When Georgia’s football team reconvened for bowl practice last weekend, coach Mark Richt didn’t have any special contrivances or complicated plots for getting his team motivated to play Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. His singular goal: to play football well.
So Richt had the quality control staff compile a highlight video of each position’s best work from the regular season. He showed the team the compilation upon its return and instructed them to add some highlights to it on New Year’s Day.
“I didn’t really mention much about the fact we’re playing Nebraska as much it’s time to think about playing football again,” Richt said during the Bulldogs’ Gator Bowl news conference Monday. “… I wanted them to see that film of themselves doing it the Georgia way, doing it the right way and get excited about playing that way in this bowl game and preparing to play that way. That’s what I’ve talked about most.”
The Bulldogs’ level of motivation for this bowl has been in question ever since they accepted the bid on Dec. 8. Georgia (8-4) had considerably higher expectations before the season and will be playing Nebraska (8-4) for the second year in a row.
Initial reactions from UGA players were negative. When news of the rematch first trickled out, Georgia receiver Michael Bennett posted, “Nebraska again? Are you kidding me?” on his Twitter page. It was deleted a short time later.
“I’m not going to talk about that,” Bennett said Monday. “I didn’t play them last year, so it will be interesting to play them in a bowl like that. So I’m excited about it.”
Bennett was in Orlando last year but missed the Capital One Bowl while recovering from knee surgery. Georgia beat the Cornhuskers 45-31 with quarterback Aaron Murray passing for five touchdowns.
“They’ll definitely remember what happened last year,” said junior wide receiver Chris Conley, who had 136 receiving yards and two touchdowns in that game. “I’m excited to play any game. It’s an honor. And with the way our season went and all the adversity we went through, I’m glad to play this game and just to have the chance to play again.”
