Black and mysterious

Screw the turnover chain.  Richard LaCounte’s got a hit stick!

When he arrived at Sanford Stadium Saturday morning for the ubiquitous Dawg Walk, Georgia safety Richard LeCounte carried on his shoulder a rather menacing baseball bat.

The message LeCounte sought to impart to anyone who passed by was that No. 3 Georgia’s defense had come to play, but not to play around.

“The black bat is the hit stick,” said Lecounte, who recorded three tackles and had a fumble recovery in the second quarter. “I can’t speak much on it, but the bat solidifies everything about our defense – hard and tough.”

Gotta admit, I’m intrigued with the “I can’t speak much on it” part.  What dark secret is LeCounte holding back?  Deandre Baker sheds a tiny bit more light on the stick.

When asked about the “hit stick,” which LeCounte seems to think will one day stand alongside the “Savage” turnover shoulder pads in Bulldog mythology, Baker said, “That’s his personal hit stick. He painted it black and he earned it.”

I would pay good money to watch Kirby stroll into tomorrow’s presser toting that.  The Coke bottle needs a buddy prop.