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LOS ANGELES (AP) — When Buffalo Bills safety Dumar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game on Monday night, Georgia safety Javon Bullard was horrified to see the NFL player have to resuscitate. I fell into
“It’s probably one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen,” Bullard said Saturday during the media day of a college football playoff championship game.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart, hoping to find ways to reassure his players, held a meeting with the team’s medical staff, mental health experts and team chaplain on Tuesday.
“They were worried, and when you play, they start asking, ‘Will this happen to me?'” Smart said. “So we did the education first thing the next morning.”
For TCU cornerback Josh Newton, Hamlin’s fall was particularly troubling as it came after a normal play.
“I mean, almost every football game has tackles,” Newton said. “He just got hit in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But Newton said it wouldn’t affect his approach to the game.
“As a defensive player, you can’t walk away from it or get nervous. The only thing you can do is be careful.”
Georgia defensive line coach Trey Scott hopes one of the lessons to be learned from the Hamlin incident is increased first aid training and preparedness.
“Each offseason, they become coaches and all of our staff go through intense CPR training. I do this, you call 911 … it’s all about information,” says Scott.
mirror time?
TCU running back Kendre Miller has his play in question after suffering a right knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl against Michigan.
Miller, a junior who leads the team with 1,399 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, was able to practice Thursday but felt the pain that came from that training.
Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes expects to know by Sunday if Miller can contribute.
“I’m still optimistic about him being able to play,” Dykes said. “And we want him to be very effective.
why play
Georgia tight end Darnell Washington no longer wears walking boots after injuring his ankle in the Peach Bowl against Ohio.
Not only did Washington win his second consecutive national title, but the presence of family members who had never seen him play in a college game gave Washington more motivation to take the field.
“If you get a chance to play, try doing a show for them,” Washington said.
dictate the terms
Fast play has been a trademark of the TCU offense throughout the season, but it could be of even greater importance to a Georgia defense that rotates frequently and wants to get the most out of its roster.
“It’s hard to match the tempo against anyone and against any defense,” said TCU offensive lineman Wes Harris. “It’s hard for us too, but coaches always say they’re more tired than you because they have to chase football.”
Will Muschamp, the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator, said lineman snap count management is more important in a matchup like this.
“Once the big guys run out of gas, they’re done,” he said.
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