Mark Richt On Georgia’s Matchup With The Vols

Sep 7, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt reacts to a penalty call late in the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated South Carolina 41-30. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

"Mark Richt: I haven’t looked at their tape yet, but I watched them play on TV a little bit against Florida. I just know what it’s like to go there, and I know what it’s like to play in front of a crowd that’s going to be really excited. Mark Richt (on former Georgia assistants John Jancek and Willie Martinez) I enjoy seeing those guys, I like them very much, and I consider them good friends. We go compete. We’re looking at tape. We’re not looking at coaches’ pictures in the media guides. We’re just looking at the film trying to formulate a plan, and they’re doing the same I’m sure. Mark Richt: Next week, if we think it’s going to be any easier, we’re crazy. We’re going Knoxville, Tenn., man. They’re going to be fired up, their fans are going to be ready to go and if we think it’s going to be anything less than what we’ve been living through, we’re nuts. Mark Richt: The biggest thing is we, as coaches and players, can’t hang on to that feeling of how great it was for very long.  We have to move on. We have to move our focus to Tennessee. No matter what we felt in the stadium or in the locker room, it will be forgotten much sooner if we don’t come back and continue to do the things we have to do to win. We’ve got to be focused and we’ve got to be at the top of our game to be good. We’ve got to get our minds right and our bodies right and turn the page and move on. As coaches and players, we’re working on the new game plan. After honor roll, which was the first thing we did in today’s meeting, last week’s game was over. We’re moving on to the next game with Tennessee. Mark Richt: We played North Texas and that was a barn burner, so every game’s going to be a barn burner until we really get more stout on defense and continue to get our special teams in order."

It’s obvious that Neyland Stadium is still viewed as a prime football environment by Mark Richt. He knows his team is primed for a letdown after a huge win over LSU and he doesn’t want his team to overlook playing in the environment that Neyland will present.

Also of note: Mark Richt and Vols defensive backs coach Willie Martinez were college roommates at Miami. That should make for some interesting pre-game fodder between the two.

Martinez and defensive coordinator John Jancek are both former members of Richt’s coaching staff at Georgia.