EX-BELICHICK ASST. COACH HAS UGA COACH SPOOKED: Coming off a home loss to South Carolina and uninspired performance against hapless Western Carolina last Saturday, Georgia Coach Mark Richt this week did what any sensible major college coach would: He closed practice, claiming absurd concerns over opponent spying.

Richt to the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION today: “I think probably we are always concerned every week about people watching practice.”

More AJC: “Georgia has been increasingly sensitive about other teams possibly knowing its offensive plays … This week Georgia just happens to be playing Alabama, whose coach just happened to work for Bill Belichick at one time. Belichick was fined for spying in the NFL two weeks ago.”

When Georgia was a perennial national title contender under Richt, he didn’t seem too concerned about sideline spies. But we guess losing to Kentucky and Vanderbilt in the same season (2006) will do that to person. As will giving up 51 points to a mediocre Tennessee team last year.