ATHENS, Ga. — They take two pictures. The first includes all the players, coaches and full-time staff members of the Georgia football team.



Then the call goes out: “Mark!”



Mark Christensen in his wheelchair is pushed up the ramp to the stands, where he’s met by a couple of Georgia players, usually linemen. Jonathan Ledbetter and Lamont Gaillard did it this year. They reach down and pick up Christensen, which is when the barbs begin.



“Mark, you’ve gained too much weight this year!”



“Gonna need another guy!”



Christensen laughs back. He’s been hearing the barbs for 17 years, and dishing them back for just as long. He’s also been part of the Georgia team picture, an unofficial one, unpublished but meaningful. Christensen, a paraplegic since birth nearly 42 years ago, has been a mainstay around the program, a motivator at practice and meetings and a source of joy and...