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| UGA tailback Robert Edwards has shown flashes of brilliance. Photo by Robb Carr, Staff. |
to re-emerge
By Chip Towers, Staff Writer
It was barely 13 months ago, but to Robert Edwards it might as well have been another lifetime.
It was Sept. 9, 1995, and the Georgia Bulldogs brought Edwards, their electrifying tailback discovery, to Tennessee's Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
Less than three minutes after receiving the opening kickoff, Edwards rambled into the end zone from seven yards out to give the Bulldogs a crowd-quieting 7-0 lead. By halftime, he had more than 100 yards.
"I think it surprised the whole offense that we went out and put together such a great drive," recalled senior tackle Adam Meadows. "From that moment on, our confidence started too build, especially with the way Robert was running. I mean, we knew he was good, but that game he was incredible. As the game went on, we got more and more confident."
Said Georgia coach Jim Donnan: "Looking at the tape, he made some phenomenal runs in that game, incredible cuts. Even when people came through unblocked, he made yards. It was impressive."
There would be no happy ending for the Bulldogs, however.
Georgia suffered a 30-27 loss and Edwards fractured his left foot in the third quarter. Edwards had gained 156 yards on 15 carries before suffering the season-ending injury.
Tennessee's Jeff Hall kicked a 34-yard field goal with 10 seconds and Georgia's season went south from there.
"(Edwards' injury) kind of took the wind out of our sails," admitted Meadows.
More than a year later, Georgia is still waiting for the Robert Edwards it watched that night to re-emerge. It was because of performances like the one he produced against Tennessee and his 165-yard, five-touchdown spectacle against South Carolina that his return this season was so soundly trumpeted. But, six weeks into the 1996 campaign, the Bulldogs have yet to see the same dominant runner.
Edwards leads the team in rushing with 292 yards and stands fifth in the Southeastern Conference with 73 yards per game. But the explosiveness that characterized Edwards in those two fateful 1995 contests has been mostly absent. And, after exiting with injuries in the second half of two of Georgia's four games this year, Edwards' durability and desire have come into question.
When asked if he had seen the same Edwards this season as he watched in those tapes from last year, Donnan mumbled, "Not yet."
"I hope he can play like he did last year. That would be great," he said.
Ask Edwards about the situation and the frustration in his voice is evident. He has heard the whispers questioning his toughness; he is aware of the sudden doubts about his ability.
"I've had people tell me; I haven't read it myself," Edwards said of an NFL draft report questioning his durability. "I can't help it. I keep getting those little nagging injuries every game. I say little injuries, but we're not talking about a sprained ankle here. Believe me, I don't want them."
Georgia got a major scare in the South Carolina game, when Edwards suffered a knee injury. At the time, it was unclear whether or not it was a major injury. As it turned out, it was only a sprain.
A week later, Edwards got hurt again. This time it was his left foot, the same one that knocked him out for the 1995 season. Again, tests proved the injury to be just a sprain. But the physical and psychological effects were evident in Edwards' subsequent play. He had 43 and 29 yards rushing in Georgia's last two games and hasn't seemed a threat to go the distance.
Meanwhile, backups Torin Kirtsey and Patrick Pass continue to get more and more carries. Both had more rushes than Edwards in the Mississippi State game last week.
But Edwards insists he is ready for a breakthrough game. He has been able to practice full speed this week for the first time in almost a month and has been impressive in Georgia's workouts.
"This game is the closest I've been to 100 percent since the first game," said Edwards, who had 159 yards in one half of play against South Carolina. " I just want to stay healthy. But this week, I'm going to go out and not worry about it. I'm going to go out and give it all I've got this Saturday.
"Hopefully I'll produce the same kind of numbers I did last year."
As for the fact that his healthy return comes against No. 7 Tennessee, Edwards insists that is no special motivation.
"It's just Tennessee, that's all," he said. "It's a big game; it could make or break our season, but it has nothing to do with last year. A lot of things are different now - new coaches, a new system. And I'm not that big of a surprise."
That's for sure. Said Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer: "We all remember Robert Edwards. I still think he's the finest back in the conference, just a phenomenal player."
Georgia can only hope Edwards still is.