Missouri player: UGA plays ‘old-man football’
Missouri does not enter the SEC shyly. Quite the opposite, based on comments by one player.
According to an article in the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune on Sunday, Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was asked after the Tigers’ 62-10 victory over Southeastern Lousiana Saturday night if he watched the Georgia-Buffalo game on television earlier in the day.
“I watched the game. I turned it off, too,” Richardson was quoted as saying. “… It’s like watching Big Ten football. It’s old-man football.”
Then this: “If we execute, nobody in this league [the SEC] can touch us. Period.”
Missouri, which officially became an SEC member on July 1, opens play in its new league by hosting Georgia at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in sold-out Memorial Stadium.
Georgia coach Mark Richt laughed when informed, on his weekly teleconference with reporters Sunday evening, of Richardson’s comment.
“’Old-man football?’ Well, I don’t know what he meant by that,” Richt said. “But bottom line is, we got to get after it and do what we do well, and they’ll be trying to stop everything we’re trying to get accomplished.”
The game provides multiple challenges for Georgia, not the least of which will be the emotion associated with Missouri’s much-anticipated SEC debut.
“It’s a huge game for them, no doubt,” Richt said. “It’s a huge game for us, too, though, because we’ve got our goals. And they’ve got their goals. Shoot, to me, it’s the biggest game of the year, no doubt. … It’s a monster game.”
Being the visiting team for Missouri’s SEC opener “is not the best draw,” Richt added. “But it is what it is.”
Aside from the sure-to-be-charged atmosphere, another major issue Georgia will face: Missouri’s spread offense, led by dual-threat quarterback James Franklin, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior who last season passed for 2,865 yards, ran for 981 yards and accounted for 36 touchdowns (21 passing and 15 rushing).
“It’s a problem,” Richt said of defending Franklin. “A quarterback who can run well is a problem. … And they’re going to spread you out. They’re going to get you in a lot of four- and five-wide looks. … It’s a space game, and space is the enemy of the defenses.”
Franklin had surgery on his shoulder in the off-season but reportedly did not have any problems with it in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana, an FCS team. He completed 13 of 21 passes for 131 yards and ran six times for 39 yards.
Comparing Missouri’s opener with Georgia’s performance in its 45-23 victory over Buffalo, “it looked like [on film] Missouri’s boys played harder than our boys played,” Richt said. But he added that the Bulldogs “probably played as hard we could” considering the heat and humidity in Athens.
Etc.
As of Sunday’s teleconference, Richt said he had received no updates on the status of any of his team’s injured players. … Richt on Connor Norman, a former walk-on who started at safety against Buffalo: “Overall, Connor did a good job. I can think of one play where he missed a tackle out there in space, but just about every safety in America is going to miss a tackle here and there when you’ve got too much space with a back.” Richt said Corey Moore “continues to push hard for playing time [at safety], but right now we think Connor is more ready to play.” … As expected, Richt stayed mum on the status for the Missouri game of suspended players Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree. “We’ll know when the time comes,” he said. . . . Despite Ken Malcome’s hand injury and Todd Gurley’s huge opening game, Richt wasn’t ready to publicly commit to the freshman Gurley as Georgia’s primary running back for this week. “Well, he’ll definitely get the ball, that’s for sure,” Richt said.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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465 comments Add your comment
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
8:34 am
I have to say I was excited when LeMay came in Sat. He did a great job and I look forward to him playing more. Love his ability to get out of the pocket and scramble. He also has a big arm. Just like with Conner Shaw, Murray is always only one play away from an injury. The good news for UGA, is we have a couple of capable QBs waiting in the wings with Brice on the way…
Uncle Kracker Jacker
September 3rd, 2012
8:38 am
How can the head coach not tell everyone the status of Ogletree & Rambo ? What’s to hide ? Just tells us what game they will return. And get your players off the marijuana Saint Richt !
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
8:38 am
And I don’t know where you get this idea that all us Georgia fans were predicting some big blowout victory in that game.
_______________________________________
really??? of course the dawg fans were callling for a blowout win…we are the sec…size and speed, baby…Joey is correct…and instead of haters putting words in your mouths, it probably would be more beneficial for dawg fans to hope for teeth instead…
zbulldawg
September 3rd, 2012
8:42 am
Look for the Dawgs to strike early ! Pump the screen & go deep. They WILL put them in one on one coverage out of a run formation. Mizzou may move the ball But feild goals won’t win this game !! After we get in front we WILL control the clock. We didn’t use the TEs in last weeks game! Don’t kid your self last weeks game was geared for this week. The DAWGS have been working on this game the whole off season. All you have to do read between the lines on every interveiw the UGA coaches have done. Welcomew to the SEC !! Where your mouth doesn’t count !!! THE BIG DAWG WILL EAT. They will show why their rating is so high !!! GETUSUM
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
8:43 am
dawgfan, did you read all the posts, or just mine? Scroll back through, and shut up that “hater” crap.
kingdaddy – Lemay does look like the real deal huh? Looked really shifty when he ran. Poor Hutson may never see the field, despite knowing the playbook as well as Murray.
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
8:44 am
A bama fan making jokes about another teams teeth, lol. Way to go CB…
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
8:45 am
Kracker Jackoff, ever heard of privacy laws?
Tell you what, go ask Saban or PJ about player suspensions and see how much info you get, doofus.
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
8:46 am
Country boy
BTW, good game against Michigan. Way to send them packing…
Uncle Kracker Jacker
September 3rd, 2012
8:46 am
I bet you could raid all the UGA players rooms and search fordrugs then half the team would be suspended for the Missouri game and beyond. And that’s sad. Thug life of college football players is rampant at UGA.
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
8:50 am
Kracker Jackoff, I bet your team is the bugs, right?
At least UGA kicks our bad apples off the team – you guys cover up and stay on NCAA Probation.
What is it now, a decade and counting?
NC Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
8:50 am
i think the Mizzou player makes a good point, we do play old man football.
Uncle Kracker Jacker
September 3rd, 2012
8:53 am
Hey Hoey Boy Joey, none of Saban’s players were suspended for the Michigan. If you watched the games instead of staying on AJC posting under 6,000 fake names on every sports blog you’d know that punk.
Destin Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
8:55 am
It would help Murray and the whole TEAM if Richt/BoBo would put LeMay ( or Mason ) in as soon as Murray misses a pass way off hopefully not intercepted or fumbled… Go Dawgs.. Beat Mizzooo !!!!
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
8:57 am
LSu fan, not Bama kingdaddy…i know you can’t wait for the big convention in charlotte, right?…heard this morning that the acceptance speech in the panthers stadium is now a speech/rock concert, in an effort to get people to show up for that clown show…
Destin Dawg
September 3rd, 2012
8:58 am
” None of Saban’s players suspended ” COVERED UP !! no drug tests in T Town !!!
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
9:00 am
proof or silence. destin dawg..
Dog1
September 3rd, 2012
9:02 am
ga will beat misouri like a rented mule–mark it down. they can’t handle the dog’s SEC speed and size. Ga 33 misouri 10
Larry Munson
September 3rd, 2012
9:03 am
Good Lord….Mizzou just stepped on our faces with a hob-nail boot and broke our noses. This will be a fun game to watch. Mizzou will beat UGA like a rented mule.
Dog1
September 3rd, 2012
9:05 am
Did I mention that my parents are related by blood?
Marjoe Ricked
September 3rd, 2012
9:05 am
Brilliant commentary by our genius coach Markt Wrecked: Well, we need to go get after em. We need to try to do what we do best, and they are going to try to stop us from doing that.
And we pay this guy three million dollars a year?
Listen, this game is just like Oklahoma State and Boise State. What happened with those two games? Embarassment.
Get ready to watch another game where Marjoe Ricked gets schooled in the art of football…
Todd
September 3rd, 2012
9:06 am
Dawg fans dont get to upset with the comment. All the Mizzou boys have heard is how they are going to get beat, they do not match up, they are too slow. He was tired of hearing it. Mizzou has a very good football team and they have allot of athletes and speed and they have allot of grinders also. I assure you they have tremendous respect for Georgia as I do. They just want some back. I am one Mizzou fan from Georgia that is going back for the game and looking forward to it. I root for the Dawgs except against Mizzou. Good luck.
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
9:06 am
My name – I use my name only. Never seen yours before though, Jackoff.
And you still won’t admit you are a nerd . . .
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
9:06 am
they can’t handle the dog’s SEC speed and size.
++++++++++++++++++++++
dog1, meet dawgfan,,,,dawgfan, dog1….
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
9:09 am
Country boy
don’t be a d-bag so early in the morning. I will watch the Dems convention just to watch Biden stick his foot in his mouth again, lol. And to see Jessica Alba, don’t care if she’s dim. I’ve been married 3 times and divorced 3 times, lmaoff. 4 times is no big deal…You hear me Jessica???
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
9:11 am
Country boy
Don’t know why I thought you were a bammer…
Marjoe Ricked
September 3rd, 2012
9:13 am
Joey, you are a real douche bag…
I doubt that you even have a college degree…
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
9:13 am
I just can’t watch that freakshow, even to see Alba . . .
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
9:14 am
probably because i make alot of dumb comments hahaha!! just pulling yall’s chain….jessica is nice…would hit that while my ex was spanking my backside with a stringer of catfish!
Marjoe Ricked
September 3rd, 2012
9:14 am
Joey, if you wanna sea a freak, just look in the mirror…
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
9:16 am
To all SEC fans:
You should always pull for another SEC school over any other conference…nuff said…
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
9:17 am
Too funny…
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
9:19 am
Douche bag? That sounds like something a “scholar” would say, Marjoe/Jackoff/??. Looking at my sheepskin on the wall right now – how ’bout you?
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
9:22 am
“…sea a freak…”??
That IQ is showing up – or not . . .
joe jenkins
September 3rd, 2012
9:23 am
We are talented….but we are soft and still out of shape…..even after all of these strenth changes. abry jones…jenkins and geathers are very soft and not mean at all. gates and burnedtte are weak and soft too. gillard should be replaced by jordon jenkins and connor norman would be a popular pick if this was cheers…..the whole defensive plan against buffalo was a damn joke….look for patterson to sack murray 4 times….murray will end his uga career as the most sacked qb in uga history…..Our o-line is to young to be dominant in the sec and not ready for mizzo…thanks
the Sixth Sense
September 3rd, 2012
9:25 am
I SEE OLD FOOTBALL PEOPLE….I ALSO SEE DUMB PEOPLE WHO COULDN’T SPELL CAT IF YOU SPOTTED THEM THE C AND THE A
DNT
September 3rd, 2012
9:27 am
“Old Men” Murray, Bennett, and Gurley will have to teach the Missouri youngsters a few lessons this weekend!
TY
September 3rd, 2012
9:29 am
Ga bragging about sending all those players to the NFL needs to determine what is more important. Either be an NFL minor league team or win a National Championship. Boise won with good coaching of lesser talent. Is it more important to send a player to the NFL after two or three years or win as a team/
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
9:30 am
What is the line for the game?
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
9:32 am
Murray: 15/26-258 yrds. 3 TDs ZERO INTs, ZERO FUMBLES LOST! Many recievers hit in the #s dropped passes. Most of all, a Big W. Haters gone hate! Too bad you let your hate for Murray cloud your judgement…
Vulture
September 3rd, 2012
9:38 am
Can’t wait for some “old-man football”! Too bad Missouri’s SEC welcome won’t come in Athens. Going to be an exciting week.
RunninWithTheDawgs
September 3rd, 2012
9:44 am
Our Dawgs are gonna score on any team. Our offense is potent as usual. Our defense is average at best. I think M.R. will have a few tricks up his sleeve for Missouri. GO DAWGS
bamaguy
September 3rd, 2012
9:51 am
“. . . nobody is this league can touch us” Does that fool seriously believe Missouri could line up against and beat Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama AND LSU? Lets see how he feels in late November.
Dawgfan13
September 3rd, 2012
9:51 am
I think the key number is 17. Georgia should be able to hold Mizzou to 17 points. If they do, they win. The offensive line needs to hold up, but I think Georgia should be able to score 24 to 31 points. Mizzou’s defense is not daunting at all. Marlon Brown will be back for Saturday’s game and really i thing Georgias recievers are the strength to this team becuase Bennette is a BEAST blocking and catching. I just hope the defense can get the job done. I know they will give up some points but they have to limit MIzzou and get off to a lead to take the crowd out of the game. Final score UGA 31 Mizzou 17
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
9:53 am
‘Dawgs not road ‘dogs: the line is UGA -3.5.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
September 3rd, 2012
9:59 am
Old Man football went out with the last inbred mascot. It is a new day at UGA. I am ready to rumble and I will have a boom box in my doghouse and we’re going to rap. As for who is eligible to play and who is not – I think it is a huge advantage for Coach Richt to be able to hide who may play if he is not in jail or suspended or is just incapacitated until the fairies stop dancing in his head. That way, the other team doesn’t know who they should prepare for. Sly and Crafty that Coach Richt.
Old Man Football
September 3rd, 2012
9:59 am
Let’s see ….last time I checked “old man football” has won about 5 national championships out of the last 6 and 2 super bowls of the last 4. Maybe, just maybe, old man football ain’t so bad….
Lee
September 3rd, 2012
10:01 am
Didn’t Buffalo play in the same heat and humidity…… or were the weather conditions different on Georgia’s side of the field?
Eaassyy
September 3rd, 2012
10:06 am
He is right. UGA looked awful. As much as I hate to admit it Tide Roll is right too. Our O-line is no where near SEC caliber. They look confused, slow, and weak. Expect a ton of inconsistency from Murray per usual if the oline can’t protect. If the defense doesn’t improve by a huge margin UGA is in trouble this year.
Truman
September 3rd, 2012
10:07 am
Here comes Truman to spank them Dawgs…. Spread is 3.5 and mizzou will cover easily. Nothing impressive about Georgia after Saturday…. Mizzou wins the east with ease!
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
10:10 am
As long as I’m talking to Hot-lanta folks, let me say that the GaTech alumnus in whose congenial company my wife and I traveled while touring last fall in Turkey was a most estimable, worthy, and enlightened gentleman!