University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Quotes
October 11, 2003 | Football
Oct. 11, 2003
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TENNESSEE HEAD COACH Phillip Fulmer:
"I was very disappointed in the game. I feel for the fans and apologize to them.
"The play at the half swung the momentum. I was disappointed not to get it in. We have scored a lot of touchdowns on that play in the past. We felt like we could get a good push.
"Our guys were tanked after that. I thought we could take some momentum back if we came out and cut it 20-14. We were not able to do that and they made the plays.
"We have to evaluate where we are as a football team. We will challenge our kids to work to do what they need to do to turn it around. We need to be a better team period. No one will feel sorry for us. We are playing for a lot of pride. Anything can happen. We have to focus on getting back to where we were. Early in the season I though we were on a great track. In many ways we weren't. We didn't play with enough emotion and passion.
"We put our defense in terrible situations all night before it got out of hand. I don't think there was a phase of the game we won.
"We felt like we needed to be balanced heading into the game and hit the play-action passes. They did a good job of mixing up their schemes.
"They are the defending champions with a target on their chest. They have done a good job defending that title.
On Mark Jones' catch - "That's two weeks in a row he has made a phenomenal play. He's a great competitor. We need more guys like that."
GEORGIA HEAD COACH MARK RICHT
"I was proud of our team. The first half was a war. The last play was the largest momentum swing I've ever seen. We could have been down one, but we were up 13. It was a big boost for them and it had to be tough for them.
"We talk about and practice on the goal line. I'd like for our defense to take credit, but the ball was knocked out by the fullback. Sean Jones did a good job of scooping and going the distance. It was good coaching and a good convoy.
"David Pollock always wreaks havoc. It was big play when the holding call called back a touchdown. He hasn't had the number of sacks this year, but he made the guy tackle him to keep him off the quarterback.
" I thought we were emotionally ready and kept our focus in the second half. Offensively, we had our best game of the year against a very good team. We overcame some penalties, something we hadn't done this season. Greene was sharp and Ben Watson played well. I don't think we had any drops.
"A play like the one at the end of the half stuns the crowd and slowed down their noise. I thought their crowd stayed in it. I wanted to thank our fans who were brave enough to cheer us on in a place like this.
"There's no margin for error. We could lose one more game if it's not Florida. If we had lost, it was not likely they would lose another game. Our protection was better than it's been. His TD pass to Michael Johnson was probably his best throw."
