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Notebook: Richt on players’ boasts; Spurrier on UGA, Bama schedules

5:31 pm November 27, 2012, by Tim Tucker

(Updated 8:30 p.m.)

ATHENS – Georgia coach Mark Richt brushed off comments by two of his defensive players that figured to get a prominent place on the Alabama bulletin board.

Safety Bacarri Rambo told ESPN Radio, in an otherwise tame interview Saturday, that the Bulldogs “have better players” than Alabama “at each position, across the board, especially on defense.” And cornerback Sanders Commings told reporters Monday, “I think we’re the best defense in the country. … Everybody on this defense thinks we are.”

Richt was asked Tuesday about such brash statements.

“You know what? They’re all young and excited, and they say what they want to say sometimes,” Richt replied. “And I don’t think it’s going to matter much what everybody says before the game.

“I think it’s going to matter what happens when we kick it off. So I’m not too worried about that.”

The comments by Georgia’s defensive players have drawn attention because Alabama — the Bulldogs’ opponent in the SEC Championship game on Saturday — statistically ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (9.25 points allowed per game) and total defense (233.7 yards allowed per game).

Georgia ranks No. 16 nationally in scoring defense (17.7 points allowed per game) and No. 22 in total defense (337.8 yards allowed per game). But after a slow start this season, the Bulldogs’ defense has come on strong, holding its past five opponents to an average of 8.6 points.

Georgia linebacker Amarlo Herrera smiled when asked Tuesday about his teammates’ strong statements.

“I feel the same. … I back those guys up,” Herrera said. “I haven’t seen anyone play better than us the second half of the season.

“You can probably say we were lacking some confidence early in the year because we weren’t playing as well as we should have been. But now we have the swagger back, and we’re feeling like the best again.”

Commings said his and Rambo’s comments simply reflected their belief in themselves and their teammates.

“It’s good to play with confidence,” Commings said. “Confidence is just another word for swagger. We step on the field, and that swagger is turned all the way up. We feel like we can shut anybody down, shut anybody out. In order to play good, you have to be confident; you have to have swagger.”

Like Richt, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham seemed unconcerned about his players’ bravado.

“I think both teams have confidence. Our guys have confidence,” Grantham said. “It’s going to come down to who executes and plays on the field, and we all understand that. … It’s going to be a battle. (Alabama is) a talented team. We all understand that. And even the guys you’ve talked to understand that, too.”

Spurrier points to schedules

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier couldn’t resist noting that the two teams in the SEC Championship game enjoyed favorable regular-season schedules.

“Alabama had the easiest schedule in the West division side, and Georgia had the easiest on our side,” Spurrier told The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., on Monday. “I find it very interesting, and I haven’t seen anybody really write about (it).

“Before the season started, you would say these guys have the favorable schedule(s). I guess that’s just the way life is sometimes.”

Georgia’s regular-season schedule did not include any of the top three Western Divisons teams (Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M), while Alabama’s did not include any of the top three East teams (Georgia, Florida and South Carolina).

Georgia defeated its two West opponents, Ole Miss and Auburn, while South Carolina lost to LSU and beat Arkansas.

This is the second consecutive season that Georgia won the SEC East despite losing to South Carolina. Spurrier proposed at the SEC meetings this past summer that cross-division games not count in the standings, but the idea went nowhere. Asked this week if he thought the proposal would ever gain traction, Spurrier told The State: “No, TV would never allow it.”

Injury report

Wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (bruised left shoulder) and cornerback Damian Swann (neck strain) participated in Georgia’s practice on a limited, no-contact basis Tuesday. Both are expected to play Saturday.

“We’re very thin at the (receiver) position,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “We’re a little banged up going into the game. … We’ve just got to get through this week of practice and stay healthy and be smart with them during the game.”

READ ALL ABOUT IT

AJC’s complete and continuous coverage of the SEC Championship game . . .

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97 comments Add your comment

Rooney

November 28th, 2012
8:18 am

It’s going to be a war. Go Dogs!

kerryb

November 28th, 2012
8:18 am

All Spurrier has to do is make sure his team doesn’t collapse in the middle of October like they always seem to do. UGA took care of it’s business after that game. SC did not. End of whining.

jay

November 28th, 2012
8:19 am

lol at Spurrier. Next year they will play Arkansas and Miss St so there will be no excuses. I wonder if he will want reporters writing about that.

kerryb

November 28th, 2012
8:22 am

Kenyan Drake says, “Biggest game in 30 years? We do this every year. Someone needs to tell the FRESHMAN that he had absolutely NOTHING to do with what Bama’s done the last 30 years or even last year. Matter of fact he’s only had one good run all year for them so he’s had NOTHING to do with what they’ve done THIS year.

William G. Little

November 28th, 2012
8:23 am

Where will Steve Spurrier be next Saturday?

jimmyraybillybob

November 28th, 2012
8:32 am

Poor ol’ ball coach. Everything is just so unfair, and his little team just couldn’t beat those other teams. He should just take his ball and go home.

jimmyraybillybob

November 28th, 2012
8:34 am

Why can’t they just shut up and play? It sounds so stupid to say we’re the best defense in the country all the stats say otherwise. Wanna say “I feel we’re playing D as good as anybody in the country now?”

Spurriers best chance to go to the SEC Title game?

November 28th, 2012
8:37 am

Play UGA every week.

NCDawg

November 28th, 2012
8:38 am

Ok Stevie… time to put on your big boy pants and face reality. You lost to LSU. That is 1 west division opponent you lost to. You were in the driver’s seat until your team coughed up a hairball and got their rear ends handed to them by UF. UF was in the driver’s seat and LOST to UGA. Muschamp had the maturity to own up to the fact that they had their chance in Jacksonville and just did not get it done. You had your chance against UF and just didn’t get it done.
But think of this… next year UGA gets LSU and Auburn and the roosters get Arkansas and Miss St. from the West. So what will be your excuse next year? We’ll see if you can get it done when the schedule is easier.

SimpleDawg

November 28th, 2012
8:38 am

Ol’ Steve Superior is still kicking his feet and whining about his not being able to determine who each team in the conference plays.

He’s such a Butthead.

Rip Van Winkle

November 28th, 2012
8:38 am

I may finally get to wake up from my 32 year old sleep.

Reality

November 28th, 2012
8:41 am

You can always tell when a team hasn’t been there for a while( or in this case 32 years); they run their mouths like their blowhard DC “Choke Grantham”.

William G. Little

November 28th, 2012
8:48 am

1. Eddie Lacy
2. T.J. Yeldon
3. Jalston Fowler
4. Dee Hart
5. Blake Sims
6. Kenyan Drake

Yep… Kenyan is only a sixth string running back, bet he’s still part of the team.

Team matters. May the best team win — they usually do.

Dawg Talk

November 28th, 2012
8:59 am

Maybe Steve Spurrier should focus on SC schedule & how not to lose 2 games or more each year, instead of whinning & crying about who GA & Bama had to play. In case he has not figured it out, it goes something like this…….you have to WIN the most games on your schedule, especially the ones away from home. Shut-up & try your best in the gator bowl, you cry baby

dawgfan

November 28th, 2012
9:03 am

I would once again invite Spurrier to revisit his schedule during his dominating run at Florida. Every season began with two patsies in the comfy confines of the Swamp. Florida basically had two extra weeks of preseason practice every year. Florida never went anywhere other than Tallahassee for an OOC game. Every season Florida conveniently had a cupcake or an off week before all of its big games. His opponents rarely had the same luxuries. And its not like the SEC had 5 or 6 top 10 caliber teams in the 90’s like it does now. Please tell me all this didn’t contribute to his gaudy win totals. I need a good laugh. Very few, if any, coaches have benefitted as much from favorable scheduling as much as Spurrier has.

Thanks.

sportzfan

November 28th, 2012
9:18 am

@USC Crying Towel….S. Carolina is not playing UGA or Alabama this week, but they did play recently and the Dawgs got stomped….three years in a row. Not to mention that Carolina finished in final rankings in front of UGA……and will again this year. Regardless what game you play in, Carolina has owned you for three years running, and probably four after next year. And to the idiot that said Carolina barely beat Clemson, I suggest you look at score and stats. Carolina controlled the ball for over two thirds of the game.

Bobby B

November 28th, 2012
9:29 am

Looking forward to the the excuses the obc pulls out next year, when that school to the east fails to win the SEC for the 20th successive year…..wait, this year is 20, next year is 21….

OLD DOG

November 28th, 2012
9:32 am

NO TURNOVERS !!!! NO TURNOVERS !!!! NO TURNOVERS !!!!

22 SEC Titles

November 28th, 2012
9:34 am

SC 20 yrs and counting lol…. Win the big one for a change boys or better yet just stick to BASEBALL

Jabo

November 28th, 2012
9:34 am

Georgia played two good teams all year, (destroyed by one and winning the other because of four lost fumbles) and the rest was against average or below average teams. For Georgia to be ranked number three in the nation is a complete joke. The only way Georgia will win the SEC championship game is for Alabama to completely self distruct. So pup fans continue to enjoy your chest thumping and how great we are because I believe you will be back to reality come sat. Oh, continue to spew your hatred for others so the rest of us can really enjoy your downfall.

OLD DOG

November 28th, 2012
9:43 am

Hey Sportzfan

Like your reasoning. You should be in politics. The same thing happened to SC last year. Seems like beating UGA and Clemson are all you guys have. The last time I checked it was called the South Eastern CONFERENCE. UGA didn’t make the schedule they just played the teams as they came up and won 11 games. For your info that is called a schedule. You whine more than SS.

Mobile Dawg

November 28th, 2012
9:45 am

Georgia’s recipe for success is going to be a balance, strong defense, and a great offensive game plan. Bobo and Richt working “together” on offense. I hope we come out conservative the first couple of series on offense, patience, no turnovers, just let the players get their feet under them. Richt should treat this like a chess match. Let’s don’t lose this thing in the first five minutes.

G-Dawg

November 28th, 2012
9:46 am

Jabo…once a DH…always a DH!!

OLD DOG

November 28th, 2012
10:01 am

Boy this is fun. All of the pressure is on BAMA. If UGA wins it will be the worst thing since the Bear passed. If UGA looses OH WELL !!! they were supposed to loose. If UGA can get to the 4th quarter close it will be very interesting how BAMA handles the pressure. Yes they made a good drive against LSU late but that game could have easily gone the other way. I think UGA has no pressure. The under dog never does. What if BAMA loses to lowly UGA? The sky will fall.

laughingstockcocks

November 28th, 2012
10:09 am

“South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier couldn’t resist noting that the two teams in the SEC Championship game enjoyed favorable regular-season schedules.”

“Alabama had the easiest schedule in the West division side, and Georgia had the easiest on our side,” Spurrier told The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., on Monday.HERE WEGO AGAIN WITH MR WHINE, SLEEZE SUPERIOR. “I find it very interesting, and I haven’t seen anybody really write about (it). NONE OF OUR LOCAL REPORTERS ARE GOING TO WRITE ANYTHIHG IN THE OL’ BALL COACH’S FAVOR AFTER HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRIVE THEM OF THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH EARLY THIS SEASON.

“Before the season started, you would say these guys have the favorable schedule(s). I guess that’s just the way life is sometimes.” WHAT,SUPERIOR, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO THREATEN TO RETIRE TO THE BEACH AGAIN? HAVEN’T HEARD THAT THREAT IN A WEEK NOW. WHEN THE TIME COMES, LET US ALLL KNOW WHAT BEACH IS YOUR RETIREMENT TARGET. A LOT OF US WOULD LIKE TO AVOID IT.

Georgia’s regular-season schedule did not include any of the top three Western Divisons teams (Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M), while Alabama’s did not include any of the top three East teams (Georgia, Florida and South Carolina).

Georgia defeated its two West opponents, Ole Miss and Auburn, while South Carolina lost to LSU and beat Arkansas.

This is the second consecutive season that Georgia won the SEC East despite losing to South Carolina. Spurrier proposed at the SEC meetings this past summer that cross-division games not count in the standings, but the idea went nowhere. Asked this week if he thought the proposal would ever gain traction, Spurrier told The State: “No, TV would never allow it.” ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT THE FANS WOULDN’T LIKE IT EITHER…YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS FANTASY, SLEEZE

I’M GAME(C0CKS)

D man

November 28th, 2012
10:10 am

Spurier – Bama played Michigan when they were ranked high, played Arkansas shortly after they were ranked high, beat an undefeated highly ranked Miss St, and of course beat LSU on the road in death valley where some dreams end. Ga beat Florida which is never easy, and all of the normally tough east teams. Stop whining, you lost two games…

William G. Little

November 28th, 2012
10:12 am

Few teams do a good job of handling the pressure of being favored to win a big game. Just ask Kansas State.

Few handle the pressure better than does the Crimson Tide.

Are they “skeered”? I doubt it. ;)

Lonnie

November 28th, 2012
10:14 am

Talk about delusional we did run the east says that the team with the best record GA and the President that had the most votes are not the winners. The rules say the best record wins! We are 11-1! Get a life and get over it! By the way watching GA blow out Saban’s LSU team in 2004!!

William G. Little

November 28th, 2012
10:19 am

Past games are intriguing, I suppose.

I’m looking forward to the next game. I feel pretty good about it.

Joey

November 28th, 2012
10:23 am

It ain’t enough we have to put up with Techies, now the littlecocks are back to visit.

Hey littlecocks, all y’all had to to get to the Dome was what we did, beat UF.

And what happened? In the words of AltamahaDawg: ”

“Cock-a-doodle-didn’t.”

Entrepreneur

November 28th, 2012
10:30 am

Oh my gosh, Georgia. Please don’t worry about Coach Spurrier’s comments. After all he talked about the Georgia 2012 schedule at the beginning of the year. It is old news. Please keep up your great work. You are national championship material and it looks like you will get to the promise land . You will be National Champions! I for one am exicted about the opportunity. I just ordered and received 1,000 bumper stickers to sell in South Carolina. It will read “South Carolina 35 National Champions 7″ Please make it happen Georgia! We both will benefit.

OkieDawg

November 28th, 2012
10:33 am

Spurrier is not in the SECCG because he lost to Florida in the East. All he had to do was beat Florida, we did.

ShowMeYurTD's

November 28th, 2012
10:43 am

Prepare, Focus and Finish! That’s the winning recipe, no turnovers. In the words of the great Larry Munson….”the clock will not move”. I’m dying with anticipation. Go DAWGS!!!

tony

November 28th, 2012
10:43 am

sportzfan

November 28th, 2012
9:18 am

@USC Crying Towel….S. Carolina is not playing UGA or Alabama this week, but they did play recently and the Dawgs got stomped….three years in a row. Not to mention that Carolina finished in final rankings in front of UGA……
_________________________________________

Gamecock fans are becoming very annoying. I never boast when the dawgs beat them 5 in a row but they act like their team is the best on the planet. Congratulation, you have a coach who can out coach Mr Richt. I will say this though – if Mr Richt prepare his team to play the gamecocks the way he prepare them for the yellow jackets, they will never lose to the gamecocks. UGA has to much talent to loss to teams that don’t recruit better than them.

What they’re saying in Georgia about Alabama’s SEC Championship Game opponent (Wednesday links) – Alabama – Crimson Tide News

November 28th, 2012
10:45 am

[...] From AJC.com, the website of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:* Alabama RB pokes fun at UGA* Georgia’s best chance vs. Alabama may be to step on gas* Mark Richt would burn QB’s redshirt season, if needed, for two games* Looking for tickets to SEC Championship?* Muschamp fires back at Saban: “Be careful what you ask for, Nick”* Matchup: Alabama’s rushing offense vs. Georgia’s rushing defense* Notebook: Richt on players’ boasts; Spurrier on UGA, Bama schedules [...]

Joey

November 28th, 2012
10:50 am

Spurrier’s remarks shouldn’t bother UGA fans – I think he wants UGA to consider SC a “rival” in the manner of UF, AU, and Tech. So he takes shots whenever he can at the Dawgs.

I think he’s also desperate to win something of significance at SC because of UF spurning him when they fired Zook.

He was/is a great coach, and can obviously get the best of our coach more times than not, but he sure comes off looking small with remarks like this.

Bazooka Joe

November 28th, 2012
10:50 am

East – you are wrong – south carolina is the third best team in the east, guess they dont teach you to read over in columbia (thats why bozo the clowney is still in school – he would have flunked out of any other school by now)

Zoomie

November 28th, 2012
11:14 am

Not a thing wrong with what they said. They’re not disrespecting Alabama, they’re just voicing their confidence in themselves and their teammates. Whatever the outcome, this should be a great game and these guys should be proud of a great, if controversial and tough, season.

Go Dawgs! Sic ‘em!

Tdawg

November 28th, 2012
11:19 am

If South Carolina had beaten a much over rated LSU team kinda like Florida did. You know beat LSU. You didn’t. Then had you beaten “That” Florida team. Again you didn’t. South Carolina would be SEC East champs. I know you beat UGA. Still UGA lost only one conference game and you Gamecock’s lost 2 (what was your forefathers drinking when they decided to choose a freaking chicken for a mascot)? UGA beat Florida and would have beaten LSU unlike you chickens failed to do. If I’m not mistaken 1 is less than 2, so using that mathematical formula UGA and Florida would be co-champs with UGA winning the head to head thing, leaving South Carolina in there proper pecking order. Well that is until Tennessee gets their program back on track. Did South Carolina ever consider applying for the ACC. I hear they’re taking applications.

Zoomie

November 28th, 2012
11:26 am

I love Spurrier. I think he’s hilarious! Here’s why he’ll continue to disappoint:

Spurrier seems to have an unhealthy fixation on UGA. Through his recruiting, his team-building, his scheming and coaching, he seems to gear his actions towards besting UGA every year. Now that he’s getting some players, he’s becoming quite successful at it.

Problem is, he loses strategic focus. He isn’t able to lead the program through the SEC gauntlet because he focuses too many of his resources on one opponent.

This is always the worst time of the year, when we have to sit and read Spurrier’s sour grapes, whining, and listen to all the different reasons it’s everybody else’s fault that USCe didn’t win the Division. But, whining season will soon be over and we can look forward to the humorous quips and competitive barbs as he builds for next year’s season.

You gotta love the guy . . .

David Granger

November 28th, 2012
11:43 am

It’s true that Georgia has more star players on defense…half the starting defense will probably play NFL ball. Yet, the Alabama defense has been much better statistically overall…what does that tell ya? Georgia makes more spectacular plays, but gets burned occasionally.
Frankly, I wish Coach Richt had instructed the team to keep their mouths shut about the upcoming game. Guess I’m “old school”, but I hate to see the team I’ve pulled for all my life start acting like that damn FSU scum.
I hope that…along with the talk…Coach Richt will have the team ready to play hard from the very opening kickoff. Georgia doesn’t always do that, and we’re going to need to in order to have any chance in the SEC championship game. We KNOW Alabama will be ready to play hard.

MurfDawg

November 28th, 2012
12:00 pm

Memo to SOS:
Steve,

Can’t play golf Sat Dec 1.

Have meeting in Atl.
Mark

Ed

November 28th, 2012
3:04 pm

This isn’t a typical season. Most years, a conference schedule that includes Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Auburn (UGA’s usual schedule) would be considered anything but easy. In some years it would be almost unfair. And Alabama was on the schedule before conference realignment. But Alabama is on the schedule anyway, so if we win Saturday we can point to a schedule that featured South Carolina, Florida and Alabama.

Ed

November 28th, 2012
3:08 pm

Spurrier recently took a jab at Clemson, something about them not playing well in the S. Carolina game.

He may have a great coaching resume’, but the man is a low-class jerk. Beating someone 4 times in a row should be enough, I don’t see the point in rubbing their faces in it publicly. He used to pull the same thing with Ray Goff back when his teams beat Goff’s like a rented mule on a regular basis. I don’t get it.

The phrase “act like you’ve been there before” certainly applies to Spurrier.

Silver Dawg

November 28th, 2012
7:39 pm

Dear Coach Spurnier, Ok YOU WIN! Just to make you happy the Dawgs will play Alabama this year. So there!

backed your way into another one???

November 28th, 2012
9:58 pm

1. bama
2. florida
3. lsu
4. carolina
5. a&m
6. vandy
7. uga

bob

November 30th, 2012
9:06 pm

Spurrier is just sad because UGA keeps him out of another NC, no matter what you do spurrier nothing will change the fact georgia kept you out of winning one as a player and more than likely will win one even though you think you were superior this year. You won the battle but lose the war, just like as a player so go suck on a visor

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