Gurley not worried about starting, just wants to stay around longer
Freshman tailback salutes the crowd after scoring his first of three touchdowns in his Sanford Stadium debut this past Saturday. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – The weather for Saturday’s game in Columbia, Mo., projects as mostly sunny with a high of 74 degrees, a low of 54 and humidity that should be below 50 percent by the time the game kicks off at close to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
That bodes well for Georgia and tailback Todd Gurley in particular. According to the National Weather Service, the heat index in Sanford Stadium this past Saturday made it feel like 103 degrees about the time Gurley was carrying a football 100 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter of the Buffalo game.
It’s no wonder, then, that Gurley spent most of the first half in the Bulldogs’ locker room receiving fluids intravenously. Hence his final line – 8 rushes for 100 yards, 2 kickoff returns for 127 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Georgia coach Mark Richt wasn’t ready to pronounce Gurley as this week’s starter based on that performance. But he did offer this on Wednesday: “He’ll carry it more than eight times.”
“He’d have carried more than eight times in this last ballgame but after that long touchdown run on the kickoff he kind of got light-headed and didn’t feel real good,” he said. “So we didn’t get to see him much for the rest of the first half.”
Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Gurley’s performance in Saturday’s game earned him a spot in “the Victor’s Club,” the highest honor the team bestows on players who make major contributions in a win. But the previous game’s performance is not the only gauge coaches use to determine starters from one week to the next at skill positions.
“It’s based on production and how you handle a week of practice,” Bobo said. “. . . Whoever we feel like gives us the best chance to be productive is going to play the most.”
Gurley would seem a slam dunk in that regard, at 22.7 yards per touch. The Bulldogs got 32 yards on six carries from Ken Malcome, who started the opener but left in the second half with a hand injury. Freshman Keith Marshall added 46 yards on 10 carries and senior Richard Samuel had three for 17.
Gurley, for one, said he doesn’t expect to start and could care less if he does or not.
“Ken’s the starter,” Gurley said. “He was the starter the last game; he’s probably going to still be the starter this game.”
Starting aside, Gurley said he has enjoyed the attention he has gotten since Saturday’s explosive debut. He spoke proudly of the messages he got from ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, who said “congratulations on the great start,” and Brandon Boykin, who tweeted, “Gurley tryna come for my KR record lol. He a beast! #Godawgs. The best part, he said, was watching his highlights on television Saturday night.
“It’s been crazy,” Gurley said. “Not really overwhelming, but I’m just trying to do what my family wants me to do, my coaches want me to do and what I think is right. I’m just trying to stay humble; I think that’s just the right way to be about it.”
As for getting gassed in the first quarter, Gurley said he’s going to work on that well.
“I’ll get used to it,” he said of the Georgia heat and humidity, “and hopefully it won’t happen again.”
MORE ON GEORGIA FOOTBALL
- Notebook: Austin Long eager to play a major role on O-line
- Richt, Grantham being intentionally vague about suspended players
- Bulldogs drop from No. 6 to 7 in AP poll; Bama back to No. 1
- Missouri Tigers at a glance
- Jon Gruden: ‘Old Man Football’ sends Georgia players to NFL
- Notebook: Georgia refuses to enter war of words with Missouri
- Rewinding the Georgia-Buffalo game
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121 comments Add your comment
Larry
September 6th, 2012
7:13 am
One question: dill or sweet?
AltamahaDawg
September 6th, 2012
7:19 am
I agree Larry. I am sure the emotions of the game will be great for the fans, BUT nobody can answer what it will do to actually change the on-field results. Hyped up can just as easily bite a team early, as result in better execution.
And I think folks are confusing the relevance of the real story of this game for mizzou. It’s the FIRST SEC game. THATS the deal. Playing in the SEC. That will be the bigger story, more so than who won, years from now. Thats a lot different than if a team had been in the league a while and still trying to win its first. That is a dangerous team to play. Of cource they will want to win, but so will Georgia.
Not sure that I really agree that the pressure is all on Mizzou to win though. I think the Dawgs have WAY more pressure and more on the line.
WDE
September 6th, 2012
7:35 am
Woke up this morning left for the office while its still dark and drizzling with it so humid it feels like being wrapped in a warm damp blanket…and half way to work I remembered its football season and IT IS GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG…members of the Bull Dog Nation have a great day!
Larry
September 6th, 2012
7:45 am
Meanwhile, Isaiah is passing the bong to Washaun.
Huh?
September 6th, 2012
7:57 am
The pressure IS on UGA, with most of it on the shoulders of Murray, and Grantham.
The D is nowhere near as good as it will be 3 games from now, and this will be the best QB and receivers we will face all season. I think Mizzou scores 30+, which is why . . .
Murray will have to be excellent, with no turnovers-for-scores. He will need to have a game like he had vs Auburn last November.
Larry
September 6th, 2012
8:28 am
The post about the bong is NOT mine! Somebody is posing as me! Maybe I should call myself…Chipper? ;>)
Thanks for your comment, AltamahaDawg. Let’s hope for a thrilling, well-played, and not mis-officiated game! I myself wouldn’t bet either way! I’m a mix of high hopes and dismal fears!
Habersham Dawg
September 6th, 2012
8:29 am
Fulmer Cup points are only accumulated during the off-season. 53.5 shows his ignorance again. You’d think his being a techie, he’d do a little fact-checking.
Habersham Dawg
September 6th, 2012
8:31 am
Dill, sweet is for the faint of heart.
Larry
September 6th, 2012
8:40 am
One thing want as much as victory is for the Mizzou fans at the stadium to show courtesy and hospitality to the traveling Georgia fans. (Having to put up with Jayhawker riff-raff all these years has made some of us mean, you understand.)
HoneyBooBooDawg
September 6th, 2012
8:49 am
I caint wait for tis fellur to play fur us!!! Better git back to unemplyment line!!!
dawgfan
September 6th, 2012
8:55 am
A lot of hype for a guy who has yet to play a single SEC game. I hope it pans out.
EW
September 6th, 2012
9:06 am
In a “professional” publication, it pisses me off to read someone write “he could care less”…the phrase is “he COULDN’T care less”
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
9:14 am
Question:
Any RECRUITS from The Missouri area interested in coming to UGA? Any 2013 4-5* Linemen or LB/DBs looking to go out of state. We don’t hear much about that area’s recruits. When we travel, we should always be at the top of our recruiting game. Why else travel? If and when we win, there may be a couple of worthy recruits we should invite…just saying…
Lay off the Kool-aid
September 6th, 2012
9:15 am
UGA should win by 17
But with this coaching staff it will probably come down to the last minute hold your breath can we hang on to this win type game
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
9:15 am
I also think we should recruit Texas harder…
Blue Ridge Dawg
September 6th, 2012
9:15 am
What a breath of fresh air as UGA fans to have a runningback that is a FRESHMAN handle and compose himself with all the attention… I just saw where W. Ealey was arrested last night on drug charges.. I think we got two great guys in Gurley and Marshall that are going to contribute huge during their stay in Athens! GO DAWGS!!
Lay off the Kool-aid
September 6th, 2012
9:16 am
Richt really didnt care if we lost to Boise ST last year
And UGA wonders why we look sloppy in almost every game
Lay off the Kool-aid
September 6th, 2012
9:21 am
why do we need to recruit in Texas
the state of georgia was ranked number 2 in high school recruiting last year and has been a top 5 state the last 20 years
if there is a qb or rb that is a stafford or a Richardson type and they are highly interested in uga then yea but we should focus on keeping the recruits in georgia at home
bucket
September 6th, 2012
9:22 am
I agree with Blue Ridge Dawg. I don’t know Gurley or Marshall personally, but they appear to be a radical departure from the kind of guys that Dawg fans have had to endure at running back for the last several years. I get so sick of the “me first, entitlement society” kids that roam the halls at almost every high school and they take that attitude to college with them. Gurley and Marshall are willing to work and wait for playing time. Thankfully, you can’t hide that kind of talent and they will see the field early and often, regardless of who starts.
Lance
September 6th, 2012
9:30 am
I know Rambo and Ogletree are probably suspended for Saturday but who else do we think is going to still be suspended for Saturday’s game? This stuff is confusing on how many games etc. GATA!
fishook dawg
September 6th, 2012
9:30 am
In three years, how many “Victor’s Clubs” has Murray won??? It can’t be too many!
Black-N-Red
September 6th, 2012
9:31 am
That boy has his head on right! Thank you Todd’s parents, his attitude speaks volumes about his character.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
September 6th, 2012
9:32 am
Larry, One thing you guys will learn as you work your way throught your first SEC schedule…….. hope is about all you can do for a completely non-misofficiated game. It’s certainly not a given.
AltamahaDawg
September 6th, 2012
9:33 am
Vasser and Commings.
DP
September 6th, 2012
9:50 am
As someone else posted, former Dawg running back Washaun Ealey was arrested last night by Jacksonville State police for drug possession. But wait a minute, Dawg fans on these blogs have long been complaining that this stuff goes on everywhere but the Athens police target UGA football players while other police turn football players over to coaches instead of arresting them.
After the trio of running back miscreants Ealey, Caleb King and Isaah Crowell, hopefully Gurley and Marshall will stay out of trouble and represent UGA well on and off the field.
LawDawg
September 6th, 2012
9:55 am
I like that we seem to have transitioned from an unruly, me-first kind of team of 2-3 years ago by getting a bunch of solid citizens. The Ray Drews and Todd Gurleys of the world should make this a fun team to watch and root for the next few years.
Now if everyone will just lay off the weed until the offseason, we’ll be in great shape.
RxDawg
September 6th, 2012
10:14 am
I like this kid. It’s refreshing to have some humility in our back field for a change.
Also, Marshall is becoming the forgotten man in all of the pub that Gurley is getting. But he looked real good too. I look for him to have a great game against Mizzou. I really hope both of these young pups can stay healthy throughout the very long SEC season.
Lay off the Kool-aid
September 6th, 2012
10:18 am
Richt and Bobo should watch the segment on Real sports with Bryant Gumble about John Gruden
Evidenly Urban Meyer knew about what he does and went and visited with him
i guess Meyer really does want to constantly improve as a coach
Wait a minute I forgot this uga staff knows what the bleep they are doing
ARdawg
September 6th, 2012
10:33 am
That’s a shame about Ealey. I watched him against Arkansas last Saturday. Very unimpressive. Sad to have all that talent and no desire
CDAWG
September 6th, 2012
10:46 am
Does anyone in the know, know whether Tree and Rambo are in or out? I think they are out. One of the players lives next door to my daughter so I may have to send her over to borrow some sugar so I can find out, gotta know!
UGA Insider
September 6th, 2012
10:48 am
Rambo is suspended for sure… 100%. Tree may see the field in the 2nd half.
UGA Insider
September 6th, 2012
10:50 am
UGA 45
Mizzou 42
Tech Sucks
September 6th, 2012
10:50 am
lol, he doesn’t have breakaway speed? Seriously? That’s hilarious.
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
10:51 am
Kool
try winning a game at tech and maybe your post would be relavent. Texas is onecof the richest states for recruits, not that any whould go to a nerd school. TAM now has SEC exposure and Saban & Miles and the rest of the west will be going after Texas hard. You are a know-nothing idiot. We always recruit out of state every year dumba$$. Go back to school moron. You might want to try a little koolaid, and get off your mom’s teat…
7576DAWG
September 6th, 2012
10:53 am
It has nothing to do with Ealey wasting his talent. It’s all about him coming to Georgia expecting entitlements and when Richt wouldn’t play all with his High School image demanding that he do his job and be apart of the Georgia TEAM, he found another school that would put him on a pedestal . What is so sad about Ealey is he still hasn’t learned anything . He still thinks he is in High School where he was considered a GOD. He is still the immature little child that started at Georgia 3 years ago. He can’t see that he has one year left to impress the Pro scouts enough to even be given a tryout. He should have joined the LSU defensive back in rehab instead of blowing his last chance.
ARdawg
September 6th, 2012
10:58 am
7576DAWG
BS, it has everything to do with him wasting his talent and also now, wasting his opportunities. He is about to run out of options
Ron HAWORTH
September 6th, 2012
11:06 am
ALL of Tarboro very proud of your accomplishment.Hope ge gives UGA as many championships as he did in high school.Three in a row wouldnt be to shabby..
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
11:10 am
He isn’t our problem. Why should you have to “babysit” an 18-21 year old. You ever lose a job because of a bad decision? You only get so many chances in life, then they pass you by. Dope was more important to him than his future, same as a lot of immature people. He isn’t alone…
DawginLex
September 6th, 2012
11:15 am
Lay off the Kool-aid
September 6th, 2012
10:18 am
Richt and Bobo should watch the segment on Real sports with Bryant Gumble about John Gruden
Evidenly Urban Meyer knew about what he does and went and visited with him
i guess Meyer really does want to constantly improve as a coach
Wait a minute I forgot this uga staff knows what the bleep they are doing
******************
Bobo spent time with Gruden this summer.
Just shutup
You are too stupid to be a good TROLL
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
11:17 am
Ron he is a fine kid and reflects very well of Tarboro. Keith Marshall is also a great addition to our team…
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
11:19 am
Lex,
I think we just slapped the taste out of his big-mouth…
7576DAWG
September 6th, 2012
11:20 am
UGA Insider
Rambo and Ogletree are wondering why they are not playing. Why would Richt hurt the team by keeping them out of the game. They both have worked their tail off and Georgia could use them. Be cause they were both second offender to the rules.
The rules are drilled into every player. The Do’s and Don’ts. Rambo and Ogletree chose to get high instead of thinking about what their absence would do to the TEAM in September. Back when the offense was made all they were thinking about themselves. They knew if they got caught they would have to suffer the consequences. It’s just time to pay the piper. THIS IS ALL ON THEM. If Georgia loses a very close game then they can be guaranteed it was because of them. If they had played they would have made a difference. Hopefully Georgia will win without them.
Me personally I don’t see any benefit Rambo or Ogletree will get out of it because this is their’s last year at Georgia and they will be drafted in March 2013 and be gone from Georgia. All it will do is hurt the team. About the best way to punish a player in his last year at Georgia is to take away his freedom. I think Richt should play Rambo and Ogletree but they should have to run steps every morning and they both should have a 9:00 PM curfew which would be a better punishment. If they have more than one year left at Georgia then Suspension would be best because then they could be reminded every day how they let the team down.
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
11:21 am
Koolaid will change his name to “My jaw is a hurtin, and that is for certain! “, got a nice ring to it…
kingdaddy
September 6th, 2012
11:24 am
7576
I like the step, curfew idea. It is at CMRs discretion…
CDAWG
September 6th, 2012
11:36 am
UGA Insider I like your score of the game but what makes you feel that way with Commings, Vasser, Mitchell, Tree and Rambo out. What do you know?
aprilglaspie
September 6th, 2012
11:36 am
Bringing Washaun Ealey into comments on this article is incontrovertible evidence of bein an infatil jerk with a very small penis. It’s also low-rent and entirely classless.A slug that lives under a rock.
UGA Insider
September 6th, 2012
11:39 am
7576DAWG and Kingdaddy,
Isn’t this University rules and suspensions for all teams not just football? I don’t think CMR can skirt this.
UGA Insider
September 6th, 2012
11:40 am
CDAWG,
Commings and Vasser have already been announced they have a 2-game suspension and It is just my guess that Tree and Rambo are out as well.
DawginLex
September 6th, 2012
11:44 am
insider
It’s university policy that can be overturned at the discretion of the head coach and AD
My bet is that Ogletree and Rambo do not play
CDAWG
September 6th, 2012
12:06 pm
UGA Insider if Tree and Rambo were playing Richt would say so because there is no advantage to Missouri if they are playing. We are in trouble with Missouri if we struggle against them like we did against Buffalo.