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
CDAWG
September 6th, 2012
12:10 pm
I think I agree with 7576DAWG that not playing Tree and Rambo is hurting the team because they will both be gone to the NFL after this season so are they really being punished, REALLY?
Reality
September 6th, 2012
12:27 pm
So Gurley “could care less” if he starts or not? So you are in fact saying that he does care to some degree if he starts or not. It’s amazing to me a how a professional journalist could make such a ridiculous writing error.
UGA Insider
September 6th, 2012
12:31 pm
I agree. If they were playing he would announce it… Both are suspended so let’s move on.
CDAWG
September 6th, 2012
12:37 pm
It is what it is, one more thing, have you heard how bad Mitchell’s sprain is and whether he will be ready to go?
SteveDawgFan
September 6th, 2012
12:57 pm
This guy is gonna be great. I am so glad Crowell is gone, these three young men want it more.Gooo Dawgs!!!
DawginLex
September 6th, 2012
1:37 pm
Mitchell is playing
The Factor
September 6th, 2012
1:39 pm
Problem is, we suspend for games while most others don’t. see: Sports Illustrated link on the Dawgs…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/06/12/georgia-drug-policy/index.html
Alabama Dog
September 6th, 2012
2:12 pm
Factor: good point, but is this really the reason some SEC teams have passed Georgia by? With the talent pool Georgia has, having players suspended (for whatever reason) shouldn’t be why our guys have consistently underachieved on the field. Sorry, but it’s the truth. It’s especially painful for me living in the state of Alabama, where BOTH Auburn, and Alabama own the past three National Championships. I’m in no way implying what Richt and McGarity are doing is wrong. Quite the opposite. I applaud what Richt and McGarity are doing, it’s just our guys don’t seem to be on a level playing field with their contemporaries. Until suspensions of any kind are not unilaterally defined, and enforced equally, Georgia will always be at a disadvantage.
AltamahaDawg
September 6th, 2012
2:17 pm
The whole point to the manatory suspension, was pushed By Richt some years ago, because he found it more distracting to ‘decided’ each case, than just deal with the outcome. Also it’s easier to make the point about rules if the concequences are spelled out in advance.
I believe, somebody correct me if this is not so……………ther is a panel of students and faculty set up to hear appeals……………..”I didnt know the brownies were loaded”, “i didnt know the chich had a doobie in her purse” etc.
AltamahaDawg
September 6th, 2012
2:26 pm
I read on a different pub, that the writer things the ’secrecy’ only distracts the team, and does not really fool the other team.
I think he completely misses the point. I rather doubt that anybody believes IF Mizzous doesnt know for sure , then thier preparation will suffer.
I think this is 100% an INTERNAL thing. They aren’t saying because they are dealing with it on thier terms, not trying to fool the other guys. A privacy issue, (although that term doesn’t really capture it). More like: this is our rules, and we are handling it..
I would ask, what point IS served by announcing internal business?
AltamahaDawg
September 6th, 2012
2:36 pm
You don’t know ahead of time that a player is going to roll an ankle in the 5th series and not come back. You prepare eveybody as best you can to go in if they are called, and deal with your situation at the time. So I don’t buy that the players are somehow less prepared because (the media or fans) didn’t know exactly what the deal was, nor do I think that the “replacement” guys are well served by being asked about it for weeks.
AltamahaDawg
September 6th, 2012
2:41 pm
One other thing that (not annoucing) has done: You darn sure don’t see any comments from Rambo about being suspended do you? OR have any reason to ask any other players to comment on Rambo’s suspension.
aldogg2121
September 6th, 2012
2:47 pm
Losing Rambo is much more devastating to our D than losing Ogletree. We have depth at LB, but FS without Rambo is decimated. He is a difference maker back there.
Alabama Dog
September 6th, 2012
2:49 pm
AltamahaDawg: you make some compelling points. When I was in the high school ranks (where I was not a starter), our coaches used to stress to us “Be prepared. Practice seriously as if you know you’re going to play.You’re only one play away from being in the game”. This should be the coaching philosophy anywhere, regardless of whether or not a player is suspended, or injured.
Ghost
September 6th, 2012
10:47 pm
Rambo and Tree are playing.or that’s what I am hearing from what are usually reliable folks.. I will believe it when I see it.
ugab
September 7th, 2012
8:12 am
Gurley is a DGD. He missed a key block that got Murray sacked from the blind side. He also is not used to the heat. Typical CMR team not to be inshape in their own stadium. That is embarrassing. I know it was hot last weekend. The heat should of been an advantage to the dawgs. Gurley and Marshall will be DGDs for a few yrs if CMR can put together an OL to block for them> I would rather see Murray protected than get hurt from a missed block. Murray is our best QB.
ugab
September 7th, 2012
8:14 am
I don’t think rambo or tree will play. Tree will b back for game 3 and rambo game 5 wat im hearn
Tim Worley was great
September 7th, 2012
9:20 am
Tim Worley played on and off for three years at UGA. Often hurt but a fabulous, really great college back with world class speed and that great 6′2″ frame with 220 lbs of power and from the same town, as Gurley, i do believe.
Go Dogs.
Chip Towers, Michael Carvell = UGAy cheerleaders
September 7th, 2012
10:18 am
Gurrley much better than TJ Yeldon. UGA best team ever ever ever. We beat every team ever. No one ever stop us. Best fans, best stadium best uniforms best players best coach.
FootballFan
September 7th, 2012
6:13 pm
I had the pleasure of watching Todd play for four years in high school. Iknew he was a great athlete, but was worried how he would transfer from NC 2-A football to the SEC. We are all very proud of Todd back here in Tarboro. He lead Tarboro to three consective State Championships, rushing for 242 yards and four touchdowns in last years championship game, and that was playing with two high ankle sprains. He was always humble and worked hard in high school, glad to see he’s keeping a good head on his shoulders. Tarboro ran a offensive system called the Tarboro T, it s belly series where the full-back lines up behind the quarterback with a tailback on either side of him, and every play consists of two fakes and then a third getting the ball. Give Todd time to get a good understanding of the offense and he will be unstoppable. Also Tarboro passed the ball about ten times a season, so pass blocking is something he will have to get better at. So glad we are getting coverage of Georgia games back here in Tarboro, Go Todd and GO DAWGS!!!!!
TG3DAD
September 7th, 2012
8:39 pm
Todd is a great individual bound for a incredible career at UGA we only touched the surface .Great young man he will rise in the Mizzou game all 3 will pound their defense Go Dawgs