Battle-tested or burned out?

As Georgia prepares for No. 4 LSU this Saturday, the Bulldogs’ schedule to date begs the question – does playing high-profile opponents in September prepare or hinder?

Games with South Carolina and Arizona State came down to the final minute, and Arkansas was an offensive-crazed point-fest. And there’s the season-opening loss to Oklahoma State.

“I think it builds confidence,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt. “I think when you’re in the middle of a game and you hit that adversity everybody can look at each other and say ‘Here we go again; let’s go do it,’ rather than ‘Here we go again, we’re in trouble.’ I think the first attitude is the one that we have at this moment, and hopefully we continue to have it.”

While most teams in the country were padding stats and artificially enhancing résumés against lesser opponents, Georgia was mired in out-of-conference hell. Oklahoma State, from the Big 12, and Arizona State from the Pac-10, are light-years ahead in terms of talent from the Bulldogs’ early slate last season (Georgia Southern and Central Michigan.)

And South Carolina and Arkansas were tough SEC adversaries.

Through it all, Georgia has been tested and sits 3-1, knowing they can compete with anybody.

“Right now I feel very energized,” Richt said. “Right now I feel very excited about where we are and where we are going.

“I’ve said it ever since I’ve been at Georgia; I think we’re a good football team. I think we’re good enough to win the East and the SEC, but the teams that win the close games are going to be champions, and so that to be the first and foremost thing of importance is winning that football game. That’s what we’re preparing for now.”

Defensive end changes his mind

Brandon Wood couldn’t, or wouldn’t stay off the field this season.

Wood, a junior, was supposed to take a medical redshirt after offseason shoulder surgery.

But Wood felt healthy early, and after watching Georgia’s first three games from the sideline, felt he could contribute.

“It’s hard just sitting there and watching the boys play and I can’t do anything,” he said. “And then I saw we had injuries and I didn’t want to be selfish, I wanted to be a part of the team and help out.”

When senior Rod Battle went down for the season with a knee injury, Wood knew he could help.

“I felt good going through the drills,” Wood said. “The (coaches) had been looking at the film and seeing what I was doing. They asked me what I was thinking about it, and I said I was ready to play.”

Mostly playing defensive tackle in his career, and currently weighing 285, Wood slid to end to provide depth. He played a surprising number of downs against Arizona State and will continue to see time at both end and tackle in upcoming games.

“You cover a lot more ground at defensive end than you do at tackle,” Wood said. “That’s the tough part about it.”

Illness hits Boykin

Starting cornerback, and kick returner, Brandon Boykin missed Wednesday’s practice with what Richt said was a minor illness. Boykin, a sophomore, is “probable” for Saturday’s game.