Opening Statement
“The guys are prepared. We have a big senior day—always an emotional moment for the guys who have been a part of our program for four or five years, to have their last home game in Sanford Stadium. I am looking forward to that opportunity. I hate that I don’t get to see their families, but I get to see those guys off. We want to send them out on top.”
On his thoughts about the CDC lowering the amount of quarantine days from 10 to seven days and how that would have affected the season if this had been implemented sooner...
“I really don’t think it would have made a big difference because it was only four days, and as I understand it it’s for the contact tracing, but not necessarily for the guys that had positive tests but for the tracers. Seven to 10 would guarantee them one game sitting out because of the window seven to 10. Sometimes it would have gotten guys two days, two games if it came on a Thursday or Friday, and it was 10 days so it would have gotten two games. It would not have impacted ours a lot. It may have impacted some other programs. I did know that they were changing that, and I think that is helpful. But, I don’t know that it’s an earthshattering time difference.”
On what it means to have walk-ons being a part of the program for four to five years...
“It’s awesome. It’s a credit to our walk-on program. We feel like we have one of the best in the country—in terms of the number of players in our state that would love to come to the University of Georgia and really good academic students, and want to get a degree. They love football. They love playing. Both Daniel Gothard and Prather Hudson have been unbelievable teammates, really hard workers, at different times. Prather, for the most part, has been on scholarship. They have done a really good job of doing that throughout the time, and I really appreciate their service and what they have done to help us.”
On if he would a proponent of reviewing the accountability for walk-on participation and how that could help with playing games that are being canceled due to COVID-19 issues...
“It is just unchartered territory. It’s not something that we have ever had to deal with before. You would probably be arguing the flipside if they forced them to play or made them use non-scholarship kids, walk-on kids to fill those numbers, and fill those spots in the minimums. You would probably be saying, ‘Well, that game shouldn’t have counted because they didn’t have their best players available because of what a lot of people feel that it is out of your control.’ Maybe it is in your control, maybe it’s not in your control—we don’t really know. Everybody is handling it pretty much the same way, but not everybody is getting the same results. It’s definitely hard to measure, and I don’t know if I have a stance to say whether or not it is fair to make guys go out there and play that may or not be ready to, may or may not be capable of. You can up injuries as well sometimes when you go out there and play guys that might struggle to compete in the SEC level.”
On an update on Richard LeCounte...
“Richard LeCounte has been walking through with us. He’s been out in practice and been able to run and do some things yesterday. He still has not had contact, but we are working on rehabbing him and getting him back.”
On his standpoint on wide-open offenses and how much he looks at what changing offensively in college football in recent years...
“We are all always looking at what is going on in today’s pro-game, college-game, high school-game. You are trying to be innovative and creative. You are always trying to advance your team and be able to do—at the end of the day, you take the players you have and you want to build your team around your best players and what they are capable of. That is a part of your recruiting process. That is a part of your offensive scheme, philosophy, to score and a lot of that is based on what the defense does as well.”
On how Julian Rochester has dealt with another knee injury...
“He’s had surgery. He has had it repaired. He knows the rehab process. He’s started on it. It’s tough for him because he’s really been around here for so long. I know it is a tough situation for him to have to look at going through that again. But, it’s something unfortunately in football he has to deal with. He has taken it head on and dealt with it in a really positive manner.”
Warren McClendon, Redshirt Freshman, Offensive Lineman
On what the biggest difference was playing against Mississippi State and South Carolina...
"Against Mississippi State, we didn't play to the best of our ability, So, against South Carolina, we made an effort to come out, be physical, and to make sure that didn't happen again."
On the progress he has made this season...
"Just taking it week-by-week and getting better. When we played against Arkansas, coach Smart called my name, and I had to be ready."
On the legacy his family has here...
"My family told me to go wherever I felt was home. They didn't push it on me because it was my recruitment process."
Zamir White, Redshirt Sophomore, Running Back
On senior day and what it's like for the underclassmen honoring them…
"It's huge. We’re a family and we love those guys. The seniors have put in so much work for us, so we just have to go out there and play for them and win."
On if he is coming back next year...
On if he is coming back next year...
"I'm focused on the next game and finishing the season strong."
On what they are hoping to show as an offense...
"We want to be a more complete offense and run the ball better.”
On the mindset the offensive line had against South Carolina...
"We locked in on the small things and got better in practice during the week.”
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