Archive for November, 2010

Georgia will pay Florida Atlantic $1 million to play a 2012 football game in Sanford Stadium –  the most UGA has ever agreed to pay an opponent for coming to Athens.

The game will be played on Sept. 15, 2012, replacing an originally scheduled game at Louisville on that date.  A two-game, home-and-home contract with Louisville was canceled as part of Georgia’s arrangement to play Boise State in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.

Georgia and Florida Atlantic last week signed a memorandum of understanding on the 2012 game. The document was obtained Tuesday by the AJC under an open-records request.

Florida Atlantic is an FBS (formerly known as Division I-A) team and a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Owls are 4-7 this season and are coached by 76-year-old Howard Schnellenberger, who was Miami’s coach when Mark Richt, now Georgia’s coach, played quarterback for the Hurricanes.

The $1 million payout has become about the going rate for non-conference FBS opponents …

Continue reading Georgia adds Florida Atlantic to 2012 football schedule — at cost of $1 million »

Cleaning out the notebook before departing the blog for a brief vacation:

• I mentioned a couple of days ago that Aaron Murray needs just one touchdown pass in Georgia’s bowl game to match Matthew Stafford’s single-season school record of 25. What’s more, as Will Brown of Athens pointed out to me and UGA confirmed, Murray already has matched D.J. Shockley’s UGA single-season record of 28 touchdowns accounted for. Murray, like Shockley in 2005, has thrown for 24 and run for four. Pretty impressive rookie season, to say the least. (Click here for more on Murray’s season for the record books.)

• Mark Richt, speaking on his radio show Monday night about Marlon Brown’s recovery of a Brandon Boykin fumble on the kickoff return following the Georgia Tech touchdown/missed PAT that cut Georgia’s lead to 35-34: “That might have been the biggest play of the game for Marlon Brown to recover that fumble.”

• As I mentioned Sunday, Georgia’s expected Liberty Bowl appearance would bring an …

Continue reading Murray matches a Shockley record; Richt vs. O’Leary in Liberty Bowl? »

Mark Richt was outspoken on two topics on his radio call-in show Monday night –- his intention to remain at Georgia and his aspirations for this recruiting season.

• On the recruiting front, Richt reiterated his vision of signing an in-state “Dream Team” that, he said, could make an impact as soon as Georgia’s Sept. 3 season opener against Boise State in Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

“We’re trying to recruit guys right now that can make an impact so when we play in that Georgia Dome next year and open against Boise State, we can introduce those kids to the college football world and make a difference at the University of Georgia,” Richt said.

“When you talk about in-state kids, that’s why I’ve been talking about this Georgia ‘Dream Team’, this team of guys that I think are the best players in the state of Georgia. And I believe if they will stay in the state and come together, we can prove to the United States of America that we have the best football in the country [in] …

Continue reading Richt tells callers he’s staying and wants ‘Dream Team’ recruits to join him »

CineSport’s Noah Coslov chats with the AJC’s Tim Tucker about UGA’s bowl game possibilities and what’s next for A.J. Green and Mark Richt.

Continue reading Video: Going bowling, then what? »

(Updated 6 p.m.)

Georgia coach Mark Richt said late this afternoon that he has not been approached about the coaching job at Miami, his alma mater, and that he “absolutely” expects to remain the Bulldogs’ coach next season.

South Florida newspapers today mentioned Richt among possible candidates for the Miami opening that was created with Saturday night’s firing of coach Randy Shannon. Earlier this month, the Denver Post reported that Colorado would like to speak with Richt about its coaching vacancy.

“I’ve got the same answer for [the Miami speculation] as I had for the other one: Georgia is my home, and it’s where I want to finish my career,” Richt said.

Pressed on whether he would entertain the possibility of the Miami job if approached, Richt replied: “Just like I’ve been saying, man, Georgia’s my home, and that’s where I want to be. I don’t think you’ve got to go any farther than that.”

The Miami Herald today listed Richt among “potential candidates” to replace Shannon. …

Continue reading Richt says he hasn’t been approached by Miami, ‘absolutely’ plans to stay at UGA »

Did you realize that Aaron Murray, Georgia’s redshirt freshman quarterback, is on the verge of the all-time UGA record for touchdown passes in a season?

Murray’s three TD passes against Georgia Tech on Saturday night gave him 24 for the season — one shy of the UGA single-season record of 25 set by Matthew Stafford in 2008. Murray will have a chance to match and/or break Stafford’s record in Georgia’s bowl game.

With 24 TD passes, Murray currently is tied for second place in Georgia’s single-season record book with Eric Zeier (1993 and ‘94), D.J. Shockley (2005) and Joe Cox (2009).

Murray completed 15 of 19 passes for 271 yards against Tech, giving him 2,851 passing yards for the season. That’s the most ever by a Georgia freshman, topping David Greene’s 2,789 in 2001. And it’s the second most ever by an SEC freshman, behind only Jared Lorenzen’s 3,687 for Kentucky in 2000.

Continue reading Murray closing in on Stafford’s record for TD passes in a season »

ATHENS –- Did A.J. Green and Justin Houston play their final game in Sanford Stadium on Saturday night?

In Green’s case, probably. In Houston’s case, perhaps.

And if Georgia’s 42-34 win over Georgia Tech was the last game between the hedges for Green and Houston, both said powerful goodbyes with their performances.

Wide receiver Green had a game-high eight catches for 97 yards, and outside linebacker Houston had a fumble return for a touchdown and a game-clinching interception –- the first touchdown and the first interception of his UGA career.

Green and Houston, both juniors, insisted after the game that they haven’t yet decided whether to enter the 2011 NFL draft and that they won’t make the high-stakes decision until after the Bulldogs’ bowl game.

“I think it was a great way to go out if it is my last one,” Houston said of Saturday’s game. “But I don’t want to think about that right now. We just beat Tech, and that’s all I want to think about right now.”

Said Green: “It’s …

Continue reading So was that Green and Houston’s way of saying goodbye? »

ATHENS — Georgia became bowl-eligible for the 14th consecutive season Saturday night, and in the wee hours of Sunday morning, it looked and sounded like the Bulldogs probably are headed to the Liberty Bowl.

“We’ve got a lot of folks in Memphis that would love to see the Dogs,” Steve Ehrhart, the Liberty Bowl’s executive director, said in an interview on his way out of Sanford Stadium.

Minutes earlier, Ehrhart was seen chatting with Georgia coach Mark Richt.

“We know we can’t do anything formally [because], as Mark said, we’re sort of under an embargo,” Ehrhart said. “But I think the fact that here I am talking to him at, what time is it, 12:30 in the morning [tells you] we’re pretty darn serious.”

Georgia’s 42-34 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday night evened the Bulldogs’ record at 6-6, the threshold required for bowl eligibility.

The Liberty Bowl, which matches an SEC team vs. the Conference USA champion, will be played at 3:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 31.

The Conference USA …

Continue reading Bulldogs to the Liberty Bowl? »

Please join the conversation on Jeff Schultz’s and Mark Bradley’s live blogs during the game.

Caleb King’s phone has been ringing this week. “I’m getting calls and stuff,” he said, from friends demanding to know: “What are you going to write this year? What are you going to write?”

King and fellow Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey wrote the now-famous words “I Run This State” on their bodies for last year’s game against Georgia Tech –- Ealey writing the message under his eyes and King on his arms. The NCAA this year outlawed messages on eye black, but as King noted: “I think we can still write on the arms.”

So, what are you going to write for Saturday night’s game against the Yellow Jackets?

“I don’t have a clue what I’m going to write, if I write anything,” King said. “Last time it just came at the last minute, so hopefully the same thing happens. If you think of something too hard, it probably won’t come out that good.”

King and Ealey made good on their words a year ago, …

Continue reading Will King, Ealey write the script this time? »

ATHENS – Notes from Mark Richt’s post-practice visit with reporters Wednesday night:

• Georgia practiced in full pads, a change from the original plan to work in shoulder pads and helmets. “We felt like we needed a little more work against the cut-blocking in particular,” Richt said. “We hadn’t done that very well yet, or well enough. And so we wanted to get a little more work at that.” All five of Georgia’s practices for the Tech game have been in full pads.

• The Bulldogs’ plan for Thursday, Richt said, is to “get up real early, have some meetings, practice and be done by 10 a.m.,” so players and coaches can “go eat Thanksgiving dinner.”

• For anyone wondering if the Bulldogs might wear black jerseys for Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech: No, Richt said. “Someone thought we might do that?” he asked.  “I don’t think we’ll have a jersey change for a while here.”

• Injury updates: Backup tailback Carlton Thomas (stinger) “did all the scout work today,” Richt said. “We …

Continue reading Speaking of black jerseys, RB recruiting and ‘best scout-team LB tandem in country’ »

ATHENS – Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, held out of practice last week because of a bruised sternum suffered against Auburn, practiced without problem for the second day in a row Tuesday and appears set to start against Georgia Tech.

“I haven’t had any pain in two days,” Murray said Tuesday night. “I feel great throwing the ball. . . . I think I’m ready to play Saturday.”

Earlier Tuesday, coach Mark Richt said: “I think he is going to play.”

Murray, who also suffered a bruised knee and a cut chin against Auburn, said the bruised sternum –- the most significant of the three injuries — occurred early in the game. “I played the majority of the game with it, so . . . I feel like I can play through it if it re-aggravates,” he said.

Murray said he never doubted that he would play against Tech.

“I don’t care if I had a broken leg, I’m going to play in this game,” he said.

Continue reading Murray: ‘If I had a broken leg, I’m going to play in this game’ »

ATHENS — Eight Georgia football players got a first-hand look at their next opponent when they attended rival Georgia Tech’s game against Duke in Bobby Dodd Stadium last week.

The players said they got some good-natured ribbing from Tech fans, who immediately recognized Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, but had a good time and maybe gleaned a bit of insight about the Yellow Jackets.

“It was interesting,” linebacker Christian Robinson said. “A couple of guys came up to Aaron and said, ‘Have you seen Nick Fairley?’”

Fairley, of course, is the Auburn defensive tackle whose controversial hits battered Murray in Georgia’s Nov. 13 loss to the Tigers.

“They were nice. They were pretty cool,” Murray said of the Tech fans. “They were joking around with us the whole time. Nothing too serious, though. It was a fun day. A good day.”

In addition to Murray and Robinson, the Bulldogs’ delegation at Tech’s victory over Duke included wide receivers Kris Durham, Tavarres King and Rhett McGowan, …

Continue reading Bulldogs in the stands … at Bobby Dodd Stadium »

(Updated 8:45 p.m.)

As Georgia’s football team resumed preparations Monday for its regular-season finale against Georgia Tech, quarterback Aaron Murray returned to the practice field for the first time since suffering knee and sternum injuries against Auburn.

Coach Mark Richt said on his radio call-in show Monday night that Murray threw the ball “extremely well,” although Richt cautioned that practice conditions are quite different from game conditions for Georgia quarterbacks.

“Aaron is doing well,” Richt said. “He got to practice today. He went through the whole thing. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ready to play [under game conditions]. But because we don’t hit our quarterbacks in practice, he was able to do everything we asked him to do. I’m not sure how he would have handled getting hit and tackled to the ground and having the full weight of one or two guys land on him. I don’t know how he’d do in that situation right now.

“But he does feel a lot better. …

Continue reading QB Murray returns to practice; throws ball ‘extremely well,’ Richt says »

From AJC correspondent Andy Johnston in Athens:

Georgia coach Mark Fox said this afternoon that forward Trey Thompkins is doubtful for Thursday’s game against Notre Dame in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla.

Thompkins is out with a high right ankle sprain and hasn’t practiced since late October for the Bulldogs (3-0), who won their first road game since March 2009 with a 61-59 victory over Saint Louis on Saturday.

Thompkins spoke to the media Monday for the first time since injuring his ankle and said he hasn’t been cleared to practice.

“Progress is great,” Thompkins said. “I’m starting to run and cut and things like that, so I should be back on the court sometime soon. I can’t give you a definite answer.”

Junior forward Connor Nolte, who has started all three games this season, broke his nose in the first half of Saturday’s victory and was being fitted Monday for a mask to protect his nose.

Fox said Nolte will play in this week’s tournament and then have surgery. He’ll be …

Continue reading Hoops update: Thompkins still out; Nolte will play in mask after breaking nose »

Some notes to start the week . . .

• As you might have heard, Georgia and Georgia Tech will play football in Athens on Saturday night. Georgia (5-6) opens the week as a surprisingly heavy favorite over Tech (6-5). According to VegasInsider.com, as of late Sunday, one sportsbook had the Bulldogs as a 15-point favorite and three others had the Dogs as a 13-point favorite.

• Georgia returns to the practice field Monday afternoon after a three-day break. The Dogs are looking for the session to provide a good indicator of the health of quarterback Aaron Murray, who was sidelined from practice last week with knee and sternum bruises suffered against Auburn. It’d be a surprise if Murray isn’t able to play against Tech. But if he’s not, true freshman Hutson Mason would start and Logan Gray would be “more of an emergency” QB, Mark Richt said last week.

• The Georgia-Boise State matchup in next season’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome, announced Friday, required eight teams …

Continue reading Early lines have Dogs up to a 15-point favorite over Tech (plus lots of notes) »

(Updated 8 p.m.)

Georgia’s football team will open next season in Atlanta against Boise State, which has emerged as an improbable powerhouse in recent years.

The Bulldogs and Broncos will play on Sept. 3 in the Georgia Dome in the fourth annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, event organizers announced Friday. The game will be nationally televised in prime time on ABC or ESPN.

The Georgia-Boise State pairing marks the first time Atlanta’s season-opening event has included a team from inside the state or a team from outside the SEC/ACC footprint.

“It was too good an opportunity to turn down,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said.

Arranging the matchup required machinations involving a number of schools. The final contractual obstacles were cleared mid-afternoon Friday, game president Gary Stokan said.

To clear room on its schedule, Georgia canceled a contract with Louisville that had called for games against the Cardinals in 2011 (in Athens) and 2012 (in Louisville). The …

Continue reading Georgia-Boise State game set; UGA cancels two games vs. Louisville (updated) »

ATHENS – Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray remained sidelined from practice Thursday because of knee and sternum bruises suffered in Saturday’s game against Auburn.

Wearing sweatpants and a jersey, Murray was tossing a football on the sideline in the portion of practice open to the media.

Richt said later that Murray threw the ball “gingerly, or carefully” but had full range of motion and threw without pain. “He just can’t go quick yet,” Richt said.

Richt reiterated that he hopes Murray will be able to do “everything” at Georgia’s next practice, which is Monday. That “would give him and us more confidence he’ll be able to play” in the Nov. 27 regular-season finale against Georgia Tech, Richt said.

“He’s just not there yet,” Richt said. “He’s improving pretty rapidly.”

If Murray is unable to play against Tech, freshman Hutson Mason would start, Richt said. Quarterback-turned-receiver Logan Gray has gotten some snaps at quarterback in practice this week but “would be more of an …

Continue reading Murray throws ‘gingerly’ on side; Gray gets some snaps at QB »

ATHENS – Might Georgia play Boise State in a season-opening football game next year in Atlanta?

As rumors swirled Thursday about such a possibility in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity and coach Mark Richt were mum on the matter.

“I just can’t comment on it at this time,” McGarity said Thursday night.

Asked how he would feel about playing Boise State in the Georgia Dome, Richt replied with a smile: “Hypothetically? Hypothetically, no comment.”

Richt said he was told not to comment on the matter, but he did offer a hint of a possible timetable for a decision when he was asked if playing in the Chick-fil-A Game would be important because of the recruiting benefit it has provided other SEC teams.

“I’ll tell you Monday,” he said.

Gary Stokan, who runs the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, has said often in the past that he would like to have Georgia in the game whenever it works for the school. Although he has two Kickoff games lined up for 2012, …

Continue reading Might UGA, Boise State meet in the Georgia Dome? »

(Updated 3:30 p.m.)

The University of Georgia this morning put on sale several hundred tickets to the Nov. 27 Georgia-Georgia Tech football game in Sanford Stadium — and by this afternoon they were all gone.

The tickets sold today had originally been put aside for television partners and non-football recruiting purposes.

The Bulldogs, who are off this week, will enter the Tech game with a 5-6 record, while the Yellow Jackets, who play Duke on Saturday, will bring a 6-5 or 5-6 record to Athens.

The game will be Georgia’s 63rd consecutive sellout, a streak that covers 10 seasons.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. on Nov. 27. The game will be televised by ESPN.

Continue reading Georgia-Georgia Tech game now sold out »

ATHENS — Jarvis Jones, the linebacker who traveled from Columbus to Athens by way of Los Angeles, is looking forward to finally playing for Georgia’s football team next season.

The state’s No. 3-rated prospect in his senior season at Carver High School (Columbus) in 2008, Jones turned down Georgia to sign with Southern California. In the eighth game of his freshman season at USC in 2009, he suffered a neck injury that ultimately ended his Trojans career.  He requested and received a release from his scholarship after USC doctors would not clear him for spring practice this year. He sought other medical opinions and was told he could play again.

So in June, he signed with the Georgia program that he had rejected out of high school.

“When I left SC, I was, like, ‘If I go play anywhere, I want to go home [and] play in front of the people that I know care about me and are going to take care of me,” Jones said Wednesday. “I know that it wasn’t my decision out of high school, but …

Continue reading LB Jarvis Jones enjoying ’second chance to come to Georgia’ »

ATHENS – With A.J. Green widely projected as a top-five NFL draft pick, Georgia’s Nov. 27 game against Georgia Tech could be the junior wide receiver’s last in Sanford Stadium. And unless Georgia wins to qualify for a bowl, it also could be Green’s last as a Bulldog.

Green said Wednesday that he hasn’t decided whether to enter the 2011 NFL draft and that there will be a lot of factors to consider after Georgia’s season is completed.

On one hand, he mentioned the threat of an NFL lockout and his mother’s desire for him to get his college degree. On the other hand, he mentioned the risk of injury if he returns to school for his senior season.

“I’m not going to make that decision right yet,” he said. In the end, he said, “you’ve got to do what is best for you.”

Note: More to come on this. I’m working on a story about players who will be — or might be — playing their final game in Sanford Stadium next week. Another Georgia junior who has a decision to make regarding the 2011 …

Continue reading Green: No decision yet on NFL draft »

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who didn’t practice Tuesday because of injuries suffered against Auburn, could return to work by the first practice of next week, coach Mark Richt said this afternoon.

“I’m very hopeful that by Monday he’ll get to do something — and hopefully everything by then,” Richt said. “It’s one thing to be able to drop back and throw the ball and another to be able to play in a real, live football game. We’ve tried all year  not to get him hit in practice, so that will be the goal next week, too.”

Georgia’s next game, its regular-season finale, is Nov. 27 against Georgia Tech in Athens.

Murray suffered a bruised knee and a bruised sternum in last week’s loss to Auburn, during which he took several controversial hits from Tigers defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

With an open date on Saturday, Georgia has only one practice remaining this week, that on Thursday. Richt didn’t rule out Murray participating in that session, but it seems doubtful.

“It truly is …

Continue reading Richt ‘very hopeful’ Murray can resume practice by Monday »

Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston, who leads the SEC in sacks, today was named one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to college football’s top defensive player each year.

Among the other finalists: Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

In fact, all five finalists are from the SEC and ACC. Houston and Fairley are joined by LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly.

The award is presented by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The winner will be named on Dec. 6.

Georgia has had only one Nagurski Trophy winner: Champ Bailey in 1998.

Houston, a junior from Statesboro, has 10 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss this season.

Continue reading UGA’s Houston, Auburn’s Fairley among finalists for Nagurski Trophy »

Quarterback Aaron Murray didn’t practice Tuesday as Georgia began preparations for its regular-season finale against Georgia Tech. Murray is listed as “day-to-day” with a bruised knee and a bruised sternum, both suffered in last Saturday’s loss at Auburn.

In related news, the SEC said Tuesday that it has decided not to suspend Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley for his controversial hits on Murray. The league plans to handle the matter “internally” with the school.

One hit in particular — a late, helmet-to-the-back blow for which Fairley drew a  penalty in the third quarter –- has drawn much scrutiny this week.

Georgia’s open date clearly comes at a good time for the battered Murray.  The Tech game is on Nov. 27 in Athens.

Coach Mark Richt told the Touchdown Club of Atlanta on Monday, “We think by game time he’ll be able to play.” Richt later said on his radio call-in show, “There is no guarantee he will play in the game, but we’re thinking there’s a good chance he …

Continue reading Dogs practice without Murray; SEC won’t suspend Fairley »

Dante Bichette hit 274 home runs in 14 major-league seasons, making the All-Star team four times. His son, Dante Bichette Jr., will play baseball at Georgia.

A senior at Orangewood Christian School in Orlando, Bichette Jr., an infielder, has signed a national letter of intent with the Bulldogs.

“Dante is one of the headliners of our signing class because he does a lot of things well,” UGA coach David Perno said in a news release. “He has the most power in our class; it’s in his genes. He’s a corner infielder and will be a great fit here. We had a real connection with him and his family.”

Bichette was among six additions to Georgia’s recruiting class announced Monday. The others, all from in-state: outfielder Justin Bryan (Lavonia), outfielder Zach Freeman (Lake Park), outfielder/pitcher Heath Holder (Loganville), pitcher Reggie McClain (Johns Creek) and infielder Tyler Palmer (Odum.)

Update, 2:30 p.m. Tuesday:

On Tuesday, Georgia announced six more signings, including four …

Continue reading Bulldogs sign son of former major-league star (updated with more signings) »

Georgia’s open date comes at a good time for quarterback Aaron Murray.

Murray might miss some practice time this week because of knee and chest injuries but is expected to play in the Bulldogs’ next game Nov. 27 against Georgia Tech, coach Mark Richt told the Touchdown Club of Atlanta on Monday.

“He’s beat up pretty good, actually,” Richt said in a speaking engagement that was streamed on the Internet.

Richt said “luckily there is no structural damage” to Murray’s left knee, which took a shot from Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley’s helmet late in Saturday’s game.

“It was more just a blow to the knee, to the bone, and it’s bruised up pretty good,” Richt said. “I think he’s going to be fine.”

Richt said Murray also suffered “a pretty deep bruise in his chest” against Auburn.

Officially, Georgia director of sports medicine Ron Courson lists Murray as “day-to-day” with knee and sternum bruises.

Georgia will hold its first practice of the week Tuesday, and Richt was uncertain …

Continue reading Richt: Murray is expected to play vs. Tech despite knee, chest injuries »

The football game between Georgia and Georgia Tech in Athens on Nov. 27 will kick off at 7:45 p.m. and be televised on ESPN, it was announced Monday.

The game will be Georgia’s first — and only — this season to be played in Sanford Stadium at night. The Bulldogs’ previous five home games started in the noon hour. Also, this will mark the first time a Georgia-Georgia Tech game has been played in Athens at night, UGA confirmed.

Georgia, which doesn’t play this week, will enter the game with a 5-6 record. Tech will be 6-5 or 5-6, depending on Saturday’s game against Duke.

ESPN picked up the Tech-Georgia game after CBS, which has first choice among games in SEC stadiums, chose LSU-Arkansas for its 3:30 p.m. telecast on Nov. 27.

Continue reading It’ll be the first Georgia-Georgia Tech game at night in Athens »

Georgia’s loss to Auburn on Saturday ended with Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray out of the game after taking a blow to his left knee, and there was no definitive word Sunday on the extent of the injury.

Coach Mark Richt indicated after the game Saturday night that he did not believe the injury was serious, and Murray seemed to be walking fine as he made his way to the locker room.

But on his regular Sunday evening teleconference with the media, Richt had no update on any injuries, including Murray’s.

With Georgia having an open date this week, the team and staff were given a day off on Sunday, and Richt, who conducted the conference call from home, said he had not met with director of sports medicine Ron Courson.

“I’m not going to talk about injuries in this conference,” Richt said. “I’m just going to hold off on that. I’ve got to get a clear picture from Ron . . . When I get with Ron, I’m sure we’ll have a discussion and will have a better idea of what is going on in that …

Continue reading No word yet on Murray’s knee injury »

Transcript of Auburn coach Gene Chizik’s postgame news conference:

Opening comments: “I couldn’t be happier for our fans . . . the Auburn family. I am  excited for everybody. That stadium out there tonight was electric, and our student body, our alumni, our fans . . . it was a great night for everybody. Our football team in that locker room over there has a lot of love for each other. I think tonight was another situation when we were down by 14 points I think at one point; they just play as a family. That’s all that I can tell you. They play as a family, and I couldn’t be more blessed personally in my life to be around great people, great coaches, great administrators and players who are a joy to be around. They care about Auburn. They care about this football team, and they never cease to amaze me. I am very proud of [Cam Newton] and his performance, and I am very proud of our whole football team starting with our seniors, who have done a great job getting us to this point …

Continue reading Chizik on ejections: ‘I am embarrassed by it’ »

Excerpts from Georgia coach Mark Richt’s postgame news conference:

Opening comments: “Congratulations to Coach Chizik and Auburn. They clinched their opportunity to play in Atlanta in the SEC Championship. I know the feeling, and it’s a great feeling. They’ve done a great job this season and did a great job tonight. They were a better team than us tonight. We certainly had our moments, but they weren’t enough to win. They’re a very good football team and I want to give them credit.”

On Auburn’s on-side kick to open the second half: “We alerted [the players] at the half. The dilemma for our special teams is if they sit at the tee and watch the ball too long when all those guys are flying down the field at 100 miles an hour and they’re supposed to get in position to block, they can’t make the block. Auburn’s kickoff coverage team was one of the bigger differences in the game. And with them getting the on-side kick to start the second half and take the lead . . . we were hoping …

Continue reading Richt: ‘I thought that if we ran another play things could get out of hand’ »