Mark Richt, Bo Pelini discuss Georgia-Nebraska matchup in Capital One Bowl
Georgia coach Mark Richt and Nebraska coach Bo Pelini were each flown to Orlando on Thursday by the Capital One Bowl for a news conference to preview their teams’ matchup in the Jan. 1 Bowl. Following are some of their comments from that session:
NEBRASKA COACH BO PELINI
On being selected for the Capital One Bowl:
“We’re excited. I know I can speak for everyone and say that we’re excited to be coming back to Orlando. We’re coming to a first-class bowl game, great hospitality, great city of Orlando, and the opportunity to play a tremendous football team, one of the top five, top couple football teams in the United States. So we’re looking forward to the challenge, a great football game and a great trip for our team and our fans.”
On a return trip to the Capital One Bowl:
“Having some familiarity with the surroundings, the hotel, everything. One thing I can say from my appearance last year is that the folks at the Capital One Bowl do such a great job. They’re so organized. They made it easy on us. It’s first class all the way. We’re looking forward to it.”
On the possible distractions of playing in Orlando:
“I don’t think it’s a distraction. There’s time for work and then there’s time for play. Going to a bowl game is a reward, a reward for a lot of hard work that’s gone into it, a lot of sacrifice. I think we do a good job of balancing that.”
On playing Georgia:
“I know Coach Richt from my time in the SEC, watched him on film a lot. I have a lot of respect for their program. I know they’re a tremendous football team, very talented football team and they’ll be a great challenge for us.”
On rebounding from the Big Ten Championship Game loss:
“It’s not the first time we’ve gotten hit in the mouth. Everybody who plays the sport of football, or plays athletics, goes through a tough time. The way you’re defined isn’t by what happens to you, but the way you react to it. Our guys are looking forward to the next opportunity to go out there and play. The opportunity to play against Georgia is great.”
On stopping Georgia’s running game:
“There not the first team we’ve played and they’re not going to be the last that has a good running football team. We’ve played enough of them this year, physical running backs, physical groups up front. We’ll be ready for it. We won 10 games for a reason. It’s not easy winning ten. We’ve got a tremendous challenge ahead of us to try to get 11.”
GEORGIA COACH MARK RICHT
Opening statement:
“It’s good to be here in Orlando. We’re very thankful to have the opportunity to play in the Capital One Bowl. I think going into the SEC Championship game I know I wasn’t thinking about plan B, but if your plan B lands you in Orlando and lands you at the Capital One Bowl then it’s a great thing for your program. We’ve been here before. It’s as good, if not the very best, bowl experience we’ve had as a team. Our fans love the opportunity to come to Orlando. I think our players will enjoy everything. I know our players enjoyed it back in 2008 after that season. I know the coaches’ wives and children enjoy it as well. We’re glad to be here. We know we have a tremendous challenge in playing the University of Nebraska headed up by coach Bo Pelini and his staff. They have some very dynamic players. Martinez is a great quarterback and they have a couple I-backs that are rushing for more than 200 yards a game and we’ve had some trouble with the rushing game lately so we need to make sure we can handle that.”
On the Bulldogs’ season goals:
“I don’t look at the bowl as a plan B, but plan A was to win (the SEC Championship) and play in the national championship. I think our guys like football. I think they like to play the game. I think they enjoy winning and I think they enjoy practicing. We have a lot of veterans on this team that came back for a special and to some degree it is a special year. We didn’t quite get to the mountain top like we wanted to, but these guys still have a lot of pride and they want to go out here and leave our program on a high note and in a first-class manner.”
On Nebraska coach Bo Pelini:
“He always has great defensive football teams. He was a defensive coordinator obviously. Just tough, hard-nosed football. That’s what it’s all about.”
On his Nebraska ties:
“I grew up a Nebraska fan. My mom and dad were born in Omaha, born in the same neighborhood, and grew up together as kids. They started dating and got married in their teens. Most all of their family still lives in Nebraska. Even when we moved to Colorado we were still big-time Nebraska fans. It’s very meaningful to play the University of Nebraska to me on a personal note. Because I’m at Georgia a lot of my cousins are Georgia fans as well and they call themselves ‘Corn-Dawgs.’”
On recruiting in Florida:
“Hopefully there are some young players in the area that watch the game and maybe get to come to the game in person to see us play and like what they see and get excited about Georgia.”
On the bowl time activities:
“I like for our players to enjoy the bowl experience. I want to win and we’re going to have our meetings and our practices set up to where we’re going to get the work done that we need to get done. We try to get it done early enough in the day that they have the majority of the day to go enjoy the events. I don’t mind them going out and having fun; I don’t even look at it as a distraction. I look at it as a reward.”
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249 comments Add your comment
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:07 pm
He is literally killing your program with his recruiting non-strategy.
He is killing our program? He has the highest winning percentage of any GT coach in the past 50 years. What do you think GT is capable of?
flo-ri-duh
December 7th, 2012
12:10 pm
Foster just decommitted from Aubarn and Nkemdiche says that is not a lock that he will go to OLE Miss…….. lists UGA among schools he is considering. I say drop these Drama Queens – they belong on “House Wives”.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:10 pm
Bobby, then why even attempt to?`Your guys can just sit around on Saturdays afternoons and beat off over your diplomas?
Because there is a small percentage of alumni who care about football and keeping the sport around allows easy funding for other sports. There is no real reason to get rid of football.
flo-ri-duh
December 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
Until Paul Johnson shows he can recruit – especially on defense – he will be a loser. That’s his weakness. He can coach. He has been a failure as a recruiter.
ARdawg
December 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
Hank Hill
Given the circumstances and the Bama loss, I think it is important to the UGA players to hammer Nebraska as much as possible for nothing more than a high end of year ranking
smlarsen
December 7th, 2012
12:14 pm
Agreed Ole dawg. I mean can you possibly be serious. No, I mean who would want a coach that constantly has 10+ win seasons, 2 sec championships and won the east 5 times in the past decade. I mean those numbers just mean nothing. Yea right bob. Here’s a list of things to do. 1. Get a life you clearly dont have one. 2. Get a brain its obvious thats missing as well. 3. Stop hating because your team is and will be a joke until they get rid of johnson and the tripple option offence. 4. Maybe try dating? There is more to life than hating your rival and the other team in the state that is constantly better than you. END
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
Pelini has his moments, and the Huskers has had theirs this season, but 10 wins is still a very good season for both programs.
Nebraska is probably going to end the season by almost losing to Iowa, losing by 39 to Wisconsin, and getting blown out by UGA. Most Nebraska fans aren’t going to be happy with that.
ARdawg
December 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
“Because there is a small percentage of alumni who care about football and keeping the sport around allows easy funding for other sports. There is no real reason to get rid of football. ”
Bob, it’s difficult to believe GT football actually funds other sports. Grants tomb hasn’t sold out in how long? Of course we’re only talking 40-45K when it does sell out
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:18 pm
Bob, it’s difficult to believe GT football actually funds other sports.
Then what does? Our Athletic Department actually turned a small profit last year, while playing basketball games at remote locations. Where do you think the money came from? Women’s tennis?
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:19 pm
3. Stop hating because your team is and will be a joke until they get rid of johnson and the tripple option offence.
Yeah, lets get a pro offense. That worked out great in the past.
smlarsen
December 7th, 2012
12:21 pm
Sad thats all you had to say. Guess the other 3 suggestions are ones you should probably take action on Immediately. And FYI you need to try something different b/c that is clearly not working.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:23 pm
That’s his weakness. He can coach. He has been a failure as a recruiter.
No one is going to be able to recruit well at Tech anyways. That was the reason CPJ was hired.
ARdawg
December 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
GTBob
How would I know or why would I care? Your institution is as high on the completely and totally irrelevant chart as it can possibly get. It’s barely even mentioned in a whisper now. Maybe some well placed bake sales? Turned a small profit, that’s just funny right there. No wonder Manboobs can’t get a raise. It’ll put the entire athletic department in the red
I love biscuits and gravy
December 7th, 2012
12:25 pm
Overcoming that heartbroken SEC Championship game will be to tough, Dawgs fall I am afraid.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:25 pm
Sad thats all you had to say. Guess the other 3 suggestions are ones you should probably take action on Immediately.
Sorry, the other three suggestions were poor attempts to guess what my life is like outside of the blogs. If you can find a way to make them football related then I will politely respond.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:27 pm
How would I know or why would I care?
I give you a little more credit than that ARDawg. I am pretty sure that you know that football is the main money driver at all athletic programs.
roughrider
December 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
GT Bob: Doesn’t Johnson make millions per year? If Tech’s academics keep them from having a good football team, why doesn’t it hurt them in basketball and baseball? You are just negative because GT laid an egg this season and will continue to do so as long as Johnson is coach.
Cal22
December 7th, 2012
12:39 pm
-Bo Pelini “It’s not easy winning ten.”
Play a schedule like Georgia’s last two and you’ll see it’s really not that hard.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
12:46 pm
GT Bob: Doesn’t Johnson make millions per year? If Tech’s academics keep them from having a good football team, why doesn’t it hurt them in basketball and baseball?
A few reasons. One is that Baseball and Basketball players are more intelligent then football players in general. Two, you are recruiting far less players in baseball and basketball and therefore any academic exemptions are far more important. Three, is that the SEC doesn’t have a dominant grasp on basketball or baseball, making it more possible to out recruit them in those sports.
WDE
December 7th, 2012
1:31 pm
Look forward to a good game vs the Huskers good solid team and program. And Cal22 I bet your team can’t do as well with our schedule as we have…..
Browndog
December 7th, 2012
1:31 pm
I believe the game will be close and very entertaining. Neb got embarrassed in the championship game, but feel they will come to play. After all , both teams want to end/start the year on a positive note.
Steve
December 7th, 2012
1:35 pm
People, WHY are you continuing with GTBob? Do you not realize if you simply ignore him that will make him mad and cry? He feeds off of your comments which is why he types your comment again and then comments on it. We all know he is a moron and has no life so just ignore him.
Concerned
December 7th, 2012
1:36 pm
GTBob – talk about excited! How about that 7 loss Ga Tech team in a bowl!! I bet you already have your bags packed – given that Tech fans travel so well for their team!
Bill
December 7th, 2012
1:36 pm
Stumbled on this blog out of curiosity. Not really a Bulldog or Tech fan so a neutral view. However, I was overwhelmed at the vitriol of GT Bob. Guess I just don’t understand why anyone can spew such hate over a game. Whoever you are GT Bob, I hope you find a way to manage your negativity. It just isn’t healthy for you to stay in such a constant rage.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
1:46 pm
GTBob – talk about excited! How about that 7 loss Ga Tech team in a bowl!!
Yeah, we may not have deserved a bowl this year and we play a better team than UGA does but at least the team will get some extra practice time. I take it as a positive.
Newnandawg
December 7th, 2012
1:49 pm
1-2 vs. ranked teams this year. That’s a vast improvement for Richt.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
1:49 pm
Stumbled on this blog out of curiosity. Not really a Bulldog or Tech fan so a neutral view. However, I was overwhelmed at the vitriol of GT Bob.
I am actually being pretty calm today. I like to ease my way into the weekend.
GTBob = Moron
December 7th, 2012
1:53 pm
So USC is better than Nebraska according to Bob the moron:
USC = 7-5 record
Nebraska = 10-3 record
USC = 29th ranked offense, 64th ranked defense
Nebraska = 24th ranked offense, 22nd ranked defense
Like Steve said, we need to ignore this clown.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
1:59 pm
So USC is better than Nebraska according to Bob the moron:
If USC and Nebraska were playing a bowl game on a neutral field then USC would be favored by at least a touchdown. Almost all of USC’s losses were close losses to quality opponents and they have drastically more talent than Nebraska.
GTBob = Moron
December 7th, 2012
2:03 pm
Nebraska, who only has 3 losses compared to USC, lost to UCLA, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. 3 “quality” losses. USC lost to Arizona, ha. F-Off little bobby.
crossdawg
December 7th, 2012
2:04 pm
I hope CMR has told his team that he needs them all for the Dawgs to win. The Dawg Nation does not need several suspended for “eating brownies” or whatever.
Athens
December 7th, 2012
2:08 pm
All kidding aside GTBob, get some help with your self esteem issues to come here over and over…….I actually feel sorry for you.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
2:08 pm
Nebraska, who only has 3 losses compared to USC, lost to UCLA, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. 3 “quality” losses. USC lost to Arizona, ha. F-Off little bobby.
Ohio State beat them by 25. A bad Wisconsin team beat them by 39. Sorry, but they aren’t very good. Like UGA, they had a favorable schedule this year to make them look better than they really are.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
2:10 pm
All kidding aside GTBob, get some help with your self esteem issues to come here over and over…….I actually feel sorry for you.
A appreciate your concern Athens.
Glory Between the Hedges
December 7th, 2012
2:13 pm
Im sorry but there is no way that I can get excited over this game. This game is such a let down for our players and fans. Its a slap in the face to play a team that just got embarrassed byWisconsin.nothing will be gained from this game.
Glory Between the Hedges
December 7th, 2012
2:14 pm
I see a big let down performanc in this game. Possibly a loss.
Athens
December 7th, 2012
2:31 pm
@GTBob,
I suspect you are actually a pretty good guy away from the blogs. Obviously, you have some brains as you write well. I just hate that you love to throw barbs at coaches and players you don’t know personally. Additionally, professionals in sports say things quite contrary about UGA from what you say. Ou side of Saban and Spurrier, with most coaches you could disect their winning years the way you do. Look at Pete Carrol with his conference while at USC or Mack Brown at Texas. For gosh sakes, Bob Stoops. I’d say M Richt is in pretty good company and ahead of the Frank Beamer who most , including me, think the world of.
smlarsen
December 7th, 2012
2:33 pm
Dont even start Cal you crimson blind loser.
kral
December 7th, 2012
2:36 pm
gtbooby more intelligent baseball and basketball players.and you base this general statement on what?the sure sign of narcissism…every thing I say is correct….every opinion I have is factual and I can really get dawg bloggers going..proud of ole gt..like I said your good at this..
AJ
December 7th, 2012
2:37 pm
Ditto, what in the world is taking so long to determine Dials hit on Murray was a cheap, illegal shot that could have cost Murray his career and worse his health………..if no suspension is forthcoming then I better not ever hear about protecting defenseless players by Slive and the NCAA again!!
kral
December 7th, 2012
2:38 pm
booby doesn’t have self-esteem issues he thinks way to highly of himself and his opinions
Groundhogday
December 7th, 2012
2:51 pm
“……. the SEC doesn’t have a dominant grasp on basketball or baseball…”
recent CWS champs:
2009 – LSU
2010 – South Carolina
2011 – South Carolina (over Florida)
2012 – Arizona (over South Carolina)
Looks like the SEC’s “grasp” in baseball is pretty damn good. Stick to football, Bob. At least you know a little something about that.
Left Coast Dawg
December 7th, 2012
2:53 pm
….and didn’t Kentucky just win the NCAA Basketball Championship
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
2:55 pm
Looks like the SEC’s “grasp” in baseball is pretty damn good. Stick to football, Bob. At least you know a little something about that.
I meant in terms of recruiting. The SEC is a very good baseball conference but there is no aura of dominance like there is in football. This is probably mostly due to the fact that college baseball isn’t really a highly watched sport on TV.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
2:57 pm
gtbooby more intelligent baseball and basketball players.and you base this general statement on what?
Experience. Sorry, but the dumbest of the dumb end up as football players.
RJ
December 7th, 2012
2:58 pm
Guys the best way to deal with some of the real non UGA fan Bloggers is simply not to comment on their one sided blogs. Think about it thats all they have. It is obviously their way of dealing with all that is wrong on their side or simply just trying to rile up everyone. Who cares what they have to say, it is so subjective it is irrelevant.
Ijaz Fahted
December 7th, 2012
3:00 pm
Everyone, please stop responding to Gay (er) GT Bob. He obviously doesn’t have a job, spends most of his time sitting in his momma’s basement surfing blogs of real teams, and only wants to stir the pot. Go Dawgs!
kral
December 7th, 2012
3:01 pm
really based on your experience of what..just easing into the weekend ole bob
smlarsen
December 7th, 2012
3:04 pm
But thats just it. Its sad. This is all that he has becuase he has no team to talk about. So, with sympathy in mind we have to let him have something don’t we? I mean you couldn’t blog about tech if you wanted to, well you could but it would all be about how horrible they are. Hell even then fans dont like them. So, I think we can entertain bobs weak efforts to “rawl us up” its not working. Not to mention the entertainment that we get out of seeing just how stupid he really is.
What'l ya have, Bob?
December 7th, 2012
3:09 pm
What GTbob doesnt mention is that most of the GT football team doesnt go to the engineering school at tech. Most of them go to the buisness school they have there, and the academic standards for it are more in line with most major college programs, so he needs to come up with a better excuse why their football program is sub-standard.