ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia's coaches have still not announced their starting punter -- a decision that's as much a motivational tactic as anything.
Although they've said Drew Butler holds a slight edge, they continue to maintain that Butler and Brian Mimbs are in a neck-and-neck race for the job and that nothing is guaranteed for Saturday's opener against Oklahoma State.
"We've gotta try to put some pressure on them somehow," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "Part of it is the mystery, I suppose, knowing that every kick counts."
Practice pressure is a brand-new experience for Butler, who has never had to compete for a job. Heck, he never even played football until his sophomore year of high school.
"It's a lot of fun. Not that I wasn't focused (before), but you're focused every day at all times in practice," said Butler, the son of former Georgia all-America kicker Kevin Butler. "You're really harping on yourself. I get down on myself when I don't kick the ball well."
Butler was a member of the first class to go through all four years at Peachtree Ridge High, so the Duluth school's football program was still in its infancy when Butler was coming through. When kicking game mishaps cost the Lions a pair of wins in his freshman year, Butler -- till that point a member of the school's golf team -- decided to give kicking a try.
"There wasn't anybody in the school who could really do it," Butler said. "It was a lineman who was kicking the ball and he just had a monster leg. But he wasn't there the next year, so I just decided to go out for the team and nobody went out, either, so it was just me by myself."
Things took off from there. He averaged 40 yards per punt as a junior and was an all-state kicker as a senior, and what started as a fun pastime developed into a possible college scholarship opportunity.
Considering his bloodlines, Butler had attended plenty of Georgia games as a fan. It wasn't until he picked up the sport that he gave serious thought to being on the sidelines as a member of the team.
"I've imagined it. After 11th grade, 12th grade, I started punting the ball pretty well and I figured I had a shot. Now here I am," he said. "It's a dream come true and I couldn't be happier."
With only two years of organized football under his belt, Butler admits he has a lot to learn. But he's in the right environment for that, with Mimbs and Lou Groza Award candidate Brandon Coutu around to help.
"The good thing about it is I'm learning something new every day still. Whether it's from Brandon or Brian or the coaches, it's all still new," Butler said. "Most of these guys have been playing probably since pee-wee ball and I've been playing since 10th grade. I'm just loving it."
Coates injured
Antavious Coates' Georgia career was beset by injuries before it ever really started -- and now it never will.
Coates suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament on Saturday, marking the fourth time since 2004 that the Georgia safety has suffered such a knee injury. This time it will be career-ending, as his coaches will seek a medical disqualification for the redshirt sophomore who never played a down at Georgia.
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