Everything UGA Football QB Gunner Stockton Said During Sugar Bowl Media Day
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New Orleans, LA - Georgia Bulldog quarterback Gunner Stockton talks about Ole Miss, the 2025 season, and more during Sugar Bowl SEC Media Day.
Q: When you wrapped up the game last year, did you have it in the back of your mind: Can't wait to get a second bite at this? Were you hoping to end up here and have this opportunity?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, it left a bad taste last year. But this venue is always a great experience, and I'm glad we're playing here.
Q. Even though you didn't get the outcome you were hoping for last year, what does it mean to be back at the same place you got your first career start?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, I'm just glad we're playing in the playoffs really, didn't matter where it was. Playing here last year, the experience, just excited to be here.
Q. What area of your game do you feel like has improved the most?
GUNNER STOCKTON: I would say my confidence, playing a full season, having a bunch of games under my belt. Just playing that and playing with my teammates and having fun.
Q. What feels different about this team this time around versus last time?
GUNNER STOCKTON: I would like to say for myself, just the confidence part of it. I feel like I help the team in that way compared to last year, I didn't have that much confidence. Many games played under my belt. So just going through a full season and getting to play in this venue, it's going to be an unreal experience.
Q. We talked to Lawson [Luckie] yesterday. He made a statement that he felt like last year, y'all didn't take the practices leading up to the Sugar Bowl as seriously. This year, it feels like there's a different edge. Do you feel that as well? And why do you think that is?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, I don't know why, but I give credit to everybody on the football team. The older guys, younger guys, everybody buying into what Coach [Kirby] Smart says and just attacking practice and not taking it for granted and trying to get better every day.
Q. When it comes to the confidence you've built, how much has [Mike] Bobo played a role in helping bring that out in you?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, a lot. Coach Bobo, he's awesome. The amount of work he puts in, you can see the love he has for everyone and the university, and it makes me want to go out here and play my best for him.
Q. I get the sense you guys (Mike Bobo) are a lot alike. Like personality-wise, approach to the game. Do you see similarities between the two of you?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, I would say so. Both hate to -- I think we're both competitive. So I think we share that, too.
Q. What impact would potentially having Colbie [Young] back and Ethan [Barbour] back have on Georgia's offense?
GUNNER STOCKTON: I don't really know yet. That's more of a Coach [Kirby] Smart question, but it would be great if they were back.
Q. Over the last year, you've become the pride and joy of Rabun County, if you will. What it's going to mean to get a playoff win knowing what going back home means to you? What has changed?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Not a whole lot. I still love going back home and seeing everybody I grew up with, from teachers to my buddies I went to high school with. So it's always fun when I go back home.
Q. Do they treat you differently now that you've had a full year as starting quarterback at Georgia?
GUNNER STOCKTON: I think anybody who is the quarterback at Georgia gets treated a little different, especially in the state of Georgia, but it's always fun going back home and going where I grew up.
Q. There were tragic circumstances surrounding this game last year and the terrorist attack and the game getting postponed. Anything you can remember specifically about that? The adjustments you had to make on the fly and how you all reacted when you got if news?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, it was uncertain. I woke up that morning getting ready for game day, eating breakfast, hadn't checked my phone or anything. And I forgot who I was sitting next to, like, hey, we might not play. I thought they were messing with me trying to play a prank. But seeing that stuff, just a bunch of uncertainty. And we really didn't know what was going on, so it was crazy last year.
Q. How did you and the players take full advantage of having a first-round bye?
GUNNER STOCKTON: I think attacking practices like Lawson [Luckie] talked about. Just taking advantage of practice. And we had like a day off, getting our rest in and will taking care of our bodies is a big part.
Q. How did you take full advantage of the rest? Did you spend time with family?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, I went home. We had a couple days off; I would go home on the weekends. It was good to see them.
Q. Kirby Smart, he's a veteran coach. He's been around. He's seen a lot of success. What are the sentiments he's sharing with you guys going into this match up and heading into the playoffs overall?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Yeah, the match up, he talks about the Sugar Bowl and being in the College Football Playoffs, it's a one-game season now. He's been preaching on that. And we've played Ole Miss, and he isn't preaching we've already beat them. It's a whole separate game, so we're excited to play them and for the experience.
Q. It must seem -- the fact you played Ole Miss already this year and you were here one year ago, is it a little deja vu? Or does everything feel familiar in a certain way?
GUNNER STOCKTON: Maybe a little bit, but you can't transfer a win or anything like that. So it's a whole separate game. It's a whole separate season because it's a one-game season now. So I'm excited to play in it.
Q. Any particular emotions from last year's total experience and being one-year anniversary, basically? We were in this room talking to you over there last year. How do you feel about that?
GUNNER STOCKTON: It's crazy. It's crazy how much I've grown in a year, I feel like. I feel more comfortable and more confident. So it's crazy just how it's getting the season under my belt and playing with all the guys in here and just having fun while I'm doing it.
