Richt: Joe Cox is UGA starter

By TIM TUCKER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt reiterated Thursday that Joe Cox will start at quarterback against South Carolina on Saturday, poking fun at Internet reports to the contrary, but sidestepped the question of whether Cox’s arm or shoulder is ailing him.

Richt began a pre-practice briefing with reporters by saying: “Well, there’s a rumor that Logan Gray was going to start at quarterback for Georgia, but that’s not true. Aaron Murray is.

“I’m just kidding,” Richt added after pausing for effect. “No, Joe is the quarterback. So we’re good. ... No cause for a three-alarm fire or whatever everybody is trying to portray.”

While unequivocal about Cox’s status as the starter, Richt said only this when asked if Cox has a sore arm or shoulder, as has been rumored:

“What we have been doing with Joe is giving him ... off Wednesday as far as throwing the ball. And then Thursday — today — he’ll work. But the guy has been here five years. He’s getting old.

“Nah, we want to make sure his arm is as fresh as it could be. And that’s why we do it. ... We want Joe to have as much pop as he can have.”

Cox was not available for comment Thursday. Georgia makes its players off-limits to the media on Thursdays and Fridays.

Cox has said in the past that his arm and shoulder are fine. After one August practice, he had an ice pack on his shoulder, but called it “precautionary” when asked about it by a reporter.

Asked about Cox’s arm strength on his radio call-in show earlier this week, Richt said: “Joe can throw [the ball] plenty far enough. ... The goal is just to put it in [the right] place. ... Joe can easily throw it 55 yards, and you don’t throw it farther than that almost ever in a ballgame.”

Cox played all but two plays at quarterback in Georgia’s season-opening loss at Oklahoma State last week, completing 15 of 30 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble on a sack.

Cox played that game after battling flu-like symptoms for two days. Richt said Thursday that Cox is showing no after-effects from last week’s illness. “He’s fine,” Richt said.

Richt has said consistently that Gray, the No. 2 quarterback, could get playing time when Georgia’s offense is in the red zone, as he did for one snap last week. Richt also has left open the possibility that Gray could play at other times as well.