Q&A: UT’s Da’Rick Rogers says Georgia game is ’sort of personal’
Rogers
Tennessee wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers was an AJC Super 11 selection and the No. 1 prospect in the state Georgia for the Class of 2010. He was actually committed to the Georgia Bulldogs for seven months, from June 2009 until he flipped his commitment to the Vols in January of 2010. Now a sophomore, the Calhoun resident enters Saturday’s game against Georgia in Neyland Stadium as Tennessee’s No. 1 offensive threat. He leads the Vols in receptions (27) and receiving yards (442). Rogers talked to reporters on a teleconference call on Wednesday and here’s what he had to say. . . .
Q: Can you please remind folks about how you came to sign with Tennessee after being committed to Georgia for so long?
A: “Really I just came on a visit [to Knoxville] and I fell in love with the team and the city. I just really wanted to be a part of a program that was rebuilding and that’s what really changed it for me.”
Q: Did Georgia have any hints or signs that you were going to flip on them? Did you surprise the coaches when you switched to Tennessee?
A. “I don’t know. I don’t know about the coaches. They can feel however they might have felt. It was all for me. You know, I had to go where I could be happy and I’m in a great place now. I’m happy here.”
Q: Word is the people of Calhoun were pretty upset with your decision. Has your hometown gotten over that?
A: “Oh, yeah, they’ve calmed down. At first people were just bitter because I went to a rival school. But now it’s just like, ‘we’ll cheer for Da’Rick wherever he is. We’re still Georgia fans but we’ll just be Tennessee fans, too.’
Q: Have you exchanged any tweets or Facebook messages with Bacarri Rambo this year?
A: “No, none at all.”
Q: Do you get especially fired up for playing Georgia?
A: “Most definitely. It’s sort of personal, this game is. But I’ll just be taking it like any other game. It’ll be a team effort and we’ll come out and play hard against a good team and see where it ends.”
Q: You didn’t have much of an impact in last year’s game against Georgia. What kind of improvements have you made since last year to put you in the position you are now?
A: “Mainly just with route-running and speed off the ball. College and the SEC are all about how fast it is. Once I got a hang of that and got the playbook down pat, I was just able to play fast. And then it was about who’s the better athlete.”
Q: What was playing in Sanford Stadium like for you last year?
A: “It was sort of new, being booed by the whole stadium. That was new to me. It was crazy to hear that. It didn’t really affect me. It was just a new environment, a new thing. I’m ready this year. I’ve trained a lot harder. It’ll be a good game.”
Q: How excited you going to be on Saturday?
A: “Well, of course, we’ll all be excited. But I’m going to do a good job of keeping my team levelheaded and play well. I’m going to try to be a leader and be calm for the team and not let my emotions get to me.”
Q: How has your role changed since Justin Hunter went down with the knee injury against Florida?
A: “It really hasn’t changed that much. The objective is always to catch balls and score touchdowns. The thing is, I’m the go-to guy now and I know that. I just have to make plays when the ball is thrown to me.”
Q: What’s it like playing with Tyler Bray as quarterback?
A: “To be honest, it’s pretty easy. He usually puts the ball where it needs to be, where only I can get it. It’s pretty much as simple as that.”
Q: What has made Bray such a better quarterback this season?
A: “Really just his work ethic and his composure. His composure is through the roof now. Last year he didn’t say much in the huddle. This year he’s definitely a vocal leader and keeps everything calm in the huddle. He’s really worked on his composure this year.”
Q: What are your thoughts on Georgia’s defense?
A: “Really they’re just an athletic front. They play fast. They always run to the ball. They’re great athletes and they make plays.”
Q: Do you feel like there was more talk between these two teams last year?
A: “I think so. But I’m the kind of guy, I feed off any kind of energy, whether it be a negative or a positive I flip it to a positive. So, you know, trash talking and everything, it just makes the game more intense for the fans to watch and makes it a more fun environment.”
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248 comments Add your comment
d- vegas
October 5th, 2011
8:08 pm
Really talking about a young kid like this?
You UGA fans know good and well if he had been a UT commit the whole time and flipped to UGA then their wouldn’t be a problem, but since he did flip from UGA he is a classless traitor? Grow up UGA fans
Da Rick
October 5th, 2011
8:17 pm
Why all the hate? I’m GA born and bred, I just didn’t want to wear red. Life is good, life is sweet, like the orange beneath my feet. Cmon, somebody give me an amen.
Rocktown Dawg
October 5th, 2011
8:19 pm
we should focus on the real story… How many pic will Murray throw saturday.????. What retard play will Bobo call on 3rd and 1….How many turnovers Murray make… how many field goals will walsh miss… How many false starts will we get… How many TD’S will special teams give up… Will Grantham shoot Bobo a bird… How many hold penalty’s will negate a Crowell run.. And lastly.. what quarter will we lay down????
HedgesHaven
October 5th, 2011
8:37 pm
The “UGAy” is the most childish, live in my parent’s basement in my whitey tighties word I’ve ever read.
Spaceman Spiff
October 5th, 2011
8:48 pm
@Send’em U hauls – really, do you just say stupid stuff?
Spaceman Spiff
October 5th, 2011
8:53 pm
@RU Kidding – it sure is nice of you to post your usual crap. Pleaaaaassseee enlighten us some more with your intelligent posts.
I love it when the technerds live vicariously through us!
Krazydawg
October 5th, 2011
9:09 pm
Mitchell is just as good.He will be better than rodgers.Bring on Ray Drew.Go Dawgs!!!!
Al_Bammer
October 5th, 2011
9:56 pm
Love reading the trash talk from a bunch of perennial bottom tier SEC team’s fans. Hey uga! When you finally crack into the top 10, then the rest of the nation may care. But for now, Rambo is a fifth stringer at Bama..keep it in perspective. He will not tear off anybody’s head, much less Da’Rick Rogers. Btw, keep Richt forever, the rest of the conference loves him…Boise ST. does too! Hahaha! I’ve seen both teams play and frankly, Bray and Da’Rick will shred your talentless secondary and Murray will eat the football like a 5 star dinner..and come back for seconds. Maybe next year your top 10 class will actually look like one! Good luck uga, you’re gonna need it.
Saint Richt
October 5th, 2011
9:59 pm
Come on UGAY fan, you would hate you too if you were Da’Rick. You got Marlon “Grandma” Brown and we got an actual football player.
Marlon Brown career: 17 catches 182 yards 1 TD
Da’Rick LAST WEEK: 7 catches, 180 yards 2 TD
dawggie dawg
October 5th, 2011
10:00 pm
No injuries unless it is tennesee pride.GO DOGS.
Georgia
October 5th, 2011
10:05 pm
If memory serves me correct the family he was living with son got a scholarship as soon as Rogers committed to Tennessee…..NCAA investigation ?
Gen Neyland
October 5th, 2011
10:31 pm
Since 1992, Tennessee has played Georgia yearly. In that span of time, I don’t think the good people of Georgia ever thought they were facing a superior team in the Volunteers. Since 1992, Tennessee holds a 12-7 advantage, wins to losses over Georgia. What does that mean..? Nothing. See ya’ll Saturday.
funny...
October 5th, 2011
10:35 pm
He wanted to play for National Championships, not Peach Bowl appearances.
LOLOLOLOLOL
Gen Neyland
October 5th, 2011
10:39 pm
Oh, Thomas #39 Brown : My 2231 post is for you, Sir…
The oleball coach
October 5th, 2011
11:30 pm
Da rick was about me $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Troup Co. Dawg
October 5th, 2011
11:32 pm
Georgia is “The Receiver University of the SEC” always has been…always will be…. whether you UT clowns like it or not !!!! UGA puts the best receivers in the NFL. Get ready for the Malcolm show coming Live to your city…a far superior athlete to Da’ Trick Rogers !!! Crowell will Cut you up like a Scalpel !!! Ya’ll will be singin’ “cause it cuts like Knife”!! HaHaHa !!! If we let UT beat us…we don’t deserve to be Champ of the East !!!
Chuck UGA
October 5th, 2011
11:37 pm
Da’Rick will find out Georgia has athletes that can shut him down. he won’t have more than 50 yards receiving. This isn’t Buffalo or Cincinnati (although many of the Vollies think Georgia sucks this season for some reason). I just hope UGA beats them down bad, but I know Pastor Richt won’t leave with anything more than a 10-point victory…or possibly a loss due to continued poor play-calling and poor game management.
Chuck UGA
October 5th, 2011
11:39 pm
Al_Bammer, what an ignorant moron.
PHIL
October 5th, 2011
11:41 pm
This is the same clown that stomped a police officer who was on the ground into the hospital and never even missed a game for it isn’t it?
Always amazes me when people say our athletes run amuck by being arrested for riding scooters the wrong direction and not having a middle name. They are suspended. This guys receives nothing after doing what he did.
Chuck UGA
October 5th, 2011
11:46 pm
Fabrizio = Loser.
Preston
October 6th, 2011
12:57 am
He was drawn away from UGA by a dirty coach with a sack full of cash and UT prostitutes. They even gave his best friend a football scholly as part of the deal knowing he’ll never play a down. The cliche’ “it all came down to where I was going to be happy” is a line of crap. Whatever. Our receiving corp is awesome and we don’t need him. Hope Rambo puts a serious hurtin’ on him this weekend.
I love my "Nacho Cheddar" pants !!!
October 6th, 2011
1:09 am
UT Unis look like “Nacho cheddar” flavor, popcorn seasoning! Wha….Wha…Wha !!!
Step into a SlimJim !!! New Nacho Cheddar flavor ! mmmmm good !
DawginTX
October 6th, 2011
2:04 am
“It’s personal,” and “It’s all about me.” I am totally fine with that. I would be perfectly happy if he has 200 yards receiving and Georgia wins. Let it all be about him.
DawginTX
October 6th, 2011
2:34 am
Gen Neyland, at least one of us was relevant from ’92 through ’05. Tennessee was almost always superior for the first 8 years of that stretch and won all of them. Georgia was usually superior for the last 5 years of the stretch and won 4. Since then, neither one of us has been relevant except Georgia for half a season (after the loss to UT) in ’07. There is no really any point in talking about superiority until at least one of us can be consistently relevant on a national scale again. Unfortunately, the winner of this game will probably get to go to a mediocre bowl and the loser will go to a bad one or stay at home. What is superior about that?
Hairy Dawg
October 6th, 2011
5:04 am
The real thing is he knew he couldnt be good enough to start for Dawgs. He not half the man as receiver of AJ Green and he’d be getting the pine splintsers for riding bench behinds AJ and other Dawgs. That why he had to go play for Dooley Boys Orange Pumkins. But Dawgs now goning show him who runs ownership of state and SEC East. We unloading the whooping can on Smokiers Vols and putting hob nail boot in there face.
But he not getting time to catch ball and be lit up by Dawgs. Cause we sacking Vols QB before he can throw ball into air. Then we pick up fumble and score. We still gets to unload shots on this loud mouth low life traitor to state when we blocking on fumble return.
Go Dawgs!
Nub
October 6th, 2011
5:34 am
Man … I hope we break out a can of whip @SS inside neyland stadium… GATA until the whistle blows on every play….. Pound um Dawgs!
tenn.DAWG
October 6th, 2011
6:23 am
We all know why he went to utk,it was the fact that UGA would not offer nash a scholly and nash daddy dollars swayed him pure and simple.
Rednecks Turn Orange in Fall
October 6th, 2011
6:24 am
Georgia is a better team this year than last which makes me wonder what kind of improvements has UT made to flip the 41-14 man-handling they received last year? Whose drinking the Kool-Aid?
Thomas Brown
October 6th, 2011
6:37 am
-any chance we need a sense of timing from our QB ?
-any chance our QB is not poised to handle pressure ?
-small guy
-record 0-7 vs teams finishing Top 25
-record 9-2 vs teams not finishing Top 25
-16 fumbles in 18 games
-14 interceptions in 18 games
-2010 # 55 in nation, 2011 # 69 3rd Down Conversions
-Poised back there ?
-crucial situations makes his biggest mistakes
-poor decisions at worst moments
-starts slowly every game
-all this is so obvious
-lack of discipline
-lack of leadership
-doesn’t take charge when Isaiah talks smack
-Tweet Boise State-going to Dome to kick some a**
-no huddle needs to take charge, direct the team
-Scoring each quarter worse than quarter before it
-running game gets weaker every quarter too
-checks off to his own number way too much
-beat 3 cupcakes this year, lost only 2 games
-needs to get most out of the players on offense
-vanilla offense, his check-downs are not good
-holds onto the football way too long every time
-over-throws his receivers
-throws behind his receivers
-forces ball
-locks in on 1 receiver
-doesn’t look off the defensive backs
-throws himself on ground to avoid getting hit
-takes 7 carries a game every game from running backs
-his fumbles cost us games
-his interceptions cost us games
-averages 1 yard a carry for his 7 rushes per game
-inability to run at all
-never gets lead to let back-up get any snaps, why ?
-telegraphs his passes
-never puts pedal to the metal
-reads are way too slow
-does not go through progressions well at all
-does stare down his own receivers
-starts slowly, then fizzles out altogether 2nd half
-stays in play calls from sidelines he knows won’t work
Gdawg
October 6th, 2011
6:45 am
Vols Fans, dont act stupid, you know why he went to UWE T, drop the he just liked it better rhetoric please.
Thomas Brown
October 6th, 2011
6:50 am
Because they have the better quarterback ?
Dogs Smell
October 6th, 2011
7:46 am
He seems much more articulate than most dog interviews. You “homers” will trash anyone who doesnt choose the school of wannabe’s!
Dogs Smell
October 6th, 2011
7:52 am
Rednecks Turn Orange in Fall, Do you remember the score from the year before where UT spanked ga? What improvements did Ga make last year? So there is room to improve correct? Lets see. Ironic a Ga fan calling a Tennessee fan Redneck. Deliverance was filmed not to far from Athens.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 6th, 2011
7:59 am
VolsRule,
Yes who doesnt know where Rock City is? They painted everybarn in the damn country Red for advertising. Good grief lighten up a little, hell I live in Tennessee, I know how crappy this state is.
UGA '05
October 6th, 2011
8:16 am
HAHAHA vols fans are talking trash on their blogs about how Tenn. is gonna bring it to us and win by thirteen!!! Who have they palyed? We actually have SEC wins. They don’t. We got the game experience in the SEC this season they don’t how delusional are they?
Joey
October 6th, 2011
8:23 am
Q: How did that off-duty officer’s face feel as you kicked it as he was lying on the ground, unconscious?
Bacarri Rambo to the Rescue
October 6th, 2011
8:25 am
Too bad this isen’t a Hockey game where you can just tell your “Enforcer” to send a “message”. That being said, I hope Rambo or one of his teammates ring Da’Trick’s bell so damn bad that he’ll jump at the sound of a siren as an Ambulance passes down the street. You don’t screw over the Dawgnation an expect us to forget it Da’Trick.
Mark
October 6th, 2011
8:38 am
Wow!!!! It’s personal for him??? No pal I think it’s personal for the Dawgs.. Rambo please make this guy say hell no in the huddle when he is asked to run a route across the middle! GO DAWGS!!!
Tenneesse Tradition?
October 6th, 2011
8:55 am
A football recruiter from a northern school asked a potential recruit (who was being recruited by Tennessee) why the Volunteer Fans wore orange. “Is it about tradition?” He asked. The recruit scratched he head and said “I don’t really know anything about tradition except they have an ugly dog for a mascot and play ‘Rocky Top’ until it get’s annoying.” “Hummmm” the recruiter thought. The next day the recruiter found himself in Georgia looking at another potential recruit. The recruit’s Dad was present at the practice so the recruiter decided to introduce himself. After introducing himself, and after a little small talk, the recruiter asked the recruit’s dad why the Volunteer Fans wore orange. The recruit’s dad kinda chuckled and said “I thought everyone knew the reason for them wearing orange.” The recruiter said “no sir and no one has told me anything.” “Is it about tradition?” The recruit’s dad said “Hell no, it’s for their safety.” “Safety” the recruiter said looking puzzled. “Well yes said the recruit’s dad.” “Volunteer fans go hunting on Fridays, the Football Game on Saturday and Monday through Thursday they pick up trash along the side of the road.” “Really” the recruiter replied. “Yep” said the recruit’s dad adding “they don’t want to get shot, they don’t want to get beat up and they don’t want to get hit by a car on the side of the road.” “I understand now” said the recruiter walking away making a note to stay away from Tennessee.
Win P
October 6th, 2011
8:58 am
Deception, worked well against UGA in the first 2 loses. Can UGA execution a deception against Tenn.? High risk but high reward, if it works. Think the Tenn game is a perfect opportunity for a deception. I suspect both teams have designed deception plays. UGA should do it first. Passion surrounding Da’Rick recuitment by UGA and the trash talk between Rambo and Da’Rick.( makes them good “bait”). Richt doesn’t like to go for a 1st down on 4th and inches inside the opponent’s red zone. In other words he has been coaching it very conservatively and this should help a UGA deception.
Victor Matlin
October 6th, 2011
8:59 am
Oh blah blah, so he went to TN, big deal, just win and it won’t matter!
Win P
October 6th, 2011
9:01 am
execution should be execute, sorry
flo-ri-duh
October 6th, 2011
9:05 am
Marlon Brown never said he was going to Tick Hound “U”. He committed and signed with UGA. Rogers is past history. I do wish Cornelius Washington was rushing the QB saturday. That is a big loss but UGA should win any way.
CalhounNative
October 6th, 2011
9:10 am
No we are not Vols fans now. You are WRONG about that. We still are Dawg fans and still think you are an arse for the way you acted. You were bought plain and simple!
DJ Dawg
October 6th, 2011
9:12 am
TN has no rushing game. Keep pressure on Bray,cant let him sit in pocket. Go Dawgs!!!! GATA!!!!!!!!
dogbone
October 6th, 2011
9:13 am
STILL A PUNNNNNNNNNNK!!!!!
DJ Dawg
October 6th, 2011
9:18 am
Kid must but high if he thinks GA fans will also be TN fans!!!!!!
Derek
October 6th, 2011
9:34 am
Richt can obviously recruit. And clearly it wasn’t a one or the other situation, but in 09 UGA got coveted WR Marlon Brown from Memphis and the next year UT got Da’Rick out of Calhoun. Both guys left their home state to play for a rival school. I’d say the Vols got the better end of the deal on that one.
A Tale of Two Cross State Recruitments
http://www.checkerboardchatter.com/2011-articles/october/a-tale-of-two-cross-state-recruitments.html
MY 2 cents
October 6th, 2011
9:35 am
Da’rick Rogers in 1 word. TENNE$$EE.
AnnapolisDAWG
October 6th, 2011
9:47 am
Be classy UGA; we’re talking about a kid here! I will never wish Da’rick the best when he’s playing against us but I do not wish an injury upon him. I want UGA beating the best and no matter what is said, this kid is an elite player. sick em’ dawgs!