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LIVE THREAD: SEC Title Game Coaches

The SEC holds a Sunday media teleconference each year with the coaches for that season's league championship game.

Mark Richt

So it's time for another this year.

Georgia coach Mark Richt is set to go for about 30 minutes beginning at 5 p.m. (Eastern). Alabama coach Nick Saban will follow around 5:30 p.m.

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SEC COACHES LIVE THREAD

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UPDATE

Click to review full transcripts from each coach's appearance

MARK RICHT

NICK SABAN

Gentry Estes

    • Call beginning now ...

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt on the line, opens with Georgia Tech ...

      "I was happy to see that everybody could keep their minds on their business last week. Now we're just starting to break down the film and coaches are busy trying to put together a plan (for Alabama)."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about improvement from South Carolina game ...

      "It was one of those days where we all just didn't do a good job, including the coaches. We lost together. We had to regroup together, and we didn't panic. We just went back to work."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about QBs in this game ...

      "They both have had great seasons to this point and are tremendous leaders to their programs. ... The QB play as we all know is very crucial. ... It's going to be a matter of making good decisions and manage the decisions as we go.

      "Everybody is going to have be patient in this game. There's two really good defenses playing. ... I think everybody is going to have to work hard for everything they get."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about Barrett Jones going against John Jenkins ...

      "He's a fantastic player, obviously. To have a guy like (Jones), a senior leader up front right where you need him down the middle, that's huge. No doubt, he's got the ability to block a big man like that because he's a big man himself."

      This post was edited by Gentry Estes on 11/25/2012 at 4:08 PM

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt ...

      "I think it's a game where again, we feel like we're going to have to be real patient offensively and understand that we are playing a defense that's the best in the country, the best in the league. We've got to be patient, bang away the best we can and look for opportunities to make plays."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt on similarities between teams ...

      "We run pro-style attacks offensively, run a 3-4 defense. Quarterbacks have been highly efficient and have been around a little bit and played some big games. RB tandems ... There are a lot of similarities. One thing they've done is they've been national championships, and we've not. ... That's the biggest difference I see right now."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about 2008 Alabama game ...

      "The bottom line was we didn't play well that day. We played a much better second half ... We just got whipped, obviously. I don't think about how it might have affected anything other than that day."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt says Murray wanted to spend some time with family before they took off, which is why Murray wasn't at interviews after Tech game.

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt ...

      "I think we're doing a lot of things you need to do to be able to compete in a game like this. We'll just have to wait and see what happens Saturday."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about similarities to this season in college football and 1980 season ...

      "That's the first time anybody has brought that up to me. I can't worry about all that stuff. We're just working like mad trying to get a gameplan ready."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt ...

      "A lot of people might think I was looking at a bunch of Alabama film last week, but I wasn't. I was getting prepared for Georgia Tech."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about more recruiting battles with Alabama lately ...

      "I think there is. There certainly has been lately, more so maybe the last few years. ... Everybody is coming from all over the place. It's no secret the state of Georgia produces a whole lot of SEC talent."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt on Mike Thornton's ankle ...

      "He got it sprained pretty good, I know that. ... My guess is if we were playing a game tomorrow he wouldn't be able to play."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about Murray in a big game ...

      "You try to do what you do. We're not going to try to reinvent the wheel this week by any means. ... We've just got to make sure we're not trying to do more than any play is set up to do. If something's there, we've got to be able to hit it in the passing game. But if not, we've got to be able to throw it away.

      "All QBs want to make a big play in a big game. ... But there's a time and a place for everything."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt on success of Alabama's defense ...

      "They've done a good job of recruiting, obviously. And they run a system they believe in."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt on ties between coaching staffs ...

      "I'm sure it adds to it. We're all very competitive guys. We all want to win. We all have competitive juices that flow. ... Sometimes when you know the guys across the way a little bit better, it can add to it."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt asked about weak schedule and now playing No. 2 team ...

      "We've already played the No. 2 team in the country once this year and had a good day against Florida. We can only play who is on our schedule. ... We'll be prepared. But they will be too. That's why you kick it off and play."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt on team's success in program big-picture ...

      "It's not about me. It's about Georgia. It's about this program and this team. ... I don't worry too much about all the personal stuff. But it is great to be in this position. You fight like mad every year to get your team in a position like this."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt ...

      "The day I took the job I said my goal was to be here until I retire from coaching.

      "I just don't have a desire to do anything other than to be here and be the coach at Georgia. That's been that way for the last 12 seasons. So that hasn't changed."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt on Alabama WRs ...

      "The one that you notice first is Cooper, obviously. He's definitely the go-to guy. ... He's very versatile, and they've got a couple of other guys that have been outstanding for them as well. ... They do a great job. Let's face it: They're the highest team in the SEC as far as pass efficiency. They're ahead of us in that category, and we think we've been throwing and catching it pretty good too."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt ...

      "We're playing good, but there's a lot left to be played. I think we've got to just wait a little bit before we decide how good this team is. We were good enough to get ourselves in this position."

      Gentry Estes

    • Richt says 20-hour rule means schedule won't change at all this week. Full pads in Tuesday. Shells on Wednesday.

      "We really can't do anything different. We've got it all planned out to the minute. ... If I change in one area, I'd be robbing one spot to give to another. We're going to keep the same exact routine we normally do."

      Gentry Estes

    • Gentry Estes said...

      Richt ...

      "The day I took the job I said my goal was to be here until I retire from coaching.

      "I just don't have a desire to do anything other than to be here and be the coach at Georgia. That's been that way for the last 12 seasons. So that hasn't changed."

      OK, I have to ask. Who was the one that asked the question that led to this answer, and what was it? "Coach Richt, any truth to the rumors you are going to quit and become a missionary?" Really? During championship preparations?

      HobnailedBoots

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