[Ben E Lou]

More on Brown/Ware. I just listened to the full version of Richt's post-game press conference. The following interesting exchange occurred:

Q: "If Danny's well by next Saturday would you start him would you start him or will you come back to Thomas Brown?"

A: "Oh I don't know. We won't divulge that yet. We'll look at that. It's a good question though." {chuckles from reporters} "It is a good question."

When your starter is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and the coach doesn't automatically say that he's the guy, that speaks volumes for the backup, I reckon.

Stats update:

RUSHING				Att	Yds	Avg	TD
Danny Ware				123	623	5.1	4
Thomas Brown				114	601	5.3	7

Story last updated at 12:09 AM on Nov. 7, 2004

Jeff Blake/Staff Georgia running back Thomas Brown breaks away for a big gain early against Kentucky on Saturday. Brown rushed for 130 yards in the game.

Brown steps up to challenge
Ware's injury leads way to next freshman in line



LEXINGTON, Ky. - Any questions regarding Thomas Brown's ability to be a feature running back for 8th-ranked Georgia were answered during the Bulldogs' 62-17 rout of Kentucky Saturday.

When starter Danny Ware went out in the first quarter with a knee and ankle injury, the freshman from Tucker got the chance to show coach Mark Richt exactly what he could do.

Brown did not disappoint. The 5-foot-8, 185-pounder carried the football 22 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns, the latter two of which were career highs.

"I was real happy about that," said Brown. "I'm just been fortunate that I've been able to come out and prove myself week in and week out."

Brown's biggest test could come next week against third-ranked Auburn.

If Ware is unable to play, Brown will become the Bulldogs' primary ball carrier with Michael Cooper, Tony Milton, and possibly Tyson Browning, moving up a notch in the tailback pecking order.

That's just fine with Brown, whose 22 carries were one short of his season-high 23 totes he got two weeks ago against Arkansas.

Teammate Fred Gibson doesn't need convincing about Brown's ability to be a go-to running back for the Bulldogs.

"That boy's the Truth, man. I've never seen a running back like him," Gibson said. "He's just very, very good. I think he's going to break all kinds of records before he leaves here."

Gibson said he was particularly impressed by one fourth-down run by Brown late in the second quarter.

Facing a fourth-and-1 from the Kentucky 34-yard line, Brown took a handoff from quarterback David Greene and scampered 24 yards down the right sideline for a first down, breaking two tackles before he was tackled at the 10.

"The guy just broke out of nowhere," Gibson said. "I thought he was gone."

Almost.

Although he didn't score on his 24-yard run, Brown found the end zone one play later from the 1-yard line to complete the 43-yard drive in which he carried the ball six times.

R.C. Rique/Staff Thomas Brown looks on after scoring one of his three touchdowns Saturday during the Bulldogs' 62-17 victory against the Wildcats.

"I was a little tired, maybe even a little winded after that," Brown said. "But I had to fight through it and keep going."

Richt said he wasn't even aware of Brown's six-carry drive. If he had, he might have given him a quick breather.

"I didn't even realize that," said Richt. "But Thomas has got great speed, great vision and great power. Thomas is a heckuva back, and people don't realize how strong he is.

"I don't mind him being the short-yardage runner. He's done that three or four times this year, and has been successful about every time."

Brown was successful against the Wildcats.

After his 1-yard run in the second quarter gave Georgia a 20-0 lead, Brown added touchdown runs of 2 in the third and 4 in the fourth.

"Three touchdowns today? The guy's just a freshman," Gibson said. "He does great things every day."

The proof is in his stats.

Brown has rushed for over 100 yards in three of Georgia's last four games, including a 122-yard effort three weeks ago against Vanderbilt.

"The offensive line did a great job with the blocking," Brown said. "I just ran behind the blocks they and my fullback (Jeremy Thomas) were giving me. They made my job easy."

Brown averaged 5.9 yards per carry against the Wildcats.

"The guy's got speed," said receiver Reggie Brown. "I could see that the first day he stepped on the field."

Said Gibson, "He reminds me of Warrick Dunn. He's shifty, he's strong, he hits the holes real hard. He's a playmaker. When they give him the ball, he's getting the job done."

But like a true team player, Brown said he still has much work to do.

Along with his pass protection, Brown says he needs to become more patient in waiting for holes to develop.

There's one more goal he like to achieve.

"I still haven't broken a long one and taken it to the house," Brown said. "I did it a lot in high school, but still haven't done it here. I've come close, but I'm still looking for that big run."

Brown figures to get plenty of opportunities before his Georgia career is through.