Georgia Football: Twitter Reaction and Analysis from SEC Media Days

For the first time since 2005, the Georgia Bulldogs will be attending SEC Media Days as the defending SEC East champions. 

2011 got off to a rocky start, losing games to Boise State and South Carolina, and talk began of Mark Richt being on the hot seat. Ten straight wins and an SEC East crown quieted that talk until the Dawgs were blown out in the SEC championship game and lost a triple-overtime thriller to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.

Georgia has been selected by the media as the favorite to win the SEC East again this season. With expectations sky high in 2012, will Richt be able to get off the hot seat once and for all and lead Georgia to its first SEC championship since 2005?

Stay tuned here all day as we follow Richt and his players at SEC Media Days. 

Richt on the Main Stage

Mark Richt was the last coach to speak on the main stage at SEC Media Days.

Richt talked about his former quarterback Zach Mettenberger. (Via Matt Hayes, Sporting News)

"

Mark Richt, on Mettenberger's status if he were still at #UGA: "He'd be competing for the starting position, or be the starter."

— Matt Hayes(@Matt_HayesSN) July 19, 2012"

Richt praised the new playoff format. (Via Anthony Dasher, UGAsports.com)

"

CMR says the four-team playoff is "going to be outstanding" #SECKickoff12

— Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) July 19, 2012"

In praising the system Richt thinks that the format should stay the same, saying he would hate to see the day where losing to or beating Florida wouldn't have the same meaning. 

Mark Richt talked highly of his defense. Georgia returns nine starters on defense and many of those starters chose to stay in school rather than take their talents to the NFL. (Via Edward Aschoff, ESPN)

"

#UGA LB Jarvis Jones said he never filed paper work for the NFL. Didn't think he was ready yet. Played ILB in high school. OLB now.

— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) July 19, 2012"

Tavarres King

Last on the schedule today, Richt and his players were able to sleep in a little longer this morning. It appears that they will be on their way to Hoover for media days shortly.(Via Tavarres King, @TKUnoDos)

"

Me and the boys @sacmanjones_29 and @25miljonesbout to get on this flight to SEC media day! instagr.am/p/NQvpreF4lW/

— Tavarres King(@TKUnoDos) July 19, 2012"

Follow Tavarres King on Twitter @TKUnoDos. He is a self describe "Twitterholic" and should be an entertaining follow and they make the rounds today. 

As expected King is creating headlines today in Hoover. (Via Edward Aschoff)

"

RT @zavalaa: UGA's Tavarres King says Mizzou's Faurot Field will be flooded with red on September 8th.

— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) July 19, 2012"

Malcom Mitchell

Mark Richt spoke highly of sophomore CB/WR Malcolm Mitchell. (Via Mark Schlabach)

"

Richt on Malcolm Mitchell: "By time season’s over we will have seen a lot of Malcolm playing offense. Early on I don’t know how much." #UGA

— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) July 19, 2012"

Mitchell is making the move to defense this season but could still be used as an offensive weapon.(Via Barrett Sallee)

"

King: "Job hasn't changed since Malcolm Mitchell moved to defense. We have a big group of talented wide receivers to pick up the slack."

— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) July 19, 2012"

Mark Richt

Mark Richt is scheduled to speak at 11:50 am ET on Thursday. 

Mark Richt met with the print media folks today before heading off the big interview room. (Via UGA Athletics Twitter)

"

Coach Richt meeting with the print media before heading upstairs to the big room #SECKickoff12 twitter.com/UGAAthletics/s…

— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) July 19, 2012"

I wonder how many time Richt was (and will be) asked about the dismissal of Isaiah Crowell today?

The Dawgs defense will be scary good in 2012 but they will be without three playmakers (Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo and Branden Smith) for an undisclosed ammount of time. Richt adressed this today. (Via Anthony Dasher Twitter, managing editor for UGAsports.com)

"

Coach Richt says he knows the punishments for Bacarri Rambo, Alec Ogletree and Branden Smith but not ready to say. #SECKickoff12

— Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) July 19, 2012"

Rambo failed a drug test after he allegedly, unknowingly ate a "pot brownie." Oggletree reportedly broke team rules. Smith was arrested for possession of marijuana.  

On the subject of players being suspended/dismissed Richt talked about how hard it can be to dismiss a player from his football team. (Via Mark Schlabach)

"

Richt on Isaiah Crowell's suspension: “No decision to dismiss a guy from the team is an easy decision. It’s always tough because I care."

— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) July 19, 2012"

Richt Fires Back at Spurrier

After Steve Spurrier took a not so subtle dig at Georgia's schedule, Richt fired back today. (Via Atlanta Journal Constitution)

"

Richt on Spurrier: "I'm sure there'll be a year he'll be thankful for the schedule he has." AJC.com

— AJC UGA (@ajcuga) July 19, 2012"

Abry Jones

Abry Jones met with some of the print media folks today. (Via UGA Athletics Twitter)

"

Abry Jones meeting the media here at #SECKickoff12 twitter.com/UGAAthletics/s…

— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) July 19, 2012"

Georgia Named the Favorite in the East

The Georgia Bulldogs have been named as the favorite to win the SEC East (via Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star).

"

Media SEC order of finish: East: Georgia, SoCar, Florida, Mizzou, Tenn, Vandy, Ky. West: LSU, Ala, Ark, Aub, A&M, MissSt, Miss.

— Blair Kerkhoff (@BlairKerkhoff) July 19, 2012"

The Dawgs are coming back after being SEC East champs a season ago and return a scary defense along with quarterback Aaron Murray.