Head Coach Kirby Smart gives an update on the Bulldogs after Tuesday’s afternoon practice where Georgia continues to prepare for the SEC Championship game, a rematch against Auburn on Saturday, December 2nd.

 

The Georgia coaching staff has been working the team in the Indoor Athletic Facility some to get them used to playing in an indoor environment like they will be doing in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the SEC Championship game. Coach Smart said that they did a “half and half” day during Tuesday’s practice session.

“Yeah, we did about half and half,” said Kirby. “We some of the kicking game outside and some of it inside, and tried to use the indoor facility towards the end of practice.”

And just exactly what are the differences between playing in a domed stadium versus one open to the elements? Does it play faster? How does it affect the players?

“Yeah, it seems faster,” said Kirby. “I think guys sometimes get a little overheated because there’s a little more temperature in there, with the crowd and atmosphere. Anxiety plays a factor in that. A lot of guys aren’t used to that at this time of year. We’ve got guys that cramp and things like that, so we’ve been really emphasizing hydration. They’ve been good about it. It’s just a little bit warmer in a dome.”

Does having the Indoor Athletic Facility help simulate that environment at all?

“It probably does,” said Kirby. “But it’s not the same intensity in there that there will be, simulating the same number of reps and those kinds of things.”

Here is the full audio of Kirby’s press conference:

Or if you prefer, the video of Kirby Smart’s press conference