Steve Sarkisian, Kirby Smart provide early comments on the SEC Championship
Both Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart were available on Zoom on Sunday night to provide preliminary comments on their matchup in the SEC Championship in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7.
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Texas HC Steve Sarkisian on Zoom: “This is a heck of an honor to earn an opportunity to go to Atlanta and compete for an SEC Championship. It was something that was clearly one of our team goals before the season began, and we knew it would be extremely challenging.”
Texas HC Steve Sarkisian does not have an update on Kelvin Banks during a pre-SEC Championship Zoom with the media.
Steve Sarkisian on Vernon Broughton: “I think Vernon had a tremendous game last night. Couple sacks, fumble recovery. He was right there in the mix on the goal line stop right there right at the point of the attack. I’m really proud of Vernon because he’s a guy that has grown with us over four years, very similar to Alfred (Collins).”
Steve Sarkisian mentions the “first layer” to Texas’ secondary improvement was to get Jahdae Barron to return to school to play corner and deploy Jaylon Guilbeau at nickel. Then mentions the “different perspective” provided by Johnny Nansen. Third was Andrew Mukuba’s transfer. Fourth is the development of the whole group.
Kirby Smart
Georgia HC Kirby Smart on a Zoom call: “I know having coached in it a lot of years, it’s an absolutely incredible atmosphere. It’s two teams battling for a conference championship, which has eluded many teams in our conference. With the new teams in our conference, the strength of this thing is incredible.” Calls the title game a “special moment.”
Kirby Smart: “I have so much respect for Sark and for the rivalry game they played in last night. Extremely physical game for them, emotional game for them. Their team has really navigated the SEC well, especially in the first year team coming in.”
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Kirby Smart on Steve Sarkisian making the SEC championship: “I don’t know that it’s ever been done before in terms of the first year in.”
Kirby Smart: “They have tremendous size and major disruption in their defensive line and defensive EDGEs. They’ve got quick, athletic, big people, that are physical on both sides of the ball. I thought their offensive line was really elite last night in terms of what they were able to do against the Texas A&M defensive front that may be the best in our conference.”
Kirby Smart: “They’re really physical and they’re committed to the run.”
Kirby Smart describes RB Trevor Etienne as “a ways away” and noted “he wasn’t really even close to playing last week.”
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Kirby Smart: “I know this. We’re going to have to play better than we’ve been playing because Texas is really good.”
