NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo made an adjustment before Saturday’s win against Vanderbilt that didn’t pertain to playcalling or personnel.

Instead, he modified his location, coaching from the sideline, rather than in the press box, for the first time since assuming the coordinator role in 2007.

The result made the change look brilliant. Georgia’s offense sparked, totaling 399 yards and 34 points, the most offensive production since the middle of September at Arkansas.

Whether the playcaller will stalk the sideline for the rest of season hasn’t been officially determined, but with the on-field success and players raving about the switch, all indications are Bobo will remain at ground level for upcoming games.

“I think it’s up to the coordinator to decide where he’ll be most effective,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “Do I think it was a positive thing to be down on the field? I think it was, and I’m assuming he’ll want to do that in the future.”

Bobo’s intensity on Georgia’s final touchdown drive in the fourth quarter evidenced the magnitude of his decision. The Bulldogs ran 10 consecutive rushing plays, with Bobo displaying an enthusiastic passion on the sideline. Simply put, he rubbed off on his players, dusting the offensive unit with tenacity and fire.

“I think he just wanted more energy on the sideline,” quarterback Joe Cox said. “He wanted to celebrate when we made plays, and even on the defensive side of the ball, he was getting us into the game the way he was cheering for the defense.”

Bobo contemplated the move earlier this season, he said, and after weeks of disappointing offensive effort, Bobo approached Richt before heading to Nashville.

“I just really didn’t have a good feel for our football team and have been thinking about it all year,” Bobo said. “We hadn’t played well the last two weeks and kind of put it on the backburner. It’s more to look into their eyes and try to get a feel for how we’re doing and hopefully relax a little better.”

Richt obliged, but told Bobo if he wasn’t comfortable, he could return to his accustomed view from above the field at halftime.

No such backtracking occurred.

“He was all hyped up, talking to all the guys and bringing up that energy,” said receiver A.J. Green. “I love having him on the sideline with us.”

Georgia’s offense deploys a number of young players, and Bobo’s presence helped guide them through Saturday.

Freshman tailback Washaun Ealey made his first ever start and said having Bobo a few paces away boosted his confidence.

“He was right there making sure we knew what we needed to do, and made comments and corrected us,” said Ealey.

The move wasn’t without some challenges, Bobo said, because seeing the play unfold was more difficult. But Richt said the team had a handful of more-than-capable graduate assistants in the press box charting plays.

Those challenges didn’t seem to matter after the game as Bobo burst into the locker room with a resounding “That a boy!”

He was right in the middle of the celebration because he wasn’t sprinting down from the press box.