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
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:10 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
UGA Insider
October 16th, 2012
2:13 pm
I think Kirby is the guy sometime in the next few years. Saban I bet is instructing him to wait until his dream job comes open.
Strong-Arkansas
Pease-UK
Dooley-Tenn
Petino-Auburn
Smart-to UGA with a UF loss.
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
2:13 pm
Flats
Gotcha bro. How do we change the Status Quo without setting that part of the state on fire??? I’m trying to help, not hurt, but because of Richt, we are fractured but we aren’t FUBAR yet…
UGA Insider
October 16th, 2012
2:16 pm
Flat Tire is right, as in 2007 when a average Tenn team embarrassed CMR there will be no MNC game this season. Maybe we can slide into a BCS game however instead of a boring Outback Bowl against the Big 10 who has not one ranked team this week. Wow I can’t wait for that one. We’ll probably get beat again.
The Truth
October 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
7576Dawg – That’s a gross mischaracterization. The minority of fans are in favor of keeping Richt around. After 5+ years of squandering talent and basking in mediocrity, the majority of fans are ready to see a change at the top. Only the Disney Dawgs are content with continuing to see sub-par play on the field.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Smart will probably go to Tenn
I think after the Miss St loss Dooley is done
I dont think he goes to Arkansas cause you have a much better chance winning at Tenn cause you get better recruits
UGA will once again be late to the ball still hoping Richts only half decent season ( 2002 ) will be relived soon and he still lost to FL that year
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
flat tire
You want a list from me with your name on it?
You won’t like the category……………..
AJ
October 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Love the logic here:
Everyone that drinks the kook-aid with the sidewalk alums are DGDs, enlightened keepers of the realm, and of course, real fans.
Yet anyone who actually went to Georgia but has the temerity to disagree with the Disney’s are trolls and worse.
Thanks for your money, time and passion, but you sanctimonious gasbags can GFY. You like mediocrity and underachievement? Of course you do. CMR is your guy! We get it.
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:10 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
**************************
So by some miracle, UGA beats Florida and everyone else and then beats Bama, you are saying no national title game because ESPN says so?
WRONG
The recent history of the SEC demands that a 1 loss SEC champion is in the title game.
I don’t care what those hacks said.
Same goes for SC and Florida if they have 1 loss and beat Bama-they are in the title game
Reality boys
October 16th, 2012
2:22 pm
You are correct Joey. Smart’s goal would be to be the HC of UGA so why would he come as the DC when if he was successful would just prolong Richt in the job. Being a DC for Saban is better preparation for being a HC than working for RIcht.
7576DAWG
October 16th, 2012
2:30 pm
If we already have a guarantee from a Head Coach or Coordinator whose background is from Defensive side I would be willing to accept a change at Georgia but only because Richt will not fire coaches who are performing sub-par. Just like waiting three years too long to fire Martinez. Richt has at least three coaches right now that need to go because of poor performance or they can not recruit the Southeast.. The biggest lost Georgia has had as far as a position coach was when we didn’t keep Belin as Linebacker coach. He was a great recruiter and a great special teams coach which Richt never admitted. I would have paid him whatever it took to keep him.
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
2:30 pm
Screw ESPN. Who made them in charge of the future. They have always berated UGA and given them little respect. This week off could help. If you hate UGA so much that you have ZERO confidence, then why are you wasting any time talking about it? You’re telling me that if we run the table (as improbable as that seems right now), and defeat #2 or 3 UF, then beat #1 Alabama that we can’t play for a NC? 12-1, beating the #1 team in the country and we won’t get an invitation? Give it a break. Your brain isn’t working on all cylinders. Anyone that beats a #1&2 at the end of the year will be considered, even UGA. QUIT HATEING…
joe jenkins
October 16th, 2012
2:34 pm
@kingdaddy- I thought david andrews was 276lbs? Anyways i’m hoping we put kentucky away early…..damn i hope corn gets out of his slump…. He doesn’t have many more games to prove his self….i dont understand it, he is huge and he runs a 4.4
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
2:34 pm
Flat you are right. Smart going to follow his former assistant AD Hart to Knoxville. No way he goes to UGA. Why would he? As long as CMR and CRG are here, he can get whoever he wants out of Georgia. Energy Vampires unite!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:38 pm
DawginLex
Obviously you forgot 2007 when the ESPN Analyist all said UGA didnt deserve to play for the National Title cause they didnt win their conference
Well guess what nothing was said about Bama last year by them
Theyve already started the drum beat with the embarrassing loss UGA had against SC will keep them out.
And now DawginLex now believes this aint true if we win out
DawginLex havent you learned by now to stop challenging me; year after year you continue to get embarrassed and you still come out for more
By the way UGA has no chance of winning out
Joey
October 16th, 2012
2:40 pm
Bull, Kirby Smart won’t go to UT – they afford to fire Dooley anyway for another year or so.
Kirby is getting experience of a lifetime with Saban. He is waiting to replace Richt, or Saban, whoever retires first.
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
2:41 pm
Lex, you need to work on your people skills..
Gman 84
October 16th, 2012
2:42 pm
Kingdaddy,
Sad to say, but as long as champions are voted upon, ESPN IS actually 100% in charge. They proved it in 2007 when they immediately dismissed the Dawgs because of their irrefutable law stating that one must win their conference to play for the MNC. They proved it again last year when they unanimously decreed that you don’t have to win your conference to play for the MNC as long as you are the team they want to see.
What they are saying is that they do not want UGA in the title game under any circumstances. Herbstreit is probably the most influential voice at ESPN and he spent the 2nd half of the USC debacle ripping the Dawgs toughness, effort and coaching.
In college football, ESPN is the truth, the glory and the power forever-amen.
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
2:42 pm
flat tire
We didn’t deserve to be in the mix in 2007!
We lost to UT and SC
UT beat us then LSU beat UT and Ohio state was undefeated.
You have never embarrassed anyone except yourself.
Joey
October 16th, 2012
2:43 pm
-they CAN’T afford to fire Dooley….
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
2:44 pm
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
2:41 pm
Lex, you need to work on your people skills
***************************************
Why, to please you?
Nah, I’ll pass. If it is making you upset, I’m doing things right. I call things like I see them. If you are a moron, I will tell you.
bamaguy
October 16th, 2012
2:44 pm
Saban has always been consistent in his advice to players and assistant coaches leaving. Don’t leave school early unless you are projected to go in the first couple of rounds of the NFL draft. If you are a coordinator, only go for a head coaching job. If you are a position coach, only go to be a coordinator (like Sunseri did).
That said, I will be very surprised if Kirby Smart is at Alabama next year. Especially if they make the NC game again. Tennessee, with Sunseri and Hart already there, would make sense.
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
2:46 pm
Dooley’s departure is just a Haslem brothers check away..Tennessee is a higher profile job. ESPN likes UT. Smart knows the southast US and knows he can go into Georgia and get anyone he wants. Just like Spurrier, Saban, and Miles do right now. New Years in Orlando. Or Tampa. Or Jax. But not New Orleans. And certainly not Miami. Mediocrity has its privilege.
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
2:48 pm
@DawginLex
I call things like I see them. If you are a moron, I will tell you.
__________________
You might want to talk to the guy in the mirror.
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
2:50 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:38 pm
DawginLex
Obviously you forgot 2007 when the ESPN Analyist all said UGA didnt deserve to play for the National Title cause they didnt win their conference
Well guess what nothing was said about Bama last year by them
*************************************
Comparing a team that lost to the #15 team in america and an unranked team that ended 6-6 to a team that lost to the #1 team in the country in OT because of FG problems is sheer stupidity
No comparison
Bama deserved to be in. We didn’t. A 4 team playoff? Maybe. Not in the BCS title game. Not 2007 team
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
2:51 pm
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
2:48 pm
@DawginLex
I call things like I see them. If you are a moron, I will tell you.
__________________
You might want to talk to the guy in the mirror.
***************************************************
Only if it is you
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
2:52 pm
Marquis de Mercury=Marquis de MORON
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
2:54 pm
Great
If you’re an optimist, you’re a Disney Dawg??? Spoken like a true Troll, LOL
If you believe this team can win, you’re insane!!!
Trolls need to get out of the way or get stepped on. Your opinion is just that, an opinion. You negative posters are a bunch of sissy quitters. Pull your skirts up you fair-weather fans and quit wasting everyone else’s time crying like little babies. Watch the debate tonight, that will make you feel even worse. Write a letter to McGarity and plead your case. Don’t you get tired of crying so much. Screu Richt, but get behind the school. Am tired of the trolls agreeing with the disgruntled fans. Some of you guys are making the school look even worse. Oh yeah, that’s right, I’m making the school look bad cause I’m a Disney Dawg, whatever, at least I’m still a Dawg that supports the school. Uh oh, here comes a rain-cloud, you “fair-weather fans better run for cover…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
DawginLex
You just embarrassed yourself by missing the point
The ESPN Analyist in 2007 stated UGA “”"didnt win their conference “”" had nothing to due with who we lost too
The ESPN Analyist in 2012 are saying UGA was embarrassed by SC who lost to LSU and shouldnt be allowed to play for the national title even if they win out
The point was when ESPN starts their drum beating they usually sway what happens
Ive yet to embarrass myself like you do multiple times every year on this blog
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
2:57 pm
Credibility comes with winning championships Lex. Bama has plenty. Georgia had none in 2007 and has less now. Lack of credibility seems to be a by-product of getting your backside handed to you. Especially in 07 to lesser teams. Your team Your time Lots of regrets,..something like that.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
DawginLex
By the way what happened to our National Title last year? how about this year?
Still waiting on that bold prediction you post every year
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
3:05 pm
Liar
I don’t post that every year
I said this year, I had high expectations and that Richt needed to win big or his job was at risk
What part of reading comprehension did you miss in school?
All of it???
LHarding Dawg
October 16th, 2012
3:05 pm
Flat Tire – Just curious, how many home or away games have you been to this year?
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
Haven’t I said time and time again, that this was no more excuses year for Richt with McGarity?
Yes
Haven’t I said time and time again that the Florida game will make or break Richt for 2013?
Yes
Why don’t you take the time to actually read and then comment on what you read instead of spewing your Disney/kool aid/delusional comments that you always spew?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
3:07 pm
LHarding
Ive been to almost all the home games since the late 80’s
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
DawginLex
It doesnt matter if we beat FL this year
With our talent we should beat FL by 2 td’s. Yea thats right 2 td;’s so dont come on here beating your chest saying all is fixed hand out Richt another contract extension if we beat FL
sorry but that shipped sailed 2 weeks ago for me. The SC game proved Richt will field ill-prepared teams every single year and lose 2 games consistantlyy with NFL talent
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
You idiots love your little phrases like “Disney Dawgs”…
Well here’s my phrase, enjoy it and “STFU”…
Marquis de Mercury
October 16th, 2012
3:18 pm
settle down kingdaddy..its gonna be ok..
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
3:19 pm
Your ship sailed but I have news for you, if we beat Florida and Florida beats SC, Richt will be here next year and your misery index will be in full throttle mode.
And I don’t care what you or ESPN says, the winner of the SEC will be in the BCS title game
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
3:19 pm
kingdaddy
Kool-aid drinkers like to use the phrase Trolls and Non Fan
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
3:23 pm
I can see it now
UGA beats FL and ole DawginLex will be leading the charge for a lifetime contract for the 3 Stooges
Then after we get embarrassed by Bama and most likely in the bowl game especially if we play a top 15 team…
Poor DawginLex will have figure out a way to make himself look smart again; by posting comments like our next 3 seasons are rebuilding years etc etc etch
LHarding Dawg
October 16th, 2012
3:23 pm
I’m impressed, and will take your opinions more seriously from now on, even if I don’t agree with them. Its the people who have opinions about Georgia football and never leave the house that I’m not interested in.
what of it?
October 16th, 2012
3:34 pm
I see the Richt apologists have come out of hiding
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
Flats
I was raised to think optimism was a positive characteristic.and negativism was the “mother of all down-falls”. You can disagree with Richt without ripping the heart out of the rest of the “kool-aide” drinkers. Which one of us is trying to calm the situation, and which of us is fanning the flames of total anarchy??? Positive or Negative…you choose…
gdawginkalamazoo
October 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Flat Tire, we could get to the NC game regardless of what the ESPN honks say. Win out, have the chips fall where we end up playing #1 Bama in the SECCG and beat them handily. That’s not so hard to see as a possibility. It has the same probability of John L Smith getting named Century 21 Realtor of the Year.
Pazian
October 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
@Flat Tire
– Hypothetical Question, if UGA somehow beats FL, wins out, and upsets Bama in the SECCG how would you evaluate the season or coaching staff?
Am I saying this will happen, no way. The team hasn’t played well enough to reasonably make this prediciton. That being said, with the talent UGA has it’s not a complete imposibility. I’m just curious how you’d respond to the hypothetical above, though I suspect your answer will be something along the lines of “its not possible so I wont entertain the question.” For now I prefer to be optimistic based on the talent our team has and hope for the best while reserving final judgement until after the entire season has played out.
Go Dawgs!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
3:41 pm
LHarding
I wasnt able to go to the games during most of the 80’s and late 70’s due to being out of state and too far away
Like I said in the past
Richt is a great person from what ive seen and heard my problem came when they started demanding fans pay a donation to get season tickets
If your going to demand a lot from your fanbase then dont be shocked when your fanbase up their demands for better results than what we have gotten.
Not beating a top 20 team in 4 yrs is a joke and Richt who is getting paid a top 10 salary should appologize to the fanbase for allowing it to happen. Instead Richt refuses to fire friends refuses to get quality lineman; refuses to work on special teams refuses to get control of the embarrassing arrests but instead Richt wants to blame player execution when he loses or acts like an embarrassing blowout is no different than a 7 point loss
It will be real funny if we were to win out that his stupid statement comes back to bite him
And he has yet to beat a good not great, good FL team nor has he beaten them 2 yrs in a row and he has yet to beat every SEC East team in the same year
Weve had 9 embarrassing losses in 4 yrs; and with the talent we have had the blame falls on Richt
That is my problem
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
3:43 pm
What of it
Crawl back in your bug-hole. Not time for your beatdown yet…
EasilyAmused
October 16th, 2012
3:43 pm
You guys can blame ESPN all you want. Georgia had no business playing for the NC in 2007 and they wouldn’t likely be a Top 2 team if they did manage to somehow back into an SEC Championship this year. Georgia only wins the SEC when the traditional SEC powers are down.
It’s a moot point anyway. Georgia won’t win the SEC in 2012. It will probably be Florida or Alabama. Either of them might get into the NC game with one loss. Oregon appears to be the only other contender that is likely to finish the season undefeated. Notre Dame will probably lose in the next few weeks.
Pazian
October 16th, 2012
3:51 pm
@kingdaddy
– You are a DGD. From what I’ve read you truly understand where our teams problems and, without glossing over those facts, have chosen to remain optimistic and a strong supporter of the Dawgs.
– Your attempt to create a peace and/or calm between the pessimists and optimists on this blog is commendable. I suspect getting these two groups to find any common ground is about as likely as getting the Obama and Romney supporters to agree but, nonetheless, I truly respect the effort. A wise man once said “Blessed are the Peacemakers: and your carry yourself well in that vain. I rarely comment on this blog but have been reading it for awhile and just wanted you to know that there are some of us out here who truly enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work
Go Dawgs!