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

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 whether Murray will participate.

“We’ll see how he handles it, if he’s able to throw the ball,” Richt said. “We think by game time he’ll be able to play, but right now practice is day-to-day.”

UPDATE: Asked about Murray’s status on his radio call-in show Monday night, Richt put it this way: “There is no guarantee he will play in the game, but we’re thinking there’s a good chance he will.” Richt said the bruised sternum “is probably bothering [Murray] the most right now.”

Both Saturday night and Sunday, Richt declined to comment about Fairley’s hits on Murray in Auburn’s 49-31 victory. But the coach did make a fleeting reference to the issue in his remarks to the Touchdown Club.

“I thought offensively we blocked No. 90 [Fairley] pretty good most of the game,” Richt said. “There were some times he did get free. Sometimes he got free a little bit late, but he did get free.”

Murray, a redshirt freshman, has 2,580 yards passing this season — the third most all-time for an SEC freshman. He has thrown 21 touchdown passes and six interceptions — “a tremendous ratio for any quarterback, even if you’re a veteran,” Richt said.

++++++++++

Georgia’s A.J. Green was named Monday as one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to college football’s top receiver each year. The field will be reduced to three finalists on Nov. 22 and the winner named on Dec. 9.

Green has 41 catches for 674 yards and nine touchdowns this season despite missing the first four games while on NCAA suspension for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000. He had nine catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns against Auburn.

544 comments Add your comment

Ironic?

November 15th, 2010
9:10 pm

AFDawg- If Fairley was indeed a criminal then he should be wearing red and black and playing with the Fulmer Cup winning Georgia Bulldogs. Richt loves coaching criminals! Maybe if Fairley gets a long enough rap sheet he can transfer! Always something to strive for!

Vince

November 15th, 2010
9:22 pm

What is so hard for you Auburn people to understand?

UGA fans aren’t upset we lost. We’ve grown accustomed to it. You didn’t hear us complain about dirty tactics with Florida, Colorado, Arkansas, Miss St,or USC .

UGA fans generally like Auburn and its fans. We don’t tell you this because we think you care. We tell you this to show we our criticisms are not borne of age old hatred.

UGA fans are not alone in our criticism of Fairley. Check out espn, the Mobile Press-Register, Sportsbybrooks.com or one of many other national (non-UGA biased) sites.

UGA fans were disappointed by the deliberate actions of a player to injure or permanently maim a college athlete. It’s that simple. (Though I have to admit I was a little taken aback by the Auburn fans booing an injured Murray limping off the field, Chizik fist pumping along the sidelines after Murray’s injury and the assistant coach giving a high five to Fairley after he did his I took out Murray “dance” at mid-field.)

realistic dog fan

November 15th, 2010
9:23 pm

IRONIC – You are moronic. Unfortunately our players just do not pay traffic tickets. I do not think any have been charged with assault. ANYONE who views the sportsbybrooks shot of #90 slicing Murray’s face with his own facemask realizes there is something sinister about this guy. Our guys are not sinister!!! Also, you guys whine more than UGA ever thought about whining. The gators never whined so much about a touchdown celebration. You people obviously have no life. IF THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO CAM< YOUR FANS WOULD HAVE STORMED TO FIELD TO KILL THE UGA PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vince

November 15th, 2010
9:28 pm

…If the same thing had happened to Cam the Georgia fan section would have gotten sprayed with fire hoses!!

BabsTolstoy

November 15th, 2010
9:30 pm

What a bunch of little girls. I’m sure you dawgs were just as incensed when Georgia got this thing going before the game by stomping on the big AU at the 50. Richt’s teams have a history of getting in these urinating matches with other league teams and you sorry fans are champs at embracing martydom. Your QB has got more hutzpah then the rest of you put together and you still got stomped into paste. Grow up. Whining won’t help you win next year either when we extend the series lead on you even further. That’s after you lose to Fla. again.

thetruehurts

November 15th, 2010
9:37 pm

No comment about yall 5 star all pro Alec Ogletree.I guess its ok about the two 2 td he gave up.You get what you ask for.Keep up the go work TREE.

Dawg Tired

November 15th, 2010
9:40 pm

Fairley certainly is a fine representative of Auburn. That cheap/dirty shot in the back leading with his helmet sums up the character involved in this fine Tiger/Plainsman. Auburn should be very proud. Any one even attempting to defend such play is an idiot. At least the entire nation got to see just how classless Auburn is. The guys on ESPN are all over this stuff. At least those who have actually played football understand there is simply no place for such attempts to actually hurt a fellow player.

Ironic?

November 15th, 2010
9:43 pm

Realistic- You guys? I have no ties to any particular school. I am just someone who pays attention to UGA’s lack of class and discipline. I don’t care for Auburn either. Just stating FACTS!

Deal Real

November 15th, 2010
9:44 pm

That’s it.

We’re cutting off the water to Alabama and Florida.

Ironic?

November 15th, 2010
9:45 pm

Bring back the firehoses! You stinking dawgies need a bath!

Vince

November 15th, 2010
9:45 pm

@ the true hurts

…has someone been drinking a bit this evening?

Vince

November 15th, 2010
9:47 pm

Seriously guys…….just take a look at the los angeles based sports website, sportsbybrooks.com

Perhaps then you will get a better idea about what the UGA fans are talking about…and we are not alone.

Mike Richt

November 15th, 2010
9:47 pm

My brother runs a dirty, classless program full of thugs.

AFDawg

November 15th, 2010
9:47 pm

Ironic, This isn’t the first game Fairley has pulled this criminal activity. I guess you would still be defending him if he had paralysed Murray with that spear in the back — wouldn’t you? I just read the article on the “altered high school trabscript” that got Fairley into Auburn. I guess he is dumb as a box of rocks. Here he goes shining the spotlight on himself in a game Auburn wasn’t going to lose. Now the refs will be watching him like a hawk in the Bama and USC games. There goes his aggressiveness in two games where he will need it. They’ll be throwing flags on him if he even sneezes wrong. What an absolute dumbass he is.

No thanks Vince

November 15th, 2010
9:50 pm

I watched the game. No need to surf the web looking for some propaganda site spewing lies. I’ll leave that up to you puppy fans who are begging for someone to take your side. Let it go already. Saint Richt allowed his thugs to pick a fight and then they got their rears handed to them on the scoreboard and in the trenches. Serves ‘em right.

Vince

November 15th, 2010
9:53 pm

@ No thanks Vince

Oh ye who refuse to see the truth…..

Go Elephants

November 15th, 2010
9:55 pm

I’ve just heard a rumor Saban has installed a new offensive line scheme called the Fairley Pancake. He’s going to line up two offensive ends on each side of Fairley and keep driving his butt into the ground. Saban figures he’ll lose his cool, take a swing, and be ejected from the game. Sounds pretty ingenious to me.

Ironic?

November 15th, 2010
10:00 pm

AFDawg- Ok. If he gets flagged then oh well. What do I care? I just find it funny that UGA started the whole thing with the stomp and first flag for playing dirty, and then when Auburn slapped them around a little too rough the doggies cried foul. Maybe if Richt ran a little tighter ship, then someone outside of Athens would feel bad for the thugs in red and black. I certainly do not wish any harm to some 18 year old kid. I will leave that kind of response to other folks. My daddy always told me, “Don’t start none and there won’t be none” Maybe dear old dad should impart some of his wisdom and Richt’s lawless thugs.

wrechtech

November 15th, 2010
10:01 pm

Go for the Sternum/Left Knee first thing,he will be done for the rest of the game.
GT 35-21. UGA has to much pressure 11/27 ie: Losing record,no bowl and a new coach

Vince

November 15th, 2010
10:02 pm

@ No thanks Vince

To be fair I did several quick google searches for topics like : Nick Fairley is not a dirty player….Georgia fans complaints are groundless….Fairly didn’t do anything wrong…

You know how many hits I got for these that went along with the topic? Zero, zilch, nada, none.

I did find many more sites that did agree with UGA fans…from USC, Bama (of course) Arkansas, Louisville, Texas, California…etc…etc

No thanks Vince

November 15th, 2010
10:02 pm

@ Vince

Oh ye who is still crying 2 days later….. Nobody wants to hear your sissy whining. If you have a problem with Fairlie, then hop on i-85 South and go find the kid. I’m sure he’d love to discuss it with you.

WOW

November 15th, 2010
10:03 pm

I see AU Fans talking about the Chop Block. That occured after Fairley repeatedly drove his shoulder into the QB. Once that unsportsman like act keep occiuring you honestly dont expect some payback.

I would also like to blame all the actions on the refs for not maintaining order on the field. FYI that started with just a warning after Newton threw the open hand to the side of Rambos helmet as he was going out of bounds. When does any unsportsman conduct warant a warning? Yes I know what you are all going to say, “It was a stiff arm”. All I will say is “you are ret@rded you you call that a stiff arm.”

Vince

November 15th, 2010
10:04 pm

@ Ironic…

But don’t you find it odd, then, that the rest of the free world saw the same things the UGA fans saw?

No thanks Vince

November 15th, 2010
10:05 pm

@ Vince

“Zero, zilch, nada, none”
Is that also the number of girlfriends you had growing up? Maybe it’s also the number of hits you got for Googling pages showing acts of class and integrity shown by Mark Richt? Number of kids on Georgia’s roster with a clean arrest record?

Vince

November 15th, 2010
10:07 pm

@ No thanks Vince…

You know, I don’t think I am as upset with Fairley and Auburn as I am with Auburn fans who think it is perfectly okay to try to permanently injure a player. I’ll never figure that one out. Maybe you’re right. I shouldn’t try to ….even two days later.

82Dawg

November 15th, 2010
10:07 pm

Is it true the student body at UGA is taking up a collection to send Big Jim over to Auburn to find Fairley at a local hang out? I heard the bet is he can knock out that puss Fairley with one head butt.

Ironic

November 15th, 2010
10:08 pm

Vince- I watched the game with my neighbor who is a Georgia grad (He had free beer) I didn’t notice anything that was not deserved judging from the actions of UGA players before and during the game. They asked for it. They got it. When it was too rough….They cried.

Vince

November 15th, 2010
10:09 pm

….but you won’t even look…easier to just devolve into some childish name calling. Yeah, that’s mature.

How old are you, buddy?

WOW

November 15th, 2010
10:11 pm

This would have never gotten to this point if the Refs were doing their job of controling the game.

Vince

November 15th, 2010
10:12 pm

Ironic……

That is too absurd to even comment on, but I cannot resist.

Had that been your son who got speared in the back, I am sure you would have replied…”Well, he got what he deserved.”

If that was your son whose face got sliced up by Fairley’s face mask, intentionally, you would have said, “Oh well, that’s what he gets.”

AFDawg

November 15th, 2010
10:15 pm

Ironic, You say “What do I care” when I ask you how you would feel if Murray got paralysed on that vicious hit? You’re probably the kind of person that goes around making fun of disabled people — aren’t you? i think you need to go see a shrink about what your Daddy did to you when you were a small boy. You are one sick puppy.

cowtipper

November 15th, 2010
10:15 pm

Murray is a coward.

He should have stood up to Fairley like a man!

McElroy will be an even bigger coward and fold like a cheap suit.

WAR EAGLE!

Big L

November 15th, 2010
10:21 pm

Talk all you want you second tier Auburn losers. If it weren’t for Georgia football players, you wouldn’t have a program.

AFDawg

November 15th, 2010
10:27 pm

Cowtipper, I look forward to barfing on you at next year’s game too. I’m going to take vegetable soup with me to the game, put some in my mouth, and then fake barf all over every Auburn fan I see. I’ll also be sreaming as loud as I can in their ear all game long. Warning to Auburn fans — do not buy tickets to next year’s game. I guarantee you — you will not like the hospitality.

Katherine

November 15th, 2010
10:39 pm

wrechtech
November 15th, 2010
10:01 pm

Go for the Sternum/Left Knee first thing,he will be done for the rest of the game.
GT 35-21. UGA has to much pressure 11/27 ie: Losing record,no bowl and a new coach

Are you serious? you can’t be that much of an idiot to say something like that…to try to intentionally seriously hurt someone? wow……

Cowboy up

November 15th, 2010
10:57 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxR9qYSHt8U

C’mon, you pansies – Fairley is a golden retriever compared to Butkus.

Mountain Dawg

November 15th, 2010
10:57 pm

Let’s see…Richt says we blocked Fairley pretty good most of the time. Hmmm…wonder if he watched the same game I did.

col fot

November 15th, 2010
11:02 pm

AUBURN TRALIER TRASH SCUM

JRW7

November 15th, 2010
11:11 pm

#90 Fairley, DIRTY PLAYER, I never hated AUBURN before, BUT I DO NOW!!!!!!!!!!! GO BAMA!!!!!

Lee

November 15th, 2010
11:22 pm

The sad thing…

Fairley is a great player and it is a shame that his great play is being overshadowed by the cheap shot thug antics. At some point, Auburn is going to be in a bowl game and that game will not be officiated by SEC refs. Trust me, they are hearing all this talk right now – it is all over ESPN and other sports channels, and they will not be as lenient as the SEC refs appear to be.

I, for one, am tired of all the trash talking and unsportsmanlike conduct that permeates college ball right now. As much as I hate to say it, the SEC seems to be the worst of the leagues in that aspect.

Dawg4life87

November 16th, 2010
12:18 am

I went to UGA and I love the dawgs, but just face it, we sucked this year. We got beat by a better team. We also got beat by teams when we were the better team. It just goes to prove anybody can be beaten on any given day.
Yes, the late hit in the back was uncalled for and the stuff that goes on in the trenches, happens EVERY week for EVERY team not just UGA or AU. That’s what you get from the competitive nature in us. I played for years and we wanted to beat the best that our opponents had, not to go out and intentionally hurt somebody. That being said, we did live for the BIG-TIME hit. When you’re out there, it’s so easy to get caught up in the moment and the intensity of physical play. And if there was a cheap shot to one of our players, you’d better bet we took up for them. Nothing wrong with any of that. My issue comes when you intentionally try to hurt your opponent.
I’m not holding anything against AU. I wish them well. You never know when you’ll get that chance again.
Dawg fans, stop all the whining. We got beat! Auburn fans, we’ll see you in Athens next year and you’d better bring it, cause we WILL!

Nick "Hitman" Fairley

November 16th, 2010
12:45 am

Chris Rainey told me to send THUGA this message…………………Time to DIE !!!

joe suggs

November 16th, 2010
6:15 am

Please someone at Alabama rip up # 90’s knee.

JT

November 16th, 2010
7:14 am

Why has not the slug Newton put on our DB to the helment been discussed. Oh! It was in front of the AU bench and the Referee just warned him. Way to go SEC Referees!!!!

old time dog

November 16th, 2010
7:39 am

I hate we lost to A$$burn but this whinning has got to stop. We got the slobber knoked out of us with both legal and illegal hits. End of story they were a heck of a lot beter on Saturday.

Jalex49

November 16th, 2010
7:50 am

As a died hard Georgia fan I am disappointed in the loss at Auburn. I believe we can debate what happened in that game until the cows come home. The truth of the matter is we lost and the team needs to find some OT’s and DT’s that are aggressive in play(legally) and know how to bring the wood.

I support Georgia and will always be a fan, regardless of the record. I would really like to see the team get back to playing ” Who let the DAWGS out football” as in the past and instill fear and respect of the Georgia football programs by other teams.

This is the SEC and we are talking about and we aren’t discussing some wanna-be. pansie conference ! I hope as fans we will challenge the coaches to recruit more prospects and get those that understand and want to be a part of a good coach and program.16-18 commits annually just doesn’t get it. We need 20-25 just like Bama,LSU, and Florida does every year, year in-year out.

I must admit, I have some concerns about the OL coaches and until Grantham can recruit the athletes for his scheme?

Once again, to the committments for 2011, please stick with us and to Crowell and Savons, there a need and place for you to be stars at Georgia. Just saying, We really need you.

To the juniors(include A.J. Green) the best receiver in the country there’s still unfinish business at Georgia.
Sometimes, it may not all be about the $$$$’s. With your talent that will always be there for you.

Just Saying………

Ironic

November 16th, 2010
8:46 am

AFDawg- I didn’t say what do I care about Murray being injured. I made that comment about Fairley getting penalized. If you read my statement correctly (big IF for a Georgia fan) In regards to the Murray being paralized I said, and I quote, “I certainly do not wish any harm to some 18 year old kid.” Reading comprehension! Give it a try.

Fairleynotsofair

November 16th, 2010
8:48 am

HSV Tiger, are you delusional? He wasn’t blocked into murray, he was blocked into the ground and lunged at the kid’s knee. You are a complete idiot and the reason I am pulling for anyone but AU the rest of the year. I have a lot of friends that went to AU and normally I pull for them when they aren’t playing UGA, however, this year is the exception. I hope Fairley gets a blind-sided chop block that he can’t recover from. He isn’t out there to make a play, he is out there to hurt people. Thus he should receive a little of his own medicine. He is a complete THUG, just like the father and son tandem from College Park.

Ironic

November 16th, 2010
8:54 am

Vince- I would never allow my son to play for a coach who not only allows his players thuggish activities, but promotes it. Richt has no class. If my son got a scratch on his chin, which happens to at least one player in almost every game of football, then I would hope someone would put a bandaid on it and tussle his hair and send him back in the game. Get over it dude. Nobody tried to cripple your sissy little quarterback. Let me guess….The shot came from the grassy knoll? The moon landing was fake? Aliens in Area 51? Obviously you are simple-minded enough to just try and explain everything with some stupid conspiracy theory. Simple-minded Georgia fan? Redundant!

Papadawg

November 16th, 2010
9:08 am

Without Cam Auburn might have scored 10 points so we’ll see what happens next year without him