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
3:10 pm
really based on your experience of what..just easing into the weekend ole bob
Experience of being around football, baseball, and basketball players my whole life. Football is a physical sport. At most positions, there isn’t much to it. It’s not a thinking mans game. The only position that requires intelligence at all is the QB position and QB’s are usually some of the smartest people on the team.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:13 pm
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
The core requirements for the business program at GT are the same as any other program at GT. Lots of math and science. It is also ranked very high nationally and just got a $50 million dollar donation from an alumnus. Compare that to your housing or leisure studies degree.
aldogg2121
December 7th, 2012
3:17 pm
“At most positions, there isn’t much to it. It’s not a thinking mans game. The only position that requires intelligence at all is the QB position and QB’s are usually some of the smartest people on the team.”
Spoken like a true moron with no real knowledge of the game.
@GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:20 pm
Well, GTBob – I thought Tech would break that pitiful losing streak of 7 consecutive years of losing bowl games, since they really were not eligible, but I see they gave your 6-7 team a waiver, so I guess you will continue the streak after all. I wonder what the tickets for that game will go for, maybe $4, if they throw in a hotdog and coke?
Fair n Balanced
December 7th, 2012
3:21 pm
GT Bob is entertaining! But not very bright. Sad that he can only take pride in seeing GA lose. He’s a true Tech fan and I enjoy the Old Fashioned Hate! Bring it on Bob. We will keep mowing you down because you know who runs this state!
Athens
December 7th, 2012
3:22 pm
GTBob,
If you say you have been around football and sports as much as you say, your barbs are even less understandable…….
senior citizen Dawg fan
December 7th, 2012
3:22 pm
GTBob, why are you on this site???? Are you lost and fudging your name for trouble?
aldogg2121
December 7th, 2012
3:26 pm
GTBob says football is not a thinking man’s game? It takes a greater deal of mental acumen to play football than it does baseball and basketball. And if you disagree with that, then you have absolutely no reason to claim to be a sports fan.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:29 pm
Spoken like a true moron with no real knowledge of the game.
I welcome your rebuttal to my comment. Give me good reasons why defensive tackles have to have high intelligence to be good at football.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:31 pm
GTBob says football is not a thinking man’s game? It takes a greater deal of mental acumen to play football than it does baseball and basketball.
Instead of just saying it and hoping people believe you, why don’t you say why.
No. 1 Braves Fan
December 7th, 2012
3:35 pm
I think GTBob simply enjoys attention. This could be for a lot of personal reasons which I will not name on a blog. As long as he gets responses from anyone, he is just
going to continue and increase his presence on the AJC blogs. Its up to you who respond to decide if you want more of him in the future. I for one never respond to a comment he makes.
aldogg2121
December 7th, 2012
3:41 pm
Well, let’s see. Football players at every position have to understand formations and assignments on every single play. Have you ever seen a football team’s playbook? Much thicker and more in depth than a basketball playbook. Basketball is more of a freelance sport…nowhere near as many assignments in that game. And baseball? Seriously? All you have to think about in baseball is situational stuff…like what to do as a baserunner or as a fielder when the ball is put into play.
Football games are played once a week. Hours upon hours of game film must be studied to figure out opponents’ tendencies. Teams must make subtle adjustments to their own formations and plays based off of what their opponents tend to do in those situations. Then during the game, players must be able to read and react to the different looks that their opponent gives them.
This is not debatable. Having played all three of these sports for many, many years, I can say without a doubt that football takes more intelligence.
NCDawg
December 7th, 2012
3:41 pm
Jeez what is this the GTBooby support group? Weren’t we talking about how Nebraska is pooping their big boy pants over having to play UGA? GTBooby can seek psychiatric help on his own time… personally if someone is stupid enough to talk smack about a team that is 10X better than his chosen team then he is a masochist. He REALLY likes pain people. You can try to ignore him but he is like the clap… he just keeps hanging around.
Strat Cat Dawg
December 7th, 2012
3:42 pm
Is this blog about Georgia-Nebraska or is it about GTBob? The guy is just a Tech fan trying to push your buttons, why get worked up and let him distract you from a meaningful dialogue? I generally don’t interact with hecklers. On the other hand, trolls are actually doing the Dawgs a favor: If you have a conversation with one, it helps Chip keep his numbers up and inspires you to speak up for the program, which has had a great year despite falling just short of college football immortality. Here’s to GTBob, it’s all good.
Strat Cat Dawg
December 7th, 2012
3:43 pm
@NC Dawg Jinx!
NCDawg
December 7th, 2012
3:45 pm
Strat Cat Dawg – sorry to steal your thunder man…LOL
aldogg2121
December 7th, 2012
3:45 pm
And not only do football players have to understand their own positional assignments on a given play, but they must also understand that of their teammates. One breakdown/blown assignment can lead to a busted coverage on defense or a busted play on offense. It takes 11 men working in harmony to bring to life the well-constructed, well-executed plays that you see on TV.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:45 pm
I think GTBob simply enjoys attention. This could be for a lot of personal reasons which I will not name on a blog.
You don’t want to tell me how horrible my life is like every other UGA fan on here who doesn’t know me? That’s a shame. I like hearing about my life from an outside view. Some people can get creative with it.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:46 pm
He REALLY likes pain people.
Or maybe im not really all that hurt by anything said about me.
GIGO
December 7th, 2012
3:47 pm
Wow…is everyone 8 years old on this site…are you all really arguing about which sport requires more intelligence? Idiots…every time I scroll through the comments for one of the AJC articles it’s populated by sad, attention-seeking, lonely trolls and bitter, angry, anonymous fools. I guess the Internet just prohibits civility and common sense. I hope all of your computers crash and melt.
GIGO
December 7th, 2012
3:50 pm
By the way GT Bob, you do realize all these fools are pulling your strings and controlling you, right? Watch…I’ll prove it…post something…right now…take someone’s post and respond…I command you to obey me! Do it, monkey! Continue posting! See how easily you are controlled by others…loser.
aldogg2121
December 7th, 2012
3:50 pm
GIGO, last time I checked no one was talking to you. And FYI, you too are one of these “anonymous fools” you speak of. Pot, meet kettle.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:51 pm
Have you ever seen a football team’s playbook?
Memorizing a playbook is not difficult in any sport. And yes I know that from experience. What is difficult is having the intelligence to make quality decisions in a short amount of time, and also to out think your opponent in key situations. Those scenarios are much more prevalent in baseball and basketball. In football, you pretty much do what your coach tells you to do, and your physical ability will determine how successful you are. Javadeon Clowney is one of the best players in college football and he barely passed high school and has a learning disability.
kral
December 7th, 2012
3:51 pm
well ole bob I actually coached fb, bb. and bb..some on the high level..and i hate to tell but the most complicated plays are done on a fb field..and yes it is mostly on the offensive side..but I would ssay they go into a game having to know more different things or as least as much
SEC CG AND the school's prettiest girl
December 7th, 2012
3:52 pm
UGA fought to win the SEC CG and to go and play for the MNC. We lost. That is exactly like the guy in high school, who dated the prettiest girl once or twice and she moved on. It was not to be. UGA had our shot.
My point? Some schools NEVER! EVER have a slight flicker of hope for going to the MNC. UGA had that chance and now, wait till next year.
I Will list some schools that in the last few years have had no shot:
FSU, SC, Southern Cal, California, Washington, Washington State U, North Carolina, Clemson, Va Tech, Miami U, Syracuse, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Georgia Tech, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Texas A&M, Pitt, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Boise State, Colorado, and many, many, many others.
Yes, UGA managed the one date with the best looking gal but this time, it did no work out.
How many of you UGA hater clowns EVER dated her once or got close to the MNC IF you even attended College.
Go Dogs!!!
aldogg2121
December 7th, 2012
3:55 pm
GTBob, I seriously doubt you ever even played any sports. Your main claim to fame on these boards is railing for the “prestigious academic institution” known at Georgia Tech.
And by the way, book smarts do not always equate to intelligence.
kral
December 7th, 2012
3:55 pm
left out school..yes there are no fast moving split decisions ..just follow the play book..you never have to adjust on the field because the other team will do just what your coach told you they would
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
I guess the Internet just prohibits civility and common sense. I hope all of your computers crash and melt.
Yet you took time out of your day to join us, read our replies and post with us.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
4:02 pm
GTBob, I seriously doubt you ever even played any sports.
Well you would be wrong but you are welcome to believe whatever you would like.
To: GT Bob
December 7th, 2012
4:02 pm
UGA is one of the better, CONSISTENTLY GOOD second tier football programs. I will repeat : UGA is a second tier program and we are consistently good over the many, man year as evidenced by 6 or 7 COTTON BOWLs, 6, 7 SUGAR BOWLs, 1 Orange Bowl and 5 or 6 Capital One Bowls and 3 or 4 OUTBACK BOWLs. I am not counting GATOR, CHIC FIL. Or lesser bowls, all of which validate a solid MONEY program. This s over the last 50 years, I might add.
SINCE the 1955,56 back to back seasons, how many MAJOR BOWLs has GT been to? 4? Two Sugars and two Orange and I will throw in the 1990 Citrus Bowl, which then was a third tier bowl game. ‘Make that 5 decent bowl trips beyond the Fil A and the Gator.
GT BOB, there you have it. GT is a low level,THIRD TIER PROGRAM. CASE CLOSED.
FAST AND FURIOUS
December 7th, 2012
4:07 pm
GT be very,very,very careful down on the Ole Mexico border. Holder and Barry are running guns down there. Order ROOM SERVICE. DO NOT venture out after dark.
Um, ah, by the way, is the Sun bowl broadcast on the east coast????
kral
December 7th, 2012
4:08 pm
I really do not have a point to make about who is smarter I do not know either…I just like it when you make a stupid statement and then try to justify it ole bob..cause I know you’re right in you’re own mind so why argue..cause I’m just easing into the weekend
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
4:10 pm
GT BOB, there you have it. GT is a low level,THIRD TIER PROGRAM. CASE CLOSED.
We aren’t great but we can’t even possibly go to any of the bowls you listed except the sugar bowl which is also nearly impossible. According to you every bowl that has a contract with the SEC is a major bowl and therefore UGA makes a major bowl every year. The argument is a little silly.
smlarsen
December 7th, 2012
4:12 pm
GT: How can you say that baseball even comes close to football as far as the intelligence needed? Swing the bat, hit the ball, throw the ball, catch the ball. Minus stealing sacrifices and double and tripple plays there is nothing in baseball to learn. Even all of those things are for the most part speratic and unplanned. You really need to think before you speak.
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
4:12 pm
kral, I admire you and aldogg2121 for trying to argue that all football players are geniuses and far superior in intellect to athletes in other sports. Its a tough argument to make and most aren’t really going to buy it.
Blackshirts
December 7th, 2012
4:19 pm
Huskers have a great shot at taking down Georgia… much better than “a snowball’s chance”
GTBob
December 7th, 2012
4:21 pm
Minus stealing sacrifices and double and tripple plays there is nothing in baseball to learn.
In baseball there is a constant chess match going on between a pitcher and all batters on the opposing team. That chess match can even span multiple games. Every pitch a pitcher has to choose pitches, speed, location, and various other factors. The batter has to make correct timing decisions and whether to even swing or not. All of this is done in a matter of milliseconds. On top of that you have stealing scenarios like you discussed. Complex signs. Split second defensive decision making, and the overall art of maintaining a good swing if you are a batter which takes hours of practice and watching film. Its not see ball hit ball like you describe.
kral
December 7th, 2012
4:22 pm
now bobbie..I called who a genius..and claimed superior intellect of who..I just questioned your judgement,but if your 4:12 makes you feel better good..tough yes..did not bother you to make a claim..but that is okay I trust your judgement..lol
hfc95
December 7th, 2012
4:22 pm
UGA goes from sec championship loser and all those eggs in one basket to the capital one bowl?
I know what is going to happen already, UGA does not give a shh and will lose to a nebraska team that needs to win after a butt whooper by wisc. uga comes out flat and will lose 44-31, something close to that.
And I had one HUGE disagreement with Grantham/Richt during the SEC champ game.
why was Herra not playing ILB the whole game with Ogletree? I swear I watched Gilliard every play and he could not stop lacy or yeldon and would not plug a hole either. I watched Herra attack and force a fumble on a kickoff(which bama recovered) But herra played full throttle with no fear and gilliard seemed uh oh ya soft. Also shawn williams did not bring much to that game either. had to get that off my chest to some real uga fans
aldogg2121
December 7th, 2012
4:30 pm
@hfc95
I agree about Gilliard. He was out of position more often than he was in position, it seemed. Herrera just seems to be a better, more well-rounded ILB than Gilliard.
And Shawn Williams’ play could be classified as “soft” in that game. He missed more than his fair share of tackles.
Auburn Grad
December 7th, 2012
4:31 pm
I saw UGA play Nebraska in the 1969 Sun Bowl while I was stationed at Ft Bliss.
I hope UGA has better luck this time.
kral
December 7th, 2012
4:31 pm
well I sure hope you feel better now 95
The hands team
December 7th, 2012
4:42 pm
What an interesting character this GTBob is lol. There is nothing relevant about GT anywhere so hes forced to mix in with the dawg fans and try to bring everyone else down. If I were a Tech fan I wouldn’t be attacking the Bulldogs for beating down a 6-6 team but rather I’d be ticked off that my team was 6-6 in the first place, or that they’ve lost to the dawgs like 10 out of 11 years, or don’t play any defense, have no heart, etc. Debating with a Tech fan is futile and pointless at best. The two programs are nowhere near each other nor have they ever been. Side note, there is a reason almost nobody runs that stupid offense anymore. Its ineffective, clock consuming, and none of the better recruits out there want to play in that system. So hate on the dawgs all you want but I’d be looking at the AD and coach myself. Good luck covering USC’s receivers with that defense lol.
kral
December 7th, 2012
4:44 pm
and all that is done by being smarter or reacting athletically…4:21 boobbie..I guess they just rely on their brains ..not muscle memory
GTDog
December 7th, 2012
4:48 pm
You left out the catcher’s contribution to the chess match Robert…
GTDog
December 7th, 2012
4:51 pm
Just curious Bob, what did you major in at Tech?
kral
December 7th, 2012
4:58 pm
blogging gt dog
Just In...........
December 7th, 2012
4:58 pm
GTBob… Wow man you continue to amaze me. A 6-7 team and a waiver to take a spot that you should’ve gladly given to MTSU after they trashed ya’ll. You and Tech suck, and shouldn’t be even in the FBS. Good byefor awhile, and enjoy the tears as we sign all these 5 star players in the next month. Whic simply means we gonna be yall’s master for years to come, and you’ll be our flunkies.
Just In...........
December 7th, 2012
5:01 pm
Apoligize for the mispellings, GTBob does that to Ga Fans!
smlarsen
December 7th, 2012
5:01 pm
Right bob like I said throw the ball hit the ball. It was all there you are just taking a simple thing and making it into something complex which it is not. Most pitchers have 3-5 pitches that he is capable of producing. It is the same with every man that comes up to bat. You throw your wild pitches if your up in the count you stay more towards a fast ball if you are down in the count. Every pitch every game. Its the same thing throw the ball catch the ball swing the bat hit the ball run around the bases. end of discussion