What Mark Richt had to say after loss to Florida

Opening comments:

“It was a very good game. I’m sure the fans [watching] on TV enjoyed it. The television people probably loved it. It was that kind of game. But it certainly didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I want to give Florida credit. They did a good job of getting prepared and doing the things they needed to do to win the game. I want to give our guys credit, too. I thought they fought valiantly. I don’t think anyone can question their effort or question their competitive spirit. It was just one of those games someone had to lose, and unfortunately it was us. I’m proud of the players and the coaches and our fans and the band and everyone else. It was a great effort by their guys and by ours too. And in the end they won. You’ve got to give their punter Chas Henry credit –- a guy who’s been a punter by trade was kind of thrown into the fire as the field-goal guy and was able to make a big kick.

On Aaron Murray’s play in the first half, when he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble:

“I know this game was very meaningful to him. I don’t think he was approaching it any different. I don’t know if once the thing started he had some different feelings inside of him, but I thought the guy really played pretty well. The first pick –- he threw the ball where it was supposed to go. … [Cornerback Janoris Jenkins] took a chance and made the play. But I can’t sit here and say Murray did anything wrong on that play. The second interception –- I thought the ball was probably catchable. And of course he got hit and fumbled, and he’s got to do a better job of hanging on to that ball.…  The point I’m making is … I don’t think he was making mistakes out of immaturity or because he’s a first-year starter or anything like that. Sometimes those things happen, and you have to decide how you’re going to rebound from it. And he rebounded extremely well. The whole team did. I told the team at halftime, ‘This is one of those games where I can promise you if you treat it like it’s 0-0 and start from scratch again and play hard on both sides of the ball, we’ll get back in this thing and win it.’ And we almost did.”

On the interception Murray threw in overtime:

“… On third down you are trying to get in position to score a touchdown because you know a field goal might not be what it takes. When you are in those situations, you just have to play ball, and they got some pressure and the ball got tipped up in the air and got picked.”

On what he said to the team after the game:

“I talked to them about deciding how they are going to react to this thing. There have been some tough losses this season, no doubt, and we have had some very big disappointments. We were going in the right direction and getting a lot of momentum and actually getting back in the SEC Eastern Division race. A victory here could have put us in a position to be in Atlanta [for the SEC championship game].”

On what now:

“Just keep fighting. Keep grinding. Show up to work. Be a grown man and do your job. And enjoy it. We’ll come back home; we’ll get back to work, play Idaho State, play as hard as we can for the Georgia people; and then we’ll hook it up the next week.”

On bowl eligibility as motivation:

“I’m sure that conversation will come up. What do we have to win, two out of three? I’m sure we’ll be fighting hard for that.”

On how to turn around the Florida series:

“Win a game like this, but we didn’t do it. We’ll be back.”

More reaction to the game:

From UGA locker room: ‘My worst nightmare,’ Murray says of OT interception.

From Florida locker room: ‘I almost burst into tears after the game,’ linebacker says.

338 comments Add your comment

Dave from GT

October 31st, 2010
11:38 am

L
L
L
L
L
L
L
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL OSERS!

ckgator

October 31st, 2010
11:39 am

Two things you can count on in this series:

1. Florida winning
2. Delusional Georgia fans convinced they have an elite program, and can be considered in the same sentence with Florida / Oklahoma / Texas / Bama / etc.

You are a tier-2 SEC team, who’s only shot at beating Florida comes in years when the Gators are down because of youth or injuries. This was one of those years and you still didn’t get it done.

And don’t blame Richt. He’s as good as it gets for Georgia. You can’t recruit like we do, and you don’t develop players like we do, because…. YOU ARE NOT ON OUR LEVEL and this will not change for 1,000 years.

34-31. Sit on it pups.

Winning?

October 31st, 2010
11:40 am

What are the scenarios now for UGA to win the SEC East? Seriously, is it still mathematically possible?

ckgator

October 31st, 2010
11:40 am

BillDawg Bill – you sir are a realist. And a class act.

Please show my post

October 31st, 2010
11:45 am

This one’s on Bobo. Obvious from start Murray did not have his A game. Not his fault. Run the ball, Bozo. 24 touches combined for King, Ealey and Thomas? C’mon. Already forgot how we beat KY last week and Tech last year. No rhythm in running game. Our D was on field too much in first half. They didn’t respect the run so that strong safety could play over the top on AJ. That D was too fast for Murray but at least this game matured him like no other. He felt too much pressure to make plays which is why he forced the ball to a doubled covered AJ in OT. He’s a talented kid.

Run the ball, Bozo.

U_SuC

October 31st, 2010
11:46 am

Jedi Falcon and ya know whats funny is my family is from Florida and we live in Dalton, Georgia, and I am a Die Hard Win Lose or Tie Bulldawg Fan. So shut your trap mr.

NashDawg

October 31st, 2010
11:49 am

I hope I am wrong but it seems the team is floundering under Coach Richt. Yeah they will beat Potato State, give Auburn a tough game and probably will beat Tech. Who cares…The bottom line is the team has a boat load of talent but it is nowhere near its potential. I suspect Richt has another year and he is toast. Ask Donnan…..

JIDAWG

October 31st, 2010
11:51 am

I think it was pretty gutless to go for a field goal on 4th and goal in the 3rd quarter when we needed touchdowns. A TD would have sent a message to florida that we where tired of playing around and given us a shot in the arm. Richt used to roll the dice in his early years and more often than not it paid off………………………………… What did we have to lose, 3 points, we were down 21 to 7?

sara

October 31st, 2010
11:51 am

I usually blame bobo/richt, not this time, the player’s choked on the moment….

lawdawg

October 31st, 2010
11:54 am

The reason Tampagayturd said Ga. coaches called a good game is because he knows Ga. would be a very attractive job and he would hate to see a good couch “COUCH UP” Ga.’s players.

JohnDawg

October 31st, 2010
12:04 pm

Will we ever be able to consistently be competitive with Florida? I thought we might do it this year…..a major disappointment.

Andy in Blairsville

October 31st, 2010
12:05 pm

If you are so tired of the inevitable in Jacksonville, why don’t you vote with your feet and not attend the game? Why do ~40,000 fans show up year after year after year like a battered wife who won’t leave the husband who beats her?

Send a message to UGA in 2011 by not showing up. The team doesn’t show up so why should the fans?

TampaGator

October 31st, 2010
12:05 pm

Yum….I needed a good breakfast.

Lawdawg….

No….I really think Mark Richt is the best coach in Georgia football history…other than Ray Goff of course. Just kidding….

…..and I really never want to hear another Brandon Spikes comment after watching your “Rambo” act like Rambo when Omaris Hinses has been stopped after catching a pass, is standing and being held by three other Georgia players and can’t move…and Rambo takes his forearm and upper cuts Hines in the chin and knocks his helment off…..

…..and you know the bigger joke….the ref was right there and didn’t call anything…..even when Hines helment went flying across the field. I guess the wind blew it off!

Dawgs, Know Yourselves

October 31st, 2010
12:06 pm

You leghumpers keep saying the tide in this series is gonna turn UGAly’s way. You said it in 1997 (that was THREE PRESIDENTS AGO!!!), in 2004(the week that Zook got canned) and 2007 (right before back-to-back trips to the woodshed)…well, here’s the honest truth. IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN. Florida owns you. Florida will continue to own you. Because Florida is better than you. Accept it and get on with your lives.

Dawgs73

October 31st, 2010
12:12 pm

On bowl eligibility as motivation:

“I’m sure that conversation will come up. What do we have to win, two out of three? I’m sure we’ll be fighting hard for that.” Richt

I think that sums it up…Mark has lost this team and it’s not just this year. Sorry to say that it’s time to make a change and find the very best coach who has what it takes to compete at a National Championship Level (which is SEC caliber).

Ole Yeller Dawg

October 31st, 2010
12:16 pm

Now that we have raised the intelligent academic level of the entire UGA student body (second only to Vandy in the SEC) it might be time to do the same thing with the president of the University…. M. Adams. Damon Evans, all by himself, gave us an immediate intelligent upgrade at AD…..thanks Damon!

I am not quite sure what to do about Coach Mark Richt. Another poster, on one of these blogs, mentioned C.M.R. hairstyle (1980’s parted down the middle) that it shows that he is not one to adapt to change easily. Another poster, on one these blogs, penned the phrase “BOBO GOTTA GOGO”. I am not sure if it’s time to start printing and selling the T shirts!

Quite frankly, this game was lost by the coaching staff. The very first play from scrimmage, was our very first play from scrimmage against Kentucky and the UF DB was ready for it! CMR decision to go for the 2 point play too early in the game, also may have contributed to the lost. One thing is for certain, the play calling in the overtime period was really suspect, but what about the play called for the second 2 points to tie the game at 31. Did Coach Bobo make this call? Genius?

The players also lost the game, twice players failed to “just fall on the ball” during fumble recovery attempts……WR’s, TE’s let the ball slide right through their hands and of course there is Aaron Murray with his 4 turnover’s in the game, while playing for him, the most important game of his collegiate career. I for one forgive you Aaron, for this I am certain, you will learn from these mistake’s and become a better QB because of this very game. Thank you for choosing to play for the U.of GA.

Bottom line: We lost this game as a team, that includes the coaches, players, fans and of course even the Red Coat Marching band! What do we do next? We pick ourself up, dust ourself off, learn from our mistakes, by giving “change” a chance and then we get ready for our next game!

WE DO NOT FIRE ANYBODY!

Well maybe, Michael Adams!

RWRECK77

October 31st, 2010
12:19 pm

Ok I am a Tech fan but I would rather see you Dawgs win all but one game a year! I had a thought about the UGA program and its current situation, Dawgs have a proven coaching staff with a record for winning ( ok we won’t include Bobo). Richt is a class act. He has kept player arrests on a low profile and quietly increased dicipline. Besides even a Techie knows some of those aressts were questionable (fireworks???) He kept the Green incident from bringing the NCAA down on the school and as far as I know runs a clean ship there. Dawgs make more money than almost all programs. Dawg recruits are always top notch. Your facilities are unquestionable.. So is there anything really wrong other than just luck, the law of averages and the fact that yours is not the only program in the country doing this???? For the most part I think it the latter but there is one weak link in UGA athletics, This person hasn’t droped a pass, hasn’t thrown an interception, never made a bad call on the field not even failed to recruit a good player. He has however been at the heart of all the schools athletic woes of the last thirteen years. You my friends need to fire the guy at the top!!! Michael Adams. Either Dooleygate or pantygate ought to have brought this to light. Take it from a Tech fan, a school president can do far more to screw up an athletic program than any other person. Our downfall was Joe Pettit who didnt want Tech to be in athletics and tried to choke it out (we havn’t and may never fully recover). Yours seems to be one who takes far to big an interest in athletics. Kinda reminds me of the days when Ted Turner tried to be the Braves defacto manager.Adams is a prima donna and wants the spotlight. Every time I read about anything he does it it appears he’s doing it for Adams and not for UGA or even education in the state. Be glad to hear your pros and cons on this.

GatorBait

October 31st, 2010
12:23 pm

TampaGator

October 31st, 2010
12:05 pm

…..and I really never want to hear another Brandon Spikes comment after watching your “Rambo” act like Rambo when Omaris Hinses has been stopped after catching a pass, is standing and being held by three other Georgia players and can’t move…and Rambo takes his forearm and upper cuts Hines in the chin and knocks his helment off…..

…..and you know the bigger joke….the ref was right there and didn’t call anything…..even when Hines helment went flying across the field. I guess the wind blew it off!

YOU ARE TOTALLY CORRECT, AND I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO SEE.
JUST CHECKED IT OUT THISMORNING ON THE BLUE RAY AND I’VE GOT THE WHOLE THING IN LIVING COLOR—-YOU CAN’T SPELL THUG WITH UGa

GatorBait

October 31st, 2010
12:31 pm

October 31st, 2010
12:23 pm
TampaGator

October 31st, 2010
12:05 pm

…..and I really never want to hear another Brandon Spikes comment after watching your “Rambo” act like Rambo when Omaris Hinses has been stopped after catching a pass, is standing and being held by three other Georgia players and can’t move…and Rambo takes his forearm and upper cuts Hines in the chin and knocks his helment off…..

…..and you know the bigger joke….the ref was right there and didn’t call anything…..even when Hines helment went flying across the field. I guess the wind blew it off!

YOU ARE TOTALLY CORRECT, AND I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO SEE.
JUST CHECKED IT OUT THIS MORNING ON THE BLUE RAY AND I’VE GOT THE WHOLE THING IN LIVING COLOR—-YOU CAN’T SPELL THUG WITH UGa

Name (required)

October 31st, 2010
12:33 pm

Why do you people constantly slurp the knob of a thug-loving, sub-par coach such as Richt? I’d be mad he was wasting so much of my university’s money, not to mention wasting talent. How do you have talent like Maddie Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, and Mohammad Bin Massaquoi and NOT win a national champion??? You guys have grown way too complacent with a poor coach who plays the “ho hum…..dad gummit….I’m just a good ol boy” routine he learned from his previous employer while going home to bang the babysitter.

It’s time to move on

Tom

October 31st, 2010
12:34 pm

This one hurt.

At least this year it looked like GA gave an all-out effort. FL executed when they had to but, IMO, GA lost this one more that Florida won it.

Murray’s 1st interception was a good play by JJ but AJ didn’t aggressively go after the ball. Same with Murray’s 2nd … White should have had that pass … it was a very, very catchable ball. The Murray fumble is on him as well as the OT interception (even if it wasn’t tipped AJ was triple-teamed).

As usual, I’ve got some issues with Bobo. I’ll give him credit for getting Charles involved (it’s about time). However, Bobo needs to give Murray the ability to audible (or at least get out of a run to a pass) … Case in point, the 2nd Down play for GA in OT. On 1st down, they threw to Durham in the endzone …. not a bad play … a good throw and Durham has a great chance to jump over the much shorter FL corner … On 2nd down, with 8 in the box and AJ single-covered with the corner playing 12 yards off of him — Bobo runs a draw … — throw it to AJ on a quick pass.. is it that hard?

As for Richt — he’s a great guy but have some fire. Yeah GA played hard but no one plays for 2nd place. A loss is a loss … don’t sugar-coat it.

Another tough loss to a poor Florida team.

jack bull

October 31st, 2010
12:40 pm

first off, we’ll never beat good teams while turning the ball over. you just can’t beat yourselves like that.(and no, that’s not Richt’s fault, unless you go back to him kicking our best QB off the team)

secondly, Miss St gives up a whopping 7 points to Florida. they’ve either got better talent at Miss St, or a better DC. yes, it’s that simple. i think i know which one it is, i’ll let you decide yourself.

Rod

October 31st, 2010
12:45 pm

Of course, those four turnovers were Coach Richt’s fault so he must be fired. You pathetic fairweather fans. Pls pic another team to root for. Every loss, you Richt headhunters come out. Join the GT blog and stay there.

jack bull

October 31st, 2010
12:49 pm

i believe Murray single handidly lost us that game, BUT, our defense hasn’t won us a game yet(unless you count ULL)…

Ole Yeller Dawg

October 31st, 2010
12:53 pm

jack bull, check the vandy game I believe they scored zero points!

SKNFAN

October 31st, 2010
1:00 pm

Voice of reason

Your comments prove u r a sore loooser. If u think cmr wouldn’t have played Rainey if Rainey was a dog, u r more delusional than most. In fact I think any coach is the sec woul have…..Football is about winning.

MS. Bully

October 31st, 2010
1:02 pm

Mississippi State just won their 6th game in a row!! Way to go Bulldogs!!

Gator4Life

October 31st, 2010
1:04 pm

That was the best chance for the Bulldogs to win over the next 3 years. The Florida Defense is almost all freshman and sophs.

treyingeorgia

October 31st, 2010
1:12 pm

Tampagator, JJ didn’t shut down AJ Green my friend… as usual where Georgia is concerned coaching shut down any hopes of a victory. I have to give Meyer credit though for running a single wing offense- which is what it is and make something out of nothing. Georgia has no resemblance of a gameplan plain and simple, kinda sad and a total waste of talent. Bobo wouldn’t know a gameplan if it slapped him the face- it is time for a change at the top with UGA. Believe me if a change was made and we actually got a coach that demonstrated a backbone not to mention discipline players would flock in drove’s to play there.

Vince Lombardi

October 31st, 2010
1:15 pm

All this talk about wearing the Georgia “G” makes me laugh. It’s not even your “G”, it belongs to the Green Bay Packers. Just another figment of your perverted, unethical imaginations.

treyingeorgia

October 31st, 2010
1:19 pm

….addressed to all you Gator fans- guys Georgia matches up with you man for man and if you can’t see that then you aren’t a knowledgeable football fan. I can count at least 5 to 7 years where UGA has the better team plain and simple and has gotten beaten due to inept coaching… You don’t put a 1st year QB in those situations time and time again…. I don’t think I saw one misdirection play at all yesterday… no naked bootlegs…everything they ran had Murray in the middle of the field- why do you think Florida continued to run the same stunt over and over up the middle with the LB’s… Bobo is the problem— hell coaching is the problem and it has been for years…

It is time for a change at the top…if a change costs us a couple of recruits then so be it, believe me there are plenty more that would love to play at UGA.

jack bull

October 31st, 2010
1:20 pm

i stand corrected…our D led us to wins against the all-mighty powers of ULL and Vandy…….my bad.

bigdsel

October 31st, 2010
1:30 pm

hey dawg fans, this is a rebuilding year, at least our d didn’t let them molest us all game, Our offense gave the ball up many times and Murray had a bad game (he’s a redshirt fresh) . He was a little nervous. we still came back and almost won it. this is the worst florida team since 88, but this is also the worst uga team under richt. We got CTG, and CMR and it will be different next year. I know we (as uga fans) always say next year but this time Its leggit. and I cant wait to see Alec ogletree play safety next year, he was laying some wood down on them gaytors. I hope they rebound and go to auburn and derail those confused war tigers. GOOO DAWGS!!!!

HUMPGATOR

October 31st, 2010
1:35 pm

Hey U_SuC, HERE’S A NEWS FLASH FOR YA. IT’S GREAT TO BE A DAWG HATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

77DAWG

October 31st, 2010
1:37 pm

Coach Russel would stand there and drop the ball on ground and let his D recover over and over for 30 min, @ end of each practice. Coach Dooley “we are not a ball catcher team, BUT if you can’t catch, smack it down or punch it away hard!” /Meat Clever/

check Up

October 31st, 2010
1:41 pm

Everyone should just digress a little……..

What's going on

October 31st, 2010
1:43 pm

Memo to DawgByte:
You stated that “Florida DID NOT win this game”. Well – All I have to say is look at the win/loss record – I believe you will see that FL has a “W” in the column and your dawgs have an “L”. Besides – I can say that about MANY games that GA won that they should not have one. Half the games with GT over the last 6 years, UGA “DID NOT win” – but yet I bet that you will Bark-it-up about how your dawgs BEAT Tech again. The year GA won the NC (1980) – your doggies didn’t “REALLY WIN” – if you want to put it that way. Florida had them up and down. There are MANY games you can say that about – but you just have a sorry losers mentality. GO GATORS

poopdawg

October 31st, 2010
1:44 pm

TampaGator your childish rants from an over the hill baby are truly amazing . I didn’t play in the game and i’m pretty sure you didn’t either. Talking trash about your schools football victory makes you feel good then so be it. You come on an AJC blog to taunt UGA fans? By the way i don’t need any meds but thank you.

however

October 31st, 2010
1:45 pm

I would like to hear what Munson had to say after the Gator FG to end the game: Would he talk about Florida stomping on UGA’s face “with a hobnailed boot???”

CMR

October 31st, 2010
1:46 pm

We will be back.

Keep making excuses for CMR

October 31st, 2010
1:47 pm

Of course, those four turnovers were Coach Richt’s fault so he must be fired.

Not because of turnover in this one game BECAUSE:

He has a losing SEC E record since 2006.
He now has two wins against Florida in ten tries.
Where we used to struggle with Florida and Tennessee its now Missisippi ST. Vandy and Kentucky.
Our only wins this year is against teams that are worse than we our.
We our often out coached.
The ten win seasons aren’t happening anymore.
Calling off football practice due to lightning,then going to the swimming pool,
three days later weather stops FSU practice. Jimbo Fisher told his team to be back on the field in a hour.Who does it sound like is running a summer camp and who is running a football camp?
Arrests on the team have gone through the ceiling.
Apparently somehow forgot that you need to have live contact and practice in full pads.Teach some of these high schools prima donnas how to really tackle.

Keep making excuses for CMR

October 31st, 2010
1:53 pm

What’s going on

You stated that “Florida DID NOT win this game

Don’t get your bowels in an uproar, we know Florida won.

Mike T.

October 31st, 2010
1:58 pm

TampaGator,
Take a chill pill, it was only a three point OT Win.
49-10 didn’t happen this year.

Keep making excuses for CMR

October 31st, 2010
2:02 pm

18 of 21 and the Dawgs lost many of them because of inferior coaching.
Goff, Donnan and Richt.

Roy Wood

October 31st, 2010
2:02 pm

I live in San Antonio Tx UT is having the same kind of yr as UGA you dont hear anyone saying fire Mack Brown lot of fair weather fans in Ga.Old saying the sun dont shin on the same Dogs A– always When we get rid of BOBO and Richt who we gona hire.Well be like TENN after their firing of a good coach.Dooley will get it done if they give him the chance.For all you fair weather Fans go support someone else.Texas Dawg.

Mike T.

October 31st, 2010
2:07 pm

you dont hear anyone saying fire Mack Brown

Uh… Mack Brown does have a National Championship. Let’s see how long the
Horn faithful stick with him if he goes 2-8 against Oklahoma. Right1

mambo

October 31st, 2010
2:12 pm

Football in the SEC and ACC has gotten to the point that some say “our plantation done whooped your plantation”. CMR is paid way too much to be plantin’ this-a-way.

Keep making excuses for CMR

October 31st, 2010
2:13 pm

When we get rid of BOBO and Richt who we gona hire.Well be like TENN after their firing of a good coach.

I think Auburn did OK in hiring Gene Chizik after firing Tuberville.
Florida certainly did OK after firing Ron Zook.
Bama did pretty good with Saban after firing Mike Shula.
Georgia is the second most profitable college football program behind Texas
its time to go shopping.

Mike T.

October 31st, 2010
2:16 pm

Georgia is the second most profitable college football program behind Texas
its time to go shopping

That goes to show you, most Dawg fans aren’t fair weather fans.

This is to Jedi Falcon

October 31st, 2010
2:33 pm

You have just admitted to be the definition of a band wagon jumper, a fair weather fan, and a d0uch3bag of major proportions. My guess would be that if we gave you a set of shoulder pads and 45 minutes, you couldn’t figure out how to put them on.
Dog fans, this season has been dismal by recent standards, inexcusable…we will beat Yech and we will be back!