champion, then there’ll be guys on that all-SEC first team.”

The media members in attendance picked Georgia to finish third in the SEC East, trailing defending national champion Florida and Tennessee.

The overwhelming favorite to win the league was LSU, which received 54 of the 80 first-place votes. Florida received the second-most first-place votes with seven. Two voters picked Georgia to win its third SEC title since Richt arrived in 2001.

Not surprisingly, Richt doesn’t share the media members’ opinion of his team’s prospects.

“We’re definitely under the radar. Whether we rise or not is the big question,” Richt said. “But I believe in this team. I think we’ve got a chance to do as well as any team that we’ve had since we’ve been here.”

LSU also had the most players picked to the first and second teams. The Bayou Bengals had seven team members, followed by Florida and Kentucky with six apiece. Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas all had five team members, Vanderbilt four and Auburn and South Carolina three.

Just as on the recently released coaches preseason all-SEC squad, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden was the only unanimous selection. LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Alabama defensive back Simeon Castille were the next closest to being unanimous selections, as each was picked on 78 of the 80 ballots.

No decision

Richt said he still hasn’t settled on a punishment for tight end Tripp Chandler or quarterback Blake Barnes after their alcohol-related arrest early last month.

Athletic association policy calls for the players to be suspended for 10 percent of the season, which would equal a 1.2-game suspension for a 12-game football season. Richt expects to announce a decision soon over whether the suspensions will be for one or two games.

“When all the legal stuff is settled – and it may be, I haven’t talked to them in the last couple days – then I’ll be able to make a decision at that point,” Richt said. “I hope it’s before we get started. I know it’ll be before the first game.”

Another incident on Friday made it two Georgia tight ends to have problems with the law this summer.

Less than two weeks after UGA police arrested tailback Caleb King on a minor traffic violation, tight end NaDerris Ward was arrested for his aggressive driving.

Ward, 19, was booked on overtaking/passing on the right and did not have his license when he was pulled over by campus police Friday afternoon. He was booked into Clarke County Jail at 4:01 p.m. and released at 6:05 on $1,000 bond.

Traffic violations typically do not result in game punishment, so Ward will likely remain among the favorites to start at tight end while Chandler is out
for at least the Sept. 1 opener against Oklahoma State.

Quick hits

Richt said redshirt freshman safety Reshad Jones would likely be the first safety Georgia’s coaches turned to if one of the cornerbacks were to get hurt. “Our desire is not to have Reshad play corner if we can help it,” Richt said. “But if we had an injury or two, he’d probably be the safety that you’d have to start thinking about moving.” … Richt said he has not spoken with former Georgia linebacker Odell Thurman, although he’d like to. The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2005 second-round draft pick, Thurman has had numerous disciplinary issues in the last two years and was suspended by the NFL for all of last season. Thurman’s petition to be reinstated for this year was denied Thursday by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “I’d love to talk to Odell to be honest with you. I really like Odell,” Richt said. “I just pray that he gets everything straight and takes advantage of the blessings that God’s given him, really, his ability and his talent. I’d be real happy for him.” … A total of 830 media members, coaches, players and school representatives received credentials for this week’s event, the largest attendance in its history. Last year’s total of 685 was the previous high.