University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee - Georgia Postgame Quotes
October 06, 2001 | Football
Oct. 6, 2001
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TENNESSEE LOCKER ROOM
Head Coach Phillip Fulmer: "This was a tough loss. Give Georgia credit. The tight end is a big time player. We didn't help ourselves, especially with penalties in the kicking game. I take responsibility for that. There were enough mistakes in the game. This is time for leadership to step up. I'm looking for this team to improve.
"We are fortunate to have an open date. We will go back to work and get healthy from all these bumps and bruises.
"Our punt coverage and kick coverage was atrocious. That was complicated by the fact that they were returning they way they were. I wasn't expecting a complete collapse of special teams. We didn't produce in that area in points or field position.
"The tight end made a great play. It was a great throw and great catch. I am concerned about the kickoff coverage. It wasn't very good. I thought the defense did an incredible job of keeping it deep. I also thought the offense did a reasonable job of changing field position.
"Our road traveled is tough and the schedule is too. This is a special group of kids. We need to coach better and play better. We need to get Travis (Stephens) and wide receivers some help. We are heartbroken now. We will put it back together for the next game. We beat a good LSU team.
PK Alex Walls: "It was a tough loss against a good Georgia team. We went out and made a lot of mistakes. We had a rough day. We didn't punt very well or kickoff very well. I missed a 34-yard chip shot. I shouldn't miss those.
DB Andre Lott: "You have to give Georgia credit. They played for 60 minutes and we didn't. We're going to go into the off week trying to get better. We knew Greene was a good quarterback. With their new coach, they have an aggressive style. We have to tighten up our coverage and not give up touchdowns.
TB Travis Stephens: "It's very frustrating to have a game won at the end and turn out losing. It's a long season and we've got time to do good things by the end of the year. We knew we were down and had to do something to get back in the game. The season's not over yet. We'll prepare for Alabama and work on the things we did wrong. We are still hungry.
DB Rashad Baker: "Their tight end played a really good game. We knew they had one more chance to try and score. I see us recovering from this loss.
GEORGIA LOCKER ROOM
Head Coach Mark Richt: "I'm really proud of our team. They are one tighly-knit bunch. I'm proud of the seniors. In a coaching transition, it's tough on them and they're upset, usually rightfully so. I told them that this is it for you, no matter what. If you buy into what we are doing, we can do something special. It's a defining moment for the seniors and the whole team. I'm thankful we could pull it off.
"I was really proud of our last drive. My heart really hasn't started pumping yet. I'm usually calm in the middle of these things. I was as calm on the sidelines today as I was when Oklahoma was beating our rears last January. I'll look at the tape tonight or tomorrow and probably have a heart attack. I didn't say a lot at the beginning of the drive. When you are in the two-minute offense, or the 42-second offense or whatever, you need that first completion. If you don't get it, the momentum may swing the wrong way.
"McMichael made a couple of phenomenal catches. He had told Coach Johnson that he was in a zone and to get him the ball. I left the South Carolina game believing we had tremendous potential, we just had to put it together. But, if we don't made that last play, it's a stupid job. I'm proud of our guys, they just wouldn't quit. Our special teams came through.
DB Jermaine Phillips: "I was thinking after the interception that we just had to finish the drill. Then they scored with just 44 seconds and I was like - 'Oh man.' But we had to finish the drill and we scored. I was excited, but there were five seconds left and we still had to kick off. It still has not hit me yet.
QB David Greene: "I kind of prepared myself for the moment. I kept telling myself to stay focused. You can't think about winning the game. The whole time I was thinking about that last drive. That squib kick gave us good field position. We started moving the ball and started clicking on the touchdown. It was kind of a trick play. We fake to the fullback and he slides out like he is going to block the middle linebacker and on that play he slid right by him."
P Jonathan Kilgo: "The guys on our special teams really did a good job. We have some athletes that cover on the punt team and it pin those punts inside the 10. They made some great plays. Everyone on special teams really played their hearts out today."
