By CAL POWELL
The Red & Black

Georgia head coach Jim Donnan said he expects a conservative Auburn offense when the two teams meet Nov. 14.

Auburn interim head coach Bill Oliver , the former defensive coordinator, fired offensive coordinator Rodney Allison over the weekend, leaving the play-calling to quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher.

"He’s (Oliver) a defensive coach, so you wouldn’t think he’d do anything radically different on offense," Donnan said. "He’s pretty conservative."

Donnan said Auburn’s game with Central Florida Saturday will reveal a good deal about the Tigers’ gameplan the rest of the season.

Senior strong safety Kirby Smart said morale on the team was a bit low Tuesday after the Bulldogs returned to the field for the first time since losing to Florida 38-7.

"It’s a little down today, but that’s what you expect," Smart said. "I would think if we had a game this week, it’d be a little more upbeat. But you know you’ve got nothing ahead of you this week but work, and coming off a showing like that, it’s tough to get excited. Spirits will be up by the end of the week."

Smart said the worst thing about Saturday’s loss was leaving the impression that Georgia hasn’t progressed any since Donnan took over three years ago.

"I read some quote from (Florida receiver) Travis McGriff that the gap was still there between Georgia and Florida," Smart said. "And the gap’s not there. You can look at the stats and all that stuff and tell the gap’s not there. We just didn’t play well. It’s tough for me as a senior to know I’ll never get a chance to play Florida again. But the gap’s gone and (Georgia’s players) will prove that next year."

Donnan said redshirt freshman Randy McMichael is way ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation. McMichael tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during preseason drills. Donnan said the Peach County native could possibly be back for a bowl game, but noted there’s not much chance McMichael would play.

Despite laying what was probably the most vicious hit of Saturday’s game on Florida freshman Marquand Manuel after an interception, Georgia redshirt freshman receiver Jermaine Phillips said there aren’t any plans to move him to defensive back. Phillips played both ways in high school, but was moved to receiver last year.

Former Georgia football All-American Jimmy Payne died in Athens early Tuesday after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Payne was a defensive tackle under head coach Vince Dooley from 1978-82 and made the All-SEC team three years in a row.

"We had been encouraged on his condition in recent weeks, so it is especially shocking," Dooley said. "We are very saddened for his family."

Dooley said Payne ranked with Bill Stanfill and Richard Tardits as the best pass rushers he ever coached during his career at Georgia.