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Early Celebration OK With Richt

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 28, 2007

JACKSONVILLE - Florida LB Brandon Spikes took issue with Georgia's full-squad celebration of its first touchdown during the Gators' 42-30 loss Saturday.

'No class,' Spikes said. 'They had never been in the situation they was in. Just class and disrespect.'

Georgia coach Mark Richt, who told CBS at halftime he condoned the celebration, clarified his statement after the game. He said he told players they had to get a celebration penalty after the Bulldogs' first touchdown, but when players began working on individual celebrations, he told them a touchdown was a team accomplishment, and it should be celebrated as a team.

'They must have misinterpreted what I meant by team,' Richt said.

The celebration - all of Georgia's players left the sideline and converged on the goal line after Knowshon Moreno's touchdown - drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Florida coach Urban Meyer didn't share after the game how he felt about the gesture, but he did say it caused confusion on the Florida sideline.

'At first I thought it was a fight,' Meyer said. 'I started grabbing our guys. I had no idea.'

INJURY UPDATE: Meyer said Florida intentionally called fewer quarterback runs to protect QB Tim Tebow's bruised right shoulder. That didn't keep Tebow from taking hits, though.

The sophomore was sacked a career-high six times for minus-40 yards. Meyer said Tebow seemed less mobile in the pocket, but he said Tebow would not admit to coaches how badly he was hurt.

'He's hurt,' Meyer said. 'He'd never tell you. He'll tell you, 'I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine.''

Tebow wasn't the only injured Gator by game's end. DT Javier Estopinan watched the second half in street clothes after suffering an undisclosed injury. DE Justin Trattou left on crutches with an undisclosed injury. DT Terron Sanders limped off the field in the first half and didn't play again.

Meanwhile, FS Major Wright (broken thumb) played only on kickoff coverage. Wright wore a cast made from a modified Everlast boxing glove.

HARVIN, JAMES RUNNING AWAY: After Florida TB Kestahn Moore fumbled twice in the first quarter, Meyer relied almost exclusively on WR Percy Harvin and RB Brandon James to carry the load.

Harvin gained 97 yards on 10 carries, while James gained 26 yards on five carries. After the loss, Meyer said James may start against Vanderbilt.

GATOR BITES: Hillsborough High graduate Jarred Fayson caught three passes for a team-high 62 yards. ... P Chas Henry averaged 43.7 yards a kick, and he pinned the Bulldogs on their 1 in the second quarter to set up CB Wondy Pierre-Louis' interception return for a TD.

Andy Staples

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