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Saturday, December 23, 2000
Departing coaches Don't win one for the Gipper.
are sources of
motivation
Players say they play
for their coaches, despite
what they are toldBy Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin staffThat's the message head coaches George Welsh of Virginia and Jim Donnan of Georgia are passing along to their players as they prepare for tomorrow's third annual Oahu Bowl at Aloha Stadium.
Welsh is retiring after 19 seasons as the Cavaliers' head coach. Donnan ends his five-year run with the Bulldogs after being fired by athletic director Vince Dooley.
As a result, the game should be a highly charged affair with players trying to send their coaches out as winners and coaches trying to look good for future employers.
Lost in this holiday shuffle is why the teams are here in the first place -- a reward for a job well done.
"I've said this before, but I want our guys to play to win for themselves, not for me or the coaches on my staff," Welsh said. "This isn't a game where they should win one for the Gipper. They should just be thinking about their assignments and trying to beat the guy across from them."
Donnan echoed those sentiments. His players threatened to boycott tomorrow's game if their head coach wasn't allowed to make the trip. And while he appreciated their backing, he wants the Bulldogs to win the Oahu Bowl for themselves.
"I'm not one of those coaches who will stand up and give a speech about winning the game for me and my assistants," Donnan said. "We're all a team together. We want to win it for the Georgia Bulldogs. That's how it should be."
Not that any of the players are paying much attention to their head coaches' wishes. They see this game as an opportunity to close out the season on a high note for the respective senior classes and the coaches who have guided the programs since they first put on the pads.
"We have 13 seniors on this team who want to win this game for Coach Welsh and his staff," quarterback Dan Ellis said. "I know what he says, but you can't help but feel loyalty for a man who has played a key role in your life."
Georgia quarterback Cory Phillips made similar remarks about Donnan. Although he's a young sophomore, when a coach recruits you and believes enough in you to offer a scholarship, it's tough to set those feelings aside.
"We're playing for Coach Donnan and all the assistants," Phillips said. "It's really that simple. We want to win this football game for them because of what they did for us and what they mean to this program. You don't want them to go out on a bad note."
Georgia is favored to do just that to Virginia. The Bulldogs are listed as 10-point favorites over the Cavaliers, despite their top quarterback having to sit this one out.
Junior Quincy Carter isn't expected to see any action in tomorrow's game because the thumb on his right hand remains sore. He had it in a cast for five weeks after injuring it in a loss to Florida the final weekend in October.
Phillips has settled in nicely under center. His top targets will be split end Terrence Edwards and flanker Damien Gary. The two combined to catch 89 passes for 1,256 yards and nine touchdowns.
Rushing the football has been by committee. Georgia has three backs -- Jasper Sanks, Musa Smith and Brett Millican -- who have rushed for a combined 1,079 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Virginia's offense relies on junior running back Antwoine Womack, who rushed for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns, and Ellis. He threw for 1,642 yards and seven scores this season. The numbers translate into a competitive game.
"We've played in two bowl games in five years with each team winning one," Welsh said. "This is the rubber game. Hopefully, we won't let them bounce back and beat us like they did two years ago in the Peach Bowl."
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Oahu Bowl
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