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On Wednesday, junior cornerback Asher Allen learned that he is one of 13 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. Five players from the SEC earned semifinalists status - but only 13 nationwide are still in the running. The Jim Thorpe Award is given annually to the nation's best defensive back.

Allen is currently Georgia's fourth leading tackler with 34, including 3.5 for a loss. He is the team leader with seven pass break-ups.

Knowshon Moreno got some good news this week as well - also on Wednesday the sophomore tailback learned that he is one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the Collegiate Player of the Year.

Only two SEC players (the other is Tim Tebow) are in the running for the award, which will be announced on December 11.  Moreno is averaging nearly 131 all-purpose yards per game and is third in the SEC with 110 yards rushing per game.

Moreno also needs just ten yards rushing this weekend vs. Kentucky to become only the second player in Bulldogs' history to rush for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

And speaking of Kentucky . . . Coach Richt said the team had a great two hour practice on Wednesday and since the Florida debacle "the coaches and players have moved on."

To be honest, however, it is pretty hard right now to find anyone more optimistic about the Bulldogs' season than Rich Brooks - who happens to be Kentucky's head coach.

Brooks said on Monday, "On looking at the Georgia game, they are a team that obviously has a lot of weapons. They have a really good quarterback, probably the best running back in the league, and are the number one in the SEC in total offense. They are a team with great speed on defense, and are coming off a tough loss at Florida. It seems like that's a broken record the past few weeks, but certainly Georgia is a team capable. They were preseason number one. They are an explosive football team that can score points, and their defense is very stingy. This is going to be a very difficult game for us. We are going to have to play extremely well, and better than we have played in recent weeks to have a chance in this game."

Actually, Brooks said a lot of things that are true - and a lot of things that should make Georgia fans feel really good about this team - but the truth is, after suffering lopsided defeats to Alabama and Florida, even if Georgia runs the table and closes out the season 11-2, even if Allen, Moreno, or other Georgia players earn prestigious awards, this season is going to be a tough pill to swallow.

And the fact that Georgia fans enter this weekend worrying about a banged up Kentucky team pretty much sums up the situation.

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