Florida-Georgia Post-Game Quotes
October 31, 2015 | Football
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Georgia Post-Game Quotes
Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt
On the game …
"We played hard, but we have to be more productive obviously. Offensively we have to get first downs and we have to get points on the board. We struggled in that area. We couldn't get much running the ball, and there were some batted balls. A lot of times those things fall incomplete, but tonight they landed in their hands. You can't do that and beat a good football team. We told them that we have to be men in this situation. We have to give credit where credit is due."
On Georgia's running game…
"They are big, strong guys. We have to get our hats in the right spot. We have to create space and read it right and get the ball moving down the field. They whipped us up front, and that's going to be tough on any runner."
On Faton Bauta's performance…
"Faton fought hard, and he's a very competitive guy and has a lot of outstanding leadership skills. Some balls didn't bounce the right way. We had a couple of drops and there were some misfires too. We'll have to look at the film, but overall I liked his competitive spirit and I like the fact that he competed the entire game."
On the decision to start Faton Bauta at quarterback…
"It goes way back to camp to just how close the competition was, and the fact that you're wondering if Faton should've been the choice somewhere along the way. We gave Greyson (Lambert) an opportunity, and we told him to hang loose. Same thing with Brice (Ramsey). We felt like Faton performed well enough to get the nod, and that's what we did." On Brice Ramsey punting…
"Brice punted extremely well. I'm going to have to go back and look at the reps. The first one was shaky but got a good bounce, and then he started to boom them. He was outstanding for the first time around."
On defending Florida's offense…
"I think our defense was tremendous. After a while the dam is going to break when you have to keep going back out there after a three-and-out or a turnover. After a while it's going to get tough. The last pick in the end zone, we could have gotten it to a twoscore game. That could have changed the dynamic if the game and added to the energy level of the defense.
We threw a pick and it's demoralizing to the defense to have to go back out there and fight."
QB Faton Bauta
On his performance against Florida …
"Not good. We lost, and all that counts are wins and losses. It's not a good feeling. It is something you wish you never have to experience. It's part of growing as a person and as a player and we just have to move on."
On where Georgia goes from here …
"We just have to stick to our guns, come back tomorrow and get ready to work. We have a lot of big games coming up, so we have to be ready."
OG Greg Pyke
On today's game…
"When you lose a game, it is always disappointing, especially when you lose to these guys. They have a great team, so give them credit. We shot ourselves in the foot early and could never recover."
On QB Faton Bauta's performance …
"Faton did a great job passing. We got in a groove, moved the ball down the field and then shot ourselves in the foot. We have a lot of work to do, but we will learn from this and get better."
LB Jake Ganus
On today's game …
"I just think a lot of things did not go our way. We have to go back, watch the film and fix our mistakes."
On how losing today affects the rest of the season …
"It doesn't change much. It doesn't change anything for me personally, and I hope it doesn't change anything for anybody else. We are going to keep going out there and playing hard every week."
On where the team goes from here…
"We have so much to play for. Like I said, we are going to keep playing hard and see what we can accomplish this season."
Florida Quotes
Jim McElwain, Florida Head Coach
Opening Statement:
"Well guys, that was painful to say the least. I apologize for that but the end result was awesome.
Our guys figured out a way to win. I can't say enough about how we played defense. I thought we were a little flat at the beginning of the game, I'm going to be honest with you. And, what I think what it was, talk about learning about your team a little bit, they were totally focused, they were prepared to go play a ballgame, they weren't getting into any chippy business and mouth talking and all of that, they were prepared to go and play the game the way it is supposed to be played. I thought for the most part they did. They took the first drive and at least created some plays on that. Give their defense and Jeremy (Pruitt) a whole lot of credit.
At times it looked like they were right in the middle of our playbook, they did a heck of a job. Treon (Harris) made some plays when he had to, and guys, at the end of the day the guy's 2-0 in this ballgame as a starter. That means something. I am proud of him. I thought with our offensive line, we need to just keep getting better. They took the fight to us, give them credit, I am OK with it. Am I excited about the win? Absolutely. I just can't help but focus right now on the really great defense that Vanderbilt has. Derek (Mason) is doing an outstanding job, and we can't fall off. We will find out what our team is made of. We will see how we come out of the tunnel, and see what kind of energy The Swamp has.
My focus right now is getting ready and figuring out how to beat a Vanderbilt team that has been in every single ballgame, and played everybody really tough and take a look a the film and watch that defense of theirs. We have a lot of work to do offensively."
Did you think you would have a chance to take this team to Atlanta this year?
"Yes, yes I did."
Why?
"Because I don't expect to lose and I think we should never come into an event thinking we are going to come in second. One thing you learn real quick in this business is that there are no participation remedies. Doesn't matter who we play, we go in with the mindset that we are going to put a plan together and do whatever it takes to win the football game. You know we slipped up in that one a couple weeks ago, and gave up some big plays. Learn from it and we just got it keep moving forward. So, you ask if I am surprised, I am not. It is just how we are built and every competitive guy in our team is competitive. It's not about thinking about going to the championships, it's about what we do right now to get better because a championship will never come if we don't take care of the now. Our guys are getting that and it's not something we talk about because it will never happen if we don't take care of right now. That means having a great family dinner tomorrow, that means coming to work on Monday really watching yourself and learning from what we really need to do to become an even better football team. It will be interesting to me to see if we have become mature enough to handle the position we're in."
When did you know when Antonio Callaway was going to be okay?
"I kind of figured out during yesterday's walk through that he looked pretty good with the trainers and I just didn't want to hide anything from anybody. He got hurt and got carted off the field after practice on Wednesday that is why I told you. If he wouldn't have played someone would have stepped in and made some plays."
Junior Defensive Back Vernon Hargreaves III: On the Gators' mentality after the last two seasons:
"(Finishing) 4-8 and 7-6, it's not the expectation. But, we grew from it. It actually helped us a lot, I'm glad we went through it actually. It's helped turn around this year. We've got a lot more to finish, but I think ultimately it helped us.
On what makes this year's team different:
"It's our attitude. The way we attack practice, the way we attack our workouts, everybody knows what it's like to lose almost your whole schedule. Nobody wants to feel that way anymore. Our guys are just determined. Our guys are motivated, our guys want to be good and want to make plays."
On the team's mental state with Coach McElwain:
"As soon as Coach Mac came in, that's what he preached. He didn't come in and try to put his foot down on anyone and try to set all new rules. He told us what we had to do to be great. I think the guys listened and it's working for us."
On UF's defensive line:
"When we communicate, we're one of the better defenses in the country, that's all it is for us. When we communicate and make plays and we're flying around, we're hard to beat."
Redshirt Senior Offensive Lineman Trip Thurman:
On the ball movement in the fourth quarter:
"It felt great. It's nice to have an offense that can move the ball and also have tremendous defense like we do. It's one of the things we've been missing the past couple years is offense."
On the offensive line's turnaround this season:
"Obviously, with any team, if one side of the ball is not doing their job correctly it kind of puts a burden on the other side. Obviously, we could barely score last year and that's why we lost a couple games because we just couldn't score in certain situations or move the ball in a four-minute offense like we did today."
On freshman wide receiver Antonio Callaway:
"He's a great player and for a freshman to come in and be as productive as he has been it's just incredible."
Redshirt Junior Safety Marcus Maye:
On Coach McElwain's contribution to team mentality:
"He tells us to relax, just play the game, take one thing at a time each play. That's been his coaching style ever since he came in. We all adjusted to it and it's been great so far."
On adjusting to Georgia changing their starting QB:
"We realized that it doesn't matter what we do. We still have to play our ball and we still have to play the defense that we know. It was up in the air for offense, but once we figured it out we were settled in, we played Gator defense like we always do."
Junior Running Back Kelvin Taylor
On what worked well today for him:
"Pretty much my offensive line. Those guys did a great job for me. We practiced well all week running the ball and it paid off for us in the game. Our offensive line, man, those guys did a really good job today."
On how gratifying it was for him to have success with his personal challenge:
"I always have to put a personal challenge on myself because I feel like I'm a really good running back and it was about time for me to start making plays and I just felt like, I just talked to my offensive line pretty much this whole week and just kept telling those guys, 'Look, man, you've got to have a great game. Just give me that little crease and I'll do the rest after that'. Those guys did that and I did the rest, so I'm just looking forward to keep on improving every week and keep getting better and better, so I can't wait."
On how he explains his ability to get in the end zone this year:
"Every time I get close to that goal line, I've got to get the ball in and that's one thing my father always preached to me, my coaching staff, Coach Mac, Coach Skip, all just telling me finish, finish, finish and that's my biggest thing, every time I get the ball, always trying to finish and that's pretty much it."
On how Coach Jim McElwain has had so much success so far:
"Coach Mac, I mean, the guy is a wonderful coach. He's very funny, he's very fun, and, I mean, the guy just always tells us to do little things right and everything else is going to pay off for. That's pretty much what we try to do, just do the little things right and the big things take care of themselves, so I feel like that's our motto and it's working pretty well."
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Nick Washington
On the muffed punt play in which he scored the game's first touchdown:
"We were in our normal punt scheme and (Townsend) had a great punt and we had a few guys down in the punt return, Marcell (Harris), Chris Thompson and they were right in front of him, giving him a little presence, and the guy muffed it and I was just right there."
On if the touchdown was more special since it was in his hometown:
"It was very special. Every game is special, but this one especially because like you said it's in Jacksonville and this is hometown and this is Georgia, so it's always a good feeling."
Senior Defensive Tackle Jonathan Bullard
On if the team talked about the chance that Georgia would use a different QB than was on tape:
"No, no. You know, last week I think we focused a little bit on them, so this year it was about as long as we do for us and no matter if they switch quarterbacks, trick plays, if we do our job, then we're going to be okay."
On what it feels like to be one win away from the SEC Championship Game:
"It feels great. Coming in, that's always your goal, with a new coaching staff you're thinking maybe it'll be a little rocky, but I just applaud Coach (Jim McElwain) and the way he came in and the way he got things changed. Everybody just stepping in together and getting the young guys right in the league and it paid off."
