Countdown to Georgia game begins

There was no practice Sunday, and with the showdown against No. 9 Georgia just five days away, media outlets produced a few feature-type stories.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD: Clemson's sports information department has posted the depth chart for the 2003 season, and Tigernet tells us who moved where. In addition, there's the voluminous pregame notes for the Georgia game. (PDF required.) And here's a nice side-by-side chart of information about Clemson and Georgia -- depth charts, rosters, pregame notes and statistics for both teams.

CU/UGA MEMORIES: Clemson's official Web site will be posting video highlights from great Clemson-Georgia games of the past. Today, it's the 1981 game, a 13-3 Clemson victory that was the springboard for the Tigers' national championship season.

I was there that day. I remember going into the stadium a couple of hours before kickoff and standing by Georgia's team bus as the players disembarked. The legendary Herschel Walker, a player I greatly admired despite his choice of uniform, was the first one off. I'll never forget what happened next. He eyeballed me, cracked a slight grin and tossed off a friendly, countrified "What's up?" For a 15-year-old boy, it was pure heaven -- but the Tigers' victory was so much sweeter.

And The Greenville News reminisces about the 1986 Clemson-Georgia game, which ended in a memorable 31-28 Clemson victory. David Treadwell kicked a 46-yard field goal in the dying seconds to lift the Tigers to the win in Sanford Stadium.

Here's a video clip of Treadwell's kick. And don't forget, the 1986 Clemson-Georgia game will be shown Friday on ESPN Classic at 3 p.m., followed at 5 p.m. by the 1984 CU-Georgia contest.

STAYING FRESH: The State has an interesting story on Clemson's new preseason regimen. The Tigers have fresher legs this year because the coaching staff moved back the date of a mandatory conditioning test.

ANSWER MAN: The State's Ken Tysiac poses five questions for the Tigers, and keeps answering queries from fans.

A FAMILY AFFAIR: Clemson defensive end J.J. Howard will have a family reunion of sorts in Saturday's game. His brother, Marcus Howard, is a linebacker for Georgia.

HELLO, CURTIS: The Anderson Independent Mail continues its profiles of Clemson players. Today, it's receiver Curtis Baham. Check it out.

SHRINKING ODDS: As of 11:43 a.m. Monday, Georgia was favored by about 3 points against Clemson. A couple of weeks ago, the Dogs were favored by 9.