Nov. 15, 2008
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Auburn Head Coach Tommy Tuberville
'I thought it was a heck of an effort by both teams. We just didn't make a few opportunities work for us on offense. Just off the back of my head, four times in the red zone and we didn't come away with any points. I think two the first half and two the second half. That can't happen in a game like that. We knew it would come down to the wire.
People were able to run the football and play defense, in the first quarter I think they had 158 yards. It looked like it was going to be a blowout. The next three quarters they had less than 150. I thought the coaches did a good job of making adjustments. We are not there yet on offense in terms of being able to make the play at the crucial time. They made one, and we didn't. They got the pass interference penalty and we didn't at the end. That all works hand in hand. I am proud of the effort. Our guys couldn't have laid it on the line any more. For our seniors, it is their last game here. We have one game left. They will get the same effort, but we have to go on the road and do it against a good football team.'
On Auburn's kicking game
'The kicking game hasn't been with us all year long. Some parts have and some haven't. We made the change at halftime and put another kicker in with Morgan Hull and he kicked the extra point. We haven't been able to take our opportunities when they are there. That has been a big difference in three or four ballgames. Hopefully, it will turn around for us in the next game.'
On going for it on 4th and 3 instead of opting for the field goal after calling the time out
'It was fourth and (three) and we felt like we would get man coverage which we did and throw it in the end zone and either get pass interference or catch the ball. It was a good throw. We just didn't make it. If we kick the field goal there, they get the ball and we are having to kick the ball into the wind and they are going to get the ball around the 35 or 40 yard line and a possibility of running the clock out. We took a shot and it didn't work.'
On Auburn's running backs Mario Fannin and Ben Tate
'Both running backs ran the ball hard. We challenged them during the week, the offensive line and running backs. You can't rush for 50-60 yards in a game like this and have a chance to win. You can't leave your defense out on the field. We rushed for 124 yards.
That is a lot better than what we have done. Georgia has a good football team. They mixed it up. They did a good job and went to a five man front to stop the run and we still continued to run it, and it worked the second half. To be successful, we have to be able to run the ball and run it consistently.'
Auburn Players
Auburn quarterback Kodi Burns
Thoughts on today's game...
"It was tough. We fought, we just didn't come out with the win. W really fought hard and I am proud of the whole offense. We didn't make enough plays."
On his own performance...
"The few times I led the team down the field we didn't come out with points and that really hurt us late in the game. We missed a field goal when we should have scored and a few other times we should have scored."
On Georgia's defense...
"They played really solid. They are a good team. We just have to improve and get points out of our drives."
Improvements for Alabama...
"We just have to improve overall in putting points on the board. When we get our chances we have to get either three or seven. We really did a good job of moving the ball (today) but what killed us was that we couldn't finish."
Auburn running back Mario Fannin
Thought's on Auburn's offensive performance today...
"Offensively we did great. We moved the ball a lot. There were one or two drives where we fell short but we came back out and executed well."
On his first-half touchdown catch...
"The play was an option route. We executed it well. Kodi (Burns) put the ball in a great spot and I just ran down the field and scored."
On his rushing touchdown...
"Tristan (Davis) did a great job of picking up the corner crash and Gabe (McKenzie) did a great job of picking up the end. The offensive line did a great job of blocking. The receivers did a great job of blocking down field and everything worked out."
Thoughts on scoring both a receiving and rushing touchdown, which hadn't been done since Carl Stewart in 2005...
"It means a lot. Carl (Stewart) and I were real close when he was here. He is a great guy and it's an honor to be compared to him. He was a great athlete and a great running back at that, so it's pretty great."
Auburn tight end Gabe McKenzie
On moving back to offense...
"The transition was easy because I have been a tight end all my life so I just needed to get back over (to that side of the ball) and learn the play calls."
On Auburn's performance...
"I think they played well and they played their behinds off. We had a little problem finishing but we gave it our all, so I respect that."
On playing Alabama...
"We have to give it the same effort. We showed effort today, we just have to finish and keep playing hard the whole game. We just have to start off early. We got to it at the end but we have to do it the entire game."
Zac Etheridge, Safety
On Georgia offense...
"They've got an explosive offense. We played good as a defense - as a whole. We stepped up to some big challenges in some big situations."
On Stafford and his receivers...
"Stafford is one of the best SEC quarterbacks that you're going to see. He is one of the best in the nation. The receivers made big catches when the game was on the line."
On Alabama preparations...
"It's a game that we all come here for. We're looking forward to it. I believe that we are going to give our best game for the Iron Bowl. We're going to step up and answer the challenge. We're going to go out there and get with it for the next two weeks."
Josh Bynes, Linebacker
On Georgia offense...
"It's a powerful offense. We take pride in our defense. We came out there, tried to stop them and give our offense a chance as they needed to score. Their offense did what they were supposed to do. The receivers didn't really do much all day. They've got a good running back and a good quarterback."
On the next two weeks...
"We're focused on Alabama right now. We need to keep it positive, watch films and see where our mistakes are. We're going to get good preparation in during these next two weeks."
Tez Doolittle, Defensive Line
On blocked field goal...
"I was just trying to get a push. I got my hands up and I blocked it."
On Georgia offense...
"They were young. They're pretty hard-nosed and tough - quick off of the ball. They have a good offensive line. Moreno is a great running back. He's got great feet and balance. When you hit him, you've got to gang-tackle him, you can't just arm-tackle him. He'll break all those tackles. He's an all-around great back."
On Alabama preparations...
"We just have to look at our mistakes and get ready for the next one."
Georgia Quotes
Head coach Mark Richt
Opening statement...
"The last two weeks, the games have come down right to the last play of the game. We are thankful for the victory. A bunch of guys didn't flinch in the end. Either team could have won, it was a close game; another SEC brawl."
On the defense the past two weeks...
"It was awesome for the defense and again we put them on the spot to finish the game and get the stops down at the very end. I'm very proud of Coach Martinez and all of those guys. They kept their heads on in the end and that was outstanding."
On two closes finishes the past two weeks...
"I didn't have a lot energy to jump up and down at the end. We didn't' do a bunch of that, we just congratulated each other and were thankful for the victory. We knew that what happened there was significant; it's our 30th game we have won in eight season on an opponent home field. We are five-out-of-five this year in that regard. I think we were just spent at the end. It wasn't a big, loud celebration in there. It felt good."
On not finishing drives...
"We had opportunities to score more than we did. That first drive was really beautiful; it covered 75 to 80 yards. We got down in there and had a chance but Auburn, to their credit, kept us out. The kick was low, not that the protection was that good. More than likely, if he would have gotten it up, it would have gone through. Again to Auburn's credit, they kept Georgia and everyone else they have played out of the end zone in the first quarter. I'd take a little pride being able to get one in the end zone."
On getting Knowshon involved in the passing game...
"We didn't really invent any new plays for him. We have run wheel-routes before. Routes across the middle we have had for him already. Stafford could have gone to other players, but he chose to go to him. The thing I like Knowshon the past two weeks in particular is how he has practice. Not that he doesn't always practice well, but he's just had a different attitude. I saw it two weeks ago and it hasn't changed since. He just seemed to have a little edge, but he looked like he was kind of mad. He just practice with a little more juice and focus and that really carried over the past two games."
Keys to winning today's game...
"The keys to the game were perseverance, guts and sticking together. I guess you could say sticking together. Neither team played good enough to win. We both had enough mistakes to lose. It wasn't the prettiest game played by any means, it just comes down to sticking together and persevering."
Matthew Stafford, quarterback
On what to expect of Auburn...
"I wasn't surprised. They are a very good football team and they play us tough every year. It is a rivalry game, so you never know what can happen."
On thoughts during the final defensive stand...
"I was just hoping we got to them. I thought they would probably try to match up one on one with one of our linebackers or something like that. I was just glad we were able to stay with them and make the plays."
On offensive performance...
"We moved the ball really well, but we weren't able to get the field goal in the first quarter. The wind was really a factor on any kind of deep ball I tried to throw, but other than that it wasn't too bad. On the intermediate ball I was able to drive to through the wind, but anything I tried to hang up there deep, I was lucky to just get it near the guy, the ball was just blowing around so much. But the guys did a great job of making plays when we needed to."
On touchdown pass to A.J. Green...
"It was a play we have been working on, you have run it a couple of times during the season. Earlier in the season, we ran the exact same play and he was wide open in the end zone but the ball was dropped. I'm glad (Green) got a chance to run it again. He made a great catch. I didn't make such a great throw, but he did a good job of going up and getting it."
Dannell Ellerbe, linebacker
On win over a rival team...
"It feels good to win and be able to celebrate with my teammates, but now we have to focus on another rival team, Georgia Tech."
On final defensive drive...
"We were saying in the huddle 'we're good, we're good.' We weren't going to give up. We were going to fight and find a way to win."
Knowshon Moreno, running back
On two big wins the past two weeks...
"To get those wins when we really needed it in crunch time, it came through the defense working hard all week."
On the Auburn defensive line...
"They are really tough. They were flying around making plays, but at times we made plays also."
On the windy conditions...
"I think that he [Stafford] was throwing the ball well. There were a couple where the wind took it, but overall he did well and our players were making good catches."
On not being able to score on the opening drive...
"You can't put everyone in, you just have to try to put points on the board. Period."
On the physicality of the game...
"It is the SEC, so everyone is always physical."