JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A handful of Georgia Bulldog players have been sidelined by a stomach virus only days before the team will compete in the Gator Bowl, team officials say.
University of Georgia Coach Mark Richt said the bug seemed to have affected more offensive players, the (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union reported Sunday.
Quarterback Hutson Mason was the first to become ill about the middle of last week, Richt said. Mason did not miss a practice.
Others affected included tailback Todd Gurley and center David Andrews.
"I think it's just a 24-hour bug kind of thing," Richt said. "Hutson practiced through it, and we would have expected those guys to practice through it, unless it was really bad."
Practice for other team members was forestalled by rain that forced the players to do walk-throughs Sunday in the ballroom of their Jacksonville hotel.
Richt said he was "comfortable" with the less strenuous practice.
"We were pushing them hard, conditioning them hard," he said. "Maybe they need a break."
Georgia will play Nebraska in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl Wednesday at Jacksonville's EverBank Field.
