University of Georgia Athletics
Richt, Bulldogs Look To Build Off Success In Opener
September 06, 2015 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. --- The ninth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs defeated the ULM Warhawks, 51-14, this past Saturday to open up the 2015 season in front of a capacity crowd at Sanford Stadium.
Retaking the field after two lighting delays in the second half, the game was officially ended with 9:54 remaining in the fourth quarter due to another lightning delay at 3:49 p.m.
Mark Richt said on Sunday that he thought Saturday's game was "very typical" for a season opener, as far as first-game nerves and his team's ability to settle in to a weekly game day routine.
Junior running back Keith Marshall saw the most playing time he has seen since suffering a knee injury against Tennessee in 2013. Marshall made the most of his return as he carried the ball 10 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
"He looked good," Richt said. "He's been practicing well. He certainly had a very nice performance for Georgia and for himself. We're all really pleased with him."
The Georgia special teams unit had an impressive outing on Saturday. Richt credits that to having more experienced personnel on the field, but also says they are coaching up the young guys so that they will be ready, if needed.
"We've got some guys who have a lot of experience on special teams," Richt said. "We also are working an awful lot of young guys. They're very athletic and very hungry. I think some maybe hungrier than others. We use the phrase ‘they like to hunt' and so we hope it gets contagious. We'll get better as we go, but it was a good start."
The Bulldogs will head on the road for their first conference game of the season this Saturday. They will face the Vanderbilt Commodores, who fell in their season opener, 14-12, on Sept. 3 versus Western Kentucky.
Vanderbilt quarterback Johnny McCrary is a Georgia native and is a familiar name with the Georgia coaching staff.
"He's very talented," Richt said. "He's a guy we knew about through the recruiting process. Obviously, (he) can throw the ball well, as well as being big, strong, physical and fast. He's got a lot of the tools it takes to be a great quarterback."
Georgia owns a 54-19-2 all-time record against the Commodores and has won seven out of the last eight meetings between the two teams.
The game, which will be each squad's first Southeastern Conference outing, is set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff and will be televised nationally on CBS.
