University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Kenny McIntosh
October 28, 2022 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
There are plenty of reasons why a star high school athlete chooses this university or that college. There is the coaching staff, academics, the chance to win a championship, playing time, a history of sending players to the pros, proximity to home, and, new to the list, name-image-likeness opportunities, to name a few.
For Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh, a versatile 6-foot-1 and 210-pound senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., weather played a part in his decision. Being from South Florida, where the seasons range from hot to hotter, McIntosh wasn't heading anywhere with a proper winter, he said after practice Wednesday. That eliminated a good chunk of the country and a lot of marquee programs.
McIntosh clearly chose wisely. He's had a very productive career — entering Saturday's game against Florida, he has 242 yards rushing and 270 receiving, with a combined five touchdowns, this season — and he helped the Bulldogs win the national championship last season. And though he will bundle up a bit for practice even if the temperature is in the low 60s, he's adjusted and thrived as a Bulldog.
During our Quick Chat, he talked about not liking the cold and how that impacted his recruitment, he talked about celebrating the national title with his brothers, RJ and Deon, who played at historically great programs (Miami and Notre Dame, respectively), but didn't win championships, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Did you have any bragging rights over your brothers after winning the national championship?
McIntosh: They were just excited for me. It wasn't really a competition or anything like that. I think they kind of knew — they wanted me to come to Georgia, so I think they kind of knew I could be the one to get it. I knew it, too. ... Coming to Georgia, I knew we were going to get one one of these years. I thank God it came into reality.
Frierson: Did winning it all take pressure off of you and your teammates that were coming back this year? Or is the pressure the same because you want to win every game you play?
McIntosh: You definitely want to win every game you play. That's been our motto at Georgia. Since we won it, that doesn't mean anything. We still have a chip on our shoulders. That was last year's team that won it. ... We know what it takes to get there and that's what we've been working on.
Frierson: What was the best part of your off week?
McIntosh: The two days I got to relax and stay off my feet, watch a little football. I watched some college football games and felt like a normal fan.
Frierson: What do you do to get away from school and football? It's Wednesday night, so what will you do with the rest of your night?
McIntosh: First, I've got to knock that schoolwork out. Then, I'll really just be chilling with my roommates. That new Call of Duty (video game) came out, so I'll be playing that new C.O.D. It didn't come out yet but I got it, thank God. I'm definitely going to be playing that. And we'll probably go get something to eat, depending on if we want to go to a restaurant or order in. That will probably be my night.
Frierson: I thought about you when I was walking here tonight. I live about a mile away and just walk here ...
McIntosh: For real? It's not cold out there for you? [Laughs]
Frierson: That actually ties into my question: It's a beautiful fall night in Athens, with the temperature in the 60s and the leaves changing. Growing up in South Florida, where the weather doesn't change too much, do you enjoy getting to experience the fall here? Or do you wish it was 90 degrees every day?
McIntosh: [Laughs] I do wish it was 90 degrees every day. I wouldn't say I enjoy the cold, but I'm not bad with it. It's just that wind blowing, you know. When it drops down into the 70s and 80s, that's good weather in Florida — that's cold weather where I'm from, but that's good weather.
Here, man, it's cold in the morning. Last week, I had to have my ski mask on out there (at practice). [Laughs] It was had to breathe with that on, but I've got to stay warm. I love the warmth.
Frierson: When you're a stud high school recruit like you were, with everybody in the country probably recruiting you, and you're from South Florida where it never gets cold, did you eliminate half the country because of the weather in those places?
McIntosh: Oh, yeah. It wasn't even a thought. Anywhere cold wasn't going to do it. I knew that going to the league (NFL), I was going to have to play in the cold. It's not crazy cold here, but it gets cold sometimes, so I knew I'd get some experience with that coming up here.
I also wanted to get out of Florida. I felt like if I stayed in Florida, I'd probably be way more distracted. ... I just wanted to get out of Florida and do my own thing.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
There are plenty of reasons why a star high school athlete chooses this university or that college. There is the coaching staff, academics, the chance to win a championship, playing time, a history of sending players to the pros, proximity to home, and, new to the list, name-image-likeness opportunities, to name a few.
For Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh, a versatile 6-foot-1 and 210-pound senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., weather played a part in his decision. Being from South Florida, where the seasons range from hot to hotter, McIntosh wasn't heading anywhere with a proper winter, he said after practice Wednesday. That eliminated a good chunk of the country and a lot of marquee programs.
McIntosh clearly chose wisely. He's had a very productive career — entering Saturday's game against Florida, he has 242 yards rushing and 270 receiving, with a combined five touchdowns, this season — and he helped the Bulldogs win the national championship last season. And though he will bundle up a bit for practice even if the temperature is in the low 60s, he's adjusted and thrived as a Bulldog.
During our Quick Chat, he talked about not liking the cold and how that impacted his recruitment, he talked about celebrating the national title with his brothers, RJ and Deon, who played at historically great programs (Miami and Notre Dame, respectively), but didn't win championships, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Did you have any bragging rights over your brothers after winning the national championship?
McIntosh: They were just excited for me. It wasn't really a competition or anything like that. I think they kind of knew — they wanted me to come to Georgia, so I think they kind of knew I could be the one to get it. I knew it, too. ... Coming to Georgia, I knew we were going to get one one of these years. I thank God it came into reality.
Frierson: Did winning it all take pressure off of you and your teammates that were coming back this year? Or is the pressure the same because you want to win every game you play?
McIntosh: You definitely want to win every game you play. That's been our motto at Georgia. Since we won it, that doesn't mean anything. We still have a chip on our shoulders. That was last year's team that won it. ... We know what it takes to get there and that's what we've been working on.
Frierson: What was the best part of your off week?
McIntosh: The two days I got to relax and stay off my feet, watch a little football. I watched some college football games and felt like a normal fan.
Frierson: What do you do to get away from school and football? It's Wednesday night, so what will you do with the rest of your night?
McIntosh: First, I've got to knock that schoolwork out. Then, I'll really just be chilling with my roommates. That new Call of Duty (video game) came out, so I'll be playing that new C.O.D. It didn't come out yet but I got it, thank God. I'm definitely going to be playing that. And we'll probably go get something to eat, depending on if we want to go to a restaurant or order in. That will probably be my night.
Frierson: I thought about you when I was walking here tonight. I live about a mile away and just walk here ...
McIntosh: For real? It's not cold out there for you? [Laughs]
Frierson: That actually ties into my question: It's a beautiful fall night in Athens, with the temperature in the 60s and the leaves changing. Growing up in South Florida, where the weather doesn't change too much, do you enjoy getting to experience the fall here? Or do you wish it was 90 degrees every day?
McIntosh: [Laughs] I do wish it was 90 degrees every day. I wouldn't say I enjoy the cold, but I'm not bad with it. It's just that wind blowing, you know. When it drops down into the 70s and 80s, that's good weather in Florida — that's cold weather where I'm from, but that's good weather.
Here, man, it's cold in the morning. Last week, I had to have my ski mask on out there (at practice). [Laughs] It was had to breathe with that on, but I've got to stay warm. I love the warmth.
Frierson: When you're a stud high school recruit like you were, with everybody in the country probably recruiting you, and you're from South Florida where it never gets cold, did you eliminate half the country because of the weather in those places?
McIntosh: Oh, yeah. It wasn't even a thought. Anywhere cold wasn't going to do it. I knew that going to the league (NFL), I was going to have to play in the cold. It's not crazy cold here, but it gets cold sometimes, so I knew I'd get some experience with that coming up here.
I also wanted to get out of Florida. I felt like if I stayed in Florida, I'd probably be way more distracted. ... I just wanted to get out of Florida and do my own thing.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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