ATHENS — There has been a lot of cryptic information to date with regard to Georgia wearing black jerseys this season. The truth is this: Yes, the Bulldogs are going to sport black jerseys for a home game this season; and, the contest in which they’ll be donned has not yet been determined.
That’s according to UGA Athletic Director Greg McGarity, who was asked to weigh in on the prospect on Tuesday.
McGarity said the Bulldogs already have the black tops in stock and plan to whip them out eventually. When they do, it will be determined by head coach Kirby Smart and it’s not going to be unexpected.
“Whenever the black jerseys are worn, people will know well in advance of it,” McGarity said. “It’s not a gimmick; it won’t be a surprise. It will be up to Coach Smart to make that call, but it will be a home game.”
McGarity said as far as he knew, Smart has not yet made that declaration. Asked about it last week, Smart simply said, “we’ll see how that goes.”
This much is certain: It won’t be the first month of the season. Georgia has only one home game in September and that’s the second week against Nicholls State. McGarity theorized it would be too hot to wear black then.
As for the season opener against North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, McGarity said game organizers had already requested that both Georgia and the Tar Heels wear their traditional home jerseys, red and light blue, respectively.
Georgia and Florida will also wear traditional home jerseys for their Oct. 29th game in Jacksonville, as well.
That means it would be October, when the Bulldogs host home games against Tennessee (Oct. 1) and Vanderbilt (Oct. 15), or November when they play host to Auburn (Nov. 12), Louisiana-LaFayette (Nov. 19) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 26), before the black jerseys come out.
“We already have them,” McGarity said. “It will be one game a year. It’s not that big a deal; it’s one of our team colors. But we still think our red jersey is one of the best in college football.”