LSU Football - Les Miles - (Georgia game)
Opening Statement… “I
have to say that finishing in Tiger Stadium, I thought the crowd was
spectacular on that afternoon. When the game finished, I could
not tell that it was not Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. I can tell
you that our grounds people, I know that we were only in the stadium
six times, for us to go into the last weekend of the season and have a
turf to play on as quality of footing and spectacular of a surface it
was, my hats off to those people. They did a lot of hard work.” “Arkansas
certainly presented a formidable challenge. We started 14 down and our
football team just frankly refuses to say that is enough and certainly
played hard. We had an uncharacteristic turnover for a touchdown and
frankly there was not a thought going the other way to buckle down and
let’s go. That is what they did. Tyrann Mathieu’s 92-yard punt return
certainly was the first spark. Then the offense got going and the
defense continued to play extremely well through the course of the day.
With that being said, Tyrann Mathieu is the National Player of the Week
as well as the SEC Player of the Week. Kenny Hilliard is the SEC
Freshman of the Week. What happens to a team when you turn to another
guy and you say to him, ‘it is your opportunity. It is your turn to
play and you must play to the responsibility of the position,’ frankly
the team gets broader and more capable, and that is what has happened.
We enjoyed that game and now on to the championship game.” “This
press conference is one that the last couple of years I don’t remember
us having it. I can tell you that it is a press conference, and press
conferences are not something that I overly enjoy you guys should now,
but the reality of it is that this one that I really look forward to.
The idea that we would talk about one game and the opportunity to win a
championship, certainly the honors of the conference, is great. That is
something this football team has earned and we will very much look
forward to preparing for.” “Georgia is a very talented
team. They had a rough start, but continued to improve and play well.
They’ve won 10 straight since their opening two losses. The Georgia
Tech team, I watched that game, was a very talented team in itself.
Frankly, they were no match for a very quality Georgia Team. Mark Richt
has done a quality job there. He has won at least 10 games in his time
there and led Georgia to 11 straight bowl games. His record there
speaks for itself. Offensively they are very talented. They are
averaging 34 points a game, 400 plus yards, rushing the ball and
throwing the ball well. Their quarterback Aaron Murray really acts like
a veteran as a redshirt sophomore. He makes great decisions. He has 25
career starts and is playing extremely well. They spread the ball
around with four players receiving at least 30 catches. Their top
target, tight end Orson Charles has 40 catches for 530 yards. They rush
the football well. Isaiah Crowell has 832 yards and five
touchdowns. I’m not sure of his status, but we would expect that
they would play with their best. He may well be there and certainly
their best has been good enough. Defensively they are a very quality
defense. They are allowing 17.8 points per game and 278 yards a game.
Again, they have not given up big points since their second week of the
season allowing only 20 points one time to Vanderbilt. They are a very
talented group with a lot of quality players. Their special teams are
very good. They have a wonderful kicker in Blair Walsh, an outstanding
punter in Drew Butler and a very dangerous return man in Brandon
Boykin.” “Again, the opportunity to go back to the Georgia
Dome and the opportunity to play one game for a championship is just
the position we want to be in.” On the SEC Championship… “I
want you to know something. There was never a thought in our minds what
the next game holds. This was very specifically about this championship
and this conference is where we compete year in and year out. We intend
to make a great showing for our self and prepare and play well.” On Michael Brockers tweeting about his knee injury… “I
have tweeted Michael Brockers and tweeted a doctor about Michael
Brockers. A doctor has tweeted me back. I suspect that Michael Brockers
will play well. The view of his knee by way of tweet is not as strong
as kind of one on one examination. I think the one on one examination
performed by our trainers once he tweeted me appeared that this would
not be a serious injury. I don’t imagine there will be any issues
there.” On rumors affecting Jarrett Lee academically… “Academic
issues are certainly very private in my mind. Our guys go through a
series of midterms, finals and papers. The overview is something that
each guy has and certainly I have of the team. That is not something I
am going to share. I can tell you during this time, well you guys went
to college and had to fight like heck, the reality is that this time of
year everybody responds and comes back. If you have a ‘C’ or a ‘B’ it
is time to pick it up. There is no difference with our football team.” On the running back depth… “We
are fortunate to have a very deep position there and we use them.
You’ll watch Spencer Ware take the first snap and depending on how he’s
doing, he will take a lot of snaps. The opportunity for us to get
Michael Ford because of speed, strength and maturity is something we do
virtually in that order. Kenny Hilliard is a big back with big feet and
capable hands. Alfred Blue in my opinion is much more ready to play in
this game will also get into that rotation. We look at it as a very
strong weapon to posses the ball, to move the ball and score. The
opportunity to play guys that are ready to go on the field, understand
the need of their team, to give us fresh legs and more yards after
contact that is our view. Any team, no matter what offense you run,
must be able to run the football to control the game.” On Jarvis Jones on the 3-4 defense… “I
don’t really know what challenges that gives Jarvis, I can tell you how
we look at it. It is an opportunity to really go against a couple of
fronts there that we are comfortable blocking. They play him many times
an outside linebacker period. He is a very talented guy and very
capable. There is a number of men on that defense and we will look
forward to that matchup.” On Urban Meyer reaching out to Greg Studrawa… “I
have visited with Coach Studrawa several times and at no specific time
in relation to Urban Meyer at a Ohio State. I think Coach Studrawa that
he stepped in, did a great job and certainly this a place we’d love
have him stay. For me to be more specific about the details would be a
little bit inappropriate. I don’t know if Urban Meyer has reached out
to him or not, but I would guess that Urban would contact me if that
was the case.” On Jordan Jefferson… “Well he has
improved in the execution of the offense from A to Z. He throws the
ball so much better. To be honest with you, we have not been in a game
where we have needed to throw the ball as much as we are capable.
Looking forward to that at some time because he can really throw it and
we are very capable in the receiving end. He is executing our run
offense and handling the functionality of the offense. He understands
the motions and the cadences. He is giving us great leadership and he
is tougher than many men I have been around. He is physically and
mentally tough. He has given us a lot. We’ve certainly enjoyed it.” On Jefferson putting his stamp on the season… “I
don’t know about his stamp. I think there is an obligation to the team
that he realizes that he must fulfill in that spot. His stamp I don’t
know if that is necessarily the issue. I understand that once you make
a big play that there is that moment where you say that was pretty
special and kind of give that thought yourself. Beyond that I think he
understands that this is really about the team.” On playing in the Georgia Dome… “We
started the season in a dome (Cowboy Stadium) and on the road. We’ve
been in that dome in several bowl games and championship games and
we’ve enjoyed being in there. I think our guys enjoy playing in domed
environments and venues. This will be another opportunity for us to go
back to Georgia and compete.” On Jarrett Lee… “We would
have liked to get Lee into the game earlier. The issue for me is that
we would like to have victory secured. That is a necessity that I have
and that I ensure. We got him in as fast as we could. We would have
liked to get him in maybe a series before that. I can tell you this,
the contributions that he’s made thus far and that he is about to make
certainly in the next two games will be very significant and has been
very significant. I recognize that we would not be in the position that
we are in today if it had not been how Jarrett Lee played for us as
quarterback. Our football team is obligated to him and we will do
everything we can to fill that obligation.” On the quarterbacks behind Jefferson and Lee… “The
quarterbacks behind them such as Stephen Rivers is a six foot seven
very capable thrower and a very bright young understudy. Zach
Mettenberger, again in my opinion is really coming. He is a tough
capable thrower, more athletic than when we first met him, he is
getting stronger and leaner. That is a very good thing. Jerrard Randall
is a multitalented guy that can play a number of spots. He is a very
talented athletic style of quarterback that could also play wide
receiver or possibly a secondary back. We need in this class a great
quarterback. Frankly, there would be great opportunity considering we
are graduating our top-two. There will be great opportunity at
competition for a lot of playing time for a young talented quarterback.
We’re looking at a number of guys there and we’re very optimistic.” On Gary Danielson’s comments on CBS broadcast… “No
I do not feel that we have accomplished a national championship season
yet. I appreciate the kind words that Gary Danielson spoke. Until the
team has finished the season will I comment on what I see that they
have accomplished or should well have accomplished. My point is that we
are so looking forward to playing Georgia. This is what a team sets its
sights for at the beginning of the year. We know that we’re going to
play against the East. We go against a gauntlet in the West, and we
take on all comers. The athletic director has a few too many pops in
the beginning and schedules us against Oregon and number of guys. We
find our way through six homes games and six away. The opportunity that
this season gave us, we’ve taken advantage of to this point. Now it is
one to a championship. It is the very next one. That is certainly our
view.” On Isaiah Crowell… “He is a very talented player
and back. He has speed, good size, and runs aggressively and is very
capable. He looks like an older back to me.” On thoughts on Urban Meyer… “I
wish him well. I agree that there are times where you pause in your
career and look and see what is important to you. You make quality
decisions to re-enter a profession that I am sure he loves and needs.
We wish him well. We’re glad that he is back.” On Mark Richt battling through adversity… “I
can’t imagine that anyone in Georgia would not revere the record that
he has start however he starts. The idea that a change is always better
is not necessarily the case. The idea that somebody would step into
Mark Richt’s opportunity and do as well he is all speculation. Staying
the course with a quality coach in my opinion is the right thing to do.
So many times those people that make those changes should review that
support that has been given and how he has been allowed to operate.
Those things being said, I can’t imagine Mark Richt being scrutinized
in a difficult manner. Coaches at least this one, reviews his team and
there is an upside and a downside to each season and each game. The
thing that you try to do and the responsibility that you have to all
people- anyone who goes into the stadium and your staff and players- is
to put your teams in as quality position as you can for victory.
Period. Once you answer that you can take criticism. I promise you
that. If you have thick skin, thin skin or if you are a guy that
everyone’s opinion moves you in the wrong way, than you are probably in
the wrong profession. You have to have an understanding of what it is
you are going to do, who you are, how you are going to operate this
team and what is important. Once I prioritize those things that are
important, I am very comfortable however anybody wants to operate.
There is a direction and it is a very comfortable one for me and
hopefully for my team and coaches.” On Eric Reid and Terrance Magee… “It
appears that we will have Reid ready to play. He warmed up and really
had every opportunity last week. We decided to hold him. Magee probably
has less of chance to play. We’ll run him today and we are very
optimistic, but not necessarily as optimistic as Eric Reid.” On James Hairston… “James
has done a great job in terms of developing, getting better and being a
real weapon for us. It is interesting because when he showed up here he
was a freshman. He is not longer a freshman. He has been through it. We
turned to him early in practice and said lets see how you look. After
hitting a couple of balls, he said ‘I’m not doing too well today.’ I
said well we have to develop. I really give a lot of credit to Thomas
McGaughey our special teams coach. He did a great job of just kind of
guiding him through some of those freshman moments. Than he got his
opportunity and stepped in, hits the ball as he is supposed to and
continues to improve. As much as anything, we ask our guys not only to
play but also to describe their play and try to give us what we would
describe. He has done that. He hits the ball deep, long and puts it
where we want to put it. It is wonderful to have a man that can kick it
off for you and put it in the back part of the endzone. It is a great
advantage.” On Alfred Blue… “We would think that Alfred Blue would be ready to roll. On Jarrett Lee’s playing time… “I
think that there is a view in my mind of how the style of play needs to
be played for victory. I think in this game that really spoke to me to
be Jefferson. It is kind of how we as a staff decided to go really
after we got into the game. I don’t think the status has changed. I
think it has changed the last couple of games only in the fact of how
we play. It will be reviewed yet again as we go to the Georgia Dome.” On a team needing to win the conference to play in the championship… “I
am not going there. The speculation of what ifs and all of that does
not do us any good. I talked to my team before we played this last
game. I asked them are you looking to the opinion makers and the sports
commentary. They said generally, no we’re not listening to it either.
That is really the best thing. We’ve really kind of operated this
season in a real fundamental way. We work like heck and prepare. We
come to Saturday and do everything we can for victory. With that being
said I think that is the cleanest and most correct way we have.” On addressing the team on the speculation LSU does need to win to play for the title… “Yes
I go through some of these issues, only to describe it and deflect it
if you will. There is a fundamental to this game that we are about to
play. We won the West. That really is an accomplishment and certainly
this year it is a great accomplishment. There are quality teams in the
Western side. Certainly on the Eastern side, Georgia is the champion
and they are a quality champion. Now we get to play for the conference
honors. I promise you, there is not going to be review of what is next.
That is not something that will come out of my mouth within the
strength. It will all be about the very next game that we prepare for,
play and how we would play.” On who is playing Aaron Murray in the scout team… “Steven
Rivers certainly could well have that opportunity to step in, throw
some of those balls and move his feet like Aaron Murray. I think that
will be a great challenge for him to step in and make some of those
plays.”
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