Georgia players reflect on rivalry win over Georgia Tech, Sanford sendoff

ATHENS, Ga. — Friday night’s win over Georgia Tech was a UGA thriller. It’s one that will be remembered for many, many years to come in the Classic City with the Bulldogs not only beating a rival, but also tying an FBS record for the longest home winning streak in history at 31.

Afterwards, DawgsHQ was on hand to hear from Georgia players including quarterback Carson Beck, linebacker Jalon Walker, wide receiver Dominic Lovett and linebacker Chaz Chambliss. Below we share with you video of the postgame interviews plus a full transcript of everything the Bulldog signal caller had to say…

Carson Beck | QB | No. 15

On describing the Georgia team as resilient, how he would describe them after this win…

“The same word. Wow, that game was crazy, honestly. I think it’s definitely the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of. You know, our group showed that we were resilient tonight. And we’ve shown that over and over this season, that regardless of the circumstances, we’re never going to give up. And I mean, that came into fruition tonight. So just super proud of our guys.”

On conversations as the game went along…

“Just keep going. It’s going to take four quarters, or however long it takes. You know, and tonight, it was however long it takes, right? They made the plays when they needed to. We made the plays when we needed to. I mean, I don’t even really know what to say. It was just wild. It was an emotional game. And shoot, probably my last game here ever. It was crazy. But it was one way to go out with a bang. So no, it was a lot of fun.”

On this being his last game, what he means…

“I’m saying in the stadium. Let me rephrase that. Y’all cut that out. My last game in Sanford Stadium was today. Likely our last game. So I mean, it was one way to go out.”

On going eight overtimes…

“Was it eight overtimes? Yes, it was. Gosh, it felt like 20. Anyways, yeah, no, it was a lot of fun.”

On the mindset of somebody going through a game you lose count of how many overtimes…

“Next play, you know? I mean, that’s all you really can focus on. You know, the defense is going to go out and go play. And then we’re going to go out and go play.

I mean, there’s a few plays that we could have executed on to help our defense out earlier. But you know, they stood strong. And they got the stops when they needed to. And then finally, at the end, you know, we were able to punch it in and end the game.”

On what a win like this can do for this Georgia team…

“I mean, it shows our character. You know, it shows our character. It shows who we are. I mean, I’m going to remember this game forever. These guys are going to remember this game forever. I mean, just a huge game and just so much fun. You know, it just shows the brotherhood that we have on this team, the connection that we have, that we’re never going to give up on each other and always going to fight until the last second, no matter what the scoreboard says.”

On what goes through his head after the fumble recovery…

“Oh, we’re going to go win the game 100%. I don’t know. I feel confident that, you know, in those situations — I mean, we’ve practiced. I’ve been through it. We’ve done it. That if the ball is in my hands, we’re going to go win.”

On adjustments the Georgia offense made…

“Yeah, I mean, we kind of got put into crunch time there in the second half. Just, you know, from some turnovers and some things that we didn’t execute on in the first half. So at that point, you kind of got to start throwing the ball. You know, it’s kind of two-minute mode. Like, we got to go down and score fast so that, you know, our defense go out and get the stop. They get the stop. We go down and score again. 

I mean, it was good complementary football there at the end, situationally. I think there’s a lot of stuff that we can go fix on film. But I think this game showed more about who we are as a team and our character and our heart. And we can fix all that other stuff.”

On the frustration after second half opening three-and-out…

“I mean, just keep going. I think it’s perfectly fine to show frustration. Obviously, I’m frustrated. Everybody else is frustrated. I just had to get it out. You know, there’s no reason to just hold it in and stay frustrated. Like, get it out and then move on next play. 

I mean, shoot, I have emotions. Obviously, I’m going to be frustrated when we haven’t scored at all. And we got to go put points up on the board. You know, our defense needs us. They’re doing their job. We got to do ours. So no, I was just frustrated. They were just coming over to pick me up. But all was good.”

On Georgia’s momentum going into SEC Championship…

“Oh, yeah. I mean, momentum is a real thing. But I mean, every week is separate from each other. Now we start the postseason, you know. And it’s one week at a time. 1-0. I know I’ve probably said that like 20 times this year. But shoot, rest tomorrow. A much-needed day off for all of us. And then we’ll get back to it on Sunday.”

On taking in Sanford Stadium one last time…

“Oh, absolutely. I mean, like I said, just the game itself. Just everything. The emotions. The highs. The lows. The way we were able to fight back. And then you add that factor into it.

You know, I just took a second look around. And, you know, just try to take it all in. And just enjoy it, you know. And, you know, that was kind of my mindset coming into this game too.”

On Nate Frazier’s 2-point conversion…

“I don’t even really remember, honestly. I don’t want to say it was a sigh of relief. But to an extent, it was like, oh my gosh, like finally, you know. Like we did it. We got in there. Our defense did their job. We did ours after eight overtimes, I’ve been informed. But no, I mean, I was, I can’t even describe it. It was just excitement, joy. Just truly happy.”

On how the emotions of this compare to other times at Georgia…

“Oh man, one of the most, honestly. Probably one of the most emotional games I’ve been a part of. Just the circumstances, everything with it. Kind of like how I explained, like it could be my last time playing in the stadium. So, I mean, that adds some emotion to it as well. You know, playing with these guys. Only got a couple more games left with them. And these seniors, I mean, we’ve been through thick and thin together. We’ve faced adversity this season. I mean, it hasn’t been easy. It’s been difficult. And we’ve just come so far. And for us to like battle back like that and bounce back like that and show resiliency is huge for us and really, really emotional. So I’m super proud of everybody.”

On Nate Frazier…

“Oh man, I mean, he’s done a great job. He did a great job tonight. He’s done a great job this season. Date back all the way to August 31st when we played Clemson and he went for however many yards he went for, it was eye-opening, you know and he showed that he was going to be able to produce for this team.

And, you know, with Etienne down, he’s really been able to step up for us. And, you know, he had a good night tonight.”

On a play that stands out…

“I mean, shoot, the last one. The last one is the one that I’m going to remember, obviously. Just ending it, the excitement, the crowd, just everything. The whole entire, just all of that. That’ll be the one that definitely gets from me.”

On if Georgia had run the Nate Frazier 2-point conversion in any form this year…

“I mean, we had run that play, but not in that way, I guess, if that makes sense. You know, I mean, we run the same play in a lot of different ways. But no, we hadn’t run that play.”

On if both offenses were just going to run out of plays at some point…

“You never run out of plays. I mean, there’s 200-some plays on the call sheet. And if not, then we’ll go get something off the call sheet. We’ll make something up. You know, we’ll never run out of plays.”

On if he’s on empty after that game and getting ready for next Saturday…

 “Oh, well, we got an extra day off. You know, it’s Friday.”

A reporter corrects Beck and tells him it’s Saturday…

“Same thing. I get today off since it’s already Saturday, which is the first day off in a long, long time. So nah, I mean, shoot, we get back in tomorrow. I mean, guys are banged up. It’s the SEC. We played some really, really tough physical games this year. Get in there, recover, do all you got to do, and then Sunday turn on the tape, move on, and then it’s on to the next week. I mean, that’s just how it rolls.”

On what winning or losing this game would mean for Georgia’s playoff chances… 

“The playoffs was not in my mind at all. All I cared about was — I can’t say that. All I cared about was beating Georgia Tech. That’s all I cared about.”

On explaining why Georgia went for two after the first touchdown (note: Beck did not understand which TD)…

“No, I had no clue. I was like, wait, why can’t, because they had went for two. And then I was like, oh, we won. Like, we’re about to kick extra point. And then they’re like, oh, you got to go for two. And I was like, I didn’t. I had no clue, honestly. But I knew that the rules said that you had to go for two at some point. But I didn’t know when that was.”

The reporter clarifies the touchdown that made it 17-6…
“Oh, yeah. Shoot, that’s beyond me, honestly. I’m not sure.”

On what it was like on the Georgia sideline going through those eight overtimes…

“Up, down, up, down. You know, it’s like a roller coaster. When the emotions are rolling like that, you can’t ride the roller coaster of emotions. You just got to stay right here, you know? Stay even-keeled. Stay on plane, and just one play at a time.”

On this team’s ability to bounce back… 

“Yeah, gosh, we’ve faced a lot of adversity this year as a team, and especially in this game individually. I mean, we’ve got a resilient group of guys. We stay composed the entire time. We’re very, very, very connected, and we fight for each other. You know, there’s no individuals out there. There’s no selfishness. It’s one guy playing for the guys to his left and right. And I think that’s what makes us so good.” 

On if there’s a day of the week that you guys practice 2-point conversions…

“I mean, we’ll walk through them, and then obviously we have some periods where we obviously run them against the defense just for moments like these.”

On the plays that Dan Jackson made toward the end… 

“Oh, I couldn’t even watch. Yeah, no, I was not watching. I was turned away, looking the other way. I can’t watch in those situations. So no, I’d shoot.” 

On if he knew Dan Jackson forced the fumble…

“I did see that on the, what do you call that? The scoreboard? Whatever, the video board. I saw it on the video board after. But no, I mean, huge play in the game.”

On if it’s a good thing to know Georgia has not played its best game yet… 

“Yeah, I mean, I think that’s a great thing. I think there’s games where we have played really well and up to our potential in certain moments. And I mean, you’re never going to play a perfect game. I mean, there’s always going to be mistakes. But no, I do think that there is a complete game coming, so I’m excited for that.”

Jalon Walker | LB | No. 11

Dominic Lovett | WR | No. 6

Chaz Chambliss | LB | No. 32

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