UGA has a new game plan on scheduling

While Evans sought nonconference games that would expose other parts of the country to the Bulldogs, such as the 2008 trip to Arizona State, last year's to Oklahoma State and this week's to Colorado, new athletic director Greg McGarity prefers to stay home for nonconference games except the every-other-year trip to Georgia Tech. "I would say it's just a philosophical difference in football scheduling," McGarity said.

McGarity's scheduling philosophy is twofold: Play seven games in Athens each season, up from six this season and the past two seasons. And generally play one BCS-level nonconference opponent each season, Georgia Tech, down from three last year and two this year.

McGarity concedes his approach won't produce the marquee nonconference games some fans covet, but he argues it will best position the team to play for championships. Another reason for a seventh home game, he said, is financial, for both UGA and the Athens community. McGarity's scheduling philosophy mirrors that at Florida, where he worked for the past 18 years. "It's a model that I have become accustomed to," McGarity said, "and it has had its successes over the years at Florida and other schools."