ATHENS — Georgia has settled on John Lilly to call offensive plays in the bowl game and Kevin Sherrer will call the defense.
That notion had become increasingly evident in the last few days as defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt left for Alabama and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that he would not be accompanying the Bulldogs to their TaxSlayer Bowl appointment with Penn State in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs (9-3) play the Nittany Lions (7-5) there at EverBank Field on Jan. 2.
Lilly, who coaches tights ends and special teams, ran the offense for Georgia in the Belk Bowl last December and the Bulldogs went for 492 yards in a 37-14 win over Louisville and former UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.
Sherrer, who coaches outside linebackers and nickelbacks for the Bulldogs, was defensive coordinator at South Alabama before he came to Georgia two years ago.
Also, Rob Sale will be coaching the Bulldogs’ offensive line in the bowl game.
Georgia’s staff is in disarray since head coach Mark Richt was fired on Nov. 29. So far only running backs coach Thomas Brown is known to be returning to work for new coach Kirby Smart.
Smart hired Jim Chaney from Pittsburgh as his full-time offensive coordinator and Sam Pittman from Arkansas to coach the offensive line. But neither will be able to coach in bowl game.
Wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, who holds the additional title of assistant head coach, will serve as the Bulldogs’ interim head coach in the bowl game. Georgia returns to the practice field to prepare for Penn State on Wednesday and will practice for seven straight days before breaking for Christmas. They’ll reconvene in Jacksonville on Dec. 27.