Notebook: With ‘goal still intact,’ Bulldogs focus on ‘winning every game’
By RYAN BLACK
Special to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ATHENS — Just because Georgia was off last week didn’t mean its players stayed away from football.
Starting right guard Chris Burnette attended the Florida State-Boston College game in Tallahassee, Fla., with his fiance. Tight end Arthur Lynch woke up and watched some of ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast before he took in a local Pop Warner football game. But both Burnette and Lynch were in the same place Saturday night: glued to the television, watching South Carolina face LSU. With the Tigers beating the Gamecocks 23-21, the Bulldogs’ chance to win the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division is a possibility once again.
And Burnette couldn’t be more pleased.
“We definitely feel like our goal is still intact,” he said following Monday’s practice. “We can still keep pushing, and as long as we take care of every game, we can be back in the race. It’s great to see the opportunity arise.”
Lynch didn’t watch the game just to see if the Gamecocks would lose, however. He tuned in because he has stayed in touch with former Bulldogs quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who now starts for the Tigers.
Though he was happy Georgia’s hopes of returning to the SEC Championship aren’t dead, he had no problem putting things into perspective.
“It’s a relief, but it doesn’t substitute for the fact that we didn’t play the game we wanted to play against South Carolina,” Lynch said. “They beat us straight-up, and there’s still work we need to do, and that’s why we’ve been focusing on Kentucky.”
Burnette didn’t dispute that there was more energy during Monday’s practice.
“Seeing that we still have a chance, seeing an opportunity to accomplish our goals, it really keeps you amped up,” Burnette said. “You realize you can’t always focus on what happened in the past. You have to push forward and try to see what we can do in the future.”
Malcolm Mitchell doesn’t like looking into the future. That’s why the sophomore cornerback/receiver doesn’t like playing the “what-if?” game.
If the Bulldogs don’t win the rest of their games, he said, the Gamecocks’ loss means nothing.
“We really just need to be focused on winning every game, honestly,” he said. “If we don’t win every game, it doesn’t matter what happens.”
Phillips more worried about sacks than job security
Joker Phillips cherishes his friendship with Mitch Barnhart. Whatever kinship Kentucky’s coach and its athletic director may share didn’t help Phillips avoid questions about his job security Monday, though.
“We talk a couple times a week. It’s just small talk,” Phillips said during his weekly media conference. “It’s nothing — you know, he’s been very encouraging and nothing what you want to get at.”
When asked whether any of their talks involved his future as coach, Phillips deflected the query. His one-sentence response focused solely on the Wildcats’ next opponent.
“I’m busy trying to get these guys improved and get them prepared to play Georgia,” he said.
Given his team’s 1-6 overall record and 0-4 mark in Southeastern Conference play, Phillips was also forced to defend his team’s resolve. Following last Saturday’s lightning-shortened 49-7 loss to Arkansas, some questioned whether the team quit. Phillips disputed the assertion then, and his stance remained the same Monday.
“Sometimes in a game like that, it might look like [to] the common folk that they are not giving effort, but if you watched the two long touchdown passes, Cody Quinn is straining, busting his tail from the back side,” Phillips said. “I think our guys are giving us great effort. We have to do a better job of executing.”
To Phillips, no part of his team needs to step up more than the defensive line. Though the Wildcats’ defense has tallied 15 sacks this season, which ranks eighth in the SEC, Phillips isn’t satisfied. He wants his players in Aaron Murray’s face early and often Saturday to help the Wildcats’ injury-ravaged and youthful secondary.
“You’ve got to get more pressure on the quarterback. You can’t let him get comfortable back there,” Phillips said. “That’s what happened Saturday. We didn’t get enough pressure on [Razorbacks quarterback Tyler Wilson] and the guy takes advantage of a young secondary. There were some holes, obviously. When you play some young guys, sometimes they’re out of position.”
And if the front four can’t create enough of a push to get to Murray, there are always fall back options.
“You either blitz, and if you can’t get with him with the blitz, you must drop eight [into coverage],” Phillips said.
Injury report
Five players did not take part in practice, most notably outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who sat out with an ankle sprain. Two other Bulldog defenders sat out after having surgery: inside linebacker Brandon Burrows (fractured left hand; had surgery last Thursday) and defensive end Sterling Bailey (thumb sprain; had surgery Monday). Wide receiver Michael Bennett (torn right anterior cruciate ligament) and tight end Cole Trolinger (concussion) rounded out Monday’s injured list.
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377 comments Add your comment
SEC Fan
October 16th, 2012
12:25 pm
BILLY JACK
October 16th, 2012
12:17 pm
“Has anyone else noticed that almost no Alabama fans ever went to Alabama or apparently any other school.”
I hadn’t noticed that. Have you been taking surveys?
Mobile Dawg
October 16th, 2012
12:25 pm
Lakedawg with a little D.
This is entertaining, I get to sit in the office, work, make money, all the while enjoying reading the comical remarks from supposedly “educated” folks.
SEC Fan
October 16th, 2012
12:26 pm
@Delbert D.
That’s a more likely scenario than seeing an ACC team compete for a National Championship, isn’t it?
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
12:27 pm
Truth(barer of bad news)
UGA is ranked 11 in the BCS after a turrible loss. Quit your whineing. Don’t you get tired of crying about everything UGA? Talk about your own team for a change and let us handle our own problems. Troll…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
12:37 pm
To all the appologist for our current OVERPAID coaching staff please give me a reason according to my list here why they are so great
Its not about winning the National Title
Its never beating FL 2 yrs in a row or when UGA does beat FL; its because FL is terrible
Its about not being able to even beat a top 10 team
Its about your last signature win was 2005 against LSU but then getting embarrassed that next game in the Sugar Bowl against WVU
Its about 2-14 against ranked teams
Its about not beating a top 20 team in 4 yrs
Its about national embarrassment and being known for player arrests every year
its about losing to SC for the first time ever 3 yrs in a row
Its about losing to Miss St for the first time in 35 yrs
Its about putting friendship with Willie Martinez above the program
Its about stupid gimmicks (Dream Team I, II, Energy Vampires, Uniform Changes etc)
Its about not being able to win every SEC East game in the same year yet Spurrier does it a SC
and its about putting more players in the NFL and having more top 10 classes than any other SEC yet the best you can do is 9-10 wins while FL, AL, and LSU have won 2 National titles in that span of time and you cant get to the SEC championship without having to back door your way there
Im still waiting Disney Dawgs
Delbert D.
October 16th, 2012
12:39 pm
@SEC fan “That’s a more likely scenario than seeing an ACC team compete for a National Championship, isn’t it?”
Far more likely.
Joey
October 16th, 2012
12:43 pm
Because he’s “classy?”
That’s the one that gets me.
bamaguy
October 16th, 2012
12:53 pm
I haven’t completed a survey, but it seems the majority of the fans of all the southern football schools are not alumni. How many of those guys driving around rural Georgia with a big, black G on the front of their pickup have a UGA diploma on the wall at home? Same is true in Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana etc. It’s all part of the culture of the south.
Eric Murray and Aaron Zeier
October 16th, 2012
12:54 pm
Did anyone notice the fine LSU right tackle, Alexander, BLOCKING SC’s D Ends and allowing huge holes to develop?? He is from Buford, GA. UGA always has to go away from Georgis to attract quality O. linemen for some odd reason.
THS is core to UGA’s lack of on the field success with physical teams.
Go Dogs.
G8orh8er
October 16th, 2012
1:03 pm
I can’t wait to read what you guys have to say in two weeks. We fans will keep your seats warm. Every Dawg has his day and two weeks ago, Spurrier had his. We all knew there was a chance we’d lose that game…just not like that. A couple bad bounces and we’re down 21-0….and it stayed that way until the 4th qtr. If we win out and make it to the Dome, this garbage about us not deserving it is ridiculous. Anyone that goes 11-1 in the SEC deserves to be in the Dome…even Alabama. I don’t think anyone will say, “no thanks..we lost to USC, we don’t wanna play for the championship.” Coach Richt has made our program what it is today..averaging 10 wins in this conference is pretty solid…I’m sure there at least 10 other programs in our conference that would gladly have that. All we can ask for as fans is a chance…just field a team that can win. The rest is up to those boys wearing the G. Ask any Kentucky fan and I bet they’d gladly change places with us. At least we get to watch games with interest in November….those guys are watching basketball scrimmages at midnight!!!
Len Haus
October 16th, 2012
1:05 pm
Do schools like Alabama, SC and LSU, Florida under Urban and ARKY under PETRINO start frosh o linemen? UGA has for years with Boling, Sturdivant, now Theus and this exemplifies UGA and LOUSY o lone recruiting. A solid program would not always have the need to do this, like UGA ALWAYS DOES.
GO DOGS.
Layinlow
October 16th, 2012
1:06 pm
Bamaguy, I think thats the culture of college football everywhere. You think that all those cornhusker fans graduated from Nebraska? And believe me there are plenty of them in big ten country as well. A guy in my fantasy football league is from Ohio and he is a diehard buckeye fan but is not a graduate of the school. This not just a southern thing.
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
1:09 pm
Joey
What’s up bro? I see we’re still mad. This is complicated and I know you for a DGD. I will ask you if you see the turmoil on these blogs and wonder what effect this is having on recruiting and iur current players. Should they even try anymore or just laydown? Nothing wrong with wanting Richt gone. Remember the end of last year? Here we are again, but there are alot of fans not ready to burn Athens to the ground. Boot Richt & Co., I don’t care, but what about the rest of :the year? If you are quitting on us, don’t help the trolls make fun of the rest of the fans. Topdog & Slow Roll and many others are in troll heaven. They are eating this shiz up and having fun at our pain. You’re a good guy and a passionate fan, but we get it already. You’re mad and you want to rip some shiz up on your way out. I’m not a Richt apoligist, I’m a Bulldawg fan. After SC, I don’t care where he goes, I just don’t want to see you an Lex go at it or you and me, or Mobile or any of the DGDs fighting each other. The trolls are loving it and UGA needs support not scorn. Either help us or move on brother. Think about it before you burn too many bridges alright???
Glory Between the Hedges
October 16th, 2012
1:12 pm
Gator its really a win win situation..If we beat you then we will finish 11-1 and will get something good out of it. If you whip us, we get a new coaching staff that you will wish we didn’t get.
Hate GT
October 16th, 2012
1:17 pm
Athens stated:
Here’s to wishing we could lose about a tenth of our whiney fan base. Those of us who attended or attend UGA don’t need or want you.
I agree with you ATHENS: but attending the school has nothing to do with it.
Either you are a fan or not, or you jump on and off the band wagon.
And wether you like it or not Georgia fans are fickle and whiny
I am a Georgia fan who did not attend the school but havebeen bless to have had season tix for the 12th years in a row and hopefully will live to the ripe old age to see them play anothe 12 year plus!
Before God grace me with season tix, I watch it on TV and listen to MUNSON!
Thru the good and bad.
I love Georgia and if you cut me I would bleed RED and BLACK!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EasilyAmused
October 16th, 2012
1:19 pm
@G8orh8er
You’re right. Georgia is better than Kentucky — at football. That said, UGA isn’t averaging 10 wins per season. They have actually averaged 8 wins/year over the past three seasons and are on-track for 9 wins this year. One must also understand the possibility of playing 14 games per season (like last year) to come up with these 8 to 10 wins.
Layinlow
October 16th, 2012
1:20 pm
One more point about college fans. I used to live in Raleigh, NC and traveled all over eastern North Carolina and just about everybody was a UNC basketball fan and most did not attend the college. I think fans just identify with their home state university and this is what makes college sports special.
And it irritates me when some condescending a$$ thinks that someone shouldn’t be allowed to pull for said school because they are not a graduate. My uncle has had 8 season tickets at Tech for years and has been a fan his entire life and he is not a graduate. The school gets more money from him than most graduates. And he NEVER misses a home game no matter how bad things get. A true fan is a true fan.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:23 pm
Layinlow
I agree and said the same thing months ago
Just imagine if non graduates didnt support UGA LOL the stadium would be half empty and the merchandise sales would be in the tank
And there wouldnt be enough money to fund our OVERPAID coaching staff
bigcalidawg
October 16th, 2012
1:27 pm
How is it that we used to win big games with David Greene, but no longer? Whahappened?
Big Wally
October 16th, 2012
1:28 pm
Flat….you forgot about Rick James on your earlier post. Richt is the greatest college football coach ever in that guys mnd.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:31 pm
Big Wally
Yea I forgot about him
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
1:31 pm
I’m thinking about opening a daycare. There’s so many unbelievably important things going on in todays world and here we sit like kids at a playground fighting over who’s first in line, lol. Most all of us agree we have problems, but we don’t all agree on how to fix them. How about we talk to each other like adults(sorry, trolls are not adults). As UGA fans, we are kindred spirits of sorts. We have some things in common. I hope one thing we share is that we know that losing a football game is inevitable, but not being prepared for a game is preventable. We want to win, but nobody “stays” undefeated. We have to regroup and stop the snarky remarks at each other. Now if someone attacks you, then defend yourself, but somewhere, somehow we have to come to terms with this problem and the time is right now. Let’s get it out of our system and move forward as brothers and even some sisters while you Muthas can just mind your own business and shut your pieholes…
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
1:35 pm
Flats
did you forget about me???
BullDogMike
October 16th, 2012
1:35 pm
Sometime during the Florida game, the special team ( and I use the term lightly) will cost us a touchdown. You can write it down!
slow your roll
October 16th, 2012
1:36 pm
Yall wanna know what I think?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:38 pm
Attention…… “”"” Disney Dawgs aka Kool-aid Drinkers”"”"”
Attention…… “”"” Disney Dawgs aka Kool-aid Drinkers”"”"”
The Analyist on ESPN said UGA has no chance now even if they ran the table to make it to the National Title game why??
Because of that wonderfully coached spectacle in Columbia;
You know the embarrassment that took place in SC
So thanks to our 9th blowout in 4 yrs UGA sits home again and watches another championship
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:41 pm
kingdaddy
While I dont agree with you at times at least you realize there is a huge problem unlike fans like Sammy; Columbus; Brainiac and Altamaha Dawg who think the status quo is just so wonderful and has done so much
Big Wally
October 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
…….and yet, we will probably put more people in the NFL next year, than the teams playing in the championship game
joe jenkins
October 16th, 2012
1:43 pm
It seems to me that the coaches didn’t have confidence in the o-line being able to block the chickens front seven….can you really blame them…..look we have a undersized center….and a bunch of fat guys on the line that get bullied by good teams….but then you have richt admiting that they got away from what was working for them for the whole year and that was running the ball between the tackles…in the game they were getting to the outside with gurley and went away from it…why richt? sounds like the whole coaching staff was confused on how to attack the poultry….why richt? why?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:44 pm
Attention…… “”"” Disney Dawgs aka Kool-aid Drinkers”"”"”
Attention…… “”"” Disney Dawgs aka Kool-aid Drinkers”"”"”
The Analyist on ESPN said UGA has no chance now even if they ran the table to make it to the National Title game why??
Because of that wonderfully coached spectacle in Columbia;
You know the embarrassment that took place in SC
So thanks to our 9th blowout in 4 yrs UGA sits home again and watches another championship
Next years schedule is unmanagable for our coaches and we lose to many players so I guess maybe another 4 yrs before we are in this situation again since we will have an unexperienced QB
7576DAWG
October 16th, 2012
1:44 pm
Richt isn’t going anywhere any time soon. We own Georgia Tech right now and if Richt can win 8 or more regular season games that will be enough for most of the decisions makers at Georgia. Most of the Georgia fans who want Richt gone are students or young fans who have never gone to Georgia as a student and do not contribute anything to the University except to attend a game every once in awhile.
If Richt was to leave , Who would you get to take his place? I know the normal list but these coaches at the top of the list have had numerous chances to go to other schools for a lot more money and have stayed where they are. They are very satisfied with their staff and salary. A lot of these coaches don’t want to deal with the recruiting and the super pressures that you get as an SEC Head Coach. Georgia better be careful or they will end up like Tennessee or Auburn. Everybody knows that Chisik was an experiment that didn’t work. He didn’t have a winning history before he got to Auburn but someone with a lot of pull thought with endless funds he would do a lot better but that is not what has happened and now Auburn is going to have to bring in a new Head Coach.
Smart is not going anywhere. He will be Alabama’s next head coach and had an opportunity to come back to Georgia , which he turned down. Doing that burned every bridge at Georgia. So I again ask if Richt leaves just who do you think McGarity will hire?
I do think that Richt will make a few changes with his coaching staff this year.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
Sammy
Your thoughts???
You were the champion on this blog claiming we will play for the national title if we win out
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
We have to get by Kentucky first. I do think this off week will help some guys heal. Jarvis and Big John will be POd and chomping at the bit to get back on the field. Anybody know if the OL with the steroid problem will have to sit out the rest of the year without a redshirt? Beard ready to play? Stick him in at LT, he can’t do much worse. I’m sorry KG, I love you big guy but you might be a better guard. We need Linemen so bad. Why is it so hard to get them in here? Get rid of TEs coach since we rarely use them anymore and hire a full-time special-teams coach. ***TRY TO FINISH STRONG!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
7576DAWG
What pressure is at UGA
I mean our fanbase excepts 8 win seasons with blowout losses to ranked teams and a consistant beat down by FL
Also
Who would we hire??
No one had any questions about Richt the asst who was an unproven coach yet when Kirby Smarts name is mentioned people say he cant coach.
Wow so we all know what Smart is going to do……such ignorance on these blogs
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
1:52 pm
Thankyou Flat
you also bring many good points to the blog for an outsider. I don’t always agree with you either, but I respect your opinion…
Big Wally
October 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
I have no idea who McGarrity would hire, but I would hire Kirby Smart. 1) former Dawg, 2) already knows recruits in the area, 3) been with Saban with years. Yes, Saban is probably the real Def. Coord. but Smart has had to have learned from him over the years – if he was bad, would Saban had kept him around? 4) knows first hand what it takes to win National Champ, and be consistent winner. 5) more importantly, if he has learned anything from Saban, is how to take the ball and just ram it down your opponents throat. 6) many, many Ga. fans made fun of Fla. for hiring Muschamp….how is that looking now. No reason why Smart could not be = to Muschamp.
L E G H U M P E R LOGIC
October 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
Muschamp cannot coach=Kirby Smart cannot coach.
Wait a minute it appears that Muschamp can coach.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:55 pm
kingdaddy
Our D-line has been a joke all season
before the buffalo game was over I turned to the guy behind me and said well here we go with another; at least 2 loss season.
He asked why are you saying that and I simply said if our D-line cannot get any penetration against Buffalo we have no chance in this league; though we will win a bunch of games due to our lousy schedule
Joey
October 16th, 2012
1:55 pm
kingdaddy, if you think that my calling to attention to Richt’s pathetic record of blowouts is inappropriate, I regret that.
And if you, as a DGD, aren’t bewildered and embarrassed by all of these losses and blowouts, with all of the talent at UGA, something’s wrong with your thinking, not mine, kd. Look, I can take losses, even the ones I think we should win (Mich St comes to mind), if we play a hard, close, game.
But to continually get humiliated on National TV is just more than I can take.
Sorry buddy.
Reality boys
October 16th, 2012
1:56 pm
It is not whether Kirby is the DC or Saban is really the DC. What really matters is there is a Richt way of building a program and there is a Saban way of building a program. Which one wins Championships? Ask Muschamp.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
1:59 pm
kingdaddy
Im not an outsider; Im a season ticket holder tired of paying a huge donation to get season tickets for sorry coaching
I will shut my mouth when Mcgarity stops making our fanbase pay a donation to get season tickets that results in a product that isnt worth the money; and I will shut up when this coaching staff takes a pay cut.
If that happens I will be glad to get on the 8 win cant beat no one band waggon
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
2:01 pm
Joe Jenks
May just be me, but I think Andrews will be a great pulling center. I believe he’s @295 now as a freshman in the SEC. Next year he’ll play @310 and be stronger. He is a gamer and will be “bedrock” next year…
Joey
October 16th, 2012
2:03 pm
“We have to get by Kentucky first”
*****************************
kingdaddy – ordinarily that would seem silly, but I wonder where Murray’s head is right now, rightly worried bout his dad, and he has to have a loss of confidence after Columbia.
We usually win games when we are vastly more talented, so maybe we will.
Just get the W.
Georgia Staying Focused on Kentucky - Kentucky Wildcat News - Nation of Blue - The Home to UK Fans Worldwide
October 16th, 2012
2:03 pm
[...] The Bulldogs aren’t looking ahead though as tight end Arthur Lynch says they are focused on the next game even know they feel lucky to still have a shot at the SEC East. “It’s a relief, but it doesn’t substitute for the fact that we didn’t play the game we wanted to play against South Carolina,” Lynch said. “They beat us straight-up, and there’s still work we need to do, and that’s why we’ve been focusing on Kentucky.” Source [...]
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
2:08 pm
Joey
How many times can I say I’m not happy with the way we are playing? I agree with you 100%!!! You have every reason to be pi$$ed… I just want you to control the anger before the Hulk comes out again, that’s all .I told you I understand. I just want us to go after trolls, not each other…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:08 pm
Attention…… “””” Disney Dawgs aka Kool-aid Drinkers”””””
Attention…… “””” Disney Dawgs aka Kool-aid Drinkers”””””
The Analyists on ESPN said UGA has no chance now even if they ran the table to make it to the National Title game why??
Because of that wonderfully coached spectacle in Columbia;
You know the embarrassment that took place in SC
So thanks to our 9th blowout in 4 yrs UGA sits home again and watches another championship
Next years schedule is unmanagable for our coaches and we lose to many players so I guess maybe another 4 yrs before we are in this situation again since we will have an unexperienced QB
Joey
October 16th, 2012
2:08 pm
Smart turned down a job working for Mark Richt, 7576DAWG, not being UGA’s HC. Big difference. He didn’t want to have to save Richt’s butt, when he could actually learn his craft watching Saban. He would come to UGA in a New York second.
Just hope he’s available when Richt hangs it up.
7576DAWG
October 16th, 2012
2:08 pm
I will admit that Richt was not my first choice as Head Coach because I prefer the Head Coach come from being a great Defensive Coordinator. The SEC was built on DEFENSE not like the Big – 12 where they try to out score their opponents And Offense rules with that Conference. I think pulling Kirby Smart away from Alabama is a zero possibility but between Muschamp and Smart my first choice would have been Muschamp. Brown at Texas is lost without him.
Gdaddy
October 16th, 2012
2:09 pm
Hey Roll Tide…You say
“UGA should NEVER go 6-7 – as they did in 2010.”
Remember?
Alabama 2000 3-8
2001 7-5
2003 4-9
2004 6-6
2006 6-7
2007 7-6
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:09 pm
Sammy
Some kool-aid feedback on this REALISTIC breaking news