“He’s taking care of his business in Colorado, we’re taking care of ours.”

Georgia’s story right now?  Coaches coming…

Georgia’s new strength boss is already on the scene with the Bulldogs.

Hired less than a week ago from Alabama as UGA’s new director of strength and conditioning, Mark Hocke was already on the job Friday as the Bulldogs continued their preparations for the Belk Bowl at Country Day School. Also on the scene Friday was the man Hocke was hired to replace, Joe Tereshinski Jr., and his assistants Sherman Armstrong, Gus Felder and John Thomas.

“He’s a very energetic guy,” head coach Mark Richt said. “He’s going to have a very good plan, I know that. He’s excited about getting started. But right now it’s just kind of a time to let him be around the players and the players to be around him just to get a little bit of familiarity. He’s not trying to change anything right now. Just finishing out our season with the way we handle our strength and conditioning. Then he’ll hit the ground running in early January.”

Coaches going…

There is a bit more stability with the offensive line, thanks to Friend’s continued presence. Senior center David Andrews, who was the only lineman made available to the media on Friday, said his unit wouldn’t tune out Friend just because he’s on his way out.

“We’re real close. So we’re not gonna do that to each other,” Andrews said. “We know coach Friend wants what’s best for us. And wants us to win this football game. So he’s still out there coaching us, and we’re still out there being players and learning, and keep getting better.”

And the aftermath of coaches gone.

The Bulldogs have begun life after Mike Bobo this week at their bowl practices. Their former offensive coordinator took the Colorado State job on Monday, and days later the team is practicing with Bobo’s gameplan – but not Bobo.

“It’s definitely weird,” quarterback Hutson Mason said, adding with a smile: “Maybe a tad bit more quiet.”

With all that swirling around, it’s fair to say Richt’s got a lot on his plate to handle.

Otherwise, head coach Mark Richt is trying to downplay the coaching talk and focus on the matchup with Louisville. Still, Richt had to admit that the search for a new offensive coordinator wasn’t far from his mind.

“There’s a little bit of that going through my brain right now,” he said after Friday’s practice. “But if I get too involved in that and not involved with what’s happening here, I don’t think it’s wise. But you can’t help but have, you know, messages come to you, and thoughts will go through my mind as I’ve got my head on the pillow, whether it’s going to bed or waking up. But then you’ve gotta get on track and make sure we’re doing what we need to do for this ballgame.”

Bobo’s work is being split.  Lilly will call the plays and Richt will help coach the quarterbacks.  The good thing is that most of the game plan has already been installed.

Richt said roughly 90 percent of Georgia’s game plan had already been installed in Athens with Bobo authoring it as usual.

“All these coaches have been here and have faced Grantham and his defense,” Mason said. “It’s going to be the same offense. Some different stuff here and there, but for the most part it will be the same. I think you’ll find a lot of guys are enjoy playing for Lilly. They love him. This is a great opportunity for him and for us, and I think guys are going to go play their butts off for him.”

Is this an audition for Lilly to succeed Bobo?  Not that McGarity would likely object, but I doubt it.  Nevertheless, between the coaching transition and facing off against Todd Grantham, this bowl game is shaping up to be a good deal more interesting than the last two.