ATHENS — In preparation for their first indoor game, the Georgia football team is naturally spending time indoors this week, including Wednesday, three days before the SEC championship game against Auburn.

Interestingly, the Bulldogs were not going full-pads, which is unusual for a Wednesday of game week. For what it’s worth, coach Kirby Smart – who was unhappy about the Tuesday practice prior to the first Auburn game – was happier with how practice went after Tuesday, calling it “a good, physical practice.” And when Smart was asked Tuesday what one thing had to go differently for this Auburn game to go differently, he had a one-word answer: “Physicality.”

As for the dome preparation, Smart was asked if playing in a dome changes the dynamics of a game. He’s been through this before at Alabama.

‘’Yeah, it seems faster.,” Smart said. “I think guys sometimes get a little overheated because there’s a little more temperature in there, with the crowd and atmosphere.  Anxiety plays a factor in that.  A lot of guys aren’t used to that at this time of year.  We’ve got guys that cramp and things like that, so we’ve been really  emphasizing hydration.  They’ve been good about it.  It’s just a little bit warmer in a dome.’’

Some notes from the media viewing period of Wednesday’s practice:

  • Fullback Christian Payne was not seen with the backs. Payne is uncertain for Saturday’s game after sustaining an undisclosed injury in the win over Georgia Tech. Smart said after Tuesday’s practice that Payne was able to do some work during practice.
  • Freshman defensive back Deangelo Gibbs is indeed at practice, as Smart said on Tuesday. Gibbs was wearing a scout-team jersey, No. 20, but his identity could be ascertained by seeing his usual number 8 on his helmet.
  • The quarterbacks and receivers were once again practicing all routes, going through their regular route trees.