Everything Georgia Football QB Gunner Stockton Said After UGA's 20-17 Win Over Alabama

Q:  jump right in and ask you about that third and seven throw from your tent?

GUNNER: It was awesome to be able to, you know call pass and not kind of... Coach Smary said be conservative. I'm glad it worked out and Elias, he had, he had a great catch.

Q: What about that feeling when you're, when you're in the clutch like that?

What's, what's going through your mind, this process and

GUNNER: Just I look to sideline, next play. Just trying to get the next play, the next moment.

Q: What do you say about Dwight Phillips and his, the way that he played today?

GUNNER: It was incredible. Yeah, I mean, I, I think the that Alabama defense was really good. Just the way he ran hard trying to break tackles, arm tackles, and just kept running. I thought he did a great job.

Q: Kirby talked about playing aggressive and that just being the, the, the, the vibe coming into here. "I'm not coming to play overtime. I'm not coming to play for a tie." How much of that mindset just gives you confidence, and the fact that your coach gives you confidence going out there?

GUNNER: It's everything. The way Coach Smart is and just the aggressiveness, it definitely instills confidence in everybody on this team.

Q: What did it take for you guys to be productive with that kind of crowd and this kind of atmosphere on the road tonight? Not something necessarily you guys have faced yet this year.

GUNNER: I think definitely just taking it serious in our prep this, that week coming up and with the crowd noise and just knowing and being... having elite communication and just making sure we're all on the same page.

Q: Kirby said he's never calm, but you seem so calm in these late game situations. Are you calm? And if so, why is that the case?

GUNNER: Uh, maybe not always, but I try to be. Just try to be calm in the chaos.

Q: A lot of the talk coming into the game was about the other quarterback, did... I mean, you're human. Is it... do you get a little extra motivation out of hearing the, you know, "You're good, but you're not him" kind of thing?

GUNNER: I really didn't hear that. I'm not on social media. But I know he's a, he is a great player.

Q: As a Georgia fan, put everything aside, what's it feel to get a win in Tuscaloosa?

GUNNER: Yeah, it's a lot. You know, it's been many years since we've won here, and we did what it took and kept responding and attacking the moments.

Q: What was it like preparing for a game that could've been a tropical storm, could've been a hurricane, all the elements? Just what was it like for you this week?

GUNNER: I don't know, just kind... We just kind of took it, you know, each practice, each meeting, you know, just kind of staying in the moment. Um, you know, and trying to block out all the external noise.

Q: Gunner, we can hear the music coming from the locker room. How would you describe that locker room after you guys won?

GUNNER: I... To be honest, that's why you play. Like, you know, being competitive and just playing football, that's, you know. But having that locker room that's what makes it special, so.

Q: Talk about your touchdown run. I mean, when you went around the end, looked like, um, some green space. Were you sure you were gonna score there?

GUNNER: I thought I was. Uh, I was just hoping I could get there before they could. Elias and they made a great, great blocks and the line strained and, um, had enough to get in the end zone.

Q: Was that a read play or was that for you the whole way?

GUNNER: Uh, it was a read play. Yes, sir.

Q: Just talk about the kind of chemistry with you and just about every receiver. You threw some dimes today. I mean, uh, you were exceptionally sharp a lot of the time with multiple receivers. Just talk about the synergy you have with those guys.

GUNNER: Yeah, I think it goes back to a lot of the guys like, you know, Craig, Talan, Sacove, London, everybody, they kind of just stepping up and, you know, it isn't something new that, you know, we just snapped our fingers and done. It's a lot of work put into it and it's just, I don't know if it was, every ball was a dime, but they definitely made some plays and definitely can get better at that.

Q: Keelon waited a long time for you after your TV interview to congratulate you. What was that interaction like? What, did he say anything specific or-

GUNNER: Yeah, that was he was awesome. I've tried to do better with that and trying to go shake the other quarterback's hands no matter, no matter what.

Just seeing that at, at a younger age is pretty, pretty special.

Q: I mean, did you, like, ever talk to him before that?

GUNNER: I have not, no. I've definitely, you know, heard of him. He played really good, and I have a lot of respect for him.

Q: Apologies if you've been asked this, but with Chauncey out and Nate, what can you just say about the depth in the running back room and Dwight having the game that he had and even Bo Walker?

GUNNER: Coach Bobo talked about it with us. We have a lot of depth and, um, and I think we have a lot of guys that can play winning football. When you have that it’s really good. And obviously, Dwight played his butt off and Bo and even Nick when he came in there and running it and they just ran and played hard for the team.

W: Talk about the resiliency on this team. You were able to overcome the interception, not let that bother you, and then bounce back from some penalties that you guys were able to overcome. How, how did that kind of show up for you guys that you were able to do that?

GUNNER: I think definitely at least for me and  throwing a pick and almost another one, just trying to always just respond and not dwell on the bad moments and just learn from it and move on and kind of don't let it carry over and any emotion.

So it's hard, it's easier said than done, but definitely just trying to do that.

Q: With limits like- Not just the, not just the depth at running back, but at tight end, receivers as well. What's it like for the team to-

GUNNER: Like I said, Coach Bobo one of his goals was to show the depth that we have, that guys can play winning football and the volume that we do.

That's credit the coaching staff and all of us just buying into what they say.

Q: The guys up front won't pop up on the stat sheet, but they kept you pretty clean all night and opened up the holes for Bo and for Dwight. Just talk about how they played in this environment and the communication and everything on that offensive line.

GUNNER: Yeah, they play their butts off. They're, played tough, and they really - we didn't really flinch. Definitely had some penalties and stuff we need to clean up, but they're just a tough unit and I have a lot of love for them.

Q: So we were just talking about not letting the bad moments roll over to the next moment.

Is there something that you tell yourself, either in your head or out loud, something that you do to reset?

GUNNER: Really just trying to just get to the next play and, um, it's hard, but just trying to forget about it. Because if you do if you do that, then everything, you can't be at your best, so.

Q: What did you think about Russell’s game?

GUNNER: I didn't, I didn't see it a lot, but I definitely, he played really good tonight. I know what it's like going against our defense, and he played really good.

Q: I'm sure you were already asked about this, but what'd you see on the third down throw to Elias and, and just being able to make that play?

GUNNER: Saw a little window to be able to throw it in there and definitely Elias he made a great catch and to come down with that. So that was, that was pretty special.

Q: How big was Dwight being able to, to carry the load like he did and what he brought on the offense?

GUNNER: Yeah, he ran, he ran hard. Um, definitely he got back up every time and just the fight and what he had for the team, it definitely shows that he loves his team.

Q: So you knock off a top 10 team on the road, big atmosphere. How do you put this aside and then realize that, "Oh yeah, we got another game next week and it's Auburn, and they're coming for you"?

GUNNER: Yeah. Um, that's the beauty of it. Enjoy this one of course tomorrow move on.

Q: Kirby won a lot of games here at Alabama as defensive coordinator, but he hadn't won here, I guess, the third time he brought Georgia here in 14 years. What does it mean for you guys to, for current members on the, um, you know, on this game where things, uh, how much are you gonna take it?

Zakhai had a big game. What did you see about him?

GUNNER: Not really. I mean, at the end of the day you just want to win, so, um, but definitely it's a little icing on top. But definitely it was a special win.

Q: Did you know how much it meant to Zakhai to, to get the win? It seemed like Kirby mentioned him when he was up here and it seemed like it meant a little more to him, having been at Alabama committed at one point, so.

GUNNER: Yeah. I actually, I actually didn't know that. Definitely you could, you could tell by the way he was playing and just the way he attacks every, every play. He played his butt off as well.

Q: Gunner, do you feel like you proved anything about yourself tonight?

GUNNER: I hope I proved I never quit.

I love my team, and just keep playing.

Q: Did you think you would be able to compete at a couple of those positions with the kind of defense you had?

GUNNER: Yeah, I thought we could. You know, with Dwight and, you know, kind of next man up, we, um, we operate as we, as we do as a unit, so. How was the field conditions? Do you think it was...

How would you describe them? You played a lot of close games.

GUNNER: It was, it was good. I mean, it was, it was a little wet. Like, sometimes the ball, um, was rolling around a little bit, but it wasn't, it wasn't wet at all, really. Did you have a moment when, um, you competed a couple of those positions, was that just a wet field you had to deal with, or was it something- Yeah, a little bit, just where it gets rolled around probably.

Q: This was a big win for Kirby. I mean, you guys play, you play for each other, but how much, how much is Kirby a factor and motivator for y'all?

GUNNER: He's a lot. He, he'll definitely get everybody motivated, and just the, the passion, and the energy that he brings every day is unmatched.

Q: Got our big back Kirby White and Bo. What is it like to have guys like that be able to step up when your number ones are out?

GUNNER: Yeah, it's awesome. I know definitely, um, um, couple years ago in Texas, like when I had to s- step up and, um, come in the game, you have a lot of emotions going on, and, um, but definitely just the, just seeing him, seeing both of 'em, and just the, you know, the fight that they all had and just how fa- hard they ran for the team, it was, it was awesome.