[JRL]

By Carter Strickland
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/08/07
Athens —- Georgia running back Thomas Brown is still hedging his bets when it comes to playing Saturday against Auburn.
"I think I am ready to go," Brown said, "but it is still day to day."

Saturday should be the day Brown steps back on the field, according to Bulldogs coach Mark Richt.
"I think he will be fine," Richt said.
Brown went through his first contact Wednesday since an X-ray revealed a broken collarbone during last month's loss at Tennessee.
"I feel very confident," Brown said Wednesday night. "My main thing is I didn't have any contact on it [before Wednesday]."
Now, after being hit a few times, Brown knows where he stands.
"I feel like I could take 50 [snaps] if they would give them to me," Brown said.
Georgia could give Brown the first snap against the Tigers. He was the Bulldogs' first-string tailback at the time of the injury, and there has been no decision on whether he'll remain the starter over Knowshon Moreno, Richt said.
Moreno, a redshirt freshman, has rushed for more than 500 yards in the past three games and 1,003 yards on the season.
As for how the carries will be split, Richt is holding that information close to his vest. "We will give Knowshon some and then we will give Thomas some," the coach said.
Either way, the Bulldogs' plan is to stick with the running game.
"For us right now, our greatest success has been with a very balanced attack and a very serious dedication to running the ball to set the passing game," Richt said. "And I can't imagine us trying to go away from that."
Black jerseys?
Internet rumors have started to circulate that Georgia plans to unveil black jerseys Saturday, the day players asked the fans to come dressed in black. Richt squashed such talk, saying, "You can't snap your fingers and get them."
Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola Co. is chipping in to help out the fan "blackout." The company will print 5,000 black UGA/Coca-Cola Zero T-shirts to be distributed for free by UGA's athletics department to students on game day. The shirts will have the Georgia "G" logo on the front and "Coke Zero" on the back.
Quick kicks
UGA safety Kelin Johnson (knee) is probable for Saturday's game. Safety Donovan Baldwin (hip flexor) and defensive tackle Kade Weston (ankle) are doubtful. Safety Quintin Banks (knee) is out. ... Richt made the 16-man watch list for the Paul "Bear" Bryant American Heart Association College Football Coach of the Year.
SCOUTING AUBURN
Auburn moved defensive end Quentin Groves to strongside linebacker last week, and it appears the Tigers may keep him there for now. "He did well [against Tennessee Tech]," coach Tommy Tuberville said in his weekly news conference. "He was a little bit new to playing every down. Most of the time, he is focused on rushing the passer. This week, he will rush the passer, drop back and play zone and man coverage. He will be involved in the blitz packages, also. He is a great player. It helps our defense when we put him at a different position on the field, because you can move him around the linebacker spot."
Putting Groves on the strong side lets Auburn get two other solid pass rushers onto the field, Antonio Coleman and Sen'Derrick Marks. Those two had a spike in production when Groves went out earlier this season with a toe injury. Now Groves, who is one sack from the school record, appears to be returning to form.