When Georgia’s players prepare to leave Athens Friday for the flight to Kentucky, their beards will be safe once again.

Georgia’s Aaron Murray has taken some huge hits this season, causing his coaches to ask that he try to avoid so much contact in the future.
Kelly Wegel

The razors don’t need to come out because the Bulldogs won the turnover battle again last week. Coach Mark Richt is allowing players to be as scruffy as they want as incentive for coming on top on turnovers.

"It’s a big deal," linebacker Christian Robinson said. "When we get back on Monday we’ll be talking about, ‘Man, we’ve got to shave this week.’ It’s motivation."

Georgia is tied for second in the Southeastern Conference in turnover margin at plus-four and hasn’t committed a turnover the past two games in blowout wins over Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

"I hope they are the nastiest-looking bunch in America by the end of the year," Richt said.

If the turnover battle is tied in a game, players can keep their facial hair as long as the team is in the plus category for the season.

The rule has been in place since last season. Richt previously did not allow beards.

"We actually started it last year, but unfortunately we were clean-shaven all year," Richt said. "That was a bad sign. This year they’re getting a little furrier."

Georgia ranked 118th out of 120 teams nationally in turnover margin last year.

Robinson said Georgia staff member Joe Tereshinski "will be waiting for you" on Friday before boarding the team bus "with a razor if you didn’t shave" and a player won’t get his travel gear.

"You won’t even make it to the bus before that happens," linebacker Akeem Dent said.

Fumbles or interceptions have no bearing on mustaches, just hair below the lip.

"I don’t really like to shave that often," said receiver Kris Durham, who is growing a beard. "I want to keep the facial hair as long as I can, so when I get in the real world I’m not going to be able to have it quite as much.

Quarterback Aaron Murray, wearing three-day old stubble, says his mother threatened to cut back on gifts for his 20th birthday next month if he "doesn’t keep it clean."

"Whatever makes mommy happy," Murray said. "I don’t like the grizzly look."

Murray takes a licking, keeps on ticking

Murray has rushed for a team-high four touchdowns and 158 yards this season, but Georgia’s coaches could do without the big hits he’s taken at the end of some of those runs.

"He has been durable," Richt said. "He’s been hit hard. He’s been hit too hard for my liking and he’s got to learn to manage that a little bit better."

Murray has held up well. He’s taken what Richt called "some pretty brutal licks," but Murray said only one hit – which came in the Arkansas game – "really hurt."

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was asked if any hits on Murray are alarming.

"Yeah, they’re alarming when you hear them on the sideline," Bobo said. "In the booth, you don’t hear those collisions."

Murray said playing defensive end growing up and then safety in high school has prepared him for the hits.

"I grew up playing defense, so I kind of miss the contact a little bit, I guess," Murray said. "I know I should be a little bit more smarter. I’ve talked to coach Richt and coach Bobo about it, about getting down and about getting out of bounds."

He’s added to his quarterback skills with the slide.

"This year is really the first time I’ve ever really slid in my life," he said. "Colorado, I slid twice."

Bobo said he hopes Murray will learn to be a "smarter runner" on early downs.

"Hopefully he’ll learn before he gets knocked out of the game," Bobo said.

Spurrier: Georgia ‘looked like best team in SEC’

With Georgia a half-game behind South Carolina in the SEC East standings, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier noted the Bulldogs’ play of late as his team prepares for Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt, which just got shut out by Georgia 43-0.

"Georgia played very well, ran the ball (and) threw the ball," Spurrier said. "They looked like the best team in the SEC probably last week and maybe in the week before against Tennessee. They got their act together. They’re still in the hunt in the East. Everyone is in the hunt, just about."

This and that

Richt said he does not consider 5-foot-7 Carlton Thomas a situational back. "I think Carlton is probably as tough as Warrick Dunn was," Richt said of the former Florida State and NFL running back. … Cornerback Branden Smith (concussion) remains doubtful. He did not practice Tuesday. … The CSS on-air broadcast crew Saturday includes Matt Stewart, former Florida receiver Chris Doering and Allison Williams.

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► PHOTO GALLERY: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
► MULTIMEDIA: Bulldogs Rewind: UGA over Vandy 43-0