Georgia Bulldogs College Football Pregame Quote, 12/30/2024

Q. What’s your guys’ motivation coming into a game like?

TREVOR ETIENNE: Just understanding how important this one game is. It’s a one-game season. We don’t get a next time if we lose this game. It’s huge. It’s important to us.

Q. Do you feel like things are different now with the 12-team playoff opposed to the four-team playoff?

TREVOR ETIENNE: Definitely. It gives teams that never really had a chance, it gives them a chance. And it makes the season longer honestly. That’s really the biggest difference too.

Q. Is that something you enjoy? Or is that something maybe that can be a double-edged sword?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I don’t mind. I feel like it can be a double-edged sword. But I love football, so I don’t mind playing a longer season.

Q. How important was the break for you guys? Getting that first-round bye?

TREVOR ETIENNE: It was huge. But the break can be a positive or negative. So managing the time well was critical while having this break.

Q. Your path leading you back to the Sugar Bowl, how exciting is this for you to play in Louisiana?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I mean, it’s one of those feelings you can’t really describe. Being able to come home, play in a big game. It’s a feeling like no other. Just excited to be here.

Q. What do you remember about the Sugar Bowl? And have you been to a game before?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I actually have. My brother (Travis Etienne) played in this game, I believe twice. I believe his freshman year, they (Clemson University) played Bama and they lost. And I believe they played Ohio State here again, and I think they lost that one too. I don’t know. Our family hasn’t had a lot of luck in the Dome (Caesars Superdome). Sso like, my family, we call at this time dome curse, but it’s just something we say. We’re looking to get this victory Wednesday.

Q. Are you hoping to break that curse?

TREVOR ETIENNE: Definitely. Definitely. I love the City of New Orleans. Love the Dome (Caesars Superdome). Love Louisiana. Yeah, trying to get a win in the city.

Q. What’s been your biggest shift from Florida to George? For you personally?

TREVOR ETIENNE: Just how much I’ve grown as a person. Just how much I’ve learned and was able to take in. I feel like at Florida, Coach [Jabbar] Juluke instilled a lot in me, was really patient with me. He helped mold me into the man I am today. And taking what I learned from him and what I learned here has helped me significantly.

Q. And the irony of him (Jabbar Juluke) being from here and you playing here?

TREVOR ETIENNE: Yeah, that’s crazy.

Q. Gunner [Stockton], obviously, is going to be the starting quarterback for the entirety of these playoffs.

And you’ve seen him in practice. Obviously, he played a lot in the SEC Championship. How confident are you in him and his ability to potentially lead this team a national championship?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I’m 100% confident. I say this all the time, Gunner has been working all the time since he was QB 1. I’m completely confident. I like to describe him as fearless. When he’s out there, it’s electric.

Q. You mentioned that fearless aspect. We see the SEC Championship. We see some of those flashes. But is there a moment in practice or a moment maybe in the game or something like that you have seen where you’re like, all right, this dude (Gunner Stockton) is different. This dude has something that’s special?

TREVOR ETIENNE: In the SEC championship, he wasn’t scared. He didn’t play the first half of the game, but he got in like it was natural. And then that hit he took, that’s just one example. He got right back up and was trying to get back in. It shows how much the game means to him.

Q. Does that fire you up?

TREVOR ETIENNE: Definitely. You can’t do nothing but rally behind someone like that.

Q. I know you’ve dealt with injuries this season. And obviously, it’s near impossible to be 100% in January. But where are you at health-wise?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I feel 100%. I feel great. I feel the best I’ve felt all season. Having this break has actually helped that. I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time.

Q. To the point of the SEC game, some other tight contests that y’all have been in. Y’all have found ways to win. Why is that?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I say the connection, the resilience, the composure we have throughout this team. When I first got here, this team never gets rattled. We were down against Bama, lord have mercy, and it was like, nobody panicked. Nobody was nervous. Nobody was giving up. That’s something that’s just great about us. And from the preparation we put in, this team won’t quit.

Q. In your words, how does this offense present threats to the defense?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I mean, you can’t just play one position. It’s a lot of weapons, a lot of explosive people on this offense. So you have to like really find the best game plan you can and go with it.

Q. On Notre Dame’s side, they have a couple of Louisiana guys as well. When you see them on

the film, I would imagine some of that is in that Louisiana flavor?

TREVOR ETIENNE: Definitely. When you watch these guys on defense, you see how physical they are, how tough they are. You see a lot of smart players. You see how they swarm the ball. I feel like they have a great defense. And give credit to those guys.

Q. At this point, having those conversations with these guys, being from Louisiana, what are you telling them? Expect this? New Orleans is going to be like this?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I tell them what to expect, the dos and don’ts of the city. Come out and enjoy it but remember why we’re here. It’s not to come to New Orleans and have a great time. We’re here to win a game attend of the day.

Q. You mentioned some of the Notre Dame defense. They have a big injury on their side of the ball just like you guys have a big injury on your side of the ball. Has that affected the conversation and the prep that you guys have been doing on your side in terms of Rylie Mills not being out there?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I mean, I won’t say it hasn’t affected, but you definitely game plan for a player like that. We still approach it just as if he was out there. So we want to come out, work our game plan, and execute to the best of our ability.

Q. How will what you guys do be a little bit different without Carson Beck?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I mean, I guess you’ll have to see on Wednesday. No, man, I love Carson. Love what he’s done for the team. I mean, even having him around has been huge. When you have someone like that and the team means that much to him, it’s just really like a blessing, honestly. How much he’s helped Gunner [Stockton] throughout the year has been huge.

Q. What have you seen from Gunner [Stockton] so far in terms of his talent but also his preparation and who he is as a teammate?

TREVOR ETIENNE: He’s been fearless throughout the whole season. Like I said, he’s been preparing like he’s QB 1 all season. Just carrying that out and continuing, I just feel like he’s only going to continue to get better as the season goes on.

Q. You guys have a really strong kind of one-two punch from your backfield. So do they. What do you think about the amount of running back talent that’s going to be in this game?

TREVOR ETIENNE: I mean, it’s going to be crazy. I can’t wait to see what happens. I’m excited about it. And just can’t wait to see what the future holds.