Aaron Murray isn’t making his collegiate debut against an SEC defense on Saturday, but the Louisiana-Lafayette team that Georgia's starting quarterback will face Saturday was certainly opportunistic last season.

“The number one thing that jumps out to me is the number of interceptions they had last year,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “They like to pressure. They play zone behind it where if you get pressure and get a bad call, you can get some interceptions. They have a knack for making plays and creating turnovers.”

The Ragin’ Cajuns’ 16 interceptions last year tied for 23rd in the nation. They had 13 in their six victories. Their projected starters in the secondary this year had 10 of those interceptions.

Georgia threw 17 interceptions last season, contributing to a turnover margin that ranked 118th in the nation.

New Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity twice was asked this week about his philosophy on nonconference scheduling and twice he deferred, saying he wanted to talk to football coach Mark Richt about it first.

Richt on Wednesday voiced his preference: that the Bulldogs play only one nonconference game a season against a team from a BCS conference.

That would be a pullback from the scheduling philosophy the school had under former athletic director Damon Evans, who wanted to grow the Georgia name nationally.

“We’ve been doing it, but I don’t think we need to do it anymore, quite frankly,” Richt said. “I don’t think anybody in the league needs to do it. I think if we win our out of conference games and win the league, we’ll be in really great position.”

Alabama won the BCS national title last season with a schedule that included one BCS conference opponent--Virginia Tech—to go along with Florida International, North Texas and Chattanooga.

Georgia coach Mark Richt said Wednesday night that he still can’t say for sure that star receiver A.J. Green will be able to play in Saturday’s season opener.

The question has lingered since the NCAA sent an e-mail in July to Georgia asking to interview one player.

Green told the Athens Banner-Herald on July 21 that Georgia officials asked him if he had attended an agent-sponsored party in Miami on Memorial Day Weekend. He told them he did not.

So was Richt was asked Wednesday: “Are you expecting A.J. to play Saturday?”

“A.J. Harmon? Yeah,” Richt said referring to the offensive lineman.

“Green,” he was told.”

“You know I can’t talk about that,” Richt said. “It’s a good try, though. I don’t know the answer to anything other than I’m not supposed to talk about the situation. And I really don’t know.”

Athens-Clarke Commission candidate Jared Bailey has a website up at www.jared-acc5.com.

Bailey is citing his experience as a 30-year Athens resident who founded AthFest, ran small businesses, worked in economic development and is involved in many community organizations. According to the site, he is in favor of strong neighborhoods, sustainable land use, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, big hunting dogs and plaid.

He faces lawyer Dave Hudgins and homebuilder Tom Ellis in District 5.

Facebook. Twitter. E-mail.

Some tidbits from post-practice interviews at Georgia tonight:

--Offensive line coach Stacy Searels on Trinton Sturdivant, returning from a second season-ending knee surgery: “We don’t have to work him in quick right now. I would like to see him play Saturday and get some quality reps and get some confidence.”

--I asked receiver A.J. Green if he had any doubt that he’ll be able to play Saturday. Here’s what he said: “No. I don’t know. I can’t say anything.”
Green has said that Georgia officials in July asked him if he had attended an agent sponsored party in Miami on Memorial Day Weekend. He told them he did not.
The NCAA sent a letter of inquiry to Georgia asking to interview one player.

--Running back Caleb King on if he’s expecting a bigger workload with Washaun Ealey suspended for at least one game. “I guess. I really don’t know the rotation yet.”

--There are now four true freshmen that Georgia coaches have said will play Saturday.

One of Georgia’s last remaining rural Democrats says he might switch parties if Republican Nathan Deal becomes governor.

It’s not because state Rep. Alan Powell, D-Hartwell, is facing stiff opposition and might pull a reverse Arlen Spector. Republicans tried to take him down in 2006, failed miserably and haven’t bothered since. It’s also not because, like Deal and others before him, he now identifies more with the GOP.

“If Roy Barnes doesn’t win it in November, you can probably stick a fork in the Democratic movement, because we will not be able to come back for a generation or more,” Powell said in a phone conversation today.

If Barnes loses, Powell said he would “seriously consider” switching parties because Democrats would not only have no influence, but no hope of regaining power. He also said he thinks he could halt the Republicans' drift to the right and bring it back toward the middle.

Democrats went on the attack Monday, accusing Nathan Deal of only releasing his tax returns to his “buddies.” But there’s a twist.

Roy Barnes has released 25 years’ worth of tax returns and called on Deal to do the same. On the Sunday-morning political talk show “Georgia Gang,” conservative pundit Phil Kent claimed he’d seen Deal’s tax returns – which he has declined to release yet because his spokesman says still hasn’t filed his 2009 form – and they’re clean. The Democratic Party of Georgia sent reporters a transcript:

Dick Williams: “Quiet week in the governor’s race. Nathan Deal still being dogged by Roy Barnes to release his taxes.”

Phil Kent: “Well, he did.”

Dick Williams: “He did?”

Phil Kent: “Yeah, he released them.”

Dick Williams: “He did? When?”

Phil Kent: “Well, it wasn't in your liberal newspaper. But he released them yesterday.”

Dick Williams: “Really?”

Georgia held its first weekly football news conference of the season today.

New athletic director Greg McGarity took some questions before Mark Richt appeared.

McGarity was asked about his expectations for the football team.

“You never put a win total on any sport,” McGarity said. “I’ve met with half the coaches now and I’ve shared with them the expectations that we have from coaches. You just want to be in the hunt. I think every sport that we sponsor you want them to be in the hunt for championships. There could be circumstances that could lead you to not be in the hunt a certain year due to various circumstances, but you want every sport at the University of Georgia just to be in the conversation.”

McGarity listed swimming, tennis and softball as sports that are “in the hunt.”

“Football, I think, Georgia is in the hunt,” McGarity said

He didn’t list a specific number of victories as a benchmark.

The news that Nick Williams would start alongside Bacarri Rambo at safety lasted only for five or six hours.

Jakar Hamilton said after practice today that, no, he had been told he would start at safety. That contradicted the depth chart that Georgia released today.

“I’m glad to see that I’ve earned the starting position,” said Hamilton, a transfer from Georgia Military College. “I’m running with the ones now. Coach (Todd) Grantham came and told me I earned my starting position. I’m happy to be back where I wanted to be.”

Hamilton said he’ll be the free safety and Rambo will play strong safety.

Coach Mark Richt confirmed after practice tonight that Hamilton and Rambo will be the starters for Saturday's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Hamilton was talking about more than just on the field matters.

New Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity spent about 20 minutes this afternoon addressing some questions from a few reporters on his first full day in the office.

I’ll have a story for Tuesday’s newspaper and online, but here is what McGarity had to say about a couple of issues he will have to deal with early on the job.

--McGarity addressed the eight football arrests this offseason:
“I’m going to learn about our structure, what we have set up as far as education of student-athletes,” McGarity said. “I want to learn exactly why is this happening? Is there a specific reason?”