ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart remains focused on the Alabama game — not the weather — heading into Saturday’s showdown in Tuscaloosa.
Tropical Storm Isaias is heading toward the Gulf Coast and WALA-Mobile reports it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center predicts the system will turn north Friday and has projections indicating the storm’s track could reach Tuscaloosa.
Georgia is scheduled to play Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s definitely out of my control, so as coaches we plan to deal with multiple situations depending on the weather conditions when they’re there,” Smart said. “We had the same preparation last week with the threat of these things, so (it) doesn’t change much in practice.”
Heavy rain and wind were initially forecast for Georgia’s home game against Vanderbilt last Saturday, but the storms did not occur.
Smart said the same principles apply to every week of training.
“You still have good on good, you have to train for the long term of the season, not just one week,” Smart said. “You can’t really practice the conditions, you can’t simulate them, so it’s much better to educate (and) learn from the past of other people who have played there and prepare your team to play and not make it.”
Smart said he has received and will continue to receive updates on the projected weather.
“I’m focused on preparing our team, our game plan, our plan and all those things,” Smart said. “I have an update, and they keep me posted on what’s going on (with) meetings, decisions, how things are going and things like that.”
Smart said he had no influence on any decisions that might be made regarding the game schedule and was not aware of any timetable associated with possible changes.
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