Georgia’s Aaron Murray ‘relieved of interview duties’ this week (UPDATED)
Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, here directing traffic during last Saturday's game against Georgia Tech, was not available for interviews after that game, nor will he be before this week's SEC Championship game. (AP photo)
*Updates with quotes from Christian Robinson . . .*
ATHENS – Aaron Murray has gone silent.
Georgia’s record-setting quarterback has decided not to talk to the media this week as the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs’ prepare for Saturday’s monumental matchup against No. 2 Alabama in the SEC Championship game. According to Claude Felton, UGA’s director of sports communications, Murray “has requested that he be relieved of interview duties this week and Coach Richt has approved. . . . Apologies.”
Murray will apparently be available after this Saturday’s game.
Murray also bolted from the locker room after this past Saturday’s game. Traditionally Murray answers questions from the same stool in the southeast corner of Georgia’s locker room at Sanford Stadium after every home game.
“He told somebody he just wanted to hook up with his family,” coach Mark Richt said on Sunday. “I don’t know if his family was going to try to drive home after the game because it was not a late game or what. I think he wanted to get out and spend some time with his family before they took off.”
It has made for an interesting turn of events. Not only is Murray a fantastic player and leader on the field, but he also has served as a face and voice for the team for most of his three seasons as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback.
Murray is playing the best football of his career at the moment. This past Saturday he became the first player in SEC history to pass for more than 3,000 yards passing in three consecutive seasons. He comes into the SEC game with 3,201 yards with 30 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, which gives him 9,399 yards, 89 and 29 for his career. Against Georgia Tech his past Saturday he was 14-of-17 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Since the fourth quarter of the Florida game, Murray has thrown for 14 TDs and no interceptions.
Of course, the knock on Murray has been how he has played in marquee games against elite defenses. He threw three interceptions in the first half against Florida on Oct. 27 and was 11-for-31 for 109 yards and an interception in the Bulldogs’ 35-7 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 6. Perhaps Murray didn’t want to be answering again all those questions about not playing well in big games.
Meanwhile, Alabama comes into Saturday’s game with a defense that is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense (233.67 ypg) and scoring defense (9.25 ppg), No. 2 in rush defense (77 ypg) and No. 3 in pass defense (156.67 ypg).
Obviously Murray wasn’t available to explain. But senior linebacker Christian Robinson, one of Murray’s roommates and best friends, defended Murray’s decision.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with the media,” said Robinson, one of three UGA student-athletes to participate in an SEC conference call Monday. “I don’t think he’s trying to send a message. I just think he’s so dedicated this week to being prepared. He wasn’t at the house (Sunday); he was here studying film all day. He’s just a great competitor, one of my great friends, and I know this one means so much to him. He works his tail off every day and people don’t see that. He just wants to be completely ready and not have any distractions. He’s just trying to prepare and I don’t think it’s bigger than that.”
So what do you think? Is it a good call Murray has decided to shut it down from a media standpoint this week? Or is he making a mistake from the standpoint of breaking from his normal routine and treating this game differently than he has all the rest?
Ultimately, the answer will come on Saturday.
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178 comments Add your comment
Thomas Not Concise Brown
November 26th, 2012
4:05 pm
“mr murray, why do you think made Georgia fans just a few weeks ago egg your house and park a moving van out in front? Was it because you never win big games or because you suck against good defenses?”
yeah I’d run from that too.
GDawg
November 26th, 2012
4:06 pm
Hey, I think we’ve all forgotten that his dad was diagnosed with cancer. Maybe the man wants to spend as much time as possible with him. Maybe he’s being a good son and realizing life is short and family is more important than football. I love this game and want UGA to win more than anything else but I do not begrudge a man for spending time with his family. Wake up folks! Life in NOT football. Although it is a good outlet…
Rooney
November 26th, 2012
4:07 pm
Nothing wrong with realizing the size of the opportunity and focusing on that. Let his play on Saturday speak for itself. The world will survive him not talking to you.
Rooney
November 26th, 2012
4:12 pm
Also on the Rambo comment being bulletin board material … remember some were saying the USC QB was “guaranteeing” a win against ND. He did not such thing. Not even close. It was hype for hype’s sake.
HOUDAWG
November 26th, 2012
4:12 pm
Goldenrod = D***H**D
GT = JOKE !
ACC ( Almost Counts Conference ) = BIGGER JOKE !
neel patil
November 26th, 2012
4:16 pm
Goldenrod your a moron gt is garbage and you need to get that through your stupid head you piece of garbage
Texas Dawg
November 26th, 2012
4:20 pm
somebody should update this website’s format to put the newest comments in the front of the list. it’s pretty annoying not have the choice to do that. anyway, i think the decision is perfect. i wish the rest of the bulldogs would have done the same but some of them talked a little bit to add some fuel to whatever fire is burning at alabama. i honestly think bama is overlooking the dawgs like the media is–and i hope so. i think georgia does the unthinkable and wins a big game, big time.
SEC-rules
November 26th, 2012
4:43 pm
Kudos to AM for doing this. I think it’s a great idea, he sure don’t need any extra activity and distractions leading up to the biggest game in his career. Anyone (press) who don’t like it can go suck a lemon. I have a lot of respect for AM, he is a great representative for the UGA football team and seems to be a class act. I can’t wait for the game Saturday. I’m as amped up for this one as I was for the 2 UF-Tebow SECCG with BAMA. Here’s hoping it’s a clean, well fought game that is won by the players (not the refs) and there are no injuries. I will root for either team against ND. Go Bama!
flo-ri-duh
November 26th, 2012
5:11 pm
Innocent Tech players – BOO HOO! Tech chop blocked a UGA player last year – ending his college carer and they chop blocked UGA’s nose tackle saturday – fortunately his injury was not as bad. I’m not talking about cut blocking – I am talking chop blocking which is dirty play and should get a player suspended.
flo-ri-duh
November 26th, 2012
5:14 pm
This will be the most physical game since UGA played Florida and UGA got the best of that one. I predict that UGA will be go for it on defense…… blitzing will be the norm.
Bama goin down
November 26th, 2012
5:19 pm
Dogs are the new Kings of the SEC!!!!! Take down Bama baby!!!
flo-ri-duh
November 26th, 2012
5:20 pm
Crimson Tide is basically pollution of the oceans…… putrid red stench. The SEC showed the ACC (Almost College Conference) is still inferior. Florida State and Clemson would be middle of the pack in the SEC.
flo-ri-duh
November 26th, 2012
5:23 pm
Bummer just lost one of their deep threat WR’s evening things out a bit with UGA’s loss of two starting WR’s. Saban is actually taking the red shirt off a player this late in the season to fill in for the loss. Would Richt do that. Is that best for the player?
#1bamafan
November 26th, 2012
5:30 pm
Yo Duh….At BAMA it is a TEAM game. If Chris Black wants to play and help the team, so be it. He is a freshman but has alot of talent, just like Cooper who you will know more about Saturday night. RTR
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November 26th, 2012
5:35 pm
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SEC-rules
November 26th, 2012
5:57 pm
Hey floridoof.. please provide the link where you read that Saban was taking the redshirt off of Chris Black. Even if it’s true, you would lead people to believe that it was illegal, immoral or against the players wishes. You, boy, need help.
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6:03 pm
[...] QB Aaron Murray “relieved of interview” duties this week [...]
Laughingstockcocks
November 26th, 2012
6:11 pm
The question posed about Murray is too dumb. This was a dumb column.
ShowMeYurTD's
November 26th, 2012
6:16 pm
Great choice Mr. Murray. Very classy move in my opinion; don’t give them anymore motivation, hear that Mr. Rambo? BAMA’s numbers look good because of their cupcake schedule, LSU, ARK not the powerhouses we expected this yr. It’s ours to loose, we have the talent on the field that can stand toe to toe with anybody. Prepare the team CMR, the buck stops with you. GO DAWGS!
Buckeye
November 26th, 2012
6:19 pm
Admit it dogs, you are scared sh&tless.
Game Changer
November 26th, 2012
6:22 pm
BIGGEST QUESTION CHIP THE NEED HELP WITH ARTICLES:
QUESTION TO MARK RICHT: IF AARON MURRAY GETS INJURED EARLY OR WHEN THE GAME IS STILL ON THE LINE, WILL YOU PLAY H. MASON GIVING UP HIS RED SHIRT OR THROW THE TOWEL IN WITH SOMEONE WE KNOW CANNOT COMPETE?
WE ALL WANT TO KNOW WHAT RICHT’S ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WOULD BE, MAKE HIM SAY YES OR NO AND NOT JUST TALK AIMLESSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jay Dawg
November 26th, 2012
6:31 pm
Just focus on beating Bama. Nothing else matters from a football perspective at this point…….
Clanton Dawg
November 26th, 2012
6:35 pm
I think Rambo has said enough. I would shut them all down from the media. Only have the coaches do the interviews this week. Stay focused Dawgs!!
Dawgify
November 26th, 2012
6:39 pm
Agree with GDawg. Having a family member fighting cancer is a huge, horrible thing. From what we know about Murray, he wants to be a great quarterback and a great son. As priorities go, he’s made the right choice. He wants to study film and be there for his family, plus he knows the media attention on this game is magnified significantly. I’m glad he’s freeing himself up to do what he needs to do, and it’s a drag that this has become a story. UGA should have covered for him better.
Mike Franklin
November 26th, 2012
6:41 pm
WTG Murray! Ignore the sports media and you’ll do yourself and your team a favor in the longrun. The last thing we need is some ESPN inspired headliner.
kral
November 26th, 2012
6:53 pm
worried yes ole buck..nervous yes..maybe if we were playing ho i ho I would feel the same not sure
Wild Turkey
November 26th, 2012
6:57 pm
Mr Rambo…After hearing you speak I hope you make it to the NFL. If not, the sanitation department might be a good option for you.
CRIMSON TSUNAMI
November 26th, 2012
7:03 pm
HE CAN RUN IN THE DOME BUT……HE CANNOT HIDE HE WILL DROWN IN A CRIMSON TIDE!!!
springerray
November 26th, 2012
7:06 pm
Golden Rod sounds a little unhappy. Alway a prune in the crowd.
springerray
November 26th, 2012
7:09 pm
Just maybe the Bulldogs will beat the all great and unbeatable Alabama. If so, then they will beat Notre Dame like they did in 1980, and all the @#%$$ HOLE comments above will be nothing, 0’s 0’s 0’s.
Oh Well
November 26th, 2012
7:09 pm
Can you Bummer fans not find an Alabama paper to respond to? I hope Ga wins so yall can shut your pie hole for a year!
Larry
November 26th, 2012
7:18 pm
Chip,
If Murray has the game of his life this Saturday you may have a tough time getting good interviews for awhile! LOL!
GB's Hamburgers
November 26th, 2012
7:20 pm
I’ve been pretty hard on Murray through the years for failing in big games. But the truth is that it’s the offensive line that has been breaking down in those games leading to excessive pressure on him. In the past 4-5 games he’s been great. That will continue against Alabama if the line holds out.
KilroyDawg
November 26th, 2012
7:26 pm
It will of course take a complete team effort to beat Bama but one key is AM legs IMO. Wish the coaches would turn him loose to run when we need to convert a critical 3 down play. Roll AM out and if the receiver is not open take off and pick it up. AM 2-3 years ago tucked and ran the ball much more before coaches had him shut it down due to the possibility of getting injured. Leave everything on the field this Saturday and let him run when needed. GO DAWGS!!l
NCDawg
November 26th, 2012
7:38 pm
I think it is great idea for him to sequester himself but there is an additional level that I would suggest to him. He needs to be done with his study by 3 PM Friday and just chill. He needs to take a sleeping pill and just relax and not squeeze the bar of soap too hard. No one faults his work ethic. He does his due diligence but there is point of diminishing returns. He needs to watch his highlights…reinforce the positive things he has done. Come Saturday morning he need to meditate on what he WILL do and not what he should do. He has the ability- he just needs to settle into it.
NCDawg
November 26th, 2012
7:46 pm
Kilroy… I agree. It also will be a psyche out on Bama…replay of Johnny Football running wild on them. It will make their secondary paranoid as well. I think it will loosen Aaaron up some too.
tenn.DAWG
November 26th, 2012
7:49 pm
Chip,How can you question AM motives after what he’s been through with his dad and family.How can you do that for the sake of an article? Shame on you,cred lost.
KilroyDawg
November 26th, 2012
7:57 pm
AM running now and again keeps the linebackers honest and will help the medium range routes open up. Murray is the key to this game. He doesn’t have to WIN the game but we do need to keep Bama defense off balance and guessing so they can’t just pin their ears back every play.
wally
November 26th, 2012
7:58 pm
Maybe UGA did noot beat South Carolina, but win this one and make Spurrier VOMIT. I hope he watghes and aches because the Gamecocks are no whre to be found. Dogs this is the time to show your stuff. GOOOOOOOOOOO DooooooooooooogS
ONLOOKER
November 26th, 2012
8:01 pm
“Goldenrod, you are complete idiot. Rambo and Ogletree body slammed those chump tech players because of all the chop blocks UGA’s line was getting on account of that useless triple option you nerds run up in Atlanta. Sometimes you’ve gotta make a statement and that statement was made with your “helpless” player getting his head slammed. Also, if Miami didnt back out, tech wouldn’t even be in the run and Floria state just got hammered by a team with ZERO offense. The ACC is a joke. I’m done here.”
I can not conclude that he is complete but wrong. The cut blocks are not chop blocks. Chop blocks occur when one player engages high and another engages low. I believe the blocks he was referencing were cut blocks which start up and then go down. If you start low in space you have broken the rules. The body slams while uncalled for were legal to a point just not a very good idea. I remember seeing on one occasion the Tech player actually landed on him with him receiving the force of the blow. With that said, as a Tech fan I do not think we will win nor do I believe that UGA can defeat Alabama. I also do not think that either team thinks that they can win these games. Rambo would be much better off had he taken his lead from Murray. Good luck this weekend both teams from our state.
NCDawg
November 26th, 2012
8:06 pm
tenn.DAWG… I don’t think Chip is questioning his motivation at all. He was just reporting what was happening and what has been said. The question at the end was whether it is a good idea not. How is he questioning motivations?
BigDawg
November 26th, 2012
8:16 pm
Put this on your bulletin board: Spurrier, suck it! Muschump, suck it! We’re in the SEC championship game AGAIN, & you can watch us WIN from home! Bahahahahahaha woof woof woof Sic Em
NCDawg
November 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
Rambo was backed in a corner. He could have pulled a Jesus and answered a question with a question..like : “What answer can I give? If I say that my team is better you will run with it and call it bulletin board material. Or would you rather I throw my team under the bus? If I don’t answer then you can turn it however you want. So what answer can I give? Of course I believe my team is as talented. The NFL scouts seem to think we are more talented, position by position.”
Rambo is a young man and he plays football. The answer above is the only answer that addresses everything and he would need a few more years to be experienced enough to think of that. He backed up his teammates and that is all he can be asked to do.
NCDawg
November 26th, 2012
8:19 pm
The bottom line on this game… if the Dawgs come out as fired up as they did against UF… woe be to Bama. There I said it.