S OUT: North Carolina will have to play the first half without

ATLANTA -- Tired of sending countless players to the NFL but going a decade since its last Southeastern Conference championship, Georgia decided that a change in leadership was needed to get to the next level.Exit Mark Richt.Enter Kirby Smart.The longtime Alabama defensive coordinator, who knows a thing or two about championships working for Nick Saban, will take the sideline as a head coach for the first time when the No. 18 Bulldogs open the season Saturday against No. 22 North Carolina in Atlanta at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.Smart downplayed his debut and wants his players to treat it as just another game.Good luck with that.Its the first since 2001 that Georgia will be led by a new head coach.This is like kind of anti-climactic for me, Smart insisted. My focus has been on this team, getting this team better. There are a lot of things I cant control outside that, that have nothing to do with the outcome of the game.North Carolina is coming off an 11-win season, its most victories since 1997 and matching the school record.Coach Larry Fedora realizes the significance of building on that success with a victory over the Bulldogs.Its a big game, he said. Its against a great opponent who has a great tradition. They are well known. It is a good measuring stick for where we are with this program right now.---Some things to watch for Saturday at the Georgia Dome:CHUBBS RETURN: After a horrific knee injury midway through last season, star running back Nick Chubb made a faster-than-expected recovery for the Bulldogs. Hes fully cleared for the opener and Smart said there are no limitations on how many carries Chubb might get. It will be intriguing to see if hes still the same dynamic back he was before the injury. Chubb was a Heisman-touted player who had tied Herschel Walkers school record with 13 straight 100-yard games before he went down. Sony Michel and freshman Elijah Holyfield are both nursing injuries, so Chubb figures to get plenty of carries in his first game back -- especially against a North Carolina defense that ranked 121st nationally (247.4 yards per game) and surrendered nearly 1,000 yards on the ground in its last two games against high-powered offenses.SIGNATURE WIN: Despite last years success, which include an appearance in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, North Carolina is still seeking the sort of victory that will stamp Fedoras program as a true national powerhouse. North Carolina hasnt beaten an SEC school since a victory over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl to end the 2010 season. Beating Georgia would show North Carolina might be capable of challenging the ACC dominance of Clemson and Florida State.EASON WATCH: Less than 72 hours before kickoff, Georgia finally confirmed that fifth-year senior Greyson Lambert remains the starting quarterback. He started 12 games a year ago and set a school record for lowest interception percentage (two picks in 256 passes). But it seems just a matter of time before the Bulldogs turn to Jacob Eason, a touted freshman who is clearly the quarterback of the future. Smart said the depth chart will remain a work in progress. Its never over, he said. Its continuous, just like who the right corner is. If he doesnt play good, then we have to change it.HOLLINS OUT: North Carolina will have to play the first half without one of its top deep threats and special team players. Receiver Mack Hollins must sit out the first two quarters after receiving a targeting penalty in a bowl loss to end last season. Hollins not only plays on four special-team units, he had 30 catches for 745 yards and eight touchdowns -- leading the national with 24.8 yards per reception. Smart calls Hollins a dominant feature player.EXPLOSIVE HEELS: North Carolina set school records by averaging 40.7 points and 486.9 yards per game. The Tar Heels were especially dynamic during a two-game November run, piling on 125 points in routs of Duke and Miami. Running back Elijah Hood, an All-ACC pick last season with 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns, looks forward to matching up with Chubb. You definitely feel the competition, Hood said. You just want to show who you are. Georgia figures to have its hands full containing North Carolina, especially with four new starters at linebacker.---AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Chapel Hill, North Carolina contributed to this report.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Custom Nashville Predators Jerseys . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Custom Boston Bruins Jerseys . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. http://www.customjerseyshockey.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Custom Toronto Maple Leafs Jerseys . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Custom Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio officially became a U.S. citizen on Thursday in?Buffalo.Kouandjio and his brothers came to the United States with their family from Cameroon as preschoolers 19 years ago, according to Alabama.com. His brother, Arie Kouandjio, a guard for the Washington Redskins, received his citizenship about a month ago.Upon entering the U.S.,?he was reared?in Maryland, where he was an All-American high school football star. He went on to play?for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he continued to shine. He was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection as a junior before entering the draft, picked by the Bills in the second round.Kouandjio said?he is so glad and so blessed to have the opportunity to become an official American citizen. Kouandjio believes America has a moral center unlike any other in the world.I love this country, he said. Me myself, Ill just tell you, Im a Christian, and I feel like the forefathhers of this country built this constitution around Christian values -- Christian values like freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- and Im just glad to be a part of it.ddddddddddddU.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer introduced Kouandjio to the crowded courtroom, even giving the former Bama?standout a proper?welcome, per Buffalo News.Roll Tide, Roemer said.Roll Tide, Kouandjio answered.According to SEC Country, after reciting the Oath of Allegiance, Kouandjio was then asked by Roemer to lead the 34 citizenship candidates in the Pledge of Allegiance, which he did proudly.Kouandjio had great things to say regarding his new citizenship, as seen in the video. What isnt?seen is the final words the Bills offensive tackle said as he left the courtroom.Go Bills, and Roll Tide!?Kouandjio shouted.-- Courtney Schellin ' ' '