Post Game Quotes

UGA Sports Communications

Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart

Thoughts on the game… 

"We started off a little rough with some penalties and organizational stuff that we'll clean up. But I thought we came out physical and played hard. ... I like the toughness we show during the week. We've created a standard the last couple of years, and now we're owning it with players holding other players accountable.”

On reserves getting playing time… 

"Every player who goes in needs to perform like a starter. There's no room for error because we're one play away from those guys. At times, I thought we did that really well. ... We've been able to play a lot of players the first three games. But we know a fourth quarter kind of game is coming. ... The only way to get better is to play. We coach them during the week and they think they've got it, but it's different in a game. They can grow from that and they'll be ready when their time comes."

On Missouri… 

"Missouri is really talented. And they're big. They have big offensive linemen, quarterback, tight end, wide receivers ... they're built like an SEC team should be. Playing at their place is never easy. We'll have our work cut out for us."

Jeremiah Holloman, Sophomore, Wide Reciever  

On his breakout performance, with his first career touchdown catch and a team-high 90 yards receiving... 

“It feels good. I mean, competition in the room definitely has brought out the best of me, so that’s really what has gotten me to the level of what I’m at right now, but definitely it feels good.” 

On the chemistry with quarterback Jake Fromm... 

“It’s just the fact that we trust him. He was definitely commanding the offense. He knows what’s going on at all times, and he’s able to relay the messages to us just in case we’re off of it or something like that. All in all, we all just trust him. That’s what it is.” 

 Richard LeCounte, Sophomore, Safety

On the way the defense is solidifying together after three games… 

“I see our defense really making a stand, doing everything we’ve practiced and setting the tone early. Guys are doing their assignments and getting the job done early. It’s a great picture of what our defense is about.” 

On playing alongside veteran DBs Deandre Baker and J.R. Reed... 

“Playing with those guys, they’re very experienced and keep me on my toes. They’re getting me to my spots, us helping each other. Maturing in that secondary, that’s a great thing for us to do.” 

Mecole Hardman, Junior, Wide Receiver 

On how special this season has been for him… 

“It’s been fun. Really, I’m just going out there trying to help our team as much as I can, and make plays when my number is called and go from there. But definitely, I’ve been having fun this season and it can shape out to be a great season." 

On his comfort with the receiver position… 

“It feels good getting the hang of things, but definitely right now I feel more comfortable than I ever have. I’m just trying to keep my confidence level high and just be the best receiver I can be.”

Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill 

Opening Statement 

“I’d like to start off by congratulating Kirby and Georgia. They’re an excellent football team that played really good today. I have a lot of respect for Kirby; he’s one of the good guys in this profession.

As far as us, it’s tough sledding out there. The swallowed us up. They’re bigger than us, faster than us. We couldn’t create any separation at receiver. There were no openings, they just swallowed us up. That’s why they’re ranked where they’re ranked. I’m proud of our team. I told them that in there. Losing stinks. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing Georgia or the 130th team in the country, it doesn’t matter, losing stinks. When they hurt, I hurt and I’m proud of that team in there because it was tough sledding today.” 

 
On the Blue Raiders’ first three games in 2018… 

“Two stinkers and one lover. I loved one of them, I hated the other two. When you play SEC teams, it’s tough, it’s hard and physical. We matched up a hair better with Vanderbilt than with Georgia. When you see their corner, his speed, he comes in there, he’s 6-4, and he barely played till the end of the game. They just swallowed us up. … We’ve got to find a way to get our guys back and to get healthy, so we can get ready for conference play starting up.” 

On what his team got out of Saturday’s game with Georgia… 

“Not a whole lot. We did some good things. We moved the ball at times offensively against their ones. At times defensively, we stopped them and made them punt. So, we did some good things. These games, the overall depth eventually takes its toll on you.” 

 
Darius Harris, Red-shirt Senior, Linebacker 

On tackling... 

"We made some good tackles and we gave up some big plays and missed tackles. We still can improve on that. There were too many missed tackles and that's a major part especially when you're playing a good team like them."

On playing Georgia... 

"Execution, perfect execution. You go out there, you have to be sound especially when you're at a disadvantage at speed and size. You want to go out there and do everything right. Going into conference you have to practice and do everything right. Everything perfect. I feel like if we do that we have a good chance to win."

Patrick Smith, Red-shirt Senior, Wide Receiver  

On playing one of the top teams in the country... 

"It let us know we have a lot of room for improvement and that we can compete with anybody that we want to. We just have to want to."

Brent Stockstill, Senior, Quarterback  

 On how he thinks they competed... 

"I thought we fought hard and competed. Obviously we hate to lose [but] we kind of knew we were outmatched coming into it. We had to play a perfect game and we got a nice little field position early but we weren't able to capitalize. We did some good things, we moved it a little bit, and we ran it pretty good but that's a really good defense we just played."