Quarterback question hangs over Dogs

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Will Joe Cox remain Georgia's starting quarterback?

Coach Mark Richt wasn't saying on Sunday.

"I know what everybody is going at, but you're not going to get anything," he said on a teleconference with reporters. "We're not going to talk about making any changes right now. If there are going to be changes anywhere, it'd be Tuesday before we'd have an idea where we would line them up."

Cox threw three interceptions in Georgia's 41-17 loss to Florida on Saturday, and Richt's answer -– or lack thereof –- to Sunday's inevitable question will further fuel speculation about whether it's time for redshirt sophomore Logan Gray or freshman Aaron Murray to replace Cox, a senior.

Richt did say that any decision will be based not on preparing a young player for the future -– but "100 percent" on what gives Georgia the best chance to win the four games remaining on this season's schedule.

"We owe that to our seniors. We owe that to our fans," Richt said. "We owe that to everybody who busts their tail every day."

Murray, the Parade Magazine high school All-American from Tampa,  was sidelined from practice with triceps tendinitis earlier this fall but is now "very healthy," Richt said.

Having not appeared in a game so far this season, Murray and fellow freshman quarterback Zach Mettenberger are on track to redshirt. If either were to play, he'd lose the redshirt and would have three years of eligibility –- rather than four –- remaining after this year.

Georgia (4-4, 3-3 SEC) plays Tennessee Tech in Sanford Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Green, Boling status unclear

The status of two key Georgia offensive players –- wide receiver A.J. Green and lineman Clint Boling -– is up in the air for this week's game because of injuries suffered against Florida.

"I couldn't just say they are 100 percent for this week," Richt said Sunday. "I'll know a lot more by Tuesday's practice."

Boling injured a knee, and Green might have suffered a rib injury. Richt did not have details on the injuries, but said that "from everything I've heard," neither will necessitate "any kind of surgery."

The Spikes controversy

Internet video of Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes reaching into Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey's facemask at the bottom of a pile drew a lot of attention on message boards frequented by UGA fans who felt Spikes was attempting to gouge at Ealey's eyes.

Both Richt and Florida coach Urban Meyer were asked about the incident on their Sunday teleconferences.

"If that's the case, I will have a very serious talk with him," said Meyer, who called Spikes "a very emotional player."

Richt said he had not seen the video.

"I did have someone bring it to my attention that they thought that might have happened or whatever," Richt said, "but I don't want to make any kind of comment on that particular incident."

In general, Richt said, he reports "anything at all in a ballgame that we think is problematic when it comes to the rules" to SEC coordinator of officials Rogers Redding. "But please don't try to make it sound like that's what I'm doing in this case, because I'm not," Richt said.