Chizik on ejections: ‘I am embarrassed by it’
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 this year.”
On Cam Newton’s ability to avoid the distractions: “Cam rushed for (151) yards tonight. I was just really proud of the way he played. Like I said, he’s a really, really talented, extremely gifted football player who means a lot to our football team. By his performance, I felt like he’s done just about what he’s done in every other game this year.”
On the decision to on-side kick to open the second half: “That’s a very potent offense, and the on-side kick we felt really good about it during the week, and we felt like we needed to take one possession away from them in the second half. We needed to get some momentum coming out. We told our guys in the locker room at halftime it’s up and running and you have to get it. Wes [Byrum] made a great kick. I think it swung the momentum starting the second half, and it took one more possession away from their offense in the second half, which we needed to do.”
On how difficult it was to defend A.J. Green: “I don’t know that we did. I know that we certainly tried about everything we had, and they made some great throws to him. He made some great catches. He’s one of the best football players, wide receivers, certainly in college football. There’s no question about it. He is a force to be reckoned with. He’s a very talented young man.”
On the difference between Auburn’s defense in the first quarter and the rest of the game: “We settled down a little bit. We tried to do some different things coverage-wise just trying to get the passing game under control. We felt like we could stop the run, but we knew that they had very talented guys at wideout, including the tight end. They do a great job of seeing what you are in. The quarterback does a great job of reading what coverages that you are either disguising and trying to work to, and he hits the guy who is most available in that coverage. They are really good at that, and I thought they executed that well. I think pass rush and pressure, more so in the second half, got to them a little bit.”
On controlling the game running the ball in the second half: “We felt like offensively, starting with our offensive line, we could get some movement up front. We were trying to get a pace going where we could wear them down a little bit. I don’t know if that happened exactly the way we wanted to, but we had some explosive plays in there where they had to run down the field and get set and reset. We did some things that we thought with clock management and other things would help us towards the end of the game. Again, our offensive line … that was a good defense we played against. My hat’s off to them. They tried to do a few different things to take away the quarterback run game which we were able to do some other things with our tailback run game, but at the end of the day, that was a really good defense. I was proud of our offensive line.”
On winning the SEC Western Division: “We had goals at the beginning of the year, and this was the first goal. Really in the name of trying to take them one at a time, we didn’t know when, if we were going to win the West, when that would happen. We were blessed to be in a position tonight where if we won, then obviously we have a trip to Atlanta. So I think there was a lot of incentive out there. There was a lot on the line, and I couldn’t be more proud of our team because of the way they responded and the way they just kept playing.”
On the personal fouls and ejections in the game: “Just really disappointed in that. That’s a lot of reflection on us as coaches, and I am embarrassed by it. That’s not who we are. That’s not the way we carry ourselves, and we will address that tomorrow.”
On Michael Dyer breaking Bo Jackson’s freshman rushing yardage total: “I think Mike as the year has progressed has got a little more comfortable with the offense every week. We certainly have a lot of confidence in him running the football and protecting the football. What a great accomplishment. I think he feels a great comfort level, and I think it is a great honor for him. Again, we are not trying to break individual goals here but certainly that is one he is always going to be proud of until the next guy comes along and breaks it. I am proud of Michael.”
Did you believe you would win the SEC Western Division this soon after taking over as head coach? “I never put a timeline and a timeframe on anything. Our belief was that the only thing that we could focus on is where we’re going with the program and how we’re trying to get there, and we’re trying to do all the things the right way that make sense that the Auburn people would be proud of and the Auburn family. It would just be what Auburn is and who Auburn is, and that’s where we tried to start. So we didn’t put a timeframe on anything, but make no mistake our goal since the day we stepped here was to win a championship, and we haven’t done that yet. So, I don’t want to act like we have. We haven’t, but we are one step closer to being able to do that.”
How welcome is this bye week now? “I think it comes at a great time. We are definitely a tired football team. If you count two-a-days when we started in August, this is probably week 14 straight. I think we tried to manage it about the best way we could with trying to back off when we needed to back off, and try to be aggressive when we needed to be aggressive. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do, and that’s the great thing about this team. It’s a well-needed break. We will sit back and try to get a little bit of a breather here in the next probably 48 hours, but we have a huge, huge football game coming up in two weeks, and we have to get ready to play that game.”
On coming back from a 21-7 first-quarter deficit: “Like I said, the guys in that locker room just never cease to amaze me and the coaches … offensive coaches, defensive coaches, special team coaches. Nobody gets rattled. Players keep playing and the coaches keep coaching and we have to adjust and sometimes it doesn’t look exactly the way we want it to look. Sometimes it is really ugly. Sometimes it’s not. For 11 weeks in a row now, we have found a way to win so that’s the most important thing.”
How will you deal with the ejections? “I am going to deal with that tomorrow, and I am not happy about it at all.”
Was your team a little bit hyped up to start the game? “They were. I think they were very excited to play. I knew that when we were getting off the bus. We were trying to temper it down a little bit. They were extremely excited to play this game. The seniors knew that they were never going to play out here again. That’s where it started, and they love Auburn, and they love playing in front of these fans, and they were off the chart in terms of excitement and I don’t blame them. But I think that was a little bit part of some of the play at the beginning … we weren’t very smart. We were just too out there with that. Finally we settled down, and I think we played a little bit better.”
On what it was like when it was 21-7 Georgia: “You are always concerned when it is 21-7, but I don’t think a 21-7 score affects you unless you have never been there before. We have probably been there two to three maybe more times this year. I just think our football team has confidence, and we get things adjusted to the best of our ability, and we try to come back and just keep playing for 60 minutes. We just don’t look up at the clock. We just keep playing and when it is 0:00, we will look up and the best man will win.”
(Transcript provided by Auburn.)
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481 comments Add your comment
George
November 14th, 2010
5:10 pm
I don’t have any sour grapes, will sour war eagle do? ROLL TIDE.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:11 pm
George…I’m not sure what “will sour war eagle do” means…so I cannot possibly respond.
George
November 14th, 2010
5:11 pm
DawgGone, the AJC covers UGA sports. I guess you haven’t noticed that special tab on the sports page. You will notice there isn’t an Auburn tab. Go back to the sticks and read your own newspaper (assuming they have one).
Ben
November 14th, 2010
5:12 pm
AFDawg — I will never admit to something that’s not true. You, however, are starting to sound like Auburn fans in ‘08 and Alabama fans throughout most of the past decade. When your team isn’t doing so hot, you start looking for imagined slights and “dirty play” on the teams that beat you.
You can try to dismiss it or avoid it all you want, but UGA lost ALL moral authority to complain about anything Fairley did with the code red at the end of the game. So your guys got their shots at him (O.K., in addition to the chop blocks), but now you can’t simultaneously claim some sort of moral high ground.
AFDawg
November 14th, 2010
5:12 pm
Ben, The cameras were right on him. His actions were not those of a leader or a professional coach. He reminded me of a high school coach with a temper. One thing is for certain — Chizik said his players are a reflection of the coaching. He got that right. Dirtbags all the way around.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:13 pm
George…thanks for making my point. You acted like you knew who had papers and who didn’t. Thanks for owning up to the fact that now you’re not sure.
George
November 14th, 2010
5:13 pm
DawgGone, didn’t know you were the grammar police. But, technically, you did respond.
Coach Grohbo
November 14th, 2010
5:14 pm
Ahh yes, the sweet sound of whimpering from the Georgia fans!
You know what? Football is a physical game and your team was beaten into submission last night.
It was the first time I ever saw a losing team “No Mas” the end of a game by taking a knee.
We didn’t complain when Josh Nesbitt broke his arm.
At that point, we knew that Tevin Washington will be to Richt what George Godsey was to Donnan.
A career-ender.
Prepare yourselves for some more physical football in two weeks.
See you at the game.
George
November 14th, 2010
5:14 pm
You are right. I wouldn’t know whether Auburn Alabama has a newspaper. Most of the world doesn’t care if they do have one because nobody reads it. That’s exactly why you are on this website.
BBBieUgaVIII
November 14th, 2010
5:15 pm
AFDAWG
I said the Spear in the Back was wrong, but UGA was personal fouling all game long too. Ben Jones is a POS too why can’t you UGA fans admit that. Admit many UGA players need to be suspended for the First 1/2 of the next game which is TECH?
Ben
November 14th, 2010
5:15 pm
“Chizik said his players are a reflection of the coaching. He got that right. Dirtbags all the way around.”
So the code red at the end was a reflection of Richt? And the choking incident? And the arrest record? And the emptying of the bench against Florida a couple of years back? Seems to me if that is the standard you want to use, you draw the short straw.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:15 pm
George…I did…to another post…not that one.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:16 pm
George…thanks again for correcting yourself on the newspaper piece.
George
November 14th, 2010
5:19 pm
ROLL TIDE!
AFDawg
November 14th, 2010
5:22 pm
Ben, UGA has had a horrible season and no Georgia fan gave UGA much of a shot at winning the game. All of the Georgia fans I talked to were okay with Auburn’s success thsi year. I always looked at Auburn as an equal opponenet who didn’t get in your face and vice versa where UGA was concerned on the Auburn side. But, as I watched the game I was literally appalled at what Fairley was doing. Go back and watch it again from the start. Then, Chizik started in with his amateurish antics on the sideline. The final straw was when Fairley hurt Murray with the game in hand. From this point forward I can only hope bad things happen to Auburn. Even when the pushing started you didn’t see UGA throwing punches — that’s why only Auburn players got suspended. Also, if you watch the replay of the supposed chop block on Fairley you’ll see that the Georgia player tried to crab block him — if you had ever played you would know the difference.
Ben
November 14th, 2010
5:24 pm
Well like I said before, I don’t hate UGA and I wish your team the best. Hopefully you can beat GT and get to a bowl. The way your offense is playing, you should be able to win it. Best of luck the rest of the way.
Ben
November 14th, 2010
5:27 pm
AFDawg — The last hit on Murray was clearly not intentional, but you can’t see that with red and black shades on. As for Chizik’s “antics,” that is once again the stuff that losers complain about. I mean, really? You’re complaining about a coach firing up his troops? Do you not realize how lame that sounds?
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:27 pm
AFDawg…if the “dirty” play that you are referring to is for real, then why isn’t it all over EPSN? It’s not there…the closest thing I can find is a quip from Chris Low, deep down on his blog, that says that Fairley had a few “questionable” hits. Where is the outrage from the rest of the country?
SEC Fact Finder
November 14th, 2010
5:34 pm
Congratutlations to Auburn on the win, but according to some very very reliable sources within an investigation unit, The FBI investigation has reached critical mass of information. I personally asked a couple of people in some places if the accusations regarding the attachment of the Cameron Newton case and the Victory Land Dog Track were related and the answers were a solid “Yes”.
I did a little more research and for the past 5 years since the Tommy Tuberville Plane Gate, The owner of the Dog Track Mr. Milton McGregor is the Auburn Unversities largest contributor. Just passing it along.
LLUGA
November 14th, 2010
5:39 pm
More lip-service from Chizik…whatever…Chizik is a liar and a thug…He cares about himself and no one else…he’ll probably drown a kitty cat and eat it tonight….
mike addington
November 14th, 2010
5:40 pm
anybody remember when Auburn turned the fire hoses on our students and other fans? I was PROUD to see the team run the play at Fairly. That used to be the common way to straighten out a dirty player. I’m curious as to whether the team took it upon themselves to run the play or whether Bobo or Richt called it. I’d guess Van Gorder called it in from Atlanta. the rest of them don’t have the guts. Except maybe the team. I think it was Ealey who really tookoff like a missile and flew hard at Fairly. Too bad he did bust his big fu— mouth open
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:42 pm
UGA fans…stop worrying about Auburn, and start worrying about how you will win more football games. It all sounds like sour grapes.
AFDawg
November 14th, 2010
5:43 pm
Dawggone, the post game shows after the game were talking about it last night. Auburn and Newton are being treated right now by the media like Florida and Tebow were — it’s good for business to gloss over the negatives. If you’ll recall, the Spikes eye gouging took a long time to materialize — this incident will follow suit. In the long run it even affected Spikes’ standing for the NFL draft. Did you watch the game from the first snap? Why are you making excuses for this guy? Why don’t you just own up and say — he crossed the line. I had to admit the Georgia players shouldn’t have retaliated. Why can’t you admit Fairley plays dirty?
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:47 pm
AFDawg…I’ve watched ESPN all day today…no mention of it. Nothing on any other sports shows, newspapers, etc.
I did watch the entire game. Fairley did cheap-shot Murray, and was flagged for it. I have already said so. The other plays that you are complaining about are in your head. The refs didn’t see it, the media didn’t…apparently, it’s just you (and other UGA fans like you).
AFDawg
November 14th, 2010
5:51 pm
Ben, He was aiming at his knee. What about the spear in the back when the ball had been released long before? What do you have to say about that hit? There’s also a difference between firing up your team and encouraging them to “play payback” for an accidental face mask. Chizik obviously comes from the line of caoches who thinks it is okay to play dirty and encourages his players to do so. There is a select group of coaches out there from the high school level all the way up who play by that philosophy. I call them scumbags in my book.
AFDawg
November 14th, 2010
5:54 pm
Dawggone, You’re the one who needs to face reality. Fairley hurt his shoulder trying to put a vicious hit on Murray. Serves him right he got the worst of that one. Get a copy of the game and watch it again. You must have had too many beers during the game.
SEC Fact Finder
November 14th, 2010
5:55 pm
DawgGone….I know for a fact that a total of 9 hits on either side of the ball whether they were hits on UGA players or hits on Auburn players were marked for review by the SEC Office. What does that say, nothing except the 4 guys who evaluate officials questioned the call or non call. To follow up with that note, each week coaches grade the officials, have calls verified,, and make request for review of certain plays by the SEC office and Mr. Reddings. To follow up on that there have been 3 previous coaches to question the not the hits from Fairley but the driving the player into the turf part of the play and there have been previous warnings. Now is that dirty, whose to say, it is an opinion by anyone and judgement call by the official. But there is precedent cases of warnings. Just clarifying…
McDawg
November 14th, 2010
5:55 pm
any GA kid who goes to Auburn is a hick and i hope they go down-classless low lifes–never thought it could get any lower than the fire hose incident but you can take a red neck out of the trailer park but…….
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:56 pm
AFDawg…where was the outrage against one of your offensive lineman when he chop-blocked at UT defensive lineman (I think it was Hughes) during the UGA/UT game? Even the announcers of the game said it was dirty and had no place in the game? No UGA fan mentioned it…nothing in the paper…to UGA fans, it was as if it never happened.
This is just one example of what has happened numerous times. Players, including UGA players, do things on the football field that they shouldn’t. What is unbelievable is the fact that UGA fans never “see” the dirty plays that come from the UGA players.
Bulldog BK
November 14th, 2010
5:57 pm
DawgGone-
I do understand that this is football and big hits is a part of it, but on every hit, whether it was a bang bang play, Failey made it a point to pick him up and drive him into the ground. Oh, and by the way, that p&$$y Failey needs to learn how to hit harder because Aaron got up everytime except the cheap helmet to knee play which he clearly threw his head toward Aaron.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
5:59 pm
SEC Fact Finder….having the screen name that you do makes you no more of an expert on anything. Nor does it make you “in the know.”
I know, as well as every other college football fan, that plays are reviewed every week by league officials. No news flash there.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
6:01 pm
Bulldog BK…as has been noted on this blog, UGA lost all ability to complain about dirty play when they went after Fairley. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Get off your moral high ground.
Bulldog BK
November 14th, 2010
6:02 pm
It might not be the next game or even this year…but Fairley will get his!
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
6:03 pm
Bulldog BK…….as will your DC, the players you’ve had arrested, and the players that went after Fairley then.
Bulldog BK
November 14th, 2010
6:04 pm
6-7 plays from Fairley and 2 toward him. You are right, 2 wrongs don’t make a right but as I see it, Fairley is up 3 plays!
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
6:07 pm
6-7 plays from Fairley? What planet do you live on Bulldog? Take your Lithium, have a drink, and relax.
Fairley did cheap-shot Murray…and he was penalized for it. The other plays are in your head. The officials apparently agree with me not you.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
6:08 pm
Bulldog…by the way, 6-2 = 4 (not 3).
Bulldog BK
November 14th, 2010
6:10 pm
Man this is fun. Arguing with someone on a blog when we were not even on the field. We both sound like professionals. I’m done going back and forth with someone who backs a program that has clearly been on the “up and up” over the years (see Auburns 12-0 in the 90’s, oh that’s right, they were on probation then like they will be again soon). Man this Gentleman Jack taste’s great. Have a good life DawgGone!!!
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
6:11 pm
Bulldog BK…You’re done going back and forth with me? Yeah it’s probably for the best. Your arguements are baseless and you bore me anyway.
Wow...
November 14th, 2010
6:43 pm
My final thought on the matter boils down to this. I wanted UGA to beat Aburn yesterday…but I held out hope that this Newton thing would blow over for them. I have several friends that are Auburn fans and yesterday morning I really never wanted anything really bad for their program.
After watching the game my feelings have changed. Not because we lost but because of the dirty play of mainly one guy…and the coaching staff’s support and congratulatory high fives for injuring a player.
Now I hope that you lose every game you play…not just against UGA anymore. I further hope that Newton is guilty and that Auburn pays through the nose. I think Newton and Fairley are both P.O.S…and that goes double for you DawgGone–who believes that everything is classy as long as the refs miss it and winning justifies any and all sorts of reprehensable behavior. Effing Donkeys like you always make blogging enjoyable…thanks for having nothing better to do all day long than responding to every post on a sports blog. Keep up the good work guy.
Good night reasonable people.
Wow...
November 14th, 2010
6:45 pm
methinks DawgGone is also called War Damn Eagle…a tech troll.
DawgGone
November 14th, 2010
6:47 pm
Wow…you can always tell when a UGA fan is losing an arguement…they resort to name calling.
Stay Classy UGA…stay Classy
Devil's Advocate
November 14th, 2010
6:48 pm
I have a picture of UGA going after an Auburn player several years ago. Too bad lil Bruce has no bite. Neither does the current band of UGA players, no bite. Oh yes, they have a good time at all hours of the nite, but at gametime, all the bite is gone. They show up in Auburn and get their butts kicked, slammed, and twisted. The current dawg pound is an out of condition bunch that is handicapped by pitiful coaching. So, there we have it, a pitiful condition indeed. The head coach makes millions every year and we get this????????? A bad deal anyway you look at it.
ccc
November 14th, 2010
6:52 pm
i would like to know the drills auburn uses to keep from breaking their necks when they lead with their helments to hurt other players
JaxDawg
November 14th, 2010
7:03 pm
Hey Awebarn – I guess the new AU creed is “if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying”! I wish you nothing but the worst on the field the rest of the way!
GO DAWGS!
San Francisco Dawg
November 14th, 2010
7:04 pm
NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn wrote that, “The solicitation of cash or benefits by a prospective student-athlete or another individual on his or her behalf is not allowed under NCAA rules.” Cecil Newton has admitted this and as a result of this violation Cam Newton would have been ineligible at that point. Whether there’s any more to the story does’t matter. Newton has been ineligible all year and now Auburn knows it for sure. If they play him, as they did against Georgia,the NCAA will hammer Auburn like they did to Southern Cal they should. If there is any integrity at Auburn (and saw little integrity on the field yesterday) they have to declare Cam Newton ineligible and beg for mercy from the NCAA. Auburn, particularly Coach Chizik, seems to want to let go of the horse they have been riding no matter what. That’s a bad decision. One that they will regret! You can’t use ignorance as an excuse because the NCAA is the final judge and jury and they are looking for things just like this to make examples of college football programs with disregard of the rules. Party hardy, War Eagles, a big hangover is coming!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
November 14th, 2010
7:11 pm
Auburn finally gets it’s chance: You write like an attorney and you demonstrated just how much class you and the several “THUGS” on the Awbarn football team have. I have no doubt that your parents were actually screwing for fun the night you were conceived. I’ll just venture a guess that you are an only-child unless you have older siblings. Shove it hillbilly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEC Fact Finder
November 14th, 2010
7:12 pm
Dawggone….Not going to argue with someone who apparently wants to argue, I was just stating the fact that I know personally of 9 hits or no calls that were marked for review by the guys that evaluate the officials. Not going to argue with you…..Auburn has alot bigger fish to fry with what is going on with the Justice Department investigation and the FBI. Just saying…
champdawgs
November 14th, 2010
7:16 pm
Enter your comments here
SEC Fact Finder
November 14th, 2010
7:16 pm
Dawggone…just to make one more point to let you in on a little secret…I do work in the SEC(primarily baseball and football) and I do have a little more access to information on game days and post games than most folks, does that make me an expert? No, but it does give me a little insight to various items…just food for thought I did my job last evening at the Florida and USC game and we had 4 reviewable items and it was a pretty easy game to grade out…just saying….