Football is back, kind of.  The Red & Black will run live updates throughout the course of the G-Day Spring Game.  Apologies in advance for any observations made not entirely coherent to the sport of football.

1:40 – The players ran out onto the field  about 20 minutes ago to half-hearted applause.  The players are clad in red and white, which might be considered strange considering that G-Day is considered the Red & Black Game.  Confusion is widespread.

1:45 – The only players not wearing red or white are quarterbacks Aaron Murray, Logan Gray and Zach Mettenberger – who are wearing black uniforms instead.  Perhaps no one has informed the inexperienced QBs that Georgia has not performed particularly well the past two years while wearing black.

1:46 – One of the pre-game songs just played – of course, that song being “In The Air” by Phil Collins.  Which could be considered a misjudgment by the stadium DJ, considering the 2 p.m. start time of the game.  However, the Over/Under is officially set at 50 for the number of fans who played the air-drums emphatically at the 3:41-minute mark in the classic song.

2:00 – The Black team (aka White Team) will defend to start off the spring game, giving Georgia fans their first glimpse of Todd Grantham’s new 3-4 defensive scheme.  Logan Gray will be the first quarterback to take the field for the much-publicized UGA quarterback battle.

2:03 – Gray opens up his day with a 23-yard pitch-and-catch to wide receiver Tavarres King for a first down, who displayed a nice burst to get the first down after the reception.  The drive would stall, though, after two short runs by Washuan Ealey and a tipped pass for an incompletion.

2:11 – Bulldog fans get their first chance to see redshirt freshman Aaron Murray at quarterback for the “Black” team’s offense (pause as everyone struggles to see Murray behind the offensive line).  Murray completes his first pass attempt, followed by Dontavius Jackson not making peace with the Red defense – rushing for a first down on a 7-yard gain.

2:16 – The drive would stall following a psuedo-sack by Brandon Wood and an overthrow by Murray on a deep route down the sideline.  The fact that Georgia coaches are not allowing any of the young QBs to be hit in the game is understandable and mind-boggling all at the same time.  Of course, no one wants to see any injuries to their players – but how are the coaches supposed to get a feel for how each performs under pressure?  By the same token, maybe they should put jerseys on A.J. Green and Ealey as well.  UGA can’t afford to lose them either.

2:24 – Logan Gray is showing more promise with his feet than his arm (shocking) in the early goings for the Red offense.  Gray puts a throw behind A.J. Green, that would have been about a 25-yard gain had it been on target.  However, his scramble and run down the sideline showed why he is still being considered in this quarterback race.  If Chad Pennington underwent a massive amount of speed training, but lost a major portion of his accuracy and pocket presence in the process, that would be Gray in a nutshell.  Arm strength is quite comparable for both guys, as either one would have trouble knocking over a Jenga tower from 35 yards.

2:29 – Following a strong run by speedster Carlton Thomas to put Georgia on the 25-yard line, Gray found a wide open Kris Durham in the corner of the end zone.  Repeat: wide open Kris Durham.  “Come-on-in-for-some-Southern-hospitality-because-my-door-is-always-open” open.  Red 7, Black 0.

2:33 – Neither two punts on the day has travelled beyond 40 yards on the day.  If either one has even made it to 30 yards.  Apparently Drew Butler, the nation’s top punter in 2009, is a little rusty for the Bulldogs, while backup Trent Dittmer has been enjoying one of the safest jobs in college football a little too much.

2:40 – End of the quarter.  Red 7, Black 0.  The Red offense has looked much more efficient and comfortable in the game – which could be a reflection of better execution or simply better defense by the Red defense.  You have to love how Spring Games simply confuse fans even more on the trappings that take place behind the scenes in college football.

2:43 – Zach Mettenberger electrifies the crowd in his first pass attempt for the Black team, even the Valdosta natives in attendance.  The Watkinsville, Ga., native put a picture-perfect deep pass in the hands of Rantavious Wooten for a gain of 34 yards.

2:45 – Following an end-around to Wooten for another first down, Mettenberger put a ball into the hands of redshirt freshman Rhett McGowan for an outstanding A.J. Green-esque catch in the end zone.  Red 7, Black 7.

2:48 – Other than a quick three-and-out with Murray at the helm of the Black offense, neither defense has looked threatening throughout the first two quarters.  Which could easily be a product of not being able to hit the person at the helm of the opposing offense.  Never helps a defense.

2:49 – Mettenberger has looked the best of the three quarterbacks so far, which may not bode well for Georgia – considering the redshirt freshman will be required to sit out the first game of the season for his off-the-field incident back in March.

2:53 – It must be a Spring Game in Sanford Stadium.  Despite 35,000+ fans in attendance, there has not been a sign of barking in the stands for at least 30 minutes of game action.

3:00 – Back-to-back fumbles have stalled drives for both teams.  Following a strike from Mettenberger to tight end Arthur Lynch, the ball popped loose at the 5-yard line.  The subsequent drive by the Red offense was halted by a fumble by Carlton Thomas.  The game has turned sloppier than Julia Roberts’ seconds in Hollywood during the 1990s.

3:03 – Arthur Lynch quickly makes up for his fumble on the previous series, hauling in another strike from Mettenberger and rumbling into the end zone for a 25-yard TD catch.  The black offense has scored 14 straight points with Mettenberger under center.  Red 7, Black 14.

3:04 – Correction: Lynch’s TD reception covered 39 yards.  Never did I claim to be a math major.

3:05 – Speaking of the passing game, Mettenberger has grown out his hair of late – deviating from his usual buzz cut.  Perhaps this is signifying a personality change of Kobe Bryant-like proportions.  By the time the regular season rolls around, maybe he will change his number and begin referring to himself as the Red Mamba.

3:09 – Halftime is here.  Red 7, Black 14.

3:13 – For the halftime show, the Redcoat Band just played “Open Up Wide” – just in time for the Masters.  Is there anything easier than a Tiger Woods joke these days?  Other than Rachel Uchitel? See what I mean?

3:15 – Justin Bieber has supplanted the Red Coat Band as the halftime entertainment for the moment.  For some reason, I feel this is completely inappropriate while watching 300-pound men beat up on each other.  The defense rests.

3:17 – The second half gets under way with the first penalty flag of the day.  For a team ranked 107 out of 120 teams last season in penalties, this has to be a good sign for Georgia’s coaches.  Maybe four more wrinkles will not appear on Rodney Garner’s forehead this season.  The entire Bulldog nation was worried for him last season.  This is understandable.

3:22 – A three-and-out to start off the second half for the Black offense, after having their way with the Red defense in the second quarter.  Could it be possible that adjustments were actually made during halftime?  We will keep you updated on this revelation.

3:23 – The cheerleaders are clad in T-shirts for the game.  This is quite appropriate for a Spring Game.  It’s like their coach said “If the football players are not going all out this Saturday, then neither are we.”

3:31 – Murray continues to be inconsistent, overthrowing a wide open A.J. Green that would have been a surefire touchdown.  Any predispositions by fans that Murray was going to be the No. 1 quarterback come fall, were definitely thrown into question during the contest.  If practices have looked similar, no wonder coaches have been waffling on naming a starter this spring.

3:32 – Murray reinforces the previous post by throwing a gift-wrapped interception to Marcus Dowtin.  Shades of Logan Gray to Brandon Spikes – without the run back for a touchdown in a rivalry game.  And without any eye-gouging.

3:38 – End of 3rd quarter.  Red 7, Black 14.  It seems as though the Georgia coaches and players are as ready to go watch the Masters as the rest of the crowd.

3:40 – As people file out of the stands at the start of the fourth quarter, they should keep a heads up for any errant throws coming from Aaron Murray.  Murray has truly embraced his inner Rex Grossman the entire day – overthrowing receivers with more and more regularity.

3:45 – Rennie Curran makes an appearance on the Jumbotron, smiling as usual during a sideline interview.  With the always-pleasant demeanor that Curran displays, one would think that the diminutive linebacker is completely unaware that he is going to slip farther in the NFL draft than his media overhyping could have ever hinted at during his solid Georgia career.

3:48 – The half has been a back-and-forth defensive struggle the entire half – as the offense has not taken near as many successful shots down the field.  Still no points to be heard from – barely sniffing the red zone.  Grantham seems to have done his job well.  Pat on the back for you, Todd, although holes were abundant throughout the secondary early and often in the first half.

3:50 – Logan Gray and the Black offense cause me to partially eat my words with a methodical drive down the field.  Junior kicker Brandon Bogotay puts a field goal through the uprights from around 25-30 yards.  Red 7, Black 17.

3:50 – My fellow reporter just commented how awful “The Hedges” look on sideline opposite of the press box.  They are looking so bare that they could easily pass for a scene in Basic Instinct.  What has the stadium’s landscaping crew been up to lately – pollen control?

3:53 – Murray completes his best pass of the day with 1:30 left in the game, although setting up a kill shot on Tavarres King in the process.

3:58 – Game is all but over now, with 1:14 to go following another Murray incompletion in the end zone.  Red 7, Black 17.

End of Game Up-dates:

Black does in fact win 17-7 over the Red squad.

Mettenberger finishes the affair as the top-rated passer by far – going 6-for-10, 150 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Murray was the only quarterback not to throw a touchdown, going 8-for-19 for 96 yards and a “give-me” interception.  Gray split time for both teams, throwing 10-for-16, 132 yards, 1 TD.

Dantavius “The Peacemaker” Jackson was the leading rusher on the day, amassing 43 yards on 11 carries for the Black squad.  Jackson has quickly garnered obvious support for his deserved title, which is rocketing up the list of all-time appropriate sports nicknames – right next to Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch.

Coaches all seemed pleased by the performance of both the offenses and defenses in the game – as if there was anything else to say after a spring game.  In the words of head coach Mark Richt, “ Well, we won the game.”