Dan Mullen addresses suspension rumors, previews Georgia game
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Much was made of former Florida coach Jim McElwain’s familiarity with UGA coach Kirby Smart, his former colleague at Alabama. It turns out the new UF coach is also friendly with the enemy.
On the weekly SEC teleconference with the media, both coaches talked about being neighbors at their lake houses. Mullen also addressed internet rumors and talked about his team as well as one of Georgia’s strongest units.
On keeping players in the moment and not looking ahead to Saturday:
- We are going to perform how we practice. If all we are worried about is getting to the game, we won’t perform. We have to worry about the effort of practice and our guys understand that.
On if DB Brad Stewart Jr., subject of an online rumor, will play?
- Why wouldn’t he? [reporter mentions internet rumors] I make those decisions, not the internet.
On the importance of the running game:
- Both teams really like to establish the run. Offenses that like to establish the line of scrimmage, anytime you are in a big game, is a huge factor. If one team is dominating the line of scrimmage, they will probably win the game. They like to run, we like to run, we have to execute on the line of scrimmage.
On Florida’s RBs:
- They have really come along, they are getting comfortable in our offense. I’ve seen a huge step from those guys from Game 1 to now.
On Georgia’s OL:
- They have a veteran group that has played a bunch of football. coming off a bye, having a chance to work on things, we are expecting to face one of the best OLs in CFB
On his relationship with QB Feleipe Franks:
- We rely a lot on our QB. We have to play to the QBs strengths, that’s a coach’s responsibility, especially at that position. we have learned what he handles well, what he doesn’t and we try to put him in a position to be successful… we’ve had many QBs do well but they are all different all shapes and sizes… If Tom Brady joins our team, we won’t be running QB power, but we will find a way to win some games.
On facing Kirby Smart the next decade:
- The Florida-Georgia rivalry is a great rivalry. if the stability is there for both programs, it makes it better. We have played golf, we are friendly up at the lake…
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
