Richt: ‘It’s hard to win nine in a row — period.’
What players and coaches on both sides were saying after Georgia’s 19-10 victory over Kentucky (transcript provided by UGA):
Georgia coach Mark Richt:
“I left the South Carolina game [when Georgia was 0-2] encouraged. I wasn’t encouraged that we lost, but I was encouraged that as we moved forward that we could win. I knew we had good leaders, good players and good coaches. We had to protect the ball and get after it. It’s hard to win nine in a row, especially when you need every single one to get back to the Dome. I’m just so proud of them right now.”
“Today was definitely a team victory. Everybody had to do their part. I thought the special teams played extremely well. The offense made enough plays and the defense did their thing.”
“Brandon Harton had to come through for us. Even though the ball came out a few times, he had over 100 yards. And Ken (Malcome) did a few things. Overall, the tailbacks protected pretty good. As the game went on, they made some plays.”
“Our defense stoned them again. Twenty-three yards net [rushing], that’s pretty fantastic. They didn’t throw that well either. Our defense played lights out I thought.”
“I am so proud of the guys for winning the SEC East. Guys could have quit, pointed fingers and found a way to fall apart. But they didn’t do that. Last season was pretty horrible by record, but the players never gave up on the coaches and the coaches never gave up on the players. We maintained our unity. That’s what carried us through the offseason and carried us through the early part of this year.”
“Kentucky played hard. We missed some opportunities, but we kept fighting. I’m glad there was not a lot of drama at the end.”
“You take it one game at a time, one play at a time, one practice at a time. It’s hard to win nine in a row — period. I’m just thankful that we did.”
Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray:
“It’s a victory. We didn’t play great, but it’s great to get back to Atlanta. We’re excited. We have our game at Georgia Tech first, but we’re definitely blessed [to be back in the SEC Championship game] this year. It’s a great feeling.”
“We just weren’t connecting [today], and you’re going to have those games. We just fought through it. The defense played great and we’re just happy to get out of it with a win.”
Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones:
“We knew they would come in with some confidence and that they were going to give it their all. Last time they were here they beat us, so we knew they were coming to play. We just came to battle and stepped up. “
“After the beginning of the season we were a little down, but you just have to keep fighting, and that’s what we did. Now we’re headed back to Atlanta, and it’s a really good feeling.”
Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo:
“It’s feels so good. The last time Georgia made it to the SEC championship I was in ninth grade, so it’s a great feeling. We put in a ton of work in the off-season and pre-season and it’s all paying off.”
Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin:
“I’m feeling great. This is what I came back to do. It’s like a fantasy. As a senior, to win on senior day and to win the SEC East is a great feeling.”
Kentucky coach Joker Phillips:
“I am proud of this team and how they fought. A lot of people knew how much this week meant for Georgia, and no one talked about what we were playing for. We’re playing for pride, our university and an extra win. The game that this team played proved they played for each other as well. I am proud of them.”
“I said at half time that our defense had a lot of wins today. They forced some field goals instead of touchdowns that kept us in the game. It was good to see some young guys come up and make some plays. We had some guys who haven’t practiced lately and really came through with some good plays for us today. It was probably the best game this defense has played this year. We didn’t get pushed around, and we have seen Georgia push some really good teams around. I don’t think that they pushed us around.”
“We made some plays in the first half. We proved that we could move the ball on any defense that we face. We couldn’t get the run game started in the second half because of some of the schemes Georgia ran, but I am proud of the way these guys fought for each other out there today. No one can say we didn’t fight.”
“It’s hard to play against a defense that is as good as Georgia. This is one of the best defenses in the conference. We’ve seen Georgia hold some good teams to just a few points. It’s a tough to play against a team with great personnel, great schemes and athletic players.”
Kentucky wide receiver Brian Adams:
“There’s a lot of excitement coming back here to play. Athens is only 45 minutes from my house [in Gainesville], and it was really awesome for me to play here. I wish we had a different result, but I’ll remember this for a long time.”
“I think we are a lot better than we’ve been showing this year. It’s been frustrating. We have one game left, and we are going to come out and continue to play hard.”
Kentucky offensive guard Stuart Hines:
“It’s tough to deal with. It’s really tough to go out like this without going to a bowl game my senior year.”
Kentucky tailback Raymond Sanders:
“We never quit. We wear the wrist bands that say ‘never, never,’ and we finish ‘never, never’ with ‘never give up.’ I’m proud of my teammates. We played well today and never gave up. I want to congrautale Georgia and those guys over there on winning the East. Their ‘D’ is good and made plays when they needed to, and we didn’t execute well enough.”
Kentucky cornerback Randall Burden:
“After seeing what they did last week to Auburn, everyone thought they would run it down our throats all game. We focused on the game plan and played really hard today. We have seven more days together as a team. We are going to come out and play for pride.”
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372 comments Add your comment
CHDawg
November 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
What d’ya have? Some onion rings, a chili dog, a peach pie, a coke, a big win over Tech at Grant Field Saturday, and a win over LSU in the Dome, That is really all I want out of Atlanta for the next two weeks….is that asking too much? If so, I’ll give up the trip to the Varsity!
okfornow
November 20th, 2011
3:58 pm
Yea – UGA has really done something “special”. And CMR patting himself on the back saying “it’s hard to win 9 games in a row” – Yea, it only depends who you played. UGA only played and beat the worst teams in the SEC – Just look at the combined conference records of the teams UGA beat – and most those teams UGA just barely beat.
Ole Missy 0-7
Missery St 1-7 (only win against 1-7 KY Jellies)
TN 1-7 (only win vs 2-6 Vandi – in OT),
Vandi 2-6 (only wins against 0-7 Ole Missy and 1-7 KY Jellies
KY Jellies 1-7 (only win against 0-7 Ole Missy)
FL Fakers – 3-5 (only wins agastin 1-7 TN, 1-7 KY Jellies, and 2-6 Vandi)
The COMBINED SEC record of these 6 teams is a PATHETIC 8-39. And then top is off with your toothless non-SEC games against the “mighty (not) Coastal Carolina and NMS.
And you dawg fans are HAPPY and PROUD of yourselves for this???
You guys haven’t played anybody – and you nearly lost to all 6 of the above teams.
I would like to see what happened to your team if you had to play Arkansas (like SC had to) or AL or LSU. But of course you STILL LOST against SC and were embarrassed on national TV against BSU – who even TCU beat.
But the only reason you guys won the SEC East is because the other teams you beat sucked a lot more than you guys – it’s that simple.
Pat
November 20th, 2011
4:02 pm
If UGA beats GT (and let’s pray they do) and then beat LSU in the SEC Championship game, what does that do to the national title race?
CHDawg
November 20th, 2011
4:16 pm
What is interesting is that Tech has the number 2 rushing O in the country, and UGA has the number 2 rushing D in the country. Will be interesting to see what happens Saturday. Probably won’t help either team’s stats….
CHDawg
November 20th, 2011
4:18 pm
Koolaid man, I think staying up all night posting incessantly here has tilted your mind (something that used to happen with pinball machines, if you don’t know–wasn’t good)
CHDawg
November 20th, 2011
4:21 pm
Actually, Kool aid man, fast food wasn’t my calling. I do enjoy greasing up down there every 5 years or so…the Waffle House, I can live without completely.
Brewmaster
November 20th, 2011
4:23 pm
Nice poetry, BURMA SHAVE, for about a first grader !
CHDawg
November 20th, 2011
4:24 pm
Koolaidman, tell the truth….are you the Burma Shave burglar? stealing memory from the AJC’s servers for your childish and profane antiRicht verse….
Dawg48
November 20th, 2011
4:26 pm
I hate tech but man I love the varsity!
The one in Athens is the best though!
bitter DOPE SMOKING troll
November 20th, 2011
4:32 pm
@okfornow—im now thinking the season was horrible——go f#$% yourself dude
—-even though it is the truth —wins against worthless compition—does make you fill cheap
—-kind of like having a date that you have waited for your hole life and she just lay’s there!!!
————————-only beating–LSU—–will give this season a —-shine—-best of luck with????
——————————————————
bitter DOPE SMOKING troll
November 20th, 2011
4:33 pm
————————-to finish—————————-5 fingers murry
61-39-5 vs Tech- 48-40-2 vs Florida
November 20th, 2011
4:33 pm
okfornow
How is it the Dawgs fault for the combined record of their opponents? If Alabama or LSU had this schedule
would they still be happy they had won? ANswer Yes.
61-39-5 vs Tech- 48-40-2 vs Florida
November 20th, 2011
4:37 pm
LSU 31, Georgia 10
Dreams are shattered.
Illusions are gone.
2005 SEC Championshup
Georgia has no chance against LSU.
Game played, Georgia won.
It can happen.
Hope Les Miles keeps telling his team they will walk over Georgia, We will see.
bitter DOPE SMOKING troll running backs
November 20th, 2011
5:10 pm
@61-39 and a hole lot more——————–relax like crow face–have a toke———-gratham’s
——D—-will decide if jaw—ger has a chance—–i predict that murry will score more points for LSU
—————————–than for dawgs———–rambo will get 2 pick 6’s to win the day
Dawg
November 20th, 2011
6:11 pm
Duke scored 31 against GT, how many can the DAWGS score.
headley lamar
November 20th, 2011
6:38 pm
We played the worst schedule know to mankind. Rushing D stats are irrelevant when playing against the triple option. Look at GSU against Alabama. Hope my dawgs bring it next Saturday.
ugab
November 20th, 2011
6:42 pm
There is no need for anyone to be prejudice on the chat. CROWELL impersonator. Idiot!
Preston
November 20th, 2011
6:45 pm
When they say that they just want to make the SECCG, they say it knowing that if they win it, they’re most likely playing for the MNC. You can’t get to your ultimate goal w/o accomplishing smaller goals on the way. Geez.
Preston
November 20th, 2011
6:51 pm
61-39-5, let em’ talk that stupid @#$% all they want. Everyone in the conference has schedules like this every once in a while. UF had it made the last time they won it all and STILL lost to a bad Ole Miss team. UGA had a tougher schedule this year than they had that year by playing Boise. So….they’re ALWAYS going to hate on UGA because they respect the hell out of us. Why else would they be here?
Monsieur Jacques
November 20th, 2011
7:43 pm
We have a fragile, porcelain tailback. We need a hardened, leathery, indefatigable tailback. Find that man who wants the ball, who loves to run, and who plays with the strength of steel! GO Dogs!
@sportsguru95
November 20th, 2011
8:01 pm
Enter your comments herehey qb! What’s ur High School stats, better yet give me ur numbers as a true freshman in the SEC! He got his ankle rolled! The person that let the team down was C. Thomas! Stop hating on Crowell! I will respect ur comments if u prove u ran for more yards than Crowell has @ ANY LEVEL of Football! Go Dawgs!!!
Crowell
November 20th, 2011
8:08 pm
Monsier, I’s dont even know wut da fu k indefatigable means. I just gon blaze thru da tek d line jus like when i blaze thru some fine bud man. we run dis state jus like da local shroom fields.
Bank on IT
November 20th, 2011
8:46 pm
According to Vegas, UGA will have a much tougher time getting 11 in a row!
As of Sunday, Todd Fuhrman, the senior race and sports analyst for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas, projected that Alabama would be favored by 12 points, LSU by 10.5 points and Arkansas by 5 points in potential matchups against Georgia on Dec. 3 in the Georgia Dome.
Meanwhile, Georgia opened Sunday as a 5.5-point favorite over Georgia Tech for Saturday’s game at Bobby Dodd Stadium, according to vegasinsider.com.
Anyone else notice that Alabama is a bigger odds game than LSU?
Brian
November 20th, 2011
8:47 pm
As of Sunday, Todd Fuhrman, the senior race and sports analyst for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas, projected that Alabama would be favored by 12 points, LSU by 10.5 points and Arkansas by 5 points in potential matchups against Georgia on Dec. 3 in the Georgia Dome
That can’t be right because lsu is favored by 13.5 over ark. How is uga 3 points less? Ark is better than ga.
11-3
November 20th, 2011
8:55 pm
SEC did indeed sweep the Consensus in all polls 1-2-3. LSU AL ARK.
We play them after Georgia tek who did make the polls for the last time this season. So at game time, they are a ranked team, despite the blow-out of the Climpsum Farmers yesterday.
UGA is # 13 in the polls, having beat no one. South Carolina is ahead of us, except in the AP Poll. And, Auburn made neither the AP Poll Top 25 nor the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 AGAIN, and the BCS ranking they got at # 23 will fade quickly too after Bama hands their hat to them as well for Loss # 5 before the bowl games.
The other conferences have to be just absolutely beside themselves that The SEC West is # 1, # 2 and # 3 in EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY POLL today.
Crowell
November 20th, 2011
8:58 pm
We be lucky foo dat we no play anyone difcult from da west. I’s might have takin maself out da game sooner if we played da LSU o Bama. Time go get blazed yo
11-3
November 20th, 2011
9:06 pm
Preston November 20th, 2011 6:45 pm
“When they say that they just want to make the SECCG, they say it knowing that if they win it, they’re most likely playing for the MNC. You can’t get to your ultimate goal w/o accomplishing smaller goals on the way. Geez.”
___________________________________________________
Preston,
How do you figure the # 13 team in the nation with The SEC West having 3 teams ranked ahead of us and South Carolina ranked ahead of us too, and The SEC West with Auburn # 24 in the BCS Poll tonight, 6 SEC Teams in the BCS Top 25, with us # 5 of the 6 ranked SEC teams, will play for the MNC if we beat LSU ?
Forget the statement you make that if we win against LSU.
We are going to play for the MNC according to Preston just now.
Being a HOMER is one thing, but to make such a statement after what I witnessed yesterday at Sanford, a game before we play LSU who has beat both # 10 Oregon and # 2 Alabama while we have beat no one and done all of them unimpressively except Auburn, is going to win you the Award yet again : DISNEYdawgs.com
Oakdale Dawg
November 20th, 2011
9:15 pm
11-3, you’re back. So what fine institution granted you that B.B.A. You mentioned early this morning?
Herb Kirkstreet
November 20th, 2011
9:19 pm
Carlton Thomas musta lit up anotha joint ?
Burrell
November 20th, 2011
9:21 pm
LSU 31, Georgia 13
Beatdown City!
Controlled substances? What controlled substances?
November 20th, 2011
9:26 pm
How many of Richt’s saints passed their drug tests this week?
11-3
November 20th, 2011
9:27 pm
Oklahoma State drops only from # 2 to # 4 in the Polls, with their # 57 in the nation Rushing Offense, with their # 91 in the nation Rushing Defense, with their # 105 Total Defense in the nation, and with their # 115 in the nation ranking in Punt Returns ???????????????????????????
Choke-la-Homa dropped from # 5 to # 9 in the polls today, Oregon dropped from # 4 to # 10 today, Climpsum Farmers dropped from # 7 to # 17, but Oklahoma State before their game against Choke-la-Homa drops only from # 2 to # 4 ?
This makes absolutely NO SENSE. I am so glad that the Big XII has broken itself up from this continued voting as a BLOCK for their OWN Big XII schools, clearly in violation of what they KNOW is RIGHT. Enjoy this last season of that, Big XII – the dead last WORST CONFERENCE EVER in the history of college football at winning their bowl games after their OVER-INFLATED RANKINGS because every Big XII team ranks EVERY OTHER BIG XII team the # 4 team in the nation, or HIGHER to raise the Big XII up before they play a REAL TEAM and get their collective hats handed to them. There is NO WAY that a Big XII team could possibly be sending their champion to play The SEC Champion – no way.
Jim Martin
November 20th, 2011
9:31 pm
As a UGA graduate that now lives in Texas, I am so proud of the Dawgs. I am especially proud of Coach Richt as I think he is a class act that represents the university well. Good luck to the Dawgs for the Tech game, the SEC championship game and the major bowl that will be forthcoming. I am proud of the way the University represent itself nationally.
Jim Martin, 1974
11-3
November 20th, 2011
9:31 pm
Terry
Sorry Oakdale Dawg. I would have answered earlier when I read the question after long day today, but I didn’t think you would be logged on.
Lived at Rivermill and Russell Hall, worked for The University. My whole family have our degrees from here too. I am the only one at Terry. Lawyers, Principals, business owners, and 1 gal top gal at IBM.
ARdawg
November 20th, 2011
9:33 pm
Okay geniuses, understand the Vegas odds are a handicap for the purpose of betting. No more, no less. The goober’s(like Burrell) can spout scores all they wish, it means nothing. Favored to win over the Nerds mean nothing. When the ball is kicked off, it’s nothing but their 11 guys against our 11 guys
11-3
November 20th, 2011
9:33 pm
Jim, there is no Major Bowl for UGA this season. Sorry. Georgia tek has not won a Major Bowl game since 1955. This will not be another nail in that coffin, this season.
11-3
November 20th, 2011
9:34 pm
ARDawg, where do you see the advantage Georgia tek might be able to probe to make this a game ?
ARdawg
November 20th, 2011
9:36 pm
Beating the West champ is guaranteed Sugar Bowl. With two losses that is about as high as Georgia can aspire, losing to the West champ will still be a NYs day bowl. Likely the Cotton, Outback or Cap One
Oakdale Dawg
November 20th, 2011
9:37 pm
Thanks, 11-3.
ARdawg
November 20th, 2011
9:40 pm
11-3
They don’t really have any advantage other than our bi-polar offense. They are heavily reliant on the run. I don’t see them with much success there with our quick defense and our secondary should have a field day if they attempt many passes. Always a difficult game to prognosticate but, the kicking game and special teams could loom large
ARdawg
November 20th, 2011
9:41 pm
New Years Day is on a Sunday. I read where most NYD games will be on Monday
ARdawg
November 20th, 2011
9:46 pm
I’d love to predict a 30 point UGA win but I don’t see it happening. I think Georgia win’s but not because of offensive power. Our running game is now suspect and Murray too unpredictable. We might struggle to score. If the over/under is below 35, take the under
11-3
November 20th, 2011
9:48 pm
Georgia tek’s run game is vs # 2 in the nation Rushing Defense we have. It is the 2nd most poor match-up Georgia tek could possibly hope for in its last game of the regular season.
Georgia tek is # 119 of 120 teams in Passing Offense and that is where we are most vulnerable. In the meantime, Georgia tek is # 72 in the nation Rushing defense themselves clearly not happy with Al Groh. They have ZERO DEFENSE, at # 43 Total Defense playing a FAR WEAKER SCHEDULE than even we have. Our Total Defense is # 4 playing a tougher schedule than Georgia tek.
# 107 in kick-off returns and # 64 in punt returns, Georgia tek has no advantage over us in Special Teams. In fact Georgia tek has no advantage over anyone in special teams. Their Scoring Defense is # 56; while ours is # 16 and that because our inept offense with all the players missing all season long from the offense and now graduating the senior-laden OL after this season, our O gives up points charged to our Defense.
They are # 75 in the nation at making sacks.
This is a NON-GAME. Georgia tek is ranked for the 1st time in forever now at # 23 in the BCS and # 25 in the AP Poll, because the teams ahead of them lost, including notably their only good win over Climpsum Farmers who were blown-out of the water yesterday by a LOUSY NC STATE who even with the “win” is only 1 game over .500 now with just 1 game remaining in their “season.” Of course, Climpsum Farmers also lost to a sorry Georgia tek team whose only claim to fame is beating them.
Meanwhile a LOUSY VIRGINIA and a LOUSY MIAMI OF FLORIDA team among OTHERS, has already beat Georgia tek.
Georgia tek having not won a Major Bowl since 1955, has lost 6 consecutive bowl games, all non-major bowls against poor teams with no one watching Georgia tek LOSE.
Georgia tek is a sorry football program who cannot graduate their recruits, and who are 1-9 vs our coach, and this is totally because they concede this state to UGA in recruiting where we average the # 7 recruiting class EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY YEAR while Georgia tek ranks # 51 in the nation in recruiting downtown in the slums in city of 6 million, were WE buy their nerd season tickets for this game only and throw the rest away.
11-3
November 20th, 2011
9:53 pm
Sure Oakdale Dawg.
ARdawg
November 20th, 2011
9:55 pm
11-3
So whats your prediction?
Larry
November 20th, 2011
9:57 pm
Will the real Aaron Murray please step forward!
11-3
November 20th, 2011
10:00 pm
40-17
ryan
November 20th, 2011
10:02 pm
Rumor going around that Larry Munson has passed away stay tuned .
Brick
November 20th, 2011
10:05 pm
Afraid UGA will lose by 40 against LSU or Bama…………………..Too strong for das dawgs
ryan
November 20th, 2011
10:07 pm
Todd Gurley to UGA commit Go Dawgs .