Q&A: Logan Gray wanted ‘more opportunities’ to play QB at UGA
A Q&A WITH LOGAN GRAY
Gray
In an exclusive interview with the AJC on Tuesday, Logan Gray confirmed that he has settled on Colorado as his next destination. The former Georgia quarterback plans to transfer there via the NCAA’s postgraduate transfer rule which allows qualifying student-athletes to be immediately eligible at another school as long as they have received an undergraduate degree from the original school. However, the move is not yet finalized. Gray, who is due to earn a speech communications degree from UGA in May, has yet to be accepted into the Colorado’s grad school.
In the meantime, I wanted to talk Gray about that decision and ask him about his experiences at UGA. The former prep All-American and consensus top 10 quarterback prospect will leave without ever starting a game for the Bulldogs and switched to wide receiver last season after failing to beat out freshman Aaron Murray for the job. As you’ll learn in the following exchange, Gray felt like he wasn’t given a realistic shot to win the quarterback job after Matthew Stafford left in 2009. But he admits that Murray won the job fair and square and insists that he’ll leave Athens late next month without any hard feelings toward Georgia or its coaching staff.
Following is our exchange:
Q: So spring practice is underway. What are you up to now that you’re not playing football?
A: I’m just finishing up school so I can graduate come May with a degree in speech communications.
Q: The news has been circulating that you’ve settled on Colorado as a transfer destination. I know your younger brother Quinn attends there. Was that the main reason you chose the Buffaloes?
A: Yeah, that’s kind of how it started. It kind of went from there after that. It’s definitely ironic that we just went out there and played them.
Q: What has the transfer process been like?
A: At first I didn’t really know exactly how the whole process worked. So I just went through my high school coach (A.J. Ofodile), who helped me get recruited in the first place. I asked him to call a few schools and find out who might actually be interested. I was kind of looking to get back closer to home mainly. Once I found that out I just kind of went from there.
Q: What other schools showed interest?
A: I had a wide range of schools that I talked to. Probably my number two school would be Southern Illinois, which is a I-AA school only a few hours from where I live (in Columbia, Mo.). I talked to schools all the way from Louisiana-Monroe to Northern Iowa to Valdosta State. So I looked at D-1, I-AA all the way down to Division II.
Q: When did you make up your mind that it would be Colorado?
A: Actually I just had an official visit last weekend. I got to go visit and watch their spring game, meet all their coaches, pretty much check everything out. It went very well. That was pretty much the clincher there. They have a brand new staff out there, they just brought in a receivers coach from the University of Texas (Bobby Kennedy) and I really see them as a program on the rise.
Q: Any thoughts about trying to resurrect your quarterback career somewhere?
A: That was definitely something I thought about and it would have been cool to do. But the thing about it is, with the limited time I have, it would have been tough to pick up an entire system as a quarterback. That’s what several schools were saying. There were a couple that talked about me coming as a quarterback, but the majority were thinking wide receiver would be an easier transition.
Q: Were there any schools that recruited you specifically as a quarterback?
A: Valdosta State told me they needed a quarterback that could play right away. Then there were a few schools, like Louisiana-Monroe, that were talking to me about playing quarterback and receiver. A lot of teams were talking about putting me in a kind of Wildcat package.
Q: So what graduate degree will you be pursuing at Colorado?
A: Honestly, I still have to get accepted into their grad school. So, I mean, nothing is official yet. . . . I don’t know that I can tell you just yet. I’m just trying to make sure everything is official before I say anything. It’s a little different than coming out of high school.
Q: When is everything supposed to be finalized?
A: Hopefully I’ll find out in the next two weeks. Hopefully it won’t take too long, but I also have to get a waiver by the NCAA that clears me to be able to do that and I don’t know how long that process takes. I’m not positive how all that works. I feel pretty strong about it. I think it will work out just fine. Nothing is 100 percent just yet but we just need to take care of the rest. Hopefully I’ll be there for summer workouts.
Q: OK, how would you describe your experience at Georgia?
A: Honestly, I really don’t have any regrets deciding to come to Georgia out of high school. The relationships I’ve built with my teammates and the friends I’ve created, they will be life long. It’s definitely been a positive experience.
Q: What about on the football field?
A: As far as football goes, I do wish I had been given a few more opportunities, especially when I was playing quarterback. I don’t have any regrets. It didn’t work out. That’s just the way it goes sometimes. I’m still excited I’m able to get my degree from the University of Georgia and have an opportunity to go to another school like Colorado. Hopefully I can fulfill some of my dreams of making plays and being a key contributor at the college football level.
Q: You said you wished you had more shots at quarterback at UGA. When did you feel like was your best shot at Georgia, when Joe Cox ended up starting in 2009 or last year when Murray got the nod?
A: I’d probably say the year Joe Cox started. It’s tough talking about all this because Joe is one of my best friends and, Aaron Murray, I have great respect for him. But as far as how things played out, I just kind of wish it would have been handled in a different manner. After Matthew [Stafford] left, they immediately named Joe the starter before spring practice even started. I was hoping to get on the field and compete for that job and show what I could do. During the season the opportunities I got were really only at the end of the Florida game and at the end of the Tennessee game, which didn’t pan out for the best. After Joe graduated, going into last year, it was a wide-open competition, which was different than the year before. Aaron ended up winning the job and obviously had a great year last year and that’s just the way things went. Like I said, no hard feelings. That’s just the way it goes sometimes.
Q: Knowing what you do now, what advice might you give recruits?
A: I think if I gave advice it would be to make the most of your college experience. Not every single person is going to come to college and have an awesome career and end up in the NFL. It just doesn’t work that way. But I still feel you should work as hard as you can in the field and in the classroom. You just have to make the most of all the opportunities your given. Coach Richt gave me a scholarship and I wanted to honor the University by getting my degree here. I’m most proud of that.
Q: Did you consider staying at Georgia and giving it another go as a full-time wide receiver?
A: Obviousy I thought long and hard about that. In the end I just kind of wanted a fresh start. I was hoping to be able to play some place a little closer to home. Colorado is still a little bit away from where I live, but with my brother going to school there it will allow my parents to see both of us quite a bit, which will be nice. And I just thought that it was time for a change. I don’t know exactly which way the program is heading and I kind of just wanted to jump on board somewhere that I could just have a fresh start and prove that I’m a guy that can make plays and really help a team win.”
Q: What memories will you leave with from UGA?
A: I definitely made some of my best friends ever and I will miss them. Drew Butler, Clint Boling, Tanner Strickland and [walkon] Eric Elliott, those are some of my best friends. And there are many other guys I have very close relationships with. And it’s not like I’m leaving here without a great experience. My freshman year I was part of a Sugar Bowl championship team. On or off the field I’ve had memories that I’ll cherish for years.
Chip Towers, The UGA Blog
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206 comments Add your comment
Tom
April 13th, 2011
3:16 pm
Aaron won the job fair and square, Logan said it himself. If you are going to say that, don’t make excuses about not having any opportunities. You had opportunities, you just sucked when it came time to perform. Why do you think they moved him to QB?
Are you sure Logan gray isn’t related to Rudy Carpenter?
AltamahaDawg
April 13th, 2011
3:48 pm
No, I get you think Gray would have been better than Cox. Not sure you understand the nature of what a fact is, but I get that you believe it.
I just find it funny that you make up a completely illogical premise to explain it all, rather than just having the balls to say,” I know more about coaching QB’s in college than Mark Richt.”
I’m real sure that he saw it exactly the way you did, but still chose to risk his job, his program, get his staff fired, make his wife move, and screw the other 99 players on the team, out of loyalty to some particular player who was just one of the thousand they he will see come and go. That makes perfect sense.
(not even going to get into the too numerous to name examples of younger player getting the start over more senior players, including Cox)
AltamahaDawg
April 13th, 2011
3:51 pm
Yes Snoop, Logan Gray could have most definetely have done worse than Cox.
dawg67
April 13th, 2011
5:01 pm
is CMR still here, wait till 3rd game, good bye
schmeckdawg
April 13th, 2011
5:39 pm
Sounds like a super cool and classy kid. Good luck Logan with whatever you pursue!!!!!!!!!
Once a DAWG, always a DAWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Druid City
April 13th, 2011
5:53 pm
Wow. Logan looks like the late Freddie Mercury.
Carl Spackler
April 13th, 2011
7:03 pm
Good luck to Logan. His picture should be in the dictionary next to the word class.
CMR and Bobo always puzzle me with the way they don’t develop more of their players. Could be that there just isn’t enough practices to accomplish what is necessary to get multiple QB’s/players ready. Logan has always had “Happy Feet” and would give up on the pass too quickly. So, giving him the benefit of the doubt, I’ll ass-u-me that this tendency to take flight was never coached out of him.
In an earlier post (way earlier) someone mentioned that Murray made his stat’s against lesser teams,well all teams play against various levels of schedule strength. As far as Murray winning his State Championship game and it being tainted, well his first game, first pass back, against a dang good team was for a TD. Then in the state’s, he beat a talented Lincoln on basically one leg. He manned up, gutted it out, and risked his health because he wanted to be with his teammates. The kid is a leader. Even while he was getting destroyed behind that poor excuse of a veteran line last year, no where did you read, or hear any grumblings from Murray.
So the best to Logan going forward, he has a great resume as a teammate, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him under center at Colorado some. I’m sure with what he picked up from Bobo that he will be a valuable cog, even if it’s just holding a clip board and sharing his knowledge with a younger QB..
People need to move…Logan has…let’s get ready for the 2011 season.
David
April 13th, 2011
7:19 pm
Of course Richt plays favorites at QB, remember when Richt started Tereshinski over Stafford?
Chris Farley
April 13th, 2011
8:34 pm
M-m-m-yeah. That was AWESOME!
HWJ
April 13th, 2011
10:12 pm
logan gray was awful
Musical Chairs
April 13th, 2011
10:40 pm
What a bunch of buffoons in Athens. Boise State will eat our lunch on national T V . Mark it down and call the Fat lady for CMR.
bodawg
April 13th, 2011
10:49 pm
finally at least we don’t have to listen to any more threats.
Camden Mark
April 13th, 2011
11:07 pm
What a fine young man,don’t think they come any better
AltamahaDawg
April 14th, 2011
7:12 am
I remember Richt burning Stafford RS in a blowout opener, late in the game, for no other reason than to announce he had all intentions of playing him as True Freshman. (which obviously would include taking time away from a Senior)
I remember when Richt brought in Stafford in over TWO other more seniority QBs on the roster as well, so that proves what, David?
You cannot seriously believe that JoeT was going to start more than a few games till Stafford could get someplace close to ready (which he clearly proved that he was not for a while).
What you call favoritism, I call actually making a high school kid come in and lift a finger first.
You are a fan of competition, and earning something , I am sure.
AltamahaDawg
April 14th, 2011
7:20 am
I also find it completely strange to suggest IF richt was prone to playing “favorites,” that his star recruit QB Stafford would not have been that guy who got that treatment.
I could understand IF he put in a hotshot kid over a more seasoned QB becasue he was just in love with his prized recruit , how THAT would be considered favortism.
Odd to me as well, how we can’t decide if he favors a senior of over a FR, or is he favored his RSfr last year over more seniot player. We need to make up our minds.
Of cource, the more logical possibility is that its all very player and situation specific, has nothing to do with class, and his “favorite” is who he thinks will be best at the time.
DawginLex
April 14th, 2011
8:35 am
Altamaha,
i have been singing Rocky Mountain high for two days now ever since you posted it!!
Dang you!!!
AltamahaDawg
April 14th, 2011
8:48 am
It’s on my Ipod now.
GaTruth
April 14th, 2011
8:59 am
All you guys talking about wasted talent are knuckleheads. If you are a prominent program who recruits great players, somebody is riding the pines. Texas, Bama, Oklahoma, take your pick. They’ve got third string QBs who could have gone to Iowa State and started all four years. They chose a top flight program knowing the competition would be tough. Gray said he didn’t get a shot b/c Cox was named the starter – there just might be another side to the story.
DawginLex
April 14th, 2011
9:34 am
Gray got plenty of chances at QB.
Remember games like Tenn Tech where he played entire quarters and we scored nothing?
He was not cut out for it. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t a good athlete. doesn’t mean he wasn’t suited to be on the team. He just needed to be in another position which he was.
AltamahaDawg
April 14th, 2011
1:45 pm
I think the other side to the story was professionasl who coach for a living and see the bigger picture than what a player kind of wishes for.
Brian In Columbia
April 14th, 2011
2:41 pm
The guy grew up next to the University of Missouri….do you think that the coaches from Mizzou got a good look at Logan? Well there is a reason they recruited him as a DB or WR.
patrick Sulley
April 14th, 2011
3:21 pm
Cancer
Timmy
April 14th, 2011
8:20 pm
Logan will always have the facts on his side.
Last G-Day:
Logan Gray: 10 of 17 for 132 yards and one TD
Aaron Murray: 10 of 22 for 96 yards, no score and one interception.
Some coaches play favorites.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 15th, 2011
7:08 am
It seems to me that people forget that being a QB is a lot more than just being able to throw and complete passes. Did Logan face the same defensive setup as Murray did anyway? Maybe Murray has proved to be the better general on the field and has the confidence of his teammates more so than Logan. I am sure there are a lot of factors, we, the average fan do not even consider that the coaches do. After all, they see them everyday and they evaluate based on what they see.
Logan seems like a nice kid and I surely wish him success at Colorado. He did not abandon the team, as some would suggest, and he is doing what is right for his own needs. I don’t think he will be a number one receiver at Colorado and I don’t think he expects to be. He will get a chance to play on the same team as his kid brother and his parents will get to see them both play more this way. He has pursued a degree at UGA, gottten it, and been a classy gentleman his entire time here as far as I can tell. Good luck young man, you will be a success in life I am sure.
Timmy
April 15th, 2011
8:44 am
Obviously, from looking at last season’s G-Day, teammates responded better to Gray’s leadership than Murray’s.They tried harder wqhen Gray was QB, got 13 yards a catch vs.d 9 with Murray, scored a td vs. 0 with Murray.
Gray will always have the facts on his side about who earned the job, Gray proved he was a better leader. Guys didn’t respond to Murray last G-Day, they didn’t respond against any ranked
team with Murray as their QB, no wins, Murray went 0-6 as a starter there. All was predicted by looking at G-Day.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 15th, 2011
9:04 am
Timmy,
Did Loagan line up against the same defensive players as Murray did? If all was equal, then I would question the choice myself. Murray by the way is one player of 22 starters so he did not lose those games by himself. He had pretty impressive statistics for a first year starter, but I guess if you just want to be negative about something concerning UGA, Murray can be your choice just as much as anybody on the team.
Timmy
April 15th, 2011
11:34 am
I think the question really is, why can’t Murray get any guys to follow him, his guys don’t make plays for him, last G-Day, no td’s, 9 yards a catch, then goign 0-6 against ranked teams, some guys can lead, others just talk about it.
Timmy
April 15th, 2011
11:37 am
Last G-Day:
Gray completed 59%, averaged 13 yards a pass, and scored a td.
Murray completed 45%, averaged 9 yards a pass, and scored 0 td’s.
Guys made plays for Gray, and Mettenberger, just don’t follow Murray’s leadership.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 15th, 2011
4:00 pm
Timmy,
You didn’t answer my question. Were both Murray and Gray playing against the same set of defensive players? How about, did they have the same exact offensive plays given to them to use? Did they have the same exact offensive players as each other? Some guys just lead, and other guys just voice their opinion without having a leg to stand on. Where do you fit timmy boy?
I think I will let the coaches make the important decisions and I as a fan will just watch the game and cheer for UGA. Not sure who you will cheer for, but if you are a UGA fan, that is sad.
Timmy
April 15th, 2011
4:40 pm
Just for kicks, let’s see if Murray could beat ANY UGA QB, if not Logan, perhaps Mettenberger.
Mettenberger G-Day:
6 of 10 passing for 150 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 Int’s
Aaron Murray’s last G-Day:
10 of 22 passing for 96 yards, 0 Td’s, 1 interception
Nope, Murray couldn’t beat Mettenberger or Gray.
Timmy
April 15th, 2011
5:13 pm
That’s 25 yards a pass for Mettenberger, 9 yards a pass for 3rd best #11.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 15th, 2011
5:45 pm
Timmy,
You must be obsessed with this aren’t you? He had a pretty good year statistics wise last year if you can take off your blinders long enough to look at them. Why do you refuse to answer the questions I have asked you? G day does not a team or player decide. Is that the best you can do? Mettenberger, your other QB, isn’t even with the team anymore. Remember, he got into trouble. You don’t suppose that had anything to do with his not staying at UGA and being the starter do you? Until you can answer legitimate questions to support your suppositions, I will just have to assume that you are jealous of Murray or maybe just like to say things without a true quanatative anaysis of all the facts.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 15th, 2011
6:24 pm
Timmy,
Just to give you an idea what statisdtics and facts are, since you are sorely lacking in that area.
Greg McElroy-Alabama 2010 statristics-Senior
CMP=222, ATT=313, YAVG=9.54, TD=20, INT.=5, QB RATING=169
Murray-Georgia 2010, Redshirt Freshman
CMP=209, ATT=342, YAVG=8.92, TD=24, INT.=8, QB RATING=154
See how they can help. Not a lot of difference between Murray and a really fine Alabama QB. The difference was that McElroy had a lot more support from his team than Murray did. The running game was mostly missing when needed, the defense was brand new and didn’t have the personnel needed to be effective. The offensive play calling was made too simple because the OC did not realize that Murray could have grasped it quicker and a more complex offense play calling could have been used. Not to mention the fact, the OC was too predictable.
This is what is known as a quick analysis based on facts, not stupid, unsubstaniated comments. You catch on now?
Timmy
April 15th, 2011
8:26 pm
Come to think of it, Lgan Gray has played well every G-Day, outgunned Cox in 09′ & Murray in 10′.
Poor little Murray, he’s lost everytime he’s gone head ot head with a good QB.
1) Lost at G-Day to Gray.
2) Lost at G-Day to Mettenberger.
3) Lost at South Carolina to Garcia.
4) Lost at Arkansas to Mallet.
5) Lost at Florida to Brantley.
6) Lost at Auburn to Newton.
7) Lost at UCF to Godfrey.
8 shots.
8 losses for Murray.
0 for 8.
Timmy
April 15th, 2011
10:42 pm
It Ain’t Rocket Science/ DawginLex/ AltamahaDawg
Sure sounds a lot like the anonymous blogger sENATOR bLUTARSKY.
WHAT’S UP SEN BLUT?
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 15th, 2011
10:55 pm
Timmy,
You are some piece of work. I am convinced that you are a snert. You refuse to answer questions and of course you repeat the same old stupid stuff about “G Day” stats. I am beginning to think you may have taken a serious liking for Logan, and I mean, like serious. Not much can be done for your mentality since you can’t see the facts plainly spelled out for you and you offer some lame butt excuse about G Day stats. to try and support your point of view. Complete and utter troll as well.
Senator Blutarskyy
April 16th, 2011
10:50 am
Murray threw 24 touchdons, 3 against Lousiana Lafayette. He’as the greatest of all-time!!!
Timmy
April 16th, 2011
10:56 am
Senator, you just don’t get it.
Murray is 0 for 10 against every good QB he’s played.
Lost to Gray & Mettenberger on GDay 2010. Lost to Garcia, Reif, Tyler at Colorado, Mallet, Brantley, Newton & Godfrey. Lost to Mason in 2011 over Spring.
Murray is 0 for 10.
Timmy
April 16th, 2011
11:02 am
Joe Cox & Aaron Murray have a lot in common.
They both threw 19 td’s against unranked teams, and 5 or 6 against ranked teams.
That’s how you go 8-5 or 6-7.
Reynolds
April 16th, 2011
11:30 am
1 Timothy 5:21
I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
Reynolds
April 16th, 2011
11:33 am
Romans 2:11-12
For God does not show favoritism.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 16th, 2011
6:18 pm
Well Little Timmy,
How are you going to spin the anti-murray tirade and ignore the facts after the G day game you put so much importance in now? I think you just need to tip toe through the tulips and leave the big boy talk to adults.
Jborodawg
April 16th, 2011
7:21 pm
Best of luck to Logan. No, he’s not “quitting” on his teammates. He got his degree and he’s moving on. I kinda question his “play closer to home” sentiments, since Bolder is about as far from Columbia as Athens. But now he also says it’s because his brother is at UC. That makes more sense. Not sure, however, why he couldn’t name his major.
Yeah, the naming of Cox as starter before spring practice does sound like he wasn’t given every opportunity. But that’s also what spring and fall practices are all about. The coaches obviously saw more in Cox than they did in Gray. At least I hope that’s the case.
And yes, as pointed out, he “fair caught” because of field position and almost always being deep into our territory. His sure hands were an asset in those situations. That’s why he was in there. If there’s a strong percentage for a runback, you put a “return man” in there.
“…not sure the direction of the program…”; he’s talking about UC, not UGA. New HC and whole new staff at UC.
Good luck to Logan and thanks for being a team player and a DGD!
Timmy, good grief boy. You a mess.
Timmy
April 16th, 2011
8:35 pm
Woe, Lemay really played awesome to win that game. Anyone notice Bobo didn’t go to Murray when the game was on the line? Smart move.
Since Mason wasn’t allowed back on the field at the end of the game, nor Murray, you can’t credit this win to Murray.
Timmy
April 16th, 2011
8:54 pm
TD count for Spring 2011:
Mason 5, Murray 4: Mason wins, Murray loses again.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 17th, 2011
6:20 am
One touchdown scored yesaterday and timmy the wonderboy comes up with nine. I knew you were a snert but that may be giving you too much credit. You can’t even count correctly in your “all, so important G day Game”. A bright future awaits you timmy my boy. You have your choice between McDonalds and Burger King, but not as a cashier. Hope you get over your man crush of certain players though. Customers do not like slobber on their food when you spot your certain someone.
Jborodawg
April 17th, 2011
8:20 am
It Aint Rocket… LMAO!
If Murray progresses, we might have the top SEC QB this year. One thing I do hope we do is play the backup QB a little more. As Gray intimates, give em a little more opportunity; not to mention playing time in case #1 goes down…and for the future.
Geathers is lookin’ good. I just hope Jenkins measures up.
Well men; it’s gonna be a LONG summer (waiting for the season to start).
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 17th, 2011
10:38 am
Jborodawg,
I think CMR will play The backup QB’s a little more this season, especially when they play in the fill in games. We might also see them in a bigger roll come the fall practices. We do have three fine young men at the QB position. It is kind of nice to be in that situation.
Timmy
April 17th, 2011
11:20 am
Wow, how bout that 1st half by Murray? 44 yards? Why didn’t Bobo put Murray in to ice the game?
Timmy
April 17th, 2011
11:24 am
If Richt wants to roll the dice on a QB who went 6-7, went 0-6 against ranked teams, ranks among the worst in the NCAA in every pressure category (3rd down, 4th quarter, red zone), who only scored 6 td’s against ranked teams (19 of Murray’s 24 td’s came against teams like Lousisiana Lafayette), more power to Richt. And it will be Richt’s last season. Why can’t Murray throw the deep ball? Why did Murray choke again in the 1st quarter at G-Day?